Mount Notre Dame High School

Mount Notre Dame High School (often abbreviated MND or Mt. Notre Dame) is a private, all-female, college-preparatory high school in Reading, a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, north of Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1860, Mount Notre Dame originally was a boarding school known for its excellence in education. The school is one of six all-female Catholic high schools in the Cincinnati area and the only that is run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as a part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

History

Mount Notre Dame opened its doors to 30 boarders on September 17, 1860. These young scholars were the nucleus of a boarding school which soon became well known for its excellence in education, attracting pupils from many states. Included among these early students were Minnie and Rachel Sherman, daughters of General William T. Sherman of Civil War fame. In 1897, the first day-scholars were accepted, and in 1929, boys were admitted into the primary grades.

After the boarding school closed in 1935, Mount Notre Dame flourished and expanded as an academy to include all grades from kindergarten through high school. In September 1956, upon the request of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Mount Notre Dame became a diocesan high school. At that time, its name was changed from Mount Notre Dame Academy to Mount Notre Dame High School.The school quickly experienced rapid growth. In 1965, this expansion necessitated the move to a larger building, the site of the current school.

In 1990 Mount Notre Dame High School was placed under the direction of its first lay principal, Maureen Baldock. In 2000 major improvements were made: construction of a new athletic activities center and of a new chemistry lab and the renovation of the chapel and of the family and consumer sciences lab. The existing gym was converted into a library/media center and computer technology center in addition to a theater. Office areas were expanded, and additional classrooms and computer labs were added. In the spring of 2003, the Board of Trustees of Mount Notre Dame High School adopted a President/Principal model of administration for the school, and Sister Rita Sturwold, SNDdeN was named the first President.

Changes were made in the 2011–2012 school year, with a shift to a Head of School model of administration. In the same year, the school began construction on a new 15,000-square-foot addition to the front of the building. This addition added new religion and science classrooms, as well as new administrative space and student commons area.^[5]

Academics

Mount Notre Dame offers its young women a college-preparatory academic program, but it also prides itself on its commitment to the education of the whole person, rooted in Catholic values, and the family-like atmosphere enjoyed by its community.^[6]

All MND students receive tablet PC's as a part of their educational expenses. The program allows students to gain content-specific knowledge, through interactive, digital resources. As of the 2013–2014 school year, all students will be a part of the Tablet PC program.

In fall of 2009, MND began allowing first-year students an opportunity to take AP Human Geography. Similarly, Mount Notre Dame's Engineering Program is preparing young women for a career in this male-dominated field.

The mission of the school is deeply committed to the role of women in philanthropy. Its student-run Youth Philanthropy Council is a mini-foundation that has donated over $30,000 in the past six years to local, regional and national non-profit organizations.^[7]

Mount Notre Dame's academic programs also include the My Action Plan (MAP) Program. It is an individualized, four-year journey designed to engage the MND student in experiences that will empower her in all areas of her life. Through this program, students become active members of the MND community, identify personal and academic goals, assess achievement of those goals, and develop the Characteristics of an MND Empowered Young Woman.^[8]

Seniors in the MAP Program create a Capstone Project, challenging them to show how they have become empowered through their education at MND. This project, is designed by each student and requires them to complete at least 24 hours of service to a local or regional service agency. After completing their projects, students present their work to local professionals, their parents and their peers.^[9]

Extracurricular Activities

Athletics

Mount Notre Dame has developed a program of athletic excellence, bringing home recent state championships in volleyball and basketball. Teams representing Mt. Notre Dame are nicknamed the "Cougars" and are part of the GGCL.

Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships

• Girls Volleyball – 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Girls Golf – 2002, 2003
• Girls Basketball – 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009^[10]

MND Theatre

Mount Notre Dame is known for its strong theatre program (known as MNDT). They produce an average of four productions during the school year. A summer theater program open to all area high school students, as well as a summer kids camp are also part of the season.

The program is runs on a model of "educational theater" allowing students to participate in all aspects of the craft. MNDT was a founding member of the Cappies of Greater Cincinnati, and won the 2010 Best Play for their production of Steel Magnolias.^[11]

Model UN

MNDMUN participates in simulations of an official United Nations conference in which student delegates debate a topic of world concern while representing different countries’ positions. Mount Notre Dame's high school team participates in international conferences, including Rome,Italy in 2013; Haarlem, Netherlands in 2012 and Genoa, Italy in 2011. They also participate in conferences in the U.S. at the University of Dayton and the University of Chicago, as well as one global event.^[12]

Latin Club

The Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL)^[13] and National Junior Classical League (NJCL).^[14]

Dance Team

Mount Notre Dame is also known for its dance team. The Mount Notre Dame Varsity Dance Team have placed in the top ten at the National Dance Team Competition in Orlando, Florida, for the past 6 years. They have also received many awards at local competitions and have been featured on ESPN.

Notable alumnae

• Rachael Adams - volleyball player, University of Texas, United States Women's National Volleyball Team
• Rachel Sherman - daughter of American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman
• Marianne Hoobler Staubach - wife of Roger Staubach
• Mel Thomas - basketball player, University of Connecticut
• Rose Lavelle - soccer player, University of Wisconsin, United States Women's National Soccer Team

References

External links

• Mt. Notre Dame High School Homepage

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