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As athletes at all levels across the country navigate changes to this year’s sports seasons, here at Notre Dame “ACC” is taking on a whole new meaning. Notre Dame Student Welfare and Development (SWD) and ACE Teaching Fellows have teamed up for what they have dubbed ACE Classroom Connections, or ACC 2.0, to pair ACE teachers with Notre Dame student-athletes who are serving as virtual pen pals for elementary and middle school students across the country.

Looking at a map on your computer screen, it seems like a pretty straight shot from Washington, DC, to San Jose, California. Hop on I-80 West and a mere 42 hours and 2,842 miles later you’ll arrive at your destination. 

“Flexibility is really key. That's an ACE one too, right?” asks Tiffany. “They often say, ‘always changing everything,’ but they really mean being very flexible with changing circumstances.”

The current changing circumstances of a worldwide pandemic prompted a paradigm shift in how the world approaches education. The increased emphasis on virtual learning demands leadership and innovation. Dr. Tiffany Roman (ACE 9, Dallas), a researcher and educator who has long studied learning habits and classroom instruction, stands ready for the challenge. “This time period, for better or for worse, will require us as educators to seek out new resources or identify resources that we never knew existed,” she says.

The first day of school. That phrase evokes a host of experiences and emotions. Students lined up well before the first bell, eager to reconnect with classmates they did not see over the summer. Opening new school supplies and coloring with a fresh crayon. And then a little nervousness that comes with wondering how much homework the teacher might give or which friends will be in the same class.

Join our Catholic School Advantage team as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th-October 15th. Check back often, as we'll continue to add  resources to help you honor this special month in your homes and classrooms.