Julia Morgan School for Girls
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Julia Morgan School for Girls is a private all-girls school in Oakland, California. It was established in the fall of 1999 by Founding Director Ann Clarke. It is the first (and only) all-girls middle school in the East Bay. It is named for the architect, Julia Morgan.[1]
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[edit] History
[edit] First campus
JMSG started in the top two floors of a dormitory at Holy Names College, now called Holy Names University, in Oakland. The halls were very narrow and some classrooms had to be shared by two or more teachers. The girls had to walk up five flights of stairs and a hill to get to school because there was no passenger loading area next to the building. The courtyard available for lunch was unattractive.
[edit] Second campus
In 2004, JMSG moved to Alderwood Hall on the Mills College campus. Mills is a women's college that offered more spacious facilities, with a nearby soccer field for physical education and games, a basketball court, and two beautiful courtyards. The 1924 building was designed by the school's namesake, Julia Morgan.
[edit] JMSG learning environment
JMSG is intended to be a place where girls can be creative and speak out. They do a number of community services (e.g., the eighth grade GOGIRL week).
[edit] JMSG traditions
Goddess day is an annual event in which every 6th grader must choose to become a particular goddess of her own invention (e.g. goddess of laughter, goddess of miracles). Each girl then writes a story about her goddess-self and dresses up in scarves, as well as other sparkly accessories. Makeup is also readily available. Afterwards, the girls file through the hallways as 7th and 8th graders come out of their classrooms to admire the procession of goddesses.
Every spring, the 6th grade class - under the direction of their drama/humanities teacher - puts on a play depicting a series of Greek myths set in contemporary times, ranging from the 1950's to the present day. Many girls find this to be one of the most inspiring and fun experiences of their 6th grade year.
[edit] Students
There are 176 students enrolled in grades 6 - 8, as of 2006.[2]
[edit] Notes and references
- Katie Hafner, New York Times, September 23, 1999, Girls Soak Up Technology in Schools of Their Own
- Ilana DeBare, Harvard Magazine, May-June 2004, Where the Girls Are Reports on the founding of JMSG.
- DeBare, Ilana. Where Girls Come First: The Rise, Fall, and Surprising Revival of Girls' Schools. Tarcher, 2004. ISBN 1-58542-289-4
- ^ Julia Morgan School for Girls website
- ^ National Coalition of Girls' Schools, Directory of Member Schools
