Corvallis High School (California)
Encyclopedia
Corvallis High School, also known as Our Lady of Corvallis High School a Catholic girls high school located in Studio City, California which operated between 1941 and 1987.
until its closure in 1987. It was operated by the sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
http://www.rshm.org/ (RSHM). The school was located at 3921 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Studio City
, California
just north of Ventura Boulevard. The campus is now occupied by Bridges Academy
Beginnings
In 1941, there were no Catholic high schools in the San Fernando Valley, only elementary school
s. Archbishop John J. Cantwell asked the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary(RSHM) to establish the Valley's first high school
. Reverend Mother M. Baptiste Holohan and Reverend Mother Gertrude Cain began the search for suitable property and found a home owned by Mr. Henry Rotham on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, a half block south of Ventura. The purchase was made in July 1941, and the sale finalized a month later, August 8, 1941. (Source: Archives on the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary; editor/researcher: Plant, Mary Leah)
On August 13, 1941, the school was blessed by Archbishop Cantwell. Classes were held Rotham's original home beginning on September 15, 1943. 24 students were enrolled. The school was named Corvallis, a combination of two Latin words: cor(da): heart and vallis: valley. The faculty included: Sister Eleanor (Aquinas) Brown (b. Feb. 16, 1908; d. Oct. 23, 2003) a native of Lane, Idaho
and member of the RSHM for 73 years was the founding principal of Corvallis High School; Mother de Sales Connor; Mother Philip Hickey, Mother Gregory Naddy, and Sister Bernadette Murphy was the housekeeper. The first school dance was held on November 8, 1941. The first volleyball
game was played against St. Agnes High School. During the World War II
, the students sold war bonds and stamps for the war effort
and were awarded the "Minute Man Flag"(Source: Archives on the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary; editor/researcher: Plant, Mary Leah)
The school was accredited by the state of California in Spring, 1943. Mother Aidan Keating joined the faculty. The first class graduated in June, 1943. When enrollment increased to 140 students during 1945-1946, a new school building was constructed and finished by May 23, 1947. Up until this point, the Sisters of the RSHM, had been commuting form Marymount High School
in Westwood, so were finally able to move into the old school building, the original house. At that time the faculty included: Reverend Mother Cecilia Rafter, Superior Mother Aidan Keating, Mother Bernard Thornton, Mother Philip Hickey, Mother Gabriel McCauley, and Mother Johanna Renehan. The auditorium with chapel was constructed in 1962.(Source: Archives on the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary; editor/researcher: Plant, Mary Leah)
In 1980 talks were held with the Brothers of the Holy Cross (Notre Dame High School) about establishing a single co-educational secondary school, however no agreement could be reached. In 1981, for various internal reasons, the RSHM, which owned the property, transferred operations of the school to the lay administration
and parents, under the new name, Our Lady of Corvallis. The newly renamed school continued for six more years, eventually closing its doors in June 1987.
Other notes:
Sister Mary Thorton, (b. 1913, County Mayo
, Ireland
; d. Oct. 25, 2004) From 1945-92, she served as a high school teacher and principal at Our Lady of Corvallis High School.
Sister Donald, principal (1974)
Student Clubs (1974):
Student Council
CAA, PEP, Paper Prism, Corvallite (newspaper), Keyettes, A.V., C.S.F, National Honor, Glee Club, Mini-Mester, Memory Book (Yearbook)
Sports (1974):
Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming
History
Corvallis, Our Lady of Corvallis High School, (all girls) was the oldest Catholic High School in the San Fernando ValleySan Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
until its closure in 1987. It was operated by the sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary are a global Roman Catholic community of about 900 apostolic religious women, connected by personal contact, local, provincial and general meetings, telephone, e-mail and many websites to one another with a hope of promoting the integral development and...
http://www.rshm.org/ (RSHM). The school was located at 3921 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Studio City
Studio City, Los Angeles, California
Studio City is an affluent residential neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California in the San Fernando Valley. Studio City expands over four ZIP code areas: 91604 and sections of 91602, 91607 and 90210....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
just north of Ventura Boulevard. The campus is now occupied by Bridges Academy
Bridges Academy
Bridges Academy is a grade 5-12 middle and college preparatory high school dedicated to educating students who are twice exceptional, or "2e," located in Studio City, Los Angeles, California.- History :...
