Rising juniors and seniors made a Bellin College CNA class a reality for next fall at Notre Dame Academy.

For the Bellin College class to become a reality, there was a minimum requirement of 15 kids to sign up.  Instead, 25 students signed up, and others were placed on a waitlist. Students’ schedules must accommodate the 8th hour class period.

“I decided to run the class because this year it seemed like there was more interest than two years ago. I am pretty surprised at the number of students willing to commit to this challenging course,” said Mr. Christian Dory, Director of Career Explorations.

The class will be held during 8th hour with most Fridays off. On Wednesdays the students would have to leave NDA around 2:30 to go to Bellin College for in-person classes from 3-7 p.m.

Teaching the class is a Bellin instructor who will come to NDA.

The students have an orientation on August 5 with the first day of in-person class on August 27.   

The students are also required to get 16 hours of clinical experience that will be scheduled through Emplify Bellin. The last day for clinicals is Nov. 15.

In the course students will be taught everything they need to know in order to get a CNA license. Dory emphasized students have to commit to not missing any of the classes.

While NDA has never run the CNA class before, other high schools in the area have done so through Bellin.

Even though Dory more or less organized and coordinated the class with the college, he explained he wouldn’t have a major role in the teaching sessions. 

He is also not sure whether to offer the program annually or every other year.

“I am most excited for building a stronger workforce for our community with desperately needed CNAs,” said the director.