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Notre Dame Schools: Inspiring the Mind, Engaging the heart

With a song in her heartpage 8

Fall-Winter 2011-2012 www.nd-burl.pvt.k12.ia.us Vol. 18, Issue 1

2 | Catch the Spirit

Dear Family, Friends and Alumni, There are many benefits of working at Notre Dame, but I think my favorite is that every day I get to witness what makes Notre Dame Catholic Schools so special. I see committed teachers, staff nd students making a difference and achieving the very best. Our smaller classes and innovative teaching allow students to soar. Each year Notre Dame students score above state and national averages in standardized tests. A 100% graduation rate and $1 million dollars in scholarship offers to our 2011 graduates are proof once again that our approach to educating our children is working. As you know, I have now been assigned all marketing, fundraising and public relations duties for the school. Th s reorganization came about after a year of strategic planning and meetings between the school board and foundation board. There exists a positive and concerted effort to become more streamlined and effici t, with new ambitious ideas to help Notre Dame grow and prosper, including a series of “Town Hall” meetings to ensure that Notre Dame families and supporters are working together to make Notre Dame the best it can be. Th oughout the year we depend on the generous support of our friends, families, alumni and parishioners who help keep this school going fi ancially. Our annual appeal that is included in this issue of Catch the Spirit is also a way for you to show your support for Catholic education. We have so much to be proud of at Notre Dame with our long-standing reputation for academic excellence, extra-curricular achievements, and community volunteerism. Our students have the greatest opportunity for success because our learning environment has a winning approach focusing on a respectful school culture that develops character, leadership, responsibility, and our strong Catholic faith. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to Burlington Notre Dame Catholic Schools. Val Giannettino Development Director Burlington Notre Dame

A new look, the same “Spirit”

Inspiring the mind...

Engaging the heart!

Burlington Notre Dame Catho-lic Schools, Inc., is dedicated to fulfilling the teaching ministry of the Church by promoting Catholic values and assisting students in reaching their full personal potential through Christ-centered academic and co-curricular programs.

CATCH THE SPIRIT is a catalyst in promoting the broad welfare of the Burling-ton area Catholic community, increasing parents’, alumni, and parishioners’ awareness of our schools’ role in that community.

CATCH THE SPIRIT is published twice a year by Burlington Notre Dame Catholic Schools; 702 South Roosevelt Avenue; Burlington, IA 52601-1602. Contributors: Mary Jo Miller, Jeff bbing, Val Giannettino, Deb Lillie, Ron Teater, Deb Trine.

Our Web site is

www.nd-burl.pvt.k12.ia.us

Address corrections are re-quested. Readers who know of parents, alumni, or members of Burlington area parishes who are are not receiving this newsletter should notify the De-velopment Office.

COVER PHOTO:Amanda Mansheim Brent (ND ‘89) directs the Notre Dame choir. Story: Pages 8-9

Attention Notre Dame Alumni and Friends! Contact us:

CATCH THE SPIRIT, 702 South Roosevelt Avenue, Burlington, IA 52601-1602

(319) 754-8431, ext. 385Email us at [email protected]

Catch the Spirit | 3

Globetrotting, Nike styleArrivederci! Singers take the road to Rome For the second time in five years, Notre Dame’s high school choir will be traveling to Rome to share their impeccable singing style with Italian audiences. The tour, which will take place March 15 through 24 of next year, will include stops at Rome (and St. Peter’s Basilica, right), Assisi, Venice, and Florence. Students will be performing throughout the journey as well as seeing the fantastic sights. Fifty-seven vocalists, choir director Amanda Brent, and dozens of parents and chaperones will make the trip. In 2008, 39 ND singers joined with the Holy Trinity High School students on the tour. Th s time, however, a group of over a hundred students and parents solely from Notre Dame will be taking part in the journey. P lanning and paying for such a t rip, especially one involving a large number of individuals, is a c hallenge, but thanks to the efforts of the Rome Trip Committee the process has gone smoothly. Fundraising has been an important part of the effort, and creative organizers have been busy with such projects for over two years. Students have earned trip money by working at Bees games, 34 Raceways, and Halloween haunted houses. O ther fundraisers include Pizza Hut nights, jean days, bean bag tournaments, Rome Trip dinners, “2012 Italian Tour” t-shirt purchases, and many more events that continue to happen in order to defray the costs of the journey.

(Photo from Google) In addition, the choir has recorded a CD which includes Christ-mas songs and a few select numbers to be performed on their Rome tour. These CDs can be purchased at the ND offic or from any choir student. Cost is $10. The Music Boosters, Rome Trip Committee members, and musicians always welcome those willing to help make their dream possible and say “Grazie!” to their fans who support their various fundraisers. And to the traveling vocalists, we say, “Arrivederci!” We hope you have the trip of a lifetime!

Instruction in Italian...just in time With the choir students planning a trip to Rome next spring, it was an opportune time for Notre Dame to add a teacher of Italian to the staff. G iuseppe Sollenne, from Milan,

Italy, arrived just when ND needed him. Coming to the US t hrough the Amity Institute, an intern program for international teachers, Giuseppe teaches five classes of Italian to the high school students. H e has impressed the ND

community with his instructional skills in the classroom. H is mentor, Richard Dunshee, says, “He is doing a great job. The kids love him and are learning a lot.” Giuseppe has also shared his language with those who will be traveling to Italy for the choir tour, teaching them colloquial expressions and some basic communication that tourists in hi s homeland will need to know. A mong these are how to order in restaurants, what the currency exchange is, and, of course, how to ask where the restrooms are located. ND students are impressed with another of Giuseppe’s talents--soccer. He is a member

of an Italian freestyle soccer team called the “Last Beach Team” and has demonstrated some of his moves to impressed Nike soccer fans. He plans to provide some tips to the players when spring soccer season arrives here. When he returns to Italy, Giuseppe hopes to go into teaching or translating. R ight now, he is getting some valuable classroom experience, and he has been pleased with his classes. “ They are enthusiastic about learning Italian and energetic about school,” he says. “I am happy with their progress.” A nd his students—particularly those going to Rome—are happy he’s here, too.

