Spirit of Tradition

Notre Dame High School: 100 Years of Traditions

Notre Dame has proud traditions dating back to the days of St. Mary High School in the 1920s. From spirituality to class competitions to student life, decades of St. Mary, Cape Catholic and Notre Dame High School students have contributed to the longstanding culture of the school.

Senior Pins

The class of 1929 were the pioneers of St. Mary High School. On June 9, 1929, the first eight graduates of the high school received their diplomas dawning smoke gray robes adorned with blue and gold satin class ribbons, held in place with class pins. Those class pins, a gift from the school’s principal Sister Aquina, is a tradition that still stands nearly a century later, with seniors receiving their pins from school administrators at the Senior Pin Mass.

Publications

The school newspaper, The Hi-Lites, first went to press on October 12, 1934, as a two-sheet, 8 ½ x 11 hectographed copy. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper was Ellis Wulfers, and 21 issues were published between 1935-1936. In May of 1935, a yearbook with the same name was issued, which later became The Silhouette.

In 1938, The Hi-Lites was put in mimeograph form, and the yearbook was sold for $0.25 a copy featuring photos of seniors and ads for the first time. Those ad sales morphed into The Hi-Lites Drive, which was a school wide effort to help fund school publications. In the fall of 1958, the first Hi-Lites Queen was crowned, with the queen determined by the class having the largest Hi-Lites sales of ads and subscriptions. In 1960, the largest amount ever of $2,449 was collected. In the spring of 1967, the first Publications Dance was held, with queen candidates chosen from the staff of The Hi-Lites and Silhouette, in recognition of their efforts with the publications.

In 1946, Quill and Scroll, the international society for high school journalists, awarded St. Mary High School a chapter in recognition of the excellent work produced by The Hi-Lites staff. The Hi-Lites became a member of the National Scholastic Press Association during the 1947-1948 school year, and in 1950 became a member of the Catholic School Press Association.

- Members of St. Mary’s Hi-Lites work on the newspaper in October of 1952. Staff members included (sitting from left to right): June Rose Beaty, exchange editor; Jimmy Hahn, business manager; Janet Reiker, headlines; Martha Yuracko, city editor; Tom Rehg, co-editor; Dolores Millering, co-editor; Jo Ann Peetz, news editor; Laura Jean Williams, assistant advertising manager; Imelda Nenninger, circulation manager; Charlotte Nenninger, circulation assistant. Back row (left to right): Margaret Fuerth, artist; Wilbert Hoffman, headlines; Dick Hagedorn, sports; David Crites, sports; Roberta Telescky, headlines; Jean Nenninger, advertising manager; Martha Scholz, feature editor; Joyce Ozment, columnist; Nell Nall, librarian; Betty Kilhafner, pictures; Joellen Clippard, alumni editor; Shirley George, headlines.

Publications staff won many awards over the years, including being named “All-Catholic” multiple times by the Catholic Press Association, and being honored with a Blue Banner Award by the Southern Illinois Press Association in both 1967 and 1985.

Student Life

Student life has been an integral part of the high school’s history, with the aim of garnering school spirit and camaraderie amongst classmates. The school’s first pep squad was organized ninety years ago, in 1935, starting a deep rooted tradition of cheering sections at sporting events. Over the years, chants like “Let’s Go Blue!” or “We Are ND” have been yelled from the Dawg Pound, and the famous “roller coaster” cheer has been performed by decades of students.

In 1939, social activities of the students included a hayride, weiner roast, Halloween masquerade party and school assemblies. In October 1957, students celebrated Halloween with a campus treasure hunt, bonfire and marshmallow roast. In 1989, the first-ever Freshmen Lock-In was held, sponsored by the Substance Abuse Prevention team.

On November 1, 1999, the first of the short-lived Faculty Follies was held. Faculty and staff performed, sang and acted out skits for students.

The class of 2000 saw the birth of several traditions, starting with the first senior Christmas Tree Decorating Party, held in December of 1999. The following spring was the school’s first Senior Week, jam-packed with fun and activities for the soon-to-be graduates.

