Welcome to the Institute of Notre Dame! Our educational mission is to enable young women to reach the fullness of their potential as individuals in the holistic tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.  With an emphasis upon the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—our students are challenged in a loving, caring environment.

Our Catholic community of culturally diverse students, located in Baltimore City, provides an atmosphere that encourages integrity, self-confidence, personal responsibility, and leadership with a global view of society.

On these pages you will find information about our history, academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and opportunities to support our school. If you cannot find what you need on our Web site, please let us know through contacting our Web site manager.

While we appreciate your visit to our Web site, we are eager to receive you in person. Come see why the Institute of Notre Dame has a reputation for providing such an extraordinary value in college preparatory education. You are always welcome.

Mrs. Charisse Wernecke
President

Strategic Planning: IND plans for the future
Strategic planning is an organization’s process of defining its future course or direction. IND’s Board of Directors has written strategic plans for the school in the past. Strategic planning can be conducted in a controlled fashion, in which input is restricted and goals are established in the absence of input from those for whom goals are set. More democratic strategic planning, on the other hand, involves the collection of input from all constituencies.

When appointed in 2007, President Charisse Wernecke recommended that a new Strategic Plan be developed using the latter democratic approach beginning in summer 2008. She requested that the Board Strategic Planning Committee be expanded as a Steering Committee by adding the co-chairs of the Middle States Accreditation Team, the Principal, and the Presidents of the Mothers Club, Fathers Club and Alumnae Association. Board member and committee chair Mark Erickson agreed and the committee was finalized.

An independent facilitator was hired to guide IND through the process. Mrs. Wernecke wanted to hear the views of parents, students, and alumnae and did so using anonymous online surveys. In preparation for the Strategic Planning Retreat held March 6-7, 2009, survey responses as well as historical data were collected and organized. More than 50 members of the IND community participated in the retreat, including members of the Board, administration, faculty, staff, parents and alumnae. This group developed a vision statement and strategic goals for the next three to five years. Both the vision statement and the goals, based on the school’s core values, were approved at the April 7, 2009 meeting of the Board of Directors.

Core Values

• Catholic faith
• Leadership
• Lifelong learning
• Appreciation of other cultures
• World citizenship and responsibility

Vision Statement
The Institute of Notre Dame is the school of choice for the next generation of women leaders. Since 1847, in keeping with the Catholic tradition, IND continues to serve a diverse student body in a close-knit community in Baltimore City. The school will be renowned for its academic excellence, engaging student life opportunities, educational uses of technology, and solidarity with our City and community.

Goals
• IND will ensure a strong financial foundation for the future.
• IND will continue to grow enrollment while maintaining high academic standards.
• IND will increase constituent participation in education, mentoring and fundraising.
• IND will enhance its facilities to enrich the life and curriculum of the school.
• IND will use the city as its extended campus.