Upper Level Back to School Resources

Throughout the summer, our College Counseling Department will share updates regarding grade-specific information, upcoming counseling-related events, and more. We will share links to these updates below as they are finalized.

• Summer College Counseling Events
• Class of 2027 College Counseling Game Plan & Important Summer Updates

If you have any questions about the information linked above, please email our Counseling Department.

Textbooks and other required course materials for the 2026–2027 school year will be available for purchase starting July 22, 2026, through the eCampus Online Bookstore, NDP's official bookseller. Please review our Upper Level Textbook Ordering Guide for detailed instructions for ordering textbooks through this platform.

PLEASE NOTE: All Upper Level students and parents/guardians will receive an email from Ms. Jennifer Casey, Academic Dean, on Tuesday, July 21, containing a list of their major courses for the coming year so that books can be purchased.

Summer assignments have been assigned to all students enrolled in the following visual arts courses for the 2026–2027 school year. Assignments are to be completed by the due dates listed in each linked document.

• Basic Studio
  Basic Studio Summer Assignment
  
  
• Intermediate Studio
  Intermediate Studio Summer Assignment
  
  
• Digital Media II and III
  Digital Media II and III Summer Assignment
  
  
• AP and Advanced Art & Design
  AP and Advanced Summer Art Challenge Guidelines
  AP and Advanced Summer Sketchbook Investigation

Summer assignments have been assigned to all students enrolled in the following math courses for the 2026–2027 school year. Assignments are to be completed by the due dates listed in each linked document.

• AP Calculus AB: A summer work packet was given to students prior to the end of the 2025–2026 school year. Students may also download the packet here. Any questions about the AP Calculus summer assignments should be directed to Dr. Sandy Buxbaum.
  
  
• AP Calculus BC: Students enrolled in this course will receive an email directly from Dr. Sandy Buxbaum, Upper Level Mathematics Teacher, over the summer with specific instructions. Any questions about the AP Calculus summer assignments should be directed to Dr. Sandy Buxbaum.
  
  
• AP Statistics: Students are assigned work from Khan Academy. Students must join the class first. Download instructions here. Any questions about the AP Statistics summer assignment should be directed to Ms. Susan Yakim, Mathematics Department Chairperson.

Students enrolled in AP Biology for the 2026–2027 school year have been assigned summer reading and reading notes. View instructions here. The assignment is to be completed by the due date listed in the document linked above. Please contact Dr. Jessica Simmers, Upper Level Science Teacher, if you have any questions about this AP Biology assignment.

PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT apply to incoming 9th grade students in Biology; only students who are enrolled in AP Biology are required to complete this assignment.

PLEASE NOTE: All new Upper Level students should have already registered for a Laptop Workshop session as part of our enrollment onboarding in the spring. If a student has NOT yet registered yet, please contact Dr. Julie Dian, Coordinator of Educational Technology, as soon as possible.

Every summer, we host a required Laptop Workshop for new Upper Level students to ensure they are fully prepared to use their school laptops effectively before the start of the school year. The workshop includes both in-person sessions and virtual components that students will complete in their own time. Students are required to bring their laptop unboxed, charged, and fully set up.

During the workshop, students will complete essential first-time setup tasks, such as connecting to the school Wi-Fi network, signing into Microsoft, and accessing their student email—an important step for purchasing e-textbooks. They will also log into PrepNet, the school’s Learning Management System (LMS), which hosts classwork, homework, and other important resources.

• Fully set-up and charged device per PowerPoint instructions.
• The power cord labeled with name.
• Water bottle labeled with name.
• Phones are permitted but must be turned off and in the student's bag.
• Appropriate dress is required. Casual clothing is acceptable, but no short shorts or tank tops please. Athletic shoes should be worn, no crocs, flip flops or sandals permitted. The building can be chilly at times due to A/C, so please bring a sweatshirt.

Upper Level students will be able to access information about their schedule for the 2026–2027 school year in PrepNet sometime in August. They will receive an email from Ms. Jennifer Casey, Academic Dean/Registrar, when schedules are available in PrepNet.

Please email Ms. Casey with any questions about Upper Level student schedules.

NDP’s annual Activities, Athletics, and Physical Education Permission Form and Release covers a wide range of student experiences, including participation in sports, Gym Meet, Swim Show, physical education and swim classes, dance, conditioning, and related activities.
 
Parents/guardians are required to review and sign the form electronically, which can be found under the Files & Forms tab in PrepNet sometime in July.

PLEASE NOTE: This form requires an electronic signature from only ONE parent/guardian per student. If one parent/guardian has already completed the form, it will appear in the "Show completed forms" section of the Files & Forms tab for BOTH parents/guardians.

