The Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community Hallmarks describe the essential characteristics, values, and activities of a Notre Dame learning community (i.e., school or university).

The Notre Dame Hallmarks emerged in response to the question from both the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and their co-workers: “What makes our school a Notre Dame school?”

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, in collaboration with the learning communities, began a process to explore this question. The process gave birth to these “living statements," statements that will continue to develop, are relevant to the times, and which inspire faithfulness to the spirituality and mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for generations to come.

These Notre Dame Hallmarks are used through a reflection-action-reflection process, whereby each learning community, on a regular basis, metaphorically takes a look in the mirror and, based on what it sees, makes choices for its continued development.

Thus, the Hallmarks give value-based direction for decisions and activities, so that the learning community continues to express the spirituality and mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. 

About the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

St. Julie Billiart and Françoise Blin de Bourdon founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1804. Julie, a peasant woman, and Françoise, a noblewoman, were an unlikely pair, but together, they proclaimed God’s goodness during the upheaval of the French Revolution and were committed to educating poor young girls. Today, the Sisters continue to proclaim God’s goodness across five continents and in a variety of ways with “educating for life” as their firm foundation.

To learn more about the Sisters of Notre Dame visit their website at www.sndden.org.