Student Support & Well-Being Services

Notre Dame’s Student Support and Well-Being Team believes that mental well-being is the foundation for all areas of wellness. We commit to fostering the development of one’s mental wellness through providing holistic, high-quality, and equitable services while normalizing access to care and reducing the stigma of asking for help.

Through ND Cares, Notre Dame’s Student Support and Well-Being Team recognizes and values that we are in partnership with other educators, parents, and community resources, which facilitate a support system to ensure our students’ success.

Middle School

Middle School is an essential time for the development of studentship skills and personal development. In order to provide the highest quality of care, Notre Dame has a dedicated Middle School Counselor that supports students during these three years - grades 6, 7, and 8. The Middle School Counselor builds relationships through one-on-one sessions, counseling seminar class, and group interventions.

Middle School

Middle School

The Middle School counseling seminar partners with The Social Institute to deliver the #WinAtSocial curriculum. Students circulate through timely, culturally relevant lessons grounded in these themes:

Strike a balance
Cyberback
Handle the pressure
Play to your core
Protect your privacy
Find your influencers
Use your mic for good

The #WinAtSocial lessons are released monthly to integrate the latest research, most recent articles, timely events, and student experiences.

Upper School

We believe that relationship building is the foundation for high-quality counseling services. As students enter 9th grade, they are paired with a counselor that will support them during their four years of Upper School at Notre Dame. Our counselors build relationships through one-on-one sessions, counseling seminar class, and group interventions. Our Upper School has partnered with The JED Foundation to evaluate our programing to ensure we are continuing to offer an equitable, impactful program for all students.

Upper School

9TH GRADE

In grade 9, students participate in a counseling seminar class that meets once per cycle for the entire school year. Seminar offers classes based on the following themes:

Friendships and relationships
Mindfulness
Stress management
Emotional awareness
Motivation, time management, and goal setting
Building a positive school culture
Self confidence and body image
Digital footprint
Healthy decision making

10TH GRADE

In grade 10, students continue their counseling seminar class, meeting once per cycle for the first semester, focusing on following themes:

Personal identity and self-esteem
Identity and community awareness
Privilege awareness
Gratitude, self-care, and stress management
Healthy decision making and peer pressure
Study skills
Career exploration

Learning Support Services

All students with learning differences that are admitted to the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur have met the same rigorous standards that all Notre Dame students have met. Learning Support is provided to students with documented learning disabilities as defined by the ADA and IDEA. Documentation must be provided by one of the following professionals to qualify for accommodations: school psychologist, private psychologist, psychiatrist. Learning support services are outlined for individuals according to their needs and are formalized in Educational Learning Plans (ELPs) in order to inform teachers and school staff.

For more information regarding this process, please contact Mrs. Amy Wroblewski, Learning Support Specialist.

Outside Partners

Outside Partners

We value support systems that exist outside the walls of Notre Dame and believe that these partnerships are part of our success. Notre Dame partners with SpeakUp!, The JED Foundation, and The Social Institute.

SpeakUp! Brings youth, educators, and parents together for open, honest conversations about relevant, and often tough, topics that lead to guidance, support, and stronger relationships.
- SpeakUp!’s Resource Guide provides helpful guidelines and support for many important topics, from crisis/emergency and peer support to race issues, for adults and youth. Scroll through their Resource Guide here.
The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive - today and tomorrow.
- For Me or a Friend: Click here for a resource center that addresses different topics of interest
- For Parents/Caregivers: “10 Tips for Talking to Your Teen About Their Mental Health”: read on here
- For Teachers: High School Educator Guide to Supporting Students: download their guide here
- For Athletic Coaches: The Coaches’ Guide to Supporting High School Athlete Mental Wellness: download their guide here
The Social Institute (TSI) is an online, gamified learning platform that empowers students to navigate their social world positively — including social media and technology — in order to fuel their health, happiness, and future success.
- Notre Dame parents and guardians have access to TSI’s Parent Toolkit which many refer to as the CliffsNotes of social media and technology. To gain access to your account with the school code, email counseling@ndapa.org.

Advisory Program

Faculty Mentors Individualize Learning Experiences

In addition to the individualized services offered by Notre Dame’s Counseling and College Counseling departments, the Academy has implemented an Advisory Program to add a new level of personalized support for students.

This program helps build relationships by connecting incoming middle schoolers and freshmen with faculty mentors. Students get to know their mentor, get to know other students in a small-group settings and, in the process, learn more about themselves.

At Notre Dame, the advisor offers academic guidance to the students in his or her group and supports their social and emotional development through team-building activities, Socratic seminars, and social activities.

Notre Dame Launches ND CARES: Student Well-Being Initiative

In spring 2022, Notre Dame launched a comprehensive, school-wide initiative focused on the well-being, social-emotional growth, and mental health of every student. Through partnerships with The Jed Foundation and The Social Institute, Notre Dame is providing girls with the skills and resources to be well and to recognize when their classmates and friends show signs of stress, anxiety, and more. Read more in this Philadelphia Inquirer piece.

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