Pillars FY 2022

“Love gives everything gladly, everything again and again daily.”

Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, SSND Foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame

November 2022

Dear Friends of Notre Dame Preparatory School,

At the start of each new school year, we recommit ourselves to the mission of Catholic education and to the School Sisters of Notre Dame who so fully embraced that mission nearly two centuries ago. That embrace led to the establishment of what we now know as Notre Dame Preparatory School, a school that stands on the shoulders of so many brave women and men who came before us and who set the standard of an NDP education. Every day we strive not only to achieve, but also to surpass, those standards, and we are only able to do so with the talents and support of so many in the NDP community, including you.

The enclosed Pillars report reflects on the many ways in which we have lived the mission of NDP in the 2021-2022 school year, one defined by our theme, “With Grateful Hearts.”

Our Foundress, Blessed Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, said, “Love gives everything gladly, everything again and again daily.” How grateful I am that such daily expressions of love still permeate through the halls, classrooms, playing fields, and stages of Notre Dame Prep on the eve of its 150th anniversary. I see these expressions in the skilled instruction of our teachers, the dedication and commitment of our staff members, the caring concern of all who work to ensure the safety, success, and the happiness of our students, for whom we do all of this.

In many ways, this document is an expression of our love for the members of the Notre Dame community, for our school, and for the mission that animates all that occurs at this hallowed institution. I pray that you enjoy looking back at the amazing events of the 20212022 school year, the memories that were created, and the successes of our wonderful students, and that you take some measure of pride and accomplishment knowing your role in making these possible.

With a full and grateful heart, I thank you on behalf of all who hold dear our beloved Notre Dame and assure you of my continued prayers and best wishes for you and those you love.

In Notre Dame, Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Ph.D. Headmistress

Notre Dame Preparatory School Board of Trustees

2021-22

Sister Margaret Ellen Mahoney, SSND, Ph.D., Chairperson

Karyn Danielczyk Bauer, CPA ’93

April Bell

William C. Benassi

Mark Buedel

Sister Jane Cayer, SSND

Victoria B. Chou, M.S., Ph.D. ’92

Michael Constantine

Matthew C. Franke

William H. Fusting

Sister Mary Rose Gustatus, SSND Amy Heinrich

Lilly M. Hunter, M.D. ’90

Melissa Kelly ’85

Patricia L. Knott ’86

Michele F. Loscocco, M.S., DABR

Tracey Swam Lumpkin ’86

Jeanette Glose Partlow ’75

Lisa W. Petit, M.D. ’98

John W. Schiech

Jennifer Brune Speargas ’92

Sallie Sweeney, CISSP-ISSMP, PMP, CISM

Daniel White

J. Scott Wilfong

Kathleen Willis

Kathy Stanley Wilmot ’77

Sister Deborah Cerullo, SSND, SSND Liaison

Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Ph.D, Ex Officio

THE YEAR IN REVIEW THE YEAR IN REVIEW

NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC

During the first semester, Notre Dame Preparatory School students and teachers continued to navigate the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic while ensuring uninterrupted learning and the fullness of the NDP experience. Events were held outside or in reimagined ways to ensure NDP traditions continued. Notre Dame Prep sponsored three clinics so community members could receive their vaccinations. Beginning in the second semester and as pandemic conditions improved, some safety guidelines were lifted or loosened, and many school activities resumed as they were pre-pandemic. The school is extraordinarily grateful to NDP’s Medical-Public Health Advisory Team whose commitment to the welfare of the NDP community allowed the school to continue to safely deliver on its promise of an NDP education to its resilient and amazing students.