The digital 2026–2027 Student Handbook, detailing all school policies and procedures, will be linked here and made available under the Resources section of PrepNet later this summer.

PLEASE NOTE: We are transitioning fully to digital formats and will no longer provide printed copies of the Student Handbook.

All students and families will be required to review and sign the Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form, which acknowledges that you and your student have reviewed the 2026–2027 Student Handbook. The form will be available to sign electronically in PrepNet under the Files & Forms tab sometime in August.

PLEASE NOTE: This form requires an electronic signature from the student and only ONE parent/guardian. If the form is completed by one parent/guardian, the form will appear as "completed" under the other parent/guardian's Files & Forms tab on their PrepNet profile.

The Media Release Form grants or denies Notre Dame Preparatory School permission to include your student in school photography, videography, school social media accounts, digital and print publications, and on the school's website. If you have any questions about this form, please email the Communications Office.

The Media Release Form for the 2026–2027 school year will be available electronically under the Files & Forms tab in PrepNet later this summer.

PLEASE NOTE: This form requires an electronic signature from only ONE parent/guardian per student. If one parent/guardian has already completed the form, it will appear in the "Show completed forms" section of the Files & Forms tab for BOTH parents/guardians.

For any questions regarding student tuition or billing, please email  StudentBilling@notredameprep.com. A member of our Business Office will be happy to assist you.

As of July 21, 2026, the full 2026–2027 school year calendar has been published to PrepNet (behind login) and can be accessed via the Calendar tab once logged in. Please review our Guide to the PrepNet Calendar to help navigate its features and functionality.

As a reminder, our daily academic schedule is changing for the 2026–2027 school year. This new schedule has been developed to benefit our students by supporting their wellness, reducing cognitive load, providing essential time for instruction, and allowing for greater academic opportunities including flexible elective options and a more robust Advisory program.

Some highlights of this schedule include:

• Four-day cycle/8-block rotation providing a simpler rotation than the previous 10-day cycle/7-block rotation. The new schedule provides an additional academic block that can be used for potential electives, study hall, appointments with the Learning Resources Center, etc.
  
  
• Instructional Time: 50-minute classes with one 60-minute block per cycle. Classes will be slightly longer, allowing for deeper learning and richer class activities. Students will focus on fewer subjects each day, helping them manage their time and workload more effectively.
  
  
• Five minutes between classes providing for smoother transitions to and from classes.
  
  
• Daily One-Hour Blazer Block: The dedicated daily Blazer Block will provide students with a consistent time to manage their academic and extracurricular obligations. Whether it is used for study time, a club meeting, or downtime with friends, this hour provides structure and intentional space that young people need to recharge and refocus.
  
  
• 9:00 a.m. Delayed Start on Wednesdays: Every Wednesday morning, there will be a delayed school start at 9:00 a.m., allowing for dedicated time for faculty meetings, professional development, and school planning—this is a practice similar to other area peer schools. To ensure minimal disruption to family schedules, before-school supervision will be offered, so families will still be able to drop off their daughters beginning at 7:00 a.m.

New Families: A welcome letter from Café NDP will be mailed to you in July with important information about our dining program and how to set up your Café NDP account.

Returning Families: All returning students with active accounts will have the same PIN as last year and all existing balances from the previous school year will roll over.

Additional information will be shared here in July. If you have any questions about your account or student dining in general, please contact Mrs. Cristi Barry, Café NDP Manager, at cafendp@gmail.com or 410-274-0397.

In late August, rising juniors and seniors will receive an email from Mrs. Lisa Clarke, Upper Level Administrative Assistant, with a link to register their car and instructions about picking up their parking tag and which lot to park in.

If you have any questions about student parking permits in the meantime, please email Mrs. Clarke.

The school uniform readily identifies NDP students. Each student’s care for her personal appearance while in uniform is a reflection of her own self-esteem as well as her pride in her school. Therefore, it is expected that all students will make every effort to conform to the uniform policy.

1. A navy dress from FlynnO’Hara Uniforms worn at least two inches below a student’s finger tips with attached belt, white collar, and white cuffs. The dress must be completely zipped at all times with the belt tied. 
   
   
2. Students may wear a solid white T-shirt under their dresses. Colored T-shirts under dresses are not permitted.
   
   
3. Plain white (no logo or stripes) crew socks at least three inches above the ankle bone
   
   
4. Navy tights or full-length navy leggings (yoga pants are not permitted). Uniform crew socks must be worn over the ankles of the leggings.
   
