Meet the Staff! (Part 3)

At Notre Dame, the staff holds a very special place in our hearts. Their passion for their work and students is incomparable, and it truly sets them apart from anyone else. As they have only been here for a little while, we may not know much about the new staff at Notre Dame, but in true ND spirit, they, like all of the students and faculty, have their own quirks and hobbies that make them unique. 

The counseling department is one that, in my opinion, goes undiscussed, but is truly the backbone of our students and the spirit of our school. From supporting students in tough times as they navigate the often uncomfortable and daunting high school years to helping them choose their classes, our counselors are there for us students every step of the way. This year, Notre Dame welcomes two new counselors: Ms. Artemisia Bobst ‘04 and Ms. Wallee Le. When going to the counselors, we usually approach them to talk about ourselves, overlooking who they really are and what makes them them. As a Notre Dame alum herself, Ms. Bobst was “ready for a change” and knew all that ND already had to offer. She reminisces on her time as a student, saying “It was time to come back full circle and give back to the community here.” Giving back to the Notre Dame community is especially important to Ms. Bobst because she believes in the prioritization of mental health, just as much as physical health. With the medicine within us to heal, she reiterates how it is vital to nurture our own wellness, a tool that she has helped the students utilize in their own lives. Apart from her life at Notre Dame, Ms. Bobst loves to play with her new rescue dachshund. Seeing her grow and become more comfortable in a compassionate environment is something that Ms. Bobst looks forward to every day. Also as a new counselor this year, Ms. Le is excited for her journey at Notre Dame. Ms. Le decided to join ND because of its “community that values leadership, diversity, social justice, and positive change.” As she embarks on this new journey, Ms. Le looks forward to helping to empower young women with what they need to know for life. In her free time, Ms. Le enjoys spending time with her friends and family, going on adventures, meeting new people, and learning how to be an entrepreneur. She also has a dog who she loves to snuggle with and which “brings . . . so much joy!” 

Throughout their academic journey at Notre Dame, students are also supported by various educational specialists. This year, Notre Dame welcomes Ms. Sascha Warner ‘91, the student information system specialist, Ms. Raven Gilberts, the Director of Career and Life Support, and Ms. Tammy Castillo ‘09, the learning resource specialist. Also an ND alum, Ms. Warner is excited to again be a part of the empowering and inclusive environment at Notre Dame. Aside from helping to organize students’ timelines at ND, Ms. Warner enjoys various hobbies such as watercoloring, fostering puppies, cooking, and riding her adult tricycle. In fact, she even has two dachshunds and one chawiene. Similar to Ms. Warner, Ms. Gilberts also dabbles in a plethora of hobbies; from reading, journaling, painting, to riding her Peloton, Ms. Gilberts is always interested in trying new things. Her decision to join Notre Dame’s accredited staff was because “the future is female.” With the commitment to exposing students to opportunities in potential career paths, Ms. Gilberts feels that Notre Dame helps support students to become leaders through the values of Catholic education. Just like Ms. Gilberts, Ms. Castillo also loves working out. One thing many students may not know is that she loves attending live shows, including concerts and comedy shows. As an alum herself, Ms. Castillo reflects back on her high school experience, saying, “I had a wonderful high school experience here that extended to my life after ND.” With the tools that she learned from ND, Ms. Castillo hopes to help students achieve the most from their experiences, as well. 

All the teachers, faculty, and staff here at Notre Dame are passionate about their work and their students. As they support us along the way through our journey at Notre Dame, we learn to appreciate them more each day. The new staff this year has truly expressed their utmost dedication, and we as students are surely excited to get to know them better as we embark on this year together.  

Sascha Warner

Artemisia Bobst

Tammy Castillo

Wallee Le

Raven Gilberts