Chez
News
Notre Dame School
of Manhattan
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Letter From the President
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Dear Notre Dame,
How are you? This seems like a good question to ask each other and ourselves these days. Even more importantly, it may be good to wait for an answer.
Communication is key, especially now, so I encourage all of us to check in with each other. Given the stress and anxiety over just being asked to stay home and limit our contact with others there will be times when things are rough. Admitting rough patches when we experience them is the first step toward making them better.
I find having a place, even just a comfortable chair, cut off from the news, away from my iPhone and computer, can help me take some time to relax, take a breath, remember just a few of the blessings in my life and cherish these gifts that come to me. I think of these experiences as positive “time outs.”
As you will read in this newsletter, the School community is doing well during these challenging times. Each student’s home has become “
Chez Nous
” and our mission of education continues through Zoom. The girls have adapted well to online learning and look forward to “seeing” each other daily. Creative learning experiences outside of our virtual classrooms are discovered daily. Some of the latest include an invitation to participate in a special art project, take a “Book Challenge” or attend a junior class virtual semi-formal.
Last Wednesday, via Zoom, the Notre Dame Board of Trustees held their previously scheduled Board meeting. They gave their full support to me as I, along with them and Jackie Brilliant lead the school through these new challenges we face as a School community. We go forward with all of you in our prayer and with every hope that you and your families remain well.
Gratefully,
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Dr. Virginia O’Brien, SU
President
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Mr. Stordeur' s AP United States History class discussing the Election of 1912
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As Notre Dame students will tell you,
Chez Nous
symbolizes the care they have for each other, their campus, their education, and their school’s mission of service and outreach. This sense of community could not be more apparent than in recent weeks. Sadly, the spread of the coronavirus required the closing of our beautiful campus building. But that did not stop
Chez Nous
from coming together to keep the daily routine going.
Without missing a beat, classes began remotely through Zoom Video Communications. Zoom is a remote conferencing services company through which our ND students log in from home to participate in their daily schedule of classes. Their faces are all visible to each other on the computer screen. The teachers can see them all clearly as well, and can call on them to participate and answer questions, just as in class. The cloud based platform allows for screen sharing by faculty and students, and smaller breakout sessions where students can work on problem solving with personalized instruction during their virtual classes.
Friday ended their first week of remote learning, and what a success it was! Teachers reported that the students had high energy and were excited to be back in school, albeit virtually. Mr. Stordeur said that the students in his history classes easily grasped the Zoom technology and had no problem with this new mode of learning. He summarized this first week as extremely positive for all.
“I thought the classes went really well. They were real classes. I taught just what I would if we were in school, just with different technology. Zoom is easy to use. They were on very quickly and right on time. Students were very happy to see everyone. So many said how much they missed being in school with us and in our building, but that this was a good alternative. They had a genuine excitement about it.”
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Mr. Stordeur went on to say that participation was high and the conversations were very engaging. Other faculty members echoed this sense of collaboration in their virtual classrooms. Dr. Dooley added that in his theology classes, he actually heard from students who did not regularly speak out. He thought that perhaps the remote learning gave a bit more courage to those who may usually be more reticent to participate. (What an added bonus!)
The Notre Dame faculty have worked arduously to ensure that their handouts, homework assignments, and tests and quizzes are distributed just as they would be on campus. We are blessed to have such dedicated and talented educators
Chez Nous,
and the school community is stronger than ever as a result.
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Arts and Athletics Alive and Active!
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Ms. Davenport's home art studio ready for class
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Online learning has become a normal routine for our students already. The core subjects are taught as if the girls were in the classrooms with the teachers, and the results are already impressive. But how is it for the arts and athletics? One could wonder whether these classes could get forgotten in the remote learning curriculum. Not so at Notre Dame. The arts and athletics are still very much an essential part of the daily class schedule. Art teacher, Ms. Davenport, has created her own art studio out of her apartment (see photo above), and has maintained teaching Introduction to Art, 10th grade Art, AP Studio Art and AP Art History as if the girls were in the studio on campus. Her 9th and 10th grade students are digging into a unit titled "Fierce Women in Art!" Each week they will examine the work and impact of a different artist and create an artwork inspired by their approach using their sketchbooks, recycled materials, and digital drawing applications.
Ms. Wakabayashi, Arts Department Chair, has upheld the structured schedule of her music program as well. Meeting virtually just as other classes, she had her students listen and learn
about the baroque era and
Johann Sebastian Bach's influence on an artist whose music they are singing in choir (Laura Mvula). She is also working on a recording for Glee, which she hopes to have out for their virtual audience soon. She stated that the sounds blended impressively even being remote, and the girls have enjoyed creating beautiful music together from their individual homes.
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Ms. Wakabayashi's online rehearsal
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As far as athletics, Athletic Director, Ms. Vulcano, continued the same rigorous physical education program she has on campus. The girls must check in to class remotely at the appointed time. Then, they begin with the required exercises outlined by Ms. Vulcano.
As far as the spring athletic teams, Ms. Vulcano contacted all of the other schools' coaches before school facilities began to close. They discussed the hopeful rescheduling of games and how they might take place in late May and June. Stay tuned and hope for the best!
The optimism, tenacity, and commitment to the arts and athletics are very apparent at Notre Dame. These classes continue with positive energy and joy, just as the many other rigorous courses taking place
Chez Nous.
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Notre Dame teachers pride themselves on being ahead of the curve with teaching techniques, innovative curriculum, and cutting-edge strategies for the classroom. One aspect of their professional development has been regular meetings on the use of technology in their courses. Led by instructional technology consultant George Ganzenmuller, these seminars focused on ways to utilize online teaching strategies. Never was this instruction more useful than with the recent transition to virtual classrooms. The faculty continue to be trained to fine-tune their remote teaching with the help of AP Computer Science teacher and Director of Technology, Mr. Lejano.
The teachers at Notre Dame are passionate about their subject matter. They care deeply for their students and are committed to making sure all of them learn and thrive. These teachers have this same commitment to each other as well. This was very apparent last Friday, when the first virtual faculty meeting took place. Just like the remote learning for the girls, all teachers logged on and had a communal discussion on their progress for the week. What was impressive, however, is that in addition to the teaching faculty, all administrators and front office personnel were a part of this session as well, so that all areas could weigh in on what was working and what needed improvement. During this meeting, teachers shared their own strategies with their colleagues on how to engage the girls; how to divide students online into small groups for breakout sessions; and how to conduct effective science experiments and visual projects. In addition, administrators helped set up procedures for teachers to schedule their virtual office hours so that girls could meet individually and virtually to get the extra help they may need. The front office personnel were able to share their own challenges as well. They have worked tirelessly to take attendance remotely for every class to make sure all students are accounted for; and to follow up with parents if not for their safety and well-being. They discussed with the teachers how to streamline the process for maximum efficacy.
This collegial session was most impressive. The ND faculty and staff displayed a true care for the students and each other during the meeting, which was not only productive, but inspirational. These will take place every Friday and will only add to the success of the ongoing evolution of the
Chez Nous
experience.
Notre Dame is blessed to have a strong sense of community among the teachers, the students, and their families. The camaraderie, commitment, and love are evident in the entire
Chez Nous
family. Because of this connection, the challenge of keeping the school operating smoothly has turned into an exercise in community building and mutual support. Notre Dame is a shining example of what can be accomplished when people work and pray together with respect and gratitude for one another.
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Contact Information
Elizabeth Bixenman
Director of Development &
Alumnae Relations
(212) 620-5575, Ext. 317
bixenmane@cheznous.org
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ANCHORING LIVES
for
GENERATIONS
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