Recent graduate of Notre Dame Marist Academy says her middle school experience was perfect preparation for high school.
Jessica Kennedy, who recently graduated from Notre Dame Marist Academy, played the part of Belle in the February 2018 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.
"I was super nervous to be starting at a new school where I didn’t know that many people," she said. "But I asked God for support and to help me fit in in the new school. I believe that He guided me and put people in my path because I've become really good friends with many people and I am glad He was there to help me."
Kennedy said she definitely will miss the teachers and staff from Notre Dame’s middle division.
"I'm very excited to be starting as a freshman at NDP," she said. "I have heard great things about the school and I'm very happy to be able to continue my education with my friends from Marist."
Still, Kennedy said, she's a little nervous about another new stage in her academic career, although with NDP literally just down the hall from ND Marist and a big sister (Kathryn) who will be an NDP senior in the fall, it's not unknown territory.
"My older sister has told me that the teachers will help me and it's also good that I know other kids who currently are going to the high school," she said. "I am especially looking forward to Irish Week next year. I know that the freshman will be the underdogs, as usual, but I'm excited to see a high school Irish Week that is grade versus grade."
Kennedy, who was active in the middle school's theatre productions, said her 6th through 8th grades were fun.
"I made a lot of new friends and the teachers were super nice," she said. "I came to the middle school from a different school, so I didn’t know many people there. But, I'm glad to say that I made new friends and my three years there were great."
One of her favorite classes in the middle division was Mr. [Mark] McGreevy’s 8th-grade religion class. "It was a hard class, but he made it fun. I learned a lot from the movies we watched in there and there were lots of good memories with my classmates."
Ironically, McGreevy also used the word "fun" when talking about his former student.
"Jessica has an infectious personality," he said. "She is genuinely interested in the subject matter and is eager to learn. She asks great questions, which stir the interest of other students. Every day is a day of discovery for Jessica and as a teacher, you could not ask for more from a student. She really makes teaching fun."
Felicia Guest teaches the 6th- and 7th-grade Individuals and Societies class in Notre Dame's middle school. She said Kennedy is a born leader.
"She demonstrates leadership through her actions and words as well as by example," Guest said. "She's always willing to lend a helping hand to her teachers and peers and she respects the opinions of others and exemplifies the balance needed to be a Christian person, upright citizen and academic scholar."
Now, having conquered middle school, Kennedy can't wait for ND Prep in the fall.
"These past few years have been so great at the middle school, but now I am excited to start the next four years of my life at Notre Dame," said Kennedy, who nevertheless acknowledges that she will miss ND Marist.
Kennedy, center, said she’s heard great things about NDP and is very happy to be able to continue her education with her friends from Marist.
Kennedy also noted one other thing she'll miss about ND Marist.
"I will miss my visits to Ms. [Amy] McLeod’s office," she said. "She is the secretary for the middle division and she always has a smile on her face and a mint to pass out. I could chat with her all day if they's let me. Sometimes I would even be late to class because of our chats. She was one of the nicest people I met in the middle division, and I hope I can keep visiting her office in the years to come."
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.