Our shared history
The story of Catholic education in Hamilton cannot be told without honoring the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, whose faith, vision, and unwavering dedication shaped generations of young women and left a lasting legacy that continues at Badin High School today.
Their story began in 1869 when the Sisters arrived in Hamilton to teach at St. Joseph and St. Stephen schools. Just four years later, they established a permanent home by purchasing land at the corner of Second and Hanover Streets, where they built a convent across from St. Joseph Parish. From that foundation, a remarkable tradition of Catholic education took root.
In 1886, the Sisters opened Notre Dame Academy with just 16 young women. Guided by their belief in educating the whole person—mind, heart, and spirit—the Academy quickly flourished. As enrollment grew, so did the Sisters’s vision. In 1923, they broke ground for a new high school building that would become a cherished home for generations of students.
For more than eight decades, Notre Dame Academy stood as a beacon of faith, scholarship, and service. Although designed to educate 300 students, the Academy’s reputation drew increasing numbers of young women, and by its final year in 1965, enrollment had reached 482. When Notre Dame Academy closed in 1966 with the opening of Badin High School, it marked not an ending, but the beginning of a new chapter.
Their influence at Badin
The Sisters made that journey alongside their students, bringing their mission and spirit to Badin. For nearly three decades, they continued to inspire young people as teachers, mentors, and living examples of faith-filled service. Their presence enriched countless lives until Sister Julia Marie Schutte retired following the 1992–93 school year, becoming the last Sister of Notre Dame de Namur to serve on Badin faculty.
While the Sisters no longer teach in our classrooms, their influence has never left our halls. In 2016, during Badin High School’s 50th Anniversary celebration, the school proudly reaffirmed its affiliation with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, embracing the Hallmarks that have guided their ministry for generations.
Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community
Today, those Hallmarks are woven into every aspect of the Badin experience. They challenge us to seek goodness, respect the dignity of every person, stand with those in need, and build a community rooted in faith, compassion, and hope.
- We proclaim by our lives even more than by our words that God is good.
- We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person.
- We educate for and act on behalf of justice and peace, and care for all creation.
- We commit ourselves to community service.
- We embrace the gift of diversity.
- We create community among those with whom we work and with those we serve.
- We develop holistic learning communities which educate for life.
The legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur is not simply a chapter in our history—it is a living tradition. Their mission continues through every Badin student, educator, alumnus, and family who carries forward the values they planted in Hamilton more than 150 years ago. We are honored to be a Notre Dame Learning Community, proudly preserving their heritage while preparing future generations to lead lives of faith, learning, and service.