St. Mary's Dominican High School
Encyclopedia
St. Mary's Dominican High School or simply "Dominican High School" is an all-girls private high school
in New Orleans
, Louisiana
.
Dominican is one of the only schools in Louisiana
which doesn't have a mascot. The school colors are black and white. Dominican has a highly respected athletics program in girl's sports. The school's motto is Veritas (the Latin word for truth).
The St. Mary's Dominican Band is one of the few all-girl marching bands in New Orleans. The Band participates by performing at athletic games, Mardi Gras parades, festivals, and other school events.
By 1861, the New Orleans Female Dominican Academy was chartered under Louisiana State laws as an “Institute for literary, scientific, religious, and charitable purposes.” Three years later in October 1864, the Dominican Sisters bought at auction the Mace Academy in Greenville. On April 17, 1865, while some day students remained at the Academy on Dryades St., the boarding students were transferred to the Academy in Greenville. The early curriculum stressed the humanities and the fine arts.
In 1881, permission was received from the Archbishop to build a new academy on the property at Greenville; the cornerstone was laid in 1882. Later the suburban village of Greenville was incorporated into the City of New Orleans.
In 1900, Mother Mary de Ricci, assistant to the Prioress, called a preliminary meeting of all former pupils of Dominican Academy for the purpose of establishing an Alumnae Association. In January 1901, there was a well organized association that selected St. Catherine of Siena as its Patroness.
Until 1914, there were two New Orleans Dominican Female Academies, one on Dryades Street and the other on St. Charles Avenue. In 1914, the Dryades program merged with the St. Charles Avenue campus program and changed its name to St. Mary's Dominican High School. In September 1927, St. Mary's Dominican High School was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1993, an eighth grade five-year program of studies was established.
St. Mary’s Dominican High School and St. Mary’s Dominican College were located on the same premises at 7214 St. Charles Avenue. Increased enrollment in both the High School and the College necessitated physical expansion. Plans were made to construct a new Dominican High School on Walmsley Avenue. On March 22, 1963, Dominican High School made its move from 7214 St. Charles Avenue to 7701 Walmsley Avenue, its present site.
Today, St. Mary’s Dominican High School is a living reality; its growth and development are rooted in its creative response to the call for excellence. In 1989, Dominican was recognized as a School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. The O’Farrell Student Complex was completed in 1993. In 1996, Dominican was recognized again by the United States Department of Education and was selected as a National Blue Ribbon School. In 1997 the Erminia Wadsworth Library was completed, and another phase of technological advancement was begun. The Siena Multipurpose Activity Center was completed in 2006.
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Dominican is one of the only schools in Louisiana
Louisiana High School Athletic Association
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is the agency which regulates and promotes the interscholastic athletic competitions of all high schools in the state of Louisiana.- Organization :...
which doesn't have a mascot. The school colors are black and white. Dominican has a highly respected athletics program in girl's sports. The school's motto is Veritas (the Latin word for truth).
The St. Mary's Dominican Band is one of the few all-girl marching bands in New Orleans. The Band participates by performing at athletic games, Mardi Gras parades, festivals, and other school events.
History
Dominican's life began in Louisiana with the arrival of seven Dominican sisters from St. Mary’s Convent-Cabra, Dublin, Ireland on November 5, 1860. The foundresses of St. Mary’s Congregation in New Orleans, Mother Mary John Flanagan, Mother Mary Magdalen O’Farrell, Sister Mary Hyacinth McQuillan, Sister Mary Brigid Smith, Sister Mary Osanna Cahill, Sister Mary Xavier Gaynor, and Sister Mary Ursula O’Reilly, came at the request of Rev. Jeremiah Moynihan, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in New Orleans, to teach the children of the Irish immigrants. These Dominican women, educated in the humanities and the fine arts, opened St. John the Baptist School for Girls on December 3, 1860, with a recorded attendance of 200.By 1861, the New Orleans Female Dominican Academy was chartered under Louisiana State laws as an “Institute for literary, scientific, religious, and charitable purposes.” Three years later in October 1864, the Dominican Sisters bought at auction the Mace Academy in Greenville. On April 17, 1865, while some day students remained at the Academy on Dryades St., the boarding students were transferred to the Academy in Greenville. The early curriculum stressed the humanities and the fine arts.
In 1881, permission was received from the Archbishop to build a new academy on the property at Greenville; the cornerstone was laid in 1882. Later the suburban village of Greenville was incorporated into the City of New Orleans.
In 1900, Mother Mary de Ricci, assistant to the Prioress, called a preliminary meeting of all former pupils of Dominican Academy for the purpose of establishing an Alumnae Association. In January 1901, there was a well organized association that selected St. Catherine of Siena as its Patroness.
Until 1914, there were two New Orleans Dominican Female Academies, one on Dryades Street and the other on St. Charles Avenue. In 1914, the Dryades program merged with the St. Charles Avenue campus program and changed its name to St. Mary's Dominican High School. In September 1927, St. Mary's Dominican High School was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1993, an eighth grade five-year program of studies was established.
St. Mary’s Dominican High School and St. Mary’s Dominican College were located on the same premises at 7214 St. Charles Avenue. Increased enrollment in both the High School and the College necessitated physical expansion. Plans were made to construct a new Dominican High School on Walmsley Avenue. On March 22, 1963, Dominican High School made its move from 7214 St. Charles Avenue to 7701 Walmsley Avenue, its present site.
Today, St. Mary’s Dominican High School is a living reality; its growth and development are rooted in its creative response to the call for excellence. In 1989, Dominican was recognized as a School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. The O’Farrell Student Complex was completed in 1993. In 1996, Dominican was recognized again by the United States Department of Education and was selected as a National Blue Ribbon School. In 1997 the Erminia Wadsworth Library was completed, and another phase of technological advancement was begun. The Siena Multipurpose Activity Center was completed in 2006.
Notable alumnae
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