CLASS OF 2022

Congratulations to the 137 members of the Class of 2022! One hundred percent of these students were accepted to four-year colleges and universities, and combined, 92% were awarded more than 580 merit scholarships totaling nearly $33 million dollars. Forty students earned General STEAM Certificates, 12 of whom received STEAM Pathway Certificates in Medicine, 10 in Computer Science, and four in Engineering and Manufacturing. Seventy students received Certificates of Biliteracy. At the annual Capstone Evening, 40 Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Scholars were honored. In a welcoming ceremony hosted by the Alumnae Association, Class of 2022 members received Miraculous Medals. Our seniors were able to enjoy all the promises of their final year at NDP, from Senior Bingo to the return of the New York trip, to a silver cup-worthy performance at Gym Meet, prom, and a classic Notre Dame commencement, complete with red roses and one final walk through the iconic Gateway.

ACADEMICS

Strong academics continue to be a hallmark of a Notre Dame Preparatory School education. Upper and Middle Level students received local and national honors for overall achievement and success across all academic disciplines. More than 380 high school students were inducted into the school’s 15 honor societies. Cultural celebrations, guest speakers, academic competitions, and special programming rounded out the academic experience for Upper and Middle Level students. In the spring, NDP dedicated the Batza & Simon Academic Services and Enrichment Center, where learning, reading, and math specialists provide students with academic support. (For more information on this great space, see page 16.)

STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) curricula and programming continued to grow at NDP thanks to our generous supporters, as well as dedicated faculty, interested students, and outstanding state-of-the art facilities. New this year, AP Environmental Science students visited Cromwell Valley Park quarterly for stream health and invasive species studies, two current target areas for park preservation. At the inaugural Upper Level Art and STEAM Night, artwork and STEAM projects demonstrated the compatibility of these two disciplines. The new Fire Prevention Engineering Club (FPE) participated in the University of Maryland Fire Protection Engineering “BURN DAY,” placing in the top 10 of competitors. Monthly Middle Level STEAM challenges focused on physics, environmental sustainability, engineering, and more. Spot the Robot Dog visited campus, demonstrating his capacity to use state-ofthe-art technology to navigate terrain and capture data, while endearing himself to NDP students along the way! Thank you to parent, Steve Montgomery, and BuildingPoint Northeast, for providing this educational opportunity for our students!

FACULTY & STAFF

With grateful hearts we acknowledge the dedication, talent, and commitment of our outstanding faculty and staff during the 2021-22 school year. As the community addressed ever-evolving demands of COVID-19, the faculty and staff responded with flexibility, creativity, and spirit. Several faculty and staff members received local and national recognition for the contributions made to their respective disciplines. In addition, in June, NDP celebrated those individuals who retired at the end of the school year: Sister Barbara Brumleve, coordinator of mission integration; Bridget Sheehey, math; and Claire Storey, language. The school is grateful to them and to all our faculty and staff for their hard work and love for NDP and its students.

SPIRITUALITY

Notre Dame Preparatory School’s theme for the year, “With Grateful Hearts,” remained at the forefront, reminding us to have gratitude for all that makes NDP so special. Throughout the year, the NDP community came together to pray during liturgy, raising voices in celebration of God’s unending love. Such expressions of gratitude were present in countless events and activities, most especially those in which the school community came together in thanksgiving, including the Opening of School Liturgy, the Christmas Liturgy candle lighting, and spring prayer services and liturgies. Students vigorously responded to the invitation of Pope Francis, one embraced by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, to care for creation by being good stewards of the earth. In addition, retreats continued, fostering not only personal connections between students, but also a deeper relationship with God and their faith.

SERVICE

Notre Dame Prep’s service mission robustly presented itself through a host of projects. New this year was a pilot partnership with the Stevens Initiative, a virtual exchange program through the U.S. State Department. Notre Dame Prep was inducted as an inaugural member of the Starkville Habitat for Humanity “Hall of Honor” due to its 40+ years with the program. Four Upper Level Penny Queens raised more than $4,000 to support Ignacio Ellacura, Umoja activities, and the Josanna Abromaitis Social Service Fund, as well as collaborated with the Alumnae Association on the Stuff a Bus initiative to honor alumna Jackie Buedel ’73. This year’s Stone Soup event benefited the Enabled Children Initiative in Afghanistan. For Dinner with our Elders, students packaged dinners for residents of four Baltimore senior housing facilities. The entire NDP community came together to support Ukraine through prayer and a first aid supply drive. Finally, NDP students once again welcomed students to the Sisters Academy Sports Camp.

