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Educational Programs
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| | Notre Dame School is a family of faith. Love of God and neighbor are at the center of all our pursuits, and the cornerstone on which we are founded. Our students are spiritually enriched by participating in classroom-prepared liturgies, daily prayer experiences, and comprehensive training in the core beliefs and history of the Catholic faith. Ample opportunities for service are provided, and our students have proven to be respectful citizens and an asset to the entire community. Through formation in faith and cooperation with God's plan, we strive to create a culture of life on our campus.
Putting our professed faith in to action, our students serve many local charities, including Jump Rope for Heart, St. Jude’s Hospital Math-A-Thon, Catholic Ladies Relief, Red Cross, the Jesus Center and local convalescent homes. Students also serve many other organizations and individuals through service hours, which are required in grade 8 for graduation. | |
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| | Notre Dame School has offered a highly respected program of academic excellence for 80 years and counting. High-achievers and well-above-average test scores are the products of a committed and hard-working faculty and extensive program of study. Our students consistently excel at the high school level, as evidenced by their involvement in AP courses, student leadership, and placement in colleges and universities of their choice. In addition, Notre Dame students have earned honors in local and state-level speech and essay contests, spelling and geography bees, and science and history fairs. Thus, our graduates demonstrate preparation for a rich and full academic life - at the primary, secondary and collegiate level.
To view the content standards are for each grade, please visit the Catholic School Department's website at http://www/csdsac.org/curriculum.html.
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| | A commitment to academic excellence has been integral to Notre Dame’s success since its inception. One of the many measures of academic success is performance on standardized tests. Notre Dame, as part of the Sacramento Diocese of schools, takes the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) in the fall each school year. The results are normed against all students, in both public and private schools, taking the ITBS nationally. We have exciting results to report for all grade levels, with rather impressive results as students enter junior high grades. Results for grades 3 through 8 for the 2009 school year can be viewed by clicking below.
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| | Note that students take the test in the first month of their grade level (e.g. 8.1 is 8th grade, 1st month). | |
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| | The fine arts, including music, drama, and formalized art instruction, have always been a part of Notre Dame School's heritage. Students receive consistent opportunities in these areas, including:
- Comprehensive K-8 music instruction
- Choir (optional Grades 4-8)
- Involvement and leadership in parish and school liturgies
- Individual participation in music organizations, specialty programs, honor choir and solo ensemble
- Hands-on art instruction and annual Fine Arts Night
- Christmas Music/Drama Program
Technology instruction is now formalized in grades 1-8. Utilizing a mobilized laptop computer lab, students receive training in a variety of applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, power point) as well as keyboarding and programming opportunities. Research and Internet-based projects are integrated with classroom instruction, and the ethical usage of modern programs and information is always emphasized.
Developmental Physical Education is an integral part of Notre Dame's curriculum. Areas of study include creative movement, body awareness, and coordination. Students learn the fundamentals of team and individual sports, the importance of physical fitness, and lifetime recreational activities. Sportsmanship and personal best are emphasized in all activities.
|  Technology Lab |
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