I strongly advise against this school based on our experience. The administration is more interested in controlling and punishing students rather than fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking, love of learning and a feeling of safety. The culture is antiquated as is the curriculum. Teachers are underwhelming. There is a stark lack of innovation and limited use of technology. A revolving door of teachers. With those who remained, issues loomed. The administration had no interest in hearing from parents. The science program is a disgrace. It lacks instruction and labs. I have attached a photo that is telling. The Spanish program is a joke. Social Studies was inconsistent. A new, inexperienced English teacher had no accountability. She humiliated more than one child by timing them when going to the restroom in front of the class. She demonstrated questionable rationality and a tenuous relationship with reality. At some point, we hired tutors to advance our child in certain areas which we likely would have done at any school, just as many students take math at RSM. We do that as well. The vice principal reprimanded my child when she heard this, claiming it was unfair. This was outrageous, but not out of character. Every opportunity they had to tear down a child, they took--and that treatment extended to parents. Additionally, the school actively discouraged transparency and honesty, instructing my child and myself to conceal a learning accommodation from other students and parents. We were told, "Do not tell anyone, and if it gets out, we will know it was you." This culture of fear, intimidation, and dishonesty are toxic. Stapled your paper incorrectly? That will be 10% off. Did not include your last name? Turn in the next day at penalty. Why not simply speak to the student and offer support if needed? Is this about learning or control? It is 100% about control and you control through fear. The anxiety our family experienced during our time at NDE was profound. If you're looking for a forward looking school that fosters critical thinking and helps develop confidence with supportive adults rooting for them, this is absolutely not the place. For some, this culture may be acceptable, but others, including myself, may consider it a form of emotional abuse on top of an antiquated mode of teaching and curriculum. This school has the potential to be a positive neighborhood institution, but it requires significant leadership change to transform. read more

Notre Dame Elementary School - teacher's note. great spelling. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Belmont, California

It's very unfortunate for the community to have Dr. Jeremiassen as the principal of the school. Her only conflict resolution methods are 1) sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened, and 2) get rid of the people involved, be it students, teachers, or volunteers. (Yes! MANY times!) There is a typical oppressed atmosphere at the school: People are unhappy, but dare not say anything. Students jeer at the "fake smile" of the principal behind her back. How ironical it is for a Catholic/Christian school, and how unfortunate for everybody who had to go through this "educational experience". To be fair, Dr. Jeremiassen may have done some good things like modernizing the school's IT system, so she might be an Ok administrator, but lacks empathy, the basic nuance to handle problems appropriately, and the drive to try to fix problems at their root. She should never be a leader in any position. read more

My son has been in the NDE preschool for three years and will be starting kindergarten at NDE this fall. Since beginning preschool, my son has made incredible progress--especially in areas where he once struggled, like fine motor skills. Not only has he mastered the preschool curriculum, but he's also excelled far beyond it. He can now complete kindergarten-level (and sometimes higher) workbooks, and reads at a second to third-grade level. But more than academics, his social growth has been just as impressive. I used to worry about how shy he might be--he was born during the COVID era and tended to be more reserved. Now, he's confident, kind to his friends, and shows so much resilience. That growth is a direct result of the loving, supportive, and intentional environment created by the preschool teachers. The teachers are truly the heart and soul of this program. They provide the perfect balance of care and guidance--nurturing each child while helping them develop essential life skills, manners, and a sense of independence. And under the leadership of Preschool Director Haydet Giulianetti, the entire program just works. You can feel her passion, structure, and vision in everything that happens down there--it's clear she knows what children need to thrive. I wouldn't recommend another preschool or elementary over Notre Dame. I'm so happy my daughter will be starting here in the fall! read more

We have been extremely happy with our experience at NDE. We were looking for a warm receptive community for our children where they would find their academic match, but also find great friends with similar values. We wanted to be in a place with like minded families, who were looking to have their children be successful academically but equally as important, successful in virtue and character. NDE has been a great fit for our family, which we attribute not only to the community, but the staff, administration and teachers. We recommend taking a tour- we arrived with preconceived ideas based on what we had heard and read, but left our tour with a refreshed perspective of what our kids could have as a part of their education. read more

