Category: General

The seasons of six GRACE girls and boys basketball teams culminated in a trip to St. Norbert College on Friday, January 19. The nearly three-month seasons, filled with ups and downs, fun, and lasting memories, saw their finales played on a collegiate court. The opportunity to be announced before the game and to play on the home court of the Green Knights created a memorable experience. 

Special thanks needs to be given to St. Norbert College Athletics staff for hosting and providing a concessions stand, the League Director Ryan & each school’s Athletic Directors for all their time & effort planning, and the coaches & volunteers who gave their time and talents on Friday.

GRACE Athletics has the unique opportunity to play sporting events at St. Norbert College through the CatholicLink partnership. Collaborations with the college offer many invaluable experiences for GRACE students and more opportunities like this will be made available in the future.

Learn more about GRACE athletics and activities here.

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

Get your tickets to see NDA’s production of Annie! A special shout-out to our alumni students performing in the show!

Get your tickets today at ndamusical.ludus.com.

• Cassidy G. – Duffy – Orphan
• Greta F. – Mrs. Grier/Boylan Sister/Ensemble
• Sophia L. – Orphan
• Mary S. – Orphan
• Maddy R. – Star to Be/Boylan Sister/Ensemble
• Emily K. – Pepper – Orphan
• Madison M. – Stage Crew
• Mikayla J. – Stage Crew

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

Alisa Conway is a Notre Dame of De Pere Alumnus and longtime parent volunteer extraordinaire. Alisa has taken on numerous volunteer leadership roles in school including Site Advisory Chair, Building Planning Committee, School Vision Committee, fundraising, and coaching. Alisa spearheads the school book fairs and the Battle of the Books at both the elementary and middle school levels even after her children graduated. Last school year, Alisa coordinated a GRACE-wide Battle of the Books to encourage literacy and friendly inner-system collaboration.

Not only is she an asset to our school community, but she is also an advocate for Catholic education and GRACE. She dreams big and follows through to lay the foundation while bringing out the best in those around her.

One of principal Mares’ favorite examples of Alisa’s dedication to our school occurred in Spring 2019. Alisa was dressed professionally after helping with an important media event announcing the new building project, Mrs. Mares recounted, and immediately after went to coach her older daughter’s middle school track practice. Picture Alisa in heels and a dress, holding her then-toddler daughter, all while positively directing a group of middle school runners!

Alisa is a volunteer powerhouse and a great role model, especially for our female students. Somehow Alisa manages to “do it all” usually with a smile on her face. Alisa is a blessing to the Notre Dame of De Pere family.

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

We are blessed by many amazing and talented teachers at our school. Their dedication, passion, and commitment to education have truly made a difference in our community! Several GRACE educators have been recognized for this recently, including:

• Heather Borlee
• Jacky Cramer
• Scott Farr
• Jean Healy
• Christina Henkel
• Cindy Kabat
• Jennifer Kopp
• Carrie Korinek
• Sarah Marver
• Lindsay McGuan
• Karen Orthober
• Ashley Powell
• Kevin Schwarten
• Ashley Wiensch

The list will be narrowed to a list of Teachers of Distinction and from those, recipients will then be selected for the prestigious Golden Apple Awards.

Thank you to our students and families who recognized these individuals as high-quality educators in areas of professionalism, leadership, and innovation.

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

Please join us for an engaging and informative presentation on “Raising Resilient and Self-Reliant Children” with International Formation and Education Consultant, Sister Pat McCormack, IHM, EDD.

A self-reliant, resilient character is the by-product of daily life practices that nurture security, autonomy, initiative, and industry. When parents apply these practices with consistency, repetition, and continuity, positive identity formation takes root in the child. Over time resilience, self-reliance, and positive self-esteem evolve as byproducts.

This presentation will “unpack” these elements and communicate practical advice, gathered from parents of children in grades K-12 who were recognized for positive self-esteem and character.

This adult event is free of charge and will take place on Monday, January 15, at 6 p.m. at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in the Cathedral Center. The Center is located in the main Church building. Parking in the lot will be available. When you enter, please proceed up the stairs or elevator and the center is straight across. Wine and cheese will be served. All are welcome!

