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ND Happenings
Students Travel to Camden, New Jersey
From January 19-22, a group of eight juniors and seniors traveled to Camden, NJ along with  Mr. Cipriano and  Mrs. Cipriano for an inner-city service experience. While in Camden, one of America's poorest cities, the Notre Dame group worked with the Romero Center and completed two days of service (in Camden and in neighboring Philadelphia) and participated in social justice activities. Participants included:  Karen Garza '18, Areli Anderson '17, Brianni Davillier '18, Grace Gallagher '17, Nicole Posada '18, Delaney O'Keefe '17, Jalyssa Howell '17 and Margaux Atkins '18. To read Mr. Cipriano's blogs and learn more about the Camden experience, click here .


Students Participate in Habitat for Humanity

On January 20, members of Campus Ministry participated in ND's second Habitat for Humanity day of the the school year.  Participants went to a recently built house in Bridgeport to help fix the yard which was flooding so that the new homeowners could move in as soon as possible.  Volunteers included
Jenna Dorosh '17, Joe Robles '17, Liv Keden '17, Sam LaValle '17, Stone Appelberg '18, Emma Sweeney '18, Oliver Corrigan '18, and
Ben Clark '19. Special thanks to  Mrs. Ezepchick for helping to chaperone.  Our next Habitat day is  February 8th .  


Campus Ministry Students Bring Kids to The Downtown Cabaret
On Thursday, Campus Ministry played big brother and sister to St. Ann Academy's first grade class at The Downtown Cabaret in Bridgeport for a showing of
Fancy Nancy.  Participants included  Shaun Spurling, Hannah Rich, Charon Teng, Christopher Wang, Justin DaSilva, Rick Meng, John Zhang, Sydney Manzo, Diana Pires, Sammy Mosel, Alice Henry, Adriana Marra, Aliyah Louis, Olivia Ceballos, Patrick Milner, Millenia Polanco, Amanda Wilkins, Sofia Gudiel, Angie Guzman, Chridel Turtillien, Karli Perkins, and Erin O'Brien .  Thank you to  Mrs. Kathy Stefanatos for helping to chaperone. Our next Cabaret day is  March 29 .  

Student Update
Baby Items Being Collected 
To commemorate the March for Life, the Students for Life club is collecting baby items until  Monday  to benefit women in need, served by the Sisters of Life in New York City (baby clothes, blankets, bottles, diapers, etc.). They can be delivered to religion classes or directly to Ms. Mazal in Room 206.
Mobile Charging Stations 
A big thank you to the Parent Association for purchasing two mobile charging stations for student-use. One is located near the main entrance and a second is in the cafeteria. Students have been reminded: "Your device - your responsibility" when using the stations.
Permission Slips Due for Service Day
Just a reminder that Service Day is Friday, February 3 and all permission slips are due by Tuesday, January 31 to Miss Medoff. Thank you to all the students who have volunteered to help!
Donate Cans of Soup for The Souper Bowl of Caring
Love Life is collecting cans of soup for The Souper Bowl of Caring.  The money collected from this week's mite box will go to a local soup kitchen in addition to the soup collected this week.  Donations are due by Thursday, February 2 to religion teachers. Please consider helping someone in need stay warm and be nourished in these cold winter months.
Student Service Hours  
Students and parents are reminded that approved service hours are due on x2VOL by  Friday, March 10 for all students . Please see Miss Medoff with any questions.
26 Acts of Kindness Campaign 
Notre Dame's annual 26 Acts of Kindness Campaign began on  Monday, December 5  and will run through  February 3 , culminating in our annual Community Service Day. Each school day has a different act of kindness associated with it, as we remember the 26 lives lost in the 2012 tragedy in Sandy Hook. All members of the ND community are invited to participate in our campaign. To view the full calendar of events, click here . 

Upcoming Acts:
  • Monday - "Thank a Teacher" - Write a letter to a teacher who has made a difference in your life (ND will mail any letters to a former teacher for you.)  
  • Tuesday - Put a Smile On Someone's Face Today - Make Them Laugh  
  • Wednesday - Collection - Donate new socks for the homeless  
  • Thursday - Thank Your Parents/Guardian/Grandparents for all that they do for you  
  • Friday - ND Community Service Day 
Parent Update
Paint and Sip
Join in the fun!  The Notre Dame Drama Club is hosting a Paint & Sip event (adults only, please) on Friday, February 3 at 6:30 pm.  Meet us in the ND Art Room on the third floor where we will enjoy wine and snacks while creating an artistic masterpiece.  ND's own Art teacher, Meghan Balliet will facilitate.  Tickets are $35 per person and seating is limited.  So get a group of your friends together and email Mr. St. Onge at jstonge@notredame.org as soon as you can to secure your spot.  Please send payment to Mr. St Onge's attention by Tuesday, January 31st.  This is sure to be a fun night out and we hope to see you there!  Thank you for supporting the ND Drama Club!
Adult Volunteers Needed for ND's Annual Service Day
Campus Ministry is looking for parents, alumni, and ND friends who are Virtus certified to help chaperone ND's Annual Service Day on Friday, February 3 at the conclusion of Catholic School's Week and ND's 26 Acts of Kindness campaign.  On this day, over half of the student body will go out into the community to give back at sites like schools, nursing homes, and soup kitchens.  The times range but are all between regular school hours (8 a.m.-2 p.m.).  Please email Jess Medoff if you could help at jmedoff@notredame.org and also include how many students you could fit in your vehicle.  Thank you for considering helping for this very worthwhile opportunity. 

