Student Activities
Throughout the school year, we provide a wide range of activities for our students through the support of our teachers, faculty, staff and parent volunteers. Field trips, dances, assemblies, parties and many other interesting and informative events are scheduled to provide safe and secure activities for our students.
Upper School
Back to School Meet the Teacher Tailgate
This meet and greet gives students a chance to introduce their teachers to their parents, learn more about clubs and activities offered at the upper school, show some Irish spirit at the evening’s athletic matches, have a bite to eat from local food trucks and have lots of fun!
Casual for a Cause
Students in the upper school raise money for various charitable organizations by making a small donation, in exchange they are allowed to wear casual clothes on certain days of the year.
Chillfest
Upper school students showcase their hidden talents at Chillfest each January. Chillfest is an open mic night, with the stage available to singers, dancers, comedians and anyone looking to display their talent in a relaxed, accepting environment.
Concert on the Hill
Notre Dame is blessed with students who possess a wide range of talents. Concert on the Hill showcases student musicians and vocalists on the “big stage” while
Homecoming Week
International Travel
Irish Week
This is no ordinary week in the halls of Notre Dame—a four-day battle of wits and brawn. Each grade dukes it out until the last game in the gym
on Thursday. This special week goes back to 1976 at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods when Principal Conrad Vachon was drumming up school spirit.
Kairos
Marist Founder’s Week
Mental Health Awareness Week
Junior Prom
Junior Leadership Day
Senior BBQ and Oscars
On the day of graduation practice in May, Notre Dame Prep treats its seniors to an on-campus barbecue. With exams finished and college on the horizon, the barbecue gives our soon-to-be graduates one more opportunity to be with their friends and classmates before taking the next step on their educational and life journeys.
Senior Celebration
Senior Prom
Senior Service Experience
Notre Dame Prep seniors live out their servant leadership role as Christian persons and upright citizens by coordinating a senior class service experience where they serve their neighbors through a program called Life Remodeled. This is our way of living our mission, our love for neighbor and our Union with God.
Unity Day
The third Wednesday of October is National Unity Day, a day founded by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center to pledge to end bullying. Students wear orange.
Middle School
- Amazing Shake
- Parent Day
- House System
- Social Night
- Class Trips
- Musical
- 7/8th Grade End of the Year Party
- Movie Night
Lower School
Back to School Dance Party and Ice Cream Social
The Sunday before the start of the school year, all lower school families are invited to campus to meet classmates, parents and teachers, to enjoy some ice cream, and to dance. The event gives Notre Dame another opportunity to exhibit the Marist value of hospitality to new and returning students and families.
Boo Bash
On a Sunday afternoon in October, the lower school invites current students and families to this treat-filled special event right before Halloween. There are treats, crafts, and costume contests for adults.
Fall Family Festival
Each September, our lower school plays host to the Fall Family Festival. The entire school community is invited to attend—free of charge—to enjoy food, folks and fun. Activities for children include bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall, and multiple games resulting in prizes.
Field Day
Each June, our lower school students participate in Field Day. The special event takes place on our main campus, where students get to play a range of fun games on our football field and grounds. They also are treated to a complimentary lunch before finishing the day with the screening of a movie back on the lower school campus.
Grandparents Day
Each fall, Notre Dame welcomes our students’ grandparents and people dear to them to our campus for a special event celebrating who they are and what they mean to us. The day begins with a Mass, attended by all lower school students and their guests, and concludes with a complimentary brunch.
Mackinac Trip
Near the end of their time at our lower school, 5th grade students have the opportunity to go on a three-day overnight trip to Mackinac Island. The students—chaperoned by our principal, teachers and selected parents—ride a chartered bus up north, then ferry to the island, where they go on a guided tour of Mackinaw City, take a carriage ride, and dine at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Other highlights of the trip are tours of Arch Rock and the National Shrine of Cross in the Woods, as well as activities like ziplining and rock wall climbing.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Families are invited to join the faculty to bless and light our school Christmas tree. Students are able to make craft decorations to take home to put on their own tree. Cookies and hot chocolate are served.
Clubs and Extracurriculars
Beyond our classrooms and fields of play, you will have multiple opportunities to explore your interests, develop your skills, use your talents, and express yourself in one or more student activities at Notre Dame. So dive in! Audition for the play, write that article, build that robot, defend your position, serve your community! Take that healthy risk and find out what more you have to offer.
To see what opportunities await you at Notre Dame, click on the appropriate school level below.
Upper School
- Bee Club
- BeNice!
- Best Buddies
- Book Club
- Business for Good
- Champions for Life
- Chess Club
- Chinese Honor Society
- Computer Club
- Creative Writing Club
- Debate
- Insight Initiative Club
- Irish Investing
- Environmental
- FIRST Robotics moderator
- Leadership Council
- Model U.N.
- MultiCultural Alliance
- National Honor Society
- OCCRA Robotics
- Optimists
- Pre-Med Club
- Podcast Club, "Talk of the Irish"
- SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
- Ski Club
- Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica
- Student Council
- Varsity Club
Middle School
Art Club
Art Club members are able to create in a variety of media and improve upon techniques in the visual arts. The club is limited to students in grade 6.
Drama Club
Drama Club offers students the opportunity to learn firsthand what it’s like to tread the boards in a winter musical and spring play. Students may choose to perform on stage, or be a part of the stage crew in charge of lighting, sound, set design, costuming, etc. The club meets two to three days each week after school beginning in October.
