SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS UP: FRESHMEN COUNT AT NOTRE DAME HIGHEST IN YEARS

Freshman enrollment at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Cape Girardeau is the highest it has been in years, said Sister Mary Ann Fischer, principal at Notre Dame.

"We're off to a good start," Fischer said. "We have a 9 percent increase in enrollment, with a freshmen class of 84 students. That's the largest freshman class we've had in quite a few years."

The other class rosters number 60 for seniors, 56 for juniors and 62 for sophomores.

Fischer credits the increased freshman enrollments to a marketing plan utilized by the school for a couple of years now.

"Many people today are looking for an education rooted in faith and values," Fischer said. "That's what we offer here at Notre Dame. Our academic program is very strong, but our unique characteristic is rooted in faith and values."

In an effort to pass that message to prospective students and their parents, the school has established a marketing committee including parents and students from Notre Dame.

"When parents are pleased with what's happening at Notre Dame, they talk to other parents, and when students are pleased with what's happening, they talk to other students in a very informal way," Fischer said.

Building on that communication, the marketing committee schedules parents, students and Fischer to go to area Catholic elementary schools to talk with parents and students about Notre Dame.

"We also have a parent phone-a-thon," Fischer said. "Parents call the parents of eighth- graders, tell them about Notre Dame and invite them to check into our program. Just that interest that parents take in introducing Notre Dame means a lot."

She said she believes the effort is paying off, citing the increased freshman enrollment as proof.

She said that a number of new students have enrolled because their parents have transferred to Cape Girardeau for employment.

Welcoming these new freshmen and returning students is a new IBM computer lab, Fischer said.

The school received a $10,000 grant from the Pendergest-Weyer Foundation of Kansas City. The foundation provides money to Catholic schools in Missouri.

In addition, she said donations have come from area businesses, individuals and the Knights of Columbus.

As a result, 20 IBM computers are in use this semester for teaching computer applications and keyboarding.

"We have been teaching computer on Apple computers," Fischer said. "Now we have converted to the IBM.

"We no longer teach typing on a typewriter; it is taught on the computer."

She said she hopes to add an additional 25 terminals to the system. "That depends on additional contributions."

Back this year is the Notre Dame Concert Band, Fischer said. For the past two years the band was disbanded because of low enrollment.

"This year it's back and doing well. We have a good size enrollment," Fischer said.

She said Catholic elementary schools in the area started a band program a couple of years ago and those students are now attending Notre Dame.

"We have hired a band director who is also directing the band at St. Mary's Cathedral School," she said. "We're glad to have it start up again."

Fischer said: "We had a very successful freshman lock-in on Friday the 28th. Freshmen spent the night here and we had many activities going on to introduce them to high school life and help them make new friends.

"Freshmen come here from 10 different grade schools. They all come together here so we try to help them feel at home."