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November 2011 Volume Two| Number Three
An update from our Principal, Francis
An update from our Principal, Mrs. Theresa Mrs. Theresa Francis
A hint of Fall is in the air!! I $300,000. This event has been money for the school. One
know that it is hard to be- in place for over 25 years and more way that you can help is
lieve, but at Notre Dame we has attracted a large amount of to sell raffle tickets for a
are already hearing the support from the local commu- $3,000 gift card. If you have
sounds of Christmas music as nity. We need the support of our an questions about how you
Sr. Maureen begins to pre- parent family to help us put on can help, please feel free to
pare the students for the an event of this magnitude. I call the office.
Christmas Pageant. Sr. Mau- know that this event is expensive
reen is also preparing forty and beyond the ability of many
students from Bridges and of our families to attend, but
Vocational departments for there are many volunteer oppor-
their performance at the Af- tunities for those who would like
fair of the Heart. The stu- to be more involved. And of
dents will be singing and course we welcome all parents
dancing to the them of who are able to buy tickets to
“Dreams Come True”. For attend. A big thank you to all
those of you who are new to the families who donated items
our Notre Dame family, the to our homeroom baskets; we
Affair of the Heart is our larg- have some really great gifts that
est fundraiser with a goal of we hope will bring in lots of
An Affair of the Heart November 12, 2011
2. Event setup at Anatole Satur- 5. Transfer back to school
It is time for An Affair of the
Heart and we need your help day 11/12 9:00AM—1PM and/or Sunday 11/13 9AM—Noon.
the weekend of the event. Noon—4PM
Please contact Trisha Chaffin
The following times/days are 3. Event Shifts 11/12 6:30PM— at gbchaffin@sbcglobal.net or
what we need help with: 9PM and 9:00PM—Midnight. this email to sign up; or 214-
797-2744 with any questions.
1. Hotel Move-in Friday 11/11 4. Event Night Clean-up
9:30AM—Noon 11:30PM—1:30AM Kay Barry
HSA of Notre Dame, 2018 Allen St, Dallas TX 75204| HSA@NotreDameSchool.org|214.720.3911
Newsletter Title
Page Two
Teacher’s Wish List
Special Olympics
medical forms are
due. The child will
not participate if
NDS does not have
the form.
Recycle printer
cartridges.
We have a need for:
Hoop for the Playground Colored Copy Paper Dry Erase Markers
Resource Directory
Committee. Mrs.
Rush is looking for
2 or 3 parents to
help create a Re-
source Directory
similar in content
to The Arc of
Texas.
Friendship Club —
Lower School. 1 or
2 parents from
Lower School to
set up get-togethers Markers Pens Card Stock, white & color
for students and
families.
Speaker & Public
Education Advisor.
A parent to coordi-
nate Brown-Bag
Speakers and Edu-
cation resources.
Home Room Coor-
dinator. See page 8
for Homeroom Par-
ent needs.
Board Games Index Cards
November 2011
.
Volume Two| Number Three
Page 3
Page Three
Thank You Corner Families, friends, and
staff…
Thank you to all who supported the Annual Fund
The official Facebook
Basket project; the baskets look great.
page is up and running!
Thank you to all who helped to make the Annual Fall Please take a moment to
Carnival a success this year! “LIKE” us on Facebook!
A special thank you to the Almarez family for generously www. facebook.com/
providing their ponies! TheNotreDameSchoolofDal-
las.
Notre Dame School of Dallas Annual Canned Food Drive
Each year Notre Dame opportunity to serve others one will contribute what Please send in your canned
gives our students the op- who are less fortunate than us. they can I think we will foods; we will be accepting do-
portunity to help other in I now that each of us has had reach our goal. When eve- nations until Monday Novem-
the community. By collect- to tighten our belts and our ryone contributes, a very ber 21, 2011. If you have any
ing canned food and deliv- budgets this year, but I am hop- large number of people get questions, please contact me at
ering to the North Texas ing that we will be able to col- fed. This is a valuable “life vmulder@notredameschool.org
Food Bank we have the lect 1000 cans of food. If every- lesson” for our students. or 214-720-3911. Vickie Mulder.
