This fall, we set out to give our Spirits a vibrant high school experience despite our low numbers. We also have tried to make sure that everyone is seen, heard, and feels a part of the community. Our other main priority was to invite people to our campus--including current parents, alumnae, and prospective families--to see how transformative this school is.

All these priorities are colliding over the next few days. Tomorrow, we're hosting an All-School Mass (9:15 am) followed by a Posada. Bishop Danny will be the celebrant (Bishop Ryan the co-celebrant) and middle schoolers from Madonna and Sacred Heart will be joining us. After Mass, all of us will be celebrating a Posada. In this event, many of us will travel with Jesus and Mary as they search for a place to stay. We'll travel to the freshman room, sing a few songs, and will be turned away. The freshmen will join us as we travel to the sophomore class, and the process will repeat until we all travel to the seniors in the gym. There, we will find a home and celebrate with tamales, pinatas, and more! It's going to be a great celebration. We have invited parents to help us plan this great event. We are hoping that many of our Hispanic families will feel seen and more a part of our school than ever before. We're also hoping our prospective students enjoy this view of our great school.

After the Posada, Bishop Danny will stay to have lunch with our senior class. All are welcome to join us! We'd love to see parents and alumnae at the Mass and Posada.

Later that night, we'll be hosting our first home basketball game of the season at 5:30 pm followed by a 60th Anniversary Celebration for our former athletes and coaches. It's a chance for our Spirit alumnae to come together.

On Friday, we'll be gathering our Christmas gifts for our Sponsorship Drive. Our students have really stepped up as we are sponsoring 16 families with over 40 children. We're not just buying toys--we're providing families with essential needs such as blankets, toilet paper, and rice to make their Christmas special. We'll be delivering these to our Catholic Charities partners at St. Mary's.

On Saturday night, our Faculty & Staff will be gathering to watch "A Christmas Carol" at the ARIEL Children's Theater. Both Mrs. England (playing the Ghost of Christmas Past) and the author (the Ghost of Christmas Present) will be entertaining the crowd and then the faculty & staff will be celebrating together in downtown Salinas.

On Sunday, we'll be showcasing our Fine Arts during our Fall Fine Arts Showcase (3-5 pm) followed by a 60th Anniversary celebration. We'll see our current Spirits dancing, singing, and acting surrounded by great examples of their artistic creations. There will be a reception so our current students, alumnae, and parents will be able to celebrate our great school.

On Monday, we'll be celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at 10 in the Commons. You're welcome to join us! As you can see, it's a vibrant school working to include all and bring everyone together.

Go Spirits!

Dr. Tim Uhl

• On December 5th, we'll be celebrating Mass in the theater with Bishop Danny and middle schoolers from Sacred Heart and Madonna. Afterward, we'll be celebrating Las Posadas and then the seniors will be sharing lunch with Bishop Danny. That night, we'll have our first home basketball game (5:30) followed by a 60th anniversary athletics-centered celebration.
• Christmas gifts are due December 5th
• On December 8th, we'll be celebrating Fine Arts (3-5 pm) followed by a Fine Arts-centered 60th anniversary celebration.
• The student announcements for the week can be found here.
• 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.

• Dec 5th: Mass with Bishop Danny & middle schoolers followed by una Posada
• Dec 5th: Home Basketball game vs. Seaside (5:30 pm) followed by 60th anniversary reception
• Dec 6th: deadline for the Christmas gifts for sponsored families
• Dec 8th: Fine Arts celebration & 60th anniversary celebration (3-5 pm)
• Dec 9th: All-School Mass (Feast of Immaculate Conception)
• Dec 17: Blocks 6 (8:30) & 7 semester finals (10:30)
• Dec 18: Blocks 4 (8:30) & 5 semester finals (10:30)
• Dec 19: Blocks 2 (8:30) & 3 semester finals (10:30)
• Dec 20: Block 1 (8:30) semester final
• Dec 20: Alumnae brunch 10:00 am
• Jan 18: Crab Feed

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. As we continue to add games, here is the basketball schedule, the lacrosse schedule, the swimming schedule, and the softball schedule.

