Graduation Requirements
Students are eligible for a Notre Dame diploma after successfully completing requirements as follows: a total of 24-1/2 credits distributed to include 4 units of English; 3 units of Mathematics; 4 units of Religion; 3 units of History, including World Civilization, American History and American Government; 2 units of Modern Language; 2 Lab Sciences; 1 unit of Physical Education, and the remainder distributed in electives. Students may choose electives from the various disciplines. A list of courses offered is submitted to the students before scheduling in the spring of each year. The courses selected must have the approval of the Guidance Office and must be signed by a parent. All attendance requirements must be completed for graduation. Also, Notre Dame's "Service to Community" program (10 hours of service per year) is a graduation requirement. Seniors must remediate all failures in both required and elective courses before receiving a diploma.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Freshmen - 6 1/2 credits (HH = 7)
Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors- 6 credits

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Academic Policy

ACADEMIC FAILURE
Failure is not usual for the student who works to full capacity. Students failing two or more subjects at the end of the first semester may be placed on academic probation. At this time, a parent/teacher, counselor/student conference may be held in an attempt to help the student resolve his/her problems.

Students who fail a course(s) MUST make up the failure(s) in summer school. This includes Religion.

Students with three or more failures will be withdrawn from Notre Dame.

All failures in both required and elective areas must be remediated before promotion to the next grade. Seniors must remediate all failures in both required and elective areas before receiving a diploma.

INCOMPLETE GRADES
Incomplete grades on a student's report card signify that a student for a justifiable reason has been unable to complete his/her work in that particular subject. An extended period of two weeks may be given to the student with administrative approval. At the end of this period, a mark will be recorded in place of the incomplete grade. If work is not made up during this period, a failing grade will be recorded. An incomplete grade will be received if the junior research paper and/or senior government projects are not completed.

GRADES AND COURSE CREDIT
Grades earned in any course shall reflect the student's daily attendance as well as the fulfillment of academic requirements as established by the teacher in conjunction with the department chairperson and school policy.

To earn credit in any course, a student must fulfill course requirements as established by the teacher in conjunction with the department chairperson and not exceed the allowable limit of absences as established by the school's attendance policy. After 20 absences (school or class absences), a student may be placed on attendance probation which can lead to loss of course credit and withdrawal from Notre Dame.

ACADEMIC LEVELS (High Honors, Honors, College Prep 1 & 2)
Students are placed in academic groups which reflect ability levels, course content, and demands of the particular program. Placement levels of students are often reviewed and subject to change at any time. Students performing poorly (in one or more courses) in High Honors or Honors may be placed in another academic group.

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
The grades of students who receive academic scholarships from Notre Dame are reviewed in January and June of each year. Poor academic performance may mean the loss of a student's scholarship.

PROGRESS REPORTS
A Progress Report is an official notice from the teacher to parents that a student is having difficulty in a course. Sometimes, other information may be given. Progress reports are issued four (4) times* per year. Remember that seeking extra-help is a student responsibility. The school mails these reports home. Progress reports are due in the Guidance Office on the following dates: October 3, November 30, February 26 and May 2 (underclass students only). Parents should receive them in the mail approximately 5 days later.

*Please Note: Seniors Only - Progress reports will not be given to seniors during the 4th marking period. However, any senior who is in danger of academic failure will receive a warning letter along with the 3rd marking period report card.

REPORT CARDS
Reports cards are issued four (4) times per year. The first marking period report card must be picked up by a parent/guardian. Reports cards are available at school on Thursday, November 8, 2007 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. and from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. Teachers are present to meet with parents. Marking periods end - October 31, January 10, March 26 and May 15 (seniors) and June 9 (underclass students). Report cards are mailed on January 30, April 4 and at the end of June. Seniors receive report cards on May 31(Graduation).

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Attendance
When a student accumulates more than 15 absences, he/she must make up each day over the limit in a special program conducted after school closes in June. All students who exceed the limit - no matter what the reason(s) for the absences - are liable to make up the time lost from class. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Any student who accumulates more than 15 absences in a course during the school year will not receive a grade or credit for that course until all time is made up.

Please Note: Students who exceed the absence limit must make up the actual class time in the special summer program. Each day over the 15-day limit must be made up. For this special session, it has been determined that 3 hours will equal one school day. FAILURE TO ATTEND THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN A STUDENT'S WITHDRAWAL FROM NOTRE DAME. Students must make up time according to a DEFINITE SCHEDULE established by the school.

Any student who accumulates more than 20 absences in the school year may be subject to withdrawal from Notre Dame.

When attendance procedures are not followed (telephone the school to report absence/return to school with a note), the student may be withdrawn from Notre Dame.

Students who are absent and/or late excessively will be placed on Attendance Probation and subject to withdrawal from school if absences and/or lates continue.

If a lengthy absence - due to illness - is anticipated, a special program (Homebound) is provided by local school districts. To be eligible a student must first be absent 10 school days. Please contact the Guidance Office at Notre Dame for information.

Please Note: From the day a student is officially placed on Homebound until the day Homebound ends, the student is not recorded as absent from school. Days absent before and/or after Homebound are recorded as absent.

Whenever a student is absent from school for more than one day, upon return he/she must make up all class assignments, tests, quizzes, projects, etc. within a reasonable period of time - usually one week.

Excessive absences may mean withdrawal from school. Parents and students must realize that classroom instruction & the actual time a student spends in class is very hard to make up. Teachers may give make up assignments to replace classroom instruction only on a limited basis. In order to obtain credit for courses at Notre Dame, your actual presence in class is required. ONLY a reasonable number of absences are allowed. Excessive absence from classroom instruction cannot be made up at home. Notre Dame does not have the ability nor the wish to operate a correspondence-like school.

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Admissions
Admission to Notre Dame is contingent upon an Entrance Exam (administered in October and November & by special arrangement), an evaluation of student's prior academic achievement (grammar/middle school transcript) and frequently a personal interview with the prospective student and his/her family.

Each student is then academically grouped for scheduling in High Honors, Honors, or College Prep 1 or 2 (reflecting ability level, course content and demands of the program). Advanced Placement courses and college-level credit (through Sacred Heart University) are available. Religion is required of all Notre Dame students (4 years).

An entrance exam is not required for students applying for grades 10, 11 or 12. These students must supply a transcript and two letters of recommendation from schools previously attended.


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Textbooks
In an effort to ease the financial burden caused by the ever-escalating cost of textbooks, Notre Dame has adopted a Book Rental Program. This program means a substantial saving for every Notre Dame family.

Each student is assessed a Book Fee of $115.00 per school year. This fee is included in your tuition billing.

The rental fee does not include the purchase of paperbacks and workbooks. Also, if books are lost, damaged or defaced, students will have to pay the replacement value of the book(s).

Textbooks MUST be covered & remain covered for the entire school year.



Tuition/Fees
Tuition for the current 2008-2009 school year is $9,960.00 which includes an activity and book rental fee. This is payable in 12 monthly installments.

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