West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School - Gleam Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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-F4-:E et.-Earn 193 l FRENC A Sir:-xi Faom f.Ulil'R de Mi-Rr HEN West Catholic opened its portals in 1927, its faculty included two Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, whose Ivlother House in Belgium was founded hy Blessed julie Billiart. Since Septemher, 19317, the French Depart' ment has heen under the direction of the Sisters of Notre Dame, whose faculty now numhers seven. This department formerly offered French courses only in the Lipper classes1 however, four years ago le francais hecame a Freshman clec' tive. To supplement the work of the classroom. the Sisters conduct a Cercle Francais, which provides opportunity for the older students to use in conversation their knowledge of the language. A special feature of this cluh is the annual French play, this year Coeur dc Mere, In addition to this, thc Sisters of Notre Dame arc in charge of the lvlission Group division of Catholic Action. Themselves fired with zeal to spread the Kingdom of Christ. they have communicated the fire to the student hody, form' ing a very active missionary unit, ANNA MrtDoNoia:ii, '35. 'Ten 5

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'T-I-I-E SLE-QFYN 1935 USIC in West Catholic is taught and supervised by three Sisters of St. joseph, whose work is grouped under two general classifications: Curricular and extraf curricular. For Sophomores, the former entails two periods a week of theory of music, for Seniors and Freshmen, assembly singing. The Senior Class is fostered as a unit for choral. Because of their numbers, the Freshmen pre- sented some difhculties in the early part of the year, but each problem child is now met twice a week at a study period assigned especially for music. The extrafcur' ricular work embraces the Glee Club, Orchestra, and Band, the members of which receive individual and group instrucf tions from the most competent professional teachers. The direction of the dramatic activities is delegated to Miss Margaret Mary Kearney, who as a coach has carried through nearly all ventures in this Field during the school's short history. ln addition to this, Miss Kearney conducts a Public Speaking Class where the students pursue the charm that lies in a cultured voice. Thus in classroom teaching of English and music and in multifarious student activities, the Sisters of Saint joseph serve West Catholic. GENEVIEVE MYRTETUS, '35. Sisrnrt SISTER M. CLARIQ IMMACVLATIQ M. FREDRICA SISTER Miss M. RITA CONSILH MARQARET M. KEARNEY Nine M U S I C DEPARTMENT

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'T'-4-I-E SL.-E-QFYW 193 PLACE full of sweet dreams and quiet breathing is the Lilwrary under the direction of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Books of all types, from the staid tomes of science and economics to the exhilarating volumes of travel and adventure, fill the wellfstocked shelves of the Lilirary. His' tory, religion, art. each has its own particular corner. The lwest current magazines, pamphlets, and literature of every description may lie had for the asking. The Lilirary hoasts also an extensive reference collection, numerous sets of encyelopediae and rapidly growing lwaekfnumlwer liles. Dependent at lirst on an occasional Book Drive and individual generosity, the Lilwrary, since 1930, has heen maintained lay a special student fund. Miss Helen L. Lowf rey, the lilwrarian, a graduate of this school and a certiiied lilwrarian, is always more than willing to procure for the memlwers of the faculty or student lwody any desired hook- whethcr it he the required reading or the latest in modern fiction. M,-un' E. T. MlTLil7W,'XN, '35. Eleven RY ii, ' ul. vvlli Bkowsu IN RICH Pasrrmes