Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
Grade 7-12 Model
Benefits of the Grade 7-12 Secondary Model
Students entering the model in Grade 7 and 8 continue in the intermediate program they currently experience in Kindergarten to Grade 8 schools. They also enjoy the following benefits of being located in a secondary school facility:
- a partial-rotary schedule with familiar routines and specialized teaching for core subjects including Math, Language, and French;
- enhanced collaboration among Grades 7 to12 staff;
- expanded access to sports, arts, music, and clubs;
- seamless transition into high school;
- leadership opportunities for older students to mentor younger peers.
To learn more about the differences between grade 7&8 programming and grade 9-12 programming, click here.
Grade 7 and 8 Daily Schedule at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
The Daily Schedule
To view a detailed daily schedule, click here.
The bell times will be established by January 2026, but the daily schedule will have the structure as shown here:
Intermediate (grade 7&8) schedule will have:
- Classes in three 100-minute blocks
- Recess and lunch times that do not align with any breaks or transitions for high school
- Cafeteria will be open for lunch, and outdoor space is designated for recess
- Students will be supervised before school and at all breaks.
High School (grade 9-12) schedule will have:
- Four 75-minute classes
- One 40-minute lunch
- 5-minute transition times between classes
Registration Information
Registering for School
Students coming from a WCDSB school within the Notre Dame boundaries will be automatically enrolled for September 2026.
If you are new to the area or new to the WCDSB, here’s how to register:
Grade 7 and 8
If you are a current grade 6 or 7 student at Canadian Martyrs CES, St. Daniel CES, or St. John Paul II CES, then you will automatically be enrolled at Notre Dame for grade 7 or 8 next year. We are looking forward to building our new school with you next year!
If you are a grade 6 or 7 student who lives in the area of Canadian Martyrs, St. Daniel, or St. John Paul II, but you do not already go to one of these schools, you will need to follow the steps described on the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s website to register for grade 7 or 8: Elementary Registration
Grade 9
If you are a current grade 8 student at St. Anne CES (Kitchener), Canadian Martyrs CES, St. Daniel CES, or St. John Paul II CES then you will automatically be enrolled at Notre Dame CSS. You will use myBlueprint to select your courses for grade 9.
If you do not currently go to a WCDSB school, you will need to register for grade 9 following the steps described here: Secondary Registration
Grade 10
If you are a current grade 9 student at St. Mary’s High School or St. David Catholic Secondary School and you live within the boundaries for Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, then you will automatically be enrolled at Notre Dame for grade 10 next year. You will select your courses for next year in myBlueprint.
If you are a current grade 9 student who lives within the boundaries for Notre Dame but you do not currently attend St. Mary’s or St. David, then you can use the following link to register to join us in September for grade 10: Secondary Registration
Welcome to Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School!
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is excited to be opening a new school for grade 7-12 students in east Kitchener.
We know this is a new model for our board, and we’re committed to making the transition smooth and positive for all students.
To reflect our location on the Grand River, our team mascot has been selected to a Riverhawk. Our school colours will be dark blue and orange.
Location and feeder schools
Notre Dame is located at 20 Woolner Trail, Kitchener, nestled into a corner of the Grand River very close to the Fairway Road bridge.
Grade 7 and 8 students will come from Canadian Martyrs CES, St. Daniel CES, and St. John Paul CES in the WCDSB. Grade 9 students will come from St. Anne (Kitchener) and St. Patrick (starting in 2027).
Our school is projected to accommodate 400 grade 7-8 students and 1000 grade 9-12 students, but it will open in September 2026 with only grades 7-10 students. Grade 11 and grade 12 will be added in subsequent years.
Background
While many other school boards in Ontario have offered grade 7-12 schools, this is our first school of this model in the WCDSB. The structure of the school was carefully deliberated and community input was sought before any building began. You can review the community input that informed the final Key Considerations Report that was approved by the Board of Trustees here:
https://wcdsb.ca/about-us/accommodations/7-12-program-review/
Notre Dame is built on land with deep historical roots—from Indigenous footpaths to Mennonite farms. Our name honours the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who helped shape Catholic education in our region.
Ways To Get Involved
- Join our Link Crew to welcome new students
- Be part of our Student Activities Council
- Sign up for sports and clubs in the fall!
- Parents can to join our CSAC (parent council)
- Volunteer to coach, run a club, or help at school
For more information, please reach out to our principal, Mark Modolo: mark.modolo@wcdsb.ca. If you have questions or if you would like to be included in school updates, please complete this questionnaire.
Calendar Highlights
- November 6, 2025
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- November 13, 2025
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- November 17, 2025
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- November 18, 2025
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- November 20, 2025
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Notre Dame Secondary School Calendar
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