5/20 Virtual Kindergarten Round Up 4:30pm
5/24-5/28 8th Grade Finals
5/28 ND yAy Day
5/31 No School Memorial Day
6/2 8th Grade Graduation - Evening Mass
6/3 Last Day of School
6/4 No School Teacher Workshop
6/7 Summer Camps Begin
From Our Principal - Dr. Bonita Jungels
Warm Greetings!
What a joy to see and feel the sunshine this week. I was able to plant my flowers last weekend, thanks to our Gerten’s flower fundraiser (great gratitude to the people who made that happen). My flower pots looked amazing….and then as I was leaving for school this morning, I noticed that some neighborhood deer apparently had a feast on some of my flowers (and some hosta) last night. Life is an adventure Every. Single. Day. Praise God.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Top 20 Parent session this week. We are so grateful for your participation as we implement this new Social Emotional Learning curriculum at NDA. We recorded the session, which was facilitated by Paul Bernabei, Co-Founder and Director of Top 20 Training, so that those of you who could not attend the session can still view it. The information is really valuable, not only in knowing what your child is learning, but also in offering new perspectives on parenting - many strategies that I wish I had known when my children were younger. I will have to implement these ideas when I become a grandparent!
We have several upcoming changes to our preschool staff for next year. We celebrate all of the life changes that our current wonderful classroom leads are enjoying and thank them for their time at NDA. We also look forward to what new gifts and talents our incoming preschool leadership will bring to our students and families.
We have a couple of calendar changes for the 2021-2022 school year. First, our 6th grade students will now be going to Eagle Bluff in October. We had originally thought we could make reservations for both 6th and 7th grade to attend Eagle Bluff in November but that date fell through. They cannot accommodate both our 6th and 7th grade classes next year. Additionally, we are trying a new format for conferences in the fall. We have scheduled one full day of conferences K-8 rather than two early release days. We will pilot and evaluate this scenario and then determine how we best move forward with conferences in the spring.
We completed our NWEA MAP testing this week. The student growth progress will be shared with you via direct mail. Please discuss and celebrate your child’s successes and growth in a very challenging year! And know that this is one snapshot in time and one moment in your child’s education journey. The significance of learning in person at NDA this year far outweighs any learning loss that any of our students may have experienced through the pandemic. Learning and growing happened through this challenging time and for that we are so thankful.
I had the opportunity to go Feed My Starving Children on Monday night with my Bible Study group. FMSC has continued to pack meals through the last several months and needs more volunteers to get meals packed for the hungry. Please consider signing up for a time with your family. In just two hours of time, the group my Bible Study joined (43 of us in total) packed enough meals to feed 43 children in Nicaragua for an entire year. That is life changing!
Wishing you an amazing weekend!
Dr. Bonita Jungels
Jesus said, I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
John 15:11
Information & Reminders
Mask Requirement
We are excited about the progress being made with the pandemic and we are grateful for vaccinations. Please note that everyone will continue to wear masks at NDA for the remainder of the school year per the Archdiocese. Our Pandemic Preparedness and Readiness Plan remains unchanged at this time.
Uniform Reminders
We could use a little help from parents in the morning. Please check your student for the proper socks and shoes as they leave for school. Our uniform policy states the following about footwear. Socks must be worn at all times, compliment uniform attire, and be in good condition. Socks that clearly look out of place or inappropriate will not be permitted. Students should wear solid socks in the colors of white, navy, or black. Grades 6-8 may wear brown or khaki with khaki pants, shorts and skorts. Shoes must be neat and clean-soled without a heel. No open-toe or open-heel shoes, clogs, Crocs, sandals or boots. No wheels or lights. Appropriate footwear is required for Physical Education class: sneakers, basketball, or any other athletic shoe with non-marking soles.
Greetings from the Lions’ Den Café!
As year’s end approaches, it is time to check your Sycamore lunch balances to make sure accounts are up to date. As a reminder, school hot lunch has been free since January so extra entree ($2.50) and milk (.60) are the only items carrying a fee. Also, any 8th grader who will not have a sibling at NDA next year needs to return the Lunch Balance forms that were sent home last week. Please send in the form to the school office or email cafeteria@nda-mn.org. Thank you!
Play Note
Thank you to all of you who have sent in Star Notes to our Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat actors! They have appreciated all the kind words that have come in so far. The Wall of Fame boards will come down on Friday, May 21st so please send in your Star Notes now to the school office. Star Notes can still be purchased online at https://nda-mn.org/events/play/, click on "Purchase Star Notes”.
