Welcome to our Notre Dame Family
For over 75 years, a Notre Dame education has inspired in our students the Character to Lead, the Compassion to Serve, and the Confidence to Excel. While much about our school has changed over the years, our Holy Cross mission has been a constant. A Holy Cross education is built on four foundational pillars: Educating Hearts and Minds; Bringing Hope; Building Respect; and Being Family. We continue to be inspired by the words of Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who wrote “How we educate the mind will change with the times; how we cultivate the heart will remain timeless.”
Beginning in the fall of 2025, Notre Dame will expand our Holy Cross mission by enrolling women for the first time. We are thrilled that we will be able to offer the distinct and unique benefits of a Holy Cross education to both young men and young women. While this will certainly present a change for our school, we know that nothing about the core of a Notre Dame education will change. In fact, it will further the mission outlined by Blessed Basil Moreau nearly two centuries ago.
Notre Dame High School provides all students with an education that is both intentional and transformational. We are one of the few Catholic schools in Connecticut offering the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The IB Program is recognized worldwide for fostering intellectual and spiritual growth, intercultural understanding, and respect. Our signature programs in Engineering and Design and Sports, Exercise, and Health Science allow students to explore their passions and develop new ones. The Notre Dame Experiential Learning Program (NDXL) combines classroom learning with real-world experiences, giving students a taste of how they will put their education to work in the future.
Notre Dame students excel outside of the classroom as well. Our athletic teams have earned more than 40 state championships. Students can also participate in award-winning music and theater programs. Through our vibrant Campus Ministry, students participate in prayer, worship, and retreat programs. Students also engage in direct service to those in need as part of their curriculum, and through special mission activities.
As the result of a very successful Comprehensive Campaign, we have recently completed one of the largest and most extensive renovations of our school building. A new student commons, renovated cafeteria, and updated classrooms have enhanced the learning experience for all of our students. Over the course of the next year, further enhancements will ensure that our building is ready to welcome young women to Notre Dame in the fall of 2025.
I invite you to visit our school and see for yourself what the Notre Dame Advantage can mean to you. We cannot wait to welcome you.
Robert F. Curis
President, Notre Dame High School
“With eyes of faith consider the greatness of your mission and the wonderful amount of good which you can accomplish.”
Blessed Basil Moreau,
the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross
Head of School
Robert Curis
President
President Robert F. Curis is the 11th President of Notre Dame High School and its first lay leader. A native of West Hartford, President Curis received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University. Before his appointment to Notre Dame in 2015, he served as Assistant Head of School at the Whitby School in Greenwich, CT. Prior to that, he was named the founding Dean of the American University in Kosovo. He also served as a Holy Cross Associate Volunteer in Portland, Oregon, and a Peace Corps volunteer in Albania.
As a student and an educator, President Curis has been inspired by our Holy Cross mission. During his tenure, Notre Dame has launched a number of transformational initiatives, including the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Program, the development of signature programs highlighting experiential learning, and a renovation of the school.
Robert and his wife Edlira have three children: Emma, a sophomore at the University of Findlay in Ohio; Reamon, a senior at Notre Dame, and Fiona, a junior at Greens Farms Academy.