FAFSA/CADAA Workshops for Seniors (12/10) and Parents of Seniors (12/11)

A FAFSA/CADAA Workshop for senior parents will be held on Wednesday, December 11th, from 8:30–10:00 AM on campus. The workshop will focus on assisting families in completing and submitting their FAFSA/CADAA applications with the guidance of the Hartnell Financial Aid department.

Preparing for the Workshop

To make the most of the session, please complete the following steps beforehand:

1. Create an FSA ID:

   • Both the student and parents(s) should create an FSA ID (username and password).
   • Complete this step by Friday, December 6th, or at least three days before the workshop (it takes 1-3 days for the SSA to process and verify information)

2. Gather Required Documents:

   • Bring student and parent Social Security Numbers (SSNs), tax returns, and other financial records.
   • For a complete list of possible required documents, click here..

3. Bring a Device:

   • Please bring a laptop, tablet, or another device to use during the application process.

Additional Support for Students

To ensure students are prepared, I will host a student-only workshop during lunch on Tuesday, December 10th to guide them through their portion of the application.

Why FAFSA Matters

All senior families are encouraged to complete a FAFSA application. Beyond determining eligibility for federal and state aid, many colleges require it to award institutional financial aid. Pay special attention to priority deadlines:

• State priority deadline: March 2nd, 2025
• Institutional deadlines: Some as early as December for priority financial aid consideration

We look forward to seeing you at the workshop and supporting your family through this important process.

2024-25 Scholarship Opportunities

We LOVE our Notre Dame athletes who work hard and train to represent their school in our athletics league. But, have you ever wondered about the athletes in our community who train tirelessly, not for school glory, but for personal passion and global recognition? These individuals, often referred to as independent athletes, are a unique breed, driven by an unwavering commitment to their sport.

ND Junior, Hailey Jo Guerini, competes in the sport of rodeo. Hailey competed last weekend at the 2024 Mid State Classic Breakaway where she and Chester were Breakaway Champions for the second year in a row. She competed against 101 "salty" Breakaway ropers!

Sophomore, Danica Balesteri, is very busy competing in Roller Derby. Her favorite "bout" was against Sacramento; final score was 500 to 89! Danica and her mom are in the process of starting their own league in our area... interested? Let them know!

Freshman, Caitlin Colarossi, at just 14 years old has earned several medals in gymnastics. Her mom states, "For Caitlin, gymnastics isn’t just a sport; it’s a reflection of the perseverance, adaptability, and grit that she’s carried with her" no matter where her family's military life will take her.

Just as we celebrate our school athletes, let's celebrate these extraordinary individuals who have chosen independent sports as Notre Dame Spirits,and pursue their own individual athletic dreams.

Email: tuhl@notredamesalinas.org

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

TheCatholic School Matters podcast is on hiatus until January.

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.
• A conversation with Ryan Collins, an Educational Technology blogger and administrator, discussing how AI is changing educational technology and instruction.
• A discussion about burnout and balanced leadership with consultant and former Catholic school leader Andrew Murray. Based in New Zealand, Murray has a unique perspective on finding balance after a tough bout with long COVID.
• A conversation with author, professor, and school choice advocate Dr. Ashley Rogers Berner of Johns Hopkins. Her new book Educational Pluralism & Democracy: How to Handle Indoctrination, Promote Exposure, and Rebuild America's Schools is a great discussion of building a new system of school with accountability
• A conversation with Susan Morrissey about Artificial Intelligence. Susan is a graduate student and PD presenter who thinks about AI through a Catholic lens.
• I kicked off Season 9 with a conversation with theologian Dr. Ann Garrido. We discuss her latest book, Redeeming Power, and its relation to her earlier work Let's Talk About Truth. We discuss how power and influence are perceived, how important it is to be truthful in leadership, and the challenges of both in ministry