AWARDS

Notre Dame Prep received numerous honors and recognitions during the 2021-2022 school year. For the 11th consecutive year, NDP was named a Baltimore Sun Top Workplace. The school garnered four Baltimore Style Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards (Best Girls Private High School; Best Girls Private Middle School; Best High School Teacher, Tom Peri, and best Middle School Teacher, Christian Leitch). Notre Dame was ranked the Top Catholic Girls School by Niche.com and a Top Private School by the The Daily Record. Notre Dame also earned two AP Computer Science Female Diversity Awards for expanding young women’s access to computer science study. Congratulations to all for contributing to a remarkably successful year!

STUDENT LIFE

Student life at NDP is inextricably linked to beloved traditions. With grateful hearts, students were able to participate in class and school-wide traditions, memories of which they will have forever. Such traditions included the Gateway Ceremony for new Upper and Middle Level students; Junior Ring Day for the Class of 2023; and Tree Trim and the Father/Daughter Evening, which helped to make the traditional NDP Christmas very special for all. Notre Dame Prep ushered in spring with the Upper Level’s most cherished NDP tradition, Gym Meet, while the Middle Level’s eighth graders splashed their way to the Upper Level with the Synchronized Swim Show. The first Community Day afforded fun sisterhood activities for both middle and high school students.

ATHLETICS

Notre Dame Athletics continued to blaze trails of success in 2021-2022! Twenty-one varsity athletes were named IAAM All-Stars, and 18 students signed letters of intent with Division I, II, and III schools. Notre Dame Prep was named the 2022 National Catholic Swimming and Diving Champions, and Coach Terri Byrd received her third Coach of the Year honor. The school entered into an agreement with Pipeline Soccer Club, Baltimore’s premier non-profit youth soccer club, and the school announced a new partnership with Under Armour, one of the top sports apparel companies in the United States. Two student WINterns helped to bolster NDP athletics’ presence on social media, serving as athletics communications interns. Former professional soccer player and Maryland Soccer Hall of Famer Steve Powers was named the school’s new athletic director beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, and Cynthia Walsh ’07, was named assistant athletic director and head coach of the varsity soccer team, also for 2022-2023.

THE ARTS

Notre Dame dancers presented Christmas and spring concerts, worked with nationally renowned visiting instructors, traveled to New York for a Fosse workshop, and performed at the Dance Your Heart Out charity event. After a long wait, NDP excitedly presented in-person, live instrumental and vocal performances at the fall, Christmas, and spring concerts. Area professional musicians offered adjudication sessions with the Concert Band, Concert Choir, and Orchestra. Last November, three performances of All Together Now launched NDP’s return to live in-person theater. Other presentations included the Upper Level’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! and the Middle Level’s The Wizard of Oz, Jr. Visual Arts students in all grades created an art installation based on the school’s theme, “With Grateful Hearts.” Art Week featured favorite design challenge events Project Greenway in Upper Level and Middle Made in Middle Level, and five students were honored with Scholastic Art Awards.

COMMUNITY

The NDP community has been exploring Global Citizenship through the lenses of technology, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and care for creation as the focus of Sustaining Excellence, NDP’s Middle States Accreditation research-based protocol. Notre Dame Prep’s DEI work continued, thanks to STRIVE, NDP’s Anti-Racism Task Force, and the faculty and staff who work closely with the student DEI leaders and affinity groups. As a Catholic school, NDP is guided by the tenets of justice, equality, and love expressed in the school’s DEI Commitments. The NDP community supported efforts promoting community spirit and providing funds for the school. Countless individuals came together for the Blazer Dash, Stuff a Bus honoring Jackie Buedel ’73, Giving Tuesday, the Bow Tie & Blue Jeans Gala, and The Fund for Notre Dame Prep. Events such as the inaugural Alumnae Lacrosse Game, Foundation Day Liturgy, the Alumnae Association’s new “Sisters & Speakers” series, Middle Level Grandparents & Special Friends Day, and Gateway Reunion brought friends old and new to campus. Congratulations to the 2022 Mother Caroline Friess Alumna of the Year Dr. Victoria Chou ’92, public health researcher and NDP Board of Trustees vice chair. We were thrilled to host Sister Carolyn Anyega, SSND, a member of the SSND General Council, based in Rome, Italy, for a school tour and meetings with students, faculty, and staff. The Parents’ Association, Booster Club, and Friends of the Arts engaged parent volunteers in meaningful ways. Special appreciation is given to NDP’s dedicated Board of Trustees as well as all those whose gifts of time, talent, and treasure continued to fortify the school.

