St. Peter Chanel Society members thanked at annual dinner.
At this year’s St. Peter Chanel Society dinner on Oct. 12, Notre Dame senior Mariel Manzor gave the student address and highlighted this year’s featured program – visual arts.
Notre Dame held its annual St. Peter Chanel Dinner last night, which, for the third year in a row, was hosted by Andiamo Italia and its owner, Notre Dame alumnus Joe Vicari ’(75). The food and ambience were exceptional as per usual and this year’s program focused on the exceptional talent of the school’s many student-artists for the more than 120 people in attendance.
Notre Dame senior Mariel Manzor gave the student address and highlighted this year's featured program – visual arts. Manzor is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program candidate and presented several pieces of her portfolio, which explored her family's American story and their journey from Lebanon and Cuba to the United States.
"The Notre Dame Fund's St. Peter Chanel Society members are an inspiration,” said Gregory Simon, director of the Notre Dame Fund. “With members ranging from one to 19 years of membership, it shows how committed our members are to the mission, vision, and especially to students at our school."
Notre Dame’s Jazz Combo Band entertains during the 2016 SPCS dinner at Andiamo Italia in Warren.
St. Peter Chanel Society members are recognized every year for their generous support of NDPMA and for exceptional enthusiasm for the school’s role in private, Catholic education.
Guest at the event, who were welcomed to Andiamo’s by Notre Dame’s Student Ambassadors, also enjoyed the newly formed ND Jazz Combo, which provided entertainment during the cocktail hour.
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE SPCS DINNER IS AVAILABLE HERE.
For the first time at an SPCS dinner, members reaching membership milestones of five, 10 and 15 years, including board chair Daron Gifford, an SPCS member for 16 years, were recognized and honored.
In addition, Andy Guest, Notre Dame’s interim president, presented a State of the School address to attendees last night, the entire transcript of which is reproduced below.
Notre Dame Fund Director Gregory Simon thanks attendees for being committed to Notre Dame’s mission, vision, and especially to students of the school.
"You look into the crowd and see current parents, faculty, staff,” Simon added. “You see NDHS and NDP alums. You see our current principals and the founding principal of our middle and lower divisions. You see alum parents and grandparents. It is just so empowering to know that so many people are vested and remain committed to our kids. It is humbling. I can't wait to get started on this year's version of The Notre Dame Fund!"
More on Peter Chanel:
Father Peter Chanel was one of an early group of Catholic missionaries to the Southwest Pacific who set out from France in December 1836. The group was destined to found the Catholic Church in Western Oceania and New Zealand. Father Chanel and a Marist catechist, Brother Marie-Nizier, lived on the island of Futuna, north of the Fijian Islands, and labored there for three years.
In 1841, Peter Chanel was killed by a group of warriors incited by the leading chief of Futuna, in hatred of the faith that threatened his control over the people.
Peter Chanel was acknowledged as a martyr in 1889 and canonized in 1954 by Pope Pius XII. As a foundation member of the Society of Mary, Peter Chanel is acknowledged by the wider Marist family, including the Marist Sisters (Peter Chanel had a sister in this congregation), and indeed all of the Marists worldwide in Australia, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, Oceania and North America.
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is sponsored by the Marist Fathers and Brothers of the USA Province.
NDPMA Interim President Andy Guest’s address at the St. Peter Chanel Society Dinner – 2016
NDPMA Interim President Andy Guest addresses attendees at the SPCS dinner. More photos from the dinner are below.
Good evening and welcome! I am delighted to see so many people here tonight. People that love and support Catholic education and people that love and support Notre Dame.
Before I begin, I would like to ask all of our current and former board members (along with their spouses) to please stand when I call your name. Bill and Melissa Kozyra, Daron and Linda Gifford, Ann and David Stone, Inacio and Andrea Moriguchi, Steve and Laura Pangori, Kris and Jennifer Powell, Paul and Debra Seehaver, Gerard and Laure Housey, Pat and Liz Haddad, Fr. Stan Ulman, Sandy and Roger Favrow, Bruce and Kim Barringer, and Fr. Joe Hindelang. These people dedicate their time, talent and treasure to help Notre Dame to reach its highest destiny. Thank you for your support. I would also like to welcome Br. Roy Madigan who is a Marist brother visiting us from West Virginia. Finally, I would like to introduce Fr. Ron Nikodem, our newest Marist who joined the school this summer and is working in our campus ministry department.
