Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Notre Dame Preparatory School
Address
1300 Giddings Road Pontiac , Michigan 48340 United States
Coordinates	42°40′26″N 83°15′30″W / 42.67389°N 83.25833°W / 42.67389; -83.25833
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	"With God we form Christian people, upright citizens, and academic scholars."
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1994
Oversight	Archdiocese of Detroit
President	Leon Olszamowski
Head of school	Andrew Guest
Grades	K–12
Campus size	100 acres
Color(s)	Forest green and Vegas Gold
Slogan	A World of Education
Song	Notre Dame Our Mother
Fight song	Notre Dame Victory March
Athletics conference	Independent
Nickname	Fighting Irish
Accreditation	Independent Schools Association of the Central States, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition	$13,000 (pre-K–5), $16,700 (6–8), $18,700 (9–12)
Affiliation	Society of Mary

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private Catholic school. It teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. The school is located in Pontiac, Michigan, which is part of the Metro Detroit area.

It was started in 1994 by the Marist Fathers and Brothers. This school is for both boys and girls (coed). It also helps students get ready for college.

School History

The school campus covers 100-acre (40 ha) of land. It is located in an area outside the main part of Pontiac.

How the School Started

Notre Dame Prep opened its doors on August 28, 1994. The very first group of students graduated in 1995.

The middle school section began in August 1996. It started with 162 students.

The elementary school (lower school) opened in 2003. At first, it was in a different building in Waterford Township. This happened when other Catholic elementary schools nearby were closing. In 2013, the elementary school moved to the main campus in Pontiac.

In July 2014, the school's board took over running the school. Before that, it was managed by the local Catholic church group, called the archdiocese.

From Pontiac Catholic to Notre Dame Prep

Before it was Notre Dame Prep, the school had different names. It was first known as Pontiac Catholic High School. This school started in 1967. It was formed when two other high schools, St. Michael High School and St. Frederick High School, joined together.

In 1988, Pontiac Catholic High School changed its name to Oakland Catholic High School. Then, in 1994, Oakland Catholic High School became Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The Marist Fathers and Brothers began to run the high school at that time.

Famous Graduates

Many people who went to this school or its earlier versions have done amazing things!

Notre Dame High School Graduates

• Curtis Hertel Jr. (Class of 1996) – He became a State Senator for Michigan. A State Senator is a person who helps make laws for their state.
• Doug Weight (Class of 1989) – He won a silver medal in the Olympics. He was also a professional ice hockey player in the NHL. He played for teams like the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers.
• Mark Cendrowski (Class of 1977) – He is a well-known director for movies and TV shows. He directed many episodes of the popular show The Big Bang Theory.
• John Blum (Class of 1977) – He was also a professional ice hockey player in the NHL. He played for teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.
• Dave Debol (Class of 1974) – He was a professional ice hockey player in the NHL for the Hartford Whalers.
• David Bonior (Class of 1963) – He was a U.S. Congressman for Michigan. A U.S. Congressman helps make laws for the entire country in Washington, D.C. He was also the House Minority Whip, which is an important leadership role in Congress.

Pontiac Catholic High School Graduates

• Anne Rexford (Class of 1979) – She used to be the Head Coach for the Women's Basketball team at the University of Detroit Mercy.
• Colleen O'Brien (Class of 1974) – She became a Judge for the Michigan Court of Appeals. A judge makes decisions in legal cases.