The Gateway - Volume 1

GATEWAY THE MAGAZINE OF THE ACADEMY OF NOTRE DAME

NDA: GROWING

STRONGER

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VOLUME 1

NDATYNGSBORO.ORG

Board of Directors Sr. Barbara Barry, SNDdeN, SNDdeN Province Center Dr. Nicole Rocha Clark ’98, Director of Pharmacy Services, Melrose Wakefield Healthcare Kathleen Colin, Executive Director of Sponsorship, SNDdeN Province Center Sr. Mary Farren, SNDdeN, SNDdeN Province Center Michael Gallagher, Chief Risk Officer, Enterprise Bank Joseph Gervais, Owner, Gervais Electric Jennifer Hanson, Director of Philanthropy, Lowell General Hospital Shelagh Mahoney ’83, CEO & Owner, Eastern Salt Company, Eastern Minerals Inc. & Atlantic Salt Kim McCarthy, Former NDA Parent, Retired Special Education Teacher Joseph McNamee, Board Chair, Manager, Eastern Salt Company Anna Miner, Vice President for Admissions & Financial Aid, Colby-Sawyer College Frederick Newey, Director of Global Product Management, Zoll Medical Alexandria Regan, CPA, Partner, Citrin Cooperman Timothy Stever, Director of Electrical Engineering, Zoll Medical Jeffrey Thompson, CEO, W.E. Donoghue & Co., LLC Dr. Sarah Wannemuehler, Adjunct Law Professor, University of Southern Indiana

Ex-Officio Vittoria Pacifico, Ed.D., Head of School

Corporation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur East-West Province Sr. Elaine Bain

Sr. Mary Farren, President

Sr. Barbara Barry, Clerk

Britney Chapman, Executive Assistant

Sr. Eileen Burns Sr. Patricia Chappell

Academy Administration Vittoria Pacifico, Ed.D., Head of School Bernie Beaudreau, Director of Finance and Administration James Flynn, Ed.D., Principal Charlotte Kelly, Director of Admissions Lauren Marquis, M.S., Director of Institutional Advancement Corinne Merritt, Ed.D., Academic Dean Jacob Norton, Director of Facilities Kelley Rice, Director of Communications and Marketing Keith Seavey, IT Manager Andrea Sheehan, Senior Executive Assistant T H E G AT E W AY

Message from the

HEAD OF SCHOOL

We made it!

The times have been uncertain, but one thing remains constant: We Are NDA. Throughout 2020, I found comfort when reminded of the words of St. Julie, “Never lose heart because of the difficulties you may meet within the path of goodness.” Members of our entire learning community pulled together in every aspect of this pandemic year, and we successfully navigated unprecedented territory.

Open for in-person and remote learning since September 2020, the NDA community put our students’ health, safety, academics, and student life first providing an exceptional haven in a stormy time. Clearly, it has been a challenging and sometimes bumpy time, but working together, we made what seemed insurmountable possible! Happily, I can report that our Strategic Plan:

Inspiring Excellence continues to guide NDA forward.

I hope you enjoy this revival edition of NDA’s Gateway Magazine. The following pages highlight a few of our many highpoints, celebrations, challenges, and donor investments as we are guided by our strategic plan to continue to grow and strengthen NDA. We are truly blessed to have alumni, parents and friends who are invested in the NDA community, serving as partners with us as our faculty, staff, and administrators are fully dedicated to providing the best possible educational and formation experience to each NDA student.

As we strive to finalize our Million Dollar Challenge, summer and fall will bring construction and investments to our campus, thanks to the incredible support of our benefactors.

St. Julie, our Mission and Hallmarks continue to inspire us to look to an incredibly bright future for the NDA community. I look forward to our continued work together.

DR. VITTORIA PACIFICO

Head of School T H E G AT E W AY

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Spotlight on Rachel Osten ‘92 Astronomer, Trailblazer and NDA Graduate

“Being at NDA really helped me to further develop my interest in the physical sciences and have the courage to do what I wanted to do.” - Rachel Osten ’92

As a little girl Rachel Osten

always knew she was going to be someone, but could never quite put her finger on anything specific.

Her passion for the sciences ran deep, despite the “nay sayers” who thought small when it came to career choices for women.

