About Us
A Mission That Crossed Continents
Our story begins over a century before the first class ever met in Buseesa, with a congregation of sisters committed to education, dignity, and Gospel witness.
Timeline
How We Got Here
- •
1850
A Congregation Is Founded
The Sisters of Notre Dame, an apostolic Catholic religious congregation, is founded in Coesfeld, Germany, the beginning of a mission that would one day reach rural Uganda.
- •
1995
An Invitation to Buseesa
At the invitation of Bishop Byabazaire Deogratias of Hoima Diocese, the Sisters of Notre Dame arrive in Buseesa village, Kibaale District, an area long known for poverty and limited access to education.
- •
1998
The School Opens Its Doors
Made possible by donations from the United States and Germany, St. Julie Model Primary School welcomes its first class. Because Buseesa is far from any urban centre and few parents own cars, the school is built as a boarding school from the start.
- •
Today
A Growing Community of Leaders
The school now serves 390 students from P1 through P7, holding firm to its founding purpose: helping young people become leaders and develop holistically to meet the needs of society, today and into the future.
Legal Identity
Who We Are
St. Julie Model Primary School is a private, Catholic, elementary school registered under the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports.
The school is owned and operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame, an apostolic religious congregation founded in Coesfeld, Germany, in 1850. In Uganda, the Sisters of Notre Dame are registered with the government as Registered Trustees, the same way the Catholic Church is registered with the government.
Why Boarding?
Distance Should Never Be a Barrier
Buseesa sits a significant distance from any urban area, and most parents do not have individual cars.
So from day one, St. Julie Model was built as a boarding school, giving every enrolled child, no matter how far they live, a safe and stable place to learn, grow, and be formed in Catholic leadership.
Where We Are
Buseesa: One of Uganda's 'Lost Counties'
Buseesa is a small, rural village in Kibaale District, historically known as one of the “Lost Counties.” The average income per parent here is less than 1 USD per day. Education for girls was long neglected in the area, but it has improved markedly since the Sisters of Notre Dame opened their schools, which are now well known across the district for excellence in education.
Our Mission
Motto: Catholic Leadership
The Mission of the school is to proclaim God's Goodness in an educational ministry, shaping learners who lead with faith, character, and competence.
A Firm Foundation for Catholic Living
Forming a firm foundation for committed Catholic living in every learner.
Leadership Qualities in Children
Promoting the development of leadership qualities in children from their earliest years.
Quality Ugandan Education
Providing quality education in the basic Ugandan course of studies.
Our Vision
“To assist the young people who attend to become leaders and to develop holistically to meet the needs of society today and into the future.”
Education Principles
The Sisters of Notre Dame Approach
Four principles, carried from Coesfeld to Buseesa, shape how every teacher and learner is formed at St. Julie Model.
The Centrality of a Good and Provident God
Every part of school life is rooted in trust in a good and provident God.
The Human Dignity of Each Person
Each person is treated as an image of God, deserving of dignity and respect.
The Notre Dame Educator as a Gospel Witness
Teachers and staff strive to live and teach as witnesses of the Gospel.
An Integrated Education for Transformation
A thoroughness of instruction rooted in Gospel values, the Social Teachings of the Church, and an understanding of complex world realities.
Campus Life
Snapshots From Buseesa
Our buildings, our boarders, the Sisters, and the staff who make St. Julie Model home. Tap any photo to see it full size.