Saint Agnes Academy

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For St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School in Memphis, Tennessee, see that article.

St. Agnes Academy
Motto	"Veritas"
Established	February 11, 1906
Type	Dominican Order Private school
Principal	Sister Jane Meyer, O.P.
Dean	Brigid Schiro
Faculty	102
Students	52349
Grades	9–12
Location	Houston, Texas USA
Campus	Urban, 30 acres
Colors	Black and gold
Mascot	Roary the Tiger
Yearbook	Veritas
Newspaper	The Columns
Website	www.st-agnes.org

Saint Agnes Academy is a Dominican preparatory school for young women in southwest Houston, Texas.

The school motto is Veritas, which is the Latin word for "truth".

The school's mascot is Roary the Tiger.

The school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

1 History
2 Founding Principles
- 2.1 Mission Statement
- 2.2 Philosophy
3 Students and Alumnae
- 3.1 Notable alumnae
4 VTV
5 Decade of Peace Program
6 External link

[edit] History

[1] 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 (the address is now considered to be in 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.

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.

The front entrance to the Saint Agnes Academy campus

[edit] Founding Principles

[edit] 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."

[edit] Philosophy

The philosophy statement reads: "St. Agnes Academy is a Catholic college preparatory school for young women owned and administered by the Dominican Sisters of Houston, Texas. Through its various functions, the school provides opportunities for education and overall personal growth within the context of the Catholic faith. St. Agnes challenges students, and faculty and staff as well, to develop in the areas of intellectual competence, spiritual growth, responsibility to and for self, commitment to others, and action on behalf of justice.

St. Agnes offers a demanding college preparatory curriculum. It includes required courses in traditional academic subjects, as well as in theology, fine arts, and computer competency. The goal of the faculty and staff is not only to assist students in the acquisition of knowledge, but to stimulate intellectual curiosity and a love of learning, and to help students develop the skills necessary for the ongoing pursuit of knowledge. St. Agnes seeks to have faculty and staff who are knowledgeable and skilled, who care about education and about youth.

They serve as role models for students in terms of their own intellectual endeavors, their behavior and treatment of others, and their active witness to Christian values. Together with parents, they are influential in shaping the minds and attitudes of the youth they serve.

Each student is unique and valuable, with myriad God-given talents. St. Agnes offers a variety of opportunities--academic, extracurricular, social, and spiritual--to assist each student in recognizing and developing her potential. Students are challenged to acknowledge the responsibility to use their talents and knowledge in the service of God and others, and to embody gospel values in their daily lives."

[edit] Students and Alumnae

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.

[edit] Notable alumnae

Alexis Bledel, actress in Gilmore Girls

[edit] VTV

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.

[edit] 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 be taking part in activities to educate and work for a more peaceful world.