S e p te m ber 2 0 1 3
One Voice the peoria c atholic high school Parent Newsletter
Welcome Back Irish It’s hard to believe that we are already approaching the midpoint of our first trimester here at PND. This past August, we welcomed 216 freshmen to campus our largest class in a decade. A number of new faculty members have joined our ranks including the Dominican Sisters Mary Mother of the Eucharist, who began their ministry at St. Jude, as well as at Peoria Notre Dame. The program committee of the Board of Trustees is in the final steps of completion of our new three-year strategic plan. This plan will be formally presented at the October board meeting. One area of emphasis in the new plan calls for the creation and implementation of a new teacher evaluation system.
C o ntin uo us I Mprov e m e nt
Developing The Whole Person — Body, Mind, And Spirit
We are blessed to have a wonderful and exceptional teaching staff. As a school, we have a strong commitment to continuous improvement. To that end, we are seeking to implement a system that provides greater feedback and a stronger emphasis on teacher development. The previous system involved using sporadic pre-scheduled teacher evaluations. This process, while heavy in paperwork, did little to lead to authentic improvement and growth. (continued on next page)
C o ntinuo u s Improv e me nt (c o nt.) Beginning last spring and working through the summer, a group of administrators and instructors have developed a new system that will help provide greater feedback and coaching for our teaching staff. This system will move from the annual formal visit to a series of frequent informal classroom visits, surveys, and observations that will help provide more guidance and coaching. In a number of ways, these changes mirror those taking place around the State of Illinois with regard to teacher evaluation. To implement this ambitious plan, PND has hired Mr. Randy Simmons as an Assistant Principal. Mr. Simmons provides a wealth of experience in this area and has enjoyed a distinguished career in District 150. Sister Margaret Schulz, CSJ and Randy Simmons will share the bulk of the duties associated with this new evaluation system. Our hope is to continually improve our staff and provide our students with the means to attain academic excellence.
Charlie A. Roy Principal
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When Notre Dame goes out of session for summer break, a small army of students descends on the facility to clean and refurbish it. Mrs. Pat Matarelli manages the operation as she has for the last twenty-two years. “Our goals are to clean the building for the next school year and offer students the opportunity to earn tuition dollars,” said Mrs. Matarelli. Each student can earn $300 off of his or her tuition by working thirty-two hours. Thirty to forty students work at any given week. “A student works Monday thru Thursday for four hours each day. It is customary for students to work in two-week blocks,” said Mrs. Matarelli. Every part of the building is cleaned. This begins when student workers empty all of the furniture from each and every classroom so the custodial staff can strip and wax the floors. When that’s complete, Mrs. Matarelli’s kids thoroughly clean the room and its contents. “We even clean the locker rooms,” said Mrs. Matarelli with a grimace. This summer, faculty member, Mr. Mark Brown, took charge of the outdoor projects. The outdoor workers spread four truckloads of mulch, cut down two trees, and pulled bushels of weeds. All of the yellow parking lines were repainted by hand. This laborious task gave our parking lot a muchneeded improvement. Besides the program’s two goals, there are other benefits according to Mrs. Matarelli. “Kids learn some basic life skills like how to wash a window and vacuum a carpet. Freshmen meet some of their schoolmates and learn the building’s layout. Helping freshmen to be less confused is always a good idea.”
Yours In Christ,
Freshman Day of recollection Wednesday, October 2
Summer work program
no school Friday, October 11
parent/teacher night Wednesday, October 16 5-7 PM
Other important dates
PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE From the P RES I D E N T Livin g Our Fa it h Welcome back to another school year as we continue celebrating our Year of Faith. Our theme for this year is “Living Our Faith.” St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel always; use words if necessary.” At PND, all of us - faculty, staff, students, and parents are a family, and as a family in Christ, we are called to live out our Faith in how we live, how we treat one another, how we speak about others, and in so many other ways. I pray that this will be a good spiritual and academic year for all our students and families. Celebrating 150 Years of Catholic Secondary Education makes me realize the great gift and privilege of Catholic education. Together as we invest in the future for our young people and ourselves, I pray that this will be a grace-filled year of truly “Living our Faith.”
