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ND Spotlight
ND Girls' and Boys' Basketball in State Championship Games
For the first time in school history, both the boys' and girls' basketball teams will be playing for a state title in the same season. Both teams are looking for their first ever state titles. The boys' are returning to the championship game in back-to-back years and earned this opportunity thanks to a 81-79 win over Northwest Catholic in the semi-finals on Wednesday. The girls' defeated previously undefeated Enfield High School in their semi-final game and will take on Cromwell High School, a team that also has an undefeated record at the present time. The game is a rematch of the 2013 championship game. The boys' team takes on the number one team in the state, Sacred Heart High School of Waterbury. The girls' tip-off at 12:30 pm and the boys' play in the 3:00 pm game that follows at the Mohegan Sun Arena. If you can't make the game, you can watch online (click here for link) or on CPTV Sports. To purchase tickets for the games ($10 for both), click here. 
Alumni Named Stamford Citizen of the Year
Mary Sommer '67, and her husband, Jay Sandak, were named Stamford's Citizens of the Year and were featured on the cover of the Stamfordplus Magazine. Sommer is a judge of the Fairfield District Superior Court of Connecticut. According to the article, they will be honored at the 71st Annual Stamford Citizen of the Year dinner on 
Monday, April 18. Congratulations to them both.
ND Happenings
Bishop's Mass and Confirmation
On Tuesday, Notre Dame welcomed Bishop Caggiano for his annual visit and celebration of Mass in the Sacred Heart University Chapel of the Holy Spirit. In addition to celebrating mass for the school community, Bishop Caggiano confirmed fifteen students. Congratulations to the following who are the newly confirmed: Margaux Atkins, Raina Ceryak, Annalee Gaudreau, Daniel Geriak, Lucy Grant, Grace Kuntz, Bridget Magyar, Delaney O'Keefe, Sierra O'Keefe, Chelsea Ortiz, Kyle Pavone, Lindsay Salvati, William Scovill, Hailey Searles and Thomas Whalen. Special thanks to our Chaplain Fr. Luke Suarez for preparing these students to receive the sacrament over the past several months.
Community Service Day
On Friday, March 11, Notre Dame sponsored its annual Community Service Day. Originally scheduled for February and on the final day of the 26 Acts of Kindness Campaign, a snow day forced the rescheduled date, but the response from our students and parent and faculty chaperones was still outstanding. This year, we set a record with over 300 students volunteering to assist others at 23 different locations throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties. A huge thank you to all of our student volunteers and the many parents, faculty members and friends of ND who helped to chaperone and drive students to their various worksites. A very special and heartfelt thank you to Notre Dame's Director of Campus Ministry, Jessica Medoff, for putting together another truly motivational and successful volunteer experience for our students.
Students March in Bridgeport's St. Patrick's Day Parade
On Thursday, members of the National Honor Society and the state championship girls' soccer team, along with Dr. Callaghan and Mr. Cipriano, represented Notre Dame in the annual Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day parade.
Art Club String Art
Bayley McKeon '16 and the Art Club started a string art project at the end of last year and continued to add designs and contributions throughout the year. The display can be seen on the top of the stairwell near Room 313.
ND Students Visit the Jewish Home 
As part of Community Service Day, ND dancers, plus a handful of other students, walked over to the Jewish Home last week to spend the day with the residents. Some residents were set up for music class along with visiting preschoolers. Students taught both the seniors and youngsters how to do current dance moves such as The Dab, Hit the Quan, and Whip and Nae Nae. They also helped out in the cafeteria by folding cloth napkins, serving food, serving coffee, passing out paper napkins, bussing tables, and serving dessert. Finally, the ND group performed for a second set of residents, then spread out to cheer them on in their bowling activity. The staff was so appreciative of their efforts that they asked repeatedly if they could come every Friday!
Math Department Update
As the marking period comes to an end, the Analysis classes will be completing their study of conic sections.  Characteristics of parabolas, circles, ellipses and hyperbolas have been studied.  Students are able to tell the similarities and differences between these figures.

Algebra II classes have been studying rational exponents, radical expressions and determining how they relate to each other.  The concept of inverses has been explored as well as solving radical equations.

In Geometry, students have been studying special right triangles. They are using trig functions to find acute angles in a right triangle and applying Pythagorean's theorem to word problems. 
Parent and Student Update
Mr. ND Returns!
Who will be crowned Mr. Notre Dame 2016? Be sure to attend this year's "pageant" on Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00 pm in the gym to find out as young men from all four grades compete for the title and bragging rights. Tickets are $3 per person and will be available at the door. Parents, students, grandparents, siblings ... everyone is invited for what is sure to be a fun evening. Check out this year's promo video:

Mr. ND 2016
Mr. ND 2016
Sophomore Class Trip
The sophomore class will be traveling to New York City on Tuesday, May 17 for their annual class trip. Students will tour the most famous arena in the world - Madison Square Garden - and visit the Body Worlds exhibit at Discovery Times Square. The cost of the trip is $65.00 and includes admission charges and coach bus transportation. (Food costs are not included.) The deadline for returning payment and a signed permission slip to the main office is Wednesday, April 6. Permission slips were distributed to students last week but to download another copy, click here.
Financial Aid Applications Due By April 1
Families are reminded that the application for 2016-17 financial aid is now available. Applications can be filed as soon as your 2015 tax return is complete. Families submitting their aid application by the April 1, 2016 deadline will be given priority in the awarding of aid dollars. Families must re-apply for financial aid annually.

