Athol Murray College of Notre Dame 2 VISION STRUGGLE AND EMERGE: A 100 YEAR HISTORY ATHOL MURRAY COLLEGE OF NOTRE In 1920 the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis opened the Notre Dame of the Prairies Con- DAME IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING vent and St. Augustine residential elementary and high school for boys and girls in YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO Wilcox, Saskatchewan, a small town on the Canadian prairies. Out of the dust and de- BECOME PURPOSEFUL LEADERS spair of the Great Depression emerged what would become Athol Murray College of WITH VIRTUOUS CHARACTER. Notre Dame, the “Toughest Little College” that would survive economic hardship, break down religious barriers and challenge students to excel academically, athletically and MISSION spiritually. Father Athol Murray manifested his dream of partnering with an established ATHOL MURRAY COLLEGE OF NOTRE university – the University of Ottawa – to offer a liberal arts degree program, which DAME PROVIDES AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND BOARDING became available in 1933. Notre Dame is rooted in the Catholic tradition and is open to EXPERIENCE WITH A BALANCE OF students of all faiths and backgrounds. As “Père” Murray said, “Open -mindedness is STRONG ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC AND the nature of the thing.” SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN A SAFE AND CARING PRAIRIE ENVIRONMENT. Père valued athletics as a way to teach values like commitment, teamwork and leadership. Père once shouted to his hockey team, mid-game, “Skate, you hounds, IDENTITY AND skate!” and the name stuck. The Notre Dame Hounds developed a reputation SPIRITUAL ROOTS as one of the toughest and fastest teams in Canada. When student housing became ATHOL MURRAY COLLEGE OF NOTRE a problem in the 1930s, Père discovered that threshers’ shacks that were used DAME IS A PRIVATE, INDEPENDENT, by migrant workers during harvest season provided the perfect solution. Students CO- EDUCATIONAL BOARDING HIGH slept in bunks next to a pot-bellied stove, using corrugated cardboard for insulation. SCHOOL ROOTED IN THE CATHOLIC Thus, Notre Dame inherited its nickname “The Shack College.” Notre Dame began TRADITION OPEN TO STUDENTS OF to adopt its modern campus look in the 1950’s and 1960’s with a major injection of ALL FAITH BACKGROUNDS. THE funds towards bricks and mortar, and today is a beautiful, modern campus. The school PROGRAM OF THE COLLEGE IS DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE motto, “Struggle and Emerge”, reflects the challenges faced by those original Hounds TEACHINGS, MORALS AND but rings true for Notre Dame students today. “Adversity, gang!” Père Murray would LITURGICAL PRACTICE OF THE exclaim. “That’s what gives you strength – adversity!” The school motto has offered ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. strength to Hounds over the school’s 100 year history. THE COLLEGE MAINTAINS AN ECUMENICAL OUTLOOK AND Today, Athol Murray College of Notre Dame maintains its legacy as a centre for ENCOURAGES ALL TO SEEK GOD, PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM AND LIVE IN academic and athletic excellence, and is home to over 300 students representing all ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BELIEF. 13 Canadian provinces and territories and up to 12 different countries. The Hounds of TABLE OF CONTENTS today continue to embody the spirit of determination, ingenuity and perseverance that 02 VISION, MISSION & HISTORY 09 NOTRE DAME HOCKEY characterized our founding students. 04 PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS 11 NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS 06 BOARDING AT NOTRE DAME 13 GRADUATE PLACEMENT QUICK FACTS 07 LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 14 SPIRITUAL GROWTH & GETTING INVOLVED 08 NOTRE DAME STAFF 3 Athol Murray College of Notre Dame 4 PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH TOOLS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS DO YOU DREAM OF GREATNESS, AS A SCHOLAR, AN ATHLETE, A LEADER? As a Hound, you will be part of a 99 year tradition of excellence and a community of peers and teachers Notre Dame graduates receive who strive for greatness. At Notre Dame, more than twice as much in we challenge each other to be the best ver- post-secondary scholarships sion of ourselves, supported by caring staff than the average Canadian and coaches, a structured academic day high school graduate. that includes daily supervised study time and scheduled student conference hours Notre Dame graduates are 50% more likely to receive a for extra help, as well as small class sizes. post-secondary scholarship With elite hockey programs for males and than the average Canadian females and 18 high school sports pro- high school graduate. grams, Notre Dame provides an environ- ment with a strong focus on health, fit- 100% of Notre Dame students ness, commitment and athletic excellence. participate in co-curricular activities. Notre Dame is opening doors: to university, to post-secondary athletic opportunities and THE MOST POWERFUL DRIVER Athol Murray College of Notre Dame offers a classroom OF STUDENT SUCCESS environment that is supportive and rigorous, providing AT NOTRE DAME ARE THE exceptional preparation