Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School (Wyandotte, Michigan)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School Matki Bożej Szkaplerznej Średnia Szkoła
Address
2609 Tenth Street Wyandotte, Michigan, (Wayne County), 48192  United States
Coordinates	42°12′25″N 83°9′52″W / 42.20694°N 83.16444°W / 42.20694; -83.16444Coordinates: 42°12′25″N 83°9′52″W / 42.20694°N 83.16444°W / 42.20694; -83.16444
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1928
Founder	Rev. Father Peter Kruszka
Status	Closed
Closed	June 2011
Grades	9–12
Color(s)	Red and White
Athletics conference	Catholic High School League
Team name	Comets
Affiliation	Felician Sisters

Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, closed 2011, was the last remaining private, Roman Catholic high school in Wyandotte, Michigan. It was closed as the last Polish-American Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

History

In September 1928, Father Kruszka realized a long cherished dream and brought into existence the Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School. The Felician Sisters instructed the students in the newly built two-story structure annex equipped with facilities for all the departments. Sister Mary Simplicia worked as a pioneer to establish the school along with Father Kruszka. The school opened with Sister Mary Bernadette as first principal (1928 to 1931), with an enrollment of 26 students. When the first class graduated the enrollment reached 127 students.

Curriculum in the early years consisted of required subjects only. As the enrollment increased many classes were added in general and vocational subjects. As the school grew, the educators had striven for state accreditation. In 1933, Our Lady of Mount Carmel passed its examination and received the University of Michigan accreditation. With the increase of students came the initiation of four sports: basketball, boys and girls, football, baseball, and rowing. Trophies from all sports dating back to the early 1940s are kept safe inside the school.

In 1943, Father Krych initiated the idea of a school newspaper, the “Carmonte.” Many editors, staff and moderators have strived to incorporate the high ideals of good journalism. In 1948, the first yearbook, the “Carmion” was published. In 1971, another hardcover yearbook was published entitled Terminus.

In 1940, Sister Mary Emmanuel initiated the first Our Lady of Mount Carmel band. Sister Mary Paulette directed the band along with Mr. E. Jensen as band instructor. Band awards were won by Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the first time in Wyandotte, July 4, 1948. Prizes for best music, best drum major, best drilled band and best dressed band amounted to $225.00. In 1968, Mount Carmel’s marching band ceased to exist, but the orchestra lingered on until 1971.

In addition to its intellectual pursuits, the school offers extracurricular activities in the form of clubs. Teachers, artists and many other vocational fields have the opportunity to express themselves in club activities. Those with acting talents performed in dramas throughout Mount Carmel’s history. In 1945, Mount Carmel produced its first operetta “Hats Off.”

Notes and references