We joined NDE school this year (2023-2024). We have three boys in 6th, 5th, and 3rd grade. Let me first start with the community at ND, everyone from the admission to the parents in the classroom have been welcoming and warm. My kids were welcomed with open arms from their teachers and students in each classroom. I highly recommend ND if you are looking for a community. The academics so far at ND have been impressive. They have been teaching the boys how to be accountable for their school assignments, preparing them for the next grade, and going deep in every subject. If you are looking for an amazing community and strong academics, but not overwhelming, ND is the place for you. read more

If you sort the reviews by 'Newest', I want to debunk the last 10/26/2022 review in that the preschool program, the preschool Director, the principal, and all preschool teachers are worth the money and in fact extremely organized, and personable. It seems like that review is skewed by a one-off situation that unfairly does not reflect the overall picture of what we've seen since Oct 2022. Pertaining to the new principal, we scheduled a tour and when we showed up, the normal team member who usually gives the tour was unavailable so the new principal made herself available and the impression I got from her was that she is very thoughtful, patient, and thorough during the full tour of the school (mind you, we were only expecting to tour the preschool but she showed us the entire facility all the while saying hello and referring to MANY students by their first name). During our enrollment process, she was very involved and along with the preschool Director was and still is extremely responsive. On the preschool Director, she is scary fast at responding to emails (even at all hours). I aspire to respond to my work emails that fast. I need to recognize the personable care and attention Haydet and Irene have given to my son. He was out sick for 2.5 months and upon his return, Haydet proactively asked me how she and the team can help him readjust. When I noticed that my son was not eating his lunch, I emailed the team to ask what he was doing and if he was eating other kids' food so that I could correct his behavior to which Irene replied and noticed he was not eating at all (out of watching 34-ish other kids) and offered him an apple that he ate. She could have not been attentive enough and my son would not have eaten but that was thankfully not the case. It shouldn't be as important how they treat me (so if I was late picking up my son, that's on me) moreso than it is how the team treats my son and he comes home happy, educated, socialized, and entertained. So that's what I'm really paying for. For more background, my husband is an alum of and attended Notre Dame Elementary School for 8 years so we decided to take our son out of Kids Konnect and enroll him in their preschool program. We were actually paying $150 MORE at Kids Konnect and getting significantly LESS than what NDP offers. Let's spread some positive recognition because they have the job of disciplining, teaching, supervising, playing, cleaning, and a WHOLE lot more so THANK YOU. We will be sending our 2nd son to NDE. It is highly recommended because my son has come home with more than 1 art project. ;P read more

I can't say enough great things about Notre Dame elementary. My son has been going here since preschool and we absolutely love it . Small classes so teachers can focus on all the kids and not feel overwhelmed. Great communication from school to parent. Such a lovely community everyone knows each other . Everyone takes care of each other. Notre dame has great core values teaches kids to be polite and caring. My son now is in first grade and is thriving ! We are so lucky to be apart of a wonderful community. read more

