Entrance to Secondary School is via an entrance examination which takes place in the early spring of each year. This examination helps the assessment of pupils. Assessment comprises four reports per year. The pupils in the junior school automatically transfer to the senior school after sixth class. Supervised after school study is available in the library.

Junior Cycle

Subjects offered are Religious Education, Gailge, English, Mathematics, French, German, Spanish, Science, Drama, Business Studies, History, Geography, Art, Music, Home Economics, PE, Information Technology.

Students are allowed to study all subjects in First Year to help them to make a more informed choice for Junior Certificate.

Every effort is made to ensure that each student achieves her full potential both academically and in other areas of life. Parents are participants in this process.

Students are encouraged to visit Gaeltacht areas and European countries to foster their knowledge and appreciation of languages and culture.

Transition Year/4th Year

The Transition year encapsulates the essential philosophy of Notre Dame, the holistic education of the young. Students study a comprehensive range of academic subjects that lays the foundation for steady progress through the Leaving Certificate Programme. There is also an opportunity to study a diverse range of subjects that gives our students a very broad range of educational experiences.

These subjects include: Information Technology, Fitness and health, Drama, careers, Self Defence, Fast Friends, First Aid, Media Studies, Music Technology, Fashion, Yoga, Relationship and Sexuality education, SPHE, Student and Youth Environmental Studies, Driving Skills Course, a Public Access to Law Programme and the St. Patrick's Festival.

Students experience the wider dimension of education by their participation in Charity Fundraising activities. Each year the girls are encouraged to carry out their own fundraising project and, in addition, support many fundraising agencies.

Work Experience

Students are introduced to the many different faces of work through our comprehensive work experience programme. The locations are chosen to reflect career choices where possible.

Community Service

In line with the philosophy of Notre dame to educate the whole person, an active concern among our students for the disadvantaged of society is fostered by our varied programme of community service. As part of this programme, our students team up with pupils from St. Michael's House in an educational programme involving Physical Education as well as Art and Craft activities. This engenders within our students a more positive attitude towards the Mentally Handicapped and illustrates the rich and mutually beneficial relationship that can be built up and sustained between students of different ages and abilities.

Assessments

A comprehensive assessment of every aspect of transition year is carried out. In addition to continuous assessment of homework, a school report detailing the student's progress through Transition Year is sent to parents.

Guidance, Counselling and Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is a holistic approach to education, where the emotional and physical needs of the student are met in a structured way, in a Christian context.

Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important element in the Pastoral Care Programme. Other topics include: Adjusting to Secondary School, Study Skills, Health education, Hygiene, Substance Abuse, Leisure, decision Making and Assertiveness Skills, Parenting Skills and Anti Bullying Programmes.

Guidance Counseling is available to students who require it on an individual basis. The Career Guidance Service aims to:

• Inform the students about the range of third level options available in Ireland and beyond, methods of application and regulations regarding entry to third level courses.
• Assist students to deal with application forms, college information, prospectuses, C.V. preparation and mock interviews.

Senior Cycle

Subjects offered are Religious education, Gaeilge, Mathematics, English, French, German, Spanish, Art, Accounting, Classical Studies, Geography, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business, Home economics, Music and Physical Education.

Subject choices for this cycle are determined by Transition year experiences and student performances. The policy of fostering language development, initiated in the Junior Cycle, is further encouraged in Senior Cycle.

A comprehensive career guidance programme to build on work and other experiences gained in Transition Year is pursued.

Physical Education

The overall objective of the Physical education Programme in Notre Dame is to equip each student with a knowledge of the range of sporting and recreational activities and to cultivate in them a positive attitude towards participation in some form of physical recreation.

All classes engage in PE related activities at least twice weekly with optional after school activities. At Junior Cycle, a varied and enjoyable programme exists. Sporting activities include; Hockey, Netball, Badminton, Tennis, Volleyball, Softball, Athletics, Cross Country, Rounders, Gymnastics and Outdoor Pursuits. At Senior Cycle sport and leisure interests fostered at Junior Cycle are developed further.

A very successful Transition Year PE programme is in place in Notre Dame. In this year, the normal range of PE activities is enhanced to include modules such as First Aid, Self Defence, Fitness and Health and Coaching Skills. To extend the sport and leisure interests of the Senior Cycle, students can partake in Skiing, Horse Riding, Squash, Golf, Fencing, Swimming, Aerobics, Self defence and Gym related activities.

School teams have enjoyed many successes in Tennis, Hockey, Netball, Athletics and Cross Country. Hockey exchange programmes are organised with schools in other countries.

Music and Drama

Music Plays a large part in the life of the school at vocal, Choral and instrumental levels. Classes receive regular tuition in singing. Special Choirs are selected each year. Individual tuition in Singing, Piano and Flute is available.

Weekly drama classes are provided for most pupils up to and including Transition Year.

All Transition year students enter for the Oral Communication Examination of the Royal Irish Academy which involves public speaking, poetry, reading and testing communication skills.

In recent years we have performed such Classical dramas as "The Wakefield Mysteries" (Adrian Henri), "Oedipus" (W.B. Yeats), "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" (Bertolt Brecht) and "The Crucible" (Arthur Miller), as well as joining with the music department to perform several popular musicals such as "My Fair Lady", "Fiddle on the Roof" and "Oliver".

The enthusiastic response of pupils and parents to all of these productions testifies to the high level of artistic excellence that is being achieved.

Extra Curricular Activities

School tours have become more and more popular over the years. every year our first year students travel to the Adventure Sports Centre in Gartan, Co. Donegal. Our Transition Year students often travel to Paris. There have also been cultural tours in recent years to Greece and Rome and our Hockey players have been to Florida for an international tournament.

It is the policy of Notre Dame to encourage students to be actively involved in extra-curricular activities. At present the following activities are pursued: St. Vin cent de Paul, Amnesty International, Co-operation Ireland, Debating, Arts and crafts, Young Entrepreneurs, Photography, Information Technology, UNICEF/Concern Fundraising Project/Charity Fundraising Projects, Presidents Awards Scheme, Fast Friends, Young Scientists, Business Competitions, Young Home Economist.

The extra curricular activities reflect the wide variety of student interests and tend to evolve from year to year.

Parents

Great importance is attached to the role of the Parents in the joint venture of their children's education and they are always welcome to the school. Parents are the primary motivators of their children and their support is essential in all of the education process including discipline. An active Parents' Association exists which provides valuable assistance on all aspects of school life and promotes communication between parents and the school.