Dear New NDA Families,
I hope you are looking forward to joining the NDA Community in August! I have quite a bit of information to share, so please take a few minutes to read it carefully and let me know if you have trouble with any of the links or if you have questions.
FRESHMAN MEET AND GREET (FOR STUDENTS ONLY) IS JUNE 10
All incoming freshmen are invited to our Class of 2030 Meet and Greet , June 10 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Check-in will start at 6:15 p.m. in the NDA lobby. Come ready to meet and greet your PaNDA classmates!
FRESHMAN SERVICE PROJECT (FOR STUDENTS ONLY) ON JULY 16
All incoming freshmen are invited to our Class of 2030 Freshman Service Project on Tuesday, July 16 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. Watch for a reminder email about the service event closer to the date!
FINAL FORMS
FinalForms Updates Needed for the 26-27 School Year
Notre Dame Academy partners with FinalForms, an online forms and data management service which allows you to complete and sign forms for your daughter(s) online. FinalForms saves data from year-to-year, meaning you will never need to enter the same information twice! You may review your data at any time throughout the year to verify that it is current.
All parents and students are expected to use FinalForms and complete their updates for next year by July 3, 2026 (if participating in athletics) or by the first day of school if not participating in athletics. FinalForms should be updated and ready for use on Wednesday, June 10.
Students who want to participate in athletics must upload a valid, signed KHSAA physical form in Final Forms before participating in any athletic activities, including conditioning workouts, open gyms/fields and tryouts for all sports. The KHSAA physical form can be found at this LINK.
If you do not have a FinalForms account, please create one account at: https://notredameacademy-ky.finalforms.com and follow the prompts to create the parent account, begin your daughter’s account and sign your forms. Your daughter’s NDA gmail must be used when setting up her account. The NDA gmail address and password are on a sticker on the folder that you received at your daughter’s freshman conference.
Once the parent/guardian creates the account, the student will be prompted in her NDA email to submit her forms. Your daughter can go ahead and set up her NDA gmail account using the following directions:
Go to https://accounts.google.com/ in an internet browser of your choice. Then type in your daughter’s NDA email as the email/username and click next. It will then ask for the password, so type that in and click next. Then you should be good to go and in her email.
If you have any questions or trouble, please email our Technology Help Desk at help@ndapandas.org.
NOTE: if you have already turned in your daughter’s immunization record, you do not need to upload it separately to FInalForms.. School personnel will upload it for you.
If you already have an account for a current NDA student and need to add another daughter:
Login to your account and click MY STUDENTS to add another student to your account and make any updates for your returning student. Make sure you are updating information for the 25-26 school year.
If you have any issues or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Lisa Timmerding at timmerdingl@ndapandas.org.
ROBOTICS CLUB AND STEM INNOVATION UPDATES
Exciting things are happening in STEM at Notre Dame Academy!
Our new 1906 IDEAL Lab (Innovation, Discovery, Education And Learning) is now officially open. This flexible, technology-rich innovation space was designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, inquiry, and hands-on learning as we continue expanding opportunities in STEM education.
We’re also excited to launch a new Robotics Club this fall! Students interested in robotics, coding, innovation, and engineering will have opportunities to collaborate on projects, build technical skills, and explore emerging technologies in a fun, team-focused environment.
Students may also earn 1/2 elective credit through participation in Robotics Club.
Interested in joining? Fill out this interest form.
IPAD ORIENTATION
Every new NDA student must lease an iPad package from NDA and attend an iPad orientation. The lease payments will automatically be added to your FACTS account. If you have not already signed up for an iPad orientation session, please do so HERE. If you have a conflict with the available times, please contact Natalie Brockmeier, brockmeiern@ndapandas.org, to arrange an alternate appointment.
SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM
Notre Dame Academy’s Bridge Program for incoming freshmen assists students in gaining Math, English, and study skills before the start of the school year. It is also a great way to meet some classmates before school starts!
The 2026 NDA Bridge Program will be held Monday, August 10 through Thursday, August 13 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. each day. The cost is $90 with scholarships available for those who need them. The registration form for the Bridge Program is attached here: Bridge Program Registration Form .
SUMMER READING AND THE COMMON READER
Summer reading is optional but encouraged. We place tremendous value on reading at NDA and recognize that many of our students are avid readers who enjoy exploring new books. Instead of assigning specific summer reading books, we encourage them to choose books that genuinely interest them to read over the summer. We believe that allowing students to select their books will foster a deeper love for reading and provide them with the chance to explore genres and topics that better resonate with their personal interests. We highly encourage parents to discuss their daughter’s summer reading selections with them and even read the books together. We will continue our tradition of a common reader because we understand the value of a shared literary experience. Students will read the common reader selection in their English class when they return to school in August.
BAMBOOTIQUE SPIRIT SHOP
The Spirit Shop will be open on a limited basis during June and July. We recommend calling the school office (859-261-4300) or the Enrollment Office (859-292-1837) in the summer to check the status of the Bambootique before coming to campus to shop. You can always shop online and pick up your order at school. You can access the online store HERE.