All applications must be completed on-line beginning this year. To begin the aid application process, click here. Contact Notre Dame's Tuition Coordinator, Barbara Ezepchick, with any questions.
Bottle and Can Collection 
There will be a Bottle Collection event on Saturday, April 2 at ND from 10 am to 12 pm to benefit the Paris-Madrid Travel Team. All clean plastic bottles and cans will be accepted...no glass please!
Drama Club Pasta Dinner
The Drama Club will be hosting a pasta dinner on Wednesday, March 30 from 6pm to 8pm in the ND cafeteria to benefit the spring production of Into the Woods. General admission tickets are $10. Children 4 and under are free. Students who order tickets in advance receive a student discount ($7). Tickets can be purchased at the door or ordered in advance from March 3 to March 22. Ticket order forms are available in the main office. Questions can be directed to Mr. St.Onge at jstonge@notredame.org or to Mrs. Marzik at tmarzik@notredame.org.
Care Club - Socks and Hand Sanitizer Collection
There has been a very good response to our Homeless Project drive and we continue to ask for donations of socks and assorted cleansing items (soap, hand gels, tooth brushes and pastes). The drive ends April 29. Thank you for caring! 
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
Athletic Association to hold NCAA Fundraiser at Porky's Cafe 
The Notre Dame Athletic Association will be running their 3rd annual NCAA fundraiser on April 4 (Monday) at Porky's Café in Shelton starting at 7:00 pm. The ticket cost is $75 and includes dinner, open bar and raffle. Checks should be made payable to Notre Dame Athletic Association and tickets are available in Mr. Olayos'  office or you can mail your check to Notre Dame. Email Mr. Olayos with any questions: jolayos@notredame.org.
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
Prom Dress Sale
As the request of our students, Notre Dame will be hosting a prom and semi-formal dress sale on Friday, April 8 from 6:00 - 9:00pm. This is a great opportunity for girls to buy and sell gently used dresses. Anyone who is interested in attending must RSVP for the event at https://promdresssale.splashthat.com/.  We are asking that parents attend the event with their daughter due to the amount of most dresses being over $100.
 
Selling - Dresses should be clean and free of any stains or tears and must be brought to school in a plastic or garment bag long enough to cover the entire dress. Drop off and tagging procedures will be announced no later than the first week of April, as we are still working out the details.  Shorter, semi-formal dresses such as homecoming dresses are acceptable to bring as well and you may bring as many dresses to sell as you like.
 
Buying - You will be able to try dresses on. Please bring shoes to help with length choice. All sales are final.  
 
The cost to attend the event (buying or selling) is $5 per student and will benefit the Parent Association for future events. Parents are admitted free of charge.  We need parents to assist with this event!  Please see the RSVP link to volunteer.  Please help spread the word about this great new event and check back here for details in the coming weeks!  Any additional questions can be directed to ndparentassociation@gmail.com.
Parent Association Meeting - April 20 @ 6:30pm
Please join us at the April Parent Association meeting where we will look back on this past year and discuss the 2016-2017 school year events and volunteer opportunities.  The meeting will take place at 6:30 pm, immediately following the Athletic Association meeting in the library.

Guidance Department Update
Course Selection Sheets 
It is that time of year again for students to select courses for the next school year.  All students have received their forms that need to be handed in to the Guidance Office.  If you have not turned in your course selections sheet, it needs to be handed in as soon as possible.  If you have any questions, please see your guidance counselor.
AP Testing
If you are taking an AP exam, payment is due in the Guidance Office no later than March 21st. If paying by check, indicate on the check the AP exam that you are taking. 
First Choice College to Offer Free Practice SAT 
First Choice College, our SAT partner, is offering a free full length SAT practice test without the essay on April 2 from 9:00 AM - 12:15 pm. This opportunity is available to members of the Classes of 2017 and 2018. Also included is a diagnostic report detailing the student's strengths and weaknesses on the SAT and an analysis of the student's greatest opportunity areas for improving the score. Registration is required.  For more information, please call 203-878-7998 or email jmaroney@firstchoicecollege.com.
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. 

Scholarships
Deadline
3/25
5/11
6/10
5/4
4/16
6/1
N/A
N/A
5/6
5/6
3/31
4/19
4/17
3/21
4/22
3/31
5/1
4/19
4/30
3/30
N/A
3/30
3/23
5/31
4/14
4/30
6/15
4/27
4/20
6/1
4/15
4/30
5/13
4/22
4/30
5/1
5/5
5/6
5/6
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. 
Opportunities
SHU Journey
SHU Journey is a six day residential summer experience of faith education, self-discovery and enjoyment for high school youth.  The week is filled with faith instruction, small group conversations, music ministry, prayer, reflection, liturgy, journaling, community service, keynote speakers, a day trip to The Cloisters, all meals and snacks, rooming with peers and mentors in the residence hall.  This opportunity is free but only available to 24 high school students. Applications are due no later than May, 2016. For more information and to apply visit sacredheart.edu/shujourney.
Host Families Needed
International students attending Notre Dame in 2016-17 are in need of host homes for the academic year.  This is a wonderful opportunity for your family to get connected and learn about another part of the world as well as help an international student learn about the US culture.  Global Study pays a monthly stipend and is taking applications and can provide additional information. Please email: jayme@globalstudyconnections.com. You can also visit their website at www.globalstudyconnections.com.

Volunteer for the Greenwich International Film Festival

Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that unites the worlds of film, finance and philanthropy through a world-class film festival and social impact programming throughout the year. The second annual festival will take place June 9 to 12, and will support important human rights initiatives. The festival features 30+ film premieres and screenings, a star-studded Opening Night Party, educational panels, a Children's Acting Workshop, a Changemaker Honoree Gala that honors actors/artists who've used film for positive social change, and much more. Student volunteers are needed to assist with the Festival. Visit www.greenwichfilm.org or click here for more information.

Lancer Athletics
Get Your Lancer Gang Shirt
Notre Dame Lancer Gang long sleeve shirts are on sale in Mr. Olayos' office. The shirt is now available for $10.
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