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ND Happenings
Dance-A-Grams Available for Sale
Support the dance students by buying a Dance-a-Gram for a friend, a teacher or a staff member! Dance-a-grams are now on sale and can be purchased by contacting a dance student or Mrs. Hong. Money raised will help defer the cost of the dance students' jackets, shirts and hats. Dances are 
$5 for 1 Dance-A-Gram, $8 for 2 Dance-A-Grams or $25 for 10 Dance-A-Grams (50% discount!). Choose from the following songs: "Don't/Say It" - The Bomb, "Digz" (mashup), "Right Hand" - Drake, "Isn't She Lovely" - Stevie Wonder or "SpongeBob Jersey Mix". Click here for more information. 
Art Classes Use the Colors of the Rainbow
Mr. Testani's Fantasy Art class and Experimental Art class have been working the colors of the rainbow into their images. 
From left to right: Kevin Vaca '18, Samantha LaValle '17 and Tori Rich '18
From left to right: Amanda Wilkins '18, Kristen Barrese '16 and Carlens Sainvil '16
Into the Woods
Rehearsals for Into the Woods, Notre Dame's 2016 Spring Musical, have begun, and they're off to a great start. Featuring an amazing cast of talented students, including several freshmen in leading roles, this show promises to be another hit. Cast and crew members will be receiving ad book forms next Wednesday after school. The show will take place on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7, at the SHU Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. We hope to see you all there! Anyone who wishes to volunteer at upcoming fundraisers, including our pasta dinner on March 15, or the show itself should email Mr. St.Onge at jstonge@notredame.org.
Parent and Student Update
Valentine's Bake Sale
Help support the 2016 Travel group by purchasing some delicious baked goods during all lunch rotations on Thursday, February 11. 
26 Acts of Kindness Campaign
A big thank you to everyone who helped to make our 2015-16 Acts of Kindness campaign a tremendous success. We were able to donate several cases of food to Operation Hope in Fairfield, hundreds of coats and sweatshirts to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, nearly 1,000 books to the Fairfield Kiwanis Book Collection for needy children, 100 sleeping bags and blankets to Social Services in Bridgeport and boxes and boxes of toiletries for the homeless at Operation Hope. In addition, our students wrote hundreds of letters to thank First Responders, US Soldiers and teachers. And this is all in addition to our other daily acts like "Say Please and Thank You" and "Be Kind to the Environment". Even though snow postponed our Service Day on Friday, over 300 students had volunteered and the program will be rescheduled for March. Thank you to everyone who helped to support this annual campaign, as we remember those victims from Newtown.
Care Club Updates
The Care Club has received two letters of appreciation. Scout Nicholas Mahaylo is very grateful for all the clothes donated to his Thanksgiving drive and to the Care Club members who worked very hard in sorting the donations. Sister Eileen of the Bridgeport Homeless Project was amazed at the huge collection of water bottles. 

Socks and Hand Sanitizer Collection
Sister Eileen from the Bridgeport Homeless Project now has a great need for socks - new or gently used. Two hundred pairs are needed for adults and one hundred pairs are needed for infants and children. Also small containers of hand gels and sanitizers that can fit in back packs are needed. Please place all contributions into the container in the library through the end of May. Thank you for caring!
Safe Environment 
Learn more about the Children's Safe Environment Training, Think First and Stay Safe, which takes place in the Catholic Schools throughout Fairfield County.

Join other parents in the Diocese of Bridgeport in discussing topics including, but not limited to: child safety, sexual abuse prevention, internet dangers, school yard and cyber bullying, abduction prevention, today's technology and how to keep our children safe, and latest popular Apps that are a high risk to children. The program takes place on Thursday, February 11 from 5:00-5:45 pm at the Catholic Center in Bridgeport. Click here for more information. 
Convivio
Convivio is being held on March 4, 5 and 6 at Sacred Heart University. Convivio is an International congress for youth that is organized by the Marian Community of Reconciliation and sponsored by the Diocese of Bridgeport. Over the past 30 years, Convivio congresses have been held in Australia, England, the Philippines, Angola and many countries in South America, and thousands of teenagers have gathered with other young people to search for meaning in their lives and find answers to the problems of contemporary society.

Convivio gives young people the opportunity to ask essential questions about their lives, the world around them and their faith. Convivio is different from other youth events because students participate in small group discussions, led by other youth, that are based on talks given by various speakers. In small groups, the young people reach conclusions that they later present to the larger group. The Convivio weekend includes time for Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, games, socializing, music and skits.