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S tudents who wish to earn college credit while attending Notre Dame have been able to do so for several years via online AP class offerings during the school day. Now for the fi st time, a faculty member is teaching such classes “live and in person.” The versatile Ron Teater, technology coordinator and math teacher at Notre Dame for the past three years, has added the Advanced Placement US government class to his responsibilities. The former principal of West Burlington Arnold High School has a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies and a Masters of Business Administration. Just last spring he earned his EdS (Education Specialist Degree). On e look at his teaching certifi ate reveals Teater’s extensive knowledge and background. He has endorsements to teach grades 5-12 m ath, American government, American history, economics, world history, anthrolpology, and sociology. He is also certifi d to teach Advanced Placement US history, government, and economics. In fact, as curriculum director at WBHS he developed the AP program and taught AP government, economics, and history there. A nd so when the opportunity arrived to teach such courses this year at Notre Dame, he accepted the challenge, and the students in his classes are very glad he did. C urrently eight juniors and seniors are enrolled in his US government class. If they pass the “Advanced Placement” test at the end of the course, they will receive college credit for their work.

These are not the fi st Notre Dame students to take AP classes as part of their regular course schedule here. Teater facilitated online classes taken by Andrew

Schilling and Emily Bohnenkamp, both from the Class of 2010, a nd senior Grace Deery. Th s AP g overnment group is the fi st not to do so online, however. G race took AP c hemistry last year and is also one of the students in Teater’s US government course this year. “He’s a fantastic teacher and one of the smartest people I know,” Grace says. “I feel that I am better prepared for college work because of these classes.” Next semester Teater will teach AP Macro Economics to ten juniors and seniors. With such great interest, no doubt there will be even more class offerings in the future.

Elementary Additions

ND ES has a n ew fourth grade teacher, Dana Hoskins. D ana attended Southeastern Community College, Iowa Wesleyan, and the University of Northern Iowa. Hoskins is glad to have her own classroom after a great deal of sub experience. “ I’m loving it,” she says. “Th s year has been full of challenges--and fun. I have a great group of kids.” Dana’s husband, Vernon, is a data processor.

Alaura Rappanecker is now teaching fi st grade for Notre Dame. Rappenecker, a graduate of West Burlington HS, received her BA degree from Western Illinois University in 2009. Before coming to ND Alaura was a s ubstitute teacher as well as a

summer school instructor. A laura loves the closeness of the Notre Dame system, among both the students and the staff. Her husband, Kyle, is a graphic designer.

Anyone for art? Nicole Kamrath takes over the K-12 art department. K amrath graduated from Iowa State University and later earned her teaching license from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After teaching at Mediapolis and Horace Mann, Kamrath took some time off to have a family. (She has two children, Logan, a fi st grader, and Jacob, in t hird grade.) A long with her teaching duties, Kamrath is a junior class advisor and assists with art projects for the music department. Her husband, Max, is an engineer at Iowa Ordnance.

MR. Teater tackles the AP classes...

Spain, Taiwan, Vietnam, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Norway, China. Global awareness has arrived at Notre Dame with the addition to the student body of a dozen international students from nine different nations. F rom Spain come Alvaro Aiden Fernandez, a sophomore, and Alicia Tejerina-Diez, a junior. Taiwan sends Yung-Chih (“Kevin”) Shu, a junior, and Su-Yu (“Penny”) Chen, a senior. Thuy Gia Dam, or “Tierra,” from Vietnam and Christopher Iwanek from Germany have also joined the senior class. Japan has two representatives here, both in the junior class: Takafumi (“Taka”) Maedomari and Naoki Yamazato. The juniors also have two Swedish students, Pauline Brunosson and Maria Esbo; Mathilde Nyegaard-Larsen from Norway; Gabriella Annicchino from Brazil. Ron Glasgow, secondary principal, says, “We could not be more excited about the quantity and quality of international students we have in the building this year. They are fluent and motivated.” Most of the students earned honor roll status for the fi st quarter, and they are also involved in many extra-curricular activities—choir, sports, clubs. “There are many talented individuals here,” Glasgow says. Another advantage of the Notre Dame international students is the impact they have on diversity in the community in general. Glasgow praises the willingness of families to host the young people and adds that the students bring something special to their homes. “These young people help host families appreciate cultural differences,” he says, adding, “and this same understanding is felt in the hallways of Notre Dame.”

International students influence Notre Dame HS


Athletic Dept. Changes Ryan O’Hern is the new middle/high school PE teacher and AD, replacing Ryan Rump. (Rump resigned after 10 years

at ND to accept the activities director position at Keokuk High School.) O’Hern earned his B.A. from Iowa Wesleyan College and completed his M.S. in health, physical edu-cation, and recreation

this past summer from Emporia State Uni-versity. He taught PE at Eagle Grove High School last year and has also been assistant men’s basketball coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and at Iowa Wesleyan College. “I’m happy to be part of the Notre Dame family,” O’Hern says. “I’m impressed with ND’s commit-ment to the Catholic faith, academics, and athletics.” One of his innovations has been adding strength and conditioning units to the PE curriculum.

Taking over Ryan Rump’s role as head boys’ basketball coach is Cody VanFleet. VanFleet served as the Director of Basket-ball Operations as Idaho State University and previously worked as an assistant to former Southeastern Community College coach Joe O’Brien. VanFleet was part of the coaching staff hat won two national championships. He says, “I think Notre Dame has a great all-around sports pro-gram. I am very honored to take over for where Coach Rump left ff. He did a great job.”

New in library With Rebecca Teater returning to the class-room (article, above left) Tianna Lain is now the library as-sistant for the system. Tianna earned an AA

in criminal Justice at Carl Sandburg Col-lege and also has a background in comput-er technology. Tianna’s husband Shawn works in construction. They have one son, Haydyn, 15 months. “I like it here; it’s a good school system,” Tianna says of Notre Dame.

While MRS. Teater takes on reading S he’s moved from the library to the classroom, but her passion for reading has only increased in the transition.

R ebecca Teater, who served as library assistant last year in t he ND system, has returned to her roots as a reading and math teacher. She now teaches sixth

and seventh grade reading and eighth grade pre-algebra at Notre Dame. M rs. Teater, whose husband Ron is also a teacher as well as tech coordinator at ND, retired five years ago after 30 years in public education. She is happy to be teaching once again. “I love working with kids,” she says. “I especially love teaching and helping them develop a love of reading.”