Want ND to Volunteer at Your Organization?
If anyone works for a nonprofit organization and would like to request that we have ND volunteers help on Community Service Day, please email Miss Medoff with the relevant information including how many volunteers would be needed, who the contact would be, and what students would be doing.
Financial Aid Deadline is Approaching
Parents are reminded that families must reapply for financial aid annually.  Parents must have their 2016 taxes completed in order to complete the process.  The cut off date for filing is April 1, 2017. Click here to begin the process.
Yearbooks On Sale
2017 Yearbook orders are now being taken. To purchase online, click here. Enter code 14196 and place your order. If you prefer, students can bring cash or check for $80 (payable to Notre Dame) to the Main Office as well.
Save the Date! - Convivio March 3 - 5
Every year in the Diocese of Bridgeport, over two-hundred teens take part in a weekend event named CONVIVIO, an international conference of Catholic youth. The program first came to the United States in 2010. Coming from different towns and regions, teens meet at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield to be challenged in their Faith and to encounter Christ. This year's event will be held from March 3 - 5, 2017. Click here for more information.
Advancement/Alumni Office Update
Earn Money for ND with Amazon Smile
Do you shop on Amazon? Now you can earn money for ND just by shopping. Go to  https://smile.amazon.com and log into your Amazon account. Search for Notre Dame Catholic High School and begin shopping.  Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to ND.  AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know, same products, same prices, same service.


60th Anniversary - Limited Edition T-Shirts
To celebrate Notre Dame's 60th anniversary, we are selling limited edition t-shirts for only $20.  This is a fun way to commemorate this special year and a great gift for the past, current or future Lancer in your life!   Orders can be placed by emailing  parentassociation@notredame.org .  Youth sizes available upon request.
Parent Association Update
Parent Association Meeting - Wednesday, February 15 at 6:45 pm
The next Parent Association meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15 at 6:45 pm in the library immediately following the Athletics Association meeting.  All parents and guardians are invited to attend!
Guidance Department Update
Attention Parents of Juniors
Letters to parents of Juniors have been mailed home for the purpose of making an appointment to meet with your child's counselor.  This appointment will begin the process of college planning.  Please fill out the bottom portion of the letter and send back to the Guidance office as soon as possible to schedule your meeting.
Scholarships for Seniors
Scholarships for seniors who will be attending college in the fall of 2017 have been posted on Naviance.  Look under scholarships and see what scholarships are out there.  If you have any questions, please stop by the Guidance Office. 

To view other scholarships  available, try visiting the following sites: Fastweb www.fastweb.com, College Board www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org, Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com, 
U.S. Department of Labor  www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch. 

Opportunities
Marijuana: the Law and Social Policy
The Maddox Law Firm will host a timely presentation entitled Marijuana: The Law and Social Policy at the Fairfield Library Rotary Room on Monday, January 30 from 7 pm - 8pm. The event is open to adults and high school students. It is free of charge.  This presentation will explain state and federal marijuana laws, including laws that pertain to medical marijuana in Connecticut. There will be discussion about some of the risks and potential costs that we are facing as marijuana becomes legalized in other states and appears to be trending toward greater mainstream acceptance. Discussion will include marijuana's longstanding medical history and recent experience in Colorado an d Washington related to distribution regulations as well as tax revenue. It will also touch upon some of the chemical and neurological considerations that we should understand about marijuana's impact upon the developing adolescent brain, addictive behavior and as a gateway to other behaviors. Click here for more information. 
Caribe Girl's Empowerment Program
Caribe Girl's Empowerment Program is designed for girls age 13-18 years old, to increase knowledge of self, healthy decision making, and effective communication skills. Click here for more information and to register today.
3rd Annual Playwriting Competition
The Palace in Stamford is pleased to announce the Third  Annual Ernie DiMattia Emerging Young Artist Scholarship Awards for Playwriting.  The 2017 scholarships will be awarded to three high school students in grades nine through twelve for their writing of an original 15 minute, one act play. Click here for more information. Click here for an application. All entries are due by February 20.
Explore Engineering at UConn
Exploring Engineering  (E2) is a one-week residential summer program for rising juniors and seniors in high school (must be a current  sophomore  or  junior  in  high school during the 2016/2017 school year). Participants work in small groups with faculty and college students to learn what various engineers do in the workplace, learn and demonstrate engineering concepts, and engage in deeper exploration of one engineering discipline by fabricating a discipline-specific device. Click here for more information. The application deadline is April 15, 2017.
Athletics Update
Lancer Week in Review
The boys' basketball team continued their winning ways last week going 2-0 defeating Masuk (68-52) and Naugatuck High School (70-56). The team was led by Tyler Bourne '18 (14 pts & 27 pts, 5 steals), Nori Davis '18 (13 pts & 29 pts, 16 rbs).  Colin Burke'17, Anthony Mongillo '17, Charles Clemons '18,  Woodley Monnexant '18 and Damion Medwinter '18 continue to make their presence known and contribute. The team is currently 9-1 (4-0 in SWC) and was ranked 11th in the state in the latest  gametimect.com poll.  The boys are in action again this Friday vs. New Fairfield (away) and  Saturday vs. Bethel at  6:00 pm (away).   

