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School Books and Fees

 

One of the major items that all families need to address at the start of the school year is payment for books and fees. Please use this as a guide:

 

1. In most courses, students receive a State-funded text book which is used during the course and returned to the school at the end of the first semester. Typical of this type of book is an English Anthology, an Algebra text, a Biology text, etc. There is no charge for this category of book.

 

2. Some courses require additional consumable books that are usually softbound: vocabulary workbooks, novels, etc. These books are to be purchased through ClassBook.com. This is explained below.

 

3. All books used in Religion classes need to be purchased as State funds are not permitted for such purchases.

 

4. Fees for laboratory courses will also be paid if your student is taking a science or art course.

 

In order to facilitate the purchases/fees listed above in numbers 2, 3 and 4, Notre Dame has contracted with ClassBook.com to handle the purchases and the shipping. In order to begin, you will need to have your student’s schedule in hand – which you will receive by mail in early August. Go to the www.ClassBook.com and SELECT: Division and then Department to begin purchasing your books. ORDER: Using any major credit card.) The books for each course will be listed separately for each course which you will identify by course number and name. You have the option of purchasing your student’s book and paying for the fees for the entire year now, or you may make the purchases/payments for fees for each semester separately.

 

Of Special Note: The fee for the AP exams is not listed on the web site; students will receive information concerning this after the start of school. Payment for the AP exams will take place second semester.

 

AP Successes

 

The school year 2009-2010 produced another outstanding result in our AP program. We are happy to report that 265 AP exams were administered to our students and an impressive 80% of those taking the exams achieved a passing grade of 3 or better. Congratulations to our students and to our teachers.

 

Progress Reports

 

Academic Progress Reports will be available via Genesis, our new data base system. Reports will be posted on October 14 for the first marking period. Any parent who does not have easy access to the internet is asked to call the Guidance Office at (609)883-5765 so that a paper copy of the Academic Progress Report can be sent home. Parents are encouraged to contact the teacher or the Guidance counselor if the report indicates areas of difficulty so that immediate actions may be taken. A reminder to parents and students: Activity Period is an excellent time for additional help or to make up work.

 

Exam Alert

 

Final examinations are slated for Monday and Tuesday, January 24 and 25 and Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 and 16. Emergency school closings for any reason will move those dates corresponding to the number of days closed. Please do not schedule family trips or any other events for your child on the assumption that these dates will not change. Undue stress is placed on students and families when alternate arrangements must be made, and many times these alternate arrangements cannot be made. Thank you for your cooperation.


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Junior English Students Hear Renowned Author at Kean University
4/27/2010
As part of the Junior Interdisciplinary program, students read Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried for their English Class summer reading. This Spring, a group of these students had the opportunity to meet the author and hear him read from his novel.
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Honors Advanced Placement
Notre Dame High School stresses preparation for college with a challenging curriculum for all students. with ever expanding Advanced Placement programs and honors courses, academic departments offer a variety of subjects designed to provide a rigorous academic experience to students who plan to pursue a college degree. Courses are rooted in the basics, yet incorporate progressive teaching strategies. Teachers encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. Instructinal approaches help address a variety of learning styles. Notre Dame is committed to supporting this progressive, student-centered academic program that is connected to the global community.

At Notre Dame High School each student is known, and the results of student progress are carefully monitored. We maintain restrictions on class size, on overall teacher-student ratio to ensure individual atention and focus on effective use of technology as a learning tool.
Technological Advancement
Notre Dame has committed to providing our students with an education that utilizes technology and that prepares them for post-secondary education and work. Technology changes constantly and Notre Dame makes every effort to stay abreast of those changes through the work of our Technology Department and through the advice of our teaching staff.
Interdisciplinary Studies
The Interdisciplinary Program is an integral part of a Notre Dame education. Currently our Freshmen and Junior students spend a semester in an interdisciplinary block that combines Social Studies, Religion, and English curricular concepts to provide a richer learning experience. Shared activities, reinforced concepts and practical skills provide an environment that promotes class spirit, social consciousness, and superior academic performance.

Students participate in special events sponsored by Interdisciplinary Studies:
  • I.C.A.N. (Interdisciplinary Community Action Network) Service trips
  • Portfolio Projects
  • Field trips
  • Senior Projects
  • Senior Internships

Varied Assessment
Portfolios, Projects, Presentations. Students learn differently. This is a fact of education that is constantly studied and affirmed. To meet these different needs, our teachers are encouraged to take professional development courses and workshops on differentiated assesment and to implement varied techniques in their classes. Portfolios, projects and presentations are just some of the different means teachers use in determining grades.
Block Scheduling
A modified block scheduling model is employed at Notre Dame. Most courses are held for 80 minutes (full block), but a few courses are 40 minutes (half block) in length. The longer class period allows for more laboratory work in Science classes, more creative production in Art classes, more debate in Social Studies classes, more writing and discussion in English, etc. Because of the Block Schedule, the school year at Notre Dame mirrors to a great extend the academic year at a college with classes running by semester rather than for the whole year. This has proven to prepare our students well for college study. It will be easier for students to complete the scheduling process by focusing on required elective and alternate credits that they will be taking rather than the number of courses.
Counseling
College and Career. Our Guidance Department offers a full range of counseling services to all our students from course selection, resolution of academic difficulties, college application, scholarships, crisis management and much more.
Student-centered Learning
Gone are the days of straight lecture from a podium in the front of the classroom. Teachers aim for total participation and total involvement of students in each lesson. Lessons are geared for active strategies that involve the students with each other and with the subject matter to be studied.