Notre Dame Elementary School

February 5, 2015 by Staff Report

Spelling Bee Champ

On Jan. 21, students from St. Mary, St. Anselm, St. Helen and Notre Dame elementary schools participated in the Geauga Catholic Schools Spelling Bee.

Representing St. Mary was Melanie Schaefer, St. Anselm was Maxwell Kristoff and St. Helen was Garrett Sah.

The event concluded with NDES fifth-grader Kevin Ravakhah as the champion. Kevin will advance to the Geauga County Spelling Bee and represent the Catholic schools on Feb. 10. Congratulations to all the top Catholic school spellers.

Congressman Visits NDES

As part of a kickoff to Catholic Schools Week, Congressman Dave Joyce visited Notre Dame Elementary School on Jan. 26. Congressman Joyce congratulated NDES on becoming a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and believes the combined efforts of the parents, students, faculty and staff played a big part in that success.

He also encouraged the students to develop their social skills by putting down their devices and talking to one another. At the end of the talk, Joyce offered a very engaging question and answer period for the students.

Power Of The Pen Success

On Jan. 24, Notre Dame Elementary School, along with 179 seventh- and eighth-grade students from 17 schools in Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties competed in the Power of the Pen at Andrews Osborne School. Students were given 40 minutes and several different themes to creatively write about. A panel of judges consisting of instructors from colleges around the area read all the writings and scored them accordingly.

The NDES seventh-grade team placed first. Individually, seventh-grader Paige Rowley placed fourth, seventh-grader Christina Fraser placed 10th, seventh-grader David Oppenlander received best of round and eighth-grader Gabriella Mulchin placed third.

The top 15 writers in each grade will automatically advance to the regional round, which will be held at Hudson Middle School on April 11.