NDA Mission
We are a Catholic, college-preparatory high school dedicated to educating young women to make a difference.
PHILOSOPHY
Devoted to educating young women to make a difference by living the gospel message, Notre Dame Academy nurtures the development of the whole person, by recognizing the dignity, uniqueness and potential of each student. As a Catholic school, Notre Dame Academy encourages students to integrate learning and living in light of the Gospel message. In the spirit of St. Julie Billiart, and in the educational tradition and charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Academy provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere that reflects God’s goodness and provident care. Named for Mary, the Mother of God, Notre Dame Academy honors Mary’s spirit of prayer and generosity and sets it as a model for students to emulate.
In light of Church teaching, Notre Dame Academy acknowledges that parents/guardians are the primary educators of their children and therefore partners with them to promote the growth of each student. Committed to forming women of faith, Notre Dame Academy cultivates an environment in which students are empowered to live Catholic values, witness to God’s goodness and provident care, and put their faith into action. Providing myriad opportunities for prayer, reflection, and service, Notre Dame Academy encourages lifelong participation in the Church, as well as in the local and global community.
The Educational program, which promotes excellence, includes a value-centered, rigorous, college preparatory curriculum, enhanced by technology and extra-curricular activities. Notre Dame Academy strives to develop the academic and leadership potential of each student and provides the tools to develop self-confidence, set meaningful goals and take the initiative to achieve them. Celebrating its rich heritage and diversity, Notre Dame Academy cherishes each student as a reflection of God’s goodness and prepares her to lead a life characterized by spiritual and moral growth, academic excellence, social responsibility and a love of learning.
COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Notre Dame Academy considers Christian Service a hallmark of the NDA community. In conjunction with the Campus Ministry program and Theology department, NDA requires every student to participate in the Christian Service program. The school’s philosophy states that intellectual faith must be put into practice. Therefore, the school encourages a commitment to lifelong service to the Church and community as expressed in our ISO Women of Service and Compassion.
NDA recognizes that the lived experience of faith is an ongoing process which deepens with age and maturity. NDA’s graduation requirements include each student fulfilling 100 hours of Christian Service divided over the course of her four years. Each year has a particular focus which is adapted to the emotional and practical needs of students. In 9th grade the focus is on family and/or elementary school and her hours may be completed by being of service in the home or at her elementary school/church. In 10th grade, many students are part of a Confirmation program and therefore the focus is at their parish or place of worship. By 11th grade the focus broadens to include the community at large. For senior year, a week in November is dedicated to Senior Service Week where seniors do not report to classes but serve in the local community in community with her classmates as part of Senior Service Week. Senior Service Week is mandatory and fulfills the senior year requirement.
Each student must complete 25 hours of service each school year and log her hours on x2VOL, our Christian Service Recordkeeping platform. Each entry requires a paragraph reflection connecting the service to lessons in her grade level theology class. Once those hours are verified by the site supervisor, they can be approved and added to her service record for the year. In addition, each student writes a reflection in theology class that is worth a test grade. Incomplete hours result in an Incomplete in theology for the spring semester. More specifics about the Christian Service program can be found in the Curriculum Catalog and on the Christian Service website via x2Vol.
The school provides opportunities to earn hours via collection/drives in the fall and spring. By participating in these drives, the student can earn up to 4 hours for each drive. Additionally, the school also provides opportunities as well. For more information, please see the Appendix