Historic summer! Girls entering Notre Dame West Haven enjoying their prep experience

By Rick Menning

WEST HAVEN -- This would be a Monday morning in the middle of June like few others in their young lives.

Ready to leave home with the usual pre-school routine, there was great anticipation -- and also understandably some butterflies -- as a group of girls from throughout cities near and far prepared for a very special memory.

With their final days as eighth graders still fresh in their minds, these incoming freshmen focused their mindset on the next and perhaps the most cherished of their educational milestones.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Five of the girls who will be members of Notre Dame West Haven's historic coed Class of 2029 are among the attendees of the school's Summer Programs. Girls will officially enter Notre Dame in the fall. From left: Chelsea Ryan, Valentina Quijano, Sophie Valencia, Sofya Scheithe and Allianna Wilson. Photo courtesy of Alycia Sandella.)

Participants in the two weeks of the school's Summer Programs, the girls hit the ground running and saw immediate benefits of the prep courses in various subjects.

"I feel so grateful that I can be a part of the first coed class here, and it will be so interesting to see where it takes me in terms of both my academic and athletic experiences," said Valentina Quijano, who follows in the footsteps of two cousins (one an alum; the other still attending) to enter the Notre Dame community.

Quijano was joined by Allianna Wilson, Chelsea Ryan, Sofya Scheithe and Sophie Valencia during a roundtable chat as they wrapped up their first week on campus with very positive reviews.

The camaraderie and spirit of fellowship was already evident as these five -- and many others both male and female taking part in the Summer Programs that include instruction in English, Math, Engineering and Art -- spoke enthusiastically about their early days at Notre Dame.

And while not the official opening of an extremely noteworthy chapter in Notre Dame's history -- that is still a few months away -- the girls certainly felt like they belonged at "the school on the hill."

CLEAR FOCUS: Incoming students concentrate on their studies during the two-week Summer Programs. The courses are designed to build academic momentum heading into the 2025-26 school year. (Photo courtesy of Alycia Sandella.)

The early days of the summer of 2025 presented these girls with extraordinary opportunities as they headed up the steps and walked into the hallowed halls of Notre Dame High School in West Haven.

A Catholic education is nothing new to Quijano, who was a student at St. Rita's School in Hamden. The North Haven resident, who also has aspirations of performing in theatrical roles, sees plenty of opportunities to shine both academically and athletically at ND.

"I love this school in general ... I wanted to come here because of the inclusiveness and all the clubs and sports they offer for the girls," said Quijano, whose sporting interests include soccer, lacrosse and volleyball. "It was something I could adapt to and I like how welcoming everyone is here."

Like Quijano and the others, Allianna Wilson has aspirations to not only excel in her studies but also compete in at least one sport and maybe several as the school has ambitious plans to offer many athletic choices for their newest students.

"I'm looking forward to playing sports like soccer and also basketball. I haven't played basketball since I was seven (years old) but I might try it again," said Wilson, who lives in West Haven and has also grown up in a Catholic environment having attended nearby St. Lawrence School.

NEW CHAPTER: Incoming freshman Allianna Wilson is absorbed in her summer prep course reading as she prepares to officially enter Notre Dame in the fall. (Photo courtesy of Alycia Sandella.)

She and classmate Chelsea Ryan are especially excited about the school's renowned Engineering program.

"That's one of the big reasons I came here, and I know with hard work I can benefit in the classroom and reach my dream of being an engineer," Wilson said.

Ryan completely agrees, and in fact already has some advance learning in the field.

"I had previously enrolled in a summer engineering program before I even knew Notre Dame went coed and I liked it so much," said Ryan, who lives in Bethany and was a member of the student body at Amity Middle School. "We made solar-powered cars and it was so great so when I heard Notre Dame has a good engineering program. That was a deciding factor."

Wilson and Ryan are both spending week two of the prep courses involved in the Engineering curriculum.

Sofya Scheithe, whose dad is an ND alum, has a long-range vision when it comes to her tenure at the school.

"I am hoping to learn as much as I can and gain the experiences I will need to provide for myself later in life," said Scheithe, who attended St. Benedict Cathedral School (Evansville, Indiana) before relocating to Connecticut in Beacon Falls. "I want to learn those skills that I will need for my life after high school."

While expressing an interest in playing soccer as a Green Knight, Scheithe emphasized the importance of academics and already feels bolstered by the summer prep courses.

"The classes are really engaging, and it has helped me to feel comfortable. It's a great head start going into the actual school year," said Scheithe, who plays the clarinet and likes to read in her spare time.

Sophie Valencia likewise wants to enjoy a well-rounded experience over her career at Notre Dame.

The Harborside Middle School graduate, who lives in Milford and plays the Alto saxophone, hopes to excel in art and writing. Her interests also include competing in the sport of fencing.

However, it is the International Baccalaureate program at Notre Dame that won her over when she was considering high schools.

"It is something I want to be a part of as well as experience everything that Notre Dame has to offer," Valencia said. "I feel like I have already gained so much (through the Summer Programs) and it gives me a greater idea of what it will be like when the school year begins."

Notre Dame’s Summer Programs offer not only high school but also middle school students the opportunity to work on areas of academic and athletic interest with talented faculty members, in an environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, and growth. Students can take advantage of programs designed to spark their curiosity and make them successful during the academic school year.