Click here to view an invitation from Bishop Caggiano. To register for Convivio, click here.
Support Notre Dame Through Our Shutterfly Store!
By visiting this link, you will be brought directly to our site with Shutterfly. Choose one of the four available stores described below and order just like you normally would. Notre Dame will receive 13% of any order placed through our storefront! Find deals at the following online retailers to help support ND: Shutterfly - Where your photos come to life in photo books, cards, gifts and home decor. Tinyprints - Premium cards and stationery for all life's occasions.
Wedding Paper Divas - Wedding invitations and stationery at a one stop wedding shop. Borrowlenses - Online photo and video equipment rental.
Yearbooks are on Sale! 
Pre-orders for 2016 Yearbooks are now being taken. To order on-line, click here. Next, enter in Notre Dame's code: 14196. Yearbooks are $80 each.
Athletic Association Update
Car Raffle
The Athletic Association is sponsoring a car raffle with only one prize awarded: a 1980 Vintage I82 Corvette T top convertible. Tickets are $100 and only 250 tickets will be sold. The drawing will be held at Sacred Heart University on March 12, the night of the Notre Dame Gala. Tickets can be obtained in Mr. Olayos' office or email him at jolayos@notredame.org to reserve your ticket.
Alumni Association Update
Be A Part of ND's 60th Anniversary 
Notre Dame High School was founded in 1955 by the Most Reverend LawrenceSheehan. In 1955, construction of Notre Dame High School began on Park Avenue in Bridgeport. In 1956, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur began teaching Notre Dame's first class of girls at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Fairfield while the high school was being built. Finally, in September of 1957, 1,000 students (freshmen and sophomores, boys and girls) walked through the doors of Notre Dame High School on Park Avenue. 

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Notre Dame (the oldest high school in the Diocese of Bridgeport) we are planning a year-long celebration of events which will begin in September, 2016 and run through September, 2017. We are looking for alumni, alumni parents, current parents, faculty (past and present), and friends of Notre Dame to help us plan this extraordinary event in our school's history.
 
If you would like to be a part of the celebration, please contact Theresa Marzik at tmarzik@notredame.org. 
Parent Association Update
Parent Association Meeting - February 17
Please join us at the next meeting on Wednesday, February 17 in the library at 6:45 pm (immediately following the Athletic Association meeting). All parents are invited.
Thank You from the Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day 
Many thanks to our Notre Dame parents for making Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day a huge success! Because of your generosity, we were able to provide the faculty with a delicious breakfast. We were also able to give each staff member a gift card, and we had enough left over to fund some additional snacks to be served at a later date. This is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when our Notre Dame Family comes together to support these important events! Thank you for your support! 

Here are some words of appreciation from our ND staff: "Thank you for all your time, effort, and generosity putting together such a wonderful and delicious brunch for us!", "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.", "I most definitely feel appreciated :) :)", "It was a wonderful day and enjoyed by all!", "It warmed my heart and filled my belly! :)", "The food was delicious and the gift card/treats were greatly appreciated.", "A BIG, BIG, BIG THANK YOU to one and all of you for a wonderful, impressive, delicious, yummy, mouth-watering, picture-perfect Faculty Appreciation Breakfast... (and the goodie bags, too!)".
Lancer Legacy Gala - March 12
The annual Lancer Legacy Gala will take place on March 12, 2016 at Sacred Heart University.  Please consider attending this event as this is Notre Dame's biggest fundraiser of the year and supports activities, technology, campus ministry, etc. at ND.  It's a great way to have a fun evening with your spouse or a group of friends and a another way to meet members, both past and present, of the Notre Dame Community!  Please email Theresa Marzik at tmarzik@notredame.org if you need additional information.
Spirit Wear Sales During Lunch - February 18
Spirit Wear will be on sale during lunch on Thursday, February 18.  Items can be paid for with cash or a check made out to Notre Dame High School.

Opportunities
The Genealogy & Language Groups to Host The Catholic Church & the 1916 Rising
The Genealogy and Language Groups will host "The Catholic Church and the 1916 Rising", on February 7, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Carolan Room at the Gaelic American Club, 74 Beach Road in Fairfield. This lecture is open to the general public. 

