In April of 2006, several members from the parish school boards of St. Martin of Tours, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Bonaventure created a new School Board. Msgr. Berg became the Canonical Administrator and Fr. Mock was the assistant. The School Board voted on a name and received a Proclamation from Notre Dame University to adopt the Notre Dame name and mascot. In September 2006, with almost 600 students Notre Dame Academy-South Buffalo Catholic School was born.
During the summer of 2006, over 300 interviews took place. Some teachers from the closing schools were hired and some new teachers were recruited to teach at NDA. It was a good blend of teaching staff. There were two sections of every grade from K-6 and in 7 and 8th grade there were three sections. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place in August 2006 on the front steps of the school. The Secretary of Education, the Bishop and many local government officials were present. Over 500 people attended this event and it was the first-time families were able to tour the newly renovated building.
It was extremely important to keep some traditions of St. Martin of Tours, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Bonaventure and to incorporate them into the new Notre Dame Academy-South Buffalo Catholic School building. The first PTO was created for NDA and it was through this organization that traditions were decided upon and implemented. This was a K-8 grade school. In 2008, the Administration began negotiating a Pre-K 4 Program with Buffalo City School District which eventually grew into 3 classes of UPK full and half day programs housed as NDA. We were a building bursting with excitement. It was also a year of transition. The eighth graders entering NDA were top priority. The students had their hearts set on graduating from their previous school. NDA Administration met with the students to establish what the eighth grade year would look like. By October, every student identified as NDA students. In June, the eighth graders each graduated with a sense of pride being a part of NDA. Banners from each of the three closing schools were respectfully displayed. All three priests from the closed schools attended the graduation and was recognized as being the founders of NDA. This first graduation set the bar for future graduations.
The pride of the school was contagious. South Buffalo Music School joined NDA and provided lessons from a room in the lower wing, the Boys Scouts occupied space in the building and a morning and after school program was successfully implemented. There were many special events for all students including an outdoor Spring Concert, a school musical and even a few visits by the Bishop.
It was in 2008 that the success of NDA-South Buffalo Catholic School was thriving. By September 2008, St. Teresa School became the second building of South Buffalo Catholic School and in 2009 St. Ambrose joined South Buffalo Catholic School as another campus. We were a three building campus with Msgr. Berg as Canonical Administrator . Eventually in 2013 all three school buildings merged into the Notre Dame Academy Campus under one Principal. Once again, traditions from the other schools were blended into the NDA traditions.
In 2018 the school converted to two campuses. Students from PreK3 though grade 5 are in the building located at 1125 Abbott Road. Students in grades 6 – 8 are in the school located at 260 OKell St.
This unique set-up will allow teachers more room to continue to provide students with excellent academic programs that integrate the spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of each child within the context of Catholic values.