On e innovation Rebecca has introduced to Notre Dame middle school students is the Sustained Silent Reading Program. During activity periods (right before lunch) three days a w eek, the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders report to their homerooms for 20 min utes of what she calls “reading for enjoyment.” “They can bring their own books, magazines, newspaper, library books, Kindles—whatever they like,” she says. “The important thing is that they are reading.” The homeroom teachers take this time to read too. Nita Carlson and Susan Veach, who also teach middle school reading, support Rebecca’s program. “ I always see the students with a library book,” Carlson says. “I really think they are reading more.” Rebecca hopes that SSR (along with established individualized reading programs such as Accelerated Reading) will reap huge benefits for the students in the future. As she puts it, “The most important way to improve reading skills is to read.”

Keeping pace with the times---

The world of technology keeps changing. No one knows that better than Ron Teater, tech coordinator at Notre Dame. W hen Teater fi st came to ND in t he fall of 2008, h e devised a t hree-year plan of improvements to the system. He has met most of those goals which have included the addition of Smart Boards, the huge computerized interactive white boards. Every elementary classroom currently has a Smart Board, and all but three rooms on the middle/high school side feature the technology. The goal is to equip those rooms with the boards by 2013 with fi ancial help from the Notre Dame Foundation and the Witte Foundation. (Each Smart Board costs $3500 to $5000, according to Teater.) A nother technological achievement has been the acquisition of netbooks, miniature laptop computers. There are 20 netbooks in the elementary and 23 in t he middle/high school. Wireless technology implemented in e very classroom now allows students to access the internet throughout the buildings. An overall upgrade of the three computer labs in the elementary and middle/high school computer labs has improved the technology in general on the Notre Dame campus. More enhancements on the school website, increased communication with parents through technology, and online class offerings are also on the horizon. C urrently in his fourth year here, Teater has created a new “three-year plan” that will help the school keep moving forward with the constant innovations in technology. One of his dreams is that every student in the system will have access to his or her own individual computer. Teater himself is in constant training as well. Workshops, classes, webinars, seminars through the Great Prairie Educational Agency and other resources such as UI Belin-Blank Center provide the insight and inspiration for Notre Dame’s technological future. Clearly, Teater will continue to take ND forward.

Technically speaking

“The most important way to improve reading skills is to READ.”


Burlington history has come alive in the fi tion stories spun by a former area resident and a graduate of Notre Dame. Tom Lammers (ND ’73) has published five fi tion books since early 2009, each against the backdrop of his hometown in the 1800s

and rich with historical references and scientific i sights. Last December a signing was held at the downtown bookstore Burlington By The Book (above). Lammers’ stories even have their own fan group on Facebook: Lammers Burlington Iowa Historical Fiction Fans.

Lammers’ novels primarily concern the adventures of Dr. Obadiah Gray, an amateur botanist. Though set in the 1850s frontier Iowa, the stories’ themes resonate today as Gray aims to fi ht fear and superstition with the rationality of science. In 2011 Lammers published two novels: Obadiah Gray and the Beast of Stony Hollow, in which the title character and his wife come here on a botanical excursion but instead fi d a strange, mysterious creature; and Obadiah Gray and the Search for the Elusive Eponym, following Gray’s quest to discover a new species of wildfl wer to name in his wife’s honor when he encounters fi ds events conspir-ing against him.

Obadiah Gray and the Witch of Half-Moon Swamp (2010) fea-tures a battle between reason and logic vs. ignorance among the citizens of Skunk River Valley. Previous publications in the series included Obadiah Gray and the Mystery of the Centurion’s Testa-ment, where the title character locates evidence that ancient Ro-mans sailed up the Mississippi and encountered one of the Lost Tribes of Israel; and Augustus Green in the Lair of the Pye-a-Saw, the story of another pioneer botanist who discovers a g reat car-nivorous bird in Starr’s Cave. It should come as no surprise that botanical and biological references are featured aspects of Lammers’ novels. Though he started out studying journalism, he changed his focus to botany, earning his bachelors degree from Iowa State University. He went

on to earn a masters in biology from the University of Northern Iowa and then a Ph.D. in botany from Ohio State. After that he taught botany at Miami of Ohio and served as curator of botany at the Field Museum of Natural History of Chicago. Since 1999 he has been a professor in the Department of Biology and Micro-biology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

I n the course of his career, Tom has traveled to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and around the world (Taiwan, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Vienna, Berlin, Switzerland, Paris, Provence, and Al-sace). His research on the bluebell family (Campanulaceae) was published as a major book by the Royal Botanical Gardens in Great Britain. He even has a plant named after him, Ardisia lammersiana, a species discovered by a fellow botanist Lammers knew when he was conducting fi ld study in Hawaii in the 1980s.

So what inspired him to delve into the world of fi tion writing? “For years, I’ve been a member of an internet discussion group that includes both writers and artists. I got to know a fellow from Maine named Van Reid who has written a serious of amusing adventure novels about an 1890s society called The Moosepath League. But it was a novel by another Burlingtonian that convinced me that Burl-ington in days gone by would be a great setting for thrilling adven-tures and mysteries. I r ead Keepers on the River by Keith Schulz, which was set in a thinly disguised Burlington, and that convinced me to draw on the local area for background.” L ammers’ high school experiences at Notre Dame also influ-enced both his writing and scientific careers. He jokes that as a botanist naming and describing new species of plants (nearly 60 “christened” thus far), he’s probably the only person to ever take Latin at ND w ho uses it in hi s job on a d aily basis! I t was this classroom exposure that was also influential in his writing Mystery of the Centurion’s Testament. “I really enjoyed translating Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic Wars in S ister Norbertine’s Latin II class sophomore year, and implausible as it was, I wanted to bring some of that excitement and adventure here to southeastern Iowa.” Tom’s younger siblings are also ND grads (Dan, ‘76, and Janet, ‘78). Tom’s parents still reside in Burlington. Married 34 years to his wife, Diane, Tom is the father of two grown children. T om plans to continue writing Burlington-set adventures and mysteries. H is books are available locally at Burlington By The Book on Jefferson Street, at the Des Moines County Historical So-ciety’s gift shop in the old library on North Fourth, and on the in-ternet from www.mbgpress.info.

“I really enjoyed translating Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic Wars in Sister Norbertine’s Latin II class sopho-more year, and implausible as it was I w anted to bring some of that excitement and adventure here to southeastern Iowa.”

