GIVING
Advancing STEM Excellence: Hampton Science Center
Notre Dame High School is launching an ambitious initiative to advance STEM excellence through the renovation of the Hampton Science Center. This $3 million project will transform our aging laboratories and classrooms into modern, fully equipped learning environments designed to inspire curiosity, collaboration, and discovery.
The demand for upgraded facilities has never been greater. While three years of science are required for graduation, most of our students choose to take science courses all four years, and many pursue additional electives or advanced STEM studies beyond that. A significant number go on to major in STEM fields in college.
Your support will help create safe, dynamic, and interactive spaces where students can engage in real-time data analysis, hands-on experiments, and interdisciplinary learning. Together, we can ensure that Notre Dame continues to prepare students to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing world.
“Upgrading traditional classrooms to labs equipped with water, power, and gas is essential to modern science education. These spaces allow students to move beyond passive learning and engage in real experimentation. When students collaborate, problem-solve, and explore together, science becomes active, relevant, and inspiring — preparing them for the demands of college, careers, and the world beyond the classroom.”
- Shannon Genova, Science Department Chair
- Shannon Genova, Science Department Chair
Our Mission
For over 77 years, Notre Dame High School has been dedicated to educating hearts and minds in the Holy Cross tradition. Rooted in academic excellence, character formation, and faith, we continually evolve to meet the needs of our students and prepare them for a changing world.
The Need
While our Hampton Science Center has served the school community for more than two decades, its current condition no longer meets the standards of modern STEM education. Students conduct labs on movable tables without access to gas, water, or secure chemical storage. These limitations hinder hands-on learning, raise safety concerns, and restrict instructional innovation.
Student Demand
By the numbers:
- 95% of students complete four years of science, exceeding the three-year graduation requirement
- 25% of graduates go on to pursue STEM majors in college
- Some students choose to undertake up to seven years of science coursework within four years through advanced and elective classes
These figures significantly surpass national averages and highlight the strong demand for rigorous, high-quality science education.
The Vision
We are embarking on a $3 million renovation of our science labs to create modern, flexible, and safe environments that reflect the strength of our academic program and support the ambitions of our students.
Planned upgrades include:
Planned upgrades include:
- Fixed lab stations with built-in access to water, gas, and power
- Upgraded safety systems and chemical storage
- Seamless integration with our 1:1 iPad program for real-time data collection and analysis
- Optimized layouts to improve collaboration and instructional flow
- Budget Permitting: Classroom TVs, Advanced Digital Microscope, 3D Resin Printer, Metallurgical Microscope, Tabletop NMR, Portable Planetarium, AR Sandbox, High Speed Camera
The Impact
This project will:
- Elevate instructional quality and curriculum delivery
- Support deeper, more meaningful hands-on learning
- Improve safety and efficiency for students and teachers
- Reinforce Notre Dame’s position as a leader in secondary STEM education
Together, We Can Build What’s Next
This is a pivotal moment for Notre Dame. With your support, we can transform our science facilities and invest in the future of every student who walks through these lab doors.
This is a pivotal moment for Notre Dame. With your support, we can transform our science facilities and invest in the future of every student who walks through these lab doors.
Donate Today: Hampton Science Center Upgrades
Proposed/Anticipated Construction Sequencing
Review of the preliminary scope proposes a two-phase approach that completes the entire 2nd floor over Summer 2026 to have those classrooms ready for the 2026–2027 school year.
To route new utilities to the 2nd floor, the 1st floor will be closed concurrently as work will run through classroom and office ceilings below.
Phase 1 |
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Phase 2 |
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Operational Note: |
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Additional Items: Budget Permitting
Classroom TVs
Multiple TVs in each classroom ensure that every student has a clear view of lesson content, no matter where they sit. Teachers can create dynamic presentations on multiple screens, enhancing engagement, accessibility, and learning for all students.
Multiple TVs in each classroom ensure that every student has a clear view of lesson content, no matter where they sit. Teachers can create dynamic presentations on multiple screens, enhancing engagement, accessibility, and learning for all students.
Advanced Digital Microscope
The Keyence fluorescence microscope highlights cellular structures with fluorescent light, automatically focuses and scans, and captures clear images. Students spend more time learning and less on setup, gaining hands-on experience with technology used at top universities and even in space research.
The Keyence fluorescence microscope highlights cellular structures with fluorescent light, automatically focuses and scans, and captures clear images. Students spend more time learning and less on setup, gaining hands-on experience with technology used at top universities and even in space research.
3D Resin Printer
Resin printers allow students to design and produce highly detailed models, custom experiment parts, and educational tools. This hands-on technology fosters creativity, innovation, and deeper understanding by bridging theory and practice.
Resin printers allow students to design and produce highly detailed models, custom experiment parts, and educational tools. This hands-on technology fosters creativity, innovation, and deeper understanding by bridging theory and practice.
Metallurgical Microscope
Metallurgical microscopes analyze the surfaces of metals and other solid materials, essential for examining evidence like bullet casings. Students gain practical experience in real-world forensic analysis, honing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Benchtop NMR
A benchtop NMR system lets students explore molecular structures firsthand. Compact and easy to use, it provides practical, hands-on experience with advanced chemical analysis, giving students a head start in modern scientific techniques.
Portable Planetarium
Astronomy visualization tools transform the classroom into an interactive space for exploring constellations, planetary movement, and celestial events. They make abstract concepts tangible, sparking curiosity and engagement in space science.
AR Sandbox
An augmented reality sandbox allows students to shape landscapes, observe elevation changes, and simulate water flow in real time. This interactive tool turns abstract geographic and geologic concepts into tangible, hands-on learning experiences.
High Speed Cameras
High speed cameras capture rapid phenomena like chemical reactions or motion too fast for the naked eye. Students can analyze events frame by frame, making invisible processes visible and enhancing understanding of scientific principles.
We are embarking on an approximately $3 million science lab renovation project to create safe, efficient, and fully equipped environments that foster deep learning, innovation, and collaboration. This initiative includes the installation of fixed lab benches with access to water, gas, and power at every station, and a seamless integration with our 1:1 iPad program for real-time data collection and analysis.
This investment will directly enhance instructional quality, improve student safety, and position Notre Dame as a leader in secondary STEM education. It will also create learning spaces that allow for greater coordination among faculty, reduce time lost in class transitions, and reflect the high academic standards that define our community.
We respectfully request your consideration of a gift toward this vital project. With your support, we can begin construction on modern, dynamic labs that mirror the excellence of the students and faculty who will use them.
Thank you for your continued trust in our mission.
A College Preparatory School of Excellence
13645 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 933-3600 Main Office
info@ndhs.org
Office Hours
7:30 am - 3:30 pm. M-F
The office is closed to visitors after 3:30 pm M-F
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 933-3600 Main Office
info@ndhs.org
Office Hours
7:30 am - 3:30 pm. M-F
The office is closed to visitors after 3:30 pm M-F
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