THE FUND FOR NOTRE DAME PREP THE FUND FOR NOTRE DAME PREP

At NDP, we seek to inspire young women who think independently and critically, grow spiritually in their faith, lead with confidence, and discover their passions both inside and outside the classroom. Support of The Fund for Notre Dame Prep helps to close the gap between tuition revenue and overall operating expenses, ensuring our ability to provide the hallmarks of an NDP education to every student—today, tomorrow, and beyond. By directing your gift to one of the four areas of support detailed below, your gift will have a meaningful impact.

AREA OF GREATEST NEED

Support of The Fund for Notre Dame Prep allows our school the financial flexibility to answer the most urgent needs of the school while maintaining existing programming. It is critical to the sustainability and financial health of our school.

FINANCIAL AID

Tuition assistance for deserving students and their families provides the access and affordability that is so important to NDP’s mission of creating a diverse and inclusive community. Financial aid can be the deciding factor for families and helps the dream of attending NDP become a reality for many students.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Our innovative curriculum is driven by amazing faculty members who are truly passionate about the subjects they teach and who care deeply about their students. Our programs like STEAM, the Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities program, and Women In (WIN) Experiential Learning, set our school apart and enhance the student experience.

STUDENT LIFE

So much of what makes the NDP experience what it is happens outside of the classroom.traditionalThrough beloved traditions, class retreats and school liturgies, service opportunities and trips, our amazing athletic programs, and the arts, there is something for every student.

ALEX DZBINSKI, DIRECTOR OF BANDS/ PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR

This year marks my 23rd year teaching band at NDP, and there are several things that have made my time here so delightful and are the reasons I have never wanted to teach anywhere else. But the one thing that really sticks out are the students. From my first day to now, the students make my days come alive with their desire and excitement to learn. Each day at NDP, students arrive for class with an enthusiasm to learn and grow, and when class is over, every student departs my room by saying “thank you” as they head off to their next class. In the halls I am always greeted with a smile and a hello, even from students whom I do

not have in my classes. This hasn’t changed in my years here, and I believe it’s because the students at NDP feel this is their school. It’s a safe place where they can grow and learn to be young women who can truly transform the world. Working with both the Middle Level and Upper Level, I get to watch an amazing transformation happen right before my eyes as young shy girls become poised young women who “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.” Being a part of an institution where this happens year after year, generation after generation, is a blessing. This is why I give and will continue to support NDP in the future. g

JENNY POITRAS, LIBRARY

Just being a part of the NDP community is a reward in and of itself! But what is most rewarding is working with our amazing girls. I spent many years teaching in the Middle Level and now that I have moved to the Library, I get to see how the girls have matured and grown through their time at NDP. It is so satisfying to see how the youngest members of our community have transformed into confident and empowered young women who will transform the world. This is why my husband, John, and I have decided to give to The Fund for Notre Dame Prep as Leadership Donors, in order to support the continued growth that I see in our girls every day. g

remain accessible, by keeping tuition costs down.

Rose Schmitz Marcin knows the life-changing opportunities scholarships can provide young people. When she and her fellow NDP sisters from the Class of 1977 started thinking about their upcoming 45-year reunion, they decided that they wanted to make a great impact for future students by establishing the Angels of ’77 Endowment Fund.

