K-2 Dental Screening

All Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students are screened by

Dr. Ngo annually. This service is soley to provide for early detection of dental problems that may arise before the childs next dental visit. The dental screen is not a thorough exam such as that done at the dental office. A visual inspection is completed of the teeth and surrounding tissue. An assessment is made and recommendations sent home to parents if further treatment is needed. http://www.mysmilekids.com/ Visit this site to learn more about Dental Health!

Science Fair 2010

Our annual Science Fair was held on Tuesday. All 5th-8th grade students entered a project, either individually or in a small group. This year we also had grades Kindergarten-Third grade exhibit their class Science Fair Project. We are proud of all our winners and students for working hard through the Scientific Method to learn more and share with others. We thank Mrs. Forcey for coordinating this event and to all our judges: Parents, Friends, School Board members, Father Robert & Father Craig.

The great men of science are supreme artists. ~Martin H. Fischer

Spelling Bee

This year we welcomed nine schools to Notre Dame Hall for our annual Non-Public School Spelling Bee: St. Joachim, St. Lasalle, Our Lady of Victory, St. Anthony's, Mary Immaculate Queen, CK Armenian, Valley Crescent, Fresno Christian, and Clovis Christian. This year we encouraged schools to bring their best 2nd and 3rd grade Spellers to join our Level One competition. Almost100 2nd & 3rd students brought their knowledge of words and their enthusiasm to earn awards. Students in grades 4-8 also participated for a #1 spot in their Division and move on to the Fresno County Spell Off in March. 4th grade gets one more year to practice at our level before eligiblity to the Fresno County Spell. The day was filled with friendship and a great spirit of competition & we thank the many parents that accompanied their children. Thank you coaches for preparing your students! Students thank you for participating and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

You can't spell "brothers" without at the same time spelling "others

Our Students are 100 Days Smarter

February 8th marked the 100th day of school for the 2009-10 school year and if you listened closely you could hear a low murmur of excitement in the halls. Many students created remarkable projects made from 100 stickers, cheetos, beans, cotton balls, and more. Even though the 100th Day of school has come and gone, you can continue celebrating at home:

• Do 100 Jumping Jacks


• Write numbers 1-100 using different colored markers


• Collect 100 of different items and weigh them


• Read the book The Night Before the 100th Day of School by Natasha Wing


• Name 100 cities in the United States without looking at a map

Have fun and keep learning. There are less than 100 days left of school!

Jumping for a World Record

The current record for the most people jumping rope at the same time is held by Australia at 59,000 people. This morning we attempted to be a part of breaking the world record by joining 80,000 other people jumping at 9:00am for 10 minutes. We thank Coach Washington for coordinating this event and promoting health & physical fitness on our campus each day.

Geography Bee

Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography.

Here are some sample questions from the National Geographic Bee, along with ideas about how to look for clues within the questions that can help you figure out the right answers.

Which state has a climate suitable for growing citrus fruits—California or Maine?
You know that oranges and grapefruit are citrus fruits and that they grow in warm places. Since California's climate is definitely warmer and sunnier than Maine's, you correctly answer California.

Which country has the world's largest Muslim population—Indonesia or Mexico?
If you have studied maps showing world religions, you will know the answer immediately. If you haven't, you might reason that Mexico was settled by the Spanish, followers of Christianity not Islam. Either way, you correctly answer Indonesia.

The North Atlantic current brings warm waters from the tropics to the west coast of which continent?
From studying physical maps you know that the North Atlantic is the area of the Atlantic that lies north of the Equator and that the entire west coast of Europe borders the North Atlantic, so you correctly answer Europe.

Congratulations to all our participants in grades 4-8. Congratulations to Jessica in 4th grade! She earned the most points in today's Bee and will represent our school at the State level. We are very proud of Jessica and thank all her teachers, family, and friends that helped her to learn all that she has to win today.

Chalking the Doors

Thank you Father Robert for visiting campus today and blessing each classroom and the office with the holy water you brought from the Jordan River. May your blessing bring us health, peace, and joy during 2010!

Since the Middle Ages there has been a tradition in many Christian households that on (or near) the Feast of the Epiphany we pray for God’s blessing on our homes, marking the doorpost (lintel) with chalk (an incarnational image reminding us of the dust of the earth from which we were made). We mark the main door of our home
with the initials of the Magi and the numerals of the new year, connected with crosses: 20 + C + M + B + 10
The initials remind us of the legendary names of the Magi - Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar - and also stand for the Latin motto: Christus mansionem benedicat (May Christ bless this house) In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this ritual, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God’s presence and blessing into our homes.