Notre Dame Learning Center, Rochester NY

To celebrate the final day of tutoring for the 2025-2026 school year, our students had a special visit from Santos Cruz of the Rochester Fire Department!

Students learned fire safety, discovered what it’s like to be a firefighter, tried on gear, and even had the chance to explore and ride in the fire truck.

A special thank you to Santos Cruz for taking the time to inspire our students and make our last day of tutoring so memorable.

Throughout the month of May, our Reading Club explored the many different careers our students can dream of being in the future. Our students became chefs while making mini pizzas, gardeners while planting their own sunflowers, and artists while creating masterpieces on their own canvases. They dressed up and imagined what it would be like to work as pilots, barbers, mail carriers, and more as we read about each job together.

We were also fortunate to welcome several special guests who shared their real-life career experiences and answered students' questions. A huge thank you again to Dan Mason, general manager of the Red Wings, Leah Mallory, journalist and reporter at News 8, and Emily Mergler, nurse, for taking the time to inspire our students and show them the many exciting paths their futures can hold.

The Band & Brew is tomorrow! Don't forget to stop by for live music, raffle and auction items, and great food and drinks! Come enjoy a fun afternoon supporting the community.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online: https://bit.ly/4dnhuRw

See you there!

We have some exciting updates for our Band & Brew Fest on June 7th!

Doors will officially open at 1 PM, and we’ll now have appetizers courtesy of Texas Roadhouse!

Get ready for live performances from The DAWGS (https://www.facebook.com/Dawgsforacauz) and guitarist Matt Scalen (https://www.facebook.com/matt.scalen/) of ZBTB, all while enjoying great local brews at NDLC’s 2026 Band & Brew Fest! It’s the perfect chance to kick back, enjoy live music, win some raffle and auction items, and sip on some cold drinks with light refreshments.

Bring your friends, spread the word, and help us make this year’s fundraiser an amazing success!

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at: https://bit.ly/4dnhuRw

So great having Leah Mallory visit and inspire our students!

News 8's Leah Mallory sat with the Notre Dame Learning Center on Thursday to talk about her experience as a reporter!

Big news for our upcoming golf tournament! Our Hole-in-One Challenge just got even better. We’ve officially doubled the prize, which means one lucky golfer could walk away with $4,000.

Now’s the time to test your swing, enjoy a great day on the course, and compete for an even bigger prize. Check out the flyer or https://ndlcenter.org/golf-2026/ for all the details and be sure to register your team soon!!

For the month of April, Notre Dame Learning Center’s book club dove into a classic that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves: Alice in Wonderland. Students read a shortened adaptation of the story and were fully immersed in Alice’s world through themed snacks that brought the story to life. They ate cookies shaped like playing card suits with some labeled “Eat Me” like the cake that makes Alice grow, and drank bottles of Kool-Aid tagged “Drink Me” like the potion that makes her shrink. These little details helped transform reading into an interactive experience.

To go along with the story, students also created their own pocket watches inspired by the White Rabbit, complete with hands that actually move. Not only was this a fun craft, but it also doubled as a hands-on way to practice telling time. Each student added their own creative touch by decorating the outside of their watch.

After finishing the book, the group celebrated with a pizza party and watched the Alice in Wonderland movie. It was a fun way to wrap up the month, while also reinforcing the idea that the stories in books can be just as exciting as the stories they see on the screen. The April book club offered students a chance to engage with a classic piece of literature in a creative and memorable way- reminding them that these timeless stories still have plenty of magic to offer.