Notre Dame Activity Week brings in record $286,000

It's never too soon to take responsibility for oneself. Students at Notre Dame Regional High School demonstrated this during their recent Activity Week. Through hard work and community support, they raised more than $286,000 -- the highest amount the fundraising event ever brought in.

"I'm over the moon, and the spirit in the building (last week) was incredible," said Brother David Anthony Migliorino, principal of the Catholic school. Of course, the spirit was incredible: everyone was engrossed in the challenge of meeting their goal, which will go toward the school's overall budget as well as tuition assistance, upgrades to facilities, the theater program and grounds. Quality facilities and quality education come at a cost, so the entire student body, from freshmen to seniors, showed they could roll up their sleeves and get down to work.

Students held bake sales, sold dinners and participated in service activities. Not only did they set a fundraising record, but they raised the bar by quite a bit, surpassing last year's amount by a whopping $22,000.

The senior class, aptly, led the charge, raising the most money ($138,649.49). The junior class brought in $51,775.72, the freshmen raised $56,928.82 and the sophomores collected $39,189.52. What they accomplished was not easy.

These students put in the effort to make Activity Week the historic success that it was, and that's commendable.

But a school does not live by students alone. Success of this magnitude also takes a village of parents, grandparents, religious communities and businesses. Each played a role in ensuring that Notre Dame acquired the resources to continue the work of education, and Migliorino, for one, is most grateful: "I can't thank people enough," he said.