March 5, 2021 Dear ND Community,
The Notre Dame community received long-awaited and heartening news this week with Governor Tom Wolf's decision to allocate the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to all educators throughout the Commonwealth. Vaccinations will start this month and will continue until all teachers and staff in public, parochial and private schools have been vaccinated.
As you know, Notre Dame continues to hold a position of educational leadership throughout this pandemic. Since August 31, we have welcomed our students to campus for in-person instruction while streaming classes to those students who need to remain home due to quarantine restrictions or illness. Throughout these many months, our very dedicated faculty and staff have ensured a safe environment for our students, even as they provide a strong academic, social and spiritual experience for our students.
In addition, Notre Dame students and parents have been extraordinary, making every effort to keep Notre Dame safe on a daily basis.
The Notre Dame community continues to move forward - resilient and steady - with a great deal of faith in God and hope for healing throughout our world. This week's announcement from Governor Wolf is another key step in that complex process.
Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D. Head of School
Upcoming Events
Parents are invited to join Notre Dame's Counseling Department and Health & Wellness Coordinator on Thursday, March 18 from 7:00-8:00 pm, for a Zoom conversation on "Supporting Your Student and Family Through the Changing Pandemic." More details to follow.
With the longevity of the pandemic, we have seen an increase in eating disorders and compulsive exercising as behaviors teenagers feel they can control. Please join SpeakUp! for a virtual parenting adult coffee discussing Body Image on Friday, March 19 from 8:30-10 am. Register here and contact Jennifer Butler, Director of Counseling, with any questions.
Community Prayer
This week, grades 6/7 and 9 gathered safely in Cuvilly Gym for Community Prayer and Homeroom on multiple days this week. Students and faculty were thrilled with these opportunities for connection and class spirit.
View the week 3 guide here and the week 4 guide here.
From the Director of Campus Ministry
As we continue our journey in this Lenten season, we are focusing on the little changes we can make in our routine to grow closer to God that are not necessarily just "giving something up." We encourage our families and students to use the Lenten Resource Guide, Journey, as a way to ground their prayer. During Lent, students and faculty have the opportunity to attend Mass in the Mansion Chapel at 7:30 AM on Fridays, and Campus Ministry offered the following suggestions during Community Prayer last week:
Julia Tully Director of Campus Ministry
Athletics Update
The swimming & diving and basketball teams wrapped up their truncated winter season this past week, and both programs were extremely successful.
The swimming & diving program finished with another record-breaking meet at EA on Friday. Coach Brigit reaction to their season saying, "What a great way to end our season- winning the last event and having Mia Abruzzo's last swim as an Irish swimmer doing what she does best - anchoring. The positive energy of the team standing on the side of the pool cheering was incredible. Congratulations to the senior swimmers who competed for the last time tonight: Tatum Maloney and Catherine Wynne. Lauren Liebezeit was cheering on the Irish watching the livestream, and we missed her hype-up vibes greatly."
Tori Abruzzo '25 placed 1st in the 100 Fly, while Emily Hamill '25 placed 1st in the 100 Free and tied the school record with a time of 51.84 and placing 1st in the 100 Back and set a new ND school record of 56.11. Natalie Stuart '22 placed 1st in the 500 Free. The 200 Free Relay team of Emily Hamill, Devyn Sargent '24, Ashley Kolessar '22, and Mia Abruzzo '21 placed 1st and set a new Notre Dame school record by 3 seconds with a time of 1:37.11. Ashley Kolessar placed 1st in the 100 Breast, Devyn Sargent placed 2nd and in the final event, the 400 Free Relay placed 1st and set a new EA pool record with a time of 3:28.47 (Ashley Kolessar, Natalie Stuart, Emily Hamill, Mia. Abruzzo).
Our basketball team bounced back from their only loss of the Inter-Ac season last Thursday to beat last year's Inter-Ac champions Germantown Academy on Saturday for the 2nd time this season with a score of 68-37, with junior Maeve McErlane scoring 33 points. They ended the season with an exciting overtime win over Episcopal Academy 61-55 on Sunday, finishing with a record of 8-1 overall.
The JV program, after their initial defeat to EA in the opening game of the season, went unbeaten and finished off in a fitting way beating EA on Sunday by 1 point, 31-30. They finished the season with a record of 7-1.
Way to go Irish!
Thank you to all the players, managers, coaches and parents that made this unconventional winter season such a success for everyone involved, especially our senior athletes. Now onto the spring!
Ben Davey Director of Athletics
Photos above by Jay Gorodetzer. Visit jaygorodetzer.com to view and purchase photos.
Are You on the List?
Gratitude! That is the word that comes to mind when we think of the generosity of the many parents who have made gifts to The Notre Dame Fund. We hope that you will join them in supporting the Academy with your donation. Check our list of donors to be sure you have supported The Notre Dame Fund, our most important fundraising initiative at the Academy. Click here to see our most recent list of participating parents.
This year, our faculty and staff have gone to great lengths to ensure that your daughter receives her education in a safe and nurturing environment. Your donation will guarantee that we can continue the tradition of excellence that Notre Dame has been known for since 1856.
Make your donation by going online, using Venmo @AcademyofNotreDamedeNamur, making a stock transfer or mailing a check.
Please contact Mimi Koelle with any questions at 610-971-4919 or mkoelle@ndapa.org. PARENT LENTEN PROGRAM | Mar. 12/19/26 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME | Mar. 14 END OF QUARTER 3 | Mar. 19 CLASS 2025 PARENT NIGHT | Mar. 23 GR. 12 "LIFE BEYOND THE GATES" | Mar. 24 NOON DISMISSAL | Mar. 26
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