Dear Notre Dame Academy Families,
As construction begins on the former St. Joseph Heights property and our own campus improvement projects continue, we wanted to share a couple of important updates that will affect traffic patterns and campus access over the coming weeks.
Temporary Traffic Changes
Beginning Wednesday, July 8, Hilton Drive from Dixie Highway to Notre Dame Academy will temporarily become a two-way street while contractors relocate storm drainage infrastructure and construct NDA’s new exit road from our parking lot to Hilton Drive. During construction, the current entrance drive alongside the garage and tennis courts will temporarily serve as both the entrance and exit to campus until the new exit road is completed.
As shown in the graphic below, traffic will enter from Dixie Highway, travel up Hilton Drive, continue around Marian Circle, and proceed into the main parking lot. All exiting traffic will then travel left through the temporary parking lot exit, reconnect with Hilton Drive near the tennis courts, and continue back to Dixie Highway.
This temporary traffic pattern is expected to remain in place through approximately August 14, 2026, weather permitting. We anticipate the project will be completed before the start of school on August 18.
As we move through summer activities and prepare for the start of the school year, we know this construction will create a bit more congestion. Traffic patterns may feel unfamiliar at first, and there will likely be days that require a little extra patience from all of us. Temporary traffic signage will be in place to help direct vehicles safely through campus.
We ask everyone to please:
- Allow a few extra minutes when traveling to campus.
- Drive slowly and cautiously through campus.
- Follow all temporary traffic signage and directions.
- Be especially mindful of pedestrians and construction equipment.
In addition, our roof replacement project continues. For everyone’s safety, there is no vehicle or pedestrian access beyond the front corner of the building near Marian Circle until that work is completed, which is also anticipated before the start of school.
We sincerely appreciate your patience, flexibility and understanding as these important improvements are completed.
Welcoming Our New Neighbors
For generations, St. Joseph Heights was home to the Sisters of Notre Dame and held a special place in the hearts of countless NDA students, alumnae and families. It was a place of prayer, hospitality, service and community, and a visible reminder of the Sisters’ steadfast commitment to their mission.
This summer, that property is beginning a new chapter. As previously announced, the Sisters of Notre Dame have partnered with St. Charles Community, one of their sponsored ministries, to transform the property into a vibrant community offering housing, resources and services for older adults.
We feel truly blessed that the Sisters chose to entrust this important property to a fellow Sisters of Notre Dame ministry rather than selling it for commercial development. We are grateful to welcome St. Charles Community as our neighbors and fellow ministry, and we look forward to the opportunities this partnership will create for our students to continue living Notre Dame Academy’s mission through meaningful service, leadership and intergenerational relationships.
Our Commitment to Campus Safety
We also want to reassure our families that the St. Charles development will not change the way Notre Dame Academy secures and operates its campus.
Notre Dame Academy will continue to operate as a closed campus during the school day. Visitors are not permitted on campus without authorization, and all visitors must continue to follow our established check-in procedures. Our School Resource Officer and campus administration will continue to enforce these procedures just as they always have.
Student safety remains our highest priority, and we will continue working closely with St. Charles Community throughout the project.
As members of the Notre Dame family, we know strong communities are built through faith, service and good neighbors. We are excited to begin this next chapter alongside St. Charles Community and look forward to all that lies ahead.
Thank you for your continued patience, support and partnership.
Sincerely,
Notre Dame Academy Administration
