Notre Dame High School (West Haven)

"For schools of the same name, see Notre Dame High School".

Infobox Secondary school
name = Notre Dame High School
native_name =

motto = Educating Minds and Hearts in the Holy Cross Tradition
established = 1946
type = Independent Catholic private college preparatory school
category_label =
category =
gender_label = Gender
gender = Male
affiliations =
affiliation = Brothers of Holy Cross
president = Bro. James Branigan, CSC
chairman_label =
chairman =
principal = Patrick Clifford
asst principal =
vice principal =
campus director =
headmaster =
dean =
rector =
founder = Rev. John Heller
chaplain =
head_label =
head =
faculty = 55
teaching_staff =
enrollment =
enrolment =
students = Approximately 700
grades_label = Grades
grades = 9-12
address = 24 Ricardo Street
city = West Haven
state = Connecticut
province =
country = United States
district =
oversight_label =
oversight =
accreditation =
campus = Suburban
colors = Green and Gold
colours =
athletics = Southern Conn. Conference, Quinnipiac Division
mascot =
emblem =
rival = Hamden High School Green Dragons
yearbook = The Shield
newspaper = The Knight Errant
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
testname =
testaverage =
national_ranking =
website = [http://www.notredamehs.com www.notredamehs.com]
nickname = Green Knights
footnotes =
picture =
image_caption =
picture2 =
image_caption2 =

Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-male college preparatory school located in West Haven, Connecticut, a coastal suburb of New Haven, Connecticut. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, Notre Dame is operated independently by the Congregation of Holy Cross. Encompassing grades 9 through 12, Notre Dame draws a diverse student body from across the New Haven County area and beyond. It is sometimes abbreviated "NDWH". Its sister school is Sacred Heart Academy, located in Hamden, Connecticut.

History

Notre Dame High School was founded in 1946 by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the same order that established the University of Notre Dame. The school's name derives from the French "notre dame", meaning "our lady" and referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Situated on a hill, the school originally had several buildings, one of which is Harugari Hall (now in the possession of the neighboring University of New Haven). Increasingly liberal dress codes and enforcement of discipline have been gradual, yet noticeable, trends since the school's founding. In 2007, the school announced its plans to expand and upgrade its facilities while keeping to the current footprint, citing an increased need for technology in the 21st-century classroom. Construction began in the summer of 2007.

Academics

The school is run day-to-day on a Headmaster-Principal model, and has recently made the change to a trimester academic schedule. The teaching faculty is composed predominantly of laypeople, though there are still a handful of Brothers. "Extended study" and "semester at college" programs are available to qualified students during their senior year.

Athletics

Known as the "Green Knights", Notre Dame High School's athletes boast a rich tradition of success with notable football, swimming, hockey, and track programs. The school is a member of the Quinnipiac Division in the Southern Connecticut Conference. Its gymnasium is decorated with several league and state championship banners and the names of All-State athletes. Most recognized is the sport of track and field, for which there are over 11 All-State banners and nine state championship banners. Also Notre Dame just started a website called gogreenknights.com which allows to watch many Notre Dame athletic events live online.

Notre Dame High School maintains a long-standing football rivalry with Hamden High School. Notre Dame's Green Knights and Hamden's Green Dragons have met in the "Green Bowl" on Thanksgiving Day for 57 consecutive years.

Notable alumni

* Tom Condon - Class of 1970 - Former NFL football player (Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots)
* Daniel Cosgrove - Class of 1989 - Actor ("All My Children"; "Beverly Hills, 90210"; "Guiding Light")
* John DeStefano, Jr. - Class of 1973 - Current Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut
* Bob DuPuy - Class of 1964 - Current President and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball
* Wayne Pacelle - Class of 1983 - Current President and Chief Executive Officer of The Humane Society of the United States
* John M. Picard - Class of 1983 - Current Mayor of West Haven, Connecticut
* Nick Pietrosante - Class of 1954 - Former NFL football player (Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns)
* Tarek Saleh - Class of 1993 - Former NFL football player (Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns)

Official school website

[http://www.notredamehs.com/ Notre Dame High School of West Haven]

[http://www.gogreenknights.com/ Online ND Sporting Events]

References

[http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17847801&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=590581&rfi=6 Notre Dame to expand, upgrade building] (appeared in the 02/14/2007 New Haven Register)