However, that wasn’t the case when she arrived at the Academy of Notre Dame. The students and staff always graciously encouraged her to reach for the stars and she did, literally.

After completing middle school in 1988, Rachel began exploring options for a high school that would fit her needs. Wishing to 3

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attend a school with a smaller, classroom setting, she discovered The Academy of Notre Dame. The campus possessed a rich history of empowering students through education and opportunity, while also nurturing their uniqueness.

Fast forward thirty-one years and Rachel is a proud NDA graduate, wife and mother who credits her success as a female in the science field, in part, to the Academy of Notre Dame.

Growing up, Rachel was always fascinated by the math and science subjects. While at the NDA, she remembers reading A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking and thinking to herself, “Wow, that

sounds interesting and hard.

I want to do that.” Rachel was attracted to the wonder space and time presented. She wanted to know more and would eventually go on to spend over a decade studying these phenomena. When thinking back at her time at NDA, Rachel remembers her classes in physics, chemistry, and religion, along with the teachers who taught them. She recalls how comfortable she was going up to them with additional questions and engaging in conversation. She specifically recalls a science teacher who had a tremendous impact on her, Colleen Sherman.

Towards the end of her high school career, Rachel saw her postsecondary path heading in the direction of the physical sciences.

Colleen Sherman, NDA science teacher

At the time, this field was mostly male-dominated and she faced some social stigmas in response to her decision. Comments such as, “Us girls aren’t supposed to do that” and “Why do you want to go into science?” were just some of the remarks she heard. Students and staff at NDA, on the other hand, provided her positive feedback encouraging her to chase a dream that was long awaited.

After graduating from NDA in 1992, Rachel pursued her bachelor’s degree at Harvard University where she majored in physics and astronomy. Not content to stop there, Rachel went on to attend the

University of Colorado, Boulder, and earned a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics.

Rachel was then accepted into two different competitive postdoctoral fellowship programs: One, at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, VA, and the other, at the University of Maryland with NASA Hubble. After her many years of education and training, Rachel finally settled into a position at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD, where she has now worked for more than ten years.

Rachel is a Full Astronomer and will be taking on the position of Head of the Instruments Division at STScI where she will lead a group of over 160 scientists and technical staff who together work to ensure the scientific success of the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (to be launched later this year), and in the middle of the decade, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (NASA’s first astronomy satellite to be named after a pioneering female astrophysicist).

Currently Rachel is working with the National Academy of Science to undertake a survey that happens

every ten years known as the Decadal Survey. She is one of twenty scientists on the committee setting priorities for the entire U.S. astronomy community. “I never envisioned myself being involved with the Decadal Survey,” says Rachel. “Not only is it an honor to work with this team, but I also consider it one of my greatest achievements.”

A universe of possibilities awaits Rachel as she considers her future goals. She hopes to continue embarking on discovery, enabling science through supporting missions, and breaking down some of the diversity and gender barriers that have existed in the industry.

When Rachel is not busy studying the outer layer of stars or surveying the entire astronomy community, she likes to run, sew, garden, and work on DIY projects around the house. She and her family recently moved to Baltimore, MD, from Bowie, MD to be closer to her job that keeps her quite happily busy. While she hasn’t visited NDA in more than 20 years, she has fond memories and offers some words of advice for the current student body:

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Listen to yourself.

If your heart is not all in, then it will not work.

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Think high and think low.

Appreciate the little things.

Have a long term vision for yourself.

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THE CLASS OF 2021 CHOSE NDA

AND THESE SCHOOLS CHOSE US Arianna Concepcion University of Massachusetts-Lowell Nursing

