Saint Gertrude High School

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Saint Gertrude High School
Address
3215 Stuart Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23221
United States
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Information
Type Private
Motto Ora et Labora
(Pray and Work)
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic,
Benedictine Sisters
Established 1922
Dean Peggy Boon (Faculty & Academics)
Nancy Carrig (Student Life)
Head of school Renata Rafferty
Chaplain Fr. Jim Griffin
Staff 19
Faculty 27
Grades 912
Gender Girls
Enrollment 273 (2008)
Average class size 15
Student to teacher ratio 9:1
Color(s) Green and White         
Athletics conference Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association
Mascot Gator
Team name Gators
Rival St. Catherine's
Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools [1]
Publication STET (Literary Magazine)
Newspaper Green Shield
Yearbook Tower
Affiliation NAIS (VAIS)
NCEA
Director of Admissions Meredith McNamara
Website

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, of Bristow Monastery, and is still owned and governed by the order, although the day-to-day operations are run by lay administrative and teaching staff. The school's goal is to provide young women with an academic education in an environment of Christian values and cultural diversity.

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 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 1973 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.

Student body

During the 2006-2007 school year, there were approximately 275 students enrolled. The 2006 percentage of college-bound graduates was 99%.[citation needed]

Athletics

The school fields 17 teams in 12 sports. Teams offered by season include: Fall: Tennis, Volleyball (JV and Varsity), Field Hockey (JV and Varsity), Cross Country; Winter: Basketball (JV White, JV Green, Varsity), Indoor Track, Swimming; Spring: Softball, Soccer (JV and Varsity), Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Golf.

Notable Alumnae

See also

Girls' schools elsewhere in Virginia:

Notes and references

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Maura Soden at The Internet Movie Database

External links