Academy of Notre Dame 2020 Executive Summary of the Strategic Plan

Inspiring Excellence

ST R AT E G I C P L A N 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 4 E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY

Dear Friend, We are pleased to present the five-year Strategic Plan 2020-2024 for the Academy of Notre Dame. Our plan will serve as a roadmap to chart a course of innovation at NDA. It will usher in a new period of growth for the Academy as we warmly welcome young men into the Upper School commencing in the 2020-2021 school year.

It centers around three pillars: Academic Excellence, Organizational Vitality & Values Education, Enrollment, Operational Vitality, and Leadership & Support. The pillars are designed to drive excellence, focus our work, steward leadership and leverage our special resources and unique opportunities including our 200 plus acre campus. Key stakeholders — parents, alumni, faculty, board members and students — invested over 500 volunteer hours to help shape our plan.

In the words of our foundress, St. Julie, “Teach them everything that is necessary to equip them for life.” NDA is built on a solid foundation of rigorous academics and values based education rooted in Catholic teachings and the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community.

The Academy enjoys the benefit of a deeply caring community where every student and family is valued and receives individualized support and personalized attention.

Please join us on our journey. As our entire school community works together to fulfill the inspiring goals set forth in our Strategic Plan, we invite you to be part of this meaningful period of growth and prosperity in our school’s history.

In the faithful pursuit of excellence,

Joseph McNamee

Dr. Vittoria Pacifico

Board Chair

Head of School

vision OUR

VISION OUR

The Academy of Notre Dame is a premiere institution providing a robust, socially conscious, innovative education, informed by the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community, that prepares its students to be community leaders.

MISSION The Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro, a Catholic, private school, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is based on the educational philosophy of their foundress, St. Julie Billiart. The Academy offers rigorous

mission

educational programming from Pre-K through a college-preparatory Upper School.

Our mission focuses on educating the whole person for life through a curriculum rooted in spiritual formation and academic excellence. We nurture a belief

in the goodness of God and the dignity of each person. We are committed to community-building, diversity, global justice and service to those in need.

OUR

hallmarks

HALLMARKS

Our Hallmarks are the essential characteristics and values of a Notre Dame

Learning Community. The seven Hallmarks are shared by all associated schools

and ministries sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The Hallmarks of our Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community are: Hallmark 1:

We proclaim by our lives, even more than by our words,

that God is good.

Hallmark 2:

We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person.

Hallmark 3:

We educate for, and act on behalf of, justice and peace

in the world.

Hallmark 4:

We commit ourselves to community service.

Hallmark 5:

We embrace the gift of diversity.

Hallmark 6:

We create community among those with whom we work

and with those we serve.

Hallmark 7:

We develop holistic learning communities which educate for life.

goals

NDA 2024 Strategic Plan Goals 2020-2024

Academic Excellence

The four goals of this pillar will drive academic excellence, rigor, exploration and discovery across all grade levels to prepare for

successful college and career experiences while fostering a life-long passion for learning.

1

Provide exemplary educational instruction Pre-K through grade 12 applying best practices and methods to create a rigorous, studentcentered, evidence-based innovative, state-of-the-art curriculum.

2

Establish a comprehensive Professional Growth and Development

3

Establish and maintain Pre-K through grade 12 state-of-the-

Program for all faculty and staff.

art classroom technology by acquiring needed equipment and providing faculty training for instructional use proficiency.

4

Develop and implement a Pre-K through 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) integrated program of study at NDA to include an Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Program.

Organizational Vitality and Values Education

goals

Central to a positive learning experience is a culture and climate where

students, faculty and staff are welcomed, valued and are immersed in the joy

of learning. The Academy embraces the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community to encourage the formation of responsible and caring leaders.

5

Provide NDA students skills and a learning culture to promote life-long learning and relationship-building skills, and global citizenship modeling the Sisters of Notre Dame Hallmarks for Learning Communities.

6

Create positive internal climate of innovation and excellence among faculty and staff and foster a professional NDA faculty/staff community that values, appreciates and supports its members.

Enrollment, Operational Vitality, Leadership & Support Increased enrollment, strong leadership, sound management and thoughtful investment will ensure the Academy is a premier educational institution for years to come.

7

Increase enrollment and improve retention by strengthening the Pre-K through 8th academic program and implementing co-educational upper school program in concert with expansion of enrichment, extra-curricular and extended-day learning opportunities for all students.

8

Increase the number of prospective student applications for all grade levels.

9

Upgrade NDA school facility and campus to provide optimal educational functionality and programming.

10

Strengthen NDA Board Governance and Leadership.

11

Increase Annual Fund Participation by Alumni, Board, faculty/ staff and parents.

THANK

YOU

to the eighteen members of the Strategic Planning Committee who gave of their time, insight and experience to help guide and inform the Academy’s strategic plan. plan.

Strategic Planning Committee Members Barbara Beauchesne

NDA 1st Grade Teacher, Lower School

Pam Bernazani

Interim Assistant Head of School, Upper School

Nicole Rocha Clark ’98

NDA Alumnae, past President of the NDA Alumni Board

Laura Cosgrove

NDA Math Teacher, Upper School

Dr. James Flynn

Assistant Head of School, Middle School

Michael Gallagher

NDA Board Member

Jessica Ganchi

NDA Math Teacher, Middle School

Russ Gavlak

President of Friends of NDA (FoNDA), Parent

Elisa Lellios

Director of Admissions

Shelagh Mahoney ’83

NDA Board Member, Parent, Alumnae, Alumni Board Member

Lauren Marquis

Director of Institutional Advancement

Joseph McNamee

NDA Board Chair, Parent

Elizabeth O’Connell ’85

Assistant Head of School, Lower School, Alumnae, Parent,

Past Parent, Alumni Board Member

Dr. Vittoria Pacifico

Head of School

Kelley Rice

Director of Communications, Marketing & Partnerships

Kathy Sennott

North East Director of Mission Integration, US East-West

Province Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Tim Stever

NDA Board Member, Parent

Barbara Vitale

Former NDA Faculty Member, Past Parent

Academy of Notre Dame 2019-2020 Board of Directors Sr. Barbara Barry, SNDdeN

Joseph Gervais

Joseph McNamee, Board Chair

SNDdeN Province Center

Owner

Manager, Eastern Salt Company

Gervais Electric

Mahoney Oil

Kathleen Colin

Mathew Heersche

Frederick Newey

SNDdeN Province Center,

Partner

Director of Global

Executive Director of

Educational Directions

Product Management

Sponsorship, US East-

Zoll Medical

West Province Sisters

Shelagh Mahoney ’83

of Notre Dame de Namur

CEO & Owner

Timothy Stever

Eastern Salt Company

Director of Electrical

Mahoney Oil

Engineering

Sr. Mary Farren, SNDdeN SNDdeN Province Center

Zoll Medical Kim McCarthy

Michael Gallagher

Former NDA Parent

Jeffrey Thompson

Chief Risk Officer

Retired Special

CEO

Enterprise Bank

Education Teacher

W.E. Donoghue & Co., LLC

180 Middlesex Road • Tyngsboro, MA • 01879 978.649.7611 • NDATyngsboro.org