   
5. Hard-soled black and white saddle shoes should be worn correctly without stepping on the backs of the shoes. 
   
   
6. Uniform navy pullover or cardigan sweater from FlynnO’Hara Uniforms, or uniform navy crewneck or quarter-zip sweatshirt from the Trading Post
   
   
7. Uniform navy blazer (must be worn at all assemblies)
   
   
8. Name tag, which is pinned horizontally below the uniform collar or sweater neckline
   
   
9. Non-visible shorts may be worn under the uniform dress.
   
   
10. Long, navy blue or grey sweatpants (not flannel pajama pants) and athletic shoes (not flip-flops or slippers) may be worn into school but must be removed for the school day.
    
    
11. Gym uniform consisting of blue tunic at least two inches below a student’s fingertips with student’s embroidered initials on left-hand side and attached belt, white collared shirt, blue shorts, white socks, and athletic shoes with shoe backs and tied with laces
    
    
12. Team uniforms and athletic-looking apparel are not permitted during the school day unless permission has been granted for a specific day.

Additional Guidelines:

• All parts of the uniform, including sweaters, socks, tights, and leggings, are expected to be neat and clean without any holes, rips, tears, or fraying.
  
  
• Hair color must be a natural color.
  
  
• Jewelry that is appropriate to our school uniform may be worn. Nose, lip, eyebrow, and tongue rings or studs are not permitted.
  
  
• Visible tattoos are not permitted.
  
  
• Hats are not permitted during the school day. Head scarves of a modest nature may be worn.
  
  
• Students are only permitted to change in bathrooms or locker rooms.

We ask that you please take the time over the summer months to make sure that your daughter's uniform reflects these expectations. Any concessions made during the 2025–2026 school year due to the construction of the Huffman Commons will be lifted in the fall. Thank you in advance for your partnership in supporting our uniform policy.

The Trading Post, NDP's school store, is closed for the summer, but will reopen during several dates in August prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year for back–to–school shopping:

• Monday, August 17: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 18: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 25: 5:00–7:30 p.m. (before and after New Family Orientation)
• Wednesday, August 26: 1:00–4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, August 27: Open before and after Grades 6, 9, & New Student Orientation
• Friday, August 28: Open before and after All-School Orientation

• M–TH: 7:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:30–4:00 p.m.
• Fridays: 7:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Please contact Mary Neil Gathagan, Trading Post Manager, with any questions.

New Upper Level parents and guardians have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Vic Pellechia, Upper Level Principal, and other Upper Level administrators on Monday, August 3, at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual Q&A session. Consider this an opportunity to prepare for New Family Orientation later in the month or to get answers to any pressing questions you may have.

All new parents and guardians are invited to attend our New Family Orientation on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. where you will learn about important events and activities taking place during the opening weeks of school and hear from several faculty and staff members.

One of our goals this year is to build spaces of belonging and connection especially among our families. This is the first opportunity to do so—we invite any families that identity as people of color to join us for a Welcome Picnic on Tuesday, August 25, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. before the New Family Orientation. We will be gathering for food and community with current NDP families of color in the NDP Annex Building and Courtyard located at 1108 Providence Road.
 
Please use this form to RSVP by August 7 so we know how many to expect and include any dietary restrictions. Email Mrs. Meghan Doyle, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, with any questions.

Orientation for students entering grades 6 & 9 and all new students will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students should come dressed in their school uniform and bring a water bottle. ID photos will also be taken.

Orientation for all new and returning students in all grade levels will take place on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Students should arrive at school no later than 7:50 a.m. to be seated in their Advisory by 8:00 a.m. for the start of the school day. ID photos will be taken for Grades 10, 11, and 12. All Upper Level students should come dressed in their school uniform (including their NDP blazer) and bring a water bottle. Students may also bring their school supplies if they wish, as they will be assigned their lockers on this day.

PLEASE NOTE: Upper Level students are required to wear their NDP blazer for two special events occurring this day, the Huffman Student Commons Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and the Gateway Ceremony.

Upper Level Concert Band: Rehearsals will be held August 24 & 26, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the Band Room. Please contact Mr. Alex Dzbinski with any questions.

Upper Level Orchestra: Rehearsals will be held August 24 & 26, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the Orchestra Room. Please contact Dr. Swiatoslaw Kuznik with any questions.

Upper Level Chamber Choir: There will be NO rehearsals prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year. Please contact Mrs. Stacey Bilenki with any questions.

Auditions for the 2026 Upper Level Fall Musical, Disney’s Frozen, will be held on Thursday, August 27, at 3:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. All Upper Level students are welcome to audition!

