Ramona Convent Secondary School

Ramona Convent Secondary School
Address
1701 West Ramona Road Alhambra, California, (Los Angeles County), 91803 United States
Coordinates	34°4′24″N 118°8′23.35″W
Information
Type	Private, All-Girls'
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	Joan of Arc
Established	1889
President	Sr. Kathleen Callaway
Principal	Tina Binocci
Grades	7-12
Enrollment	430 [1]  (2008-2009)
Campus size	19 acres (77,000 m2)
Color(s)	White and Gold
Team name	Tigers
Accreditation(s)	Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Newspaper	'Tiger Tribune'
Alumni	over 5,600 [2]
Dean of Studies	Mary Anne Barnheiser
V.P. Student Affairs	Carole Platz
Admissions Director	Mary Anne Barnheiser
Athletic Director	Deborah Drury
Activities Director	Katherine Mullaly
Website	http://www.ramonaconvent.org/

Ramona Convent Secondary School is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for girls grades 7-12. Established in 1889 by the Sisters of the Holy Names, Ramona is one of the oldest continually operating schools in the same location in California and has graduated over 8,300 students. Today, more than 5,600 alumnae located throughout the world serve their communities both professionally and personally. Ramona is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and was a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence recipient in 1993 and 1998. 99-100% of Ramona graduates enter college directly after graduation.

Mission statement

Ramona's mission as a Catholic school sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary is to provide an educational program that results in graduates who are well-rounded young women characterized by academic excellence, spiritual depth, moral strength, and personal grace, open to the wisdom of other cultures and traditions, and prepared for leadership in the twenty-first century.

High School Program

Ramona offers a wide variety of activities to its students - academic, service, and cultural. The challenging academic program includes 25 Honors and Advanced Placement classes. Its campus ministry involves the students in social action through Christian service to the community. The school offers a wide-range of co-curricular activities and sports. Ramona high school students compete in eight sports: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming,tennis, track & field, tennis and volleyball, in the Sunshine League of the CIF, under the California Interscholastic Federation and the Catholic Athletic Association.

Junior High Program

Ramona Convent Preparatory School offers an uncommonly known benefit in that it provides an exceptional 7th and 8th grade program. Younger girls benefit by entering into a challenging curriculum that especially prepares her for high school. The junior high features small class sizes, and the early opportunity for advanced placement in foreign languages and mathematics for qualified students. Junior high students may participate in three sports.

History

Historical Ramona Convent Secondary School's first building was dedicated at Ramona Acres, on January 29, 1890 on the expansive property that was later called Shorb, and is now part of the City of Alhambra. The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary came from Oakland at the request of several prominent San Gabriel Valley families interested in the Catholic education of their daughters. The James de Barth Shorb Family donated fifteen of the thirty-one and a half acres of the original property. The first building to be built was a four-story red brick building on the knoll that dominated the Convent grounds. The dedication ceremony was presided over by the Right Reverend Bishop Mora of Los Angeles on January 29, 1890. The first commencement exercises were held on June 23, 1891. The groundbreaking ceremony for the major part of the school, took place April 18, 1910. Three years later the new chapel was dedicated by the Right Reverend Bishop Conaty of Los Angeles. In the years that followed, several additions were made, including the boarding school housing, gymnasium, Junior Living Room, swimming pool, English Wing, Science Building, Sister's Residence and the stables. In 1939, 3 acres (12,000 m²) were sold to the State of California for the San Bernardino, Interstate 10 Freeway.

In 1967 a Master building plan was developed and implemented, first adding the library with computer and language labs in 1967. Approximately four acres of the southwestern section of Ramona's property were sold In 1979 in order to help fund further implementation of the Master Plan. Additions to the Plan included the 16-classroom Dufresne Building and the multi-purpose gymnasium. Those buildings were dedicated in February 1981. Because of extensive damage caused by the October 1, 1987, Whittier Narrows earthquake, the main buildings built between 1889-1912 were soon demolished. A building to house administrative offices, kitchen and dining facilities, and a chapel was dedicated on November 12, 1989, the beginning of Ramona's second century of excellence. Ramona received Blue Ribbon School of Excellence status from the U.S. Department of Education in 1983 and again in 1998.

Co-Curricular activities

Ramona offers an extensive variety of co-curricular activities to its students. . Ramona’s Campus Ministry involves the students in social action through Christian service to the greater community. Options for student travel led by teachers during the last three years have been London/Dublin, Italy, Paris/Madrid, and Quebec. In 2007-2008 our students traveled to Italy/Sicily and Japan. Students are encouraged to audition and perform in Ramona’s productions. The music department presents two choral concerts and offers a spring concert tour. Other clubs include Student Council and the American Technology Honors Society. Ramona’s Robotics team, sponsored by the Margaret Hall Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and FSC International, just competed in its sixth FIRST Robotics Competition at the San Diego Regional Competition. Ramona students compete in eight sports in the Sunshine League of the CIF.

Student Learning Expectations

A Ramona graduate is . . .

A woman of faith who can

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Catholic faith and heritage.
2. Explain her own spirituality while respecting other belief systems.
3. Share her time and talents with others through service.
4. Identify and act against injustice and prejudice.
5. Participate willingly in the development of her spiritual life.
6. Apply moral and ethical values to decision making.

A well-rounded person who can

1. Demonstrate behaviors that promote physical and emotional well-being.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of personal responsibility in the global community.
3. Demonstrate the ability and confidence to learn independently.
4. Demonstrate personal integrity.

A critical thinker who can

1. Identify, evaluate, organize, and synthesize information.
2. Transfer learned skills and knowledge to new situations.
3. Question assumptions, identify biases, support assertions, make references, and make predictions.
4. Develop and evaluate hypotheses.
5. Develop solutions to problems.

A communicator who can

1. Read, write, listen and speak reflectively and critically.
2. Present work using a variety of technologies and media.
3. Contribute effectively in collaborative situations.
4. Express ideas in a variety of contexts with poise, a command of language, a clear organization of ideas, and a sense of appropriateness to audience, purpose, and context.

A leader who can

1. Develop self-discipline and accept responsibility.
2. Resolve conflicts constructively.
3. Show respect and acceptance of individual differences.
4. Give service to improve the lives of others.
5. Initiate new ideas and work cooperatively to accomplish a goal.

2008 Demographics

Ethnic enrollment (approx.): 70.0% Hispanic, 15.0% Asian, 4.0% Non-Hispanic Caucasian, 10.0% Multi-Ethnic, 1.0% African-American. Religious Affiliation: 88.0% Catholic, 12.0% other faiths

Notable alumnae

• Lucille Roybal-Allard, Member of Congress
• Marisa Ramirez - Actress^{[citation needed]}
• Loretta Young, Actress

See also

• Category:Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

External links

• Ramona Convent Secondary School Website