Notre Dame – Cathedral Latin School

February 21, 2013 by Submitted

National Merit Finalist Named

NDCL senior Jaclyn Melvin has been named a National Merit finalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship program.

Less than 1 percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition qualified as finalists. Jaclyn is now eligible to compete for National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $32 million to be awarded in the spring.

“The National Merit honor confirms what we at NDCL have known about Jaclyn all along,” said Principal Mr. Joseph A. Waler. “She is an exceptionally talented, faith-filled young woman who has made such a positive impact here. I have no doubt that her impact will be even greater in college and her eventual career.”

Students qualify for the National Merit program by scoring well on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. To become finalists, students submit applications that detail their academic records, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, honors and awards.

NDCL Lenten Service Project

The NDCL community will focus on justice advocacy, charity and prayer in several specific ways this Lenten season.

Every Monday throughout Lent, students and staff will gather in the school chapel for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Each week, a group of students will promote awareness of a different social justice issue. Donations will be collected for an organization that works to assist persons directly affected by that issue.

Next week the school will collect baby items to advocate for pro-life issues. The items will be donated to Maggie’s Place, a community that provides hospitality for expectant women who are alone or on the streets. Maggie’s Place provides them with a dignified, welcoming atmosphere where they can feel safe as they work to achieve their goals.

In the other weeks of Lent, the school’s efforts will benefit the Sisters of Notre Dame Nicaragua Mission, Goodwill, Soles4Souls, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Refugee Response and the annual NDCL mission trip to West Virginia.

To support these initiatives, juniors Dominic DiFranco and Joe Demuth have organized a T-shirt campaign they presented to the school community during liturgy on Ash Wednesday. Dominic and Joe will sell “NDCL Powerhouse of Prayer” shirts for $10. Students and staff may wear the shirts for $1 dress-downs every Friday during Lent.

“As part of our school’s Lenten project, we will sell these shirts to every student in the school so that we may show everyone what kind of community NDCL is — a real powerhouse of prayer,” Dominic said. “We ask you all to participate this season by purchasing a shirt and dressing down every Friday this Lent as we look to help others throughout the season.”

“We appreciate all this community has to offer for us, and now we look to take what we have been blessed with at NDCL and give to others,” Joe said.

If you would like to participate or have questions about our Lenten activities, please contact Director of Campus Ministry Greg Welch or Campus Minister Christine Jaqueth.

Bloodmobile Success

The American Red Cross and NDCL’s Future Medical Careers Club thank all those who donated in the second blood drive of the school year on Feb. 15. According to the Red Cross, the almost 50 units of blood collected will provide life-saving help to over 120 patients throughout northeastern Ohio.

The drive would not have happened without the hard work of science teachers Carlotta Mack and Maureen Wahl and members of the Future Medical Careers Club. It was the first blood drive held in the newly finished Baker Gym.

Buckeye State Delegates

Congratulations to juniors Katie Moorman and Alec Stewart, who have been selected as delegates for the Ohio American Legion’s Buckeye State summer programs.

Funded through the American Legion’s Chardon Post 167, Katie and Alec will spend eight days on a university campus experiencing the hands-on operations of the democratic form of government.

Juniors Megan Christopher and Devin Carney have been selected at alternates for Buckeye State.