Notre Dame Academy – Worcester
E-Mail News
Volume 1, Issue 1

State Senator Harriet Chandler and State Representative James O’Day addressed Academy seniors at a special assembly on January 15th. Both officials have been visiting area private and public high schools encouraging those students of voting age to register to vote. Over 700 students have registered since the Sen.Chandler and Rep. O’Day took their presentation to area schools according to Anthony DiSantis of Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office. Mr. DiSantis challenged the each senior: “Don’t be a spectator….be a participant!” According to Sen. Chandler’s aide, Michael Goff, twenty percent of the voting population in the next election will be young people between the ages of 18 to 29 and that percentage is expected to rise to one third of those voting in future elections. Sen. Chandler emphasized that she and Rep. O’Day were not at the Academy to sway students to vote for any particular candidate, but to urge students to register and, better still, become involved in electing a candidate of their choice at either the national or state level or both. David Rushford, Clerk of the City of Worcester, was on hand with registration forms and members Class of 2008 were eager to fill them out. Sen. Chandler’s parting words the seniors were that “one fourth of the Massachusetts Legislature are women” and suggested that those in attendance might consider careers in public service.

It would not be the holiday season at the Academy without the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and the collection of Christmas gifts for children in the greater Worcester community. Our food drive was conducted the week before Thanksgiving for the St. Paul’s Cathedral Outreach program. Turkeys, canned goods, and groceries blanketed the Academy’s foyer as student volunteers packaged the fixings for complete Thanksgiving dinners. A caravan of student cars made the trek to the Cathedral with the meals and potatoes, carrots and onions from Cournoyers’ Farm in Paxton.

Fast on the heels of the Thanksgiving Drive came the annual Christmas Drive. Over 200 Christmas gift bags were filled by NDA students for distribution to families served by Aids Project Worcester. APW is a non-profit organization that helps to support clients with AIDS as well as their families. The gifts were solicited primarily through the science department with members of the faculty and staff joining in the Christmas spirit of giving as well!

Freshman and Sophomores from NDA competed in the Auerbach Track Meet at Boston’s Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center Sunday, January 6th. Representing NDA were sophomores Chelsi Gaffney, Mary Groves, Anna Kalinowski  and freshmen Hannah White , Katie Boutot, Tayla Brodin, Gina Riggieri, and Sarah Coderre. While everyone turned in very strong performances, Mary Groves (300 meters), Tayla Brodin (300 meters), Anna Kalinowski (4x400 relay) and Hannah White (Mile) all posted personal and season best performances.  Hannah's time of 5:59.6 minutes in the Mile qualifies her to compete in the Massachusetts State meet to be held in February at the RLC. Coach Suzanne Williams is confident that many more of the NDA Running Rebels will be joining Hannah on that list of State qualifiers in the weeks to come.  At the January 12th meet at RLC sophomore Mary Groves ran a very fast 28.8 split for her relay leg in the 4x200.  Freshman Hannah White ran a 5:35 split for her 1600 leg in the distance medley, which would have been fast enough to break the school record for the Mile had it been a true Mile race.  Her time on Her time on Saturday was 20 seconds faster than her previous PR of 5:59 for the Mile.

The holiday season was extended a few weeks at the Academy this year.  Due to a late December snow storm, the annual Christmas Concert was moved from its tradition date the evening before Christmas break to January 8. The concert’s Christmas spirit reverberated with traditional Christmas songs such as “The Holly and the Ivy”, “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” as well as a rousing “Calypso Allelu” all performed by the Chamber Chorale.  The Instrumental Ensemble followed with a comical rendition of Jerry William’s  “Deck the Halls with Old Composers” and the more familiar “Sleigh Ride”.  The Flute Choir piped a wonderful “Christmas Medley” and the Guitar Ensemble delighted the audience with “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”.  The Chamber Orchestra‘s presentations of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” and Handel’s “Adagio & Allegro from the 33rd Suite” were masterfully performed and were followed by the Percussion Ensemble’s  festive “Feliz Navidad” and the a Cappella Group‘s “Ukrainian Bell Carol”. The evening concluded with “classic” performances by the Jazz Ensemble ( “O Christmas Tree” and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) and the Concert Chorale (“Silver Bells”, “Il est Ne le divin Enfant”, a traditional French carol, an encore “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Pablo, the Reindeer”, and of course, “Silent Night”. )  In tribute to the fact that the holiday season was truly and officially over, the audience was encouraged to join the singers and musicians in singing “Auld Lang Syne”. 

Rehearsals are underway for the Academy’s spring musical “Annie”. First performed on Broadway in 1977, “Annie” is based upon Harold Gray’s comic strip “Little Orphan Annie”, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. The musical will run from March 13th to the 16th.  Once again, the Academy will be conducting an Ad Drive fundraiser in conjunction with the production. Students will be selling ads during the month of February.  Ad drive forms will also be available for download on our website!  Proceeds from the ad drive benefit the entire school . . . so please support our efforts!

The Academy welcomes Julie Glavin, Class of 1969, as our new Director of Development. According to Principal Sr. Ann Morrison, “We are blessed to have a graduate of the Academy with such an extensive background, not only in fundraising and communications, but also an intimate knowledge of our alumnae and an enthusiasm for the future of the Academy.”  A graduate of Emmanuel College where she earned her English degree, Julie also holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Assumption College. She has served as Dean of Students at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill and as Director of Housing at Tufts University, Medford.  Her many fundraising/management credentials include the Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Fisher College, Boston,  Director of Annual Giving at Assumption College, and, most recently, Director of Annual Giving at Anna Maria College, Paxton.  As Director of Development, Julie joins the Institutional Advancement Team at the Academy. “We look forward to Julie’s leadership and insight as we move into the future,” said. Sr. Ann.

NDA’s Guidance Department recently offered a financial aid night for parents of students in all grades.  Speaker Paul Lynskey of the Massachusetts Financial Authority reviewed the financial aid process and provided information on scholarships, grants and loans.

Juniors and their parents have been invited to an evening presentation dealing with the role of the college, family and high school in the college application process on February 7th.

Members of the Class of 2008 are delighted with the early action and early decision acceptances. All seniors have completed applications and half of the Class of 2008 have already received acceptances. Congratulations

Four student artists from the Academy have submitted their work to the 58th annual Boston Globe Scholastic Arts’ Competition.  Senior Hannah Sherril, juniors  Caroline Jette and Laura Simoncini, and freshman Alexandra Sivazlian are taking part in this prestigious event.  Started in 1950, the BGSA competition attracts over 3000 entries each year.  The best of the best are honored with the Gold Key Award.  In 2006, senior Julianne Martin earned a Gold Key and, last year, senior Fatima Razzaq received a Gold Key and senior Rose Ranauro an honorable mention.  Good luck to all of our artists!

If you have NDA news, dates or achievements you would like to see featured in the Academy’s e-mail NEWS, please send information to Mary Kennedy at mkennedy@nda-worc.org. Check our website: www.nda-worc.org for information on all aspects of life at NDA!  Please keep us updated should your e-mail change.
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