I'm finally writing this long overdue review for this school that has really been great for my kids. As we are an African American family that decided to live on the Peninsula, we knew that it would be tough to find a school that had a greater than 3% population of African American kids. So then what was important for us was that the school we chose was generally diverse and emphasized values that would encourage students to respect and appreciate diversity. NDE embraces a set of values called Hallmarks- one of them is honor the dignity and sacredness of each person. With this being the case, when we were searching for a school, NDE quickly became a strong contender. We also wanted a school with strong academics but that would not be sufficient. In the Bay Area there is so much focus on excellence in academics and extra-curricular activities such as sports, music- but we wanted a school that would help develop our children as "whole" persons that realize there is a world outside of themselves. NDE has been doing this through the teaching of the Hallmarks, encouraging their demonstration, and community service projects, which different grades actually lead. We also were drawn to the smallness of the school relative to other schools. My kids who have attended NDE since kindergarten and are now in 8th and 6th grade (boy and girl respectively), are truly "known" by the teachers. They know their strengths and opportunities for improvement. Parent-teacher conferences nine times out of ten have been rich with really thoughtful feedback because they really "know" our kids. I do want to say that no school is perfect. I don't expect that. And not every kids'/family's experience will be the same but as my son is about to graduate, I feel we made the right decision with NDE. My children are confident (they've done more presentations than I can remember doing through high school!), do their best to care about a world outside of themselves, are learning discipline and organization through the rigor of middle school, know how to work in groups, and are developing very well academically. They've also enjoyed the sports program (which is parent run). And I find the current administration to be willing to listen to concerns and responsive. I don't have the perfect kids so I have had the "tough" conversations and for our family, we have felt supported and have felt like we have been able to "partner" on issues of concern. Does not mean that the school does EVERYTHING I want - but have they acted within reason and their remit - yes. Hope this helps someone as I def looked at reviews when going through this process. But the visit is really important and getting a diversity of opinions. read more

We joined Notre Dame Elementary in 2015 as an incoming Kindergarten family. The reason I chose this school is that I love the small community, being able to make a difference within the school and giving my kids the best education. Their curriculum is top notch with 2 credentialed teachers, small classroom size for individual attention. My husband went to this school as a child from pre-school-8th grade. We live closer to other Catholic schools and toured them all. I felt this was the best place for my children. NDE is an independent school so we are not under the archdiocese, we are open to all faiths and diversity. The tuition may seem a bit high but keep in mind there is no church to give money to so it's put into your child's education directly. It is very surprising to see negative reviews here because each school has its positives and negatives and we are here to work on them together. Only a team that works together can make the change. A great principal who will never give up, teachers who work together and parents that commit. read more

We decided to leave this school this year as it had not been meeting our expectations! A lot of the 5th grade students are not coming back and some left mid year. Pros: -Small school /class size - Minor building improvements were made this year -Most of the parents are easy to deal with - Choicelunch is available -Covid testing 2x a week - New music teacher was hired - Recorders , Ukeleles were purchased this year -Special person day/ Easter Day event - Not too religious heavy - For the most part there is no major drama/bullying -Volunteer opportunities - Back to school coffee and other events to meet parents Cons: -The new principal runs this school like a corporation. She is not personable at all. She only listens to you if you are part of the PTO. -Staff turnover is high. Just this year the TK,K,1st, 2nd, 3rd (join in the middle of the year),5th grade teachers all left the school! The former 3rd grade teacher left last year along with some middle school teachers. Yikes! The heart of the school were the 1st/2nd grade teachers. One of the front office staff left not even a month of the new principals arrival. -No accountability for teachers not doing their job. We try to talk to the principal about a teacher concern but she ignored it even though various parents complained. According to my child not all subjects were taught that were on the schedule. - School is always asking for donations out of the blue. This year the parents are being forced to buy pre package school supplies through a fundraising website. Way to take out all of the fun of back to school shopping for the kids! - This school does not have a gymnasium and lacks a strong sports department. It's all parent run. -The 5th grade teacher left not even 3 months in of the school year. The principal had to step in and sub until a replacement was hired. - Spanish class is a joke. The kids are not learning Spanish at all. - Extended care is not paid by hour like most private schools but you have to pay monthly based on a plan. A lot of parents were not happy with this change this year and opted to not send them. - They don't have a science curriculum. Bottom line: We expected much more from this school especially since it's private. But after our bad experience you are better off going public! read more

A wonderful school with very strong academics, incredibly supportive teachers, and the warmest community of parents. The environment is positive and safe, and I love how inclusive and kind the students are to each other. In other words, no drama, no bullying, just a respectful and friendly community. The school impressively pivoted to Distance Learning and has now successfully re-opened with its thorough infection mitigation plan, in a HyFlex format. NDE has always been great at prioritizing the children's education, and it shows through their commitment amidst the disruptions and changes brought on by COVID-19. The small class sizes continue to be a benefit, now especially with students being able to return for in-person learning. But the HyFlex model also allows for families who choose DL to connect virtually to the classroom so the students stay connected. This is such an amazing effort on behalf of the faculty and staff. The students continue to be educated very well and I'm so thankful for that peace of mind. This school is a hidden gem, but still has space, so it's worth checking out! read more