Emily Aho

Regis College Nursing

Kate Conrad

Bentley University Marketing

Isha Bhagat Regis College Nursing

Congratu Samantha Fisher University of Maine Nursing

Sophia Bradley Regis College English

Sreenisha Ganamurali Saihemavathy

Boston University Neuroscience

Sydney Bradley Regis College Psychology

Isabelle Hallisey

University of Rhode Island Biomedical Engineering

Madison Breault Wheaton College Physics

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Sophia Jean

Temple University Undeclared

Ishani Patel

Angela Tarantino

George Washington University Political Science

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Krishna Patel

Bella Tellinghuisen

University of Massachusetts - Lowell Business Administration

University of Massachusetts-Lowell Mechanical Engineering

Kyra Pugsley

Ashley Tovar

Thomas Regan

Madeline Walent

Evangeline Rockwell

Shakira Willet

Jiayi Song

Luying Zoe Zhou

Rose Strobel

Mingya Zhuang

American University International Relations & Business

Emily Lavelle University of New Hampshire Psychology

University of Massachusetts-Amherst Public Health

ulations Ruijun Liao

School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fashion Design

Rivier University Finance

Saint Anselm College English

Yulan Lin

Emerson College Undeclared

Kennedy McCarthy University of Massachusetts - Lowell Computer Science sa

Le Cordon Bleu Australia Undeclared

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Computer Science

Sheila Ospina Gordon College Accounting

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Salve Regina University Studio Art

Nashoba Career Technical Institute Cosmetology

Boston University Communication

Pennsylvania State University Economics

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Interview with Emily Aho ‘21 Recipient of the Regis Presidential Catholic Schools Scholarship Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Emily Aho, will study nursing at Regis College. We are proud to share that Miss Aho received the Regis Presidential Catholic Schools Scholarship, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship for high achieving seniors who graduate from a Catholic school.

Q. How has your time at NDA shaped you into the person you are today?

A. As a student at NDA, I have had the

opportunity to grow in various ways under the guidance of incredible teachers, coaches, and faculty members. Through participating in different clubs and sports alongside learning each day in class, I feel that I have grown to become a stronger leader, student-athlete, and role model for other students here at the Academy.

Q. How have you benefited from a Catholic school education at NDA?

A. As a student receiving a Catholic school

education, I have learned significantly more about the unique ways to embody the core principles and values of Catholicism. Over the past four years, I was able to altar serve at masses held in the NDA Chapel. Having this opportunity allowed T H E G AT E W AY

me to not only become more involved in a religious aspect, but also strengthen my personal relationship with God.

Q. What do you plan to study at Regis College?

A. I plan to study nursing at Regis College.

Until the end of junior year, I was unsure as to what major I wanted to pursue. However, I’m glad to have chosen nursing as anatomy and biology were some of my favorite classes that I took throughout high school and I am excited to continue taking similar courses in college.

OUR

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

Our mission focuses on educating the whole

Q. How has the Academy prepared you to be

person for life through a curriculum rooted in spiritual formation and academic excellence.

successful in college and career?

We nurture a belief in the goodness of God

A. I feel that since starting my freshman

and the dignity of each person. We are

year at NDA, I have become increasingly more prepared to be successful in college and my career. Small classes, for example, have allowed me to participate more in asking questions and sharing my thoughts as well as simply interacting more with the teachers and other students.

Additionally, encouragement from upperclassmen to participate in clubs and sports at the beginning of freshman year led me to become more involved and soon gain the confidence to serve as a student leader.

Q. What is one thing you will miss about NDA

committed to community-building, diversity, global justice and service to those in need.

OUR

HALLMARKS 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

upon graduating?

behalf of, justice and peace in the world.

A. Upon graduation from NDA, I know that I’m

Hallmark 4: We commit ourselves to

truly going to miss my teachers. Without them, I never would have grown to love certain subjects or have the tools to succeed in college. I am beyond grateful for everything they have done for me personally and my classmates as well, and I hope to maintain the close relationships I have with them now when I am in college.

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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.

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28th Annual Golf Tournament

NDA Golf Team member, Caroline Hanson ’23, her grandfather, Rick Hanson, and Head of School, Dr. Vittoria Pacifico

Thanks to all those who joined us for the sold-out

28th Annual Academy of Notre Dame Golf Tournament on Monday, May 24, 2021 at Vesper Country Club. It was a beautiful day on the course, and a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with members of the NDA family after a year of missed events.

We are pleased to report that the Tournament raised more than $105,000 to create a new scholarship in memory of Eric P. Hanson, an Academy parent and longtime volunteer. This year has been the most successful Tournament in school history and we are grateful for the support of our entire community for putting our students first. Special thanks to our lead sponsors, especially the Hanson Family, the Demoulas Foundation, Mahoney Oil, the Thompson Family, F.L. Putnam Investment Management, Eastern Salt Company, Sheridan CPA, and Ken Kirkland.

