Our Lady of Guadalupe School (Houston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Guadalupe School |
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OLG classroom building
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| Address | |
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2405 Navigation Blvd
, 77003
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| Coordinates | 29°45′34″N 95°20′39″W / 29.7595°N 95.3441°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | A wealth of spirit and tradition |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | September 8, 1912 |
| Oversight | Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston |
| Principal | Mrs. Irazema Ortiz |
| Chaplain | Fr. Day Nguyen |
| Grades | PK3–8 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Maroon |
| Mascot | Eagles |
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School (which is Escuela de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Spanish) is a Catholic school for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It is located in the Second Ward area of Houston, Texas. This school is part of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and is overseen by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School is special because it is the oldest Catholic elementary school in Houston that has been open continuously. The school's church community is one of the less wealthy Catholic parishes in the greater Houston area.
Contents
School History: A Century of Learning
The school first opened its doors on September 8, 1912. This was just one month after the church held its very first Mass. The school was started by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. However, for most of its history, the Sisters of Divine Providence from Texas managed the school.
The Sisters first traveled to OLG School from another school nearby. They were involved with OLG School for 87 years! At least one Sister usually helped lead the religious education programs. In its first school year (1912–1913), only 30 students attended.
Early Years and Growth
The school was originally on the lower floor of the church building, which had two stories. In 1915, Sister Mary Benitia Vermeersch, who was from Belgium, started running the school. At that time, there were 85 students. She was chosen because she understood Mexican culture and spoke Spanish well.
By 1935, the school had grown to 428 students. Sister Benitia, as a teacher and principal, really encouraged Mexican American families to send their children to Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Because of her efforts, more and more students joined the school.
After a new church building opened in 1923, the old church building was changed. It became entirely used for the school and for community events. The school's current building, which was built to be fire-resistant, opened in 1948. The church's pastor, Father Agapito Santos, oversaw the building of this two-story school. He also supervised the construction of the school's gymnasium in 1952.
New Leadership and Improvements
After the Sisters of Divine Providence left the school, the Bishop of Galveston-Houston asked the Dominican Sisters to manage the school for a short time. They ran the school for five years. During this time, members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart from Duchesne Academy volunteered to teach at OLG. By 1983, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart began to manage the school permanently.
In 1985, the school bought air conditioning units for its classrooms. In 1995, the gymnasium was updated, and a cafeteria was added there. Later, a playground was built next to the school building.
About 20 years ago, the school got a piece of land that was covered in plants. Parents and friends of OLG cleared this land so the students could use it. This area is now called Eagle Field. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston also allowed the school to use a house that Catholic Charities had used before. The art and music classes at OLG moved into this house. A few years ago, the school added a covered walkway. This helps people move between buildings without getting wet when the weather is bad.
In 2010, the archdiocese started a plan to help OLG and twelve other Catholic schools in the city stay open. The school planned to finish installing a new roof and sealing the building in the summer of 2012. Our Lady of Guadalupe School has stayed open even when other Catholic schools in the area closed because they didn't have enough students. As of 2012, many elementary school classes at OLG had waiting lists, meaning more students wanted to join than there were spots!
What Students Learn
Historically, students at OLG learned English, history, math, geography, and the Roman Catholic religion. English has always been the main language used for teaching.
Who Attends OLG School
In 2010, the school had 240 students. Half of these students received financial help to attend. The students came from many different areas, covering 46 different ZIP codes across greater Houston. About one-third of the students lived within the school's church parish. Many other students had family members who had also attended the school. By 2012, OLG School had over 500 students, coming from 30 other ZIP codes in the greater Houston area.
Paying for School
In 2010, the cost to attend was about $3,030 per year. Families with more than one child received discounts. This cost was still difficult for many families to afford. At that time, Catholic schools in Houston generally spent about $5,800 per child. Half of OLG's 240 students received financial aid to help them attend. For the 2012–2013 school year, tuition was $3,420 per year for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. For first-time students in grades 1-8, it was $3,265 per year. For second and later children from the same family in grades 1-8, it was $2,125 per year, plus other fees.
Historically, the school raised money through events like bazaars, beauty queen pageants, and tamale sales, which were organized by parents. These types of fundraisers are still an important way the school gets financial support. In 2010, the school raised $45,000 each year from its raffles and festivals. The Priests of the Sacred Heart donate $55,000 to the school every year. St. Martha's Catholic Church in Kingwood, Houston, also gives some money to OLG School each year. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston provides $130,000 in tuition help to OLG students every year. Each family at OLG is asked to volunteer 20 hours at the school each year.
When the school first started, students did not have to pay tuition. The school began charging tuition in the 1934–1935 school year. It was a small amount, about 25 to 50 cents per student.
School Rules and Expectations
In the early 1900s, the Sisters who ran the school were known for being strict. They wanted students to do well and stay out of trouble. For example, the school did not allow certain hairstyles. Students with those hairstyles were sent home and could not return until their hair was cut.
One former student, Vincent Santiago, remembered that the Sisters encouraged students to go to high school and learn as much as they could. He also recalled that the school had a rule about speaking English. The Sisters would say, "When you are in school, speak English. When you are out of school, speak Spanish."
See also
In Spanish: Escuela Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Houston) para niños
