Today is Ash Wednesday and we'll be gathering at 2:00 pm for Mass in the Commons. If you're reading this in the morning, you are welcome to join us. It's often said that Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday are popular Mass days because people receive free gifts. Today's gift is the marking of ashes which reminds us of our mortality and marks the beginning of the holy season of Lent.

We've asked all parents to fill out a financial aid application through Clarity. This is a new process because we want to direct our financial aid to those in need. And we want to hang on to EVERY current family! Please fill out ASAP, deadline is March 21st. We will begin awarding financial assistance on April 4th. Coupled with course selection (which began yesterday), we're in the midst of planning for next year.

Here's a copy of the curriculum presentation which outlines our academic initiatives, including the dual enrollment initiatives. Our students have begun the course request process. Our academic offerings for next year are top notch! We believe that every new student will be able to earn a year of college credit while at Notre Dame at no additional cost.

It's not too late to order a Pozole meal to benefit our VPA programs. We're closing in on $2 thousand in sales! Even if you're not available or don't know what Pozole is, we can use your support. We hope buy a kiln, clay, and much more!

We're closing in on our March 18th Day of Giving! Here's the site. Please share.

As if this isn't enough, we currently have Miss Alondra and Miss Marisol in Mexico City and Colombia to recruit international students. Tomorrow we'll be hosting our first "Women at Work" panel when our Spirits will hear from women professionals about their chosen careers.

Go Spirits!

Dr. Tim Uhl

• Here is a link to purchase tickets for the Rico Pozole Sale to benefit VPA.

• The 2025-26 school calendar is out!

• THe 2025 Youth Poet Laureate contest is open

• Here's a letter explaining the AI summer program which has a link to a brochure.
• We've launched this simple Google Form to "crowdsource" alumnae information. If you know of any alumnae, feel free to share the link
• 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.

• Feb 26th: Parent Meeting about Dual Enrollment & curriculum, 6:00 pm in the theater
• March 8th: Rico Pozole sale to benefit VPA
• March 13-15: Sacred Heart's Peter Pan at Notre Dame's Theater
• March 18: Notre Dame's Day of Giving
• April 11-12: Notre Dame's spring musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
• April 12: Notre Dame's Pickleball tournament
• May 16: "Our Story of the Beatles" production
• May 23: Baccalaureate Mass 10 am Notre Dame Theater
• May 25: Graduation 3:00 pm at the ND Theater

In the pool we award one swimmer the "Mermaid of the Day" award for hard work and enthusiasm. The next day, the mermaid gets to wear a special cap!

As we continue to add games, here is the the lacrosse schedule, and the swimming schedule. This fall's volleyball and tennis schedules are now being built.

Every interested Spirit coming out for spring sports needs to be up-to-date on Home Campus. Every new student-athlete was emailed information this week.

Course Request Forms

Course request forms were shared with all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors this week. Students are encouraged to use their available resources when making their selections, including consulting with teachers, parents, and me. Forms are due by Thursday, March 13. Students are welcome to schedule a meeting with me anytime to review their course choices.

Women at Work Speaker Series Kicks Off this week!

This Thursday will be the first of three Women at Work career panels featuring accomplished Notre Dame alumnae! This series was created in honor of Women’s History Month and aims to support students in their career exploration by exposing them to diverse career paths and connecting them with alumnae working in those fields.

Check out the details on this week's Careers in Business, Management, and Entrepreneurship panelists.

Looking Ahead...
Next week’s panel will spotlight five Notre Dame alumnae making an impact in STEM fields:

• Diana Cramer (Bandy '08) – Labor & Delivery Nurse
• Shelby Freese ('14) – Industrial Engineer
• Nicole Polo ('17) – Biomedical Engineer
• Gwyneth Sauceda ('81) – Electrical Engineer
• Alex Lathos (‘14) – Nurse Practitioner Student

Outside Opportunities:

• ACT Practice Opportunity this Saturday (3/8): Revolution Test prep will be offering Notre Dame Students a free online opportunity to take a practice ACT on 3/8. View details and register here.
• Monterey Recreation Summer Job Opportunities: The City of Monterey Recreation is seeking enthusiastic and responsible students to hire to fill leadership positions in their various summer programs. View the Summer 2025 Job Brochure, Job Descriptions and Download a Job Application.
• Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate: Open to poets ages 13-19, the winner will serve a one-year term (May 2025 – April 2026), represent the county at events, and receive a $1,000 honorarium. Applicants must reside in Monterey County and submit five original poems by March 19, 2025.
• Salinas Valley Summer Health Institute Application Now Open! Apply by 3/25: This five-week program, running from June 16 – July 18, offers a unique opportunity for junior and senior high school students interested in healthcare careers to learn from medical professionals, participate in clinical case studies, and engage in public health advocacy projects. Applications are due by March 25 at 4 PM—be sure to submit all required materials via email. See the attached flyer for details, and apply by March 25th!

2024-25 College Scholarship Opportunities

The “Women at Work Series” begins tomorrow; this is an opportunity to empower our next

generation of Spirits to connect with our remarkable Alumnae! As our students navigate their

academic journeys and begin to envision their future careers, we want to highlight the incredible

network of women who are making significant strides in diverse fields. Their

experiences, insights, and achievements serve as a powerful testament to the potential that lies

within each of them.

Our alumnae are not just success stories; they are active participants in shaping the future. They

are “Pioneers in STEM and Health” as they demonstrate that women are not only capable but

essential in driving progress in these critical fields. They are “Changemakers in the Arts and

Humanities,” using their creative talents and critical thinking skills to shape culture, influence

policy, and advocate for social justice. They are “Public Servants and Community Leaders,”

dedicated to serving their communities and making a positive impact on society. Tomorrow’s

Alumnae are “Leaders in Business and Entrepreneurship,” breaking barriers in the corporate

world, founding their own ventures, and redefining what it means to lead.

Through the “Women at Work Series” NDHS is actively working to connect our students with

these successful Alumnae. Their stories are a testament to the power of education and the

limitless potential of women.

Email: tuhl@notredamesalinas.org

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

TheCatholic School Matters podcast is back and is now focused on conversations with authors from the upcoming book A Brighter Future for Catholic Schools. The first podcast is a conversation with Dr. Antonio Felix from LMU who discusses his framework for engaging Hispanic families in Catholic schools. I wrote a longer blog summarizing the podcast here.

Previous episodes this season:

• conversation with Dr. John Reyes of Boston College discussing the concept of "polycrisis" and how that impacts leadership in these turbulent times.