(AG ADDRESS)
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THREE THINGS:
• MISSION
• WHAT IS OUR MISSION
• HOW ARE WE DOING ON DELIVERING OUR MISSION
• CHALLENGES
• AS THEY RELATE TO OUR MISSION
• FUTURE
• HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT OUR MISSION CONTINUES INTO THE FUTRE
MISSION
SO, WHAT IS OUR MISSION? IN 2008, WE UNDERTOOK A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS WITH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPED A MISSION STATEMENT THAT WOULD DIRECT THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL.
NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY SCHOOL AND MARIST ACADEMY PROVIDES ITS DIVERSE STUDENT BODY A CATHOLIC AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, COLLEGE-PREPARATORY EXPERIENCE OF LASTING VALUE. WE AFFIRM OUR MARIST MISSION TO WORK WITH GOD TO FORM CHRISTIAN PERSONS, UPRIGHT CITIZENS AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARS.
LET’S BREAK THAT DOWN. THE THREE MAIN COMPONENTS ARE CATHOLIC, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND COLLEGE PREPARATORY. AS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, WE ARE AN EXTENSION OF OUR FAITH. IT MEANS THAT ALL STUDENTS TAKE RELIGION EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH AND EVERY SEMESTER OF SCHOOL. WE CELEBRATE MASS WEEKLY AT THE LOWER DIVISION AND AT LEAST MONTHLY AT THE MIDDLE AND UPPER DIVISION AND WE HAVE A DAILY MASS OPTION EVERY MORNING FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND FRIENDS IN THE CHAPEL. WE HAVE A STATUE OF MARY AND CRUCIFIX IN EVERY CLASSROOM AND MEETING ROOM IN THE SCHOOL. WE PRAY EVERY MORNING TO START THE DAY AND HAVE AN END OF DAY REFLECTION. THE STUDENTS GO ON RETREATS TO EXPLORE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE HAVE CONFESSION FOR THE STUDENTS TWICE EACH YEAR AND MOST CLASSES, MEETINGS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS START WITH PRAYER. THIS YEAR, OUR CAMPUS MINISTRY HAS ADOPTED TWO MARIST VALUES TO WORK ON WITH THE STUDENTS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE VIRTUES OF SIMPLICITY AND HUMILITY. THE MARIST FATHERS OVERSEE OUR SPIRITUALITY AND EVEN OFFER LESSONS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MARIST SCHOOL AT EACH OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS. AND THE FACULTY AND STAFF START EACH YEAR WITH EITHER AN OFF-SITE OR ON-SITE RETREAT TO PUT OURSELVES IN THE PROPER FRAME OF MIND BEFORE OUR STUDENTS RETURN FOR CLASS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED? IN 2007, NOTRE DAME BECAME THE FIRST CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE NATION AND THE ONLY CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN MICHIGAN TO BE AUTHORIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE AS A “WORLD SCHOOL” FROM JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12 GRADE. LAST YEAR, 97% OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMA, COMPARED TO A WORLD AVERAGE OF 79% AND A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 67%.
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE COLLEGE PREPARATORY? LAST YEAR, WE GRADUATE 180 SENIORS WHO WERE ACCEPTED TO 196 DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING 35 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. 16 STUDENTS WENT TO CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES AND OUR TOP 10 SCHOOLS by matriculation were (in order) MSU, U of M, Oakland, GVSU, Dayton, Purdue, WMU, UDM, and IU – Bloomington. WE ALSO HAD ACCEPTANCES TO DUKE, STANFORD AND THE US NAVAL ACADEMY THIS YEAR. ND STUDENTS HAD AN AVERAGE ACT OF 27.2, MORE THAN SEVEN POINTS HIGHER THAN THE STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGES AND WE HAD 56 STUDENTS SCORE A 30 OR HIGHER ON THE ACT. WE ARE ACCREDITED BY THE NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION, THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION OF THE CENTRAL STATES AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. LAST YEAR OUR GRADUATES EARNED MORE THAN $16MM MILLION DOLLARS IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO HOW ARE WE DOING ON OUR MISSION? I THINK, PRETTY WELL.
