Mission Statement

Notre Dame Academy’s philosophy of educating young women is based on the teachings of Ste Julie Billiart who founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1804. Beginning her work shortly after the French Revolution, Julie believed that a solid education was the necessary tool that would empower and prepare young girls, especially the daughters of the poor, to be strong Christian women.

In all their foundations, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are attentive to St. Julie’s directive “In the schools, teach what is necessary to equip the students for life.” Notre Dame Academy thus seeks to provide for all its students the challenging education that will enable them to develop and use their gifts for their own benefit and for the benefit of all the communities that they will influence. Enriched by the Order’s global dimension, the school offers opportunities for the students to explore ways in which they can join with others to eliminate the causes and alleviate the effects of injustice.

Since 1951, the Academy’s Philosophy of Education has changed in wording but not in substance. The writings of St. Julie, the mission statement of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and the social doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church have formed the basis for the school’s statement of mission. Notre Dame Academy’s present mission statement thus reads as follows:

Notre Dame Academy's philosophy of education is built on the belief that education should prepare students for their roles as Christian women.

We wish to provide our students with the opportunity to become more aware of what is happening in their lives and to assume responsibility for themselves and their community.

In order to learn to make responsible choices, Notre Dame students have the freedom to learn in a school dedicated to high academic standards, and to involve themselves in the community, both utilizing its resources and serving its people.