Sacred Heart Griffin High School - Dominicus Yearbook (Springfield, IL)

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Q U have ln 1875, a group of Dominican Sisters from St. Cather- ine, Kentucky, was sent to Jacksonville, Illinois, to set up a school and convent. However, the room for expansion soon became limited, so in 1892, a transfer was made to Springfield. Little did these sisters know that the founda- tion'they were about to initiate was to become one of the most recognized all-girls high school in the state of Illinois - Sacred Heart Adademy. After moving into he new convent, plans were made for a chapel to be built. Excavation began in 1901 and contin- ued until 1903. lt was a work of art and beauty and was crowned by a magnificent bell tower which remains the symbol of the Academy. Meanwhile, an Academy had been opened in the old Dubois home on the property and soon grew quite out of proportion. lt was decided that a new building should be erected. The original plans featured an L-shaped building adjoining the chapel, with a west arm facing Washington Street which wasato be for boarders. The Vicar General drew a line along the west arm stating that it could be added when necessary and if money was available. ln the meantime, the boarders could be accommodated in the north wing. Excavation began in 1908 and was completed in 1910, when the building was opened for school, complete with a beautiful campus, airy corridors, and wide spacious class- rooms. Boarders were accommodated on the third and fourth floors which served the boarders for over thirty years. However, as time went on, the Academy grew, and so did the number of boarders. More and more girls were being turned away year after year, and yet the room was still limited. So in 1948, a contract was signed and a separate building was constructed for the boarders. This building was called Siena Hall and served its purpose perfectly until its closing in 1977. Dominican Hall has been the last building to be erected at present. It was a much needed addition to the Acade- my -- an auditorium, a music department, and a gymnasi- um combined in one building. Work on the hall began in 1957, but because of a Laborer's strike, the building was not completed until the beginning of the 1959-1960 school year. ln spite of all the changes in the physical structure, the basic philosophy of Sacred Heart Academy has remained the same. the 1920 Prospectus stated that: ...Its I purpose is to provide for young ladies the advantages of an education: to fit them for their respective duties in life, to train them to the refine- ments of good societyg to instill in their youthminds the virtues of Christian womanhood and to teach them their duty as promoter of peach and order in the Christian home. Today in 1979 Academy the handbook states: Its lSacred Heart Academy'sJ education program, therefore, is to be consonant with the development of Christian values dedicated to the develop- ment of the total Christian women providing opportunities for independent thinking, acceptance or responsibility, insofar as these are 'consistent with TRUE freedom lt is clearly perceivable that there is no definite distinc- tion between the fifty-nine years that separate both phi- losophies. Both state clearly that the Academy's main goal is to teach young women Christian values, helping development of young Christian women in today's world, yet teaching the meaning of true freedom. The philos- ophy has been subject to ridicule over the decades for being old fashioned or too strict, but the Sisters have remained firm in their belief. As a result the Sisters are looked upon with a greater respect for holding to the values we so frequently see discarded these days. Like the bell tower, which has become the symbol of Sacred Heart Academy, this philosophy symbolizes the roots of the Academy's very foundation. Just as the Sisters have maintained this basic philos- ophy, so has the administration adhered to many of the rules and regulations of the school. On the other hand, some of the rules and regulations have been altered or completely done away with because of antiquity. Since the closing of Siena Hall, for instance, boarders' regula- tions are no longer in effect. Some rules, however, have been altered because of changing times, namely the dress codes. Though the original uniform has remained basically the same, with only a few changes, the gym uniform has been altered drastically. Around 1925, the gym uniform consisted of a white middy blouse, un- trimmed, black tie, black serge bloomers, teach two yards widej, and black ballet pumps. Obviously, the pre- sent basketball and volleyball teams would be very un- comfortable playing in this outfit. Fortunately, the Sisters of Sacred Heart Academy realize when fashions of the time change and modify the uniform whenever it is nec- essary. Perhaps the one thing that will never change at Sacred Heart Academy is the students. Through the years, the attitudes of the students toward the school have re- mained very similar. For instance, a small verse in Veri- tas , the school newspaper in the early days of the school, sums up the general feelings that every student has had at least once when studying for semester exams: Examination days are come, the saddest day of the year, Of wailing girls and empty brains, And faces dark and sear. Neither can students doubt the feeling that many a student has experienced as she climbed the stairs for the millionth time: Stairs! Stairs! That's all I can think of ... There must be ten flights of stairs up to that wardrobe on fourth floor. The Sisters still struck terror into the hearts of freshmen as one freshman stated in 1916, Sister is just lovely to us, but she looks like she can see clear through you! , and the study hall was looked on with love and affection, The study hall is used for just about every- thing you can imagine -- even to study. The spirit of the senior class has perhaps remained the most distinguishable of all the classes. Even in 1929, the seniors were humorously teasing the freshmen. The sen- iors know the true meaning of spirit, however, having walked the halls of Sacred Heart for four years. It is the backbone of the school and is what makes the school so special to the student body and faculty. lt is what makes a student stand a little straighter with dignity when they hear the name Sacred Heart Academy. Will Sacred Heart Academy ever diminish? No, Not as long as it remains in the hearts of the students who have attended it, who have walked through its halls, who have trudged up its stairways day after day, who have heard the sound of millions of footsteps rushing to get to their next class. These are the things that are not so easily forgotten. Dimmed lights, a murmurous whisper -- the symphony ceases. But never will it really end, for its melodies live in the hearts of SHA girls. Memory wields the baton as it quivers into silence. Written by Margaret Mucciante, Class of '79 I g

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H HELD LCDCDK FOR SI-IH The over seventy year old structure of Sacred Heart Academy will see the much needed addition of new facilities during the next 2 years, Presently, the space availalbe for academic purposes is less than 7096 of that required by state standards. The Acad- emy building alone can only supply 3396 of the space required for 750-800 students. Consequently, replacement and additions are planned to improve the school condi- tions. A new three level classroom building and gym will be constructed to the north and the east of the present Adacemy towards Lin- coln and Washington Streets, with the gym providing the connection between Domini- can Hall and the new classrooms. The chap- el and bell tower, the long established sym- bol of the Academy, will be linked to the new facilities at the upper level by an enclosed bridge and by an open court at the ground level. This court will be the center of the new campus. The major additions will be a resource center, laboratory spaces, modern class- rooms and a cafeteria. The present gym will be converted for Choral and classroom use. The classroom unit is scheduled for comple- tion by the 1980-1981 school year, with complete occupancy of all the new buildings expected in the fall of 1981. Qi- CI- t. ABA ,pw-, . '. -' i f ?-iff 1 2. it ---- 1 5 , ' , . r V' if .....,- 'T-'-'Jr' ' f Molly Lesh, Jane Willey, Kelly Forsyth, and Debbie Greiser take one last stand with the bell tower. 1,

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