-Lammers has the “write” stuff


Sr. Ann Scholz stood before her class at the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore and introduced Jane (who was at the college on a consulting project) as “living proof that education works.” J ane was honored and humbled at being acclaimed by Sister Ann, who taught social studies at Notre Dame High School from 1973 to 1978. Indeed, Jane credits her educational background for her success. “Education has always been very important to me and it’s probably why I’ve devoted almost 30 y ears of my life to promoting and advancing education,” Jane says. “Education is life changing.” A 1974 g raduate of NDHS, Jane says that she was “defin tely a work in p rogress” in h er high school days. H owever, she acknowledges her Catholic education for helping her get where she is today. “Every day, I stand on the shoulders of my family and many wonderful mentors, from the BVMs and SSNDs at Notre Dame to my Clarke professors and those I’ve had throughout my profession,” she says. “My parents made tremendous sacrifices to ensure that my siblings and I attended Catholic schools and went on to college,” she adds. A s a hig h school student, Jane was involved in s tudent government and activities such as Pep Club and the NoDaScope. Outside school, she worked at a local drug store and became involved politically. A fter graduating from Notre Dame, Jane went on to Clarke College (now Clarke University) in D ubuque “thanks to encouragement from Sister Elrita Archer and Sister Therese Eileen Cashman.” A t Clarke she plunged into campus leadership and academics, graduating in May 1978 with a major in sociology and a concentration in journalism. F or the fi st five years of her professional life, she worked as a journalist for Harris Newspapers. I n her fi st assignment as education writer for The Garden City (KS) Telegram, she was recognized by the Kansas-National Education Association for excellence in education reporting. Her last Harris assignment was as Sunday editor and editorial page editor for The Hawk Eye.

When Jane got the call in the spring of 1983 to return to Clarke College as the director of public relations and an instructor of journalism there, she embarked on a whole new adventure. Though she would never be a newspaper reporter again, she would now be able to encourage, mentor, and inspire others on their educational journeys just as her teachers before had done for her. Since then, Jane has held numerous public relations positions, all involving the pursuit of education: Director of Public Relations and Publications and Communications at Susquehanna University in Selingsgrove, PA; Director of PR at Trinity College in Hartford, CT; Associate Vice President and Assistant Executive Director of Public Relations at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; and Director of Admissions at Kingswood-Oxford School, an independent college preparatory school in W est Hartford, CT. Jane now works for GDA Integrated Services, a national fi m that specializes in integrated marketing, student recruitment, and public relations for schools, colleges, and universities. “ I have been blessed with some amazing experiences, from helping to move Clarke forward after its devastating fi e in 1984 to coordinating Georgetown’s effort during the campaign and inauguration of President Clinton,” Jane says. “Th ough it all, I carried the ideals learned from my teachers and friends at Notre Dame. They include faith, belief in one’s self, concern for others, and the value of hard work.” Though she has now lived out East longer than she did in t he Midwest, Jane has found ways to live out these ideals as board chair of an early childhood education center and as a volunteer working in soup kitchens, visiting the elderly and writing soldiers. J ane’s husband, Doug, is also involved in education; he is an educational fundraiser for Susquehanna University. Their older son is a teacher in North Carolina, and their younger son is about to enter college. E ducation defin tely continues to be an important part of her life; in fact, education IS her life. And, as Sister Ann Scholz said of her, Jane is living proof that education works.

“Living proof that education works”

Jane Daly Seaberg heard the words from her former high school teacher and was overwhelmed.

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The halls are alive with the sound of music...I don’t know how she does it. The title of the popular movie that appeared in theatres earlier this fall certainly could aptly apply to Notre Dame’s vocal music director as well.

A manda Brent, now in her fourth year at ND, leads a life that most women would find impossible. Mother of five (Brandon, 18; Madeline, 15; Mitchell, 10; Jackson, 8; Spencer, 5), church choir director, community volunteer, graduate student---Brent does it all, and does it well.

Brent credits her husband Rodney and his family, her own mom and dad, and her oldest kids who help her do what she does.

D espite her busy life and countless com-mitments, Brent has always treasured her mu-sical gift and desired to share it with others. Her teaching career has included Dallas City, LaHarpe, West Burlington, and West Central Schools.

And for the past four years, Notre Dame.

The vocal music program at ND has always been strong, but Brent’s influence has taken the interest in the fine arts to new lev-els. “ I want them to leave class with a p ositive musical experi-ence everyday,” she says. Indeed, seventy-five percent of the high school students are currently enrolled in choir.

Seventy-five percent!

The numbers are so large she has to hold class in the band room because there is a 49-person limit in the choir room. “It’s cool to sing at Notre Dame,” Brent says, pointing out that athletes as well as musicians are part of the ND choir.

A mong her accomplishments at ND have been extraordinary musical productions (Beauty and the Beast, Once Upon a Mattress, Grease) and the rejuvenation of the jazz choir (‘Electric Blue”). She is most proud, however, of how Jazz Night has expanded. “One of

my favorite memories is when I sang ‘Georgia on My Mind’ at the very first Jazz Night my senior year,” she says. Since her arrival, standing room only audiences have flocked to the event which has featured numbers from Mama Mia/Hairspray, “A Salute to the 80s,” “A Tribute to Mickey Mouse,” and, the upcoming 2012 theme, “Back to the 60s.”

Brent gives kudos to the ND Music Boost-ers (“the strongest I’ve ever had in any school”) for aiding in the success of the nu-merous musical activi-ties. In March of next year, she will be lead-ing a group of 57 choir members and parent chaperones to Rome (see article, page 3), thanks in large part to the organizational and fundraising eff rts of the boosters. Sh e has also directed her group in recording a C D of Christmas music which is now on sale.

The 1989 alumna of Notre Dame (and one of nine siblings to graduate from here), Brent had a n umber of fine role models through her years as a student who inspired her to pursue a career in music education. As a seventh and eighth grader, “Mandy” was bused from St. John’s to ND for band lessons and got her first taste of the talent ND musicians and vocalists possessed. She was im-pressed by older students like Bryan Brueck and Ruth Ann Abrisz.

Brent brings the joy of song to Notre Dame


Her high school music teachers were also influential. “Nancy Patrick had opera experience, was so good at musicals, and was a wonderful piano player,” Brent recalls. Later, Marlene and Jim De-Priest (ND choir and band teachers from 1987 to 1992) got her in-volved in all things music---marching band (she was the majorette), jazz band, and show choir. “It was a key year when they came, and they impacted everything” Brent adds. It was that year when she earned “all state alternate” honors the first time she auditioned.

Brent was involved in musicals too during her high school years-as a cast member in Kiss Me Kate and Godspell, as Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Mattress, and, perhaps most memorably, as the lead in Hello, Dolly her senior year.

