DULUTH—Notre Dame Academy celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony the opening of the George Student Center. The center houses the Duluth school’s first gymnasium, along with fine arts classrooms, a student center, cafeteria, weight room, offices and more.

The George Student Center is named for Joe and Kelly George, Notre Dame Academy Capital Campaign donors and members of the school community since 2006. Joe George is also the chairman of the academy’s board of trustees.

The ceremony took place on Friday, Jan. 29, and members of the school community, the Atlanta Catholic community, and the Duluth community attended the event. Head of School Debra Orr and George spoke about the occasion. Marist Father John Harhager, president of Marist School, and Marist Father Joel Konzen, principal of Marist School, blessed the new building and its occupants. Also in attendance were Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris and Rebecca Hammel, associate superintendent of schools for the Atlanta Archdiocese.

Notre Dame expanded its student body in 2015, when the first freshman class inaugurated its high school. The Marist-sponsored independent Catholic school now serves students from preK-3 through high school. It is an International Baccalaureate School for the primary years and a candidate for the IB middle years program and IB diploma program.