Mount Notre Dame High School
Encyclopedia
Mount Notre Dame High School (often abbreviated MND or Mt. Notre Dame) is a private, all-female, college-preparatory
high school in Reading
, a city in Hamilton County, Ohio
north of Cincinnati, Ohio
. Founded in 1860, Mt. Notre Dame originally was a boarding school known for its excellence in education. The school is one of six all-female Catholic high school
s in the Cincinnati area and the only that is run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
as a part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
.
After the boarding school closed in 1935, Mount Notre Dame flourished and expanded as an academy to include all grades from kindergarten through high school. In September 1956, upon the request of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
, Mount Notre Dame became a diocesan high school. At that time, its name was changed from Mount Notre Dame Academy to Mount Notre Dame High School.The school quickly experienced rapid growth. In 1965, this expansion necessitated the move to a larger building, the site of the current school.
In 1990 Mount Notre Dame High School was placed under the direction of its first lay principal. In 2000 major improvements were made: construction of a new athletic activities center and of a new chemistry lab and the renovation of the chapel and of the family and consumer sciences lab. The existing gym was converted into a library/media center and computer technology center in addition to a theater. Office areas were expanded, and additional classrooms and computer labs were added. In the spring of 2003, the Board of Trustees of Mount Notre Dame High School adopted a President/Principal model of administration for the school, and Sister Rita Sturwold, SNDdeN was named the first President.
Mount Notre Dame offers its young women a college-preparatory academic program, but it also prides itself on its commitment to the education of the whole person, rooted in Catholic values, and the family-like atmosphere enjoyed by its community.
Citation needed|date=June 2009}} This fall, MND will offer first-year students an AP opportunity with AP Human Geology. Mount Notre Dame’s Engineering Program is preparing young women for a career in this male-dominated field. MND has programs in the Humanities. Mount Notre Dame is deeply committed to the role of women in philanthropy. Its student-run Youth Philanthropy Council is a mini-foundation that has made a small difference regionally, nationally and internationally.
Mount Notre Dame’s athletic program not only brings home state championships, but also consistently produces players sought after by colleges. Georgetown, University of Southern California and Vanderbilt are just a few of the schools that have MND Cougars wearing their colors. In addition, MND meets various student interests through nearly 50 clubs.
. The school is one of eleven institutions that participates in the GGCL, competing with nearby Ursuline Academy, Purcell Marian
, and St. Ursula Academy
as well as others.
The Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and National Junior Classical League
(NJCL).
Mount Notre Dame is also known for its dance team. The Mount Notre Dame Varsity Dance Team have placed in the top ten at the National Dance Team Competition in Orlando, Florida, for the past 6 years. They have also received many awards at local competitions and have been featured on ESPN.
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
high school in Reading
Reading, Ohio
Reading is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,292 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Cincinnati. Reading is also the Home of 2003 Division 3 State Boys Basketball Champions...
, a city in Hamilton County, Ohio
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
north of Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Founded in 1860, Mt. Notre Dame originally was a boarding school known for its excellence in education. The school is one of six all-female Catholic high school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
s in the Cincinnati area and the only that is run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is the name of a Roman Catholic order of religious sisters, dedicated to providing education to the poor.The order was founded in Amiens in 1803, but the opposition of the local bishop to missions outside his diocese led to the moving of headquarters to then...
as a part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
.
History
Mount Notre Dame opened its doors to 30 boarders on September 17, 1860. These young scholars were the nucleus of a boarding school which soon became well-known for its excellence in education, attracting pupils from many states. Included among these early students were Minnie and Rachel Sherman, daughters of General William T. Sherman of Civil War fame. In 1897, the first day-scholars were accepted, and in 1929, boys were admitted into the primary grades.After the boarding school closed in 1935, Mount Notre Dame flourished and expanded as an academy to include all grades from kindergarten through high school. In September 1956, upon the request of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
, Mount Notre Dame became a diocesan high school. At that time, its name was changed from Mount Notre Dame Academy to Mount Notre Dame High School.The school quickly experienced rapid growth. In 1965, this expansion necessitated the move to a larger building, the site of the current school.
In 1990 Mount Notre Dame High School was placed under the direction of its first lay principal. In 2000 major improvements were made: construction of a new athletic activities center and of a new chemistry lab and the renovation of the chapel and of the family and consumer sciences lab. The existing gym was converted into a library/media center and computer technology center in addition to a theater. Office areas were expanded, and additional classrooms and computer labs were added. In the spring of 2003, the Board of Trustees of Mount Notre Dame High School adopted a President/Principal model of administration for the school, and Sister Rita Sturwold, SNDdeN was named the first President.
Mount Notre Dame offers its young women a college-preparatory academic program, but it also prides itself on its commitment to the education of the whole person, rooted in Catholic values, and the family-like atmosphere enjoyed by its community.
Citation needed|date=June 2009}} This fall, MND will offer first-year students an AP opportunity with AP Human Geology. Mount Notre Dame’s Engineering Program is preparing young women for a career in this male-dominated field. MND has programs in the Humanities. Mount Notre Dame is deeply committed to the role of women in philanthropy. Its student-run Youth Philanthropy Council is a mini-foundation that has made a small difference regionally, nationally and internationally.
Mount Notre Dame’s athletic program not only brings home state championships, but also consistently produces players sought after by colleges. Georgetown, University of Southern California and Vanderbilt are just a few of the schools that have MND Cougars wearing their colors. In addition, MND meets various student interests through nearly 50 clubs.
Extracurricular activities
Mount Notre Dame has developed a program of athletic excellence as well as academic. Teams representing Mt. Notre Dame are nicknamed the "Cougars" and are part of the GGCLGirls Greater Cincinnati League
The Girls Greater Cincinnati League is a high school sports league composed of 13 member schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Their mission is to provide and promote a Christian atmosphere for the development of young ladies through interscholastic competition. Good sportsmanship and respect...
. The school is one of eleven institutions that participates in the GGCL, competing with nearby Ursuline Academy, Purcell Marian
Purcell Marian High School
Purcell Marian High School is a parochial high school in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood Cincinnati, Ohio, United States based in the Marianist Tradition...
, and St. Ursula Academy
St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio)
St. Ursula Academy, located in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women that offers an intensive four-year program in the fields of English, mathematics, science, social studies, French, Spanish, Latin, and religion. An...
as well as others.
Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
- Girls VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
– 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2011 - Girls GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
– 2002, 2003 - Girls BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
– 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Theatre, Latin Club and Dance
Mount Notre Dame is known for its strong theatre program (known as MNDT). Every year a Halloween show, a Fall musical, a Winter play, a Spring musical for upperclassmen, and a Summer show are produced. Under the direction of Mr. Joe Beiting, Mr. Nathan Pucke and Mr. Bob Knollman, MNDT has been a strong member of the Cappies of Greater Cincinnati.The Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and National Junior Classical League
National Junior Classical League
The National Junior Classical League is a youth organization of secondary school students sponsored by the American Classical League...
(NJCL).
Mount Notre Dame is also known for its dance team. The Mount Notre Dame Varsity Dance Team have placed in the top ten at the National Dance Team Competition in Orlando, Florida, for the past 6 years. They have also received many awards at local competitions and have been featured on ESPN.
Notable alumnae
- Rachel Sherman, daughter of American Civil War General William Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
. - Mel ThomasMel ThomasMelanie Eileen "Mel" Thomas was born August 26, 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Jeff and Mary Thomas She is an American basketball player who played for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2004-2008.-High school:...
, varsity basketball player, University of ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...