The lecture will be presented by Oliver P. Rafferty, SJ, Professor of History and Director of Irish Studies Programs, at Boston College. Fr. Rafferty will examine the attitude of the Catholic Church during the 1916 Rising, the controversy over whether the Pope had blessed the rising, condemnation of the rebellion by individual priests and bishops, and Vatican pressure on the Irish hierarchy to try to instill in the insurgents respect for the governing power. These and other issues will be explored in the course of the lecture.

Help plan seating and refreshments by registering in advance. Tickets are $5.00 ($2.00 for students with student ID). Register on-line at: marroyo@optonline.net, subject: "Irish History" and mail your check payable to "Feile, Inc." to: Mary Adams-Arroyo, 221 McGrath Court, Stratford, CT 06615. Please provide name, address, phone and email. For more information, call Mary at (203) 377-2346. This event is sponsored by Feile, Inc. Click here for more information. 
Scholarships Available
The Palace in Stamford is sponsoring several scholarship awards for high school students. The first will be awarded to four high school students for their writing of an original 15 minute, one act play. In additional to the scholarship, there will be a staged reading of the play with renowned New York actors. In addition, two scholarships will be awarded to one actor and one actress for their performance of a monologue or a scene from a play with another student. Visit the Palace website by clicking here for additional details under the Education Tab. The deadline for material submission is February 22, 2016.
Guidance Department Update
Spring College Fair
St. Joseph High School will be hosting a Spring College Fair on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the school Gynmasium.  Visit with representatives from over 80 Colleges and Universities.  All are invited...this is a good opportunity for Juniors.
Reminder to Seniors and Senior Parents
January and February are the months for Financial Aid deadlines for all colleges.  Please check to see if your FAFSA and Profile are completed and if there is any other financial paper work needed for each individual college or university that you are applying to or have already been accepted to.
Seniors
Please be sure to check out the scholarships that have been listed on Naviance. When on Naviance, click on Scholarships and see which scholarships you are eligible for. Please feel free to stop by the Guidance Office with any questions. The list is updated as the scholarship information comes into the Guidance office. 

Scholarship NameDeadline
2/26
3/25
3/4
Abbott & Fenner6/10
3/6
Assumption College/Brassard ScholarshipN/A
B.Davis Scholarship5/23
College of Mt Saint VincentN/A
5/6
2/10
3/15
The Milton Fisher Scholarship4/30
Thomas L. Dickson Scholarship5/5
You Deserve It Scholarship2/15
4/22
American Fire Sprinkler Assoc.2015-16 AFSA Scholarship Award
4/16
Buick Achiever Scholarship Program
2/26
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
3/21
Glenn Moon Scholarships
3/31
Greater Fairfield Board of Realtors
5/1
4/19
3/30
Hartford Whalers Booster Club Scholarship Application
3/1
St. Patrick Scholarship
4/27
The Law offices of Anthony Vecchio
4/15
3/23
3/3
4/14
6/15
5/1
Scholarship Opportunity
Morris, King and Hodge are proud to present a rewarding scholarship opportunity. The scholarship helps to spread the dangers of texting while driving. Click here for more information. There are three winners - with prize amounts totaling $4,200. Entries are due by April 30, 2016. 
Lancer Athletics
Good Luck!
Good Luck to both our boys'/girls' Indoor Tack and Cheerleading teams as both will be competing in the SWC championships this Saturday. The track meet will be held at the New Haven Athletic Center and the cheerleading competition will be held at Newtown High School.
Girls' Soccer State Championship Banquet
A banquet will be held for the girls' soccer team on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 6:00pm at Vazzano's Four Seasons in Stratford. Click here for more information.
Congratulations To ND Basketball Coaches
Congratulations to both Notre Dame head basketball coaches who both earned their 300th high school coaching victories in the past two weeks. On January 22, girls' coach Eric DeMarco earned #300 with a 72-64 victory over Masuk High School. This past Tuesday, boys coach Vin Laczkowski earned his 300th win as the Lancers downed Pomperaug 66-50 (to remain undefeated in the SWC). Congratulation to both coaches!
Get Your Lancer Gang Shirt and Get in for Free!
Notre Dame Lancer Gang long sleeve shirts are on sale in Mr. Olayos' office. The shirt is $20 and entitles the student to free admission to all home boys' and girls' basketball games (including games at Sacred Heart) and all home hockey games.
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