St. Mary's Dominican High School

    ST. MARY'S DOMINICAN HIGH SCHOOL, 7701 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans – Dominican is more than black and white. When an eighth grader ties a purple ribbon in her hair, slips on her first pair of saddle oxfords and steps into the halls of St. Mary’s Dominican High School, she becomes a vital member of a diverse community of critical thinkers, spiritual leaders and independent explorers.
    Rooted in “Veritas” – Truth – the college-preparatory curriculum fosters a love of learning within the four pillars of Dominican life: prayer, service, study and community.
    Students become spiritual leaders through retreat team, Christian Leadership Council and student preaching. Each class attends an annual retreat where students experience spiritual growth both individually and as a class. The junior overnight retreat is one of the most anticipated events, so much so that Dominican now offers an optional overnight senior retreat.
    Student-led daily prayers, joyful school liturgies and community service opportunities foster the spiritual growth and development of Dominican students. As evidence of the school’s commitment to faith-based teaching, the class of 2012 completed more than 32,000 hours of community service. Many of these hours were completed in addition to the students’ service requirements, showcasing a common interest in serving one’s local and global community.
    Academically, Dominican students excel in all areas. Students not only learn subject content, but they also learn how to love learning. Structured, engaging lessons produce creative thinkers and problem solvers. To understand sonnets, students do not simply read Shakespeare; they write poems. To explore Roman culture, Latin students do not simply memorize facts; they hold chariot races.
    Intensive standardized test prep and rigorous coursework lead all students to success. The Class of 2012 earned more than $14 million in college scholarships, and 90.75 percent qualified for TOPS. The National Merit Corporation recognized 15 students, and seniors earned more than 433 college credit hours through AP courses and spring testing. Dominican encourages lifelong learners, scholars who continue to seek knowledge post-graduation.
    Dominican offers more than 30 student organizations, including band, choir, the Debs dance team, ecology club, student council, publications and four honor societies. Dominican’s Fine Arts department produces an annual spring musical in conjunction with the fine arts festival, which showcases student artwork.
    As a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Dominican competes in sports at the varsity, junior varsity and eighth-grade levels. Sports include volleyball, basketball, softball, swimming, track, cross country, soccer, tennis and golf. Athletic honors in the 2011-12 school year included state titles for the cross country and tennis teams, as well as an individual state champion on the swim team. On game days, students in “Dominifan” T-shirts pack the gym.
    Dominican’s campus allows students to work to their full potential. A writing center, a math lab and a foreign language lab are among the five computer labs accessible to students. Each classroom is equipped with a Smart Board, and Macbooks and iPads are used in targeted curricula, keeping students up to date with current technology.
    In 2006, the Siena Center was added to the campus, providing students with a weight room, indoor track, dance studio, gym and classroom space. Dominican’s campus provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere. A fountain sits in the center of a courtyard with benches and green space, allowing students a pleasant place to relax and reflect.
    One of the most anticipated days of the school year is also one of Dominican’s oldest and most cherished traditions: Rally Day. On this day, the class colors – purple, green, yellow, red and blue – unite, first at Mass and then in friendly competition, building class and school spirit. This day encapsulates what it means to be Dominican: tradition and school spirit, rooted in faith, spanning generations and creating lifelong memories.
    Dominican is so much more than black and white. It is school spirit and class pride. It is academic excellence, unwavering faith and commitment to service. Most importantly, Dominican is community. Eighth-grade friendships bloom into senior sisterhoods. Consider how many Dominican alumnae return as volunteers, parents, staff and faculty, and it becomes clear.
    Dominican is not only a school. Dominican is a legacy of generations leading to an eternity of truth. Dominican is family. Welcome home.
    ST. SCHOLASTICA ACADEMY, 122 South Massachusetts St., Covington – In 1902 ground was broken for a new academy founded by the Benedictine Sisters. The large bell in the tower atop the new four-story wooden building rang for the first time on Sept. 4, 1903, to announce the beginning of school, and St. Scholastica Academy was born.
    When the bell rang in 1910, it was for the dedication of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is where the May crowning is held for our current students. Through the years, the bell rang for classes, for Mass and for the Angelus. From its place in the wooden school building tower, it announced the daily unfolding history of the school and the people who formed it: teachers, students, parents and the community. As it rang its daily messages, it marked the passing years of growth.
    In 1965, the archdiocese purchased the school and agreed to build a new school plant. In 1967, the bell rang to announce the dedication of the new buildings by Archbishop Philip Hannan, and SSA officially became an archdiocesan high school. When the original buildings were torn down, the bell was removed from its tower and, along with the grotto, remains as a symbol of SSA’s history.
    If the beautiful oaks that grace the campus could tell the stories of its students and teachers that were heard over the years, they would tell stories of joy, hope, challenges and successes. The investment in lives, resources and energies through the years of the Benedictine Sisters defies measurements.
    The bell rang on Nov. 15, 2008, to announce the dedication of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel, the return of a true chapel to the SSA campus after 40 years.
    In May 2012, the bell rang to celebrate the graduation of the 109th SSA class and to continue our “Tradition of Sisterhood.” SSA is proud of its past and embraces the present, continually striving to fulfill the four pillars of the Benedictine tradition of prayer, work, study and community. Each student continues the legacy that challenges her to always take time for each other, look for the best and build for tomorrow.
    Recognized as a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SSA has an enrollment of 656 young women and an average class size of 22, which allows for personalized attention.
    The effect of SSA’s implementation of the 4-by-4 block schedule provides a structure for the school’s creative and innovative teachers to utilize new methods of instruction and technologies, which engage students as active learners. The 4-by-4 successfully prepares graduates for the college environment, allowing for easy transition.
    Since 2008 SSA has been in the forefront of technology for educational purposes. The implementation of the iPad2 for the entire student body, faculty and staff was accomplished last year. Our Creativity Center for Digital Media has enhanced the curriculum for visual art, yearbook and digital media.
    In addition to maintaining strong academics, SSA students are required to complete community service hours encompassing involvement, action and reflection of their Catholic beliefs as applied to everyday life.
    The all-girls’ environment allows for the development of individual initiative and leadership. The guidance department counsels students on academics, careers and the college application process. SSA students consistently outscore the national averages on standardized tests.
    The Class of 2012 received more than $5.1 million in scholarship offers and was accepted to 78 different universities and colleges in 23 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Fifty-four percent of the class received scholarships; 90 percent earned TOPS.
    SSA’s extracurricular and sports programs form an essential part of school life. The choir and play productions are a vital part of the academy. Students can choose from 35 activities and 15 team sports. Last year, SSA’s swim team won state and the soccer team was runner-up for state. The bowling team competed in the state semifinals. Our 10-acre athletic complex houses an all-weather track and softball and soccer fields.
    SSA’s vision is part of its spirit – that the quality of life in our society becomes greatly improved when young women are educated to succeed, stand confident and lead Christian lives of service and responsibility.