Our family transferred in mid year and we were welcomed with warm, open arms. It was big change for our family that wasn't taken lightly, and we could not be more happy with our decision. NDE provides a framework that not only academically pushes your child, but also supports them in their growth. The teachers are incredibly kind and allow our children's personalities to shine through. It's a special community of staff and families that care about core values, education, and having fun! read more

Time to post an update as it's a new school year and all kinds of good things have been brewing lately in the summer and are now in prime time in the fall! Just got my younger son into 1st grade and he's loving it (and reading aloud three syllable words in Narwhal & Jelly books) and my 4th grader son is learning even more about time management (homework!) and high expectations (his teacher is all about 'em). We joined the school during the "pandemie" year so things weren't that normal (but they sure tried with getting kids the "in person" option a.s.a.p. back in Q4 2020) and we're now experiencing what the school community is all about. Super supportive parents and PTO, a new principal (Dr J, for short) who is focused on keeping things steady and stellar on the academic front while making positive changes on the back office administration side of things (that current families can already see the impact of... it's just been a few months) so very appreciative of her efforts to make incremental changes that matter. And she likes asking the kids for ideas on playground equipment so there you have proof in the pudding that there's a principal who is really listening and observing :) read more

Notre Dame Elementary School - 4th grade class for 2021-2022 school year! - Elementary Schools Near Me - Belmont, California

My daughter transferred mid-year to NDE and it couldn't have been handled better: the teacher's slowly introduced my daughter to the curriculum and let find her way so that she could accumate to the school's educational process. All of the teachers were so helpful and caring for her as a new student. The parents were wonderful in welcoming us and getting us caught up on the activities being offered. NDE is an excellent academic, faith-based school and we couldn't be happier. read more

This is a an independent Catholic school. I moved here in 2009, and found this amazing gem of a school. I had researched schools in the North Peninsula thinking I would be living closer to Burlingame area and went to schools in Millbrae, Burlingame, and San Mateo trying to find the right fit for my 5th grader girl. I found a house in Belmont, AND right across the street was NDE! It is by far the most progressive Catholic School I had toured. It's an amazingly welcoming and loving environment. 5th grade for girls can be tough. This group of kids are so kind and caring - my daughter was welcomed by both teachers and students. I was really worried about this, but this was furthest from the case. Even BETTER, this year there is a new Principal, Dr. Traynor. I cannot say enough GREAT things about him and his methodologies. There is a re-vitalized feeling with him at the helm. The cirriculum and teachers have all been reviewed by an outside respected company and there will be many many positive changes. The education the kids get here is good, but it will get even better. Our student body is very sharp and I am really excited about the changes. The parent involvment is high and committed. Each school function is held at the beautiful Ralston Hall - on the same property. The downside is the school is in need of cosmetic updating; but this is being reviewed and a plan is being worked out too. I cannot say enough good things about the school and the Principal. read more

My son is finishing up his middle school years here. For the most part, I am glad my son attended this school. However, I am changing my review from 4 stars down to 3 stars because two of the three middle school teachers currently on board are lacking. I believe these teachers DO teach the necessary classwork, but either they are under too much pressure to succeed or just don't like their jobs well enough. There is no fun, no humor, and very little respectful interaction between these teachers and their students. From the feedback of numerous children, it seems they are viewed as children only - not as thinking, evolving beings. I know teaching is not a popularity contest, but there has to be a rapport - a relationship. Why make school something to endure when it can be something children look forward to? On the flip-side, in regard to the class size and other kids in class - they have felt like family to my son If a handful of kids try out for a sport, they all want to join so they can be together. I was super happy he came to NDE over a larger, public middle school. I wished for more PE days, instrumental music and was saddened to see the library go. I didn't bring my kid here as a "Catholic school," first and foremost. I brought him in the hopes that he would have a positive experience - both socially and academically - and be able to enjoy that last bit of innocence one can have during middle school years. Did that happen? For the most part, yes. If I had to do it again, would I? That would depend on those middle school teachers. THAT would be the deciding factor for me. read more