For the audition, students should prepare a 16–32 bar cut of a Disney or musical theatre song of your choice. Students MUST have sheet music for the accompanist. Karaoke tracks and/or A Cappella singing are not permitted for the audition. Students should also be prepared to read from the script and dance.

Please contact Mrs. Amanda Poxon, Director of Theatre, or Mrs. Stacey Bilenki, Director of Vocal Music, with any questions.

How to Access PrepNet:

• New Upper Level Students: PrepNet credentials will be distributed to new Upper Level students during the required Laptop Workshop session that they have signed up for and will attend during the summer.
  
  
• New Parents/Guardians: Your PrepNet credentials are tied to the personal email address you used when you first applied to NDP. If you forget your password, you can reset it by clicking the "Forgot my password" link when attempting to log in via the PrepNet Login page.
  
  
• Returning Students & Parents/Guardians: Your PrepNet credentials remain the same throughout your entire time at NDP—students use their NDP email address and parents use their personal email address linked to their account. If you forget your password, you can reset it by clicking the "Forgot my password" link when attempting to log in via the PrepNet Login page.

If you have any questions about access to PrepNet, please email the Technology Help Desk. If you need any personal information updated on your profile in PrepNet, such as email, phone number, or home address, please email the Communications Office.

The Technology Help Desk will be operating by appointment only from June 8 – August 21, 2026. Students can schedule an appointment by emailing HelpDesk@notredameprep.com with their issue. Please be sure to leave a contact number when submitting your ticket.

Looking for a specific faculty or staff member to contact? Please search the directory on the Campus Directory page of our website.

If you have any general questions or aren't sure who to contact, please email the Communications Office, and they will connect you with the appropriate resources.

Notre Dame Preparatory School uses a third-party text messaging system through BrightArrow Technologies to promptly notify families of weather-related updates and other urgent announcements throughout the school year. To ensure you are signed up to receive these text alerts, please follow the steps below:

In addition to the resources on this page, we will communicate with families during the summer months to share important Back to School reminders for the 2026–2027 school year. Be on the lookout for email communications on the following days (dates are subject to change if necessary):

• June 10, 2026: An email will be sent to all new and returning families with the official link to this Back to School webpage.
  
  
• July 15, 2026: The Summer Family eBulletin will be sent to all families. This edition will feature high-level institutional updates and will direct families to the Back to School webpage for detailed forms, logistics, and requirements.
  
  
• August 12, 2026: Weekly Wednesday Family eBulletins* for both the Upper Level and Middle Level will officially resume for the 2026–2027 school year.
  
  
• August 20, 2026: Weekly Thursday grade-specific Parent Class Emails* for the 2026–2027 school year will resume.

* Family eBulletins and Parent Class Emails will be sent on a weekly basis for the 2026–2027 school year. If you are new to the NDP community or simply need a refresher about these communications, please read our Guide to NDP's Weekly Family eBulletins and Parent Class Emails.

The NDP Speech and Debate team will hold its annual summer workshop on campus from August 10–14, 2026. Any Upper Level student interested in joining the team for the 2026–2027 school year is invited to attend. View this flyer for additional information and instructions for how to register for this workshop.

If you have any questions about this workshop or NDP's Speech & Debate program, please email Mrs. Aimee Sann.

August 20, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Join the Notre Dame Prep community for a special virtual seminar designed to help you plan with confidence and create a legacy that reflects your values. We'll begin the evening with a brief update on life at NDP from Head of School Dr. Angela Allen, followed by practical insights from experts at RBC Wealth Management—Corinne C. Patteson, CPFA and Cari Neitzey, APP, CFP—and estate planning attorneys, Jennifer Yeagle, Esq., and NDP alumna Gabriela Beese, Esq. '14 from Sims & Campbell. This event is free to attend and open to the entire NDP community.

Learn More & Register Here

The NDP Parents' Association is a vibrant and integral part of our school community. Our mission is to foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among NDP families, while preserving and enhancing the rich traditions that define our school.

Through a variety of programs and initiatives held throughout the school year, we not only raise essential funds, but also provide ample opportunities for parents to engage and contribute to our school's thriving culture to ensure the best possible experiences for our daughters while they attend NDP.

We also coordinate and support significant school events such as Back-to-School Nights, Welcome Coffees, Gateway Ceremony, and Open House, to name a few. Moreover, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive environment by hosting a range of social events throughout the year, fostering fellowship among parents, and encouraging active participation in the Parents' Association. We invite you to join us in our mission to make NDP a welcoming and enriching place for every family.

If you are interested in getting involved or if you have any questions, please email ndpfriendsofthearts@gmail.com.