Notre Dame High School (Crowley)
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Notre Dame High School is a high school in Crowley, Louisiana. It was formed in 1967 by consolidating the three Catholic high schools in Acadia Parish; St. Michael of Crowley, St. Joseph of Rayne, and St. Francis of Iota. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.
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[edit] Mission Statement
The mission of Notre Dame High School is to educate its students in mind, body and soul with the love of Jesus, the discipline of Joseph and the faith of Mary.[citation needed]
[edit] Notre Dame's Shield
Notre Dame's shield symbolizes the three principal Catholic ethnic groups which originally settled the area of Acadia. The German people are symbolized by the Heraldic Eagle, displayed with wings and outstretched legs. The CEDAR TREE of Lebanon is the chosen symbol of the Syrian nations. And the Fleur-de-lis (or white lily), a religious symbol, is the national symbol of France. On the base of the school shield is the Christian Cross, surmounting the Greek letter CHI, which is the first letter of the word XPITOS, meaning Christ. The crest of the shield bears the torch of education denoting the high educational goals of Notre Dame.
[edit] History
Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish began its operation as a Catholic, co-educational school for students in grades 9 through 12 in September of 1967. It was formed by consolidating the three Catholic high schools in Acadia Parish; St. Michael of Crowley, St. Joseph of Rayne, and St. Francis of Iota. At the time of consolidation it was decided that the facilities of St. Michael be used until Notre Dame could build its own facility or make some other arrangements. On January 31, 1977, the Notre Dame School Board of Directors and seven church parishes purchased proportionate shares of Notre Dame from St. Michael Parish thus giving Notre Dame a permanent home in its present location.
During the Spring preceding the consolidation, committees under the direction of Father Robert Sibille (Notre Dame's first principal)composed of faculty members and students from all three schools met and selected possible uniforms, school colors, mascots and emblems. A school philosophy was written to guide the new school. Curriculum and faculty began to take shape.
The Catholic church parishes actively participating in the government of the school are: St. Michael, Crowley; St. Joseph, Rayne; St. Joseph, Iota; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Crowley; St. Lawrence, Mowata; St. Leo, Roberts Cove; St. John the Baptist, Lyons Point; and Immaculate Conception, Morse. Each church parish provides leadership in the government of the school and each financially subsidizes the school based on the number of students who attend the school from the parish. Board members are elected lay people from each parish and a Chancellor who represents the pastors of the eight church parishes.
Notre Dame is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Louisiana State Board of Education, and it is a diocesan school under the direction of the Bishop and the Board of Education of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. The school undergoes periodic professional self-study under the direction of the Diocesan School Board's professional staff and the SACS accreditation team.
[edit] The Word
The words NOTRE DAME mean OUR LADY. Our Lady is perhaps the most extraordinary and prominent title given to the Mother of Jesus Christ. She is the Patroness of the school and her statue stands in the center of the campus.