When she went on to college, there was no doubt what she would study, eventually graduating from Western Illinois University with a bachelors degree in music education and an emphasis on voice and piano.

B rent did have one “brush with greatness” during this time. The summer she was working at the Hyatt-Regency in St. Louis, she made connections with another employee at the hotel who ar-ranged for her to sing back-up for Michael Bolton in concert. “It was amazing!” Brent says. “Thirty thousand fans were screaming as the hydraulic lift brought him up to the stage, and I got to stand right next to him. I will never forget it!”

W hat does the future bring for the busy Brent? She continues teaching at Notre Dame, as well as participating in the Bel Canto choir, serving on the Fine Arts League, directing the SS. Mary & Patrick Church choirs, even serving as occasional accompanist for her daughter’s choir at West Central.

Currently she is also working on her masters degree in choral conducting and would like one day to teach at the college level. For now, however, she is happy to keep the Notre Dame program grow-ing. As she says, “Don’t let the music stop.”

Based on the program today, it isn’t likely that the music will ever stop. Nor will Brent.

“I want them to leave class with a positive musical experience everyday.”

Musical Memories

OPPOSITE PAGE: “Mandy” sings “Hello, Dolly.” BELOW: Choir members gather around Brent for their fi st period class. RIGHT TOP: Emily Brueck and Dylan Diewold perform as Belle and “the Beast” in ND’s 2009 production of Beauty and the Beast. RIGHT CENTER: Jaime Giannettino as Princess Winifred is carried by knights Tony Huffman and Jon Lowell in 2010’s Once Upon a Mattress. BOTTOM: The cast of Grease (fall 2011) takes a bow.


Burlington Notre Dame Foundation Annual Report FY2011

Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets, FY2011Support & Revenue Investment Income $193,956 Donations $86,940 Web Support $5,600 Seminar Sponsorship $1,000 Total Revenues $287,496

Expenses Distributions to Burlington Notre Dame $92,339 Fundraising Expenses $52,396 General & Administrative Expenses $15,057 Total Expenses $159,792 Increase in Net Assets $127,704 Net Assets June 30, 2010 $2,253,112 Net Assets June 30, 2011 $2,380,816

Fund BalancesCapital, Curriculum, Scholarship Funds $199,708Faculty Support Fund $1,582,904Restricted Fund $205,070St. Jude Tuition Assistance Fund $325,765Unrestricted Fund $67,369

DisbursementsND Staff alary Assistance $70,000 Student Assistance $16,260 Other Assistance $6,079

$.5 mil

$1.0 mil

$1.5 mil

$2.0 mil

2007

2007

2008 2009 2010 2011

Five-Year Fund Balance2007 $2,157,958

2008 $2,255,720

2009 $2,136,565

2010 $2,253,112

2011 $2,380,816


Giving to the Notre Dame Foundation couldn’t be easier

Gifts may be made in a number of ways. Depending on the specifics of your situa-tion, giving might make financial sense too. Here are some helpful tips to consider when making charitable gifts to the Notre Dame Foundation.

Annual Gifts It’s easy to make one-time or annual gifts to the Notre Dame Founda-tion. You can simply fill out and return the enclosed envelope with your gift.

Planned Giving Including Notre Dame in your planned giving is also an excellent way to help keep Catholic education alive and well in our community. Gifts of cash are the most popular types of charitable gifts and are fully deductible. However, gifts can take the form of a variety of other assets, including stocks and securities, real estate, insurance, life income, and personal property. Each type of gift as diffe ent requirements and benefits for the donor. For more information, contact the Notre Dame Foundation Development Director at 319-754-8431 x385.

Giving via your IRA

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 offe s additional giving opportuni-ties for those 701/2 or older who own an IRA and make regular charitable contribu-tions. Call us for details.

Remembering a Loved One

Memorializing a loved one with a gift o the Notre Dame Foundation will mean that Catholic education in the Burtlington area remains strong and vibrant. Memorials can be created for specific purposes or can sim-ply support the Notre Dame Foundation.

Contact the Notre Dame Foundation De-velopment Director, 319 754-8431 x385, for more information on how you can establish a memorial to the Notre Dame Foundation.

FundsFaculty Support Fund Supplements faculty salaries.St. Jude Tuition Assistance Fund Assists families experiencing financial difficulties.Capital Improvement Fund Supports facility improvements.Curriculum Fund Keeps courses and course materials up-to-date.Betty Hopewell Ertz Scholarship Fund Directly supports students’ tuition.Julius T. Dehner Scholarship Fund Directly supports students’ tuition.Lorene C. Fichtenkort Scholarship Fund Directly supports students’ tuition.Rev. Patrick J. Hilgendorf Scholarship Fund Directly supports students’ tuition.General Fund (Restricted) Used for purposes approved by the ND Foundation Board. General Fund (Unrestricted) Supports day-to-day operations.

Gold Club ($10,000 or More)Pot O' Blue & GoldLinda Brakeville Estate

Director's Club ($1,000 to $4,999)Msgnr. John HylandMonsanto FundMary A. RileyFather David SteinleMargaret SteinleRandy Winegard

Nike Club ($500 to $999)Mary Ann BakerDan CahillRichard & Annette DelaneyDavid & Gretchen Miller

Patron ($250 to $499)Dick & Mary LoweDr. Stephen MassickBurton & Joanne PrughAndrew Sutter

Friends ($100 to $249)Mark BeckmanBlake BessineSusan BitneyDr. Michael & Christine BushD. Joann CaldwellWilliam CoxAlex DehnerKathy EilenstineRichard & Nancy Gilmartin

Dennis GrizzleDr. George & Nelly GundrumJeff HelandMike & Caren LutteneggerSusan MossCathleen PoliquinCarol ReedMargaret RippleJohn & Judy SandellRoger TrautnerMarilyn WalljasperChristine WilcoxJulie Williams

Supporters (Up to $99)Kathryn BakerCraig & Jane BroegClass of 1956Jim & Cindi GabellaVal GiannettinoDavid & Barbara GrotheClarence Head & Michelle LutteneggerLeo HelandFather Patrick HilgendorfGeorgia HousemanSivert Iversen Jr.Thomas & Linda LivengoodVirginia ReaganJane SeabergMary SimmsHelen StueckDaniel Weise

List of Donors

MemorialsCatherine Adolphson MemorialHenrietta Dansdill MemorialCeline Lietsch Grothe MemorialMartha Pratt Memorial Ann Marie Prawitz Memorial Phyllis Robinson Memorial Dick Wagner Memorial


