From feasts to tree trimmings, to prayer services and everything in between, the annual holiday celebrations for students, faculty and staff were a huge success.
Students began their festivities with the annual tree-trimming, followed by a service in Marikle Chapel, and a family-style steak dinner served by faculty and staff. After dinner the campus came together for the traditional singing of the “12 Days of Christmas.” The night ended with everyone heading outside to take part in the Gibbons Tower lighting.
Just two weeks later, faculty and staff came together for a holiday luncheon. It was about fun, food, friends and of course the staff’s own rendition of “12 Days of Christmas.” Various departments also sang/acted out some holiday classics, including the School of Education’s version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
To see pictures from both events go to Notre Dame’s Flickr page and to watch the video from the student celebration, including the annual Tower Lighting check out our Facebook page.
For two years, Sr. Sharon Slear, Provost at Notre Dame of Maryland University, and former Dean of the School of Education, has led a team of faculty and staff during the summer to a very small, extremely impoverished island community called La Gonâve. This island lies in the bay of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The area, hit hard by the 2010 hurricane, is very barren and with little water available due to water exploitation and weather, agricultural development suffers. While many nations have come to the rescue in terms of medical care, new wells for water, and other economic development, there remains little to no opportunity for an adequate education.
Sr. Sharon has worked to bring teaching supplies and support to help the teachers of La Gonâve (some of whom only have a 9th grade education themselves) be better prepared to help students improve their skills. Over the past two summers, Sr. Sharon has helped these teachers identify the signs of children with varied needs or delays in social and emotional development as well as focusing on special education topics - including the recognition of and response to anxiety, ADHD, autism and related issues.
This summer, Sr. Sharon will return to this island; however, this time, her mission will be to transport these teachers to Port-au-Prince where she will train them to improve their instructional practice in mathematics and the use of manipulatives. The cost to sponsor each teacher is approximately $2000.
Just prior to the annual NDMU Faculty and Staff Christmas Luncheon, Dr. Gary Thrift, the new Dean of the School of Education, was pleased to present to Sr. Sharon a check in the amount of $1500 to help sponsor one of these teachers. These funds were raised entirely by the School of Education faculty and staff. It is our sincere hope that others in the NDMU community will hear this call for help and will pledge additional support to Sr. Sharon and her team as they endeavor to train, educate, inspire, and excite these novice Haitian teachers.
If you are interested in donating to this cause, please forward your SSND Haiti Project contribution to Sr. Sharon Slear at 4701 N. Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21210. And, if you have any questions email Sr. Sharon.
The campus will come together on February 12 to celebrate Notre Dame Day! The day recognizes the accomplishments of our students and our rich history.
Among the awards that will be presented: the Distinguished Staff Award, the SSND Mission and Ministry Award, the Service-Learning Faculty Award and the Mary Ann O’Donnell Team Academic Achievement Award – 2017-2018. In addition several departmental awards will be handed out.
Originally on March 25, Notre Dame Day was created to celebrate the two cores of our school: Mary, and our state of Maryland.
Every year, the graduating Women's College students gather for a reception marking the 100 nights until Commencement. This year’s event will be held on February 1, in Fourier Hall.
The Class of 2019 will mark the occasion with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner and a night out in Baltimore.
The tradition of 100 nights was established in the early 1980s, and has become a time for graduating seniors to reflect on their experiences as undergraduates at Notre Dame.
Congratulations are in order for School of Pharmacy Dean, Anne Lin. In addition to heading up one of only three Maryland pharmaceutical schools, Lin is currently serving as the Immediate Past Chair of the Council of Deans for the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Just recently she was selected by her peers as President-Elect of AACP.
This July, Lin will officially assume the role of President-elect and in July 2020 she will take over as President following the annual meeting. The term runs for one year when she transitions to the role of Immediate Past President.
Twenty-nine third grade students participated in an exciting 3D printer project sponsored by Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) and Digital Harbor Foundation on December 4, 2018. Fifteen first-year NDMU students engaged in this project as part of NDMU's "Perspectives on Education and Culture" course, which requires each student to engage in a minimum of 10 community service hours. The Govans students were filled with wonder and excitement as they watched the printer create small animals that they had designed themselves. Thank you to Dr. Deborah Calhoun, Valerie Tracey, Sara Kelly, Rebecca Wheeler, Amanda Porter, and Sandi McFadden for coordinating this outstanding opportunity.
The winter break has just a few weeks left.. From going home and spending time with family and friends, to studying abroad, to taking classes during Winterim, the holidays have been filled with a lot of activities for many of our students.
Sophomore Marketing & Communications major, Michaila Sheedy recently returned from a study abroad in Paris. She was in the “City of Lights” as part of a Medieval Latin scriptures program by the Paideia Institute.
In addition to her studies, Michaila got some hands-on learning while visiting Notre-Dame Cathedral, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur, the Luxembourg Gardens and Saint-Denis. To see more on her travels check out her My View From NDMU on Instagram.
SENIORS and GRADUATES, it may seem like graduation is far away, but the time is going to come quickly. The Commencement Liturgy is May 18th at 4 p.m. in Marikle Chapel. This mass is open to all and is planned by graduates. In the past, the committee has been made up of students from each of the Schools. The hope is that we could have two from each school. If we start early, you will have very little to do as the time gets closer. For more information contact Sister Mary.
Spring Semester Begins/Classes Resume
Basketball v. Rosemont College
MBK Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
Basketball v. Centenary University (New Jersey)
MBK Sports Complex, 1 p.m.
David Modler & Samuel Peck, tet[R]ad: Draw and Play Here Session #10
Gormley Gallery, Fourier Hall 2nd Floor, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This installation is designed to be collaborative and will grow and develop as students work with the artists to complete it.
Artists' Reception
Gormley Gallery, February 16, 4-6 p.m.
Basketball v. Keystone College
MBK Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
100 Nights
Fourier Hall, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Seniors come together to celebrate 100 nights until graduation.
Basketball v. Marywood University
MBK Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
Notre Dame Day
Doyle Formal, 2 p.m.
Damozel Deadline
NDMU's creative literary magazine is currently acceting poems, stories, essays, plays, original artwork and photography from undergrads, graduate students and alums. Email all submissions as a word or PDF document by February 19. Please include a cover letter with your full name, email address, maor and class year.