Message from the
HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Alumni, Families, and Friends,
I
hope you enjoy this issue of the Gateway Express e-newsletter. We are off to a wonderful start of the 2021-2022 school year! I joined the Academy in the summer of 2019, so this marks the beginning of my 3rd school year. While the last two years may not have been what any of us expected, I am so proud of how we’ve persevered and I’m grateful for how far NDA has come. We continue to focus on the execution of our strategic plan, Inspiring Excellence, with important living goals under our three pillars of Academic Excellence, Organizational Vitality & Values Education, and Operational Vitality, Enrollment, Leadership & Support. We have made great strides - welcoming new teachers, strengthening our STEAM programs, bringing our commitment to service back to the forefront, supporting our students, meeting our Million Dollar Challenge, and investing in technology and our campus. Yet, the success of the strategic plan is dependent on the concerted effort of Academy leadership, faculty, staff, families, students, alumni, and donors. Working together, we will be able to enhance the educational experience for our students and honor the bold legacy of the Academy. Thank you for being along for the ride! Sincerely, Dr. Vittoria Pacifico
Head of School
Our students and faculty came back to a refreshed campus thanks to the hard work of our facilities team and the investment of generous donors. Check out our new ground-level hallway!
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T H E G AT E W AY E X P R E S S
WE ARE FULL S.T.E.A.M
ahead
T
he new geodome, The Dome, installation is underway with site prep work visible from the rear parking lot. The Dome is the first learning greenhouse of its kind in the Merrimack Valley. It will greatly enhance our environmental science and sustainability programming for all students. A new Environmental Education and Enrichment Coordinator joins our team to incorporate environmental curricula and support full use of The Dome, our beautiful campus and the Environmental Learning Lab. The coordinator will add this lens to NDA’s EDP, enrichment opportunities and summer and vacation camps. The Geodome is taking shape! The Dome will allow for year-round educational opportunities for students at all grade levels. We expect lots of hands-on learning around agriculture, hydroponics, energy, etc.
MEET
M
Mrs. Angeramo
rs. Tracy Angeramo has joined the Academy’s Leadership as Assistant Principal of the Early Years and Grades 1-5. She brings with her more than 25 years of experience in education and holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Elementary Education from Salve Regina University and a Master of Education in Reading and Literacy from Endicott College. Most recently Mrs. Angeramo served as a District Math Coach for the Salem (MA) Public Schools. She has also served as a primary math specialist, first grade teacher and special education inclusion specialist, and is an experienced instructional coach focused on strengthening teacher practice.
WELCOME, MRS. ANGERAMO!
H
elp us identify Legendary Lancers who are upholding the NDA values of service, justice, peace, dignity, communitybuilding, and diversity in their lives. Nominate a Lancer (or honorary Lancer) who deserves to be recognized for their hard work and kind heart! #LegendaryLancers Nominate a Legendary Lancer
T H E G AT E W AY E X P R E S S
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WE ARE
THE MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE
together, we did it!
It was an ambitious goal, raise $1,000,000 in one year, but thanks to the generosity and commitment of our community, we did it! Together, we raised just under $1.1million and received an additional gift of $1million from an alumna donor. This transformative philanthropy allowed us to invest in tuition assistance, technology, professional development, academic program enhancements, and campus improvements. Did you support NDA last year?
Thank you! WE RECEIVED GIFTS FROM: 85 Parent Donors • 246 Alumni Donors • 64 Faculty/Staff Donors • 249 Friends of Notre Dame
SEEKING
nominations
Help us recognize community members who embody the mission and values of NDA by nominating them for the Academy of Notre Dame Awards. In preparation for the return of the Blue & Gold Gala Auction, we are seeking nominations for three awards: Sister Kathryn McGuiggan Service Award
• Alumni of the Year Award •
Community Partner of the Year Award
Information about each award and nomination forms can be found on our website. Nominations will be reviewed by the selection committee and honorees will be announced in the spring.
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LET THERE BE
Y
light
T H E G AT E W AY E X P R E S S
artist’s rendering
ou can help NDA light the way! As part of our strategic effort to enhance our campus and make it as safe as possible for all community members, the Academy, with support from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and generous donors, has to make investments to infrastructure, including the installation of traditional light posts along the two front driveways leading to the front of the school. The entire community is invited to “name a light post” with a pledge commitment of $5,000 to the Academy by December 31, 2021. All donors will receive a plaque placed on their light post and a special invitation to our dedication ceremony, along with listing on the website and in our Annual Report of Giving. We welcome you to consider honoring a family member, classmate, friend, or faculty member with this chance to leave a legacy on campus for years to come. You can help see this important project through from conceptualization to fruition. Visit ndatyngsboro.org/lettherebelight/ or call Lauren Marquis in the Advancement Office at (978) 649-7611 Ext. 321.