Home and School Calendar 2011-2012
September 30 — No School—Fair Day February 1 — Open House (Prospective Par-
October 7 — Early Release/Parent Teacher ents)
Conferences February 20 —President’s Day
October 8 — Parent/Teacher conference 9a— March 12-16 — Spring Break
1P April 5 — 12:45 Release—Holy Thursday
October 15 — School Carnival April 6 — Good Friday— NO SCHOOL
October 28 — NO SCHOOL — Ministry April 9 — Easter Monday—no school — Snow
Conference Day
November 12 — An Affair of the Heart April 21 — Parent Teacher Conferences
November 23 — Early Release 12:45 May 18 — Lower School Graduation: 1PM
November 24-25th — Thanksgiving Holiday May 23 — Talent Show — 1:30PM
December 2 — VC & Bridges Christmas May 24 — Vocational Graduation: 7PM St.
Dance Peter’s Church
December 13 — Christmas Program May 28 — NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
December 16 — 12:45 early release Christ- June 1 — 12:45 release — Last Day of School
mas Parties June 4 — Snow day, if needed
December 19-30 — Christmas Holidays
January 16 — NO SCHOOL, MLK Day, Looking for ways to volunteer at the school? Call or
Teacher In-service email us at: 214.720.3911 or
January 30-February 3 — Catholic Schools email: notredame_hsa@hotmail.com
Week
Newsletter Title
Newsletter Title
News and Information
Snacks for Staff Special Olympics Bowling Tournament Feature Creatures
Parents, the HSA will be
Notre Dame Stars will have two teams in Sponsored by Dallas Zoo
stocking the teacher’s the Special Olympics Bowling Tourna-
lounges with healthy By: Mary Barber
ment. The Tournament will be held at
snacks this year. We want
USA Bowl (formerly Don Carter Lanes) The Lower School had a wonderful opportu-
to make sure they are
nourished and energetic located at Walnut Hill and Stemmons nity provided by the Dallas Zoo on Thursday,
as they provide services to September 15th. The instructors from the
(I35) Freeway.
our students. Please email Dallas Zoo came heavily armed with critters
Dedri Lewis at of all kinds; Great Owl, parrot, snake, baby
The Sixteen and Up age group will bowl
dedrilewis@gmail.com if alligator, porcupine, armadillo, penguin, and
you would like to contrib- on Thursday, November 10.
an adult sloth.
ute. The Teacher Appre-
ciation Committee will The Fifteen and Under age group will From the audience one would hear the
receive items and periodi- bowl on Friday, November 11. sounds of ooh and aah as each animal ap-
cally restock the lounges. peared from behind the curtains on the
We will need items such Please see Miss Margarita for more infor- stage. The students were very excited, en-
as:
mation. gaged, and attentive to all of the different
* Cereal Bars animals. At the end of the program the stu-
* Small Juices mfernandez@notredameschool.org dents were directed to line up and have the
* Individual Trail Mixes opportunity to touch the tail and back of the
* Granola Bars alligator; What Excitement!!!
* Small packets of Nuts
* Single-pack Muffins Last spring the students studied different
* Vitamin Water animal groups; they shared what they remem-
* Raisins bered as they answered and asked questions.
* Peanut Butter Crackers
The program was a wonderful educational
* Candy Bars
experience that we
all enjoyed.
If you shop at Tom
Thumb, don’t forget to
send your Community
Bucks to school by Oc-
tober 10.
Thanks!!
Ms. Francine
Newsletter Title November 2011
Volume Two| Number Three
Page 5Page Five
Staff Corner
Sr. Maureen Mueller
Sr. Maureen Mueller is a School Sis-
ter of Notre Dame, a member of the
order that started our school. She has
taught at Notre Dame since 1997. Sr.
