Nardin Academy is a Catholic Independent school which prepares the individual for life by providing a well-rounded education, by helping each student realize his or her potential and develop a love of learning, and by instilling moral values in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Miss Ernestine Nardin, DHM
A Brief History of Nardin Academy
The Daughters of the Heart of Mary (DHM) was established in 1791 in France during the French Revolution. The order made its first appearance in Buffalo at the request of Bishop Timon in 1857. He needed help educating the children of his pioneer diocese and invited Miss Ernestine Nardin, a Daughter of the Heart of Mary, Miss Eliza Smyth, DHM, and two other companions to undertake the task. Buffalo had seen devastating epidemics, nevertheless a few days after her arrival, Miss Nardin and her friends opened the first Catholic school in the area.
Miss Nardin started a free school and an Academy on Pearl Street and that later located on Franklin and Church Streets under the name of St. Mary’s Academy, but commonly known as Miss Nardin’s school. The encroachment of industry and other changes in the neighborhood prompted Miss Nardin to purchase the present property on Cleveland Avenue where the new school opened in 1890. In 1962, the first Montessori program in Western New York was opened at Nardin Academy by Irene Murphy, DHM
Academy on Cleveland Avenue, c.1890
The name of the school was changed to “The Nardin Academy” in 1917 and in 1951 to “Nardin Academy.” The charism of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary has continued to permeate Academy life much to the credit of the fine lay staff and through the guidance of the Board of Trustees, one third of which are Daughters.
In 1996, the Oishei estate, located at 700-702 West Ferry became available for purchase and through the generous gift of part of the property by Mrs. Varue Oishei, the property was renovated and refurbished in order to accommodate an expansion of the Montessori program. In January 1998, Montessori students attended their first day of class in the newly reconstructed building at 700 West Ferry. The Daughters then moved from the third floor of the Main campus on Cleveland Avenue to their new residence at 702 West Ferry Street. This made the 8,000 square feet on the third floor available for student use. The Academy Administration along with the Board of Trustees spearheaded the building of the state of the art Koessler Family Library Media Center in this area which was dedicated in September of 2003.