| Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 1250 Kensington Road Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, (Oakland County), 48304 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic Sacred Heart |
| Established | 1851 |
| Head of school | Sr. Bridget Bearss |
| Associate Head of School for Middle School for Girls and Upper School | Judith Hehs |
| Grades | Infants–Grade 12 |
| Color(s) | Navy Blue and Gold |
| Athletics conference | Catholic High School League |
| Team name | Gazelles for Girls' teams, Knights for Boys' teams |
| Accreditation(s) | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,[1] Independent School Association of the Central States, Sacred Heart Commission on Goals |
| Affiliation | Network of Sacred Heart Schools |
| Admissions Director | Barbara Lopiccolo |
| Athletic Director | Debbe Pavle |
| Learning Specialist | Cheryl Choinski |
| Website | http://www.ashmi.org |
Academy of the Sacred Heart High School is the oldest independent school in Michigan. Founded in 1851 in Detroit, the Academy moved to its 44-acre (180,000 m2) campus in Bloomfield Hills in 1958. It is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for young women from infancy through Grade 12 and for boys from infancy through Grade 8 of many cultures and faiths. The Academy is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, which includes 21 schools in the U.S. and an affiliation with the Society of the Sacred Heart in 44 countries around the world.[2]
Academy of the Sacred Heart was established by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1851 in Detroit. The school moved to Bloomfield Hills in 1958.[3] Kensington Hall, the middle school for boys at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, was established in 2002. The school is dedicated to educating and forming today's young men for academic success. It is committed to understanding how boys think, and developing strategies that best enable them to excel in the classroom.[4]
In 1821 Father Gabriel Richard, a missionary in Detroit visited Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne in Florissant, Missouri. Father Richard asked Mother Duchesne to establish a group in Detroit. This initial request was denied. Father Richard’s wish was not realized until 1848 when Madame Monique Beaubien wrote to Mother Hardy, Superior Provincial of the Society in New York, offering the Society of the Sacred Heart a piece of Beaubien property on Jefferson Avenue for an academy school, on the condition that orphans would also be educated at the institution. On the southwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and St. Antoine Street a building was erected in 1861 at a cost exceeding $30,000. The building was built to accommodate 150 students and for 50 years this was the school.
In 1918 the cornerstone from Jefferson Avenue was placed in its new location as a school was built on Lawrence Avenue. By the 1950s the population shifted northward and the relocation of the school was considered. Reverend Mother Katherine Wansboro bought 20 acres (81,000 m2) in Bloomfield Hills. The groundbreaking ceremonies were held in July 1957. The cornerstone, first blessed in 1861 at the original foundation on Jefferson Avenue, then moved to Lawrence Avenue, was now set in place in Bloomfield Hills. The cornerstone was newly inscribed with “Built on Confidence in the Heart of Jesus.” The actual move into the new building took place on July 15, 1958.[5]