Considering the minimum required donation of $25,000 to establish an endowment, the Class of 1977 took their commitment to the next level: setting a goal of $500,000 to establish a fully endowed scholarship by their 50th reunion in the spring of 2027. To date, the class has raised over $100,000 in commitments and is well on the way to reaching their stretch goal by the time they are jubilarians.

The Angels of ’77 Endowment Fund recognizes those in the Class of 1977 who have passed away and is a way to memorialize those the class holds so dear.

“We will forever have a thread that connects us. Unfortunately, as time passed, we lost some of our sisters. I don’t know who coined the term ‘Angels of ’77,’ but it makes me feel good that nobody is forgotten,” says class member Kathy Stanley Wilmot.

The tight-knit class of Lime and Rose saw this scholarship as a way to forever have an impact at NDP, as well as inspire other classes and alumnae to join together and give back through endowment and scholarship support.

“Angels of ’77 seemed the best way of honoring our Angels, but it’s also a way of honoring our commitment to NDP and hoping that others who benefit from the scholarship can experience the same sisterhood that we shared,” says Nancy Karpinski.

“My hope for NDP in the future is to continue to emphasize the importance of women in the pursuit of their dreams,” adds Carol Salazar Udvarhelyi “To teach and model kindness and acceptance of others, to understand the importance of teamwork, and the importance of volunteerism and ‘giving back.’” g

CLASS OF 1977

“I always think that I was so lucky to have been given an opportunity to attend NDP on a scholarship, as it truly changed my life. I want other girls to be afforded that same opportunity, to learn, to grow, and to make enduring friendships.”

—Rose Schmitz Marcin

MASTERFUL PLANNING MASTERFUL PLANNING

Agoal without a plan is just a wish,” wrote Antoine de SaintExupery, and thanks to Notre Dame Preparatory School’s Board of Trustees, the school’s current Master Plan is more than wishful thinking—it is a roadmap for the future of NDP’s campus.

According to Bobby Baird, NDP’s executive director of finance and facilities, Notre Dame Prep’s Master Plan will connect school property— particularly the recently acquired St. Thomas Church property with existing facilities—to maximize use, as well

as advance academic and extra-curricular programming. The Master Plan also targets enhancing NDP’s sports facilities to support the school’s successful and growing athletics program.

Phase I of Notre Dame Prep’s current Master Plan is complete with the light installation on Yeardley Love Field and the adjacent pedestrian pathways, as well as the renovation of the church property. With lighting, walkways are safer and more secure, and Love Field is available for later games on campus and more community gatherings; these two initiatives provide the framework for longer-range planning to support and grow further NDP athletics. The renovated church facilities provide multipurpose space for a variety of uses, including academic programming and meetings.

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“The lighting of the fields marks an important investment in our outstanding athletics department, our campus, and our students. Nighttime sporting events will allow for greater access to our facilities, which we look forward to sharing with ever more people, inside and outside the NDP community.”

—Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Ph.D., Headmistress

“Because our campus is nestled in the beautiful tree-lined Hampton community, many people unfamiliar with NDP have never seen how beautiful and sprawling our facilities are,” said Baird. “The Master Plan’s enhancements are meant to introduce NDP to those people, to show off the extraordinary NDP campus, which we believe is a big part of what makes a Notre Dame education so extraordinary.”

Phase I of the Master Plan was funded and realized by support of the 2022 True Blue Bow Ties & Blue Jeans Gala, the Booster Club, individual donors, a portion of the Class of 2022’s Senior Class Gift, and foundations, including a $50,000 grant from the Knott Foundation.

The school is most grateful to all who have supported the Master Plan and its goal of advancing NotreDame Prep’s priority of providing students with the best available tools and facilities so they can achieve the fullness of their God-given talents and potential. g

The Legacy Circle recognizes those alumnae and friends who make plans to remember NDP through their wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, or life income gifts. Each year, we welcome new members to The Legacy Circle and its growth ensures the financial well-being of NDP well into the future. We are pleased to share the story of Mia Potthast Walsh ’84, alumna, parent of alumnae, and one of our newest members of the Legacy Circle.

