SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Chaplaincy

We are a Catholic school. The Gospel values are at the heart of our school life. As a faith community, we meet every morning to pray and sing hymns together and to offer the new day to God. We inspire in our girls a sense of their spiritual relationship with God which informs their daily lives. We encourage personal prayers as well as the public celebration of the Holy Mass on Sundays and on some weekdays. Retreats are also organised during term time to give opportunities for reflection and recollection.

As a caring community, and holding on to our value of care, Notre Dame Girls’ Academy, Abuja has an organised system for pastoral care. Though this is a responsibility for all staff in the school, the Pastoral/ Chaplaincy Team constituting three members of staff including a religious sister, ensures that this is effectively carried out and every child receives good attention. Our pastoral policy ensures that each child is carefully monitored while being allowed space to develop as an individual.

Drama

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances.”
– William Shakespeare Drama plays a major role in nurturing girls’ self- confidence by developing creative, social and communication skills. It provides the opportunity for students to express themselves as well as to explore and find themselves. At Notre Dame Girls’ Academy, Abuja, opportunities are provided for students to develop their skills both on stage and behind the scenes in a wide range of productions as well as inter-house drama competitions.

PSHE- Personal, Social and Health Education

The school is committed to the integral development of her students. Key health issues such as drugs, alcohol, sex education, diet and general lifestyle are covered. There is also a focus on study skills, citizenship, the environment and current affairs

Curriculum

Though there may be no generally acceptable definition of the term “curriculum”, a good number of educationists agree that it goes beyond the syllabus to embrace all learning provided for by the school, planned or unplanned and the total experience of the child in the school. The curriculum is an instrument through which the aims of the school and the purposes of education can be achieved. Subsequently, the curriculum needs to be broad- based (including both the formal and the informal) to achieve this objective.
Some extra-curricular activities carried out in the school include athletics and clubs such as the literary societies, music, dance, science, art, commercial, departmental and religious clubs and student government bodies. We believe that the informal curriculum supports the formal curriculum and provides skills needed for our students’ future careers.
Hence, in Notre Dame, effort is geared towards enriching the curriculum to meet the students’ needs and the school’s objective of educating girls for life.

School Club

In Notre Dame Girls Academy, we are conscious that learning does not take place only in the classroom. School Clubs and Societies are an integral part of the school’s curriculum designed to cater for students’ hobbies and interests. These informal activities are believed to extend interest in the specific activity, promote friendship, social and leadership skills and competencies, self-awareness and development and positive values. They also provide skills needed for the students’ future careers.
Notwithstanding the importance of these clubs and societies, there is a regulated number of clubs or extra-curricular activities that students may engage in. Great steps are taken to ensure that they are well coordinated in order to achieve their intended aims. The school clubs include: Creative writing, Justice and Peace, Science Club, Debating, Press, Music, Art, French Club and Gardening, among others. The religious societies include the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Legion of Mary and Catechism classes for students preparing for different sacraments.