Maureen entered the Convent at the
age of 15 and has taught for over 50 Blessing of the Animals
years. In 2006, Sr. Maureen cele-
brated her Golden Jubilee represent-
ing her 50 years as a School Sister of
Notre Dame. Sr. Maureen has many
interests including, as you might
imagine, dancing, singing, and play-
ing the guitar. She can dance a mean
Rumba! The other great love of Sr.
Maureen’s life is her dog, Babe. Babe
was a neighborhood stray who she
adopted after Babe scared off some
potential robbers at Sister’s home. Sr.
Maureen loves life and God and has
the energy of a person many years her
junior. She is a blessing to our Notre
Dame Community.
Christmas Program
Cutting loose at Mardi Gras parade
Marching for Respect
Newsletter Title
Page 6 Page Six
The Notre Dame School Annual Fund — Have you pledged?
The Annual Fund is a yearly cam- school’s current operating budget.
and to help students reach their staff of 39 and to date, and we are
paign for donations to support the
current operations of the school.
The Annual Fund supporters are personal goals, Notre Dame relies proud to report that we have over
current parents, alumni, parents upon your donations. The Annual 90% participation from them! It is
These tax-deductible gifts help
enhance the day-to-day life of
of alumni, grandparents, friends Fund is vital to the school’s ability vitally important that we have 100%
and neighbors who believe in our to operate within budget even participation from all 143 families
every student and faculty member
mutual goal that children with while costs continue to escalate. at Notre Dame as well.
by supporting a variety of pro-
special needs be given the oppor- Make your pledge to the 2011-2012
grams, including academics, Tuition is $6,000 a year, but the
tunity to develop the skills needed Annual Fund now by cutting out
sports, daily living skills, faculty actual cost to educate each child
to live a life with meaning and your pledge cards below. If you
salaries/benefits, technology, li- at Notre Dame is over $12,000 a
purpose. Notre Dame remains have already made your pledge, we
brary, transportation costs to and year. We have an enrollment of
committed to an academic pro- thank you!
from job sites, as well as other 143 children. To date, we have 45
gram that nourishes intellectual
resources that might drive up the families pledged to the Annual A primary family will do a pizza
curiosity, social conscience and
budget from year to year. The Fund. This represents a mere 1/3 party for primary if they achieve
self-confidence for all students. To
Annual Fund is vital to the of our enrollment. We have a 100% participation.
accomplish these community goals
November 2011
Volume Two| Number Three Page Seven
An Affair of the Heart Basket
Tina Taylor—President Tina- Dear Notre Dame Parents, Themes for the Baskets:
MarieTaylor@hotmail.com
The Basket Project was a success! Thank you all for your
Mrs. Davis — James Bond
Sharon Ensminger—VP/Secretary generous participation. The baskets were picked up at
srossi@sykessler.com school during the carnival and staged at our house; judg- Mr. Perez — Christmas
Auri Chavez—Treasurer ing was held on October 20 and the baskets were assem-
auriarmas@yahoo.com bled for the Affair of the Heart on October 30. Mrs. Barber — Texas
Heather Razak—Family Involvement
These baskets will be included in the Silent Auction at Mr. Eckler — Movie Night
Chair heathersr2000@yahoo.com
An Affair of the Heart on November 12, 2011.
