Notre Dame High School 2020 Open House Brochure

Welcome

TO NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL!

During the time you spend at our open house, you can expect to interact with both our curricular and co-curricular faculty, experience a virtual tour and enjoy the warm hospitality of our community as you learn more about our distinctive and exciting approach to learning.

Please be sure to join our principal, Mary Beth Riley, as she shares her vision for Notre Dame live from the Center for Women's Leadership.

She will welcome groups every half hour.

Your time at our event is self-guided. Go to each building and enter the designated rooms to learn more about that program.

Please start at Sunflower Plaza:

www.ndsj.org/OH-plaza For technical or event support, go to:

www.ndsj.org/OH-support Para ayuda en espaĂąol, empieza aqui:

www.ndsj.org/OH-espanol

CAMPUS ACCESS

4

ND shuttles

run daily to/from the

DIRIDON STATION & CAMPUS

Top Catholic High School in the state of California

3

ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION

consecutive years

ND STUDENTS

TARGETING

HAVE HONORED

AN INCOMING

HISTORICAL WOMEN

3,965

WITH

THROUGH THE WOMAN’S PLACE PROJECT

ATHLETICS

35

STUDENTS EARNED LEAGUE AWARDS LAST YEAR

47

176

OVER

YEARS

2024

CLASS

PLACE SETTINGS

24

CLASS OF

650

AVERAGE SCHOOL SIZE

SPEECH & DEBATE

7

CONSECUTIVE

YEARS

of students partcipating in state & national competitions

middle schools

VAPA

ROBOTICS

2

nd

1

PLACE

INTEGRATED

PROGRAM

7

DISCIPLINES

EARNED @ CalGames

By ND’s robotics team

THE JANKSTERS in 2018

SCHOOL SPIRIT As part of our tradition and sisterhood, each class chooses their mascot and colors during the Freshman

Event

CLASS OF 2021

CLASS OF 2022

CLASS OF 2023

CLASS OF 2024

TEAL & RED

ORANGE & LT BLUE

PURPLE & MINT GREEN

ROYAL BLUE & GOLD

TIGERS 01 | www.ndsj.org

RAPTORS

JAGUARS

DRAGONS

Center For Women's Leadership CENTER FOR CAREER & LIFE SUCCESS Application Workshop Learn about the application process at Notre Dame. The workshop includes screenshots of the application portal and further information about the digital portfolios. A resource for selecting between the High School Placement Test and an academic sample of work is included as well. The

LIVE SESSIONS with Principal Mary Beth Riley 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30

application link will open on Sunday, October 18, 2020. The deadline to apply is Friday, December 11, 2020.

Admissions Admissions interns are available to respond to questions related to the application and admissions process at Notre Dame. Families are encouraged to view the application workshop prior to attending this live session.

Tuition Assistance Each year, Notre Dame awards tuition assistance to support access to our educational program. Join us to speak with our business office and learn more about the process.

MEDITATION ROOM Religious Studies & Campus Ministry Inspired by St. Julie and anchored in Catholic social teaching, we proclaim the goodness of God and the fundamental call to action on behalf of justice. In the classroom, students respond to the message of Jesus with self-reflection, critical thinking, prayer and service.

Through comprehensive programs of Catholic liturgy and community service learning, retreats and social justice campaigns and ongoing spiritual development opportunities, campus ministry encourages students to participate in the growth of their own faith and spiritual leadership. Anchored in the conviction that all life is sacramental, students build inclusive community and engage in interfaith dialogue.

Global Education Students can explore the world around them through cultural immersions or merge travel with service through justice immersion trips. Notre Dame offers 24 local and global travel opportunities over two years.

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Donnelly Hall

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER Program of Distinction: Education for Justice and Leadership Every student at Notre Dame experiences curricular and co-curricular programs that intentionally develop personal responsibility, community, stewardship and advocacy.

Students are also empowered to pursue opportunities that develop their leadership skills on and off campus. In recognition of our unique integrated humanities curriculum, Notre Dame has been named to the prestigious Facing History Partner Schools Network.

English Notre Dame’s English curriculum is sequential and literature-based, developing digital literacy as well as oral and written skills. Students engage with the concepts of Education for Justice & Leadership incorporated into the experiential learning of our downtown “classroom.�

Religious Studies In the religious studies classroom, students respond to the message of Jesus with self-reflection, critical thinking, prayer and service. Students are engaged as spiritual seekers and justice advocates over their seven semesters of religious studies courses.

Social Studies Students engage in the material in the social studies classroom through not only an academic lens, but with consideration for ethical and social justice issues. This occurs continually through all the department courses in collaboration with the integrated humanities program.

Modern Languages The modern language program goal is to make language accessible, with an emphasis on speaking the language. Students are prepared to be citizens in a global society where cross-cultural communication and knowledge of other cultures is critical. Languages offered include Spanish, French, Mandarin and American Sign Language.

Speech & Debate Intellectual growth, communication and leadership skills are fostered through the speech and debate program at Notre Dame. Peer mentoring and adult coaching promote student success in an encouraging, yet competitive, scholastic competition. Students participate in more than 30 local, regional, state and national competitions, with our students receiving accolades across all levels of competition.

