Notre Dame College Prep is a male-only Roman Catholic secondary school founded in Niles, Illinois in 1955 by the Congregation of Holy Cross. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. The school was built by Belli & Belli of Chicago.
Prior to 2008, Notre Dame College Prep was known as Notre Dame High School for Boys. Because Notre Dame is a common name for schools, this school is often confused with Peoria Notre Dame High School and Quincy Notre Dame High School, both of which are located in Illinois. Despite the similarity in name, this school is not affiliated with the Notre Dame High School for Girls, found in Chicago.
History
Notre Dame College Prep was one of the first Catholic high schools to open in the suburban Chicago area. It was opened at the request of the then Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, Samuel Stritch, with the supervision of the Priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
The timing of the new school corresponded to the closing of the Congregation's school (Columbia Prep School) in Portland, Oregon. About half of the faculty came east from Portland to start the new school in Illinois. They also brought with them the old school's athletic uniforms, which necessitated the new school's colors to be the same as the Oregon school's (green and white). Even the old school's fight song was brought along, with appropriate new wording changes made by an early music teacher.
The original name of Notre Dame High School for Boys drew a connection between the Congregation's most noted local center of higher learning, the University of Notre Dame, and the Chicago area, which had given its support to the University and the congregation over many years. An excerpt from the Congregation's Province Review in 1954 noted:
For years the University (of Notre Dame) and the Community have been helped by a large group of loyal friends in the Chicago area. It is fitting that the first major high school work undertaken by our Province should be in Chicago. Many elements entered into the decision to accept this school, but one of the most sincere was the desire to express the Community’s gratitude to the Catholics of Chicago for their past support and friendship.
In the summer of 2006, the Congregation announced that it would be ending its formal association with the school, effective at the end of the 2006-07 school year. Since then, a board of both religious and lay people have acted to run the school and maintain a relationship with the Archdiocese.
Academics
The school offers four programs designed for students of differing levels of skill, with a focus on college preparation - Hesburgh Scholar Program, College Prep Program, St. Andre Bessette, CSC Scholar Program, Burke Scholar Program.
The following Advanced Placement courses are offered: English Literature, Art History, Art Studio, Spanish Language, Calculus (BC), Government, US History, Statistics, and European History.
AP Latin Virgil and AP Latin Language are offered on a rotating biennial basis. AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics (B) are offered on a longer term rotation, where at least two of these courses are available at any given time.
Athletics
Notre Dame High School sponsors teams in 14 sports that are governed by the Illinois High School Association: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. All of these teams (except for bowling and swimming) compete in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.
The school also sponsors teams in ice hockey and lacrosse. Lacrosse competes in the Chicago Metro Conference, and plays in a state tournament governed by the Illinois High School Lacrosse Association. The hockey team plays in the Chicago Suburban Catholic League.
The following teams placed in the top four at IHSA sponsored state tournaments:
- Baseball •• State Champions (2003â€"04)
- Football •• 2nd place (1989â€"90)
- Bass Fishing •• 3rd place (2012-13)
The Hockey team won three state tournaments in 1976, 1992, and 2010 through the AHAI State Tournament, the governing body of hockey in Illinois.
Notable alumni
- Ted Ansani was the bass player of the 1990s pop band Material Issue.
- Brian Bagnall (Class of 1999) is a happiness author, speaker, coach and the man that gave away all of his possessions on craigslist.
- Richard J Bies (class of 1966) is an international technology inventor of 34 patents in 33 nations. --- |
- Matthew Bogusz is the Mayor of Des Plaines, Illinois and the youngest mayor in Illinois.
- Ernie Halvorson (class of 2000), along with his fiancee Cindy Chiang, was the winner of The Amazing Race 19.
- Brian Harris (class of 1997) aka Dj Caffeine is a music producer and Dj on Chicago's Dance Factory
- Jim Les (class of 1981) is a former NBA guard who is currently the head men's basketball coach at UC Davis and was the former head coach at Bradley University
- Greg Luzinski (class of 1968) is a former Major League Baseball player, 4 time All-Star, and member of the 1980 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies
- Michael McCaskey is the chairman of the Chicago Bears.
- John McDonough (class of 1971) is the former president of the Chicago Cubs and current president of the Chicago Blackhawks
- Jim McNeely (class of 1967) is a Grammy-winning jazz composer, arranger and pianist currently with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
- James Pankow (class of 1965) is a trombonist, composer, and member of the band Chicago
- Danny Pudi (class of 1997) is a professional actor on the NBC show Community.
- Joseph Sikora (class of 1994) is a professional actor on the Starz show Power.
- Jonnie Stewart (class of 1985) is a retired professional wrestler and former candidate for the United States House of Representatives
- Sean Marshall a child actor (Pete in Disney's "Pete's Dragon") and graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
References
External links
- Notre Dame College Prep Website