Edwin deGruy—Newsletter Editor Ms. Bagnall — D Magazine
edegruy@yahoo.com Sincerely,
Linda Rush—Newsletter Publisher Mr. Fernandez — Mavericks
Julie deGruy (Angelle—Primary)
lrush@notredameschool.org
Mrs. Eckler — Baby
Tricia Han—Communication Secre- 214-662-7804
tary than@marykay.com Mrs. Battalora — Spa
Home & School Association Basket Coordinator
Dedri Lewis—Teacher Appreciation
Co-Chair dedrilewis@gmail.com Ms. Criswell — Reading Rocks
Cimmie Chavarria—Teacher Appre-
“No Limits, Just Possibilities” Mrs. McGuire — Mexican Fiesta
ciation Co-Chair
cimmiech@earthlink.net Mrs. Mulder — Chocolate
Jane Martin/Sharon Ensminger/
Lisa Appelman—Carnival Chairs Ms. Day — Cooking the Night Away
martin1018@sbcglobal.net
Miss Whirley — Inner Peace Spa
lappelma@smu.edu
Davila Niesen—Fundraising Chair Ms. Smith — Cotton Candy Carnival
davila.niesen@ey.com
Debbie Gill—Fundraising Co-Chair Although the Primary basket should
dgill@pattonboggs.com have won, the winning basket, as de-
Julie deGruy—Affair of the Heart cided by the Wylie High School Pirate
Basket Coordinator Varsity Volleyball team, is...Miss
jadegruy@hotmail.com Whirley’s Inner Peace Spa!
Kay Hewitt—Passive Fundraising
hewitt86@msn.com Inner Peace Spa Congratulations to Miss Whirley’s
Kelvin Lewis—Athletic Committee class, you have won a Pizza Party!
Coordinator
The Affair of the Heart helps to keep
kelvin.lewis2010@gmail.com
tuition affordable and provide finan-
Lisa Appelman—Friendship Club/
cial assistance to those who qualify, so
Upper
your support and participation has a
Kathy Kwasniak—Sunshine Co-
Chair kathryn.kwasniak@usi.biz
very important impact on our stu-
dents, staff, and families.
Lisa Appelman—Sunshine Co-Chair
Page Eight
Dear Parents,
Flag Football, Going for the Gold!
I know many of you have
By: Debi Smith Emiliano Serrano, Alex Ses- We are looking forward to
signed up to assist in your
homeroom, but we still sions, and Doug Sullivan. having several Notre Dame
On Saturday, October 1st,
have FOUR vacancies. flag football teams next
the Notre Dame Flag Foot- In the tournament the team
year. An exciting tourna-
Room Parents are still ball team competed in the faced the Bachman Bulls,
ment took place at High-
needed for: Special Olympics Flag Foot- Mesquite Stars, and Rock-
lander Stadium. Our Notre
ball Tournament at High- wall County Jackets.
Transition—Fernandez Dame Stars took FIRST
lander Stadium at Highland
Vocational—Bagnall The “season” began with place in the he NFC Cen-
Park High School.
Vocational—Maguire Saturday morning pick-up tral Traditional league with
Vocational—Mulder Team members are Ryan games at Jesuit and ended a last-minute run for a
If you have already signed- Blair, Nathan Diaz, Joshua with the tournament in Oc- touchdown. Notre Dame
up, Thank You. If you are Dowden, Nicholas tober. The team had a great defeated the Bachman
available to assist as a Ensminger, Michael Grimes, time learning about flag Bulls by one point!
homeroom parent, or
Dazana Kelly, Andrew Lugo, football and playing!
have an interest in assist-
ing for a particular event,
please contact Heather
Razak at
heathers2000@yahoo.com
Here is the Room Parent
list for 2011—2012:
Davis — Heather Razak
Fernandez…
Barber—LaTina Dawn
Mrs. Eckler—Lori McKee
Battalora—Karen Motes
Mr. Eckler—Jackie Waits
Smith—Jane Martin
Whirley—Michele Wilson
Bagnall…
Maguire…
Mulder…
Perez—Anita Porter
Thank you,
Heather Razak
Family Involvement Chair
Page Nine
The BRIDGES students Intermediate Science Looks to the Chicken for Answers
are back in the kitchen By: Mary Barber and explored the many layers
baking Brownies, they of the chicken. We discussed
Ooh and aah were heard as the
began on Friday the relationship of the similari-
covering was removed to reveal a
September 9th and will ties and differences between
half chicken to be studied.
