If you go
› What: Notre Dame High School 140th birthday celebration› Where: Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St.› When: 7-9 p.m. Thursday.› Tickets: $40 per person, includes dinner› Reservation deadline: 3 p.m. today› For reservations: Email jonesr@myndhs.com
Oldest schools
Chattanooga’s four oldest private high schools and years they were founded:* Notre Dame: 1876* Baylor School: 1893* McCallie School: 1905* Girls Preparatory School: 1906
Notre Dame Timeline
* 1876: Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Community in Nashville opens a parish school in Chattanooga at the request of the Rev. Patrick Ryan, the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church and now up for sainthood. A second school is opened for non-Catholic girls.* 1878: Both schools temporarily close due to yellow fever epidemic.* 1886: New, larger building is built to hold increased enrollment.* 1898: Notre Dame Academy becomes co-educational parochial school; name unofficially changes to Notre Dame School.* 1926: School relocates to East Eighth Street, where it remains until 1965.* 1954: Notre Dame High School becomes inter-parochial, a high school serving two or more parishes.* 1963: Notre Dame High School becomes first racially integrated school in city.* 1965: School moves to current location on Vermont Avenue.* 1974: James D. Phifer named principal, the first layman to serve in the position.* 1996: Perry Storey beomes principal; $5 million capital campaign is completed during his first five years as principal.* 2009: John Varallo Athletic Center and Classroom Annex opens; Hunter Baseball Field added.Source: Notre Dame High School
As a student, George Valadie graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1971, headed off to college then later returned to the school. Once back, he served in several roles – teacher, coach, alumni director and administrator – for more than 15 years.
He left Notre Dame to take the job as principal at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova, Tenn., but his ties to his alma mater were too strong to cut and, when he came back three years ago for the second time, it was to accept the newly created position of president/principal.
Now, as the city’s oldest private school celebrates its 140th birthday Thursday, he calls that achievement “a phenomenal mark to reach because so many institutions and organizations don’t make it that long.”
He attributes the longevity of the Catholic school to “families who have appreciated the education they received and supported the school, continuing to focus on the school’s mission, and 140 years of great faculty members, parents who sacrificed for their children to come here and kids who came for the right reasons.
“But what I think is far more important is to have a long future,” Valadie says. “That spurs on faith – that belief that we are set to go at least another 140 years.”
The birthday celebration begins on Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. mass in Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica followed by a birthday bash at 7 p.m. in Stratton Hall. Several special guests are attending the mass, their presence signifying the importance of the school’s anniversary, Valadie says.
The school was founded in 1876 by Dominican Sisters of the St. Cecelia Community in Nashville. On Thursday, St. Cecelia Mother General Ann Marie Karlovic will attend the mass along with other sisters from the convent.
“It represents the old and new guard, coming full circle,” Valadie says.
Richard Stika, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, also is traveling to Chattanooga to serve as principal celebrant at the mass. The Rev. Mike Nolan, Notre Dame class of 1978, will give the homily. The Notre Dame High School choir will sing and three alumni will read Scripture.
The parochial school can claim its share of famous alumni.
Notre Dame linebacker Reggie Mathis played for the New Orleans Saints and wide receiver Adarius Bowman is now on the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. The late Pez Whatley, a professional wrestler, was the first black wrestler at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 2003, Whatley was listed No. 345 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s 500 best singles wrestlers.
Dennis Haskins, class of 1968, became a famous name in his popular role as Principal Belding on NBC’s sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” which ran from 1989-1992 but is still in syndication today.
Haskins says favorite memories of his alma mater include Sister Jane Frances – “Beneath that tough exterior was a heart of gold” – but to this day lifelong friendships are what come to mind whenever he thinks of his alma mater.
“Many of us started together in grade school through graduating together,” he recalls. “Some are no longer with us and sorely missed, like Johnny Hennen. Several of us from the class of ’68 are still in touch after all these years. Imagine that.
“Ultimately, it comes down to people who touched your life and shared growing up together,” the actor says.
Dr. Kari Klemm Hudson, class of 1987, says Notre Dame teachers and staff took a personal interest in students, not just by challenging them academically but by teaching the importance of service to their community, school and parish.
“I had to provide service to others through NDHS organizations like Irish Student Peer Counselors, Spiritual Development Committee and Interact,” says Hudson, now an optometrist. “I truly began a lifelong enjoyment of volunteering and developed an appreciation for service to others.
“Notre Dame provided me with a high-quality education that promoted academic excellence, spiritual growth and Christian fellowship that extended beyond the classroom.”
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.