Beginnings
In 1941, there were no Catholic high schools in the San Fernando Valley, only elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s. Archbishop John J. Cantwell asked the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary(RSHM) to establish the Valley's first high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. Reverend Mother M. Baptiste Holohan and Reverend Mother Gertrude Cain began the search for suitable property and found a home owned by Mr. Henry Rotham on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, a half block south of Ventura. The purchase was made in July 1941, and the sale finalized a month later, August 8, 1941. (Source: Archives on the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary; editor/researcher: Plant, Mary Leah)
On August 13, 1941, the school was blessed by Archbishop Cantwell. Classes were held Rotham's original home beginning on September 15, 1943. 24 students were enrolled. The school was named Corvallis, a combination of two Latin words: cor(da): heart and vallis: valley. The faculty included: Sister Eleanor (Aquinas) Brown (b. Feb. 16, 1908; d. Oct. 23, 2003) a native of Lane, Idaho
Lane, Idaho
Lane is an unincorporated community in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Lane is located along the Coeur d'Alene River and Idaho State Highway 3 northeast of Harrison. The community was founded as a lumber town in the 1880s and named after a logger....
and member of the RSHM for 73 years was the founding principal of Corvallis High School; Mother de Sales Connor; Mother Philip Hickey, Mother Gregory Naddy, and Sister Bernadette Murphy was the housekeeper. The first school dance was held on November 8, 1941. The first volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
game was played against St. Agnes High School. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the students sold war bonds and stamps for the war effort
War effort
In politics and military planning, a war effort refers to a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force...
and were awarded the "Minute Man Flag"(Source: Archives on the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary; editor/researcher: Plant, Mary Leah)
The school was accredited by the state of California in Spring, 1943. Mother Aidan Keating joined the faculty. The first class graduated in June, 1943. When enrollment increased to 140 students during 1945-1946, a new school building was constructed and finished by May 23, 1947. Up until this point, the Sisters of the RSHM, had been commuting form Marymount High School
Marymount High School
Marymount High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls, college-preparatory high school located in the Holmby Hills/Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. It sits across from the University of California, Los Angeles campus at 10643 Sunset Boulevard....
in Westwood, so were finally able to move into the old school building, the original house. At that time the faculty included: Reverend Mother Cecilia Rafter, Superior Mother Aidan Keating, Mother Bernard Thornton, Mother Philip Hickey, Mother Gabriel McCauley, and Mother Johanna Renehan. The auditorium with chapel was constructed in 1962.(Source: Archives on the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary; editor/researcher: Plant, Mary Leah)
In 1980 talks were held with the Brothers of the Holy Cross (Notre Dame High School) about establishing a single co-educational secondary school, however no agreement could be reached. In 1981, for various internal reasons, the RSHM, which owned the property, transferred operations of the school to the lay administration
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
and parents, under the new name, Our Lady of Corvallis. The newly renamed school continued for six more years, eventually closing its doors in June 1987.
Other notes:
Sister Mary Thorton, (b. 1913, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; d. Oct. 25, 2004) From 1945-92, she served as a high school teacher and principal at Our Lady of Corvallis High School.
Sister Donald, principal (1974)
Student Clubs (1974):
Student Council
CAA, PEP, Paper Prism, Corvallite (newspaper), Keyettes, A.V., C.S.F, National Honor, Glee Club, Mini-Mester, Memory Book (Yearbook)
Sports (1974):
Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming
External links
- USGS Coordinates for Corvallis High School
- Los Angeles Times,(December 27, 1986), The Closing of Corvallis High School
- Los Angeles Times, (May 17, 1987, T.W. McGarry), Corvallis High Grads Cram Their Finals With Emotion
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los AngelesRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Los AngelesThe Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
- Tidings Online, October 13, 2010, obit, Sister Mary Thornton
- New York Times, October 23, 2003, obit, Sister Eleanor Aquinas Brown
- Corvallis High School, Class of 1959 web page
- Religious of the Sacred Heart of MaryReligious of the Sacred Heart of MaryThe Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary are a global Roman Catholic community of about 900 apostolic religious women, connected by personal contact, local, provincial and general meetings, telephone, e-mail and many websites to one another with a hope of promoting the integral development and...
- St. Francis de Sales Parish History