Virtual Top 20 Parent Session
Thank you to all who joined us for our spring parent session! Thanks to our presenter, Paul Bernabei, co-founder of Top 20, we recorded the event. Use this link to watch this session and learn more about this new student curriculum.
Virtual Kindergarten Round Up
We are excited to welcome our incoming Kindergarten families! A Zoom link was sent via email to all of our rising Kindergarten families. If you did not receive an email, please contact jmeyer@nda-mn.org. Round up is next Thursday, May 20, at 4:30pm. We will start the event with a story from Ms. Keenan and then we will transition to information for adults.
NDA Signs
We are so proud of our families and how we all worked together to manage this incredibly difficult school year. Next week, we will be handing out yard and window signs and ask that you consider sharing your school pride for NDA. Please help us continue to spread the word about NDA.
CSCOE May Parent Session: Technology and Social Media
The use of social media and technology is one of the most popular areas of concern for parents of children and adolescents. How much is too much? How do we keep our kids safe online? What about the constant social comparisons? This session will focus on the latest research on use of social media and technology. It will also help us understand the relationship between brain development and what drives the need to feel connected online. Parenting tips will be offered. https://calendly.com/drjulesnolan/parenting-technology-and-social-media
5/18 at 7pm
Recess Sign Up
May dates are now available, thank you for volunteering to help us with recess duty! NDA Recess Sign Up Genius.
Preschool Announcements
Mrs. Marlissa Carpenter
Marlissa Carpenter has been helping with the Discovery Center at Notre Dame Academy for the past 4 years, and Site Directing full time for the past two years. She and her husband Jacob are expecting their second baby at the end of September/early October, and she wishes to stay home with her young kiddos for the early years, and therefore will not be returning to NDA in the Fall. Marlissa has enjoyed learning and growing alongside your family and will miss the relationships she has developed with so many of the students and staff.
Mrs. Sarah Van-Valkenberg-Gernert
Mrs. V's husband has been applying for jobs with his career field, and his job could take them anywhere in the country. With the need to be able to pick up and move if or when he gets offered a position, Mrs. V. won't be able to return to NDA for next year. Sarah has learned so much from her time at NDA and has made lots of connections that she will cherish for a lifetime. She has learned a lot about herself personally as an educator, and looks forward to using this knowledge to become a better teacher in the future. She will always remember her students from her "first real classroom", and wishes nothing but the best for all of her students next year in Kindergarten. Thank you for allowing her to spend the year with your children.
Mrs. Melissa Bodea
As you may already know, Melissa Bodea is expecting a baby boy at the end of June. She will continue at NDA through the end of the school year and then transfer to LADC's Trinity Falls location in Minneapolis for next school year. Mrs. Bodea will be bringing her baby with her to attend the infant program there. She is very grateful for the two years spent teaching at NDA and getting to know all the families and children. Although she will miss the NDA community, she is excited to continue with LADC and have her baby attend the program as well.
New Site Director for 2021-22
Dear Notre Dame Academy Families,
Hi! My name is Kim Berardino and I will be the new Site Director and Kinderstart Lead Teacher at Notre Dame Academy. I was born and raised in the southside of Chicago. I am the product of Catholic education for 12 years. Upon graduating from UCLA with a BA in History, I embarked on my career as an elementary school teacher. Subsequently, I obtained a BS in Nursing from UNC and worked as a pediatric nurse in Augusta, GA.
After spending time home to be with my two young children, I returned to the teaching profession in 2006. It wasn’t until I relocated to Minneapolis from Parkland, Florida eight years ago, that I found my true calling – early childhood education. I worked as the kindergarten assistant at Notre Dame Academy in the 2013-2014 school year before I joined the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic School community in Rogers, MN as the Preschool Teacher and Director. After teaching preschool at MQP for four years, I joined the Discovery Center programs and relocated to St. Helena Discovery Center, where I have been the Lead Kinderstart Teacher and Site Director for the last two years.
I am so excited to be returning to NDA and being an integral part of the school community.
Kim Beradino, Lead Teacher and Site Director
Summer Information
Preschool Summer Wow
We have a few openings within our Summer Wow program. If you have not registered for the summer camp here at NDA for your preschooler, please do so via your Procare account.
