Reopening Notre Dame Schools “NDCL's mission is to educate leaders, not followers. And I'm counting on you to step up to lead our community through this pandemic. It's not something that I or even all the adults together can do by ourselves," Mr. Waler challenged the students. "If we have any chance of continuing inperson teaching and learning, all of us need to take the lead.” Principal, Joseph A. Waler For the past several months, we have been researching, consulting, and collaborating to develop a plan to support the re-opening of our schools in the midst of the pandemic following March’s sudden shutdown. Our goal throughout this planning and return to school this fall has been to ensure that we open school as safely and as practically as possible. The guidelines contained in our reopening plan reflect our efforts to apply the best information available to us from Ohio Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other experts. In developing this document, we recognize the opportunity
and challenge entrusted to us by Governor Mike DeWine to make informed decisions to meet the needs of our school community. We are blessed by a strong, vibrant school community and we are all in this together. As we respond to the challenges of the pandemic, we will depend upon and deepen our experience of our core value of community as we: • keep everyone safe by developing, communicating, and expecting cooperation with specific protocols to mitigate exposure to COVID-19 • work together to support the well-being of our students and staff spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically • resume in-person teaching and learning five days per week according to the previously published academic calendar unless health authorities dictate otherwise •
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provide interactive, real-time online learning opportunities for students unable to come to school due to illness or quarantine
“ At NDES, our staff and students continue to follow the best practices of sanitizing, handwashing, wearing masks, and social distancing. I thank God every day for the good health that has been bestowed upon us. I continue to thank parents for their diligence in performing the health screens each and every morning and for our teachers and students for faithfully keeping us all safe.” Principal, Dr. Jacqueline Hoynes
In 2020-21, we welcome Dr. Jacqueline Hoynes As the next principal of Notre Dame Elementary. Dr. Hoynes brings more than 45 years in education and educational leadership to this role. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Kent State University, a Master’s Degree in Education from Cleveland State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in science, also from Kent State. Dr. Hoynes has served as the superintendent of Mentor City Schools (2003-2012), of Newbury Schools (2018-2020), and has served twice as an elementary school principal and once as a junior high school principal. She began her educational career as a 6th grade teacher and intervention specialist. She has been an instructor and mentor for aspiring principals as well as the director for school improvement for Akron Public Schools. Dr. Hoynes has always kept the learning experience of students at the core of her decisions in the classroom and in leading schools and school districts. “My husband and two sons are graduates of the Notre Dame Schools, and I am grateful for this chance to help our youngest students identify their God-given talents, nurture success and begin to establish and cultivate a sense of spiritual maturity. With a heartfelt sense of homecoming, I am truly excited to lead this exceptional Catholic school.” Dr. Hoynes is a devoted Catholic and a dedicated parishioner at St. Mary’s Mentor. She and her husband, Paul, are the proud parents of two boys. Paul is a 1969 graduate of Cathedral
Latin and has been the beat writer for the Cleveland Indians for over 40 years, currently writing for Cleveland.com. Their sons attended and graduated from St. Mary’s School and NDCL, before pursuing their college studies and careers. We welcome Dr. Hoynes, as well as her family, to our campus this fall. We are grateful for her leadership, partnering with faculty, staff, and parents to ensure a vibrant re-opening of Notre Dame Elementary School.