Notre Dame students have someone new to talk to about issues affecting them today. S ince last spring, Tana Fourdyce, LMSW, a therapist with Great River Mental Health, has been coming to Notre Dame two mornings a week, offering her professional services to the young people here and providing group and individual sessions with students on a need basis. Fourdyce’s counseling program is scheduled to run for five years and is being funded through Great River Mental Health and a MH Block Grant from the State of Iowa. She is working with both ND e lementary and secondary students. Among her goals are to provide group counseling sessions based on different themes. S he has organized a “girl group” on the high school level called “Girls in R eal Life Situations” that focuses on such topics as self discovery, body image, communication, emotions, friendships, nutrition and wellness, relationships, choices, and leadership. Fourdyce says, “Kids get to talk about what’s going on and work with problem resolutions. They learn how to cope with stressful issues.” There has also been some interest in “guy talk” sessions, she adds, and she is working on some decision-making activities aimed at the middle school students as well. I n addition to these projects, Fourdyce has developed a new curriculum for Notre Dame’s anti-bullying activities and will be facilitating the “Teen Screen” program that helps those dealing with depression and anxiety. Teachers may refer students to Fourdyce for private sessions. However, for students to see her for such services, parents/guardians must return a signed permission slip. P rincipal Ron Glasgow is glad to have Fourdyce in t he building. “At times we have issues that can better be handled outside the principal’s offi ,” he says. “Our students now have access to a therapist/social worker at no cost.” So far, Fourdyce has also been pleased. “I have received a positive, welcoming feeling and believe this service is an asset for Notre Dame,” she says. “Young people can get help dealing with their problems and fi d success in school.”

Campus ministry comes to ND A new staff member is playing many roles in do ing his part to spread the

message of Christ to young people in o ur community. J oel Baumgartner not only teaches religion to grades 8-11 at Notre Dame, but he is also the Director of Youth Ministry for the Des Moines County

parishes as well as the ND’s Director of Campus Ministry (a new position). Wearing so many “hats” seems daunting at times, but Baumgartner has met the challenge enthusiastically and is pleased with the results of his efforts so far. A g raduate of Fairfi ld HS, Baumgartner attended the University of Iowa, earning a degree in clinical psychology and a second major in philosophy. Then, his senior year, “I discerned a call to ministry,” he says. Ths calling led him to his fi st experiences with Catholic schools. He enrolled at St. Ambrose University where he took graduate courses in p hilosophy and theology. H e went on to The University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. B aumgartner eventually decided not to pursue the priesthood, yet he still wanted to be involved in church work. He became

active in p rison ministry and did a p arish internship. “ The work was so enriching,” he says, “and I saw the many ways that lay people could perform church ministry.” When Baumgartner learned of the position at Notre Dame last spring, it seemed like a good fit. His role as teacher here would allow him to use his educational background in teaching subjects such as Church history, Scripture, and theology. He would also be able to minister to young people both at Notre Dame and in the parish community. Though the responsibilities of Parish Youth Minister had already been established, the role of Campus Minister was a n ew position at ND. A mong his specific goals for Notre Dame students will be setting up class retreats for them and improving their opportunities for service and volunteerism. There has been some overlap in the two ministry missions, however. B oth involve organizing high school youth rallies, attending Diocesan functions, and providing formational workshops. S everal students from both ND and the parish youth group attended the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis in November. S o far, Baumgartner has been impressed with the students here. “It’s a good group. Several times I’ve been inspired by their level of interest and understanding.” And no doubt these young people will be inspired by him as well.

Counseling program now available

Mystery Photo:Who is this member of the Notre Dame Class of ‘58? She is a familiar face to the Burling-ton Catholic community today!

Who created “Nick the Nike”?Can anyone identify the origin of our magic mas-cot? Let us know!

Send in your answers! Results will be printed in the spring CATCH THE SPIRIT!

Can you pass the“NIKE KNOWLEDGE” quiz?


2011 saw a number of ND alumni gather together for their class reunions. The fi ieth reunion of the Class of 1961 happened on October 7 and 8. Committee member Judy Schroeder reports that everyone had a great time. Mark Fitzpatrick, who passed away in June of this year, had made a fi ancial contribution for the liquid refreshments on Friday night, and Father John Whalen made his famous anise cookies. John Reeder purchased t-shirts for everyone which featured the classmates’ names. Saturday night’s dinner was at the Burlington Golf Club. Sunday morning began with Mass at St. Paul’s concelebrated by classmates Father Mike Phillips, Father Whalen, and Father Jim Vorwerk. Then it was on to Big Muddy’s where Dr. Tom Luttenegger treated his classmates to brunch. The award for coming the longest distance for the reunion went to Father Vorwerk who traveled the 50 hours from Argentina to get here. Th Class of 1966 also came together for their forty-fi h reunion the weekend of October 7 and 8 with both evenings’ festivities taking place at Martini’s in downtown Burlington. Also included in the weekend was a Saturday morning golf outing and an informal coffee at Kathy Cahill’s. Emcee Tony Breuer gave the class speech which brought back many

memories, especially when the class had to sing the alma mater (“‘Caritas’ our motto...”) for their supper. The 30th reunion of the Class of 1981 took place on June 11 starting with 4:30 mass at St. John’s, celebrated by their former religion teacher Father Tony Herold. Then it was on to Big Muddy’s for the night. Other former teachers in attendance were Joe Brady and Sister Maxine. Maureen Thomas traveled the farthest for the festivities, coming from Salt Lake City. Th Class of 2001 gathered at The Drake in Burlington for their 10th reunion on Saturday, June 30th, for appetizers and drinks. The next day the group met at Crapo Park for a cook-out for the class and their families. Thanks to “chef ” Aron Pohlmeyer, the meal was a great success. The kids had a fun water balloon fi ht, and overall everyone had a great weekend together.

Are you planning a reunion for your class? Let us help! Send us the information and we’ll feature it in the spring edition of Catch the Spirit!

2011 class reunion wrap-up

AlumNews.... PhD candidate Brian Gall (ND ’02) has accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Biology at Hanover College in Southeast Indiana. Brian received a B.S. from Quincy University in 2006, earned his M.S. from Missouri State University in 2008, and will complete his PhD in Biology at Utah State Uni-versity in spring 2012. At Hanover Brian will teach various introductory and advanced science courses including Introductory Bi-ology, Biodiversity, Animal Behavior, Herpetology, and Evolution. He will mentor undergraduates interested in medical and ecology- related fi lds. His research focuses on the ecology and behavior of amphibians and reptiles, as well as the processes of evolution and coevolution. He has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed scientific publications, and his work has been recognized by various organizations including Th Loom for Discover Magazine.

