The ND Spirit

October Update

One of my favorite avocations is running. I've never been fast and as the years pass I have become even less so. But I'm persistent, faithful to training, and from time to time see positive results. I also see epic fails which are part of the enchilada. One thing I've learned, however, is that the training is the key. The miles in training, the early morning training runs--that is where the joy happens. I enjoy (yes, enjoy!) the training runs, the long solitary runs, the rising at 4:30 am. So when I line up for the San Jose Half Marathon this Sunday, the work will have been done already. We'll see if I have a great race or if I'm just hanging on to the finish.

In the same way, we're almost 1/4 of the way through the school year. We have to learn to find joy in the work, the learning, the routines. The joy isn't found in the end but in the becoming. Take our fall sports. The joy won't be in the final game or match or the fall sports banquet. It will be in the practices, the car rides to games, the ups and downs of the season. The process of becoming is where the joy must be found. In the same way, people ask whether Notre Dame has come back yet. "Not yet," I say. "But we're on the way." It's in the grind where we can find the joy.

October is a busy month in most high schools (end of quarter, parent-teacher conferences, fall sports nearing completion, homecoming, etc.) but it's also the month that the stress of grades, college applications, and performing for activities and sports can cause people to come undone. We see conflicts emerge between students, between teachers & students, even between teachers. I"m not writing this to predict or excuse bad behavior. It's just a reminder that this is part of a normal school year cycle and we should give each other a bit of grace.

We have some great events coming up beginning with this Saturday's Hispanic Heritage Event. There will be great food, dancing, music, and fun. It's a family-friendly event on Saturday. October 4th. Buy tickets here. Invite your friends and family. It's a great way to introduce people to Notre Dame! Next week we'll kick off our Breast Cancer Awareness activities, too.

Looking ahead, we'll have Homecoming Week next week and then Parent-Teacher Conferences on the 14th and Open House on the 28th. There is a lot of activity running through the campus!

Go Spirits!

Dr. Tim Uhl

News & Notes

You are invited to attend our Hispanic Heritage Event on Saturday, October 4. Tickets may be purchased here by Monday, September 29 or checks can be made payable to Notre Dame High School and turned in to Miss Marisol.
The Airshow will be on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5. If students are interested in volunteering, they may sign up here!
This week's student announcements can be found here
Homecoming Dance is on Saturday, October 11 at 7:00 - 10:00 PM. Ticket order link Dance Guidelines
*Tickets must be purchased by Friday, October 3.
Family Pumpkin Carving Event - Friday, October 24 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the sophomore quad
Snowball Fight - Wednesday, October 8 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the sophomore quad
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
Volleyball schedule can be found here; tennis schedule here. Both the volleyball and tennis teams are undefeated in conference play! Here is a look at the basketball schedule and the soccer schedule.

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

Save the Date

Oct 1: volleyball home vs. Kirby
Oct 2: Tennis @ Kirby
Oct 3: volleyball @ North Salinas
Oct 4: Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Oct 6-11: Homecoming Week (tennis Oct 7th; volleyball Oct 9th; dance Oct 11th)
Oct 13: Quarter Break (no school)
Oct 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences 6-8 pm
Oct 15: Testing day (noon dismissal)
Oct 25: Middle School Halloween Dance
Nov 1st: Bocce Ball!
Nov 15: Mother-Daughter Tea & Fashion Show
Feb 7: Crab & Pasta Feed

Counselor Corner

Financial Aid Night is scheduled for Thursday November 6 in the Notre Dame Commons from 6:00pm - 7:30pm. Information about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as well as the financial aid process will be presented. Financial Aid Night is open to all Notre Dame parents. It's never too early to start planning!

Senior students - The Monterey Elks 1285 has notified us that the Most Valuable Student (MVS) Contest application is now open. Applications can be found here. The application deadline is November 12, 2025. Monterey Elks 1285 is offering 10 scholarships for local students. Five females and five males will receive $500.

Scholarship list

Alumnae News

The halls of West Point have always been a vessel for leadership, and shaping individuals who go on to make significant contributions in diverse fields. Today, we would like to shine a spotlight on two such distinguished NDHS graduates who happen to be sisters; Ellie Milanesa (Class of ’18) and Abby Milanesa (Class of ‘20). Their journeys since their time at Notre Dame, exemplify the spirit of "Duty, Honor, Country."

Ellie graduated from West Point in 2020, majoring in electrical engineering. Subsequently she was assigned to the 101st airborne division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She was only the 85th woman to complete the US army Ranger school.

Abby graduated from West Point in 2024. She majored in chemical engineering and then branched into one of the most competitive branches the army offers, cyber warfare. She is currently stationed at Fort Eisenhower in Augusta Georgia.

Both of their stories do not end there. They have travelled, met world leaders and trained intensely. To read more about their lives after NDHS, stay tuned for our Alumnae newsletter coming soon. We are so proud of them and all of our alums!

Information on the Bocce Night (November 1st) can be found here and sponsorship & signup information here.