The Notre Dame School in Nova Santa Rita, part of the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, is embarking on an exciting new chapter. Inaugurated in 2022, the Notre Dame School for Early Childhood Education originally occupied the former Novitiate of the two Brazilian Provinces. In just three years, the school has grown significantly, creating the need for a new and larger infrastructure.
This expansion will take shape in a new building located in the heart of Nova Santa Rita, on a street named in honor of the school and the Notre Dame Educational Network — an emblematic recognition of the institution´s mission in the region. The cornerstone for the new building was laid during a meaningful ceremony on March 22, 2025.
Currently, the school offers Early Childhood Education and the first two grades of Elementary Education. The new facility will allow the institution to offer a complete Elementary Education program, housed in a modern designed environment that meets the growing needs of the school community.
Sister Shirle Maria, Provincial Superior, emphasized the importance of this development in continuing the Notre Dame mission: “Expanding our Notre Dame School means ensuring that the principles of Notre Dame continue to play a vital role in the education of children and adolescents — promoting holistic development and shaping future leaders who are committed to transforming society.”
The ceremony was attended by sisters, local authorities, teachers, families, and other guests, all celebrating this major milestone for the city’s educational future. Nova Santa Rita´s mayor, Rodrigo Batistela, a proud Notre Dame alumnus, expressed his enthusiasm: “For a long time, we have dreamed of having a school with the significance of Notre Dame. This is a major investment in the growth and development of our city.”
At the conclusion of the event, Notre Dame students left their artistic mark by drawing and painting on the panels surrounding the construction site. These panels also feature renderings of the future school building the completion of which is projected for December 2025.
by Dreamhost