July 18, 2015
Dear Notre Dame Catholic School Family:
Ihope you all are as excited about the start of the 2015-2016 school year as our faculty and staff. This year is sure to be another shining example of our school’s excellence in academics, athletics and spirituality. I am so happy your family has chosen to be a part of the Notre Dame Catholic School community. And we all look forward to the return of your students to our campuses on Thursday, Aug. 13. This letter contains several important dates and other information to make your school year launch a successful one. Please review it carefully:
FACTS TUITION PAYMENTS
Online registration through FACTS, our tuition payment method, must be completed as soon as possible. New families must visit and register, and may select from a 10-month, 11-month, or 12-month payment plan. Returning families already set up in FACTS will be able to make changes to their payment plan via the FACTS website as desired. Students may not attend class until all required paperwork and financial arrangements are complete. Any tuition or tuition assistance questions should be directed to Mrs. Julie Thar, NDCS Business Manager. Mrs. Thar may be contacted at 940-692-6041 or .
DRESS CODE
Please look thoroughly at your student(s)’ uniforms and ensure that they are in full compliance with our Student-Parent Handbook School Uniform Policy. This handbook may be found online at
ORIENTATION DAY
Orientation will take place at each campus on Wednesday, August 12. New families may come any time between 10 a.m. and noon. Returning families may come any time between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. If you are unable to make your time window, please contact Matt Ledesma, Director of Enrollment, to make other arrangements. Lower Campus students will meet their teachers, visit their classrooms, and may bring school supplies on this day. Upper Campus students will get schedules, locker assignments, and sign up for activities. The Holy Bible will be issued to new Upper Campus students. The Holy Bibleis a required textbook for the students and if this or any textbook is lost or destroyed, it is the responsibility of the student pay replacement or damage costs. The Graduation Fee ($150.00– Seniors) will be collected at this time if not already paid.
Registration for FACTS must be completed on this day at the Upper Campus if it has not already been set up with the Business Office. Students may not attend class until all required paperwork and financial arrangements are complete.
PROCEDURE FOR ORIENTATION
•Clearance from Business Office for FACTS enrollment
•Sign up for Volunteer opportunities ($10 PTO dues will be paid in your August tuition)
•Turn in medical forms (athletes and new students), immunization records, and medication permits – records must be completed before starting classes
•Update emergency information cards, if necessary – please bring your insurance information with you
•Turn in copy of birth certificate (new students) – must be on file before starting classes
•Sign off on electronic receipt of 2015-2016 Parent-Student Handbook – must be completed before starting class
•Order your School Directory
•Sign up for Free/Reduced Lunches, pick up a lunch menu, purchase lunch tickets
•Get information on Student Organizations, Activities and Fundraisers
•Purchase Spirit Wear & pre-order Yearbooks
•Student schedules and locker assignments will be available on Orientation Day.
Lower Campus students proceed to your classroom to meet your teacher. Upper Campus students may want to set up their lockers.
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL
Thursday, August 13 will be the first day of classes for all students. The first school day will begin at 8 a.m. and close at noon. Full school days will begin Friday, August 14.
3K, 4K and Kindergarten students’ schedule for the first week of school will vary slightly. Half of each class will meet on the first day, and then the second half will meet the next. This schedule will repeat the following Monday and Tuesday. All students in each class will come together for the first time on Wednesday, August 19. Your student’s teacher will be contacting you before the beginning of the school year to inform you of his or her schedule.
3K, 4K, AND KINDERGARTEN
Hours for 3K, 4K and 5K are 8a.m. to 2:50pm. Students attending ½ days in 3K & 4K are dismissed at 11 a.m. We must have birth certificates and up-to-date immunizations on file before the first day of school.
DAILY SCHEDULE
All students are expected to be IN their classroom by 8 a.m. Upper campus students are to enter through the front doors only, except those in early morning athletics. Attendance will be taken promptly at the start of class. Lower Campus classes end at 3 p.m., and Upper Campus classes release at 3:05 p.m.Upper Campus students may study quietly in the Upper Campus library until 4 p.m. Students must be participating in in-season athletics or school sponsored extra-curricular activities if they are to remain on campus past dismissal time.
EARLY DISMISSAL THURSDAY
Beginning on Thursday, August 20, the school day endsone (1) hour early. Early DismissalThursday will occur on most Thursdays. This early dismissal allows the faculty and staff time to work in their PLCs (Professional Learning Communities), In-Service or Professional Development, Campus/School Meetings, etc. Your lower campus child will be supervised and we will open Extended Day Care one hour early on Early Dismissal Thursday at half-price charge to the parent/guardians for that hour.