CHALLENGES
I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE MAIN CHALLENGES TO CATHOLIC EDUCATION TODAY AND WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THEM ALL. THE FIRST IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND STAY TRUE TO OUR MISSION WITH A DECLINING AND AGING NUMBER OF PRIESTS. THE MARIST FATHERS AND BROTHER HAVE BUILT AND GUIDED OUR SCHOOL THROUGH THE UP AND DOWNS FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS. WITHOUT THEIR CHARISM, DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, BENEFACTION AND MORAL GUIDANCE, WE WOULD NOT EXIST. YET, WE ARE APPROACHING A TIME WHERE WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TRANSITION TO LAY LEADERSHIP. THE MARISTS AND OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOGNIZED THIS AS WE MOVED TO A NEW OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE IN 2014 AS PART OF A PLAN TO ENSURE THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL.
IN 2013, WE MOVED THE LOWER DIVISION FROM WATERFORD TO ITS PERMANENT LOCATION ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR MAIN CAMPUS AND IN 2014, WE PURCHASED ALL OF THE PROPERTY AND ASSETS FROM THE AOD, CONSOLIDATED OUR DEBT, AND ESTABLISHED THE SCHOOL AS ITS OWN MICHIGAN BASED PRIVATE INDEPENDENT NON PROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION. AT THE SAME TIME, WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MARIST FATHERS TO OVERSEE THE CATHOLICITY OF THE SCHOOL, SO THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN TRUE TO THEIR TEACHINGS AND OUR MISSION. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR MARISTS WILL CONTINUE TO STAFF OUR SCHOOL AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A HOME FOR OUR MARISTS AS LONG AS THEY DESIRE. NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT THE FUTRE HOLDS, BUT WE ARE TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTRE DAME AND OUR MISSION IS LEGALLY AND FINANCIALLY STRUCTURED TO SURVIVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS.
THE SECOND MAIN CHALLENGE FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND NOTRE DAME IS HOW TO OPERATE AN EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, WHILE KEEPING IT FINANCIALLY ACCESSIBLE FOR CATHOLIC FAMILIES WHO BELIEVE IN, WANT, AND ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR A CATHOLIC EDUCATION. THE COST OF EDUCATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE OFFER AN ACADEMIC PRODUCT ON PAR WITH SOME OF THE OLDEST AND BEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, AND OUR TUITION IS ONLY ABOUT 40% OF THEIR COSTS. YET, AT NEARLY $15K PER YEAR (AT THE HIGH SCHOOL), IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A NOTRE DAME EDUCATION. IN OUR PRESENT STATE, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO OFFER ABOUT 50% OF THE NEED-BASED AID THAT OUR FAMILIES REQUIRE. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 31 STUDENTS ON FULL SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH OUR BUILDING BRIDGES PARTNERSHIP (STUDENTS THAT HAVE THE ACADEMIC ABILITY TO SUCCEED AT NOTRE DAME, BUT ZERO FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL), WE STILL HAVE MANY FAMILIES THAT WANT TO COME TO NOTRE DAME, BUT CAN’T AFFORD IT. THESE FAMILIES ARE OFTEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO AFFORD 50% OR EVEN 75% OF TUITION, BUT 100% IS TOO FAR FROM THEM TO STRETCH, EVEN IF THEY SACRIFICE GREATLY.
I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THREE ALUMNI FROM NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL (CLASSES OF 59, 60 AND 62) WHO ARE MAKING A GIFT OF $100K TO THE SCHOOL TO HELP START AN ENDOWMENT FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE. WE KNOW THAT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS THIS IS NOT A LARGE AMOUNT, BUT WE HOPE THAT SOME DAY THIS WILL GROW INTO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RANGE SO THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE A ND EDUCATION A REALITY FOR MORE FAMILIES.