We currently have 2 kids in the lower grades of NDE, and we couldn't be happier! I love the class sizes and individualized attention the kids receive, unlike some overcrowded schools. It feels so much like a family, and a close knit community. I also attended NDE, and after touring other schools, I was impressed with all the positive changes that have been made. NDE was my first choice and I am so glad it was! read more

I attended NDE for a few years back in the early 90's and both my kids attend the school now. What I value most about the school is the wonderful community and the importance that the school places on a variety of curriculum that includes art, music, foreign language, and physical education. The school also provides opportunities for students to be involved with after school clubs and has an excellent extended care program. For being such a small school the athletics program is very competitive too! My kids couldn't be happier at this school. I know many NDE graduates, some of which I have had as students at the high school I teach at and feel they have all turned out to be wonderful teenagers. I am also STILL very close with many of my NDE classmates and can honestly say that the sense of community lasts a lifetime! read more

We are very happy to have our children at Notre Dame Elementary. We moved here from another school, and have been very pleased with the academics and friendly families and staff. We so appreciate being able to have a direct relationship with the teachers, visit the classrooms for activities, and work together to make our school an excellent experience for our kids. NDE takes reading and writing seriously challenging each child at their own level with the leveled reading program and encouraging daily journaling starting in Kindergarten! Algebra is typically taken by all the eighth grade class with Geometry offered to the advanced students (through the high school). The negative reviews surprise me to some extent, as no school is perfect. Sister Kathryn is our principal, having been vice principal under Dr. Traynor. I am pleased with the changes that took place (adding a Kindergarten class and a dedicated Science Lab!) and enjoy working with Sr. Kathryn on projects to beautify and improve our school. We look forward to our youngest child joining the NDE family soon! read more

I can't thank NDE enough for wanting my son to stay in their school for his second grade and not change schools. During these hard times, Sr Kathryn has shown me kindness and compassion and proved to me what a community NDE school really is. At the same time, I see my son is getting a top education. Thank you so much. read more

I laughed a lot reading the two positive reviews. I know from first-hand experience how bad this school is, in more ways than its lack of academic expertise. It was in dire need of a new, non-corrupt principal when I was there so that is good to hear that someone new has stepped in. However, I imagine it would take much more than one new person to fix this school - most of the teachers there are horrendously unintelligent and disorganized, save but a few. Despite being a private school, resources are very outdated and sparse. Only a couple of sports teams, a choir but no music/orchestra/band, no art classes, etc. Whatever, I started out behind in high school because I wasn't taught well there but I was able to catch up through hard work and summer school and graduate high school in the honor roll. This is a good place to shelter kids, that's about it. read more

As I reflect at our time at NDE (9 years), I feel very satisfied with my children's education. Both (boy and girl) got into their first choices (actually all schools they applied) for high school. More importantly, both kids have achieved this without my husband and my intervention. NDE emphasizes being organized and responsible for your work. This is sometimes a harder adjustment for Type A parents, but so necessary to be successful scholastically. NDE emphasizes independence which I truly appreciate. Was everything perfect? Not always, but isn't that part of growing up? The school provided a safe environment where my children were known and respected and educated both academically and socially. read more

If you want a school where you child will thrive educationally, where no family will be a stranger and where the fee you pay monthly is almost all inclusive for the year then NDE is the place to go. I have a 3rd grader and am a single working mom. Cliché? I chose NDE for many reasons. My kid is taken care of emotionally, spiritually and educationally. I am member of the Parent Teacher organization. I've been room mom in the past years and the brownie scout troop leader. My point is, I know the school inside out and I can tell you that without the entire administration and all the wonderful families that are here I wouldn't be here. read more

