We are a Catholic school. The Gospel values are at the heart of our school life. As a faith community, we meet every morning to pray and sing hymns together and to offer the new day to God. We inspire in our girls a sense of their spiritual relationship with God which informs their daily lives. We encourage personal prayers as well as the public celebration of the Holy Mass on Sundays and on some weekdays. Retreats are also organised during term time to give opportunities for reflection and recollection.
As a caring community, and holding on to our value of care, Notre Dame Girls’ Academy, Abuja has an organised system for pastoral care. Though this is a responsibility for all staff in the school, the Pastoral/ Chaplaincy Team constituting three members of staff including a religious sister, ensures that this is effectively carried out and every child receives good attention. Our pastoral policy ensures that each child is carefully monitored while being allowed space to develop as an individual.
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances.”
– William
Shakespeare
Drama plays a major role in nurturing girls’ self- confidence by
developing creative, social and communication skills. It
provides the opportunity for students to express themselves as
well as to explore and find themselves. At Notre Dame Girls’
Academy, Abuja, opportunities are provided for students to
develop their skills both on stage and behind the scenes in a
wide range of productions as well as inter-house drama
competitions.
PSHE- Personal, Social and Health Education
The school is committed to the integral development of her
students. Key health issues such as drugs, alcohol, sex
education, diet and general lifestyle are covered. There is also
a focus on study skills, citizenship, the environment and
current affairs
Though there may be no generally acceptable definition of the
term “curriculum”, a good number of educationists agree that it
goes beyond the syllabus to embrace all learning provided for by
the school, planned or unplanned and the total experience of the
child in the school. The curriculum is an instrument through
which the aims of the school and the purposes of education can
be achieved. Subsequently, the curriculum needs to be broad-
based (including both the formal and the informal) to achieve
this objective.
Some extra-curricular activities carried out in the school
include athletics and clubs such as the literary societies,
music, dance, science, art, commercial, departmental and
religious clubs and student government bodies. We believe that
the informal curriculum supports the formal curriculum and
provides skills needed for our students’ future careers.
Hence, in Notre Dame, effort is geared towards enriching the
curriculum to meet the students’ needs and the school’s
objective of educating girls for life.
In Notre Dame Girls Academy, we are conscious that learning does
not take place only in the classroom. School Clubs and Societies
are an integral part of the school’s curriculum designed to
cater for students’ hobbies and interests. These informal
activities are believed to extend interest in the specific
activity, promote friendship, social and leadership skills and
competencies, self-awareness and development and positive
values. They also provide skills needed for the students’ future
careers.
Notwithstanding the importance of these clubs and societies,
there is a regulated number of clubs or extra-curricular
activities that students may engage in. Great steps are taken to
ensure that they are well coordinated in order to achieve their
intended aims. The school clubs include: Creative writing,
Justice and Peace, Science Club, Debating, Press, Music, Art,
French Club and Gardening, among others. The religious societies
include the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Legion of Mary and Catechism
classes for students preparing for different sacraments.