Q&A WITH MIA POTTHAST WALSH ’84

As an alumna and parent of two NDP alums, what does Notre Dame Preparatory School mean to you?

Notre Dame Prep instilled in me a confidence to break through barriers, especially in male-dominated fields, throughout my adult life and prepared me with the skills I needed to be successful, both personally and professionally. Our daughters, Kate ’18 and Sara’19, have chosen male-dominated fields for their careers— molecular neurobiology and private equity, respectively—and both have excelled with the confidence NDP has given them.

What do you believe is the most important aspect of an NDP education for young women today?

I do often go back to NDP’s motto, “Where girls become women who transform the world.”

I am a firm believer in the concept of “empowered women empower women” and I think NDP’s WINternship [Experiential Learning] Program is an excellent example of NDP using its vast alumnae network to provide opportunities for its students. Both our daughters explored areas of interest through the WINternship program and were not only able to determine specific fields which sparked their interest, but also areas of their fields that did not excite them. This helped pinpoint them into focusing on majors in college which brought them joy.

Why have you made the decision to remember and support Notre Dame Prep in your estate plan? What do you hope to achieve through this intended bequest?

Giving back to NDP is important to me because my years there helped me become the successful and happy person who I am today. Watching our daughters graduate high school uber-prepared to face the challenges of university and beyond brought great joy to us as parents and pride in our daughters’ accomplishments, all with the backbone of an NDP education at the core. By naming Notre Dame Prep in my will, it ensures that my heirs understand the importance which NDP has had on me not only as an individual, but how NDP and its traditions weave through the veins of our family.

What are your hopes for the future of NDP and our students?

Catholic social teachings are such an important part of learning empathy and creating honesty and fairness in today’s society. The faculty at NDP instills these beliefs in all aspects of their curricula, and it is my hope that our students remember their roots when making decisions that affect others. As our students develop and grow into intelligent world leaders, I hope they demonstrate kindness to all who surround them and make choices which benefit the greater good of our planet and citizens. g

THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING AND ALL-EVENT SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

TRUE BLUE GALA

The True Blue Bow Ties & Blue Jeans Gala was held on March 26, 2022 at the Grand Lodge. We are grateful to our sponsors and ad journal patrons who generously supported our fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who made a gift to NDP and/or participated in our silent auction or raffle. Much appreciation goes out to our Gala Committee for their many months of planning and the fabulous silent auction. Thanks to the generosity of the NDP community, the True Blue Gala raised $240,000 in net proceeds to support lighting for Yeardley Love Field and the pathways connecting the athletic fields to the main campus, as well as upgrades to the church property adjacent to campus. We look forward to enjoying these new spaces and the wonderful activities that field lighting will make possible.

2022 GALA SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Bill Kidd’s Toyota

HEADMISTRESS SPONSOR

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

1873 SPONSORS

The Acevedo Family Alessia ’22, Isabella ’24

The Bradley T. MacDonald Family Foundation

Kaela ’24, Karli ’25, & Kirsten Pizzico ’25

BuildingPoint Northeast

Calvert Mechanical Solutions

Honey & Michael Constantine

The Herwig Family • Kaelin ’24

Jerry’s Toyota Kelly Benefits

Maria’s Tag & Title

Truist

Nancy ’67 & Steve Whalen

ONYX AND GOLD SPONSOR Scott & Susan Wilfong

Julie ’95, Sarah ’00, & Madison ’21

BLUE BLAZER SPONSORS Apartment Services

The Benassi/Harbold/Saxe Group at Merrill Lynch ChemStation Chesapeake/ Maryland Chemical Company, Inc. Colleen ’87 & Luke Driscoll • Grace ’18, Tara ’22