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Board Members, Joe McNamee and Shelagh Mahoney ’83, with members of their family, Kate McNamee ’22, Brendan Cary, and Molly McNamee ’14

NDA would like to extend a special thank you to the volunteer Golf Committee, chaired by Marybeth Shanahan, Jeff Thompson, and Donna Acquaviva.

Donna (Mrs. A), a beloved 4th grade teacher, has been the Tournament chair for 25 years and just retired after a 43-year career as an educator. Her presence will be missed at NDA!

Golf Committee Tri-Chair Marybeth Shanahan, Mya Shanahan ’23, Molly Shanahan ’24, and Patrick Shanahan

(L to R) James Flood, Patrick Moriarty (NDA Golf Team Coach), Maryann Ekberg, and James Kieyah.

Dr. James Flynn, Principal, with members of NDA’s first golf team, Haliana Gacek ’24, Elizabeth Beauregard ’26, and Lilly Golden ’24.

(L-R) Michael Acquaviva, Donna “Mrs. A” Acquaviva (Tournament TriChair), Kathy Boyd, and Ellen Callahan T H E G AT E W AY

The winning foursome, led by parent Michael White (3rd from left), 10

Message from the

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, Charlotte Kelly

When I look back on my first year at NDA, I am humbled by the moments I have experienced in my role as

the Director of Admissions. NDA is truly a special place and the words that come to mind when I think about the institution are: “community,” “resilience,” “hard-working,” “faith-filled,” “patience,” “flexibility,” “happiness,” and “love.” Our students, faculty, and staff truly love to come to school each day. Our students thrive in and outside of the classroom and our faculty and staff truly love what they do. I feel blessed each day to be a member of the NDA family and community.

I believe that NDA stands apart from other institutions due to the rigorous academics, personal attention to students and their families, small class sizes, and the multiple opportunities provided for students to learn and grow. Our students are encouraged and nurtured to not only grow academically, but spiritually, athletically, socially, and emotionally as well.

Our current and new families rely on us to help “educate the whole child for life” and I truly believe that the Academy does just that and more!

The Academy’s 5-year strategic plan, Inspiring Excellence, sets a clear direction for the school. As a former principal and teacher with 30 years experience in Catholic schools, I have been impressed by how the NDA Board, leadership team, faculty, and staff are moving forward to meet the goals laid out in the plan.

“Unlike other high schools, our graduates leave with a minimum of four lab sciences and most students take up to eight! In fact, 50% of our graduates go on to study fields in STEAM in college.”

NDA’s comprehensive STEAM curriculum which starts as early as preschool, takes full advantage of the school’s natural setting of 200+ acres, an Environmental Learning Lab, extensive lab sciences, and a soon to be built geodome are truly impressive.

Unlike other high schools, our graduates leave with a minimum of four lab sciences and most students take up to eight! In fact, 50% of our graduates go on to study fields in STEAM in college.

Our Middle School students are well prepared for the rigors of high school. In fact, starting in Grade 5, exceptional students have the opportunity to enter into our accelerated learning program, REACH, for mathematics. In grades six and seven, REACH students are in accelerated classes for English Language Arts and mathematics, and students in grade eight are also offered REACH science classes. REACH truly gives high achieving students an advantage as they enter high school.

For parents there can truly be no better investment for your child’s future than a Catholic education at NDA. Our students are disciplined, caring, responsible community members who become leaders, innovators and influencers of tomorrow.

I am looking forward to what still lies ahead, as I truly believe 11

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the best is yet to come.

Student Artist Spotlight

Ruijun “Lucy” Liao ‘21 is off to Illinois this fall to attend the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The nearly 1,000 mile trip is nothing compared to the 6,750 miles she has travelled from China to attend the Academy of Notre Dame. Miss Liao is excited to be attending the Art Institute where she plans to study design. She applied to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago because of its high national ranking and strong animation, anime and design programs. Plus, she noted Walt Disney attended there!

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When asked what she will miss most about the Academy Miss Liao said, “My kind classmates, the welcoming environment, the extra help and support from all of my teachers over the last four years and the Academy’s amazing art program.” 8

Nature All Around Us A student’s sense of responsibility, caring, respect for life and self-esteem are greatly enhanced when they have the opportunity to nurture a new life whether it is a seed to plant or from an egg to butterfly.

Our unique natural setting provides our students with the opportunity to study environmental science at an early age. Nature walks and outdoor lessons are opportunities for children to embrace the natural world and to begin to understand the importance of all God’s creatures for a sustainable world.

