Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau

The Academy of the Sacred Heart, founded in 1821 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, is an independent, Catholic school for girls in Pre-Kindergarten-3 through grade twelve, with residential accommodations for students in grades seven through twelve. It is operated independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.

Infobox Private School
name = Academy of the Sacred Heart


established = 1821
type = Private
religion = Catholic
head_name = Headmistres
head = Claude Demoustier, RSCJ
city = Grand Coteau
state = LA
country = U.S.
campus = 250 acres
school colors = Red and White
mascot = Firebird
homepage = [http://www.ashcoteau.org/ www.ashcoteau.org] |

History

It was established in 1821 and as such is the second oldest institution of learning west of the Mississippi. It is the oldest, continually running member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the world. It is also the oldest independent school in the Acadiana region.

Founded under the direction of Saint Philippine Duchesne, the Academy has remained in continuous operation through fire, epidemics, and war. Although thousands of Federal troops were encamped in the fields surrounding the Academy during the Civil War, the school was not touched. Union General Nathaniel Banks had a daughter in a school in New York run by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, and he was asked to look after the Grand Coteau sisters and their students. [ [http://www.cajuntravel.com/towns/grand_coteau.cfm www.cajuntravel.com "GRAND COTEAU"] ]

On campus is a small chapel honoring St. John Berchmans, a Jesuit. St. John Berchmans appeared to a novice, Mary Wilson and cured her of a fatal illness. This miracle eventually led to the canonization of John Berchmans. It is the only shrine at the exact location of a confirmed miracle in the United States.

Accreditation and Memberships

The Academy is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). ISAS is a voluntary membership association of private schools. The Association was founded in 1955 and incorporated not-for-profit in 1970. The membership of ISAS consists of 81 schools located in Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas enrolling over 44,000 students.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart is member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. The network consists of twenty-one educational institutions in the United States and over two hundred schools internationally. All of the network schools are rooted in the philosophy and vision of St. Madeline Sophie and are guided by the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education.

The Academy is also a member of the National Catholic Education Association.

Goals and Criteria

As a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, the Academy commits itself to educate to the following goals:

• a personal and active faith in God

• a deep respect for intellectual values

• a social awareness which impels to action

• the building of community as a Christian value

• personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom

Curriculum

The Academy offers a strong, diversified curriculum. Primary students (grades Pre-K3 through 4th) study art studio, music, creative movement , and art appreciation in addition to the more traditional subjects.

Academic and Prep (grades 5 through 12) students participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities including athletics, student community governance, performance art and community service.

Private music lessons are available.

The Academy also hosts many international students in its boarding facilities has an English as a Second Language Program.

Equestrian Program

The Academy has an [http://www.ashequestrian.org equestrian program] with a barn available for students wishing to bring their own horses. The Academy is home to over twenty school-owned and privately owned horses. Sacred Heart Stables, center for the ASH equestrian studies division, features a fourteen stall barn in addition to the unique six stall barn that was built in 1886. The facility also includes two cement wash racks, two lighted, locking tack rooms, over twenty acres of fenced turn out, a round pen, and two fully enclosed riding arenas.

Facts

After Hurricane Katrina, it graciously hosted the satellite location for Academy of the Sacred Heart of the Rosary in New Orleans, and its students housed many of the dislocated students from New Orleans.

In 2006, it opened a boys division, St. John Berchmans School, for boys in grades PK3-2nd grade. In the 2007-2008 school year, grades 3-5 will be added. One grade will be added each year thereafter.

Also in 2006, the administration decided to rename the institution that runs both the Academy of the Sacred Heart and St. John Berchmans School. The new name is Schools of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau.

In 2006, Headmistress Mary Burns announced her retirement at the conclusion of the 2006-2007 school year. She was succeeded by Sister Claude DeMoustier.

Notable Alumnae/Former Students

- Lucille May Grace, first woman elected to statewide office in Louisiana

- Salma Hayek, actress (attended)

- Anne-Katherine Lene, Miss Louisiana USA

- Elizabeth McNulty, Miss Louisiana USA (attended)

- Chantille Boudousque- Actress

- Megan Dupre, contestant Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

References

External links

* [http://www.ashcoteau.org/site.php Academy of the Sacred Heart Website]
* [http://www.berchmans.org St.John Berchamns Website]