THE THIRD CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS BUILDING A CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY AND STEWARDSHIP. SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME THAT THE REASON THEY NEVER GO TO CHURCH IS THAT ALL THE PRIESTS EVER DO IS ASK FOR MONEY. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS SITUATION WITH MY CLOSE FRIEND AND BROTHER, HIS ANSWER WAS “WHAT A SHAME”. “WHAT A SHAME THAT WE HAVE RELEGATED OUR PRIEST TO BE BEGGARS”. WHEN ARE WE, AS LAY MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CHURCH, GOING TO WAKE UP AND START TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR PARISHES?
BY VIRTUE OF BEING BORN IN THE US, WE ARE AUTOMATICALLY IN THE TOP 2% OF ALL WEALTH IN THE WORLD. WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS? AND IN OAKLAND COUNTY, WE ARE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST COUNTIES IN AMERICA. I DON’T THINK GOD BEGRUDGES US SUCCESS. NOR DO I THINK THAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE AWAY ALL OUR POSSESSIONS, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE ALL NEED TO LOOK SERIOUSLY AT OUR GIVING LEVELS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE MANY CHARITIES AND MISSION DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE NOTRE DAME, THAT WE CAN. THIS IS HOW WE MAKE THE WORLD, OUR WORLD, A BETTER PLACE.
FUTURE
SO, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR NOTRE DAME GIVEN OUR SUCCESSES AND OUR CHALLENGES? OUR VISION IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE SCHOOL (NOT NECESSARILY IN NUMBER OF STUDENTS), BUT IN THE QUALITY OF OUR ACADEMIC, ARTS AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, OUR FACILITIES, TEACHER COMPENSATION, TEACHER TRAINING, AND IN FINANCIAL AID THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER FAMILIES. LAST MONTH, WE BROKE GROUND ON A SIX-CLASSROOM AND RESTROOM ADDITION TO OUR LOWER DIVISION AT A COST OF $1.1 MILLION DOLLARS. THIS WILL ROUND OUT THE NUMBER OF SECTIONS PER GRADE AND PROVIDE SPACE FOR OUR SPECIAL SECTIONS SUCH AS ART, LANGUAGE AND READING. INVESTMENT IN THE LOWER DIVISION IS KEY, BECAUSE IT PRODUCES A STEADY STREAM OF HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS AND MISSION-CENTRIC FAMILIES.
IN THE FUTURE, WE SEE THE NEED FOR MORE CLASSROOM, SCIENCE LABS, STUDENT LEARNING CENTERS, COLLABORATION ZONES AND FACULTY WORK ROOMS. WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR OUR WORLD RANKED ROBOTICS TEAM (SO THAT MORE KIDS CAN LEARN AND EXCEL IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING).
WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD AN ART STUDIO, SO STUDENTS CAN EXPAND AND GROW THEIR CREATIVITY.
WE HAVE PLANS FOR A GREEN HOUSE, SO THAT WE CAN INTRODUCE BOTANICAL SCIENCES TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM, SO THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT PLANT LIFE, HYDROPONICS AND LEARN TO GROW PLANTS AND HARVEST FOOD.
IN OUR MASTER PLAN, WE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR MORE ATHLETIC SPACE IN THE FORM OF A GYMNASIUM AND ATHLETIC STADIUM WITH A TRACK AND FIELD.
THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE PROJECT AT A TIME. WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND IN A WAY THAT IS FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. SOLID, PRUDENT MANAGEMENT IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. AND, AS STEWARDS OF OUR MISSION, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS PARENTS, ALUM PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT ND, OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOL, REACHES ITS HIGHEST DESTINY.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE SELECTED BY NICHE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT RANKS COLLEGES AND K-12 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THE NUMBER #1 CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
WE WOULDN’T HAVE RECEIVED THIS RECOGNITION WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. FOR THIS WE THANK YOU!
HAVE A GREAT EVENING!
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.