The girls' basketball team went 1-1 this week defeating Masuk (55-38) and losing to Bethel (48-43).  Gabby Joseph '18 had 21 pts and 7 rebounds in the win vs. Masuk.  The girls battled a good Bethel team  on Tuesday night for first place in the SWC.  Despite the loss, the girls showed a lot of heart coming back from 10 points down in the second half.  The girls are currently 11-2 (6-1 in the SWC) and were ranked 10th in the state in the latest  gametimect.com poll.  The girls are in action again on Friday vs. New Fairfield at  7:00 pm (home).  

The boys' hockey team went 1-1 this week losing a tough game vs. Northwest Catholic (4-3 in OT) and defeating Greenwich (6-0).  Leading the way in both games has been Brian Gallagher '17 (4 goals), Chris Becker '18 (2 goals, 1 assist), and Bill Scovill '17 (62 saves in the two games).  Spencer Ryall '19 had 3 assists in the two games.  Austin Allen '18 made his presence known in the win vs. Greenwich with 1 goal and 1 assist.  The boys will be action again on  Saturday vs. West Haven at home at  6:00 pm.  

The boys' and girls' indoor track team competed in the SWC Developmental last Friday at Wesleyan University.  Jillian Howe '18 and Lindsay Salvati '18 both ran great and placed 6th and 10th respectively out of 72 entries in the 55 meters.  Julian Barrantes '19 also had a great showing, placing 12th out of 83 in the 55 meters and 9th out of 61 in the 300 meters.

The girls' hockey team only had one game this past week - losing to one of the top teams in state, West Hartford, 3-0.  Despite the loss, the girls played very well.  Rebecca Paine '18 made 35 saves in the game.  The girls are in action again this  Saturday  vs. Guilford at the East Haven rink at  3:00 pm .  The girls are currently 7-6 and in 4th place in the league (Div 2).  

In wrestling news, ND traveled to the New Milford Invitational where the Lancers competed against several top-ranked teams from around the state.  Standing out was Jakari Walker, Clyde Auba, Tavon Simpson and Dalond Bidonne.  Jakari drew a two-time state champion in the first match of the day. The match ended at regulation with a 4-4 tie and the match was decided in Sudden Victory. The first take down won the match, and Jakari took it to the two time state champ by taking him down to advance in the tournament.  Jakari majored and pinned every opponent he faced and ended the day with Tech Fall winning the finals match 19-4.  Dalond Bidonne wrestled in his first varsity tournament of the year, replacing injured Dan Geriak, and wrestled very tough to almost place in the star-studded tournament.  Tavon Simpson went 2-2 on the day, losing in the quarter finals to the top ranked wrestler in the tournament from New Milford.  Clyde Auba begins to impress by walking through the 220 pound division with first period pins.  He lost in the most exciting finals match of the day to Bethel 5-3 with a last second takedown.  Clyde avenged that loss during the week in a dual meet against Bethel by beating the same opponent 4-3 in a very intense match.  This was a huge win for Clyde giving him the advantage to jump Bethel in the SWC tournament and state tournament.  The Notre Dame Grapplers will head to the Connecticut Challenge this weekend, again to take on the best in the state.
Congratulations to
... Marcelino Camata '17 and Max Cano '17 on being selected to the CHSCA Class S All State boys' soccer team.


... Samantha LaValle '17, Brianna Kydes '17 and Erika Quinones '17 on being selected to the CHSCA Class M All State girls' soccer team.  Samantha Camacho '18 was also honored as the MVP in the Class M State Championship game.
Support ND Cheer
Please come support the ND cheerleaders this  Saturday, January 28 at 1:30 pm  at Wolcott High School's 2017 CT Classic Cheerleading Competition. Good luck girls!
Girls' Lacrosse
All girls interested in playing girls' lacrosse this spring must attend a meeting on
Monday, January 30th right after school in room 200.
Sign Up for Spring Sports 
Sign ups for spring sports began on Friday, January 20 and end on  Friday, February 10  in Mr. Bleggi's office.  Spring sports include baseball, softball, boys' lacrosse, girls' lacrosse, boys' golf, girls' golf, girls' tennis, boys'/girls' track and field, and boys' volleyball.
Lancer Gang Shirts For Sale
Get your Lancer Gang shirts and attend all home basketball and hockey games for free! Shirts are available from Mr. Olayos or click here for more information.

Join the Athletic Association 
If you are interested in joining the ND Athletic Association for the 2016-17 school year, please click here to sign up on line. 
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