Class dances started with the class of 2008 performing a choreographed dance to “Thriller” during Activity Week. Throughout the years since then, classes have choreographed and performed dances during Activity Week, Catholic Schools Week and Homecoming Week, with amazing stunts, kick lines and mash ups.

Homecoming

In 1952, St. Mary High School held its first Homecoming, sponsored by the Alumni Association. The celebration featured a boys basketball game, a Homecoming court and crowning, and a school dance.

- Varsity Queen is crowned by Mr. Anthony Rubich at St. Mary’s first Homecoming Ball on February 17, 1952. Elected by student vote, Marlene Blattel, queen, and her four maids (left to right) Snookie Stehr, Marilyn Stroder, Bonnie Wulfers and Betty Schott. Varsity escorts are (left to right) Kenny Geringer, Gene Vandeven, Earl Blechle, Eddie Ressel, Mick Shannon, Paul Rehg, Bob Miller and Glenn Farrar.

February 13-17, 1978, saw the 11th annual Homecoming Week, held with classes vying for the Spirit Award. The week’s events included Blue and White Day, Button Day, “Be Nice to Players Day,” “Sock it to Me Day,” a chili supper, alumni game, Homecoming boys basketball game, and the annual Homecoming Dance where Janice Drury (‘78) was crowned Homecoming queen.

In the 2000s, a Homecoming parade through the halls was held. Today, classes compete against each other in a hallway decorating contest with the theme of Homecoming Week.

Dances

St. Mary High School, Cape Catholic and now Notre Dame Regional High School have a long held tradition of school dances, first starting in 1938. Dances have included the Varsity Dance, Homecoming Dance, Junior-Senior Prom, Hi-Lites Drive Dance, Valentine Dance, Publications Dance, TWIRP (The Woman is Requested to Pay) Dance, Christmas Dance, Halloween Dance and Barnwarming Dance.

The theme of the 1957 Junior-Senior Prom was “Fairyland.” Prom that year began with a banquet for the graduating class and their parents after which a grand march led through a flowered archway to the Blessed Virgin Shrine where they dedicated their prom to the Mother of God. The evening concluded with a dance in the gymnasium decorated as a fairy castle surrounded by forest trees with lights shining through tiny green windows.

Activity Week

Notre Dame Activity Week has deep historical roots. The origins of the fundraising week began in January of 1956. Senior Pat Rooney was crowned “Varsity Queen” at a school dance. The crown was decided by a penny vote campaign with a girl from each class in the race for queen. In 1958, “Varsity Week” was held, netting $1,300 in fundraising by students.

The class of 1962 won the fall 1961 Varsity Drive, with one fundraising effort involving students waxing an airplane. The Varsity Drive of 1962 resulted in a double crowning with a tie between the junior and senior classes; consequently, Delores Felter (‘64), junior candidate, and Linda Felter (‘63), senior candidate, were sisters and were both crowned.

In September of 1979, the week netted $14,827.73 with the senior class raising the most money. Suzanne Priest (‘80) was crowned queen and was escorted by Mark Kohlfeld. Highlighting the week was a 12-hour dance-a-thon. The class of 1984 won Varsity Week all four years of high school. The class of 1998 also won Activity Week each year at Notre Dame.

- Senior Suzanne Priest was crowned Varsity Week Queen in September 1979. Mark Kohfeld was her escort. The senior class raised $4,832.22 to win the week.

After nearly three decades of Varsity Week, the title changed to “Activity Week” in 1984. With astronomical growth from its modest beginnings, Activity Week netted $354,203.40 in 2024, with the seniors taking top honors.

Activity Week has not only been a fundraiser, but one of the most school spirit inducing and community building events for the school. Kick-off skits, games like tug-of-war and The Price is Right, the chance to win a day off school with Deal or No Deal, community dinners, candy bar and fruit sales, and daily class themes; Activity Week is an important part of the Notre Dame High School experience.