for post-secondary programs. Our STUDENTS THEMSELVES. mandate is to provide our students the means by AT NOTRE DAME, STUDENTS which they can fully develop their academic potential. WANT TO LEARN. THEY ARE With an average class size of 16 students, availability % DRIVEN TO SUCCEED. THEY of teacher- guided learning support, scheduled student ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER conference hours for extra help outside of class time TO EXCEL, ASK FOR HELP, STAY and daily supervised study time, Notre Dame offers a % 65STUDENTS WITH FOCUSED AND DREAM BIG. challenging university preparatory program with support AN ABOVE 80% systems in place to ensure student success. AVERAGE BOARDING90 STUDENTS STUDENTS 5 Athol Murray College of Notre Dame 6 Leading the way as 21st Century Learners Technology is an integral part of learning at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. We strive to use modern teaching approaches that use technology to enhance student learning, facilitate collabora- AS A HOUND, YOU CAN COUNT YOURSELF AMONG: tion, and make creating and communicating effective and easy. We - 210 DRAFTED OR PLAYED IN THE NHL work closely with students to develop their technology skills and to - EIGHT ORDER OF CANADA WINNERS % promote the responsible use of technology and social media tools. - OLYMPIC GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE MEDALISTS Notre Dame also provides families back home an on-line portal to - NHL STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS be able to access student grades, school calendars and collabo- - A FEDERAL CABINET MINISTER 15INTERNATIONAL rate with the Notre Dame Community from anywhere in the world. STUDENTS - THE YOUNGEST CANADIAN TO SUCCESSFULLY Our priority at ND is to develop leaders, and in this day and age, SCALE MT. EVEREST both universities and employers are looking for young people who - AUTHORS, POLITICIANS, ATHLETES, SCHOLARS, can take on leadership roles and initiatives, who are not afraid of ac- RESEARCHERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS BOARDING AT NOTRE DAME countability, and who can demonstrate resilience. Right at the root of our vision is to develop purposeful leaders with virtuous character, Community, Leadership, Respect: A Way of Life Healthy Living and that means empowering our students to be those 21st-century As a boarding school, Notre Dame offers the advantages leaders. That vision drives every conversation. The physical, mental and emotional health of each of leadership development and personal growth through an student is a very important part of the College’s formal and informal curriculum of community living. Over responsibility to parents and students. Notre 90% of our students call Notre Dame their home, living in one Dame’s Health Care Facility is accessible seven of our five dormitories. The boarding environment provides an days a week with care provided by Registered & Li- enriched, experiential learning experience, with a strong censed Practical Nurses, who look after the health focus on leadership skill development, community, responsi- needs of our students. Notre Dame has a full-time bility, time management and self-reliance. Athletic Training Coordinator who carries out as- sessments and delivers prescribed treatments. Each dormitory is administered by a dorm House Parent who is supported by a team of Assistant House Parents and a Our Food Services team provides healthy, hearty select group of grade 12 students who have earned the po- meals three times a day, in addition to a light eve- sition of House Leader. Students are housed according to gen- ning snack. Homemade soup and a well-stocked der and live together in rooms of two to four students. Rooms salad bar are available at every meal, as are 1% can be decorated with posters, photos, and appropriate milk and fresh fruit. Our Hounds Juice Day exceeds memorabilia reflecting each student’s individuality while pro- provincial nutritional standards. Our food service viding the familiarity of home. Each dormitory provides provider also supports some specific dietary needs. a common area with television, snack kitchen facilities,and Food services are provided with active, happy and storage space for travel luggage and equipment. healthy students in mind! 7 Athol Murray College of Notre Dame 8 PURPOSEFUL LEADERS WITH VIRTUOUS CHARACTER Leadership Opportunities The Notre Dame experience extends well HOUSE LEADERS (BOARDING) beyond the classroom. Opportunities for Grade 12 students are selected to assist House Parents by providing daily personal, spiritual and community leadership and mentorship in the dorms. This honor is presented to students development equip Hounds with a desire to who demonstrate compassion, leadership, enthusiasm and care for others. explore and contribute to their community, knowing that they are a part of something SERVING OUR COMMUNITY: WORKS OF MERCY OUTREACH bigger than themselves. Students at Notre Dame are required to perform a minimum of 10 hours of community service per year. One of the ways in which they can complete Notre Dame offers numerous opportunities this service requirement is by participating in our Works of Mercy Outreach for students to enhance and apply their program, in which Hounds provide tutoring and mentorship to inner-city leadership skills.