continue every other humans and chickens, as well
Friday this school year. The students in Intermediate as other animals. Using the
Brownies cost 50 cents have been studying the Human classroom skeleton, Bart, and
with all proceeds body. They have learned about the chicken with bones and
the skeleton parts and are now muscles, the students got a
benefitting our Ghana
learning about the muscles. closer idea of how our human
Charity, and supplying
body works.
goods for our school The chicken is to help them see
store. The Friday Daily the relationship between the The key words used were skele-
Living Skills classes will two. With gloves on hands the ton, bones, joints, muscles,
work as employees of the students observed, investigated, tendons, ligaments, and skin.
project and be involved in
all stages of the Home & School Golf Tournament
preparation and clean-up.
The Notre Dame Home and volunteering for a Golf Tour-
Students pre-order on
School Association will be nament, and are interested in
Thursday by turning their
money into their
holding a Golf Tournament helping, please contact Debbie
homeroom teacher, and next Spring. Volunteers are Gill, Fundraising Co-Chair for
the brownie will be needed for the planning com- the Home and School Associa-
delivered to them at their mittee as well as on the day of tion for information. Debbie Help is needed for the
the event. If you have experi- can be contacted at first annual Home and
lunch period. In addition School Association Golf
to Brownies, we offer a ence planning, hosting, or dgill@pattonboggs.com. Tournament.
“Healthy Choice” which
includes a serving of fruit
30 Amazing iPad Apps for the Learning Disabled
for the low cost of 50
cents. CBI classes will This month will begin the many lust after as a shiny new Page 10 lists 30 Amazing iPad
shop for the weekly first installment of the Tech- toy, but many people with Apps for the Learning Dis-
selection. Please contact nology Corner; if any par- disabilities can benefit from abled.
what it has to offer as a func-
Carol Battalora with ents or staff have Apps that Don’t forget that QSP Maga-
tional tool. Students with zine sales are year-round
questions at: they and their children en-
learning disabilities can en-
joy, please email Mrs. Rush online; go to www.qsp.com
cbattalora@notredameschool. hance and develop their com-
and use the school Account
at munication skills, learn how to
org number 1075126. Proceeds
lrush@notredameschool.org adapt to situations, and de-
are used for technology up-
The iPad is a device that velop social skills.
dates.
Page Ten
Technology Corner
1. Crazy Face: encourages shy help your child navigate chal- tion Builder, Language offers games for training
students to speak more often. lenging locations with appro- Builder, Conversation Builder motor/visual/executive
iPod T needs microphone. priate behavior. FREE and Preposition Builder. functions. $2.99
$2.99 or Crazy Face Lite
10. iWriteWords: Encourage 17. Grace: Grace can help 24. Stories2LEarn: Promote
2. Autism Timer: This app fine motor skills using IWrite- autistic and special needs chil- social skills and literacy by
offers a digital timer for stu- Words for practicing writing dren build sentences to com- creating personalized stories
dents with autism. $2.99 letters, numbers, and words. municate effectively. $37.99 on Stories2Learn. $13.99
$2.99 — Lite-FREE Check out these:
3. Behavior Assessment Pro: 18. Which Does Not Belong:
Look2Learn $14.99 Social
BAP identifies factors related 11. MyTalkTools Mobile: This app will help your learner
Skills $6.99
to problem behaviors for autis- MyTalkTools Mobile, augmen- discriminate which items don’t
tic kids. $4.99 tative and alternative commu- belong in a group and encour- 25. iConverse: iConverse
nication for learning disabled age vocal imitation. $0.99 works as a picture exchange
4. Pictello: Create new stories,
students. $39.99 — Lite-FREE Check out all the other by communication system for
share stories, export stories
ABA Receptive Identification autistic individuals and
and even record your own 12. First Then Visual Sched-
those with communicative
voice. $18.99 ule: Provide positive behavior 19. My Choice Board: Kids
disabilities. $9.99
support using the First Then with autism, communication
5. Everyday Skills: Use this
Visual Schedule app for the delays, or learning differences 26. Storyrobe: Storyrobe
app to find self-directed learn-
iPad (iOS 4.2). $9.99 can express their needs and offers a simple and easy way
ing for students with autism
wants through this choice to produce digital stories.
