Notre Dame High School (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)

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Notre Dame Regional High School teaches grades 9 through 12. The school belongs to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese and are served by Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn. Notre Dame Regional High School was founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The school was served by the School Sisters of Notre Dame until July 1, 1999 when Brother David Migliorino became Principal.^[1]

Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Notre Dame is a regional Catholic high school with students coming from several communities in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois traveling up to 60 miles one way to school. Notre Dame has also served as host to several international students, including students from Japan, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, and Germany.^[2] Brother David left Notre Dame in August 2019 to become Principal of St. Anthony's High School (South Huntington, New York) in South Huntington, New York.

Notre Dame Regional High School Notre Dame
Address
265 Notre Dame Drive Cape Girardeau , (Cape Girardeau County) , Missouri 63701 United States
Coordinates	37°18′21″N 89°36′34″W / 37.30583°N 89.60944°W / 37.30583; -89.60944Coordinates: 37°18′21″N 89°36′34″W / 37.30583°N 89.60944°W / 37.30583; -89.60944
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	Virtus et scientia (Virtue and knowledge)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	Mary
Established	1925
Founder	School Sisters of Notre Dame
Superintendent	Leon Witt
Principal	Tim Garner
Chaplain	Fr. Michael Casteel Fr. John Harth
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	501
Student to teacher ratio	13:1
Color(s)	Royal Blue and White
Slogan	Give us your child and we shall return you an apostle.
Sports	Boys Volleyball Girls Volleyball Softball Baseball Boys Soccer Girls Soccer Boys Tennis Girls Tennis Boys Swimming Girls Swimming Cross Country Boys Golf Girls Golf Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Cheerleading Wrestling Dance Track and Field
Mascot	Bulldog
Team name	Bulldogs
Accreditation	Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA
Newspaper	The Hi-Lites
Yearbook	The Silhouette
Development Director	Alex Jackson
Athletic Director	Jeff Graviett
Dean of Student Activities	Paul Unterreiner
Website	notredamehighschool.org

History^[3][]

Boys & Girls Academies[]

Before the founding of St. Mary High School, the Catholic youth of this area studied at the historic college of St. Vincent for boys and the Loretta Academy for girls. St. Vincent's College was conducted by the Vincentian Fathers, and the Loretta Academy conducted by the Sisters of Loretta.

St. Mary High School[]

The building, which housed St. Mary High School was the first permanent location of St. Francis hospital until 1914. In the spring of 1925, Very Reverend Eberhardt Pruente, V.F. purchased this building at Sprigg and William Streets for $21,000 and renovated it for use as St. Mary High School. On September 1, 1925, the school opened enrolling 7th, 8th grades, and first year high. Sister Mary Francis was the first teacher.

In 1928 the school was accredited by the State of Missouri. The first class graduated June 9, 1929 with eight students. In 1931, the school nearly closed due to the depression, but Mother Jolendis gave the Sisters permission to teach in the school "gratis". The school progressed through the 1930s and 1940s in spite of times of war.

Cape Girardeau Catholic High School to Notre Dame High School[]

This building served as St. Mary High School for twenty-nine years before its capacity could not accommodate the enlarging student body. In 1948, Rev. Theon Schoen, then pastor of St. Mary, began plans for a new and larger high school. Land was purchased between Caruthers and Clark Avenue from the Wulfers family for a new Catholic High School. A ground breaking ceremony was held on June 21, 1953 for a new building that would accommodate between 350 and 400 students. The new Cape Girardeau Catholic High School opened on September 13, 1954 with an enrollment of 211 students. The school changed its name to Notre Dame High School in 1960. In 1962 Notre Dame received accreditation from the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.

Athletics[]

The Notre Dame Girls' Soccer won a state championship in 2017 and 2019.^[4]

Notre Dame Established as a Regional High School[]

In 1995 it was determined that the building was no longer serving the needs of the school community and a capital campaign began to construct a new high school off Route K. The new campus opened in August, 1998 on land donated by the James and Wanda Drury Family Trust. The school was built to accommodate 600 students. The school was renamed Notre Dame Regional High School in conjunction with the school's broad enrollment. Today Notre Dame Regional High School is the largest private high school between St. Louis and Memphis. It has grown to an enrollment of over 500 students.

Notes and references[]