Hono r in g our pa s t: buil din g o ur f ut ure I would also like to provide a brief update about our Capital Campaign. We have been securing funding through the Leadership Phase of the Capital Campaign for the Athletic Complex of our building project. We have been successful in our fundraising efforts, and are now beginning the Public Phase of our project to engage the 21 supporting parishes, as well as parents, alumni, community, and friends. I ask two things from all our parents. First to pray about making a sacrificial pledge to the Capital Campaign, Honoring our Past: Building our Future, keeping in mind that it’s not about equal gifts, but equal sacrifice. Second, I ask your help by being an advocate and promoting the good work that we want to do for the future of PND and your children. Your voice is a very powerful tool to promote this project that will help all our young people, especially our current students.
Lo okin g Ahe a d For 150 years we have managed, now is the time to embark on a new future where all of our teams can participate as one… on one campus… in one location. I ask you to join us and encourage others to do so. I will be sharing more information with you about this in the near future. Have a blessed year and know that I am always available to visit and chat with you. With every good wish, I am In the peace of Christ, Msgr. Mark J. Merdian President
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
RE m i n de r s & u p d at e s
PN D’s 2013 Advan ced p lac em ent sch olar s named
The Advanced Placement testing program held at Peoria Notre Dame in May, 2013, yielded six seniors who were named Advanced Placement Scholars. Joseph Rudolph (now at the University of Notre Dame) and Madeline Sposato (now at Georgetown University) were named AP Scholars with Distinction for taking 5 or more AP exams and receiving a score of 3 or higher on all exams. Lukas Lahood (now at the University of Illinois– UC) and Jinrong Shi (also at the University of Illinois-UC) were named AP Scholars with Honor for taking 4 AP exams and receiving a score of 3 or higher on them. Theodore Ehrhart and Patrick Wille (both also at the University of Illinois –UC) were named AP Scholars for taking 3 exams and receiving a score of 3 or higher on them.
Schoo l
Each year PND compiles a “profile” ............ of the previous year’s graduating class. This profile is then sent to colleges and universities to give admissions’ committees a composite view of our high school. This is useful as they make decisions regarding our current seniors’ admission to their respective freshman classes. Once again the Class of 2013 out performed both the state and national averages on the American College Testing (ACT) program. Scores on the ACT assessment range from 1-36. The state of Illinois average in English is 20.2, and the national average is 20.2. This year’s PND average in English is 25.2. In Math, the state average score is 20.7, the national average is 20.9 and the PND average is 23. State average in Reading is 20.4, and the national average is 21.1. PND average in Reading is 25.5. The Science Reasoning state average is 20.5, and national average is 20.7, while PND average is 24. The Composite (or average of all the subtests) score is 20.6 for the state, 20.7 nationally, and 24.6 for last year’s PND seniors. The PND Profile will be available at the PND website.
PROFILE
Juniors will be receiving information about this year’s ACT testing after the start of second trimester. Also included will be information about various ACT prep seminars. College bound juniors are encouraged to take the ACT testing in the spring of their junior year. Testing and preparatory seminars information will be available in the Counseling Center.
Overall at PND in 2013, 36 juniors and seniors took 70 Advanced Placement exams this past May in such diverse areas as Calculus, European History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, English Literature and English Language, French, Spanish, Latin, and Environmental Science.
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
fa l l t h e at r e p r o d u c ti o n u p t h e down stai rc ase
P N D B a nd h o n o r b a nd & performances
This year, Peoria Notre Dame’s Drama Club is performing Up the Down Staircase. This play, set in the overcrowded Calvin Coolidge High School in New York, is based on the novel by Bel Kaufman.
The Peoria Notre Dame Band is already off to a fantastic year! Our rehearsals are 4 days a week during advisory. Our group has grown to 47 members this year!
