Mount Saint Joseph Academy (Flourtown, Pennsylvania)

Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Address
120 West Wissahickon Avenue Flourtown, Pennsylvania, (Montgomery County), 19031  United States
Coordinates	40°5′43″N 75°13′2″W / 40.09528°N 75.21722°W / 40.09528; -75.21722Coordinates: 40°5′43″N 75°13′2″W / 40.09528°N 75.21722°W / 40.09528; -75.21722
Information
Type	Private, All-Female
Motto	Spes Messis In Semine (The Hope Of The Harvest Is In The Seed)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1858
Founder	Sisters of Saint Joseph
President	Sr. Kathleen Brabson
Principal	Judith A. Caviston,Ed.D
Grades	9-12
Color(s)	Purple, White and Gold
Team name	Magic
Rival	Gwynedd Mercy Academy
Accreditation(s)	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
Publication	The Muse (literary & art magazine)
Newspaper	'The Campanile'
Yearbook	'Sheaf'
Dean of Studies	Eileen Wilkinson
Dean of Student Affairs	Margaret Green
Admissions Director	Carol Finney
Athletic Director	Janet Columbro
Website	www.msjacad.org

Mount Saint Joseph Academy, commonly called The Mount, in Flourtown, Pennsylvania is a Philadelphia-area all-female, catholic, college preparatory school. It was founded in 1858 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The academy was originally located in Philadelphia on the grounds of what is now Chestnut Hill College. Originally a boarding school, the academy began accepting day students in 1911. In 1928, this all girls high school was the first Catholic school to be approved by the Middle States Association accrediting agency. In response to the growth of the school and evolving educational needs, the Mount moved in 1961 to its present site, just outside the community of Chestnut Hill near Philadelphia. Since relocation to the new campus, the school has grown significantly.

Academic Program

Academic excellence is fostered at the Mount through the fusion of a challenging and supportive academic program and an extensive extracurricular program which extends beyond the parameters of school life. As a college preparatory school, the Mount prepares young women to realize their fullest potential spiritually, academically and socially.

The Mount adopted intensive (block) scheduling. Students now take three or four subjects per term (instead of six or seven) for a total of seven or eight credits per school year. Each class period is 80 minutes long and traditional year-long courses last for 16 weeks (September to January or January to June).

Mission and Beliefs

As a college preparatory school, Mount Saint Joseph Academy prepares young women to realize their fullest potential. The Mount is imbued with a spirit of unity and reconciliation, the special charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Dedicated faculty are committed to a holistic education enriched by the values of the Catholic church.

Within an environment that fosters excellence tempered by gentleness, individual students are recognized and valued. Academically challenging programs, which are teacher-directed and student-centered, ensure a well-rounded education with an emphasis on social responsibility.

Committed to preparing women for leadership roles, Mount Saint Joseph Academy enables students to meet the moral and ethical challenges of an ever-changing society and a technological future. Trusting in the wisdom echoed by an early Constitution of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the mission asserts that “On the education of women largely depends the future of society.”

Premised on the tenet that “on the education of women largely depends the future of society” (Constitution of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Rpt. in “Mount Saint Joseph Academy Mission Statement”) We believe that

  1. Respect for self and others is at the heart of “unity and reconciliation” (“Mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph”);
  2. Single-sex learning environments cultivate strong women leaders, independent in mind and spirit, socially responsible, and intellectually and personally courageous;
  3. This school community, impelled by Christian values, emboldens young women with passion, confidence, and competence to found a future committed to justice and peace;
  4. Nurturance of the deep, mature faith and prayer life of individuals spiritually energizes and enriches the entire community;
  5. Gospel values enlighten developing individual consciences that inform moral and ethical life decisions;
  6. The desire to respond actively to the needs of the “the dear neighbor” (Sisters of Saint Joseph Documents) empowers each student to assume her responsibilities as a citizen of a global community;
  7. Education demands the encouragement of intellectual curiosity and creative problem-solving;
  8. Comprehensive, challenging curricula enable each student to realize her fullest academic potential;
  9. Innovative, technologically-rich, as well as traditional instructional strategies, maximize the potential academic growth of each student;
 10. Gentleness with self and others must temper the drive for excellence.

Notable Alumnae

Rose Hemingway (née Szczesniak)- performer starring in the 2011 Broadway musical revival, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" opposite Daniel Radcliffe.

Jennifer Carroll - Chef de Cuisine at 10 Arts by Eric Ripert in Philadelphia, appearance on the 2009 hit reality television show, "Top Chef."

Kate McCauley- actor and mother of actor Anne Hathaway

The Mount Musicals

Besides the various talent shows, concerts and events scattered across the school year, The Mount puts on one musical a year in the fall semester. The most recent shows were Fame (2011), Hairsrpay (2010), Anything Goes (2009), and 42nd Street (2008). The shows are directed by Maggie and Fran Doyle, choreographed by Kathleen Ochs, and musically directed by Don Holdren.

References

1. ^ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". http://www.css-msa.org/search.php/. Retrieved 2009-05-26. 

External links

• Mount Saint Joseph Academy official website
• Official Alumnae website of Mount Saint Joseph Academy