Lessons about the natural world are also explored in the classroom. One example: students study the life stages of a butterfly from egg to larva to pupa to butterfly, and then have the excitement of releasing their butterflies on our campus. Butterflies and students alike were aflutter with excitement on release day!

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faculty and staff wove in teachings of our Hallmarks and reaffirmed our belief that God is good.

Faced with gathering restrictions due to the pandemic, the Academy leveraged its investment in technology to deliver liturgies directly into classrooms and to students’ homes when they were learning remotely.

Strengthening our Faith in the Good God The global pandemic and civil

unrest in the United States brought home the importance of the Academy of Notre Dame’s mission. Our commitment to educating the whole person for life through a curriculum rooted in spiritual formation and academic excellence is vital as we raise the next generation of highly-qualified, caring leaders. Leaders who believe in the goodness of God and the dignity of each person. Leaders who are committed to communitybuilding, diversity, global justice and service to those in need.

We know instilling our children with great knowledge and faith will serve them well as they go forward in life.

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During the spring, Father Kevin Sepe had a regular weekly presence at school to support faculty with their religious instruction. Fr. Sepe worked with faculty and students across all grade levels on activities such as the Stations of the Cross, Reconciliation, and celebrating Mass.

The Academy also renovated two existing confessionals and we were blessed to be able to offer Reconciliation to students, faculty and staff.

A Catholic school education ensures a positive difference for our students who greatly benefit from the values of our faith life, a clear mission of our Catholicism, and a safe and disciplined learning environment.

Throughout the year, the Academy took full advantage of opportunities for students, faculty and staff to continue our faith formation and come together in prayer to reaffirm and strengthen our faith in God, advance our Mission, celebrate our Hallmarks and live the Charism of our Notre Dame de Namur learning community. Each school day, we came together in prayer as a school community.

Dr. Pacifico, Dr. Flynn and the NDA community welcomes the Most Reverend Robert F. Hennessey.

In May, the Academy of Notre Dame welcomed the Most Reverend Robert Hennessey to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension Mass and the Feast of the Beatification of St. Julie Billiart, the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Across curricula and grade levels, 14

Despite the challenges of the last year, NDA has been blessed with record philanthropic support and the ability to execute our 5-year Strategic Plan. In November, the Academy launched We Are NDA: The Million Dollar Challenge, the most significant annual fundraising effort in school history, and we have been overwhelmed with the response.

As of the end of May, we have received nearly 900 donations and are now less than $100,000 to our goal. We hope you will join us as we work to exceed our $1 million goal and close out our fiscal year strong on August 31, 2021. Look what we’ve been able to do because of you:

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SCHOLARSHIP/ FINANCIAL AID Student financial assistance remains our top fundraising priority, with NDA awarding more than $700,000 in aid annually. We are thankful to the caring donors who are sponsoring a student with an annual gift or an endowed scholarship.

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CAMPUS WIFI & GYM HVAC Enhanced WiFi service at the Sister Kathryn McGuiggan Athletic Facility and in the Blanche Walsh Sports Complex, along with a new HVAC system, will T H E G AT E Wallow AY us to host classes and events.

Inspiring Excellence: Our Strategic Plan at WorkThanks to You! STEAM at NDA

The Notre Dame Training School Corporation, the Academy’s

corporate board and NDA’s Board of Directors enthusiastically support the investment of a unique environmental educational structure, the geodome, to be installed in the clear cut area beyond the gym and high school parking lot for use for the 2021-2022 School Year and beyond!

In their endorsement of the project, Sister Mary Farren wrote, “May this program flourish and be a sign of the Academy’s commitment to the care of creation.”

This approval represents months of research, discussion and curriculum planning by NDA’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Team. The STEAM Team is a multidisciplinary, volunteer group of faculty and staff supported by the Administration. Their focus is to work together to continue to build on the Academy’s strong science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics curriculum with a keen eye toward strengthening our environmental science and sustainability programming.

This investment, which is being funded by a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous, is fully aligned with the goals and objectives detailed in our strategic plan, Inspiring Excellence. It also complements investment we made this year including the conversion of Room 26 into an Environmental Learning Lab (ELL), an outdoor hoop house, and an organic worm farm.

