Elementary Academics

Notre Dame Elementary

Notre Dame Elementary Mission Statement

Founded in 2009 and inspired by more than a century of Catholic education in the Greater Utica area, Notre Dame Elementary School is committed to Catholic values, educational excellence, and community service. 

Welcoming families of all faiths, Notre Dame Elementary seeks to create a safe and nurturing environment in which our students are challenged and encouraged to follow the example of Jesus Christ, achieve academic success, and reach their God-given potential. 

Dedicated to Our Lady, who brought the child Christ to the world, Notre Dame Elementary supports the ministry, our local parishes, and the universal Church by teaching Catholic values, encouraging virtue, and forming students in faith for service to the community and Church.  

 

Who We Are

Notre Dame Elementary includes Universal Pre-K, Montessori School, and Kindergarten through fifth grade. 

Small class sizes offer a structured, disciplined, and rigorous academic curriculum based on New York State Core Standards and the Interdiocesan goals. Notre Dame's iReady program provides a personalized pathway to learning for K-5 leading to solid writing skills and a strong mathematical foundation. A technology-driven course of study; all students K-5 possess a Chromebook or iPad, which is used daily in all classes. 

Notre Dame's faith-based approach to education inspires students to learn and live from a moral perspective, providing them with an ethical moral foundation for life. Our teachers are experienced in their areas of instruction and have a desire to ensure that all students become lifelong learners.

 

Universal Pre-K

The Universal Pre-K program is a program ONLY for children four years of age and are residents of the Utica City School District. This program provides children with academic instruction in all areas of the curriculum. The UPK program is offered five days a week, half-day or full-day. The Universal Pre-K half-day AM program is free and runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM, and our PM half-day program is free as well and runs from 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Breakfast is served in our morning program, and lunch is provided for the afternoon program. Transportation is NOT provided.

The Universal Pre-K full-day program offers a wrap-around program, which enables the children to remain for a full-day session from 8:00 AM – 2:25 PM.  An Aftercare Program is available until 5:30 PM at a separate hourly cost.

Here is a list of what you will need to provide for registration:

  • Copy of child’s Birth Certificate (Child must be 4 years old by December 1st)
  • Copy of child’s Immunization Records
  • Child’s Physical Form within the past year
  • Proof of Residency- (Must be a Utica School District Resident) Bring a utility bill that shows your name and address, a W-2 form, a TANF Budget Sheet, or an SSSI Award Letter.
  • Fill out BOTH applications, USCD, and Notre Dame Elementary.

 

Montessori 

Montessori at Notre Dame Elementary School is a classroom for 3-5 year-olds that follows the educational principles of Maria Montessori. The children are encouraged to develop independence in a prepared environment. In Montessori classrooms, children make creative choices in their learning while the classroom and the teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process. Our teachers and assistants work one-on-one and in small-group instruction. Language arts, science, math, and geography are part of the curriculum. 

"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world." Maria Montessori

Children must be 3 years old by September 1st, 2020, and have independent bathroom habits. The program is available for a half-day session (8:00-11:00) or full-day (8:00-2:25.) Both sessions run Monday through Friday. The Aftercare Program is available until 5:30 PM at a separate cost from the tuition.