Sarah Huppenbauer Beckman (ND ‘97) has been promoted to shareholder of CPA Associates PC of Burlington. A 2001 grad of the University of Northern Iowa, Sarah has over 10 years of experience assisting companies with fi ancial reporting, accounting, income tax, and business process enhancements. Sarah and her husband, Dan, live in Danville.

Raj Patel (ND ’09) has been dabbling in politics ever since graduation. The former Senior Class president at Notre Dame went on to serve in the Student Senate at the University of Iowa. Th s fall, as a college student, he was one of the top vote getters in the primary run for the City Council of Iowa City before falling just short in the general election. “It was an incredible experience,” Raj says. “Though the outcome didn’t go our way, we won in more ways than anyone can imagine. I don’t regret any part of it. We gained appreciation and respect and gave the underrepresented a voice through this campaign.” Two of Raj’s campaign managers were also ND grads as well as U of I senators, Blake Riffel (’09) and Joe Van Zant (’08). (There is no doubt Raj will return…and CTS will keep you informed on his political future as well as the plans of Blake and Joe!)

Jana Luttenegger (ND ’04) has recently joined the Davis Law Firm in Des Moines as an associate attorney. Her practice includes, but is not limited to, trusts and estate planning. Jana graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2011 and received her bachelor of arts summa cum laude from Western Illinois University in Macomb in 2008. Prior to joining the fi m, she worked as a summer associate for both the Davis Brown Law Firm and the Dickinson Law Firm in Des Moines.

Notre Dame alumni are achieving great things. Here are a few of their stories. Send us yours!


Even if you weren’t a winner, you still had a smile

on your face.

That was the feeling of those who took part in the 14th annual Pot o’ Blue and Gold drawing held at PZAZZ on September 25. A festive party featuring an island theme, Jimmy Buffet music, and entertainment by Notre Dame elementary and high school students highlighted the event where it was “standing room only.” On e hundred fi y thousand dollars in prizes went to those with the lucky $100 raffl tickets. The grand prize winner of $100,000 was Marie Schroder. Val Giannettinno, Notre Dame Development Director, was pleased with the results of the fundraiser. “We met our goals,” she says, “and we’re tremendously grateful for all the support.” S he also points out the signifi ance of Internet sales in t his year’s campaign. B y using Facebook connections and putting up links on the foundation website where people could place their orders, she was able to sell over 80 tickets.

S ince its origin “POG” has given away $1.8 million in c ash prizes while also raising over $2 mi llion for Notre Dame Schools. Specifi ally the profits have gone to technology, curriculum, and faculty/staff salary assistance ($50,000 to the teachers’ endowment). P lans for the 15th annual POG event are underway already, and there is talk of organizing a “ mega-reunion” weekend for alumni as part of the event, according to Giannettino. N ext year’s drawing is scheduled for Sunday, September 30, 2012. G iannettino welcomes anyone anxious to volunteer “for a g ood cause,” and she expresses gratitude for the tremendous individuals who have helped with the fundraiser in recent years. She adds, “We are always looking for new ideas and new blood. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun too.”

God’s Portion Day Exceeds Goals M ost who organize fundraisers just hope to make their goal. Th s one went far beyond it. The 2011 G od’s Portion Day featured new auction items, an earlier date, and even slime. All of these added up to an increase in proceeds and a day of excitement for all. B udgeted for $100,000, t he 32nd annual GPD brought in a phenomenal $117,000. B usiness Manager and GPD organizer Deb Trine was delighted, saying, “It was a well attended and fun-

filled day. W e are extremely grateful for the support from the community and the volunteers.” The date was moved up a week to avoid confli ts with spring sports and other activities. That appeared to increase attendance, as did t he introduction of new auction offerings and creative competitions. Indeed, everyone got into the fun, including 12 t eachers who willingly sacrific d themselves in the “slime challenge.” The faculty member with the most money in the jars (which were located in

the ND elementary and secondary offices was the “winner.” Th s year it was third grade teacher Heidi Pflum (left who was gleefully

covered in green after garnering the most money from her student “fans.” Other highlights of the day included the always popular auction featuring the traditional items such as the fi st item, the soup can (bought by John Sandell, ND ’66, f or the fi h time in GP D history), Snert the bull, naming rights for ND’s frontage roads, and Ruth Mansheim’s famous pie. New items that brought interest included sofa tables built by Brueck Construction and decorated with ceramic artwork by ND art students. S o did t he “bucket” which contained the keys to a r iding lawnmower (won by Dean Sweet, ND ’74) and the flat screen Vizio TV featured in the baseball cap elimination. Drawings for handmade quilts created by Connie Siefken and Jane Broeg were also favorites. And, of course, everyone was excited about the raffle. The grand prize of $5,000 went to Marie Schroder, with $500 going to second place winner Bruce Bohnenkamp, and $50 to third through 12th place winners Angela Wade, Linda Speake, Linda Sears, Sue Hackenmiller, Nathan Giannettino, Aaron Chomycia, Michael Bush, Joe Belger, Ron and Karla Denning, and Angela Zahn. The Notre Dame School Board counts on God’s Por-tion Day to raise 12-15% of ND’s annual budget. This year’s GPD surpassed last year’s total by $17,000! God’s Portion Day 2012 promises even more innovations, pos-sibly involving a two-day event. Save the dates—April 14 and 15, 2012—and watch for the spring Catch the Spirit for more details!

PZAZZ, parrott heads--POG parties on!

Judy Miller Schroeder (ND ‘61) has been selling POG tickets since the campaign’s beginnings 14 years ago. Her Nike enthusiasm is contagious!


They say lightning and bad luck never strike in the same place twice. But that wasn’t true of good luck with Marie Schroder and Dean Sweet.

If names on the lists of winners for God’s Portion Day and Pot o’ Blue and Gold sound familiar, that’s because Marie and Dean did indeed beat the odds—twice.

Marie, the $100,000 winner in the POG drawing in September, had also won the $5,000 GPD raffle in April. Dean, last year’s POG grand prize win-ner, was also the winner of the riding lawn mower at the 2011 GPD auction.