A 42-foot in diameter geodome greenhouse, The Dome will provide year-round educational opportunities for our students, after school programming and summer camp.

For students interested in pursuing careers in STEAM, The Dome will provide NDA students with an educational advantage for environmental sciences, currently the fastest growing industry in the US according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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WASTE WATER PROECT

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GARDEN FLOOR RETILING

Happily, this large project that will help to protect our environment and improve our campus is nearing completion. NDA plans to connect to the Town of Tyngsboro sewer system by the end of the summer.

Installation of new tile flooring for the ground floor corridors and some classrooms and cafeterias is complete.

We are so excited about this project. The possibilities are truly endless.

The beautiful NDA campus offers our learning community so much opportunity. The Dome will serve as a hub for discovery and activity.

You can imagine NDA students experiencing hands-on gardening, hydroponics, nutrition, cooking, health and wellness, understanding energy, composting, recycling, hosting naturalists as guest speakers; partnering with colleges and universities, and so much more! We look forward to keeping our community informed as plans progress.

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VIDEO CAMERA SECURITY The installation of video cameras on the back roadway will contribute to making our campus safe and secure.

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ROADWAY LIGHTING Let there be light!

Approximately 22 lamp posts will be installed from Middlesex Road to the front of the school ending at the statue of St. Julie.

The traditional lamp posts will also provide a place for banners. There will be an opportunity for donors to support this project and “name a lamp post,” so keep an eye on school communications this summer.

Lancers’ Win For generations NDA sports have

served as a centering point for student life. This year sports took on a greater meaning providing student athletes with a much needed opportunity to come together as teammates to socialize, exercise and of course, compete.

The Academy proudly launched three new teams: Boys JV Soccer, Girls Golf, and Boys Baseball, thanks to forming a cooperative baseball team with Innovation Academy. We welcomed boys to NDA’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams. We are grateful to the members of the Friends of NDA (FoNDA) who provided the resources for additional uniforms and equipment to support growth in our athletic program.

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Additional thanks to FoNDA for continuing to sponsor the annual Sports Awards celebration. Over 175 athletes, students, parents, coaches, faculty, staff and friends attended the annual Sports Awards held on NDA’s campus. NDA coaches recognized individual students in three categories: Most Valuable Player, Most Improved and Coach’s Award. The evening ended with the much anticipated announcement of the winners of the college scholarships for NDA athletes.

This year’s recipients are: • Rachel Anne Morrison Scholar Athlete: Emily Aho ’21 • Alumni Athletic Award: Ishani Patel ’21 • Distinguished Athlete Award: Ashley Tovar ’21

nning Ways SPORTS REPORT 2020-2021 Athletic Awards and Recognitions Reflecting on the 2020-2021 athletic season, longtime Athletic Director Lisa Zappala noted, “This was one of the winningest years we have had in recent memory.”

“This was one of the winningest years we have had in recent memory.”

- Longtime Athletic Director, Lisa Zappala

For the 2020-2021 School Year, the Academy won the following awards and recognition: • Girls Varsity Volleyball were the Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CAC) Division II champions • Girls Track & Field were the CAC champions • Girls Softball, a cooperative team with Innovation Academy, won the CAC championship • Swimming & Diving Coach Sean Glasheen won Merrimack Valley Conference Coach of the Year • Stephanie Moreau ‘22 awarded the CAC MVP award for Volleyball • Girls Softball Coach Fred Smith was named CAC Division II Coach of the Year • Girls Softball All-Stars Haley Abraham ’25, Amanda Grace ’25, and Jacqueline Martineau ’25 • Sarah Houston ’22 was named to the Merrimack Valley Conference Tennis All-Star team.

• CAC All-Stars for Track & Field were Emily Aho ’21, Kate Conrad ’21, Natalie Foy ’23, Katie Vieira ’22, Michael Michaels ’24 and Tom Regan ’21.

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This fall, the Academy of Notre Dame will construct Merrimack Valley’s only geodome for

environmental learning. The Dome will provide our students with unique opportunities for hands-on learning and exploration. “At NDA, we are committed to providing our students with every advantage so that they are well prepared for college, career and life,” said Dr. James Flynn, NDA Principal. Learn more about The Dome on page 15.

180 Middlesex Rd. • Tyngsboro, MA 01879