National Cathedral School

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The National Cathedral School for Girls
"Women's education without limits."
Established 1900
School type Independent Episcopal college preparatory school for girls
Principal Kathleen O'Neill Jamieson
Faculty about 70
Students about 560
Location Washington, DC
Website http://www.ncs.cathedral.org/

National Cathedral School (NCS) is an independent Episcopal private school day school for girls located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. Founded by Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Bishop Henry Yates Satterlee in 1900, NCS is the oldest of the institutions constituting the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation.

NCS has about 560 students in grades 4 through 12. Its mascot is the eagle. Its brother school, St. Albans, and the elementary school, Beauvoir, are also located on the 57-acre Cathedral Close in Northwest Washington near the Washington National Cathedral.

The school has some coordinate classes with St. Albans (STA), and offers a variety of electives in all subject areas. Students can also pursue a topic not offered in the classroom by submitting a proposal for independent study. Girls can participate in extracurricular activities which include the award-winning literary magazine H.I.E., an independent as well as a school-sponsored newspaper, a variety of affinity groups, and the student-run Honor Board.

NCS recently constructed the Agnes C. Underwood Athletic Center; the athletic program includes rock climbing, yoga, and dance as well as more traditional team sports. Students may opt to earn credit for independent sports projects outside of school.

Art classes are offered in photography, ceramics, drawing, painting, and other areas. The performing arts program includes an orchestra as well as a variety of choral groups which often perform during Friday Cathedral services and in concerts. The Cathedral Girl Choristers attend the school on singing scholarships and perform at Cathedral services open to the public. They have occasionally sung for government functions, including both inaugurations of President George W. Bush. The school's theater department, shared with the St. Albans boys, stages three major productions a year and also offers courses in set design and directing.

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[edit] School philosophy

The school's mission statement reads, in whole:

Since 1900, National Cathedral School has dedicated itself to preparing young women for the intellectual, ethical, and emotional challenges of life. In a complex, changing world, we must continue to combine our respect for tradition with our commitment to innovation. We believe:

  • Academic excellence should be consistently pursued and academic effort constantly valued. We expect our students to acquire a basic core of knowledge, to master skills, and to practice critical thinking. As we encourage every girl to develop her individual interests, talents, and creativity, we strive to instill in our students a lifelong love of learning.
  • As a school for girls, NCS provides outstanding academic, athletic, and artistic opportunities that foster healthy independence, confidence, and leadership in young women.
  • A cathedral school provides an ideal environment in which to develop integrity, respect, and responsibility. Our religious tradition affirms the worth of each individual and encourages us to engage respectfully with one another, ever mindful that we are all children of God.
  • Diversity enhances and strengthens our community. We continue to seek talented students and faculty from different racial, religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds while promoting equity among all members of the community.
  • National Cathedral School strives to be a caring environment where integrity and compassion are essential components of character development. Through service, friendship, and counsel, we prepare our students to make positive contributions to the world community.

[edit] Traditions

As the National Cathedral School is chartered by the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, and is an Episcopal School, the school holds a mandatory chapel services every Tuesday, as well as a weekly Friday morning service in the National Cathedral. Graduation is held in the Washington National Cathedral, where John Bryson Chane, Archbishop of Washington hands out the diplomas. However, students of various religions attend the school, and the chapel services are generally ecumenical in nature.

At Christmas, girls bring wrapped gifts for needy children in the Washington area. Each student presents her gift at a special Cathedral service.

Just before the winter vacation, the annual NCS/STA Christmas program, Lessons and Carols, is held in the Cathedral. Most of the school's musical groups perform.

Final Cathedral services for the year include the Cum Laude Society and the induction of seniors into the Alumnae Association at the Alumnae Service.

Flag Day is a tradition that began in 1901 when the school celebrated its first commencement. The Flag, representing the flag which has flown over the school for the past school year, is presented to the senior with the highest academic standing for her Junior and Senior years. Other awards for excellence and citizenship are given at this time. Senior girls traditionally wear long, white dresses and carry bouquets of red roses. All students in grades 4-11 are required to wear either a white dress or a white skirt and white blouse. Student attendance is mandatory. Commencement is held in the Cathedral on the following day.

NCS also has two school hymns, one dating back to the beginning of the school, and one for the school's centennial celebration. In addition, there is a school prayer:

"O GOD, our Father, who in your love has made us in your own image, inspire us to be like you and your Son Jesus Christ; abide in this Cathedral school. May your presence be felt by teachers and learners, and enable us to do all things in your Name. Strengthen and develop our minds for our life work: give us singleness of heart to learn your will; educate us in the service of love toward you, for the benefit of your Church and this whole Commonwealth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

[edit] Extracurriculars and clubs

School Government: (grades 7-12) Each grade elects a president, vice president, and social chair. These representatives gather weekly along with faculty advisors in meetings run by the elected president and vice president of the school, currently seniors Sydney Rockwell and Sydney Kestle. The school government plans upcoming events, discusses proposals, and serves as an intermediary between the student body and the administration.

Students organize and manage more than 30 different clubs from the Math League to the Environmental Awareness Group. Students also publish their own newspaper, literary magazine, and yearbook.

Discus: (grades 9 - 12) Discus is the school newspaper. Students edit a 9-12 page paper and learn about the various processes involved in publishing a newspaper. Articles are solicited from all students. The paper is published at least six times a year, about every 6 weeks. The current Editor-in-Chief is Senior Caroline Dye.

Half-In-Earnest (H.I.E.): (grades 7 - 12) This is a year-end publication NCS students' submissions of prose, poetry, artwork, and photography collected throughout the school year. Students may submit works to the editorial board, which makes the final decision on publication. Students meet after school on Wednesdays to edit the publication.

Independent: (grades 9 - 12) This student newspaper covers news of the Cathedral schools and is a joint effort between St. Albans and NCS students. It receives no school funds, but is financed by subscription and donations.

Mitre: (grades 9 - 12) The Mitre is the NCS yearbook, which is distributed at the end of the school year. The book reflects the life of the school that year, with special emphasis on the Senior Class. Cost of the publication is financed by subscriptions and ads, and each student receives her own copy.

The Perturbed Squirrel: (grades 9 - 12) The Perturbed Squirrel is a humor newspaper. Named for the squirrels found around the Cathedral, The Perturbed Squirrel covers unusual local and national news items. It publishes approximately once per term.

Students from classes 7-12 can serve as acolytes for Friday morning Cathedral services.

Writing Center: (Grades 4-6) The Writing Center is a program designed for the Lower School girls to practice their creative writing skills. The Writing Center has a monthly publication called the Literary Magazine. The Magazine publishes short stories, poems, drawings, cartoons, and other types of creative writing which is all done by the Lower School Girls. Another program that the Writing Center does, is host workshops focusing on different aspects of creativity combined with writing. In the workshops, the girls can add dances, music, paintings/drawings, and other activities to enhance their written pieces. Aditionally, the Writing Center provides another activity called Poem of the Week. With poem of the week, there is a theme applied to which the girls can write about, but writing about the theme is not mandatory. The poems that are submitted are read and voted on by a selected group of 6th graders, and then from the poems that make it on to the 2nd round of voting, the Poem of the week is chosen. All Poems of the Week and other favorites are put into that month's edition of the Literary Magazine. The Lower School Writing Center is a program through which the Lower School girls can express themselves through multiple activities focused on creative writing.

[edit] Most popular college destinations 2005

[edit] Notable alumnae

Other families who chose the National Cathedral School for their girls are the Roosevelts, the Rockefellers, the Firestones (Mary), the Wilsons of Wilson sports, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

[edit] External links

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