“In April when I got a call that I had won $5,000 in the God’s Portion Day raffle--that was a surprise,” Marie says. “It was really unbelievable. And then on September 25th when Val called and said I won $100,000 ….I said, ‘Are you sure?’ And she said, ‘I’m reading your name and phone number off he win-

ning ticket.’ I thought surely this must be a mistake. I called my children right away to tell them.”

“The only thing I can say is that both wins came at a great time for me,” Dean adds. “And I love to do whatever I can to help the school.”

Dean and Marie both have strong ties to ND. Dean himself is a gradu-ate ‘74). Marie‘s children all attended Notre Dame, and the Schroders hosted seven exchange students as well. She says, “I’ve always been very attached to Notre Dame and I like to help.’

Marie’s loyalty has even deeper significance. “Father Minett, who the gym is named after, married Erwin and me in 1946,” she adds.

Do these lucky individuals plan to buy tickets for the events again next year? Of course! And is it true that “the third time’s the charm”? Marie and Dean can’t wait to find out!

Double your fun---

Good luck strikes twice...TWICE!

It was a very good year...Marie Schroder is the delighted winner of the $100,000 grand prize in the Pot o’ Blue and Gold drawing on September 25th. It was a lucky year for Marie, who also won the $5,000 raffle at God’s Portion Day in April.

Other POG winners: Den-nis and Sandy Lee--$10,000; Tony Onesto--$8,000; Brian & Isador Martinez--$5,000; Team Randolph (Brad)--$4,000; Terri Miskovic and Gloria Shi-pley--$3,000; T & T Technolo-gies, Richard Tager--$2,000; and Bill Brune--$1,000.

$500: John Korb; Betty Stiles; Denise Morse; Phyllis Spilman; Greg Mendrek; Pat Coakley; Shannon Kilbride; Dennis Hawkins; Sue and Bruce Engel; Donald Pollpeter; Kristine Dolezal; Brian Young; Greg and Vicki Rosenkoetter; Martin F. Joyce; Peg Woehler, Janette Murray, Ann Baker, Kitty Con-roy, and Molly Wilkinson; Neki Hind and Jeff hodes; Kim Mabeus and Joe Mosena; Karen Schumaker, Anita Helling, Jill Stull, Erin Thurman; Rita Vineyard, Jan Shelman, Vicky Riniker, Jan Eland; Terra Waggener, Lisa Clark, Jill Allen, Beth Hall, and Angela Wade; Dave & Eileen Pranger; Robert Lehnherr.

$200: Sandra Branchini and Shirley Forsythe; Bill Barlett, George Randall, Joe Bartlett, Derek Nusbaum, Ricky Rios, Larry Hensley, Dan McGinnity, Kellie Utter, Bob Etolison, and Mike Foster; Terry Cleek and Joe Wischmeier; Lyn Hoenig, Jill Fugate, Connie Ham-mond, Rick Danielson, Jennifer Woodley, Anne Aney, Denise Chapman, Jane Broeg, Katie Broeg, Mary O’Brien; Susan and John Vandenberg; Mor-gan Giddings; Nicki Parrott; Kevin and Vicki Beckman; Joe Budzyn; Mary Kelly; Tom Gray; Mark and Becky Hays; Brian and Kristen Christ; Jacqueline Lumsden; Troy and Cora Lietsch; Bonnie Buh-meyer; Patsy Markey; Sally & Bill Hedgepeth; Jody Schleich; Kollin & Susan Alfred; Bob & Nancy Steingreaber; Bradley & Rhonda Flatt; Danny and Joann Lampe; Cherio and Ke-aton O’Dacy; Steve & Michelle Giertz; Dennis Reichman; Jerry Fenitori; Kathleen Johnson; Julie Williams; James Hugg.

One reason for the increase in proceeds for GPD 2011 was the generosity of Notre Dame alumni. Donations from ND grads were up $1,489 over 2010 amounts. A big “thank you” goes out to all who contributed, and congratulations to the Class of ’58 who topped the list of contributors (14) as well as amount donated ($1,892) for the fourth straight year! The breakdown by decade:

Decade Donors Gifts

1930-39 4 $234

1940-49 22 $3,878

1950-59 41 $3,937

1960-69 72 $6,687

1970-79 29 $1,651

1980-89 19 $1,785

1990-99 15 $536

2000-10 7 $275

TOTAL: $18, 983

Thanks for your support!

Notre Dame’s God’s Portion Day 2011 alumni donations increase too

CATCH THE SPIRITBurlington Notre Dame Catholic Schools702 South Roosevelt AvenueBurlington, IA 52601-1602

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

When alumni return to their alma mater for a reunion or just a visit, inevitably the first question they ask is, “How is Notre Dame doing?”

Well, the answer is, “Just fine, thank you.”

Indeed, enrollment is steady (growing in some grades), stan-dardized test scores are good, technology is being updated, and building improvements are happening all over the campus.

Academically, “We are constantly looking for ways to increase our test results and work together on fulfilling school improve-ment plans and goals,” says secondary principal Ron Glasgow. ND staffe s also work on applying Iowa Core Standards.

As for the physical plant, school board members and interested ND supporters are looking into ways to update many areas. The long-range goals include air-conditioning the classrooms and do-ing structural improvements on the buildings in general.

Though all of these plans require money, Notre Dame families have been filling the financial void with their volunteerism: the Schwinds’ renovation of the statue of Mary last year; the Fedlers’ gardening expertise; junior David Carter’s Eagle Scout project of revitalizing the entryway to the high school; Ruth Mansheim’s refinishing of the banisters in the high school hallways and the crucifix in the elementary; Nick Dirth’s eff rts to improve the locker room facilities. Clearly, the community of Notre Dame has always been willing to give of their time and energy to make their school the best it can be.

If you are willing to help Notre Dame in any way, through fi-nancial help or by volunteering your time and talent, please con-tact us! There are many ways to help. As Glasgow says, “Notre Dame has always had the best parents and supporters. Our music program, athletic program, landscaping and maintenance have improved because of the large number of volunteer hours.”

Giving their time...Far left: ND unior David Carter (as-sisted by his dad Dan) helps beautify the front entrance to the high school as part of his Eagle Scout project. Left: ene and Anne Fedler use their “tender loving care” on the blossoms surrounding Our Lady’s statue in front of ND.

Valued volunteers make a differen e at Notre Dame Schools

with a song in her heart - yahoolib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-34427662273154/2011-annual...notre dame...

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