First, the good news. Enrollment is now up to 54 which means we have added seven students since the summer began. It might be jarring and shocking to see the number 54. It is what it is; we need to face the brutal facts and move toward dogged determinism that we'll rebound. And we will! More good news--we have 29 students out for all sports--meaning that over half of our student body is playing a fall sport! And I'm looking forward to hearing the choir on Thursday morning at our first All-School Mass!

One of the seven hallmarks of St. Julie (the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the founders of this school) was Building Community. We have taken this as our theme for the start of the year. With so much talk of "our polarized" country and church, it's worth reflecting on how we do this.

Perhaps it's worth considering this question...how do you build a relationship? Our students know how to do this since they are thinking a bit about relationships as they begin the year. It starts with time. You can't build a relationship without spending time together. In our busy lives, the best gift we can give is time.

We're asking our faculty, staff, and students to build stronger relationships. This is taking a commitment of time. Please consider being a bigger part of our community. This would mean a commitment of your time. I think many Catholic schools know this and thus adopted "mandatory" service hours to foster this commitment. I prefer to talk about the benefits, not the requirements! Our students need to see you at school, need to know your commitment to our community, and they will feel the difference.

We're having our Mass of the Holy Spirit on Thursday morning at 9:20 am in the theater with Fr. Martel. Please consider coming out to join us. The other consideration is our call for School Board members. If you're interested in serving on the Board or a committee, please fill out the interest form. If you know of anyone who would be great for the School Board, here is this Google Form for nominations.

Dr. Tim Uhl

• Student announcements for the week can be found here and WOW week info 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
• All students should be in proper uniform (plaid bottoms, ND block sweater and polo) for Mass on Thursday. Since we are celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit, students are encouraged to wear red accessories with their uniform.
• Mr. Dan Anderson, the new superintendent for the Diocese of Monterey, will be joining us for the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Here is a letter he has written to all Catholic school parents.
• The Notre Dame Back to School Dance is on Saturday, August 31. The dance guidelines are available here. The theme of the dance will be announced next week.

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 22nd, Mass of the Holy Spirit 9:20 am (all invited!)
• Aug 24th, Volleyball jamboree
  
• Aug 26th, WOW week begins
• Aug 29th, Back to School Night for Parents, 6:00 pm
• Aug 31st, Back to School dance

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.

Get to Know the College & Guidance Counseling Office

As we welcome a new school year, we want to highlight the invaluable resources available through our College & Guidance Counseling program, designed to support your daughter's academic, social, and emotional development throughout their high school journey.

Meet Mrs. Stone, Our College & Guidance Counselor:

Mrs. Stone is here to assist both students and their families with a range of services, including:

• Academic Support: Guidance on course selection, study strategies, and academic goal-setting.
• Career Exploration: Opportunities for students to discover their interests and talents, explore potential career paths, and set realistic career goals.

• Personal and Social Guidance: A supportive space for addressing personal challenges, strengthening healthy coping skills, and building healthy relationships.
• College and Post-Secondary Planning: Assistance with college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and planning for life after high school.

We encourage you to connect with Mrs. Stone if you have any questions or need support regarding your daughter’s academic or personal development. She is available via phone (831-751-1850 ext. 222), email (kstone@notredamesalinas.org), or by scheduling a meeting.

FACTS Family Portal

We’re excited to announce our new school management system – FACTS SIS (Student Information System). FACTS gives parents the opportunity to get more involved in their child's academic progress and future success by using FACTS Family Portal, a private and secure portal that allows you to view academic information specific to your children. You may view your daughter's grades, attendance, homework, as well as other useful school information such as the school calendar and teacher email addresses.

Accessing your Family Portal

1. From FACTSmgt.com, click Log In Here, then click Family Portal Login.

2. Click Create new account.

3. Type our school's District Code: NDHS-CA

4. Type your Email Address.

5. Click CREATE ACCOUNT.

An email will be sent which includes a link to create your Family Portal Login. The link is active for 6 hours.

6. Click the Create your Family Portal Login link in the email.

7. Type a Username and Password.

8. Click Create Account.

9. Click Back to log in and use your new credentials to log in.

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

We have received several calls this week with questions about parent volunteer hours. There is no doubt, parent involvement creates a stronger sense of community within the school. Parents who are actively involved in their child's education tend to have children who perform better academically. We will have multiple opportunities for families to volunteer at school. We have events planned that will require help to set-up and break down an event, Grandparents Mass-September 19, Halloween Breakfast in October, Bocce Night in November, 60th All Class Reunion in December, Crab Feed in January, help with taking tickets at sports events, class celebrations and so much more. We also ask for product or auction items from time to time-. We are so grateful for our parent volunteers and what they add to our school.

In addition, student volunteerism not only develops essential life skills for our girls, but is highly valued by colleges and universities. Demonstrating a commitment to community service strengthens resumes for future jobs and internships, and volunteering in different fields can help students discover potential career paths. Students will be asked to volunteer at our events, and those students who go above and beyond their regular volunteer hours are always recognized!

Two opportunities away from school are listed below:

• Sacred Heart School Festival-September 22, 2024
• California Airshow September 28, 29, 2024

In essence, volunteering is a win-win situation for high school students and their families. It not only benefits themselves but also positively impacts the community. Thank you for your support!

A weekly newsletter of resources for the ND Spirits community

Email: tuhl@notredamesalinas.org

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