St. Catherine's School (Richmond, Virginia)
St. Catherine's School is an independent Episcopal diocesan school in Richmond, Virginia, USA, for girls age 3 through grade 12. It is the oldest private, all-girls school in Richmond and the only independent all-girls school in Virginia for age 3 - grade 12. St. Catherine's is the sister school to St. Christopher's. The two schools have a Coordinate Program which includes joint events for the lower and middle Schools and shared classes in the upper school. St. Catherine's competes in 15 different sports as a member of the Virginia League of Independent Schools. The school holds a fund raising event on campus each spring called "Daisy Days". The event is open to the Richmond community. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2008.
St. Catherine's School | |
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Address | |
6001 Grove Avenue , 23226 United States | |
Coordinates | 37°34′16″N 77°31′17″W |
Information | |
Type | Private, day, college-prep |
Motto | Quæ Teneamus Perdimus, Quæ Demus Nobis Sunt (Latin) (What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own.) |
Denomination | Episcopal |
Established | 1890 |
Oversight | Episcopal Diocese of Virginia |
Head of school | Terrie Hale Scheckelhoff |
Teaching staff | 103.5 (on a FTE basis) |
Grades | Early Learners (age 3)–12 |
Gender | Girls |
Enrollment | 978, including 30 junior kindergarten (2016-17) |
Student to teacher ratio | 9.1 |
Color(s) | Gold and white |
Athletics conference | Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association |
Nickname | Saints |
Rival | The Collegiate School |
Yearbook | The Quair |
Website | www |
[1] | |
St. Catherine's School | |
Location | 6001 Grove Ave., Richmond, Virginia |
Area | 14.9 acres (6.0 ha) |
Built | 1917 |
Architect | Hobart Upjohn |
Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 07000400[2] |
VLR No. | 127-5886 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | May 04, 2007 |
Designated VLR | March 7, 2007[3] |
History
The school was founded in 1890 by Virginia Randolph Ellett, known as Miss Jennie, during the middle of Richmond's New South movement.
In 1917, the school was incorporated and moved to its present site in the Westhampton area of Richmond. It was sold to the Episcopal Church in 1920 and renamed for St. Catherine, the patron saint of young women, especially those undergoing education. Virginia Randolph Ellett, who had relinquished her headship some years before, continued to teach and live at the school until her death on 9 April 1939 in her home built on campus. She was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Since 1957, members of the graduated classes of St. Catherine's are invited to make their debut at the Bal du Bois, held annually at the Country Club of Virginia.[4]
Notable alumnae
- Catharine F. Easterly (1988), judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
- Molly Haskell (class of 1957), film critic, author[5][6]
- Tinsley Mortimer (b. 1975), American socialite
- Darley Newman - producer, TV host, writer (class of 1997)[7]
- Kristin Rossum (b. 1976), poisoner sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her husband
- Lee Smith (1963), author
References
- "Mission and Core Values". St. Catherine's.
- "St. Catherines School". National Centre for Education Statistics. US Department of Education. Retrieved 11 October 2016. - "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 13 March 2009.
- "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- "Debutante Society". WFAE.
- "Times-Dispatch: Bal du Bois this year features three co-leaders". St. Catherine's School. 31 May 2009. - "Christian Living, Learning Stressed at St. Catherine's". The Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 27, 1951. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- "Distinguished Awards: Distinguished Alumnae Award" at St. Catherine's School. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- Durden, Douglas (6 July 2007). "Horses+Travel='Equitrekking'". Richmond.com. Retrieved 10 September 2011.(Class of 1997)