NDB ALUMNAE LEADERSHIP BOARD
Dear Alumnae Sisters,

I am writing this on Valentine’s Day. Of course, we are inundated with pink, red and commercial advertisements about love. Well, that got me thinking about the love at NDB. It is overloaded on our gorgeous campus—from our new head of school announcement and teachers/counselors supporting our students to athletics teams working together, Aquacades in April and our seniors finishing up their last semester. We don’t need a holiday to spread the love at NDB—we are lucky enough to have it every day!   

Please come and feel the love while sharing your NDB spirit at our Aquacades Alumnae Tailgate Party on Friday, April 8. This will be the 79th Aquacades held at Notre Dame. What an amazing tradition! As alumnae, we will have a chance to reconnect, re-engage and cheer on current students competing in Aquacades. We will also give a warm welcome to our new Head of School, Meredith Myall Essalat, '98, M.Ed. What a blessing it is to have an alumnae leader who knows who we are. The buzz about school is that she is exciting, smart, funny, and most important, passionate about NDB and leading us into the future.  

Thank you to our wonderful Alumnae Leadership Board. We have fun, spirited meetings and we have bonded with each other while being back on campus. Our team has an extraordinary vision for all of our alumnae sisters in the years to come. 

With love,

Mary Kmak Johnson '84
President, Alumnae Leadership Board
NDB Alumnae Leadership Board
Taj Alavi '94 • Stephanie Boyd '94 • Antonia Hannon Ehlers '86 • Monica Ho Ehlers '86 • Bridget Marchetti Philip '92 • Mary Kmak Johnson '84 • Catriona Mac Kenzie ‘84 • Jaci Oliver Rossi ‘84 • Annie Niederhofer '83 • Tricia Gilmore Sipowitz '81 • Nancy Ayling '62

NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL
The NDB community is thrilled to welcome Meredith Myall Essalat ‘98, M.Ed., as our new head of school. She will assume office in July.

“I’m thrilled to return to my alma mater as the new head of school,” said Meredith, the current head of school at Mission Dolores Academy in San Francisco. “My main goal when working with young women is to empower them. I want each student to have confidence in her inner voice and learn how to be bold enough to accomplish her dreams in this world.”

Meredith has fond memories of her own high school days at NDB.

“Our class color was blue and we were the Sharks,” she remembered. “I found my voice at Notre Dame. For me, the word ‘sisterhood’ symbolizes the family that is Notre Dame. My high school friendships are still strong to this day.”
AQUACADES ALUMNAE TAILGATE
We welcome and encourage all NDB Alumnae to come back to campus on Friday, April 8 for a spirited celebration at the Aquacades Alumnae Tailgate. We'd love your help in spreading the word and reaching out to your classmates. We will do the rest of the planning. It promises to be an exciting night!

Friday, April 8
Check-in: 5:00 PM
NDB Dining Room
ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
A very special mother-daughter duo stopped by a few weeks ago to tour the NDB campus and catch up with English teacher Peggy Brady '67.

Barbara Guevara and her daughter, Becky May '79, reminisced about their NDB favorite memories. Becky's husband Jim, joined them on an afternoon tour. He remembers the campus well, as the Sequoia grad met his future wife on the ski slopes when they were teenagers.

Barbara was the administrative assistant to Sr. Paula Butier from 1979-1987. "I loved working at Notre Dame," she said. "It was a very nice place to work and everyone was so friendly. I worked there during a special time."

Becky also has fond memories of her time at NDB. "We grew up believing you can do whatever you want to do," she remembered. "We also learned the importance of caring for others."

Becky went on to become a career and college specialist at John F. Kennedy High School in Fremont. She and Jim have two adult sons, and Becky still keeps in touch with her best friend, Patty Edel '79.
NDB SPRING FUNDRAISER - TIGERS IN TAHITI
Our community just wouldn't be what it is today without our extraordinary alumnae and traditions that make our school special. Please consider supporting our annual NDB Spring Fundraiser and Senior Spotlight, Tigers in Tahiti. 

There are a number of ways to participate. You can order tickets for a table with your alumnae sisters, donate your extra airline miles, contribute a cash donation, or support the fund-a-need to update and beautify the Father Downey garden!
For any questions about the event, please contact Celine Curran at [email protected].

Tigers in Tahiti Co-Chairs
Alison Caron (P’24, P’25) • Suzy Lester (P’24)
Featured Raffle Item

Articulated Diamond Hoop Earrings from Steiners Jewelry containing 3 carat diamonds set in 14k white gold inside and outside diamond set hoop.

Retail Value: $6,000
KEEP IN TOUCH
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Do you love your career? Would you be interested in mentoring a Tiger?
We’d love to hear what you are up to!
CONNECT WITH FELLOW ALUMNAE
We have talented alumnae with established careers and bright futures!