Spirit

Notre Dame High School's Award Winning Spirit Program

The Notre Dame Spirit Program helps keep the school spirit alive at Notre Dame year-round. The Spirit Squads foremost purpose is to support Notre Dame Athletics by enhancing game excitement and crowd involvement. The teams also have the opportunity of performing at various rallies and school events throughout the year.

The Spirit Program consists of six teams: JV Cheer, Varsity Cheer, Competition Cheer, JV Dance, Varsity Dance and Competition Dance. You must first make either JV or Varsity Cheer in order to be considered for Competition Cheer. You must first make either JV or Varsity Dance in order to be considered for Competition Dance.

Our mission is to create a positive and safe environment for dancers and cheerleaders to develop their self-image and confidence in a competitive environment. Spirit team members have personal goals of high academic achievement, increasing their technical abilities, learning effective time management, and forming strong relationships. We are first and foremost a family comprised of talented individuals who love our school and the Holy Cross tradition. We aim to bring this spirit of support and perseverance out into our community and daily lives.

Cheerleaders at Notre Dame have the opportunity to be part of two different efforts- one, to support school spirit by cheering at football, basketball, volleyball, other sports, and rallies; and two, to compete as a CIF sanctioned team. The cheerleaders were CIF Runner Up in 2019 and won USA Spirit Nationals for the first time in 2020. Notre Dame cheerleaders work hard both on the field and in the classroom- in 2020 they were recognized as CIF SS Runner Up with the 2nd highest cheer team GPA. The team is a mix of athletes cheering for the first time as well as elite level cheerleaders preparing to cheer at the next level in college. Our team works hard to represent Notre Dame as ambassadors every time we wear the uniform. Be a part of Notre Dame Cheer!

Varsity Cheer
JV Cheer

Cheer

The Notre Dame Cheer Team performs crowd-leading chants, routines and stunts at Notre Dame school and sporting events.

The Notre Dame Competition Cheer Team is a strong spirit and gymnastic unit that competes in Scholastic Cheer. They are ranked on their tumbling, stunting (partner and all-girl stunting), cheer (traditional yells and chants), and dance. This past season the Cheer Team placed 6th at USA Spirit Nationals!

Varsity Dance
JV Dance

Dance

The Notre Dame Dance Team performs spirit-raising dances, sidelines and cheers at Notre Dame school and sporting events.

The Notre Dame Competition Dance Team is a competitive dance squad that utilizes artistic dance training and the athleticism of cheer to compete in Scholastic Pom and Scholastic Jazz. They are ranked on their performance and execution of technical skills (turns, leaps/jumps, and kicks), and on their uniformity and synchronization of the overall dance.

Time Commitment

The Spirit Squads practice between 2 to 3 times a week not including games and special appearances. Those practices may include working on dances and cheers for a variety of school and athletic events, technique and skills training, strengthening and endurance, and finally choreography for the competition season. Both Cheer and Dance Teams compete at regional and national competitions starting in the winter season and concluding in the spring season. A one-year commitment is required due to the teams’ support of various Notre Dame sports and school events.