Saint Gertrude High School
Encyclopedia
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Saint Gertrude High School is an independent Catholic
college preparatory day school for young women grades 9-12 in Richmond
, Virginia
. It was founded in 1922 by the Benedictine
Sisters of Virginia. The school's goal is to provide young women with an academic education in an environment of Christian
values and cultural diversity. This is the only Catholic girls' school in the state of Virginia
.
In 1922, Saint Edith Academy, a boarding school for girls at Bristow, Virginia
was closed, and the high school department was transferred to Saint Gertrude in Richmond. Sister Gertrude Head, the first principal, and a three-member faculty began the educational program for eight students. In the course of the first year the enrollment increased to twenty-six.
The school continued to operate solely in the original building until a new classroom wing was added in 1956. These two structures then made up the school building for nearly twenty years, until the 1972 addition was completed. The newest addition, dedicated in May 2005, houses a new library/media Center, athletic facility, and science labs.
At the very onset, the School was affiliated with the Catholic University of America. In 1925, Saint Gertrude was accredited by the Virginia State Board of Education
and in 1942 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
. In 1978, the school became a member of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. Saint Gertrude’s accreditation continues to be through VAIS and SACS, which are affiliated with the Virginia Council of Private Education. Saint Gertrude High School was awarded "Blue Ribbon School" designation in 1996.
Saint Gertrude High School is an independent Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
college preparatory day school for young women grades 9-12 in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It was founded in 1922 by the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Sisters of Virginia. The school's goal is to provide young women with an academic education in an environment of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
values and cultural diversity. This is the only Catholic girls' school in the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
History
Saint Gertrude was built in 1913 to provide a home and a chapel for the Benedictine Sisters who taught at Saint Mary’s School on Fourth and Marshall Streets in Richmond. The building had two rooms used as a small private elementary school and housed a care center for exceptional children which was later discontinued.In 1922, Saint Edith Academy, a boarding school for girls at Bristow, Virginia
Bristow, Virginia
Bristow is an unincorporated town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,910 in the 2000 census, and the 2009 estimate was 15,137....
was closed, and the high school department was transferred to Saint Gertrude in Richmond. Sister Gertrude Head, the first principal, and a three-member faculty began the educational program for eight students. In the course of the first year the enrollment increased to twenty-six.
The school continued to operate solely in the original building until a new classroom wing was added in 1956. These two structures then made up the school building for nearly twenty years, until the 1972 addition was completed. The newest addition, dedicated in May 2005, houses a new library/media Center, athletic facility, and science labs.
At the very onset, the School was affiliated with the Catholic University of America. In 1925, Saint Gertrude was accredited by the Virginia State Board of Education
Virginia State Board of Education
The Virginia State Board of Education is an independent board established by the state of Virginia in the United States which helps set state elementary and secondary educational policy, advocates within state government for elementary and secondary education, administers some state educational...
and in 1942 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
. In 1978, the school became a member of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. Saint Gertrude’s accreditation continues to be through VAIS and SACS, which are affiliated with the Virginia Council of Private Education. Saint Gertrude High School was awarded "Blue Ribbon School" designation in 1996.