WELCOME BACK!!!

A Message From Our Vice Principals

A Message from VP's Mr. Paul Cianciolo & Ms. Shari Typer
The new school year, despite the global pandemic, is off to a great start!  As we walk the halls and visit classrooms it is evident that quality learning is happening both in class and synchronously at home.  Thanks to everyone for wearing their masks properly and keeping a social distance.  A special welcome to our incoming grade 9 students and to the other new students and staff.

Although there will not be opportunities for us to gather in assemblies, cafeteria and extra-curricular events we can appreciate Chaplain Wayne’s opening exercises each morning where, as a community, we collectively listen to our national anthem and pray. 

The Quadmesters are only 10 weeks in length and will seem to move quickly.  Remember to work diligently on your two courses by completing assignments on time, preparing well for tests and seeking help when needed. 

As you traverse through the new Quadmester system we wish you all the best!
Simply swipe the line to meet our
​masked & unmasked VP team!

WELCOME GRADE 9'S! ​ ​#NEWIRISH

This year we've assembled some resources to help the Class of 2024 adjust to life in High School. Two of our Grade 12 students have penned a lovely welcome letter to our Grade 9 class;  equal parts advice column and love letter to the ND Community,  Katie and Easton reflect on their time at ND,  and impart words of wisdom to our #NewestIrish.   

In addition our Prefects have filmed 9 part Web-Series devoted to helping students transition from Elementary to High School;  and our Student Success Teacher.  Ms. Sneyd has assembled a downloadable .pdf Grade 9 Handbook!

We're very excited to be together again,  and even more excited to meet our Grade 9's,  be they Cohorts A, B or C!

Click here to see our 'Grade 9, Welcome to ND" website!

​Welcome to the #NDIrishFamily!

By Easton McGillicuddy & Katie De Graaf

Welcome to ND; a school with a cafeteria, a football field and an elevator! All of these our elementary schools didn’t have. Being the size of a shopping mall, Notre Dame can be intimidating for a lot of students. The mix of excitement and nervousness from being at the “bottom of the food chain” as a Grade 9 is a rite of passage; high school acts as a stepping stone bringing you closer to independence. 

That said, grade nine usually isn’t as scary as people make it out to be. The severance of grade levels doesn’t exist here; we come together for the same clubs, share teachers, and have gone through the same classes. We build each other up, instead of competing for the top. 
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Click here to watch the Grade 9 Transition Tips Web Series!
While our nerves can get the best of us, preparation can go a long way. Try finding all of the essentials you’ll need in advance-by following @insidend.ca for school updates, using the maps posted online to find the doors you’re heading into, or most importantly, knowing the wifi password. Being prepared allows you to feel confident, so you can enjoy your transition into the school.  However, there will be situations where you need help-please, ask! We know you want to seem like you have it all figured out-honestly, so do we-but being able to admit to that vulnerability is 100% more mature. Coming from two people older (but not necessarily wiser) than you, you’ll need advice regardless of grade level! 

Click here to read the Easton & Katie's full welcome message!

The First Week of School:
In Reflection

We asked Notre Dame Students to reflect on the first week of this very,  very different school year!  Here is a collection of their responses!
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By Easton McGillicuddy (Grade 12)
Time. It’s one of those things that’s always against you. It never goes by fast enough to get through a slow week, and never sticks around long enough to give you time to study for that test. It’s the first week of school, yet somehow, I’m already feeling a mix of both. 

I can still recall who I used to be. Eager to start a new chapter of my life as a freshman, yet doubting my place in the unknown environment of Notre Dame. Questions swarmed my mind-would I find new friends? Could I keep up with the pace of my first semester ever? These nerves certainly got the best of me on the first day; I ended up in extended french rather than my math class next door. 

Grade nine to eleven were extremely formative years for me, as I began to build my confidence. I met new people in art, history, and lunch, forming the supportive friendships I treasure today. It has taken me years to step out of my comfort zone, however, I have been met with nothing but encouragement from my peers and teachers. There are so many memories I fondly look back on, but the highlights include; my grade ten culminating debate, trivia night, a chess tournament, and simply laughing along with my biology class until we all couldn’t breathe anymore. These moments have not made it into the yearbook itself, but it is these individual memories and relationships that I value most within my school community. I know I make it sound like I’ve had nothing but positive experiences here, which for the most part is true; this school is a limitless source of ideal role models. ND truly provides a unique, versatile, high school experience. 

Click here to read the rest of Easton's Reflection
By Daniella Douglas (Grade 9)
The first week of Grade 9 is always nerve-wracking and mine wasn’t made any easier by the changes put in place in response to COVID-19. The online portion of school seems particularly difficult at first. However, my teachers have been doing everything they can to help my fellow Irish and I navigate this new obstacle. Though challenging, I really enjoyed my first week of school and am very excited for this next chapter of my life. ​
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By Ainsley Skilbeck (Grade 9)
​My first day of Grade 9 went much smoother than I imagined it would. I was given a map, a specific entrance and was even spared the trouble of having to find my locker in a sea of new faces!

