Saint Agnes Academy

: For the school of the same name Memphis, Tennessee, please see St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School.Infobox Secondary school
name = St. Agnes Academy
logo =
motto = "Veritas"
(Latin:"Truth")
established = February 11, 1906
type = Private, Single-sex, Day school
affiliations = Catholic, Dominican Order
principal = Sister Jane Meyer, O.P.
dean = Brigid Schiro
city = Houston
state = Texas
country = USA
enrollment = 849
grades = 9–12
faculty = 102
campus = Urban, 30 acres
mascot = Roary the Tiger
colors = Black & Gold color box|#000000color box|#FFCC00
yearbook = Veritas
newspaper = The Columns
literary magazine = Reflections
website = [http://www.st-agnes.org/ www.st-agnes.org]
picture =

Saint Agnes Academy is a Dominican university-preparatory school for young women in southwest Houston, Texas, United States. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

History

Pauline Gannon, a nun for the Dominican Sisters of Houston, Texas, founded St. Agnes Academy in 1905. St. Agnes opened on February 11, 1906, at 3901 Fannin in what is now considered to be Midtown. The school was named after Saint Agnes of Rome. The school was founded as a grade 1 through 12 school with boarding facilities. The University of Texas and the Texas State Board of Education accredited St. Agnes in 1917. In 1939 boarding was discontinued. In 1952, St. Agnes began to serve grades 9 through 12 only.

New Site

In September 1963 the school opened at 9000 Bellaire Boulevard at the intersection of Gessner Drive next to Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in the Sharpstown neighborhood of Houston, where it resides as of 2006. The land was originally donated by Frank Sharp, the developer of Sharpstown, to the Jesuits, who in turn "sold" the land to the Dominican sisters for one penny. [" [http://www.st-agnes.org/index.cfm/MenuItemID/150.htm School History] ," "St. Agnes"]

Before St. Agnes

Students of some private schools, such as Presbyterian School [" [http://www.pshouston.org/fw/main/Class_of_2004-183.html Presbyterian School Class of 2004] ," "Presbyterian School"] , The Village School [" [http://www.thevillageschool.com/alumni.html The Village School Alumni] ," "The Village School"] , Annunciation Orthodox School [" [http://www.aoshouston.org/admissions/graduatingfromaos.shtm Graduating from AOS] ," "Annunciation Orthodox School"] , and [http://www.jp2.org John Paul II School] [" [http://www.jp2.org/OurPrograms/middleschool-overview.htm Middle School - Overview] ," "John Paul II School"] ,St. Cecilia Catholic School, Saint Laurence Catholic School, and Saint Anne Catholic School matriculate to St. Agnes.

Founding Principles

Mission Statement

The school's mission statement reads: "Rooted in the Dominican tradition, St. Agnes Academy provides a Catholic college preparatory education that encourages young women to develop intellectual curiosity, to work for social justice and to act with integrity and compassion."

tudents

Just as the students at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, the Jesuit high school next door, the students at SAA are required before graduation to complete a Junior and Senior service project, with the Senior service project requiring 100+ hours of community service.

In addition, St. Agnes Academy students, known as "Academy Women", must have a computer laptop as part of their school experience. The school is wireless and many assignments are assigned, submitted and graded via electronic files instead of on paper.

Technology

The school uses a closed circuit television system known as Veritas Television (VTV). Televisions are in every class room. Daily morning announcements are presented by the student body president and vice president and are produced by students. This is similar in format to Strake Jesuit's "Strake Jesuit Educational Television" (SJET) closed-circuit system.

Decade of Peace Program

St. Agnes Academy has responded to the call by Noble Peace Laureates, the United Nations and our Dominican Sisters to take part in the Decade of Peace and Nonviolence. Over the course of the academic year the student body and faculty/staff will participate in the program.

Notable alumnae

*Alexis Bledel, actress in "Gilmore Girls"
*Delores Martin, Mayor of Manvel, Texas
*Patricia Gras, television anchor for Public Broadcasting Service

References

External links

* [http://www.st-agnes.org/ St. Agnes Academy]