Message from the President

It is Finished.

The last building is completed. The Certificate of Occupancy is in a frame on the Lobby wall. The dedication of the building and Chapel was a beautiful and prayerful event which the 200 attendees used only superlatives to describe. Today the students had chorus, class and then lunch in the new Arts and Humanities Building. The expansion fro Excellence Campaign which began 4 years ago is finished! But the work of Excelling in Liberating Education for our 750 girls continues.

I have always been aware of the long tradition of heroic, pioneer women who made enormous life changes and inspiring sacrifices to establish schools on this continent, one of which was NDA. I have been enormously challenged to be part of that tradition, which is reflected in our Mission Statement:

In the tradition of the Congregation of Notre Dame, the mission of Notre Dame Academy is to advance, embody and excel at liberating education...

NDA is in its 2nd century of providing quality education to the girls and young women of Staten Island. As I start my 2nd term as president, it is my commitment to see that all of our students are prepared to be transforming agents in our world and in our church.

Sr. Patricia with NDA Kindergarteners

Sr. Patricia Corley, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, arrived on campus just in time for the school year, and just in time to oversee the opening of the school's Early Childhood Education Center. 

And a little child shall lead you. 

The “little children” pictured here (three sets of twins and one set of triplets) are all in Kindergarten at NDA.  They symbolize the reason that NDA exists.  They call us to create for them an educational and spiritual environment which will prepare them for an increasingly complex, competitive and challenging world.  These “little children” are the future of NDA, of our families, of our Church and of our world.  I am committed to creating and maintaining a standard of excellence that will enable all of our girls and young women to develop each of the gifts with which they have been personally blessed.

In the 17th century, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame, said: “Teaching is the work most suited to draw down the graces of God if it is done with purity of intention, without distinction between the poor and the rich, between relatives and friends and strangers, between the pretty and the plain, the gentle and the grumblers….”.

St. Marguerite’s vision continues into the 21st century.  Teachers, and all those who support the work of teaching are uniquely suited to draw down the blessings of God on their work.  I will continue to support an environment at NDA where the gifts of each and all staff persons are valued and nourished, where each one sees her/his work as ministry, where we all become “agents of our own transformation and the transformation of society”.

Sr. Patricia Corley, CND
President

About NDA
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St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Belief Statements
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Message from the President

 

 

 

Notre Dame Academy 2009