Surprisingly, I have found the transition to high school much easier because of the new measures put in place in response to COVID-19. I felt much more comfortable and confident beginning my classes because I wasn’t overwhelmed by the big building, new faces or anything else going on.

Now of course, there are some downsides to school this September. For example, there are no Friday night football games, no clubs or sports teams, and we spend a few days each week online.

But the masks? I don’t think of them as a downside. My mask feels like a disguise or layer of protection that helps me hide from the new faces and older students. How do you feel about your mask? Do you think it’s hard when your friends don’t recognize you? Or do you feel safer hiding behind it? 
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By David Pires (Grade 12)
It’s been strange, yet satisfying to return to school this September.

As I was in cohort B, my first day back at school was actually online. This new learning format has had its share of challenges, but can also be fun at times. The first challenge I faced was Microsoft Teams. I was familiar with Zoom, but hadn’t tried Microsoft Teams until the first day of school. There was definitely some confusion as we adjusted to the new Teams streaming. However, attending class from the comfort of my own home is a definite positive of using Microsoft Teams in the classroom.

I was ecstatic when I finally had the opportunity to see my classmates in-person after nearly six months apart. It also enjoyed seeing my teachers after ending the last school year online. But reuniting with friends and teachers wasn’t the only benefit of returning to school. I prefer learning in the classroom and actively participating in classroom discussions to viewing pre-recorded lessons uploaded to the internet. Returning to the classroom has truly been a breath of fresh air. 
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Click here to read the rest of David's Reflection
By Nicole Furmanczyk (Grade 9)
My first week of Grade 9 wasn’t at all what I had expected… it was much easier!

However, there were still a few obstacles to overcome like finding my assigned entrance and learning how to use D2L. The current format can also make it difficult to socialize sometimes.

Assistance from friends and support from teachers has made these challenges manageable. Although we’ve all had to adjust to this new school format, my teachers are very kind and helpful.

I will always remember my first week as a Grade 9 student during this strange time. 
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A Message from Chaplain Wayne Lachapelle
My mother cut this newspaper cartoon out of the Windsor Star and gave it to me when I saw them a couple of weeks ago. I had to laugh because it has so many little truths in it! Look closely!  Masks. Sanitizer. Big eyed children. Staff commiserating about how things used to be.


Reflecting on the new school year, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about some things (and maybe a lot nervous about some other things!!).  Many staff and students have shared with me their longing to reconnect and see one another and to start learning/teaching again, but they are also frightened and scared and hesitant.  Parents are cautious.  Administrators are stretched thin with an abundance of questions with only few answers to be given.  


This time that we are living in is the great unknown and I don't like that.  As a matter of fact, I know many people who don't like not knowing!


I believe that not knowing is always the worst.  THE WORST!  We've all had these great unknown moments in the past!!

Click here to read the entire Chaplain's Corner!
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Check out some of the amazing work from Ms. Tolan's talented Art Classes!
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The Spectrum has been decorated for Fall! Special thanks to Chaplain Wayne!
Here is a small sample of the amazing talent of our ND Photography students!
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ND ALUMNI,
​OWEN CAISSIE,
​DRAFTED BY THE SAN DIEGO PADRES!

Notre Dame Class of 2020 Graduate Owen Caissie was selected in the 2nd round (45th Overall) by the San Diego Padres this past spring.  Owen was the first Canadian taken in the MLB draft,  and we couldn't be more #NDProud!   

​Click the images below for coverage of Owen's remarkable rise on both Sportsnet.ca and MLB.com!
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Sportsnet.ca outlines Owen's rise to Major League Baseball
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MLB.com's article on the newest Padre, Owen Caissie

Notre Dame's 2019/2020 ​Yearbooks Are Now Available!

It is with great pleasure that we share this Sneak Peek at Notre Dame's 2019/2020 Yearbook "Tpart/Together".   A huge thanks goes out to Mrs. Jazvac's talented Yearbook Class,   you should be very proud of this yearbook,   it is clearly a labour of love!

Yearbooks  will be distributed to Cohort A students on Tuesday, September 29 and to Cohort B students on Wednesday, September 30. 

​Cohort C students may pick up their yearbook beginning on Wednesday, September 30. Student graduates and/or their families can pick up their yearbooks beginning Monday, October 5.  For Cohort C and our 2019-2020 Graduates, the yearbook can be picked up from the Main Office from 12 pm – 4 pm daily. 

Click here, or the image to the left, for a Sneak Peak at the 2020 Yearbook!
Welcome Back Everybody! 
When InsideND took our "Christmas Hiatus" in December of 2019,  we had no idea that we wouldn't be back until Sept of 2020! 
 
We’ve got a fresh new staff of eager contributors,  and we look forward to bringing you a monthly dose of everything happening inside ND.

We're excited to bring you this issue,  9 months in the making!

For up to the minute info, follow @insidend.ca on Instagram!
From the InsideND Collective