Academics at NDE

The curriculum program in each school division is specifically designed and tailored to meet the developmental appropriateness of each group. The faculty members in each school division have collaboratively designed, planned and written curriculum to ensure a continuous and effective program for students across grade levels. 

Our overall academic philosophy is grounded in the Hallmarks, which provide us with a purpose, a framework and an ultimate goal for educating our students. The Notre Dame Elementary academic program is organized in two different divisions: the Lower School (grades K – 5) and the Upper School (grades 6 – 8).

We are a learning community committed to providing a strong academic foundation for our students using a comprehensive approach to educate the whole child. Our varied teaching strategies and respect for diverse learning styles build the self-esteem of each student. We educate our students to become reflective thinkers, effective communicators, and life-long learners.

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Lower School at Notre Dame Elementary 

Kindergarten through Second Grade focuses on the basic foundational skills that students will use throughout the grades at Notre Dame Elementary. Students receive individualized attention through our low student to teacher ratio and small group instruction tailored to their individual learning needs. We focus on creating a caring community where
​students can grow into little citizens of the world. 

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Upper School at Notre Dame Elementary ​

​The main focus of Upper School at Notre Dame Elementary (NDE) is to prepare our students for high school. We do this by focusing on the following aspects of school:

• We stress the importance that students take ownership of their learning so that when they start high school they are comfortable advocating for themselves. Students are encouraged to contact teachers directly regarding their work as a part of this process.
• Our Upper School is on a modified block schedule in an effort to align with most high school’s schedules. Within the block schedule we have built in designated study hall periods where students can get their work done at school. We see homework as an extension of classwork and students are given many opportunities to get work done at school with the help of their teachers rather than going home with loads of homework.
• We strive to prepare our students for high school through organization strategies. We know that many students have busy schedules outside of school with extracurricular activities and to help support them we plan with them in advance. Students receive assignments in advance (usually 1 – 2 weeks) so that, if possible, they can get their work done ahead of time to help ease that stress. ​

Overall, at NDE we pride ourselves in preparing our graduates for high school and for a successful future. We receive a lot of feedback from our graduates, their parents and the high schools they attend that supports how successful we are in doing so.