FAQs
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Limited openings are available for the 2009-2010 school year. Applications for the 2010-2011 school year are due by
February 5, 2010.

FAQs

How does Notre Dame Academy differ from archdiocesan schools?
How does Notre Dame Academy differ from other schools?
What is the International Baccalaureate program?
What is the International Baccalaureate Organization?
How many computers are in the computer lab? Will there be computers in the classrooms?
Are donations being sought through an organized fundraising effort?
Can children play sports for their existing team and Notre Dame? What days will games and practices be?
Where will PE be held until a gym is built?
What schools are associated with the CMLA (Catholic Metro League)?
What grades will sports start, and will there be multi-grade groups?
Where will basketball be played?
How much of a focus will be on physical education?
Will there be consideration for non-Catholic children? What will their role be during religion class?
Is financial aid available?
Is hot lunch available?
Are there before- and after-school programs?

How does Notre Dame Academy differ from archdiocesan schools?
Notre Dame Academy is similar to the archdiocesan schools in that it follows the doctrine of the Catholic church and uses a religion curriculum that has been approved by the archdiocese. However, there are some differences. For one, Notre Dame Academy is a Marist-sponsored school and therefore is following the Marist's education principles. Notre Dame Academy also is not eligible to participate in the archdiocesan financial aid program or to receive funding from the archdiocese as archdiocesan schools do. Finally, Notre Dame Academy follows a different academic curriculum based on the guidelines of the International Baccalaureate Organization, as an IB World, and national and State of Georgia curriculum standards.  

How does Notre Dame Academy differ from other schools?
Notre Dame Academy includes Christian principles in all aspects of its programs. The school's size enables individual attention, and teachers are also given clear authority at Notre Dame Academy to incorporate discipline in the classroom to maintain a positive, learning-rich atmosphere for all children. Finally, Notre Dame Academy is unique in its curriculum offerings. Notre Dame Academy has a service learning program and daily physical education. Notre Dame Academy is the first Catholic elementary school in the country to achieve the title of an International Baccalaureate World School. The IB program is rigorous, and is based on the best education models in the world. Back to top

What is the International Baccalaureate program?
The IB program is used in public, private and religious schools across the country and the world. Among other things, the program emphasizes the application of concepts to real-life scenarios, the use of hands-on learning, the presentation of information that appeals to all the senses (vision, audio, tactile) and the study of the same concepts across a range of subjects and grades (called trans-disciplinary learning: reading about a subject in English, learning the science of it and doing word problems incorporating the subject in math). The IB program also emphasizes global awareness and language skills to help students prepare for our increasingly global economy and world. It likewise focuses on the teaching of values such as responsibility. Overall, the curriculum offers a framework schools can tailor locally. For example, the IBO does not publish textbooks and leaves the selection of textbooks up to the individual schools.  

What is the International Baccalaureate Organization?
The IBO was founded in Switzerland in 1968. It authorizes schools to use the IB program, trains teachers, offers curriculum guidance and does extensive research on education. The organization is funded through school fees, the sale of IB materials, donations from foundations such as the Ford Foundation and the Goldman Sachs Foundation, and grants from government entities such as the U.S. Department of Education and other countries including Canada, Switzerland and Japan. Since both public and religious schools use the program, the organization does not take a stance or address specific social or religious issues. These issues are handled locally at the schools. At Notre Dame Academy, they will be addressed following the doctrine of the Catholic church.

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How many computers are in the computer lab? Will there be computers in the classrooms?
The "Smart classrooms" mentioned as a naming opportunity would provide a computer, LCD projector and Smart board in each classroom to enable the teacher to bring any computer program to the entire class. There are 25 computers in the computer lab adjacent to the media center, and there will be six computers in the science lab.  

Are donations being sought through an organized fundraising effort?
Our Advancement Director is in charge of all fundraising initiatives. Funds will be sought from foundations, matching grants, individual parent, staff, faculty, and friend donations and organized fundraisers.

Back to top Can children play sports for their existing team and Notre Dame? What days will games and practices be?
This is a choice for the family. In the interest of fair play to all the children on the team, all children participating in the sport will be expected to attend all practices and games. Games are played on Saturday. Practice times will be set by the coach.

Where will PE be held until a gym is built?
PE will be held outside, weather permitting, even when we have a gym. A part of the program at Notre Dame is to provide the students with time outside every day. During inclement weather, PE will be held in the common area until a gym is built. The ability to build a gym will be determined by long-term planning and fundraising.

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What schools are associated with the CMLA (Catholic Metro League)?
CMLA is an organization of Catholic churches and schools. Most of the metro Atlanta Catholic schools/churches participate, including St. Brigid, St. John Neumann, St. Peter Chanel and OLA.  

What grades will sports start, and will there be multi-grade groups?
The soccer program begins with 4 year-olds and the basketball program begins in the third grade. CMLA organizes the sports by grade level, and there are no multi-grade groups.

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Where will basketball be played?
Games are held at a variety of different schools within the league.  

How much of a focus will be on physical education?
Physical education is one of the three main programs offered at Notre Dame. The physical education program is designed to optimize personal fitness for life and will include daily PE classes.

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Will there be consideration for non-Catholic children? What will their role be during religion class?
Notre Dame Academy is open to a 25 percent enrollment of non-Catholic children. The non-Catholic children will be expected to participate in the religious education program.  

Is financial aid available?
Families can apply for financial aid via the website. Please click on the Admission pages for more information.

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Is hot lunch available?
Yes, Hot lunch is available to those who sign up for it. Students are required to sign up for the entire semester. Notre Dame has a professional chef on staff.  

Are there before- and after-school programs?
Notre Dame Academy offers both before school and after school programs. More information is available under Parent Information.

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