COMMUNICATION
In order to be responsible stewards of our resources, the school communicates primarily through email. Therefore, we require all NDCS families to provide the school with a working email address and to check it frequently (daily if possible) for messages from the school. Other important information and updates are posted frequently on our school web site, school Facebook page, Twitter account and Instagram account.
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM
The after school program for Lower Campus students is available most days for working parents from dismissal until 6 p.m. An additional charge of $6 per houris required for this service and must be paid monthly through your FACTS account. If you desire this service and have not yet registered, please see the Extended Day staff on Orientation Day. Extended Day hours start on Thursday, August 13.
REQUIRED READING LIST
Students entering 6th through 12th grade have a required summer reading assignment that was given out to all current students at the end of the school year. The reading list can also be found on our school’s website. If you have books on our reading list that you would like to donate to the school, you may drop them off at the Upper Campus or bring them on Orientation Day. We will be happy to loan these used books out to other students to help save our families the expense of purchasing new books.
MORNING AND AFTERNOON SUPERVISION
Unless students are participating in early morning athletics, parents should not bring Upper Campus students to school before 7:30 a.m. as no supervision is provided until that time. All students should be out of the building by 3:15 pm (2:15 pm on Early Dismissal Thursday) unless participating in supervised after-school activities.
Supervision for children will be provided in the cafeteria at the Lower Campuson school days from 7 a.m. – 7:45 am (a free service to parents subsidized by our PTO), at which time students will be released to their classrooms. Before 7:45 am, students may only enter the school through the cafeteria door adjacent to the parking lot. This door will be locked at 8 a.m.and students must enter through the front door. Please note that in the case of inclement weather which causes a late start of our school day, morning supervision will not be provided.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL
3K, 4K, and Kindergarten dismiss at 2:50 p.m. (1:50 pm on Early Dismissal Thursday.) Grades 1 through 5 dismiss at 3 pm (2 pm on Early Dismissal Thursday.)Grades 6 through 12 dismiss at 3:05 p.m. (2:05 p.m. on Early Dismissal Thursday.) Dismissal procedures are outlined in the student handbook. Lower Campus students not picked up by 3:15 pm (2:15 pm on Early Dismissal Thursday) will be assigned to Extended Day Care and an additional fee must be paid. School personnel cannot be responsible for watching children after school. Lower Campus students are to be picked up at the Lower Campus and will not be allowed to wait at the Upper Campus for an older sibling or parent to pick them up.
MSU CONCURRENT COURSES
Junior and Senior students who are enrolled in the MSU Concurrent Program should have all registration completed. Please contact Mrs. Pat Smith at 940.692.6041.
TUITION
All tuition will be paid through FACTS. Please contact Mrs. Julie Thar in the Business Office for assistance.
UNIFORMS
Some uniform items (monogrammed ties, girls ¾ sleeve blouse, and our plaid items) are only available from Parker Uniforms, but most items may be purchased online or from local vendors such as JC Penney, Academy, Old Navy, Target, Sears, Wal-Mart, Lands End, Kohl’s, etc. Please be sure the items you purchase are uniform selections and not other casual wear. Parker Uniforms Toll Free number is888.891.0999 or you may order online at The boys’ ties are available at the school.
Uniforms must fit properly. Students grow and old dress shirts and skirts are often too small and/or short. Please have your child try on their uniform items—especially the Mass uniform—now to ensure the correct fit. Two inches above the knee or five inches above the floor while kneeling is the rule. Boys are to be clean shaven every day with proper hair length. All of the particulars can be found in the Student/Parent Handbook.
PTO handles used uniforms and has a large selection available. Please call Mrs. Cathy Schmidt at 940.782.7381for an appointment.
CAFETERIA
The NDCS cafeteria’s hot lunch program costs $3.25 per meal per day for Lower Campus students and $3.50 for Upper Campus students and all adults. Milk can be purchased separately for $.50. Free and reduced lunches are available and your participation in these Federal programs help the school qualify for grants and programs (such as the Title I program and professional development for teachers) throughout the year. Please see Cafeteria Staff on Orientation Day.
