Loretto High School

This article is about a Californian high school. For other Loretto schools, see Loretto (disambiguation).

Loretto High School
Address
2360 El Camino Avenue Sacramento, California 95821 United States
Information
Type	Private, All-Female
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1955
Closed	2009
President	Sr. Helen Timothy
Administrator	Mrs. Perez
Principal	Jocelyn Barboza
Grades	9-12
Language	English; others offered: French, Spanish, Greek
Hours in school day	7
Campus	closed
Campus size	small
Color(s)	Navy, White, and Forest Green
Slogan	One World, One Light
Song	Alma Mater
Fight song	"Loretto Alma Mater"
Athletics	11 sports
Mascot	Lions
Accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition	$15,000/year
Website	http://www.loretto.net

Loretto High School was a small, Roman Catholic, college-preparatory school for young women in Sacramento, California. Although located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento the school was independent of the diocese. In 2005, Loretto High School celebrated its 50th anniversary. In June 2009, the school closed. Many students transferred to coed Christian Brothers and fellow all-girls St. Francis High School to complete their high school education, while others decided to go to public schools such as Mira Loma High School or El Camino Fundamental High School.

Location

The school was founded by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1955 under the leadership of Sister Nora Lowe. The campus was located at a 5-acre (20,000 m²) plot between El Camino Avenue and Bell Street in urban Sacramento.

Education

Admission to Loretto High School was selective and based on the student's previous school record, placement test, interview, recommendation, and application. Once accepted, freshmen immediately entered the challenging curriculum. Loretto operated on a trimester system, rather than a semester system. Students could take yearlong, 3-trimester classes, 2-trimester classes, or 1-trimester classes.

AP/Honors Courses

English and Literature: AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, Shakespeare Honors (1 trimester), The Poem Honors (1 trimester), The Novel Honors (1 trimester)

Foreign Language: AP French Language, Spanish 3 Honors, AP Spanish Language

Mathematics: Pre-Calculus Honors, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC

Science: Chemistry 2 Honors, Biology 2 Honors, Physics Honors

Social Studies: AP US History, Government/Economics Honors, AP World History

Theology: Honors Philosophy I - Western Traditions, Honors Philosophy II - Eastern Traditions

Sports

Loretto is a member of the California Interscholastic Federation, Sac-Joaquin Section and competed in the Capital Athletic League. The CAL was composed of the following schools: Bella Vista Broncos, Casa Roble Rams, Del Campo Cougars, El Camino Eagles, Mira Loma Matadors and the Rio Americano Raiders.

Fall Sports: volleyball, cross-country, tennis, golf, water polo
Winter Sports: basketball
Spring Sports: track & field, swimming, diving, soccer, softball

The arts

Students are required to take one year of visual or performing arts such as dance, fine arts, choir, or theater, and a one-trimester "Heritage Class" in the opposite discipline. For example, if a student is enrolled in a yearlong performing-arts class, she is later required to take a one-trimester Art History class. Likewise, if she is enrolled in a yearlong visual-arts class, she is later required to take a one-trimester Music History class. In addition to Heritage Classes, Loretto offers other one-trimester courses in music, art, dance, and theater.
Each spring, students participate in the Festival of the Arts, in which they showcase their creations and hold performances in dance, drama, and music.
Visual Arts
Loretto offers a wide array of visual arts classes such Foundations in Visual Arts, Art 1/Art 2, Ceramics 1/Ceramics 2, Drawing 1/Drawing 2, Three-Dimensional Art 1/2, Watercolor, and Advanced Art, and Advanced Studio Art
Dance
Dance classes are extremely popular at Loretto. Many girls enroll in one or three-term dance classes each year. There are three levels of dance groups: beginning (Broadway Bound Dance and a 1-trimester Dance course), intermediate (Intermediate Broadway Bound Dance), and advanced Broadway Bound Dance (Advanced Company). The dancers perform in an annual dance concert each spring, which included both company numbers and solos. The numbers are choreographed by both the students and teachers. Advanced Company performs at the homecoming rally each year.
Music
Loretto has two levels of choral ensembles: Concert Choir(beginning), and Chamber Singers(advanced). The choirs hold 2 annual concerts in December and May. In February 2009, the Loretto Chamber Singers performed at the Jammies Evening of Classical Music at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. In addition, both choirs have sung at the State Capitol, Catholic High School Choral Festival, and various other events. In 2007 and 2009, both choirs won 1st place in their section at the Heritage Festival in Anaheim, CA. The most select vocal ensemble is the Loretto Lionettes' A Capella club, which performs at choir concerts, various events, and at the homecoming rally
Theater
Girls may take a 1-term Drama Workshop class, or enroll in a yearlong drama class. There are two levels: beginning (Theater Arts), and advanced (Advanced Drama Workshop). Each fall, Loretto holds a dramatic or musical production, and the Advanced Drama class holds An Evening of One Acts. They participate in the LENEA festival each year, and in 2009, girls won a total of 2 gold medals (out of 3 awarded gold medals), 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals.

Extracurriculars

In addition to standard high school activities such as sports, clubs,and student counsels. Loretto offered unique opportunities for young women to grow. This included travel abroad opportunities to Russia, France, Australia and Asia, a strong commitment to service in the community through mandatory service requirements, and participation in academic competitions.

Clubs A Capella (The Loretto Lionettes), Business and Investments, Book Club, Creative Writing Club, Domestic Divas, Ecology Club, French Club (Le Cercle Francais), Furry Friends, Med Club, Multi-Cultural Club, Peace Club, Pink Ladies, Political Society, Photography, Relaxation, Shakespeare Society, Spanish Club, Spanish Conversation, Spirit and Sport, Yoga Club

State or National Organizations California Scholarship Federation (CSF), Friday Night Live, Key Club, National Honor Society (NHS), TEAMS (Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science)

Service Groups Recruitment Team, S.A.L.T. (Spiritually Alive Liturgy Team)

Co-Curricular Activities Mock Trial

School Activities throughout the Year
Annual Blood Drive
Baccalaureate
Big Sisters
Christmas Toy Drive
Class Retreats
Club Fair
College Tour
College Ambassador Meetings
Community Service
Dances
Dance Concert
Diaper Drive for Wellspring
Dress-for-Funds Collections
Fall Play/Musical, Spring One-Acts
Father-Daughter Dance
Festival of the Arts
Graduation
Halloween Festivities (costume contest, pumpkin-carving contest)
Homecoming Week, Rally, Collection, and Dance
Junior-Senior Luncheon
Lenten Collection
"Little Sister" Shadow Days
Liturgies and Assemblies
Locks of Love
Fashion Show
Freshman Retreat and Orientation
Frosh Unity Luncheons
Mary Ward Day
Mock Presidential Election
Mock Trial
On-the-Road Recruitment
Prom
S.A.L.T.
Senior Final Assembly
Senior Silent Retreat
Service Trip to Tijuana
Shadow Days
Sophomore Ring Ceremony
Sports
Student Appreciation Day
Teacher Appreciation Day
Trips to Europe and Foreign Countries
Yearbook
WSP Magazine Sale

External links

• Loretto High School website
• Loretto School history
• Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary North America
• Loretto Closes News Article