NDA Summer Camp 2021
Spring has sprung, which means summer is just around the corner! Join us for another summer of fun at NDA Summer Camp 2021! Please see the attached flyer for more information. Access the google form to register for camp! NDA Summer Camp is open to all NDA students entering grades 1 through 8. Incoming Kindergartners are encouraged to register for the preschool Summer WOW program. Once camp begins, we will continue protecting our pods and will unfortunately not be able to accommodate late registrations. Registration is due May 28. If submitted by April 30, the registration fee will be reduced to $25 from $45. Please visit our Summer 2020 blog (Password: NDA) to see the kinds of activities your student will take part in this summer! Contact Mr. Stephens with any questions at lionslair@nda-mn.org! Summer here we come!
Summer Learning with Mr. Kobe
Mr. Kobe invites you to join him for two classes this summer! He is part of a team of Catholic School teachers leading courses out of the campus at Our Lady of Grace. The summer classes are offered in one week segments and run Monday - Thursday, 8:30-11:30am. To register, use this link.
BIOME BOOGIE! For students entering 1st - 5th Grade Monday, June 14 - Thursday, June 17, 8:30-11:30am
Join us for enriching mornings as we boogie into biomes! Students learn and apply their understanding of weather, climate, land, and water across reading, writing, art, and math activities. Sign up for a week of engaging games, activities, projects, and growth. Students will rotate between reading and writing portions, art, and math and science. This camp is led by Ms. Ernst, Ms. Rogers, Mr. Kobe, and Ms. Hazard. Each week is unique! Cost: $165 per week, per student.
*Students will be grouped based on age.
STEEAM POWER! For students entering 3rd - 8th Grade Monday, July 12 - Thursday, July 15, 8:30-11:30am and/or Monday, July 19 - Thursday, July 22, 8:30-11:30am
Propel yourself each morning for adventures that embrace everything that moves! Using their STEEAM Power, students synergize science, technology, engineering, English, art, and math for fun filled learning and adventures! Sign up for one or both weeks of engaging games, activities, projects, and growth. Students will rotate between reading and writing portions, art, and math & science. This camp is led by Ms. Rogers, Ms. Swanson, Mr. Kobe, Ms. Hazard, and Mrs. Rossow. Each week is unique! Cost: $165 per week, per student.
*Students will be grouped based on age.
High School News
Holy Family
Join the summer fun at Holy Family Catholic High School! Our camps provide opportunities to discover new interests and improve skills. Learn more and register for camps at http://www.hfchs.org/firecamps.
Holy Family
Join the Holy Family Dance Team for the 2021-22 season! Tryouts for the team will be held on May 24-25 from 4:00-6:00pm and May 26 from 3:30-6:00pm at Holy Family Catholic. The team is open to students at Notre Dame Academy who are currently in grades 6-8th. A virtual meeting for new athletes & parents will be held on Monday, May 17 at 6:00pm. Email Coach Megan at holyfamilydanceteam@gmail.com for more information about the program, to receive the virtual meeting link or to register for tryouts.
Benilde-St. Margaret's
Summer is right around the corner and so are summer camp opportunities for students! Benilde-St. Margaret’s will be holding a wide variety of summer camps throughout June and July, from drama to French camp, engineering to virtual reality, lacrosse to tennis, and many more. Camp offerings are open to students as young as third grade. Interested families can register today! Learn more: https://www.bsmredknights.org/page/show/6100515-2021-summer-camps.
St. Thomas Academy
Saint Thomas Academy is having a “Splash Sale” in advance of our summer revitalization project to campus. Faculty and staff will have books, art, multimedia, sports equipment and more for sale on Sunday, May 16 from 12:00 – 4:00pm in the Holtz Gym. Saint Thomas Academy is located at 949 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights.
Photos
Parent Prayer
Prayer Before Sleep
Dear God, as I lay me down to sleep, relax the tension of my body; calm the restlessness of my mind; still the thoughts which worry and perplex me. Help me to rest myself and all my problems in your strong and loving arms. Let your Spirit speak to my mind and heart while I am asleep, so that, when I wake up in the morning, I may find that I have received in the night-time, light for my way; strength for my tasks; peace for my worries; forgiveness for my sins. Grant me sleep tonight, and tomorrow power to live. Amen.
- Author Unknown
Contacts & Links
Attendance
Please email the school office
or call (952) 358-3500 any time your child will be absent, late or leaving early.