Environmental Club (E Club)
Students in E Club learn about the environment, discuss human impact on the earth, and work to make Notre Dame more environmentally friendly. Students educate their peers about reducing, reusing and recycling, and take action by collecting cell phones and ink cartridges, and recycling paper, aluminum and plastic products. Students help research topics of discussion and initiate school-wide programs, including composting.
Forensics
Every student at the middle school is a member of the National Junior Forensics League. In addition to frequent classroom presentations, students have the opportunity to compete annually at the national level, monthly with the Great Lakes Debate League, and several times a year at the state level with Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association. Students explore a variety of formats, including Dramatic Duo, Poetry Interpretation, and Extemporaneous Speaking, as well as Public Forum and Congressional Debate.
Gamers Unplugged
Students looking for a fun atmosphere where they can unplug from technology and connect with friends while playing a variety of card and board games likely will enjoy membership in this club. Not only do students get to spend time with friends, but they also get the chance to learn teamwork, game strategy, and other useful skills.
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code gives girls the opportunity to participate in fun activities as they learn the principles of coding. The outcome: girls begin to see themselves as computer scientists who one day can change the world! No coding experience is required.
Michigan Youth in Government
Middle school students have an opportunity to learn argumentation and compromise by participating in this three-day program in Lansing. Students write legislation, participate in committee meetings to encourage meaningful change in our state, and debate in the Michigan State Senate chambers at the capitol. Participants meet state legislators and aides, work with high school students with years of experience in the activity, and hear an address from a dignitary.
National Junior Honor Society
Membership to this esteemed club is by invitation only, and based on a student’s cumulative GPA following the first semester of Grade 7. An induction ceremony is held each May. Transfer students are accepted. In addition to earning high marks in the classroom, students desiring to be in NJHS should possess leadership skills and positive character attributes. As 8th graders, students meet monthly to discuss skill development, community service and social activities.
Robotics
VEX, an international competitive robotics program, is available to all middle school students. Sixth graders use the Vex IQ system to design, build and program plastic robots with Robot Mesh Blockly, while their older schoolmates use Robot Mesh with the Vex EDR system to design, build and program metal robots. Ultimately the students compete against other teams on a state, national and global scale.
Science Club
Science Club gives students a fun, hands-on experience in an co-curricular setting. The goal of the club is to increase students’ interest in science by exploring challenging topics through inquiry and experimentation.
Ski and Snowboarding Club
The Ski and Snowboarding Club is open to students, parents, faculty and family members from all three schools of Notre Dame. (Students must be age 7 or older to participate.)
Student Council
Students who enjoy the challenge and excitement of planning activities and strengthening their leadership abilities should consider running for a Student Council position in the fall. Student Council meets throughout the school year to plan numerous events and Christian service projects. Events include dances, Irish Week and other school-wide activities.
Yearbook
Under the direction of faculty moderators, students take photographs, edit photos, choose page designs and learn layout techniques in the production of an annual yearbook.
Lower School
Band
Students who are interested in learning to play an instrument have the opportunity to join the lower school band in 4th grade. Under the direction of our music teacher, band meets on various days during the week, depending on instrument sections and concert preparations. Band members also may meet during recess for individual instruction.
Drama Club
Students in 3rd through 5th grade may join the drama club, which stages an annual spring play. Younger students also may have the opportunity to perform in the chorus of the middle school winter musical. By joining drama club, students can explore their interest in performing on stage, or working on lights, sound and sets as a member of stage crew.
Environmental Club
Students in grades 3-5 meet once a month to discuss the impact people have on our environment. Additionally students educate the lower school community by conducting clean up around the campus, planting flowers, collecting cell phones/ink cartridges, and recycling paper.
Robotics
VEX, an international competitive robotics program, is available to students beginning in kindergarten. Over the course of five meetings, students in kindergarten through 2nd grade gain exposure to VEX IQ robotics through children’s books and activities that follow the engineering design process, with an emphasis on problem solving.
Students in 3rd through 5th grades use the VEX IQ system to design, build and program plastic robots, while their older schoolmates use the VEX EDR system to design, build and program metal robots. Using Modkit on their iPads, students work on autonomous programs.
Rosary Club
Once a month students (PreK-5th Grade) and parents are invited to the Atrium to pray the rosary after school. Praying the rosary together on a regular basis allows students to draw nearer to God.
Service Learning Projects
Throughout the year all students and families are able to participate in local community service. These opportunities include organizing the panty at a food pantry, singing to the elderly, organizing clothes at a homeless shelter. These opportunities allow students to learn the importance of helping others who are in need.
Student Service Patrol
The Student Service Patrol is made up of 4th and 5th graders who are committed to sharing their gifts and talents to help others in our school community. Some of their responsibilities are assisting with the morning drop-off line, setting up for Mass, helping PreK and kindergarten students dress for outdoor recess in the winter, and returning lunch trays.
Ski and Snowboarding Club
The Ski and Snowboarding Club is open to students, parents, faculty and family members from all three schools of Notre Dame. (Students must be age 7 or older to participate.)
Student Council
Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade who are looking to share their leadership talents with the school community can run for a spot on the Student Council. Six class representatives are elected by their peers, with executive offices open to 5th graders. Student Council plans social events like bowling parties and movie nights, as well as school activities like Irish Week.