and learning disabilities. 13. Idea Sketch: Draw mind
board. $9.99
$39.99 (iPhone4, iPod4, iPad) maps, flow charts, and more 27. Flashcards for iPad:
with Idea Sketch. FREE 20. LivingSafely: LivingSafely This app can be used effec-
6. Proloquo2Go: Prolo-
can help students with autism tively for special needs learn-
quo2Go offers picture-based 14. Off We Go!: Off We Go!
and developmental disabilities ers. $3.99
communication for children can help children with special
practice self-directed learning.
with communication disor- needs become more comfort- 28. Big Words for iPad:
$29.99
ders. $189.99 able in new situations. $3.99 Bigger Words can help kids
21. iCommunicate: Children read easier. $0.99
7. ArtikPix: Children with 15. AutismXpress: Autism
with autism and visual chal-
speech issues can use ArtikPix Xpress makes it easy to recog- 29. Talkulator: Talkulator
lenges can use this app with
to practice sounds and words nize and express emotions. can help students with visual
pictures, storyboards, routines,
at home. FREE; Full—$29.99 FREE; Pro — $1.99 problems count and do
and more. $49.99
arithmetic. FREE
8. iEarnedThat: This tool can 16. StoryBuilder: StoryBuilder
22. Toy Story 3 Read Along:
help parents track and reward can improve auditory process- 30. Read2Me: Read2Me will
Toy Story’s app is a great early
good behavior. $1.99 Lite-Free ing for children with autism or import a text file and read it
literacy tool for early language
sensory processing disorders. aloud to weaker readers.
9. Model Me Going Places: learners. FREE
$3.99. Check out the whole $4.99
This visual teaching tool can
series: Sentence Builder, Ques- 23. ACT Spell: ACT Spell
Page Eleven
Fundraising…A spot Light
Your Home and School Association makes it easy for
you to help raise money and visibility for our school.
You can raise funds each time you spend money with
these participating vendors:
Scan your Albertson’s Community
Partners Key Tag each time you shop. Please pray for all the unemployed, those in
hospitals, their families and the needs and
Link your Target Credit Card to NDS
(School I.D. is 16182). struggles of all of our Notre Dame family
community.
Need school supplies? Office Depot
makes it easy to get a discount and support
our school. When checking out give our
Bless all who contribute to the Annual Fund.
school phone number 214-720-3911 and the We pray for funding bridge to educate our
school gets benefits. children at Notre Dame!
Box Tops for Education— Keep Saving!
Join the contest, a school wide pizza party if
we surpass last year’s collection.
Tom Thumb— Buy groceries and give
back to our school! Link you rewards card
Upcoming NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Home & School Students
Meetings Danielle Reed November 1 Staff
Jed Khazem November 2 Karen Stanley November 7
November 7, 2011 Avery Figueroa November 2 Newton Buliva November 22
The Notre Dame Rebekah Clark November 3 Vicki Lynn Mulder November 26
Jermaine Johnson November 4 Frances Woller November 27
School of Dallas
Aylin Silva November 8 Dorothy Ann Ruvallt November 29
Mrs. Rush will
Alex Gill November 11
present iPad Ashley Chaffin November 14
training for Jordan Lewis November 15
parents Leah Battalora November 16
Abigail Chavarria November 18
December 6, 2011 Alexandra Chavarria November 18
TBD Connor Fagan November 19
Patrick Doolin November 22
Meetings are from
Yenifer Flores November 26
6:30—8:00PM
LeVonteye Brisco November 29
October Events
Dallas Fire Department visits Notre Dame October 2011
Notre Dame Carnival October 15, 2011
Blessing of the Animals
October 21, 2011
