Notre Dame High School (Toronto)
Notre Dame High School (also known as NDHS, Notre Dame H.S., Notre Dame, or simply Dame) is an all-girls Roman Catholic secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This school is a member of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (formerly the Metropolitan Separate School Board).
| Notre Dame High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
12 Malvern Avenue , , M4E 3E1 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Catholic High school |
| Motto | Ubi Honor Ibi Sum (Where there is honour, there am I) |
| Founded | 1941 |
| Sister school | Neil McNeil |
| School board | Toronto Catholic District School Board (Metropolitan Separate School Board) |
| Superintendent | John Shanahan Area 6 |
| Area trustee | Angela Kennedy Ward 11 |
| School number | 501 / 738115 |
| Principal | Jolanta Hickey |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 670 (2017-18) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Wine and White |
| Team name | Dame Spirit |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic (Congregation of Notre Dame) |
| Parish | St. John |
| Specialist High Skills Major | None |
| Program Focus | Broad-based Technology Gifted Advanced Placement |
| Website | notredame |
Tne school was founded by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame in 1941. Notre Dame is one of 30 high schools run by the TCDSB and one of six all-girls schools, and currently has an enrollment of 670 students. The school's patron saint is Marguerite Bourgeoys.
History
In 1941, the Congregation of Notre Dame founded Notre Dame High School to provide education for young Catholic women. Up until recently, the Sisters of the Congregation have been teaching at the school throughout its long history. The school has grown over the years such as in 1963, O’Connor Hall was built as the second building of the school; the first being the main building. In the 1970s, Notre Dame had a total of 1,111 students, and moved into the second and third floors of the neighbouring St. John Catholic School. Currently, the school uses three buildings, but only part of the third floor of St. John’s.
In 1967, the school reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Separate School Board, placing the Grade 9 and 10 students would be under the publicly funded separate school system and Grades 11, 12, and 13 would continue by the Congregation. In 1984, the government started funding the last three years of high school and by 1987, Notre Dame was ceased as a private school, joining the board in the process.
Notre Dame underwent two accommodation reviews due to excessive overcrowding and its site size of an acre due to lack of playing field and the use of St. John's third floor. First in 2001 when the board attempted to acquire additional land for the construction of a larger school, then again in 2009 when the board attempted to relocate and/or consolidate Notre Dame with either St. Patrick or Neil McNeil with the building demolished and the school yard being expanded back to St. John. Subsequently, the board attempted to relocate the school and Neil McNeil to the closed Midland Avenue Collegiate Institute and the options were unsuccessful.
Tradition
The most notable tradition that has been held at Notre Dame are the white dresses that are worn at the Prom. Though many senior students in the past have fought with the parent council to change, it has yet to happen. As of 2019 this has changed, the students are allowed to wear any colour.
Events
- 12 Days of Christmas
- Academic Awards and Honor Roll Breakfast
- Activity Day
- Artsmas
- Art's Night
- Athletic Banquet
- Biennial Multicultural Day
- Biennial Musical Theatre
- Biennial Sears Drama Festival
- Black History Month
- Camp Olympia
- Christmas Baskets
- Christmas Assembly
- Opening Assembly
- Closing Assembly
- Dance Off
- Grade Eight Open House
- Grade Nine Getaway
- Grade Twelve Retreat
- Halloween Assembly
- International Women's Day
- March Break Trip
- Poetry Night
- Semi-Formal
- Ski Day
- Spirit Week
- Thanksgiving Food Drive
- Walk-A-Thon
Athletics
- Badminton
- Cross Country
- Tennis
- Swimming
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Hockey
- Ski
- Soccer
- Softball
- Table Tennis
- Track
- Volleyball
Clubs
- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Avidity Hip Hop Crew
- Board Game Club
- Black History Club
- Catholic Leadership Group
- Chaplaincy Team
- Contemporary Dance Company
- CSUNA
- Dame Detectives
- Fashion Club
- Film Club
- Fitness Club
- Girl Up
- God Squad
- Green Team
- Junior/Senior Band
- Me to We
- Prom Committee
- Reach For the Top
- Science Club
- Yearbook Committee