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Julie Billiart Hall

Athletics Notre Dame offers junior varsity and varsity teams in 10 sports as well as freshman levels for basketball and volleyball. Student athletes utilize on-campus resources and state-of-theart off-campus facilities including Del Monte field, PAL Stadium, San Jose Municipal Golf Course and the Aquatic Center at San Jose State University.

Fall Sports: Cross Country, Golf, Tennis and Volleyball Winter Sports: Basketball and Soccer Spring Sports: Lacrosse, Softball, Swimming and Track & Field

Physical Education All freshmen take an introductory course that emphasizes personal fitness and empowerment skills through self defense training, as well as mental health and wellness education. Students may also receive course credit through participation in the athletics program at the varsity level.

Student Government Through the Associated Student Body (ASB), or student government, 84 elected student leaders work with the director of student leadership and activities and their peers to identify a theme each year and commit to “provide for more efficient execution of student body business, inspire school spirit and encourage scholastic achievement."

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Manley Hall

SCIENCE LABS Science The science department strives to provide all students with a background in science that will enable them to function as effective citizens and responsible adults in a world that is scientifically and technologically oriented.

Technology, Engineering and Design The technology, engineering and design (TED) program focuses on educating students for the future. Courses and opportunities offered through the TED program foster critical thinking, creativity, design and collaboration skills.

Mathematics The study of mathematics develops critical and logical thinking skills applicable to all aspects of a student’s life. The department is an integral part of the STEAM program at Notre Dame and actively seeks connections to social justice issues through cross-curricular coordination and projects.

Robotics Through the robotics program, students utilize engineering skills to conceptualize, design and build a functioning robot. Additionally, students learn non-technical skills to promote STEM, the team and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) through marketing and outreach programs. Robotics is a student-centered program that involves real world, hands-on learning.

LEARNING COMMONS Student Clubs & Organizations Students have 30+ ways to share interests and discover new ones during lunch! Meet with students from various clubs and learn about opportunities available to join or start your own club.

NDPA & Alumni Association The Notre Dame Parent Association promotes parent engagement opportunities that reflect our school’s culture of giving and getting involved. Notre Dame graduates benefit from the networking opportunities available to alumni of the oldest all-girls school in the western U.S.

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Student Life Center MUSIC CENTER Visual & Performing Arts Students with an interest in the arts and self-expression have a unique opportunity to grow and showcase their talents through our award-winning visual and performing arts program, which features 12 visual and 22 performing arts classes. After school opportunities include two choirs, symphonic band with Bellarmine, three productions and technical theater.

Under the tutelage of teachers who are acting artists-in-residence themselves, students experience the arts in our downtown setting. Local professional theaters and art galleries provide additional venues for artists to build their exposure and resume.

Counseling All students receive academic, personal and college counseling during their time at Notre Dame. Each student is assigned a counselor who will support her around personal and academic issues for four years. The relationship begins in the spring of eighth grade year when the counselor registers each student for classes.

The director of college counseling works with students from sophomore through senior year to prepare them for the college selection process. In addition, students with documented learning differences receive support from the learning resource specialists. All students have access to tutoring through the tutoring coordinator.

Program of Distinction: Mentoring Students are placed in mentoring groups of approximately 24 students that remain together over their four years at Notre Dame. Each group has a faculty mentor that provides individual academic coaching at each progress report, supports emotional and spiritual growth and facilitates mentoring lessons related to life skills as well as health and wellness.

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Notre Dame High School in Downtown San Jose ND Reads For 14 years, Notre Dame has selected a book that reinforces the concepts in the Education for Justice & Leadership Initiative to be read by the entire learning community.

Both curricular and co-curricular programs integrate the ND Reads book into the year’s activities. The program also includes an author talk for the students and extended community. Learn more: www.ndsj.org/ndreads

Pathways In addition to a general course of college-preparatory study, students can specialize through Academic Pathways that provide particular focus for college majors and careers.

Interested students work with their personal counselor to identify courses and map out a graduation plan. In addition, Notre Dame offers an opportunity to earn diplomas with emphasis in core areas of interest. Upon completion of designated courses and related co-curricular activities, students may receive an endorsed diploma at graduation in one of three areas: STEAM, Social Justice or VAPA. View our course catalog for more information and descriptions of all classes: www.ndsj.org/course-catalog

Women of Impact Notre Dame commits to developing women leaders. For each student, the journey begins in her freshman year with the Woman’s Place Project through which all students study and honor women of impact. This freshman milestone is bookended with the Senior Service Learning Project through which each senior implements a service project to support her local or global community. This experience culminates at the Young Woman’s Advocacy Summit, where each student advocates on behalf of the social justice issue she addressed in her capstone project. Learn more: www.ndsj.org/woi

Accessing Campus Our urban landscape provides easy access for families, whether they drive, carpool, walk or use public transportation. Notre Dame also offers a shuttle from the Diridon Station in the morning and afternoon.

Mission Statement

Notre Dame High School, in the heart of downtown San Jose since 1851, provides young women an exemplary Catholic, college-preparatory education to become life-long learners, spiritual seekers, justice advocates and community leaders. We are inspired by Saint Julie Billiart and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. We empower young women and “teach them what they need to know for life.”

596 S. 2nd Street, San Jose, CA 95112 www.ndsj.org | @notredamesj