MEDICAL INFORMATION
Notre Dame Catholic School is required to have Emergency Care Forms and a record of immunization for all students. New students and athletes are also required to have a physical exam with the results
provided to the school office BEFORE beginning practice for athletics or starting school. Physicals may not be performed by a chiropractor. Students who have had rubella (measles) must have
verification from a doctor giving the dates of the illness. If you cannot provide this verification, the student must have a rubella vaccination. Students ENTERING 9TH GRADE, all students NEW to Notre Dame, and all students PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES must have a new physical examination on file. The immunization form must be in the office before the first day of school. The physical exam forms are available in the school office. Proof of insurance on students must also be submitted for those participating in athletics. The Medication Permit Form must signed by your doctor and on file in the front office for your student to take ANY medication. This includes over-the-counter medications such as cough drops, Tylenol or Advil. These must be in the original packaging. A separate Medication Permit Form is required for each medication to be given to your child. Without this form on file, we will not be allowed to dispense any medication to your child.
HANDBOOK & CALENDAR
The 2015-2016 Parent-Student Handbook will be posted on the school’s websiteAFTER AUGUST 1 at under the “Student Handbook” tab. Print out the “Student/Parent Response Statement” page, sign it, and return it to the school on Orientation Day indicating that you have reviewed and agree to abide by the handbook. Students may not attend class until this agreement is on file. Please review the handbook carefully.
FUNDRAISERS
Mark your calendar for The Extravaganza on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. This is the largest fundraiser of the year and requires the active participation of our entire NDCS community! Dinner, dancing, live & silent auctions, games of chance, and more help to make this a night of fun and fellowship.
VOLUNTEERS
We rely on our volunteers to bridge the gap between work that must be done and the financial resources we have available. All NDCS families are encouraged to complete 15 hours of school service per year. Volunteers are needed to help in the cafeteria and on the playground, work in the concession stand at athletic events, help with fundraisers such as The Extravaganza,assist teachers in & out of the classroom, work on school improvement projects or mailings, and help in many other ways. (Volunteering for another organization such as coaching for the YMCA or Boys & Girls Club does not count toward your NDCS family service hours.) For the safety of our children, volunteers who have contact with students must complete the Keeping Children Safe program every 3 years and have a criminal background check. Training sessions are provided by the school and local parishes. Check the bulletins for training session dates or contact the Upper Campus office to schedule a time.
UPPER CAMPUS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Varsity girls’ volleyball practice will begin on Monday, Aug. 3. If you are interested in playing, you may contact Coach Lisa Macha at and/or show up for practice, which will be from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Upper Campus gym. Appropriate hot-weather workout attire should be worn (no sports bra tops alone.) Players must have a physical exam on first day or you may NOT practice! Please bring to the first day of practice: physical form, medical insurance information, water jug, and court and running shoes.
Middle School girls’ volleyball will meet during the first week of school in the gym. Parents are encouraged to attend and to meet Coach Mary Brady. P.E. uniforms are to be worn for practice.
Varsity boys’ football practice will begin on Monday, Aug. 3. Players must have a physical exam on first day or you may NOT practice! Please bring to the first day of practice: physical form, medical insurance information, water jug and hot-weather workout wear. If you are interested in playing, please call Coach Don Carlson at 940.636.8576.
Middle School football practice will start during the first week of school.
PARENT TEACHERORGANIZATION
The objectives of the Notre Dame PTO are:
- To foster greater interest, understanding, and cooperation among teachers, students, and parents of Notre Dame Catholic School.
- To advance and support the social and cultural development of the student body.
- To promote and maintain sound public opinion of Notre Dame Catholic School.
- To give financial support to Notre Dame Catholic School.
If you are a parent at Notre Dame Catholic School, you are a member of the PTO. Your PTO dues ($10) will be billed in your August tuition. These funds are used to help subsidize the early morning care available to all our families from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and to help support other programs that directly benefit our students and school.
Meetings will be held monthly at the school. We invite all of you to come to the meetings. See what activities are happening and support them in any way you can. It means a lot to your kids to see you helping our school!
BAND PARENTS ASSOCIATION
The Notre Dame Band Parents Association meets in the Band Hall of the High School. There are no meetings in December and May. In order to provide students with travel costs to competition, scholarships to various band camps, instrument repairs, etc., several fundraisers are held. The Pancake Breakfast is the largest of these. The support of everyone is needed and appreciated.
BOOSTER CLUB
The Booster Club’s purpose is to support the athletic-related activities at NDCS. These activities are supported by working concession stands, improving and helping to maintain the athletic fields, and raising funds to pay for uniforms, equipment & awards.
Please attend athletic events and cheer for our Knights, Lady Knights, Lancers, and Lady Lancers! Sports schedules are available at the front office and at Booster Club meetings. Booster Club meetings are held monthly in the Upper Campus Library. Your support, enthusiasm, and ideas are always welcome.
NOTRE DAME WEB SITE
Please check out our website at and pass this address on to others who may be interested in our school.
The following pages contain more information regarding the school supply lists. Please look this over carefully.