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Our fierce but friendly coin war during Spirit Week tripled our goal by raising $3,000 for the children of Saint Julie Model Boarding School in Buseesa, Uganda. |
Our students enthusiastically beat back the wintertime blahs by celebrating the end of our Third Annual Spirit Week with an exciting and often hilarious Spirit Games competition on Friday afternoon.
The games culminated a week of friendly competition among the classes, including a coin war, scavenger hunts, and daily contests for such things as getting to class on time and joining in the dress down themes. Prizes, cotton candy, ice cream treats, and even a visit from the Rescue Village therapy dogs rounded out a great week that banished the winter blues.
The fierce but friendly coin war between grade levels tripled our goal by raising $3,000 for the Saint Julie Model Boarding School in Buseesa, Uganda, founded by our Sisters of Notre Dame in 1995. The school serves about 300 students in the "forgotten district" of the country where people are challenged by dirt roads, high rates of illiteracy and poverty, and little opportunity for girls and women. Saint Julie School and related SND ministries provide social and economic mobility and access, especially for young women who are otherwise encouraged to have children in their teenage years and forgo education.
Brighten your own wintertime day by watching this video of the children of Saint Julie Model School as they celebrate their school spirit with a traditional African dance.
Special thanks to our dedicated and enthusiastic teachers who worked tirelessly with our student leaders to organize a fun-filled, spirited, successful, and mission-driven Spirit Week: mathematics teacher Miss Ericka Bella, social studies teacher Miss Lexie Danch '15, English teacher Mrs. Maura McGinty-O'Hara, campus minister Miss Halle McKeon, and mathematics teacher Mr. Ben Lozar '09. Their hearts and hands help build a school community that truly does transform the world by living the truth in love.
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| Sophomore Tyler Drago scrambles to collect as many plastic balls as he can during the Hungry, Hungry Hippos competition during Friday's Spirit Games. |
Classmates Clare Boland, Frank Martin, Baileigh Eppich, Jimmy Mitchell, and Natalie Artino enjoy a cotton candy treat on Thursday at lunch. |
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| Seniors cheer on their classmates during the friendly competition between grade levels in Friday's Spirit Games in McGarry Gym. |
Senior Mac McCrone is ready to bolt from the starting line as he represents his class in the giant tic-tac-toe game played on the McGarry Gym floor. |
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| Sophomores Jenna Thompson, Brennan Vogley, and Paolo Dottore finish off Friday's lunch with free ice cream sandwiches provided by our Student Activities Board. |
Junior Nathan Slattery bounces past physical education teacher Mr. Marco DiFranco '06 in the race to the finish line during Friday's Spirit Games. |
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| Freshman Nina DePasquale gives it her all during the hilarious plunger challenge race. |
Freshmen celebrate after their class beat the seniors by a slim one-point margin to win the 2020 Spirit Cup |