“Hi, Teach!” are the first words to greet attractive Sylvia Barrett. Students pour into the classroom cautious, testing, challenging. Simultaneously, there’s a blizzard of paperwork, warnings, contradictory orders, indecipherable instructions. Frantic, Sylvia begins to fear she doesn’t even understand the language. An experienced teacher translates: “Keep on file in numerical order” means throw in wastebasket. “Let it be a challenge” means you’re stuck with it. “Interpersonal relationships” means a fight between kids. And “It has come to my attention” means you’re in trouble. Soon Sylvia finds herself the most involved person in the school involved in the start of a romance and in a near war with a discipline-overeverything administrator, but, most of all, involved in the unexpected, sometimes heartbreaking problems of her students. The cast of 30 will perform on November 7, 8, and 9, 2013 at 7:30 PM each night. Please contact Mrs. Svoboda at k.svoboda@pndhs.org for more information.
Music Notes Many thanks to our choir members who attended choir camp in August and who sang for the 150th Anniversary Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral on August 31. Many thanks to parents who helped make the 150th Anniversary Mass so beautiful. Any students interested in joining the PND Choir should contact Mrs. Strauss this week at w.strauss@pndhs.org.
A huge thank you to Mrs. Matarelli, Mr. Mark Brown, the custodial staff, music students, music parents, and work camp students who helped us give our room a fresh look this summer! If you’re ever down by the gym, take a look at the great work they’ve done! This fall, our pep band has been at all home men’s football games. Listen for the ND victory song after every point we score, especially at the Homecoming game! We’re always right next to the Irish Nation. On September 21, we traveled to Northern Illinois University for our 3rd appearance in the NIU Band Day. We had a full charter bus for the trip and had a blast! In October, selected students will have the opportunity to participate in the Millikin University Honor Band. This November, we will be marching in the Veteran’s Day Parade. Give us a cheer when we march past! Our Alumni Pep Band night is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, 2013 beginning at 6:30 PM. Our Christmas concert is Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 2:00 PM in the PND Auditorium. Thank you for supporting the music program and fine arts at Peoria Notre Dame!
The music department is in need of gently used 3-ring binders.
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
RE m i n de r s & u p d at e s M i s si on Tri p: 50 Students make a d ifferenc e for Hai ti an students in m i a mi We have been very blessed this past year in Campus Ministry. Our major event was our week-long mission trip to Miami, FL this past June. The intention for our trip was that the mission trip would change our hearts to be more authentic Christian witnesses–generous, selfgiving, humble, and firm in our commitment to Christ. And this intention was certainly answered! We took 50 students and 10 faculty down to Miami where we helped run a summer camp called “In the School of Mary & the Saints” for the poor inner city children of St. Mary’s Cathedral School. The whole week’s worth of activities were planned out by our student leaders in the months preceding the camp. Our students were then responsible for carrying out the entirety of the camp that week, which they did with great joy, generosity, maturity, sacrifice, and LOVE. It was truly an encounter of hearts in which both the Notre Dame and St. Mary’s students were profoundly impacted by the love each group had for one another. Each student–big and small–walked away from this encounter edified and changed, and their hearts will forever bear the marks of this exchange of love. The students also participated in various evening activities, which were just as powerful for their hearts: a time of sharing with the Mother Adela, Foundress of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary; some powerful moments of prayer and Adoration with the Sisters, in which God’s love was experienced in a new and profound way; and some time of relaxation and play with the Sisters, at the beach, and in the city of Miami. We are so grateful for this opportunity and the power of the Lord’s love to transform hearts. Through Campus Ministry, we desire to build upon this foundation which has been laid: the foundation of authentic Christian witnesses. We desire that these young men and women bring back to their families and school the gift they have received, and that they continue to grow into more ardent and intrepid witnesses of Christ’s love. We thank you for all your prayers, and we humbly ask for more in the future.