UPPER SCHOOL
T
open house
he Admissions Office is pleased to announce that the Academy of Notre Dame Upper School is holding two Open House events this fall! An IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 FROM 6:00-7:30 PM. Students and families will have the opportunity to tour the Academy, connect with faculty and staff, and participate in a panel discussion with our Upper School students. NDA will also be hosting a Virtual Open House on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021 FROM 6:00-7:00 PM. The online format is an interactive panel discussion with Upper School students, Upper School teachers, staff, and the Athletics Director. To register for either event, please go to our website or contact the Admissions Office at (978) 649-7611 Ext. 351, or email Admissions@ndatyngsboro.org
STUDENT PERFORMANCES ARE
T
back!
he Academy Playmakers Theatre Guild presents “The Women of Lockerbie,” a poetic drama about the triumph of love over hate, by Deborah Brevoort. Performances will be held on two nights only, Friday, November 12 and Saturday, November 13. The Theatre Guild will also be entering the production into the statewide theatre competition in March of 2022. Good luck to all the cast and crew. Visit our website to purchase tickets.
T H E G AT E W AY E X P R E S S
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On Saturday, October 2, we welcomed more than 200 alumni, families, and friends to campus for an outdoor Homecoming. There was plenty of fun for the whole family with athletic events, music, arts & crafts, a petting zoo & pony rides, food trucks, a beer garden, and games, closing with a 4 PM Mass. Thank you to the vendors and volunteers who made it possible! We expect this to become a big annual tradition, so we hope to see you next year.
HOMECOMING
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T H E G AT E W AY E X P R E S S
This school year, NDA celebrates
Hallmarks 4 & 6: “We commit ourselves to community service” and “We create community among those with whom we work and with those we serve.” As we reflect on these Hallmarks, Campus Ministry has invited students in all grades to participate in NDA Cares, a year long initiative to supply items of need to different agencies and organizations. Each month items are donated to a new charity and families are encouraged to pray for those who we will serve and reflect on the Hallmarks at home. NDA Cares is one of the many ways our school community embraces our mission and the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community.
NDACares
As
“We commit ourselves to community s
we invite families to help us show how much we c for others by contributing their time, talen courage families to pray for those who we will s
MONTH
RECIPIENT
October
Mother Teresa Homeless Ministry
November
St. Vincent de Paul Society
January
D’Youville Life & Wellness Center
February
It’s My Heart New England
March
St. Patrick School, Lowell
April
House of Hope
May
68 Hours of Hunger
MONTH
RECIPIENT
October
Mother Teresa Homeless Ministry
November
St. Vincent de Paul Society
January
D’Youville Life & Wellness Center
February
It’s My Heart New England
March
St. Patrick School, Lowell
April
House of Hope
May
68 Hours of Hunger
Unless noted *gently used* please send in new, un until the 1st of the month for which they are reque
Teachers will have a designated “NDA Cares” baske drop off so our teachers are not tasked with finding these items, or if you can take them shopping with but we welcome you to be involved as much as poss
T H E G AT E W AY E X P R E S S
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s we reflect on Hallmarks 4 & 6 for the 2021-2022 year,
service and building community with those whom we work, live and those whom we serve,”
care by sending in the items noted below. Children as young as 3 can understand what it means to care nt and treasure to help those in need. Rather than simply running out to buy the items, we enserve, work to earn the money necessary to purchase the item and reflect on the Hallmarks at home.
PRE K / KINDERGARTEN
GRADES 1-3
GRADES 4-5
Band Aids
Travel sized soap/shampoo
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Thanksgiving Baskets
Thanksgiving Baskets
Thanksgiving Baskets
Playing Cards
Crossword Puzzles/Word Search
Coloring Books/Crayons
Toothbrushes/Toothpaste (travel size)
Favorite Book (new or gently used)
Favorite Book (new or gently used)
Favorite Book (new or gently used)
Bubbles
Sidewalk Chalk
Kids Card Games
Cheese/Peanut Butter Crackers
Gummy Fruit Snacks
Granola Bars
GRADES 6,7, AND 8
UPPER SCHOOL
New Gloves / Hats
Unopened Socks
Thanksgiving Baskets
Thanksgiving Baskets
One size fits all Gloves
Chewing Gum / Mints
Crossword Puzzle/Sudoku
Adult Slipper Socks
Favorite Book (new or gently used)
Favorite Book (new or gently used)
Coloring Books
Crayons / Markers
Juice Boxes
Snack Sized Chips
CO-ED PRE Chapstick / Travel Sized Lotion Hand sanitizer / Tissues
nopened packages to ensure the safety of those for whom we care. Drop offs of items should not begin ested. We simply do not have space to store items beyond that.
et in their classrooms. If your donation is a large one, please email Mrs. Deignan to arrange a time for g space: jdeignan@ndatyngsboro.org. If your kids are doing household jobs to earn the money to buy you, please send in some pictures of our Lancers in action! This is not a mandatory service experience sible!