The ND Spirit

I never quite understood everything that was happening in "Stranger Things" but I was fascinated by the "upside down" alternate reality. I have found myself wondering if the same confusing phenomenom is going on right now in our world and the potential impact is having on our students. It is certainly causing anxiety and confusion and I wonder how it is forming our students for the future.

I spent the past 5 days in Chicago and found the city to be vibrant, fun, and exploding with energy. It was clean, safe, and fun. Not like how it is being portrayed by the White House. Or the protests at the ICE facility. Or the midnight raids on an apartment building complete with half-dressed children being zip-tied and US citizes being forcefully detained.

I have found myself over the past 10 months seemingly living two lives--the one right in front of me and the strange, upside down reality taking place on the news and in our political realm. "It isn't impacting me," I told myself. But last week's ICE incident in sleepy Durango, Colorado where a family was torn apart and peaceful protesters were choked, tear gassed, and abused has caused me to rethink my approach. It's time for us to acknowledge that our country is changing for the worse and life is becoming uncomfortable, anxiety-ridden, and painful for too many. I have seen ministers leading prayer shot in the face with rubber pellets, elected representatives shoved down and arrested, and deportees prevented from receiving the Eucharist. And too many seem to be afraid to speak out. But this violence might be at our doorstep any day.

More relevant, our students are being exposed to people in power who are not beholden to the truth and are maintaining that "might makes right"--in other words, if you have power, you have the right to say whatever you want and use violence whenever you wish.

We're losing our ability to function as a civil society by imposing the idea that force makes right and the truth doesn't matter. The ends don't justify the means. We are selling our soul as a democratic nation and we have a responsibility as a Catholic, Christian community to advocate for the dignity of all persons, the respect for the truth, and the need for a civil society founded on open dialogue and respect.

Go Spirits!

Dr. Tim Uhl

• Tickets for Girls Night Out: Paint Party must be purchased by Wednesday, November 5 either online here or by check turned in to Miss Marisol.

• This is the last week that Notre Dame will be providing plastic utensils on campus. In our continued commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re making the transition to more sustainable options. Please remember to bring your own utensils beginning next week and help us reduce waste and protect our planet!

• Here is the link to order Notre Dame letter jackets or letter sweaters.

• We've launched this simple Google Form to "crowdsource" alumnae information. If you know of any alumnae, feel free to share the link

• Here is a Google Doc with student service opportunities
• Here is a look at the basketball schedule

Here is the link to the Student Handbook. We're continuing to adjust as issues arise.

• Nov 5th: All-School Mass 10:40 am; PCAL playin game for doubles team (Gemma De Rainieri & Mayte Menchaca)
• Nov 6th: Financial Aid information night 6:00 pm
• Nov 7th: "Girls Night Out" Paint Party
• Nov 9th: Fall Sports Banquet
• Dec 3rd: All-School Mass & Posada (with Sacred Heart & Madonna Middle Schools)
• Dec 5-6: Fall Play
• Feb 7: Crab & Pasta Feed

Join us for Financial Aid Night on Thursday November 6 at 6:00 PM in the Notre Dame Commons to learn from the Hartnell Financial Aid Office about the financial aid process.

We will learn about the FAFSA, the Salinas Valley Promise Program and how we can best prepare ourselves to fill out all of the forms! The presentation is open to parents and students from all grade levels

UC and CSU applications are due December 1st. The California State University system application can take 1-2 hours to complete. Students will need to access their transcript in order to input grades earned during high school. Please see Mrs. Uhl for assistance

The University of California system application will take 1-2 hours for the personal and academic sections. Students will need access to their transcripts to record grades earned during high school. The PIQs (Personal Insight Questions) are where students need to spend a majority of their time. Students must answer 4 of 8 questions, each with a 350 word limit. The PIQs need to be written and edited as if they were an English class essay. Students should ask for feedback from teachers and Mrs. Uhl.

Juniors and Standardized Testing

Juniors who are planning to apply to schools across the country need to consider taking the SAT and/or ACT as part of their admissions process. Most of the Ivy League schools have reintroduced standardized testing as a requirement. The state university systems of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee require tests. University of Texas at Austin is a state school that requires a test score. For a complete list of schools and their testing policies, visit FairTest.org

Many schools are “Test Optional”. This policy allows students to submit test scores if they wish. Some schools are “Test Free”. These schools don’t accept scores as part of their admissions process. The UC and CSU schools are “Test Free”.

Upcoming SAT dates:

• Dec 6
• March 14
• May 2
• June 6

Upcoming ACT dates:

• Dec 13
• Feb 14
• April 11
• June 13
• July 11

Notre Dame CEEB code: 052748 Please contact Mrs. Uhl with any questions regarding standardized testing.

Scholarship list

What a spectacular evening! Our annual Bocce Night was a massive success, drawing a lively crowd of nearly 100 people for a fun-filled night under the gym lights! The energy was infectious as staff, dedicated community members, supportive board members, and a fantastic number of alumni gathered to celebrate.

The competition was fierce, but ultimately, the crown went to the formidable "Bocce Squad"! Congratulations to our first-place champions: alum Mary (Orlando) White ('80), her husband Will, their daughter Beatrice (’16), and her friend Robert.

Hot on their heels, taking the Runners-Up title, was the cleverly named team "Deboccery." This talented group featured alum Mary K (Romero) Thomas ('81), her husband, and fellow alum Stefani (Tosolini) Cortopassi ('80).

The style award of the evening—for the Best T-shirts—went to the spirited "Young Uccelli's," which included Notre Dame Alum Sara (Ansberry) Young ('98).

It was truly a night celebrating Notre Dame, our supporters and the power of the alumnae community! We enjoyed great competition, delicious food, and the joy of reconnecting with old friends. The atmosphere was perfectly set by the incredible tunes of Mr. Jimmy and friends, joined by talented singers from Notre Dame. A perfect blend of good friends, good food, and great music made this Bocce Night a standout event!

Next big event coming up… the annual Crab and Pasta Feed. Mark your calendars-February 7, 2026! Tickets will go on sale on November 17th.

Email: tuhl@notredamesalinas.org

Website: www.notredamesalinas.org
Location: Salinas, CA
Phone: 831-751-1850
Twitter: @drtimuhl

This week I started a new series of podcasts. Author and frequent podcast guest Dr. Ann Garrido was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. I've begun a series of conversations with thought leaders in Catholic education discussing her impact on their work and lives. The first tribute podcast is Dr. Kevin Baxter of ACE-Notre Dame.

Previous episodes this season:

• Last week's podcast conversation delves into Pope Leo's new Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te. I speak with David Palmieri, a theologian and high school teacher. We share reflections and insights from this amazing work
• I recorded a podcast conversation with Greg Richmond, the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. We discussed the joys of having a pope named from your hometown (and with a long history of Catholic schools) and the challenges and disruptions of ICE raids near your schools. Here is a link to the podcast.