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Faith and Service

Students smile on the floor, looking up at the camera
“The best leaders are those who take time to serve others.”

Notre Dame prepared me to be self-directed and to rise to challenges. My general take-away from Catholic-based education is to live a life of service and compassion. 

Felicity Hartnett '02

Felicity Hartnett '02
Police Officer, Field Training Officer and Fire Fighter

Faith and Service at NDB

We are a caring and compassionate community committed to promoting justice and peace while developing responsible young women of active faith, strong intellect and Christian leadership. We develop the gifts and talents of each student and foster Gospel values in an environment of academic excellence and mutual respect.
 
Over the course of four years, NDB students develop a foundation for:
 
Loving God. 
Loving yourself. 
Loving your neighbor. 
Loving the world. 
Three students smile

Curriculum

Students take courses each year at NDB as they develop a relationship with God and with themselves while building a foundation for creating positive change in their communities.

Year Class Length
Freshman Faith and Morality 1 Semester
Sophomore

Hebrew Scriptures

Living the Scriptures

1 Semester

1 Semester

Junior

Intro to Social Justice

Social Justice

1 Semester

1 Semester

Senior

World Religions

Being Notre Dame

1 Semester

1 Semester

Class Retreats

Each class enjoys a spiritual retreat each year where each student is able to connect with themselves and their class community, come together in sisterhood and reflect upon themselves and their role in their communities.

Tri-School Walk for Catholic Worker House

Hundreds of students from NDB, Serra and Mercy participate in the Walk for Catholic Worker House. Students listen to speeches about the Catholic Worker Movement, which was started by Dorothy Day in 1933. Then, the Tri-School group walks 4.5 miles from Mercy High School to Catholic Worker Hospitality House in San Bruno with posters in hand, raising money for the Catholic Worker House.
A group of student smiles together
A flower made out of paper with self-commitments written on each leaf by students
A group of students smiles
Students smile as they lay in a circle
Three students smile holding potted plants

Earth Week

NDB’s Earth Week Student Committee hosted three days of Earth Week education and celebration including a food waste contest, seed planting and an educational session on palm oil.   

Tri-School students mile together in a chapel

Kairos

Kairos, an optional retreat open to seniors, gives Tigers the space to explore how God is working in various areas of their lives. NDB holds a Kairos retreat, followed by a Tri-School retreat with Serra and Mercy High School.

Service Drives

CORA’s Closet Service Drive

Families and students participated in our April service drive benefiting CORA's closet. CORA is the only agency in San Mateo County solely dedicated to helping those affected by intimate partner abuse.

Samaritan House Kids Closet Service Drive

The NDB Community came together to gather and donate clothing for children in need through our partnership with Samaritan House Kids Closet.

Holiday Service Drive

Students and families donated toys and gifts for families in need from Mayfair Community Center in San Jose to celebrate the winter holidays.

Two students with donations
service drive ran by students
Students with service drive sign and gifts
Students with bake sale sign
Students creating care packages
Students and staffulty stand on the front steps of the school with a ton of bags of donated toys for children in need
Students smile and hold Service Drive for CORA's Closet signs
Students with donations
Student with a Sister of Notre Dame with donations
Two students with service drive donations
Student with donations
A  staff member pushes a huge cart of donations outside of Samaritan House
Students and a staff member with donation bags
Two students at mass
Students smile in bleachers
Students offer peace at mass
Student speaks into microphone
Students singing
Two students smile
Student speaks into microphone
Kids at mass
Student speaks into microphone
Student speaks into microphone
Student speaks into microphone
Students signing
Students helping priest at mass
Student speaks into microphone
Students singing
Students smile with Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Student speaks into microphone
Students singing
Student speaks into microphone

Liturgies 

Liturgies are held at various times during the school year as uplifting celebrations of the NDB Community. Students present readings and reflections and enhance each gathering with song and dance.

Hallmarks in Action (HIA) Board

The Hallmarks in Action Board inspires and creates opportunities for our campus to carry out the Notre Dame Hallmarks. Board members plan and lead retreats and large events including Laudato Si Day, Blessing of the Animals and liturgies. This board is a fantastic way to cultivate leadership and public speaking skills, as members lead reflections and prayer and take pride in planning community service and social justice events.
Students smile
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
dog
Student smiles with her dog
Students smile with their dog
Student speaks into microphone
Student speaks into microphone
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Student smiles with her dog
Students and families with their dogs and animals
Dog smiling

Blessing of the Animals

Students, parents/guardians, faculty and staff are invited to bring their furry friends to campus on the morning of Blessing of the Animals, where animals receive blessings and prayers led by our Campus Ministry team and Hallmarks in Action student board.