Congratulations to the 102 graduates who received their diplomas during Notre Dame's 53rd graduation exercises on Friday, June 7. Over 1,000 family and friends packed the Notre Dame gymnasium for the ceremony, while a pouring rain fell outside. Those addressing the graduates included: Superintendent of Schools Sister Mary Grace Walsh, Chancellor Anne McCrory, Diocesan Administrator Msgr. Jerald Doyle, Principal Chris Cipriano, and Town Clerk Betsy Peddle Brown '88. Valedictorian Michael Lenard delivered his address to the graduates and co-salutatorians Sandie Samrin and Madeline Guman delivered their remarks at Baccalaureate two nights earlier. Mr. Cipriano presented the Most Outstanding Senior Award, as voted by the faculty and staff, to Jennifer Mezzapelle. President Fr. Bill Sangiovanni also announced each graduate's scholarship/ grant total and the college the student will be attending. As a whole, the class received $12.6 million in scholarships and grants. Congratulations to all the graduates.

To read the Fairfield Citizen News article about graduation, click here. 

A Shutterfly gallery with the photos from ND's graduation was set up by Connecticut Post freelance photographer Amy Mortensen. Click here to access the photos (password: 2013). 

All students are required to write a journal for each book they read and will be tested on the required title in September. Students in honors and high honors will be asked to complete a journal assignment for their additional book(s).

Juniors and Seniors

All juniors and seniors must read Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grenanan.  Juniors and seniors in Honors English classes must choose one additional title from the following list. Juniors and seniors in High Honors English classes must choose two additional titles from the following list: 

• A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving
• Left to Tell: Discovering God by Ilibagiza Immaculee
• The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
• The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
• This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolf

Freshmen and Sophomores

All freshmen and sophomores must read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Freshmen and sophomores in Honors English classes must choose one additional title from the following list. Freshmen and sophomores in High Honors English classes must choose two additional titles from the following list: 

• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• House Rules by Jodi Piccoult
• Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
• Imperfect by Jim Abbot and Tim Brown
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Summer Reading Journal Prompts

Keep a journal for each book you read. Complete ten journal entries that respond to the characters, conflicts, descriptions, situations, and language you find in the book. Each entry should be a paragraph. You may use these prompts, respond to other questions, or offer your reaction to what is happening in the story. Do not summarize or rehash the plot of your book. These journals are due the first week of class and will be graded. 

• Who is the most interesting character at this point? Why?
• Can you relate to any of the characters or situations in the book?
• Compare this book or the characters in it to something else you have read.
• Does the author use strong imagery (similes, metaphors, etc.)? Give some examples.
• Write a letter to the author or a character.
• Identify and writer about a passage that you find to be particularly interesting or effective.
• What is the main conflict in the story to this point? How do think it might be resolved?
• Copy down a quote from the book and explain why you think it is meaningful.
• How would you react if you were one of the characters in the story?
• Did the book end like you thought it might or were you surprised?