Edward St. John Foundation/ St. John Properties

The Flowers Family • Erin ’24

Brian & Jill Kroneberger • Sarah ’15, Emma ’22

The Lynn Family • Natalie ’16, Anna ’24

NDP Parents’ Association Marlene & John Schiech • Kristen ’06

RED ROSE SPONSORS

Aqua Vision Care, LLC

The Nnabue/Mezu Family BiancaRose ’26 Archdiocese of Baltimore Karyn ’93 & Ken Bauer

The Buedel Family DEX Imaging, LLC, a Staples Company eCampus.com

FlynnO’Hara Uniforms Lilly ’90 & David Hunter Anna Kate ’23, Georgia ’26

The Mangione Family The Saxon Family Mia ’26, Madison ’28

SC&H Group

School Sisters of Notre Dame Atlantic-Midwest Province David & Kathryn Schroder Allie ’21, Nora ’26

Sentral Services

The Shaeffer Wealth Advisory Group at RBC Wealth Management SpeedPro Imaging

The Bouchard Family Emma ’22, Lily ’26

Towson Orthopaedic Associates

2022 ALUMNAE BINGO

Due to the pandemic, Alumnae Bingo, historically held in January, was moved to early May and held as part of Reunion Weekend. Over $13,000 was raised for the Alumnae Association Scholarship. The scholarship is a legacy, need-based scholarship and currently supports seven NDP students. Bingo, this year, moves back to its winter date. We hope to see you there!

NDP DEDICATES THE BATZA & SIMON ACADEMIC SERVICES AND ENRICHMENT CENTER

Transformation takes on many forms at Notre Dame Preparatory School. Picture the shy sixth grader walking cautiously through the Gateway. Then envision that same young woman, seven years later, roses and diploma held high crossing confidently through the Gateway, ready to grab her future with both hands. This transformation is Notre Dame’s mission and prayer for each student who chooses the school.

While some begin their NDP journey with confidence at the onset, for others, it is nurtured thanks to a team of teachers, tasked with ensuring academic success. This understanding was the genesis behind the Batza & Simon Academic Services and Enrichment Center. In a new, beautifully appointed, welcoming space, students who need extra help with their studies are encouraged to check in with the Center’s study skills, reading, and math resource teachers. Among those positioned to help are Stacy Handscomb Wilson ’84, math tutor, and Marge Potter ’68, learning resource specialist. A longtime fixture at NDP, Potter has spent years building up students, drawing out a confidence that she sees but they have yet

to discover. “Our goal is to empower the student to see that she owns the learning. Our time together really becomes student-driven,” she says. “When they graduate, every one of my girls has lost the ‘t’ in ‘can’t’.”

Many of the students arrive at the Academic Services and Enrichment Center looking for extra help with assignments, while others arrive following an analysis of entrance exams or through teacher referral. The Center serves students in both the Middle and Upper Levels and has come at the perfect time for senior Gibby Kelly, who says, “The Center has helped me prepare to move on to college, to become confident and independent in all my studies.”

Students work in the Center during free periods or before and after school. They often show up with an assignment that poses a particular challenge for them, or simply for general guidance with a class. Carol Yoos, the Center’s reading resource teacher, adds, “The phasing system is a gift to every student and teacher at NDP, but there are certain instances when a student needs accommodations, extra support, advocacy.”

Students steered towards the Center through the admissions process are charged a nominal fee to access services. “In many cases it comes out to less than what a family might spend on a private tutor,” adds Potter.

The Batza & Simon Academic Services and Enrichment Center was created thanks to the generosity of several individuals: Michael and Patricia Kay Batza and their daughters Michelle Batza Railey ’86 and Maureen Batza Morris ’86; Susie Williams Simon ’71; and Martin

and Carole Bojarski Eby ’79. The reading program in the Center is named after Simon, who believes reading strength is the foundation to academic success. “I envision NDP being a leader in the area of reading resources and being the inspiration for other independent schools to offer such programs to their students,” said Simon when the program launched. “I’d like to see the program provide students with the necessary skills not only to enjoy reading, but also to enhance their personal and professional life goals.” g

