I subscribe to the belief that a good leader needs to have bifocal vision with the ability to focus on the day-to-day as well as the long-term. I've used this column to talk about long-term vision--namely, that we need to ensure that all of our students are seen and heard. We'll rebuild enrollment by improving the student experience.

However, we can't lose sight of the day-to-day and this week has been a constant reminder. Our 60 year old facility is now showing a few signs of wear. For example, this summer the fire marshall came by for an annual inspection (that hadn't occurred in over 5 years!) and found that we are lacking in a few areas. For example, our fire alarm panel will need to be repaired at the least and possibly replaced. Our ceiling-mounted projectors are connected to power through extra-long extension cords and now we must remove them and find a different way to project. And our main water supply is now leaking and potentially could take a bit to repair. So we need to focus on how to get our day-to-day operations functioning smoothly ASAP.

The good news is that we've been developing an AP Art Studio class, our volleyball team has begun competing, last week's All-School Mass was a great success, and the WOW week has been filled with enthusiasm. Signs are up for the ASB elections and with the dance this Saturday, this is really starting to feel like a normal high school year! Let's be honest, many people were worried that it wouldn't be! I hope you can join us Thursday at 6:00 pm for the Back to School night. Meet the teachers, meet fellow parents, be a part of our community!

Dr. Tim Uhl

• Schedule for the Back to School Night. Please meet in the Commons by 6:00 pm!
• We have now adopted FACTS as our Student Information System (SIS), replacing PowerSchool. In order to make our lives simpler, we have adopted one login for both the Student Information System and tuition management. In order to view your payment plan and/or your student's information, you'll need to login here.
• September 19: Grandparents’ Day Mass (RSVP link here)
  
• Student announcements for the week can be found here and WOW week info here. Dance flyer here and dance regulations here.
• Lunch orders for the week can be placed here by 9PM on Sunday.
• Senior off-campus lunch privileges will begin on Tuesday, September 3. Please sign and return the permission slip to Miss Marisol by Friday, August 30.
• Here is a Google Doc with student service opportunities

Here is the link to the Student Handbook. We're continuing to adjust as issues arise.

Please make sure to send a note after each student absence and all if a student will be missing school.

• Aug 31st, Back to School dance
  
• Sep 2nd, no school (Labor Day)
• Sep 4th, fall sports pictures
• Sep 5th, All-School Mass 9:20 am (Parents welcome!). Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta
• Sep 10th, student ambassador visit to Madonna
• Sep 11th, student ambassador visit to Sacred Heart
• Sep 17th, student ambassador visit to San Carlos
• Sep 17th, Home Volleyball vs. Rancho San Juan (5:00 JV/6:00 varsity)
• Sep 18th, student ambassador visit to Sacred Heart (Hollister)
• Sep 19th, All-School Mass & Grandparents Day (RSVP link here)
• Sep 24th, Home Tennis vs. Santa Catalina (4 pm at Hartnell)
• Oct 22nd, Open House 6-8 pm

ACE High has created a web page where athletes and their parents can customize spirit wear to support their favorite ND sports. Here is the link.

Every prospective student-athlete needs a physical and needs to go to Home Campus to fill our the eligibility items. New students will be directed to NFHSlearn.com after completing Home Campus.

Volleyball schedule can be found here. Tennis schedule can be found here.

College Rep visits begin next Friday!

We have our first of many college rep visits starting Friday, September 6th with Gonzaga University! The visit will take place at 12:00 PM (during block 6) in room 11. College Rep visits are open to all sophomores, juniors and seniors. Parents are also welcome!

Please note: a student RSVP is mandatory 1 day prior to the visit if you plan to attend and will be missing class to do so. It is the student's responsibility to obtain teacher approval at least 24 hours prior to the college visit you wish to attend, and to make up any missed work during that time.

How to RSVP:

Students should RSVP at least 24 hours prior to the event via their Scoir account. On the day of the event, students should first check in with their teacher and obtain a signed permission slip to bring to the visit.

What, exactly, is a rep visit?

During rep visits, college representatives meet with interested students in small groups to discuss topics such as the academic programs, campus life, financial aid and admission procedures of their college. They also answer students' questions; Be sure to check out 20 Questions to Ask College Representatives for ideas on what to ask!

What is the point of attending a rep visit if you can just find the information online?

Here are a few of the many benefits of meeting with college reps during their visits:

• Students have a chance — in their own school — to meet "face-to-face" with a rep and ask specific questions.
• Students can let the college know they are seriously interested (have you heard of Demonstrated Interest???).
• In many cases, the reps are admission officers from the college, so students have a unique opportunity to make contact with a person who may be evaluating their application in the future.
• The meeting provides students with a specific contact at the college to whom they can send questions

So, as you can see, there are MANY reasons to take advantage of these opportunities. Be sure to check the Notre Dame calendar OR the Scoir Calendar in order to stay up to date on the many college rep visits and other college events to look forward to throughout the next few months!

Last week, Mrs. Stone connected with all freshmen and sophomores in their theology class, and this week, all juniors and seniors in their history classes. Students learned about services and resources available through the counseling office, how to connect, tips to make the most out of this school year, and what they can do now to prepare for their future. She'll be back in the freshman and sophomore classes next week to introduce them to Scoir, our college and career planning platform, and will begin the Senior college application workshops in the coming weeks!

Please reach out if you have any issues with accessing your account.

There is no doubt that in an all-girls school, every student feels comfortable and confident sharing ideas and contributing to discussions. Notre Dame offers an ideal environment for young women to build confidence, leadership skills, and strong, healthy relationships with other girls and with their faculty. Our alums visit often and share memories of their time here. Recently, this letter was written to Ms. Guido, one of our wonderful Science teachers:

“Dear Ms. Guido,

I wanted to give you some life updates and have a chance to connect with you again, because you are certainly one of the teachers that I still think about and that has guided me to where I am today…I am in the process of writing a book which is a lot of work and a lot of reflection on many aspects of life. I reflected on high school, and I have so many great memories of that time…One of my favorites was Human Anatomy class. My editor encouraged me to reach out to people who have really made a difference in my life, so here I am! Thanks to your awesome teaching, I’ve gone on to become an occupational therapist…I miss Notre Dame and I hope one day I will be able to come back…ND will always have my heart!”

Kaitlyn Williams, Class of 2012

Email: tuhl@notredamesalinas.org

Website: www.notredamesalinas.org
Location: Salinas, CA
Phone: 831-751-1850
Twitter: @drtimuhl