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

Preschool students from Notre Dame of De Pere Catholic School and St. John Paul II Classical School are well on their way to learning about the Mass and God’s love in a successful program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The program started three years ago at NDDP and has grown to include all four sections of the preschool population. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a program for the faith and spiritual formation of the child. Its focus is to deepen the child’s existing relationship with God. It encourages a personal prayer life, full participation in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, and the development of a deeper understanding of Catholic identity and tradition. This is accomplished through the use of materials, prayer, song, listening to the Word of God and giving each child time to work with provided materials. There is a short group lesson and then time is given for individual prayers and play.

This CGS initiative at Notre Dame of De Pere is led by Mrs. Jane Charneski, Discipleship Coordinator and trained catechist teacher and assisted by Mrs. Jennifer Kopp, trained catechist teacher for Level I for NDDP three- and four-year-old students. One or two days each week, these students meet in the Atrium classroom, which is set up with child-sized religious education materials. The CGS program is a tie-in with the school’s community and curriculum. The liturgical calendar is observed with colors and songs, and Bible verses are read and reviewed from the weekly scripture from Mass each week.

Mrs. Charneski shares, “All four sections are thriving with little learners on their ourney of falling in love with Jesus.” The student and family response to this program has been overwhelmingly positive. Families are invited to observe or help out and to sit in on class periods to see the students in action. Many compliments and kind words have been shared throughout the years, and parents have truly loved the large candle ceremony at year’s end. Both schools are looking forward to training more instructors and assistants in the future as more sections are added.

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

The Fall 2023 GRACE newsletter is here! Learn how the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is teaching students about the Mass and God’s love, discover what the middle days elective program is all about, read about how one school is carrying on a 15-year-old tradition at the monthly Mass, and more!

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

2023-24 First Trimester Honor Roll

Students in grades 6-8 who meet the proper educational criteria each trimester are eligible for the ND Honor Roll.  Criteria are as follows:

• A= 3.5-4.0
• B= 3.0-3.49

The Honor Roll recognizes academic success not only for academic excellence but for academic improvement.

During the first trimester, our middle school students exhibited strong academic excellence! Below are a few of their accomplishments! We are so proud of their success!

• 100% of 6th graders made the honor roll
• 95% of 7th graders made the honor roll
• 89% of 8th graders made the honor roll
• At the mid-point of the trimester, there were no students with failing grades or a GPA below 2.00

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

The 2023-2024 GRACE Voice of the Customer Survey is now open until December 10th to all GRACE families! You received an email earlier this morning containing the link. We’re excited to hear from you! Thank you for your help.

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.

From the Desk of Principal Mares

My family, especially my mom, loves a good tradition.  One of these traditions was born from the changing of our Thanksgiving plans and traditions after my maternal grandparents had passed away and the Thanksgiving feast shifted to my parents’ table.  We now have a special Thanksgiving tablecloth on which every attendee at Thanksgiving dinner writes one thing they are thankful for.  

After the meal, we go around and read what we added for the year.  Not only is it nice to have a conversation about the current year but it’s also so fun to look back at our previous years’ gratitude offerings.  My now 13-year-old nephew once wrote he was thankful for big boy undies and his beloved puppy water bottle.  My husband wrote he was thankful for the University of Notre Dame’s winning season and a few years later during a losing season he was thankful that one of the players was a senior and leaving the team.  Of course, there are plenty of more serious offerings as well, including health, healing, simply being together, or notes from loved ones who have since passed on.  

As we prepare for the celebration of Thanksgiving in the week ahead, I hope you are finding many things to be grateful for.  If this year has been a bit more melancholy for you and your family, here are a few offerings of gratitude from some of our first-grade students to put a smile on your face and give you a little inspiration. 

• Mom and Dad
• My puppy and cat
• Family and animals but mostly my family
• Grandma and Grandpa
• Zebras
• Jesus
• Make-up on my face
• Stuffed animals
• Teachers
• Food
• My friends

Molly Mares–Principal, Notre Dame of De Pere

Notre Dame of De Pere School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. NDDP provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. The best way to learn more about NDDP is to visit! Click here to schedule a tour.