Where is Notre Dame located?
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Middle School are located together on our campus in Pontiac at 1300 Giddings Road (48340). Notre Dame's Lower School is located at 1425 Giddings Road, also in Pontiac, just down the street from the main campus.
What are your school day hours?
All students at the Lower School, including Pre-Kindergarten (PK) and Kindergarten (K), attend school five days a week from 7:45 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. The school day for our students in grades 6 to 12 runs from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Do you offer extended care in the morning and afternoon?
Yes. Parents are able to register their children for our Extended Care service, which operates Monday through Friday from 7 to 7:30 a.m., and again from 3:05 to 6 p.m. Families must pre-register to use Extended Care during the school year. After registering, they are entitled to use the service whenever necessary, and are then billed only for the time their children attend.
What is your average class size?
Year-to-year, Notre Dame Lower consistently maintains an average class size of about 15 to 17 students.
Do you accept mid-year transfer students?
Notre Dame Lower School is willing to consider admitting capable and mission-appropriate students once the school year has begun.
In which communities do most of your students live?
Notre Dame Lower School draws students from a wide variety of communities, including: Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Commerce Township, Davisburg, Farmington Hills, Grand Blanc, Lake Orion, Macomb, Milford, Oakland Township, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Royal Oak, Shelby Township, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy, Sterling Heights, Troy, Washington, Waterford, and West Bloomfield.
Do you offer any special classes for students?
Yes. In addition to the comprehensive grade-level course work, all students attend the following classes during the school week: art, music, technology, physical education, library and Spanish. With the exception of Spanish, these “specials” are conducted once, twice or three times a week depending on grade level. All specials classes are taught by teachers dedicated to instruct that specific subject.
How often do students take Spanish?
All students in PK through Grade 5 attend Spanish five days a week.
Is transportation available?
Our current bus routes run every school day to and from the Oakland Twp./Rochester, Shelby Twp./Rochester Hills, Clarkston/Lake Orion, and the Waterford/White Lake areas, as well the Woodward corridor into Beverly Hills, Bloomfield Hills, and Birmingham. Some stops include Holy Family Regional School south campus, Holy Name, St. Hugo, St. Joseph, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, and Our Lady of Refuge. We offer semester pricing, as well as single day passes. We continually explore adding bus routes to accommodate students from other areas.
How often do students attend liturgy?
Students at Notre Dame Lower School attend liturgy together once a week. Parents and guests always are welcomed to attend. On special school or seasonal occasions we attend all-school liturgies at the main campus just down the street, at which students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 celebrate the Mass together as one school community. In addition to these celebrations, we begin each school day with a morning reflection and prayer.
Do students wear uniforms?
Yes. All students wear uniforms that may be purchased from Dennis Uniform, located at 1532 N. Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills, MI 48326 (248-340-8890).
Do you have a hot lunch program?
Yes. Flik, which also provides food service at our main campus, offers several lunch options for Lower School students daily. The cost for a lunch is $4 per day. Students also have the option of bringing a lunch from home. Students also may pre-order milk—white or chocolate—to enjoy with their lunches.
Do you offer need-based financial aid?
Yes. As a way to support families in their pursuit of a Catholic education, Notre Dame offers financial aid to families that demonstrate need. For more information about financial aid, please click on the Affording Notre Dame link on the right side of this page.
Are Notre Dame Lower School students ever moved up a grade level in reading or math?
The curriculum at Notre Dame Lower School is designed to meet the needs of all students, particularly those already functioning at a higher level than peers in their same grade. At Notre Dame we take great care at placing children in the appropriate grade based on age, maturity and academic ability. Those students achieving at a higher level than their peers will be challenged accordingly by their teachers, who make assessments on an ongoing basis. When advancing to the Middle School, Notre Dame students will have opportunities to take advanced courses in mathematics, and possibly modern language.
Do you offer an International Baccalaureate program?
Yes. All three schools of Notre Dame—Lower, Middle and Preparatory—are authorized “World Schools” through the International Baccalaureate Organization. Notre Dame Prep was the first Catholic school in Michigan authorized to offer the IB curriculum, and NDPMA was the first Catholic school in the United States to offer the IB at all three levels.
What extracurricular opportunities are available at the school?
Notre Dame Lower School offers a variety of school clubs and extracurricular activities. Several clubs meet during the recess period, while others meet after school. Membership in these various clubs affords students the opportunity to explore their talents and gain confidence outside the classroom while beginning to develop leadership skills. For a full list of our extracurricular activities, please click on the Extracurriculars link on the right side of this page.
What is the athletics program like at Notre Dame?
In addition to academic development, students at Notre Dame are encouraged to strive for athletic excellence. We offer competitive Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) athletics for boys and girls in multiple sports throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. The majority of these sports are available to all students beginning in Grade 5, and occasionally are available to students in Grade 4 as well. For a full list of our sports offerings, please click on the Extracurriculars link on the right side of this page.
What are the fine and performing arts programs like at Notre Dame Lower School?
Notre Dame Lower School students are exposed to the fine and performing arts through regular classes and after-school productions, including our all-school Christmas and spring concerts. Students in Grade 3 learn to play the recorder, while students in grades 4 and 5 are able to join beginning band. Drama Club students in grades 3 through 5 stage a play every spring. All students in grades 3 through 5 are eligible to perform in our annual talent show in May.
May I visit the school? May my child spend a shadow day at Notre Dame?
Yes and yes. Parents are invited and encouraged to schedule to attend: Winter Open House (1/26); Admissions Coffees (12/3, 4/30, 5/14); Notre Dame Info Nights (9/26, 2/27); Tuesday Tours (2/11, 3/10, 4/7); and School Day Open House (3/26). We respectfully request that you register in advance for these events in order to help us anticipate your needs. Prospective parents also may schedule a tour during regular school hours. To schedule a tour, please call 248-373-1061.
Students are invited and encouraged to participate in our “Irish for a Day” shadow program almost any day throughout the year. Spending a shadow day at our school is a pre-requisite for admission to the Lower Division. To schedule a shadow day for your child, please complete the form by following this link: http://www.ndpma.org/shadow.
What if I have more questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact Associate Dean of Admissions Corey Porterfield at 248-373-1061 or cporterfield@ndpma.org.