Century of Giving

Providing an affordable education is a cornerstone of Notre Dame Regional High School. The school, parents, alumni base and surrounding parishes understand the value of a Catholic education, and have contributed to the school for a century through time, talent and treasure; keeping costs feasible while providing quality facilities and opportunities to students. In return, students are taught to give back to their communities by service or financial means. 

The tradition of keeping tuition low began as early as the 1930s. In December of 1931, St. Mary High School nearly closed due to the Great Depression and lack of funds. Mother Jolendis, S.S.N.D. gave the School Sisters of Notre Dame permission to teach in the school “gratis,” or without charge. This act saved the school during a difficult time in the world.

Along with promoting communication and collaboration between teachers and parents, a group of parents of Cape Catholic High School students formed a Home & School Association in 1955 to assist the school with various functions, and to give financial aid to those in need. 

Tuition for the 1984-1985 school year was $550, with the actual cost of educating a student at $1,425. Together, area parishes, the NDHS Education Fund Foundation and Booster Club, along with revenue from Activity Week and the Spring Musical, helped cover the difference between tuition and the actual cost of education. This model continues today.

Started by Bob Drury and Tom Reinagel on December 8, 1993, the Notre Dame Bingo program began as a fundraising project led by Notre Dame parents. Games were held on Wednesday nights, sponsored by the Home & School Association, and played at the Bavarian Hall in Fruitland, Missouri, which was donated space from Bob Drury. 

In April of 2001, the Clark Street Project Board was formed, which paved the way for the construction of Bingo World. Founding board members included Bob Basler, chairman; Jim Maurer (’69), vice chairman; Steve Dirnberger (’75), secretary; John Layton; and Ray Buhs. In December 2001, Larry Westrich (’80) joined the Board, replacing Buhs. The first games were held at Bingo World on September 11, 2001. The bingo hall was created to benefit Notre Dame High School, with the Clark Street Board donating over $600,000 to the school, in addition to the yearly fundraising dollars generated through bingo play. 

Led by Karla Essner, Danny Essner (‘68) and Dennis Vollink, a fund drive was kicked off on October 2, 2001, to eliminate $1.6 million in debt. Additionally, funds were raised to build up the NDHS Education Fund Foundation’s endowment for tuition assistance purposes, and increase funds for future expansion. 

When the original building that housed St. Mary High School was outgrown, the school community launched a fund drive with a goal of fundraising $250,000 for the construction of a new Greater Cape Catholic High School. A.W. Zimmer Jr. was the general chairman of the fund drive. The drive generated $307,219 locally. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at 1912 Ritter Drive by Rev. John B. Cody in June of 1953. The building cost approximately $750,000. Archbishop Joseph Ritter gave an outright grant of $250,000 to the school to help reduce construction debt.

In 1976, an expansion of the 1912 Ritter Drive building began with a two-story addition. The addition included a music room, multipurpose room, storage room and a handicap accessible dedicated gym entrance. The expansion was financed through private donations, including a $5,000 donation from the Notre Dame Booster Club.

By 1995, Notre Dame once again outgrew its building. A $5 million capital campaign began to construct a new, larger school off Route K. The capital campaign was chaired by Steve Dirnberger (‘75) and John Layton, and resulted in $5.6 million in pledges from more than 1,500 donors. Fundraising efforts included a door-to-door campaign by volunteers, and a phone-a-thon.  

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 8, 1997, at the new school site on 47.92 acres donated by the James and Wanda Drury Family Trust. About 100 people were on hand for the event, including Rev. John J. Leibrecht, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. At the time, It was the largest single financial effort ever undertaken by a diocesan entity. The building opened on August 21, 1998.

In 2009, Notre Dame again launched a successful capital campaign to fund a $4.5 million expansion. The expansion included a multi-purpose gymnasium, a classroom to house a fourth science lab, a second art room, and more space for family and consumer sciences. The gym was completed on February 16, 2011, and the classroom addition was opened in the fall of 2011.

On March 29, 1980, the School Board gave its approval for the bylaws for the NDHS Education Fund Foundation, with Bishop Bernard Law giving final approval on April 26, 1980. The purpose of the Foundation was to develop, promote and sustain Catholic secondary education at Notre Dame High School. A Board of Trustees was established with its first members: Chairman Ken Hayden, Bob Basler, Steve Dirnberger (‘75), Ed Hart, John Holland, Irvin Landewee (‘57), Mike Margeson, Jim Maurer (‘69), Bob Reiker (‘58) and Sister Carol Weber. That fall, the Foundation’s first annual campaign raised $58,121.64 for endowed funds.

In the fall of 1982, a Foundation office was established with Mr. John Holland serving as the first development director. The following year the Foundation made its first stipend to the school, totaling $7,000.

On October 11, 1984, the NDHS Education Fund Foundation kicked off its “Alive in ‘85” fund drive, with a goal of raising $75,000. The kickoff marked the start of the advanced gift phase, parish phase and alumni appeal phase for an upcoming “Margin of Excellence” campaign. The campaign exceeded its $1 million goal.  

Today, the Foundation manages an endowment portfolio of $7.5 million, while providing the school with approximately $130,000 in operating expenses and $75,000 of assistance from designated funds on an annual basis. 

With such a supportive school community, students are encouraged to reciprocate that generosity to those less fortunate. 

Students have a history of giving back going back to the early days of St. Mary High School. In 1942, seniors presented the play, Pollyanna, to raise funds for St. Ambrose Parish that was destroyed by fire. That same year, students instituted a “Key Drive” to support World War II efforts. Every student was encouraged to bring keys or rings to school to be donated to the government to help build ships, airplanes and other equipment necessary for the war effort. This was to assist the government as it curtailed the manufacture of supplies such as erasers, clips, pens, rubber bands and pins.

In 1959, Home Ec students sewed clothing for mission children in Honduras. In 1972, a Mission Bazaar was held. This became an annual event raising funds for mission projects. Today, students participate in mission trips and service days, and hold dress down fundraisers, bake sales and dedicate the Homecoming hallway contest funds for charitable causes. Student organizations make service a key purpose of work, and organizations like FCCLA collaborate with classes to feed thousands of people in the community.