Clockwise from top left: Reading Specialist Carol Yoos with NDP students; Susie Williams Simon with Class of 1971 friends; Michelle Batza Railey ’86 represents her family at the Center blessing; Susie and Michelle along with the Eby Family; Center dedication and blessing event in June

IMPACT OF YOUR GIVING IMPACT OF YOUR GIVING

Working in the library, I have the unique experience of observing and engaging with the students, whether it is from freshman year through graduation, or whether it is from middle school through graduation. I have a front-row seat to watching confidence bloom and intellect grow. I observe wonderful acts of kindness and patience; I see empathy unfold between students and their peers, and faculty and their students. Watching the transformation of these students as they mature through the years, with the skills and the moral character they need to succeed in the world on their own, fills me with light.

—Kristie Bailey DeMaso ’88, Library

The thing that sets NDP apart from other schools is the hard-working and supportive community. NDP’s community sets us up for success, especially during hard times. During those hard challenges, you will always have someone, whether it’s a teacher or a student, supporting you no matter what. NDP’s community pushes you to be the best version of yourself in every aspect of life, so you can transform the world and have a successful future.

—Lilly Quigley ’26

I work with students over their entire time at NDP. I have seen them arrive as sixth or ninth-grade students and leave transformed as young women who will change the world. Through service opportunities and clubs, students become aware of issues that affect people. They become informed about what people need to support them. Then, they become the catalyst to make other people aware. These students align with those who came before them to make the world a better place.

—Marge Baumbach Potter ’68, Learning Resources/Counseling

I see our students coming to know God’s love in their lives when they share their prayer experiences. They reflect on God’s love for them in writing poetry, painting, and photographing the ordinary. Their contemplation of the ordinary so often reveals God’s presence in their lives.

—Mike Wielgopolski, Religion

I have seen growth in myself through lacrosse. I was a freshman on varsity and was super nervous that I wouldn’t fit in, but everyone was so welcoming, and it felt like home. I came out of my shell and became a better person and teammate.

—Ella Cox ’25

NDP is set apart from other schools because our sisterhood is stronger than ever, and it is in our nature to always serve and help others.

—Heaven Williams ’23

from the Director of Advancement

Growth and progress have always been the path that Notre Dame Preparatory School has forged, and these two initiatives are possible only through change. Change can often be disruptive and destructive, but it can just as easily be innovative and exciting. In the world of education, change is a necessity: For the benefit of our girls, we cannot be content to always do things the same way, and the pandemic magnified the need to always be looking ahead, to be problem-solvers, and to invest in tomorrow’s leaders. Those leaders are the students at Notre Dame Preparatory School.

I am new to the Notre Dame Prep community, but I am not new to the impact that a girls’ school education provides. Now, more than ever, it is essential to provide girls the academic, social/emotional, and leadership opportunities needed to navigate the world in front of them. A girls’ school guarantees a safe place for students to discover and uncover their passions and interests without a fear of failure or ridicule. The compassion and encouragement found in a girls’ school live in all areas of NDP, and your generosity continues to make this a reality.

The investment of your personal time, talents, and treasures has allowed NDP to forge on in spite of the challenges that have been presented to the world of education. You have made it possible for more girls to attend this fabulous school; you have made it possible for our co-curricular offerings to be successful and to increase; and you have made it possible for our small community to have an impact on the larger community, not only here in Maryland but in the entire world. NDP graduates—as well as their faculty and the other adults with whom they work—are change-makers, and that is evident as you read about the profiles of our community members who are highlighted throughout this magazine.

Your leadership and generosity are inspirational, and I am grateful to join you in being a member of the NDP community.

With many thanks,

Carol Killebrew Director of

Advancement

We hope you have enjoyed reading about the impact of your giving at NDP. You will notice that our donor lists are available only online this year. We have made this change in order to support our school’s Green Schools Initiative and commitment to global citizenship, as well as the School Sisters of Notre Dame imperative to care for creation. If you would like a hard copy of the donor lists, please reach out to our Advancement Office (410-583-8797). g