The ND Spirit

After the announcement last week that Notre Dame is closing at the end of the year, we have to devote our attention to opportunities for our Spirits for this fall. Since registration season is already underway at most local schools, it has been important for us to compile resources for our students so that they can find the best match.

Keep in mind that our students are amazing and any school will be lucky to have any one of them--let alone the 20-30 who might attend any one school. Don't let any school make you feel unworthy of your attendance or pretend that they don't have room for you. Our fellow Catholic schools have been asked to make exceptions and accommodations in these extraordinary circumstances and our hope is that they will. We have also asked them to waive the requirement for teacher letter of recommendations since that is quite a burdent to ask of our teachers amid all the present turmoil. One look at a Notre Dame student's unofficial transcript should tell all that any local Catholic school would need to know.

We encourage students to apply this week to a school or two. In addition, families should apply for tuition assistance. If you've already applied through our Clarity system, you can then transfer that application to Palma or ask us to transfer your information to St. Francis. For other schools (or if you hadn't utilized Clarity), you should follow the school's requirements. The Diocese will be developing a system of awarding scholarship money to current students who attend Catholic schools depending on factors. The superintendent will announce the criteria and process when it is ready.

St. Francis was kind enough to host an Open House for Notre Dame students and their families last night and we provided a school van to transport interested students. They are welcoming shadow visits and have extended their deadlines. They have promised transportation and have really bent over backward to make the process as seamless as possible. Santa Catalina is hosting an information night tonight and a visit day on Friday. We'll also provide transportation to that. Since both schools are Catholic, families are eligible for scholarship money to attend those schools.

York is a non-Catholic private school. They have reached out and are offering an information night next week (information to come), an extended admission deadline, and have promised to work with families to make their tuition affordable since the diocese won't be providing scholarship money to follow students. It is a small school so that might be appealing to our Spirits, too. We encourage all of our students to take as many visits as possible to really understand their options.

We realize this is a difficult time but we're here to walk with you to help you through this transition.

Go Spirits!

Dr. Tim Uhl

• • This week's students announcements can be found here.

• Lenten Community Meals :

• • March 6th: Pasta, salad, garlic bread
  • March 13th: clam chowder, salad, rolls
  • March 20th: Cheese enchiladas, beans, rice
  • March 27th: Lumpia & pancit
• Here is the cast list for Little Shop of Horrors, our spring musical scheduled for May 1 & 2.
• Here is a look at the swim schedule.

• March 4: All-School Mass 10:50 am
• March 5: Student meeting with Bishop Ramon noon
• March 7: County Science Fair
• March 13: No School/End of 3rd Quarter
• March 28: Mother-Daughter Paint Party
• April 3-12: No School (Easter Break)
• May 1 & 2: Spring Musical: "Little Shop of Horrors"
• May 22: "Meet the Singer-Songwriters"
• May 29: Baccalaureate Mass (5:00 pm) followed by Community Dinner
• May 30: Graduation (noon)

New Local Scholarship Listings

California Rodeo Salinas Scholarship

• Deadline is 3/16/26

• $5,000 scholarships

• Scholarship Criteria

• The scholarship recipient(s) should be chosen based on the applicants:

• Academic achievements (e.g. honor roll, National Honor Society, overcoming academic challenges)

• Extra-curricular activities (e.g. athletics, student government, volunteering)

• Documented financial need

• The Student must be one of the following:

• Child, grandchild, or spouse of a California Rodeo Salinas Committee Member in good standing; or

• Have worked themselves as a California Rodeo Salinas Committee Member in good standing. (A California Rodeo Salinas Committee Member is someone who volunteers directly for the Rodeo-not just as a volunteer in their school’s booth to earn money-and whose name is on record with the California Rodeo Association office as being an active Committee Member). Students who would like to learn how to become a Salinas Rodeo Committee member, please follow this link: Volunteering (carodeo.com) and complete the application to become a committee member for the next rodeo.

• Additionally, the Student should:

• Be planning to attend a 2-year/4-year college, trade school, or graduate school.

• Be planning to attend full-time.

• Have a 2.5 minimum GPA.

Special consideration will be given to students from Monterey County and students with a long-standing history of volunteering with the Salinas Rodeo.

Ocean Mist Farms Academic Scholarship Program

• Deadline is 4/1/2026

• $1,000 scholarships

• Eligibility

• Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and eitherh

• (a) reside in Monterey, Riverside, San Benito or Santa Cruz counties OR

• (b) have a parent or guardian who currently works for Ocean Mist Farms

• Complete Scholarship Application Form, www.oceanmist.com/scholarship-program/

• Completion of work experience, community service, club participation, and extra curricular activities

• Official school transcripts as proof of cumulative GPA

• Essay describing a situation in which you have shown leadership by applying one or more of the Ocean Mist Farms Guiding Values of Quality, Respect, Innovation, Shared Success, and Integrity and Accountability. (Essay to be approximately 500-700 words)

• Two Letters of Recommendation (one from a school teacher and another from a coach, employer, etc)

• Proof of higher education acceptance and enrollment, ie. acceptance letter, proof of registration, etc.

The League of United Latin American Citizens Scholarship

• Deadline is 4/7/2026

• Amount of scholarship varies

• Eligibility

• Must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or be granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

• Must have applied to or be enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university, including 2-year colleges, or vocational schools that lead to an associate's degree.

• A student will not be eligible for a scholarship if he/she is related to a scholarship committee member, the Council President, or an individual contributor to the local funds of the Council.

• Application can be found in the Notre Dame Counseling Office.

Monterey County Cattlemen/Cattlewomen Scholarship

• Deadline is 4/10/26

• Amount of scholarship varies

• Eligibility

• Applicants must be a high school senior residing in or attending high school in Monterey County.

• The student must be attending an institution of higher learning to further their education in an agricultural field.

• Chosen applicants will be asked to participate in a formal interview with the Cattlemen committee.

• Scholarships may be used at any two or four-year college or university as well as accredited trade school.

• Application can be found in the Notre Dame Counseling Office.

Scholarship list

We were delighted to welcome several alumnae to our Lenten Dinner last week, and as always, their deep love for Notre Dame shone brightly. They spoke with such pride and affection for their alma mater, sharing stories and reflections that reminded us all of the enduring spirit of our school community.

Email: tuhl@notredamesalinas.org

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