Great Expectations

Good Afternoon Notre Dame Families,

We are excited to start the 2023-2024 school year at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. It is with great joy that we welcome our students back to another year. 

Our administration, office staff, teachers, E.A. ‘s, custodian and support staff have been working hard to prepare for the beginning of a new school year. The Halton Catholic District School Board facilities team have been busy upgrading our school building, repaving walkways, and installing accessibility buttons for our universal and accessible washrooms. The lines in the parking lot have been freshly painted and the manufacturing shop has been renewed with a $150,000 in new machines received from a grant.

Our goal is to create a safe and nurturing community for our students to grow as the children of God. We are aware that our students enter the front doors carrying stresses the generation before them didn’t know. Whether it be climate change and challenges to democracy, the omnipresence of social media, or the fear of the pandemic, this generation of students needs to be supported in an environment that creates opportunities to know they are loved and full of beauty. 

We look forward to working with you as parents, grandparents, guardians and community partners to create a learning environment that empowers our students to share their gifts with the world. Recognizing we are a community in excess of 1100 people it is important to have clear expectations to ensure all students are served and have an opportunity to be successful. After much discernment and consultation, we have consolidated a series of expectations that will serve to create a safe and nurturing environment for all. We ask for your support in assisting your child’s commitment to these “Great Expectations,” ensuring they have a positive experience of secondary school.

• Be proactive, not reactive. It is better to come to the office when a problem arises rather than risk further escalation of the problem and/or consequences. We are here to help. Our doors are always open. Our VP’s are exceptional at supporting students and helping them through difficult situations.
• Cafeteria. Our School Board Financial Services worked hard in the summer to secure a new service provider for our cafeteria. We have been informed that as of September 21 our cafeteria will be open for service. We will have protocols in place for students accessing the servery.
• Phones. Research has shown that phones have had a negative impact on student learning. The distraction of a phone impacts the students ability to concentrate and follow a lesson. Each time a student checks their phone they miss approximately 5 minutes of class time.
  • As the parent or guardian, please avoid texting or phoning your child during class time.
  • Encourage your child to put the phone away during class. Either leave it at home, in their locker or in their pocket.
• Sleep. Sleep research suggests that a teenager needs between eight and 10 hours of sleep every night. Sleep is essential for the health of a teenager. It is a time the brain consolidates learning. A regular and substantial sleep routine can reduce stress and anxiety and can increase student learning. It is helpful to keep your child’s phone out of the bedroom while sleeping.
• Respect. Our staff, including teachers, E.A.’s, office staff, custodians, commissionaire and lunchroom supervisors work together to maintain an orderly and safe environment for students to thrive. Students are expected to follow the instructions of all staff.
• Uniform. Our school Uniform is intended to create a sense of community amongst our students and serves as an important safety tool. It assists in identifying intruders to the school
  • Students are expected to be in full uniform in all areas of the school during the whole day, including during lunches.
  • Shoes must be closed toe and closed back. No crocs, slides, or sandals.
  • Hats and hoods are never worn in the building.
• Valuables. Students are responsible for their own valuables. Please leave valuables not needed for school at home.
  • The school is not responsible for personal possessions.
  • Do not take valuables into changerooms, the cafeteria or leave them unattended anywhere in the building.
• Responsible digital citizenship is important. Students are expected to comply with policy I-43 Use of Technology and Digital Citizenship and the HCDSB Code of Conduct.
  • Technology must be used appropriately at all times.
  • You may not record any person on school property without their permission
  • Filming other students (including fights) and sharing or posting on social media will have school consequences
• Regular attendance supports your academic success. If you are struggling with attendance, please reach out to your VP for support.
  • A student must sign in/out of school through the Attendance Office prior to leaving 
  • Once a student is signed out- they must leave the building. They cannot remain in the library, spectrum or cafeteria.
  • Students signing into class late through the Attendance Office must report directly to class.
• Lockers. Students must use the locker assigned to them and listed in PowerSchool.  Students are responsible for any damage done to their assigned lockers.  Lockers must be cleared out by the last day of exams.  Lockers are the property of the school and can be opened by Administration at any time.  Students must use school locks as provided. If you have lost your lock, one can be purchased at the main office for $10. 
• No vaping or smoking on school property. As per the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, any student found to be smoking/vaping on school property will be given a consequence (e.g. suspension and/or fine).
  • Students are not to possess any vape paraphernalia (pods, cartridge, etc.) on school property.
• Washrooms. Washrooms are to be accessible to all students.
  • Only one student should be in a stall at all times. Students who do not adhere to this will face progressive discipline.
  • Exterior washroom doors are held open with magnets connected to the fire alarm. Students are not to touch or close the doors at any time.
  • Students are not to congregate in the washroom, sit on the floor or eat in the washroom.
• Backpacks are not allowed in classrooms, the library or cafeteria.  They should be left in lockers.
• Food and drink of any kind should be in the Cafeteria and Spectrum only.  No food/drinks in class/halls/stairwells.
• Students are not to be in the hallways (especially the 2nd floor) until 5 minutes before the period ends.  Even then, they are not to loiter – go to your locker and then leave the hallway.
• No visitors. Students are not permitted to bring/allow/invite guests/visitors who do not currently attend Notre Dame to be on school premises during the school day.  Any sighting of an intruder must be reported to the office immediately.
  • Students should not be visiting other schools during the school day.
• Report. Any HCDSB student who experiences or witnesses any form of hate or bias motivated incident, including racism, homophobia, ableism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, transphobia, etc., is encouraged to report the incident immediately to a trusted adult at the school (e.g., School Principal, Vice-Principal, Teacher, Child and Youth Counsellor, Social Worker, Chaplain, etc.) or via the reporting tool available on our school website.

We will review our expectations with all students at our grade level assemblies during the first week of school. We hope that by establishing clear and consistent expectations, Notre Dame will remain an amazing place to learn, work and grow for all students and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s Vice Principal. Additional information can be found on our Notre Dame website and on Instagram @InsideND

Sincere thanks,