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Early

Bird

Sale

Both Irish men and women claimed District titles with wins over Signal Mountain!

District Champions

Irish by

George Valadie

I can name so many of them - "Fire and Rain," "You've Got a Friend," "Carolina in my

Mind," "Sweet Baby James," and on and on and on.

James Taylor has always been one of our favorite singers / songwriters / guitarists

for sure. We grew up with his albums, that became his eight-tracks, that became his cas-

settes, that became his CDs that became our playlists.

He was my past, still is my now and if I have my way, his music will be prominent at

whatever gathering my wife puts together when I'm gone.

On a cold Saturday this past January, Nancy and I dug into our savings and spent the

money to purchase two tickets to see him in a McKenzie Arena concert this past Saturday

night. It was especially cold for those of us who actually stood in line that morning. (You’re

welcome, honey!)

But it was worth every penny. Heck, I'd have paid twice that price.

And four times that much to kill the people who sat behind us.

Not bothered by a warm-up band and lucky enough to have incredible seats, his first

three songs had us right where we wanted to be. Reliving our youth of the 70s.

And then they arrived.

Two couples, the age of our own adult children, who WOULD NOT shut up. They

talked about the songs, the singer and his band. They talked about their kids, their dinner

and where they'd be going for summer vacation. The husbands talked to the wives, the

wives talked to each other. They clapped too long for his songs and laughed too loud at his

one-liners. I'm guessing they'd had too much, but I don't want to accuse them of that too.

When my wife turned around and asked them to be quiet, they legitimately seemed

caught off guard, surprised, with that taken-back look that said, "I had no idea we were

bothering anyone." When they sheepishly whispered a small "Sorry!," we thought we

were home free.

Ink

And we were ... for the rest of that song.

If I tried to sugar-coat their behavior, I'd still have to say they were rude. No awareness

of where they were or the people around them and worse, no manners after she pointed it

out.

We're blessed at Notre Dame with so many families who still teach - and expect - that

their youngsters be polite. That they have manners.

But not all have learned it yet. Our kids are awesome with their "Yes, ma'ams," and

"No, ma'ams." But I've heard a few get on the phone and ask a parent, "Will you come get

me?"

If I happen to walk by, I make them add, "Please." And then I tell those few, "if I were

your dad, I'd tell you yes, and then leave you here."

If you ask them to run an errand, they're glad to do it. Many hold the door for

whoever's next but some have no sense that there is a next. The students do a super job at

dumping their trash after lunch but through the years more than one has said, "What would

the janitorial staff have to do if we didn't leave our trash?!"

I'll take odds that over 90% will walk past a candy wrapper on the floor since they

"didn't put it there."

And just like all the patrons at the concert, some know when gabbing is appropriate

but some have no idea. Be it in class, at Mass, at concerts, in my office.

Let me say this with my wholehearted appreciation - THANK YOU to all who work so

hard and demand so much. Some have suggested that we teach a class in manners and hon-

estly, it's not like I haven't considered it. But for the most part, your dollars are better spent

on Physics and Math, theorems and grammar.

They're not all scholars and they're not all athletes ... They're not all musicians and

none are adults.

But all can be polite. It will carry them so very far.

Kaleidoscope - PROM 2016

More Prom pics at:

https://myndhs.smugmug.com/201516-

School-Year/PROM-2016/

More at

www.sprakerpics.com

Spring Band Concert

Wednesday, May 11

7:00 pm

NDHS Auditorium

James West has composed a piece for the concert band and it will be premiered at the Spring concert.

Congratulations to

Tom Tortora and

Reid Mitchell who

made the Tennessee

All-State Band!

James West and Luis Sanchez competed in the city-wide American Chemical Soci-ety Chemistry Olympiad. Eight schools in the city participated and the Notre Dame students scored in the top 10 for the city! They advanced to compete for a spot on the National team.

Meghan Greene qualified for the 2016 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championship in Fort Worth Texas. She competed in the Region 8 USA Gymnastics Regional Championship held in Orlando Florida.

Will Grafton earned a first place finish making him the USA Archery and NFAA Indoor State Champion!

Photo by: River City Archery

Mark Your

Notre Dame Events

Tuesday, May 10 Fine Arts Assembly

Wednesday, May 11 Spring Band Concert

Thursday, May 12 Mass—May Crowning (change)

Tuesday, May 17 Underclass Awards Night (change)

Thursday, May 19 Senior Awards Night

Saturday, May 21 Baccalaureate Mass

Sunday, May 22 Graduation—Class of 2016

Wednesday, May 25 New Families Night

Friday, May 27 Last Day of School

FINAL EXAMS SCHEDULE Note: There is a $92 per test fee for all AP Exams.

This fee must be paid prior to the exam date.

Reception for all graduates, their families, and friends to follow at

Notre Dame High School

China

9th Grade Girl 11th Grade Boy

BECOME A HOST FAMILY We are currently working to place international students

for next school year. Host families are asked to provide

a bedroom, meals, and transportation. All the host pro-

grams provide a stipend to families who chose to host. If

you are interested, please contact the admissions office.

South Korea 11th Grade Boy

Spain 9th Grade Girl 11th Grade

Boy

2016 Summer Camps

TEXT YOUR NAME TO THE

NUMBER LISTED ABOVE TO

REGISTER. THEN WHEN

YOU HAVE A QUESTION,

JUST TEXT US!

Photography by

Derek Spraker —

www.SprakerPics.com

Cleo Gravitt

Gayle Schoenborn

and

The Notre Dame Yearbook

Staff