About Our School

In the Gospel of John it is written that Jesus said to the disciples, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples..." Inherent in this commandment is the earlier instruction from Jesus to love God and to love your neighbour as you love yourself.

We at Notre Dame will seek to foster this acceptance of the Gospel message through a life which accepts the challenge to be charitable (caritas) and to seek wisdom (sapientia) and harmony (concordia). We at Notre Dame accept that our community extends far beyond the walls of our building. Our goal is to reach and serve the broader Ajax community be it through the contribution our students can make via excellence in academics or through Catholic Christian community service. The staff at Notre Dame will be committed to fostering in our students a 'love of neighbour' by continually encouraging them to serve others; the less able, those in need, the senior community. Our goal will have been reached if all of our graduates can say that they leave us as "persons for others".

The crest in our school logo consists of a circle surrounding a cross. The circle represents the "circle of life." As it encompasses the cross, we are reminded that we are created in the image and likeness of God; we are all "united" as one. The choices that we make may have a significant impact on one another and the world we live in. Our motto is clearly labelled, Caritas, Sapientia, Concordia. We are encouraged to make wise and charitable choices to ensure a life of harmony for all. The cross represents our commitment to the teachings of our Catholic Church and those of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

As Catholic educators, we live according to our Father's code and to lead our students, by example, to live the basic truths of the gospel message. This is an awesome, yet inspiring challenge which we share with the parents of our young men and women.

Children learn what they live. Each day we have the opportunity to teach our students:

• to love by the way we love;
• to be generous by our generosity;
• to be passionate by our compassion; and
• to be forgiving by the way we forgive.

However, a person cannot give what he or she does not have. Unless we are living the Gospel message, we cannot lead our students to do so.

There are many hallmarks of a Catholic educator, including:

• Prayer - The challenges of our vocation, and indeed life in general, are great. To meet them we need to follow Christ's advice that we "ask the father in My name". Each Catholic educator has a duty to expose students to his or her particular style of prayer in order to assist students to recognize the value of prayer in daily life.
• Eucharist - Parish, school, and staff liturgies provide opportunities to celebrate our faith. Our example can testify to the Eucharist as a joyful source of strength and community building.
• Social Justice - This is the heart of the Christian message, that we "love one another as I have loved you". As our brother's and sister's keepers, we must be concerned about the aged, the poor, the oppressed, and any other marginalized group - both at home and abroad.

Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School was chosen by a collection of parents, students, and Board representatives. "Notre Dame" reflects the devotion of our Ajax-Pickering community to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Catholic Church. Mary is characterized by her devotion to God and family. We look to her as our model and intercessor. 

Our school colours are Purple and Grey. These colours are distinctive and represent "royalty." We must always strive to live our lives with honour and dignity. 

Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School opened in 2001 and has built a strong tradition of academic excellence, faith formation, and community engagement. Guided by its motto, Caritas, Sapientia, Concordia (Charity, Wisdom, Harmony), the school is committed to nurturing students in an environment where learning, service, and respect for one another are at the heart of school life.

Named in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Notre Dame looks to her example of faith, courage, and devotion as a source of inspiration. Today, the school continues to empower students to grow as compassionate leaders, lifelong learners, and active contributors to their communities.

The Assumption of Mary is celebrated on August 15.

O loving God, thank you for the many blessings and unconditional love you have bestowed upon us. Give us the strength to overcome temptation. Inspire us to act as leaders in charity, awaken our minds to your infinite wisdom, and help us to work together in harmony. Guide us to live for others before ourselves and to serve others as you so greatly serve us. Empower us to grow as individuals and to unite as a community, with the fire of your love in our hearts. Amen 

Our Board's School Year Calendar is now available. Please visit our school year calendar webpage to learn more about upcoming events and activities happening at school. 

We welcome your questions, comments and concerns.

Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
1375 Harwood Ave N
Ajax, Ontario L1T 4G8

Phone: (905) 686-4300
Fax: (905) 686-4787