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE From the counselors P SAT/NMS QT Junior students will take the PSAT/NMSQT test on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. The junior class will have an assembly, prior to the testing date, to provide directions and information about the tests. We anticipate the test results will be returned to PND before Christmas Break.
p l an test Sophomore students will be taking the PLAN test on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. The sophomore class will have an assembly, prior to the testing date, to provide directions and information about the PLAN. PLAN testing covers the same four areas for assessment as the college entrance exams (ACT): English, Reading, Math, and Science. We anticipate the test results will be returned to PND before Christmas Break.
e x p l o r e test - in comin g fre s hme n Students pursuing admission as freshman for the 2014-15 school year will be administered the EXPLORE test from 8:00 AM-Noon on November 2, 2013. The EXPLORE test assesses students in English, Reading, Math, and Science, and is used for student placement in the PND curriculum.
C o l leg e visits at pnd Many college representatives visit PND during the school year, providing students the opportunity to obtain information and inquire about specific colleges. College Admissions Representatives are available during advisory/lunch in the Commons. Please check the Peoria Notre Dame website for a listing of the college representatives visiting. On the PND website, click on: Students & Parents
C o l leg e applicati ons & a dmis s io n s Many seniors are in the process of applying for college admissions and scholarships. Students and parents may find valuable college and scholarship information on the Peoria Notre Dame website. Click on Students & Parents, then Advising & Counseling Students/Parents may also visit the websites of the counselors for additional college and career planning information. It is vital that students adhere to application requirements and deadlines when applying for college entrance or scholarships. Seniors that have not currently applied, or are in need of advisement, may make an appointment to meet with their counselor to facilitate the application process. Seniors are encouraged to make personal visits to any college they are considering attending in fall of 2014. PND’s College Visit Policy is noted in the Student Handbook. On some school holidays, i.e. Veterans’ Day, colleges arrange special programs for visiting seniors. Please check the college of your choice for its visitation policies/programs.
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
An n o u n c e m e n t s This summer saw the hiring of many new faculty members.
Sr. m a ri a ca nis s i us Wil l e y
s r. cat he rine t h o m a s b re nn a n
r a ndy sim m ons
Sr. Maria Canissius teaches German and Business Law. She grew up in Iowa and Missouri
Sr. Catherine Thomas grew up in Houston, Texas and received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and History from Saint Louis University
with a brief stint in Germany. She attended the University of Northern Iowa for her undergraduate degree in German and History. Sister attended Saint Louis University and earned a Masters in European History. In 2010, she entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. She professed her first vows on August 2, 2013. She is happy to teach at Peoria Notre Dame, living out the Dominican motto: “to contemplate and to give to others the fruits of that contemplation.�
in St. Louis, Missouri. After a year of volunteer work with the Missionaries of Charity, she entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and received her Master of Arts in Theology from Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida. She has experience working with students in the elementary, middle, and high school grades.
Mr. Randy Simmons joins the school as assistant principal. He
and his wife Patti Simmons are the proud parents of three Notre Dame graduates: Nate-2003, Kate-2006, and Sarah-2010. He previously worked and retired from Peoria District 150 where he taught, coached, and served as a principal in several buildings. Mrs. Simmons is a counselor at Richwoods High School. They attend St. Philomena Church where they are active members of the school and church.
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
An n o u n c e m e n t s andrew go odma n
ja cq ue l ine k e l ly
d o ug midd e ndo r f
Mr. Andrew Goodman recently graduated from Wabash College, a small liberal arts school in central Indiana with a major in
Mrs. Jacqueline Kelly is originally from Metamora and currently lives in Germantown Hills with her husband Dan and dog
Mr. Doug Middendorf grew up in Peoria. He attended St. Thomas Grade School and graduated
Goose. She received a degree in journalism from Bradley University and worked as a crime reporter for two years in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before returning to Bradley and obtaining a degree in English Secondary Education. She worked at Limestone Community High School as a freshman and sophomore English teacher, Club Volleyball Coach, Newspaper Adviser and Assistant Girls Track Coach before coming to PND. She is currently coaching the Lady Irish Varsity Volleyball Team. In her free time, she enjoys running, baking and cheering on the Cubs and Bears.
from Peoria Notre Dame High School in 2003. After high school, he attended Monmouth College, earning a degree in Physical Education. He played on the Fighting Scots Golf Team where he earned All-Conference honors his junior and senior years. He won the individual Conference Champion his senior year. In addition, his team earned a berth at the Division III NCAA tournament his senior year. He served as the Head Golf Coach at Eureka College for a season. Mr. Middendorf is the head coach of PND’s Men’s Golf Team.
