Spirit is the heart of Notre Dame HS. Despite new changes, students carried ND spirit through the first few months of school.

Crusaders welcomed a new principal, Mario Lucrezi, at the start of the year, along with other changes including radical renovations and several new policies. Through the changes, faculty, staff and students made an effort to keep Notre Dame tradition alive, especially through Spirit Week.

Spirit Week gave Crusaders an opportunity to express school pride the week leading up to the football game against rival Wilson HS. This year the theme, “ND takes over the Map,” kicked off November. The week concluded with the classic ND day, a tradition at Notre Dame for over 30 years.

ND day offers students the chance to wear their blue and gold and participate in competitive games among classes. Seniors won the most games this year, even beating the faculty in the annual senior versus faculty volleyball game.

Senior soccer player Julia Pinter said, “As historian, it’s been a privilege to capture the spirit during this outstanding fall sports season. Looking at the pictures I’ve taken, I see history in the making.”

Students enjoyed Athletic Director Amy Rogers’ encouraging speech at a pep rally prior to the big football game against Saucon Valley. Rogers honored all athletic accomplishments of the fall sports season, contributing to the excitement. Her famous line, “It’s a great day to be a Crusader,” perfectly represents student pride.

The winning football team along with several other winning sports teams helped contribute to the excitement. Girls’ soccer made it to the district final for the first time in ND’s history; boys’ cross country won leagues and placed 12th in the state; girls’ tennis won the doubles state championship, along with leagues and districts; girls’ volleyball won leagues, making ND history too.

“I love seeing all of our students come out to every sporting event. The success of our fall sports shows how much an impact of a faithful and spirited crowd can effect a team,” said Zach Mills, senior student section leader.

Crusaders wore their blue and gold proudly at the start of the new school year, promising another good year for the Notre Dame family.