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 (Spanish: Escuela de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a special K-8 school located in the Second Ward area of Houston, Texas. It is connected to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
This school is the oldest Catholic elementary school in Houston that has been open continuously since it started. Even though its church parish was one of the less wealthy Catholic parishes in Greater Houston in 2010, the school has continued to thrive.
Contents
School History and Growth
The school first opened its doors on September 8, 1912. This was just one month after the church held its very first Mass (a Catholic worship service). The school was founded by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. However, for most of its history, the Sisters of Divine Providence from Texas ran the school.
Early Years and Leadership
The Sisters of Divine Providence traveled to OLG School from another school they managed. They worked at OLG School for 87 years. At least one Sister from this group usually served as the school's director of religious education. In its first school year (1912–13), only 30 students attended the school.
The school was originally on the lower floor of the two-story church building. In 1915, Sister Mary Benitia Vermeersch, who was born in Belgium, started working at the school. At that time, 85 students were enrolled. She was chosen because she understood Mexican culture and spoke Spanish well.
Growing Student Numbers
By 1935, the school had grown to 428 students. Natalie Garza, who wrote about the history of Mexican Catholicism in Houston, noted that Sister Benitia strongly encouraged Mexican American families to send their children to Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Because of her efforts, more students joined the school.
After a new church building opened in 1923, the old church building was updated. It then became entirely used for the school and for community activities. The current school building, which was built to be fire-resistant, opened in 1948. The church's pastor, the Rev. 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, John Louis Morkovsky, asked the Dominican Sisters to manage the school temporarily. They ran the school for five years. During this time, members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart (R.S.C.J.) from Duchesne Academy volunteered to teach at OLG. Later, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart became full-time teachers and began managing the school permanently in 1983.
In 1985, the school bought and installed air conditioning units in all the classrooms. In 1995, the gymnasium was renovated, and a cafeteria was added there. The school also built a playground next to the main building.
Campus Expansion and Modernization
In the 20 years before 2012, the school acquired a piece of land that was covered in overgrown plants. Parents and friends of OLG worked together to clear this land. Now, it's known as Eagle Field and is used by the students. Later, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston allowed the school to use a house that Catholic Charities had used before. The art and music classes were then moved into this house. Four years before 2012, the school also opened a covered walkway. This walkway helps people move between buildings without getting wet during bad weather.
In 2010, the archdiocese started a special effort to help OLG and twelve other Catholic schools in the city. This was to make sure they could stay open. In the summer of 2012, the school planned to finish installing a new roof and sealing the school building to protect it.
OLG has stayed open even when other Catholic schools nearby 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 available.
Learning at OLG School
Curriculum and Subjects
Historically, students at OLG learned important subjects like the English language, history, arithmetic (math), geography, and the Roman Catholic religion. The main language used for teaching in the school has always been English.
Student Community
As of 2010, the school had 240 students. Half of these students received financial help to attend. In 2010, students came from 46 different ZIP codes across Greater Houston. About one-third of the students lived within the school's church parish area. Many other students had family members who had also attended the school. By 2012, OLG School had over 500 students, coming from 30 different ZIP codes in Greater Houston.
Tuition and Financial Support
In 2010, the tuition was about $3,030 per year. The school offered discounts if more than one child from the same family attended. 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 2012–13 school year, tuition was $3,420 per year for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. For first-time grade school students, it was $3,265 per year, and for second or more children from the same family, it was $2,125 per year. Other fees also applied.
Historically, the school raised money through events like bazaars, beauty queen pageants, and tamale sales, which were organized by parents. This type of fundraising by the school community is still very important for the school's finances. In 2010, the school raised $45,000 each year from its raffles and festivals. The Priests of the Sacred Heart also 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 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston provides $130,000 in tuition help to OLG students annually. Every family at OLG is asked to volunteer 20 hours at the school each year.
When the school first started, it did not charge any tuition. The school began charging tuition in the 1934–35 school year, with a small fee of $.25 to $.50 per student. Natalie Garza described this tuition as "minimal."
Student Conduct and Learning
In the early 20th century, the Sisters who ran the school were known for being strict. They wanted to make sure students were ready for the future. For example, they encouraged students to go to high school and learn as much as possible. They also wanted students to stay on the right path and avoid trouble.
One rule at the school was about language. Students were encouraged to speak English while at school. This rule was put in place to help students become very good at English, which was important for getting jobs and succeeding later in life. Students were free to speak Spanish when they were outside of school.
See also
In Spanish: Escuela Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Houston) para niños
