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Academics
ACADEMICS & ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Notre Dame Prep offers a wide variety of learning programs to suit the needs of students with varying learning styles. These programs are designed to help our students succeed. For information on all of our programs, contact your student’s counselor or go to ndpsaints.org/academics. ACADEMIC HONORS
NDP offers Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude programs to encourage students to challenge themselves in the classroom and prepare themselves for rigorous college and university curriculums. Learn more at ndpsaints.org/academic-honors.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The Advanced Placement (AP) program was created by College Board to give high school students the chance to tackle college-level work. Students taking AP classes are required to take the College Board’s AP tests in May with the goal of earning college credit and placement. AP courses are offered in social studies, world languages, science, math and English. Students interested in Advanced Placement (AP) courses must meet the prerequisites of each course. Refer to the Program of Studies on our website and talk to your student’s counselor. Learn more about AP programs at
ap.collegeboard.org.
DUAL ENROLLMENT
Notre Dame Prep partners with Scottsdale Community College and the University of Arizona to allow students to earn college credit while attending high school. These courses are taught by certified NDP teachers here on our campus, and the credits transfer to many colleges and universities in the state of Arizona and beyond. For more information, discuss with your student’s counselor and read about the options in the Program of Studies on our website. EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA
The St. Aloysius Gonzaga Program assists those students who demonstrate academic potential and a desire to learn but need extra support navigating NDP’s college preparatory curriculum successfully. The program includes an increased focus on English, mathematics and organization skills. For more information, please visit our website: ndpsaints.org/academics/st-aloysius-gonzaga-program. 11
ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER
Named after St. Joseph the Worker, patron saint of families, fathers and laborers, the St. Joseph the Worker Program offers academic support services for college-bound students with diagnosed learning differences. The St. Joseph the Worker Program services include classroom accommodations as appropriate according to students’ individual student support plans. For more information, please visit our website:
The St. Thomas Aquinas Scholar Program is a highly competitive, integrated program of study that provides a challenging, well-rounded education for our most gifted and motivated students. St. Thomas Aquinas Scholars must meet rigorous academic requirements. For more information, please visit
ndpsaints.org/academics/st-thomas-aquinas-scholars-program.
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION
ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER (ARC)
The Academic Resource Center provides support to students with identified learning challenges. The ARC faculty provides specific academic support/tutoring as well as ongoing one-to-one coaching and feedback for academic growth and skill development. Student Support Plans may be developed for students with learning disabilities to provide academic accommodations for classes and for standardized testing such as the SAT and/or ACT at ndpsaints.org/academics/academic-support. BECOMING AN EXPERT LEARNER is a required course at NDP for all first-year students who have been diagnosed with specific learning disabilities. After evaluating a student’s progress over his or her first semester attending NDP, each student will be reassessed to see if the class will be needed for the following semester. This class helps students learn study skills, time management, organization, self-advocacy and goal-setting. These students also receive academic support through mini-lessons and one-to-one advising.
MATH LABS
Math Labs are open every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday after school in room 808 for students to work on math homework and study for tests. Students may come individually or with friends for homework help and/or math tutoring, and the room is staffed with NDP math teachers and NHS tutors ready to help and answer questions.
OFFICE HOURS and WIN (WHAT I NEED) TIME
After school, teachers are available until 3:30 p.m. on regular block schedule days to assist students seeking help with their studies. Please check each teacher’s Canvas page for their specific availability. Twice a week, teachers are also available during WIN Time, which is a designated time during the school day for students to work with teachers for additional help and practice.
PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES
We hold one parent-teacher-student conference night on campus each year in the fall. This year, the conferences will be held by teacher invitation specifically for those students who need some intervention, support, or a plan for improvement. Students will be required to accompany their parents to the conferences. More details will be made available about these conferences in late August. For those parents who wish to meet, teachers are always available by phone, email or appointment. Access the faculty directory at ndpsaints.org/myndp/staff-directory.
TESTING CENTER
Located in the ARC, our Testing Center is a quiet environment where students who require extended time for testing can go to complete their classroom exams and standardized tests without distraction or interruption. For more information, please visit:
Free tutoring is available to all students by members of the National Honor Society. Please check with your House Captains for more details. Tutoring is provided during lunch hours, as well as before and after school, in Math Labs, and other times virtually. Students who are struggling or receiving failing grades should avail themselves of this valuable service.
BELL SCHEDULES
NDP’s daily schedule is a block schedule. Studies show that a block schedule allows for in-depth instruction, application, feedback and reflection, thus maximizing student learning success. The Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday schedule incorporates four block-period classes, House or WIN time, break, and lunch periods. The Wednesday schedule is unique with a later start to the day. Students attend all eight classes for shorter time periods. To allow for teacher professional development, first period will
begin at 8:30 a.m. and students will be dismissed from school at 2:30 p.m.
We will have special bell schedules for all-school Mass days (see below).
Occasionally during the school year, we will have four-day weeks where we have either Monday or Friday off due to a holiday. On weeks such as these, we will have only block
schedule days. For example:
• Monday, Sept. 5 - Labor Day (No School) • Tuesday, Sept. 6 - Block Schedule (Periods 1-4) • Wednesday, Sept. 7 - Block Schedule (Periods 5-8) • Thursday, Septs. 8 - Block Schedule (Periods 1-4) • Friday, Sept. 9 - Block Schedule (Periods 5-8)
If the holiday falls on Friday, the schedule will look like this:
• Monday - Block Schedule (Periods 1-4) • Tuesday- Block Schedule (Periods 5-8) • Wednesday - Block Schedule (Periods 1-4) • Thursday - Block Schedule (Periods 5-8) • Friday - (No School)
VIRTUAL DAYS
Virtual Days are mandatory online student learning days. Students are required to log into Canvas by 8 a.m. and complete the lessons assigned for each period. Virtual days contain content for periods 1-8. Students can work at their own pace on virtual days. Here is a list of all the virtual days for the coming school year: • Aug. 26 – Teacher In-Service • Oct. 7 – Diocesan Educator Day • Nov. 7 – Teacher In-Service • Nov. 11 – 8th Grade Day • Feb. 9 & 10 - Virtual School Days - WMPO
We will communicate via the newsletter, website calendar and text messages when special schedules are coming up.
