by Rus VanWestervelt, father of Maddie VW, class of 2020
Now that my daughter is a sophomore, I’ve spent some time reflecting on her freshmen year and the experiences we had as parents. Everything we heard, were told, witnessed, and experienced in the months, weeks, and days leading up to our daughter’s first day at NDP were true. The enthusiasm you have seen in the students, the faculty, and the parents is as genuine on the last day of school as it is on the first.
Importantly, we learned that parent involvement is such an integral part of our daughter’s high school experience. If you are new to NDP, or if your hectic schedule has you missing the major events for the entire NDP community, it’s time to take the calendars out and save these five dates.
As you mark your calendars, there are a few things to consider.
First, there are two ways to get involved: as an attendee and as a volunteer. As important as it might be that we attend these annual events, their success relies on the support of strong volunteerism from the parents.
Second, getting involved is not something that is reserved for the parents of juniors and seniors exclusively. We learned in our freshmen year just how open and supportive NDP was for us to jump in and get involved from the very beginning. As a result, we feel like we know so many parents in our class, and we are excited to support our daughters for the upcoming year.
Don’t hesitate to get involved; the NDP experience is supportive, familial, and welcoming.
We’ll be sharing plenty of other events throughout the year, but these five really matter for our daughters today, and their future NDP sisters and their families.
Sunday, September 24: Blazer Dash / Blazer Day. This event, established in 1997, supports endowed scholarship funds established in honor of NDP community members. The funds that are raised support current NDP girls as they honor the memory of others who attended NDP before them. On-site registration begins at 7 a.m. on the day of the race.
For more information, contact Shawn Osmeyer, Alumnae Engagement Manager, at osmeyers@notredameprep.com. You can register for the Blazer Dash here.
Blazer Day continues after the race is run, with food trucks, music, and even a chili cookoff and cupcake bakeoff. Also, the Ravens will be playing in London that day, and the game will be broadcast live beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, September 29: 9/10 Parent Social When we attended this event last year, we were thrilled with the number of new parents that we met, who have now become good friends as we navigate our daughters’ sophomore year together. The social runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the high school gym foyer, also known as “The Ice Cube.” The social occurs concurrently with the CCAP Dance, so it is very convenient to drop your daughter off and join other parents for an evening of great food and conversation.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by September 25.
Saturday, October 7: Bull and Oyster Roast The Bull and Oyster Roast, sponsored by the Sports Boosters, is an evening event (7-10:30 p.m.) with incredible food from Mission BBQ and Ryleigh’s Oysters. There will be
50/50 raffles, prizes, and so much more. Admission is $60 per person, and groups of 10 can purchase a table for $550. This is the perfect event to meet new NDP families and support the school and our daughters.
For questions or to volunteer, please contact NDPBoosters@gmail.com.
To register, visit our website.
Friday, March 2 (Freshmen/Sophomore), and Saturday, March 3 (Junior/Senior): Gym Meet The annual Gym Meet is an institution at NDP, and it is the real deal. Gym Meet is everything Mini-Meet promised
it would be. Not only are the girls excited for the meet, but the parents for each class put on a show of their own.
Parents, be prepared to meet a few weeks before the big night to build noisemakers and other party gear to crank up the support for your daughter and her classmates.
Two more notes of interest for Freshmen parents: As soon as your daughter’s class determines their school colors in October, start stocking up on things you can use in those class colors for Gym Meet.
Also- Buy plain white Keds for your daughter NOW; the closer we get to Gym Meet, the greater the chance Baltimore will be sold out of these required shoes!
Saturday, March 10: NDP Gala The NDP Gala is the school’s flagship
fundraising event. Parents, alumnae, and friends come together to celebrate NDP and to raise philanthropic dollars for our girls. Proceeds have a significant impact on the school, and we rely on our parents to continue the legacy for today’s girls, as well as their future sisters.
For more information, contact Colleen Driscoll, Events Manager, at driscollc@notredameprep.com.
In addition to volunteering for and attending these five events, you can help tremendously throughout the year in the following ways:
- First, your opinion matters. NDP will be sending some important surveys to you throughout the year, and they are all meaningful in improving the experiences of our daughters now and in the future. NDP listens to its parents, and the surveys give you the opportunity to be open, honest, and constructive. It’s a unique way of being connected with our daughters’ experiences. So when you see the surveys pop into your inbox, invest the time and respond thoroughly. Everybody benefits from your feedback.
- Second, take a few moments and read the newsletters that are emailed to us every Wednesday. They are filled with important information for all NDP girls and their families.
- Third, take some time on your favorite social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and leave great feedback for NDP. So many prospective families read your reviews and comments when choosing the right school for their daughters. Your feedback serves as the best testimonials, and we appreciate the shout outs and affirmations of what you love most about NDP.
- Finally, please join us for decorating NDP at Christmastime! The campus is transformed into a spectacular celebration of the birth of Christ, and we look forward to parent volunteers being a part of this special occasion.
NDP values its parents and their daughters. Don’t wait to be a part of this incredible, yet short four-year experience. Get involved, and be a part of the NDP Legacy!