SERVICE HOURS
All students perform service hours as part of their NDA education. Below are 2 links with important information about our service program. Service hours completed on or after June 1, 2026 can be counted for the 26-27 school year.
1) 2026/27 Service Requirements
2) Directions to Set up a Mobile Serve Account
CALCULATORS
Please read this important update about the new calculator requirement HERE.
NOTE: The discount to purchase the new calculator expires on July 31, 2026.
TEXTBOOKS and SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Textbooks are provided by NDA. Some of the books are on the iPad and some are issued in individual classes. Certain courses require additional books (e.g., novels) that students will provide on their own. NDA does not have a list of supplies (other than the iPad and the calculator) that must be purchased prior to the start of school. Students should bring their iPad, a blank notebook, pens/pencils (and your NumWorks calculator if you did not order it through NDA’s discount link) on the first day of school. NumWorks calculators purchased through the discount link provided by NDA will be shipped to NDA and distributed in each math class. As students move from class to class, the teachers will let them know if they need to purchase specific supplies for that class. NDA gym shorts are not required for the first few days of school but the girls can wear them under their skirt at any time.
BACKPACKS, PURSES, and WATER BOTTLES
Students may carry either a small backpack or a “tote bag” type purse during the school day. The backpack or purse must fit under the school desks. Students may also have a water bottle at all times if they wish. The water bottle must close tightly so that it does not spill if it falls.
CELL PHONES
Our handbook currently states:
Cell Phones
Without permission from a supervising adult, students may not use cell phones during the school day. Parents should keep in mind that student use of cell phones during the school day for any reason is prohibited. Parents should call the school office if a student must be reached during the school day. The office staff will get the message to her. If a student emails, phones or texts a parent (or others) from her cell phone during prohibited times, disciplinary action will apply.
If cell phones are brought into school, they must be off and away or the phone could be confiscated and violations or detentions issued. Text messaging or calling from the cell phone is not permitted unless the student is given permission by faculty or staff. Repeat offenders will not be allowed to keep or bring these devices into the school building.
While this policy states that phones need to be off and away, our own research, observations, and experiences have indicated that this is not the case and this policy is not working to resolve the concern.
By the start of the school year, our administration will have met with interested parties to review this policy and determine appropriate next steps. More information will be published in the upcoming Panda Press and this specific part of the handbook will be updated as well. A new policy is most likely going to be drafted with more severe consequences should students have their phones out or in use during the school day.
LOCKERS
Each new student will be assigned her own locker. Students may decorate the inside of the locker but may only use items that can be easily removed at the end of the school year. Painting or drawing on lockers is not permitted. Signs, pictures, etc. may be attached to lockers with magnets or magnetic tape. Any other type of tape or adhesive is not permitted.
SCHOOL HOURS, CONTACTING SCHOOL, STUDENTS LEAVING EARLY
School hours will be 8 a.m. – 2:59 p.m. We use a staggered dismissal with seniors and their carpool riders leaving first at 2:59 followed by juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. On Wednesdays school will start at 9 a.m. and still dismiss at 2:59. Parents should call the main school office at 859-292-1821 or email attendance@ndapandas.org to report an absence. Students who need to leave school early must bring a note to the school office on the morning that they need to leave.
LUNCH ACCOUNTS
You will need to set up a lunch account for your daughter using PayPams at this link: https://www.paypams.com/. You will need your daughter’s NDA Student ID to set up the account. Please wait until August to set up lunch accounts.
PANDA PRESS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
The Panda Press Weekly (PPW) Newsletter is emailed to all NDA families every Wednesday during the school year and several times over the summer. The PPW is the best way to keep up with events happening at NDA. Incoming freshman and transfer families should be receiving the PPW now. If you are not receiving the PPW, please check your spam and promotions inboxes. If you are still not receiving the PPW, please contact the IT department at help@ndapandas.org.
NDA WEBSITE
The NDA website is a valuable reference for families. You can access the website at www.ndapandas.org.
NDA THEATER, DANCE, AND CHORUS
Audition dates and details for the PandaTones (choral group) and the Dance Pandas will be sent out over the summer. Audition dates and details for actors and crew for the fall play will be shared at the beginning of the school year.
ATHLETIC INFORMATION
You can find a letter from our Athletic Director, Janet Carl, regarding important information for students who would like to play a sport at NDA HERE.
IMPORTANT DATES
June
10 Freshman Meet and Greet
July
16 Freshman Service Project
August
3 – 7 Freshman iPad set up
10 – 13 Freshman Bridge Program
13 Parent Night (For Parents Only)
14 Freshman/New Student Orientation and FunFest
18 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
If you have questions about any of this information, feel free to contact me at 859.292.1837.
In Notre Dame,
Julie Spellman
Enrollment Coordiator
859.292.1837