Our kids have been in this school since 2010, and we are happy with the school. Every year since sister Katherine became principal we see the improvements in different aspects of the school. The science lab is now open, the new computers are purchased. There is a lots of improvement and renovation done to the school building. The curriculum is being updated every year, and only gets better. 5th grade math program for this year is much improved. Spanish is now improved, the kids are actually learning Spanish! Art in Action, PE, but most important - strong main curriculum with the focus on language arts and math - all make this school very attractive to us. And kids love going there every day. read more

We have three children in this school and I am very please with the education they are receiving. We have recommended this school to several friends and all who have enrolled are happy they did so. Like every school, there are issues but none compromize the quality of the education the children receive. As for the negative comments this school recieves, it is true that this school is not for everyone. Those who are motivated to learn, have parent involvement, are able to interact positively with their peers and do not need "hand holding" to get through the day will thrive here. read more

We were new to NDE this year with 2 kids in the lower grades and are quite happy at the school. We're impressed with the academic curriculum, the emphasis on community, diversity, and the ND hallmarks, and the beautiful campus which is conducive to calm, focused learning. We like that it is an independent Catholic school run by the Sisters of Notre Dame, not associated with a particular parish. Sister Katherine and the staff are truly dedicated, constantly working to implement improvements and have been both open and responsive to parent feedback and suggestions. read more

Happy to see the positive reviews on this school. I hope your children do not endure what we experienced here. We took action in hopes that other kids do not experience what our child experienced. We were hoping that the teachers will protect our child in school but they turned away and basically told us to deal with it. We were you for a number of years and volunteered our time, coached sports, were social advocates and very kind until we encountered what we did. We understand that two teachers are on their way out - fed up and could not tolerate what is going on. A third staff member is also moving on. We left the school and were hesitant because of the inconvenience and the unknown. I spoke with my child today and heard that we should have made this move years ago. There is a kindness and academic excellence at other schools better than what is offered at NDE. Good luck to you and your children. read more

Notre Dame Elementary School is a small hidden gem on the Peninsula. The teachers are amazing and go above and beyond. They are available, involved, and without a doubt, some of the best around. The new principal is outstanding! His main focus is the children. His door is always open and he will listen to anyone's ideas. He responds in a timely manner and is making amazing changes at the school. Lastly, the families wonderful and are always willing to help. I have been at other schools and you can not compare the small hidden gem we have here at Notre Dame Elementary! read more

My son has been going to this school now for seven years and it has only goten worse by the month. Even the new priciple is a joke. I am questioning my sons education by leaving him at this school. I would not recommend anyone on going to this school. On parent teacher night I really think that my son is smarter than the teachers. This is one of the worst schools in the bay area. read more

Can't say enough about the special place that is Notre Dame Elementary. Both my daughters graduated from the school and were more than prepared for all the private high schools we considered. The school community is large enough to offer the extra-curriculars, but small enough to really know each child. It is on a beautiful, safe campus. I loved how the older students worked with the younger ones. It kept the older kids from "growing up too fast" and the younger ones loved it. The new principal is a total pro - focused on up to date curriculum and has insured an excellent faculty that not only know their subjects, they are really "there" for the students. The parent community was great too. I can't imagine a better experience than we had at NDE. I couldn't recommend it higher. Keep up the good work! read more

Beware of this school!!! We used to go to this school but left disgusted after continuously being lied to by the school administration led by Sr. Kathryn who is the current principal there. We along with many families in the lower grades left this school last year because the principal was unwilling to acknowledge there were problems in the 1st grade classroom under the rule of a new teacher. Even after 5 families left back to back in the fall, the school seemed to think nothing was wrong. Apparently we did the right thing because both the Kindergarten and 2nd grade teacher also left the school at the end of the year along with more families. If you look closely you will see that the enrollment is low. 12 kids in the 2nd grade. A friend of ours visited the school this past summer and was told by Sr. Kathryn that the low enrollment was due to the fact that the school did not have a parish when in fact, many of us applied to go there because of this reason. So beware and be forewarned!!! read more