Biology and a minor in chemistry. He comes from a very devout Christian family who actively support their church through bake sales, youth group missions, and community service. Andrew enjoys golf perhaps because of his fabulous short game. Mr. Goodman is serving as an Assistant Men’s Golf Coach. He says that teaching at Notre Dame is an amazing opportunity.
We deeply appreciate each and every gift
For more information or to make a donation, contact:
provided by our alumni, parents and friends.
Beth Salmon - Director of Finance
All gifts will be honored in The Honor Roll Section of the Annual Report. Remember PND in your will. 9
Peoria Notre Dame High School 5105 N Sheridan Rd. Peoria, IL 61614 309-691-9531
PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
h o m e c o m in g 2 0 1 3 u nd e r
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the sea
PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
An n o u n c e m e n t s ei g h th g r ade t ec h nolog y v is it
We will host eighth-graders from around Central Illinois for a preview of the technologies used at Peoria Notre Dame on Thursday October 17, 2013. The event begins at 9:30 AM. in our commons and concludes at 11:00 AM.
s e v enth g r ade s h o wc ase visit Notre Dame invites all seventhgraders to our sports and activities showcase. We’ll share all of the ways you can make your high school years a time that you’ll always remember. The showcase runs between 9:30 and 11:00 AM. on Wednesday October 30, 2013.
ei g h th g r ade exp lo r e test The freshman entrance exam for the Notre Dame class of 2018 will be administered to eighth-graders on Saturday November 2, 2013. Please arrive by 7:50 AM as the timed test will begin promptly at 8:00 AM. After the test, students will be served lunch and be given a Class of 2018 tee shirt.
santa breakfa s t Peoria Notre Dame invites children eight and under and their parents to our annual Santa Breakfast on Saturday December 7, 2013 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. Face painting, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa and his elves will make this a special day for our very special guests. In addition to Himself, Mr. and Mrs. Magic will perform. Don’t miss the fun!
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
An n o u n c e m e n t s Red Cross Blood Drive K e y Club Needs parent He lp Key Club is a service organization through Kiwanis that focuses on bettering the community through active service projects. For many years, the PND Key Club has sponsored two blood drives each school year. We have a strong, long-standing relationship with the American Red Cross. Our first blood drive this year takes place on Friday, December 13, 2013 from 8AM to 3PM in the gym. Throughout the day, students will take the time to donate blood. Key Club members will staff many of the tasks of hosting the blood drive. We look to parents/adults to fill a couple of critical needs. In order to facilitate this big endeavor, parent volunteers help us immensely by escorting students to and from the blood drive and supervising the recovery area. We are looking for three parents for the following two-hour shifts: 8:15 AM - 10:15 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM
If you are available to help, please contact Key Club by emailing Ms. Shawron at: g.shawron@pndhs.org or Nick Pudik at: nickolas.pudik@pndhs.org
o ffi c i a l r e l i c t o u r pe o r ia c ho s en a s a s to p on t he to u r o f b le ssed j oh n pau l ii’ s o f f ic ia l re lic
Bishop Jenky invites everyone to join him at Saint Mary’s Cathedral for an historic Mass and celebration honoring the life of Blessed John Paul II on Monday, November 18, 2013 at 7:30PM. During this Mass, the Bishop will welcome the official relic which is a vial of blood encased in a gold gospel book. The relic will be brought by Mother Adela Galindo, Foundress of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and other sisters of this community, which has two sisters serving here at PND, Sr. Sara and Sr. Mary Amanda. After Mass the public will have the opportunity for private veneration of this relic. The Diocese of Peoria is only one of three dioceses nationwide to host this holy event. Holy cards with John Paul II’s image will be given out to be touched to the relic.
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PA R E N T NEWSLETTER
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