Schools of the Sacred Heart is a complex of two Roman Catholic single-sex private schools for grades Pre-Kindergarten-3 through grade twelve in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. The Academy of the Sacred Heart, founded in 1821, is the girls' school, with residential accommodations for students in grades nine through twelve. It is operated independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. Its brother school is Berchmans Academy for boys, founded in 2006.
History
The Academy was established in 1821 and is the second oldest institution of learning west of the Mississippi. It is the oldest, continually running member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the world. It is also the oldest independent school in the Acadiana region. Founded under the direction of Saint Philippine Duchesne, the Academy has remained in continuous operation through fire, epidemics, and war. Although thousands of Federal troops were encamped in the fields surrounding the Academy during the Civil War, the school was not touched. Union General Nathaniel Banks had a daughter in a school in New York run by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, and he was asked to look after the Grand Coteau sisters and their students. On campus is a small chapel honoring St. John Berchmans, a Jesuit. St. John Berchmans appeared to a novice, Mary Wilson and cured her of a fatal illness. This miracle eventually led to the canonization of John Berchmans. It is the only shrine at the exact location of a confirmed miracle in the United States.
As a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, the Academy commits itself to educate to the following 5 goals: • a personal and active faith in God • a deep respect for intellectual values • a social awareness which impels to action • the building of community as a Christian value • personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom
Curriculum
The Academy offers a strong, diversified curriculum. Lower School students study art studio, music, guidance, and art appreciation in addition to the more traditional subjects. The Lower School is divided into Primary and Prep. Upper School students participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities including athletics, student community governance, performance art, clubs and community service. Private music lessons are available. The Academy also hosts many international students in its boarding facilities and has an English as a Second Language Program.
Notable alumni
Lucille May Grace, Louisiana Register of the State Lands, 1931-1952; 1956-1957
Salma Hayek, actress
Equestrian program
The Academy has an equestrian program with a barn available for students wishing to bring their own horses. The Academy is home to over thirty school-owned and privately owned horses. Sacred Heart Stables, center for the SSH equestrian studies division, features a fourteen stall barn in addition to the unique six stall barn that was built in 1886. The facility also includes two cement wash racks, two lighted, locking tack rooms, over of fenced turn out, and three fully enclosed riding arenas.
Facts
After Hurricane Katrina, it hosted the satellite location for Academy of the Sacred Heart of the Rosary in New Orleans, and its students housed many of the dislocated students from New Orleans. In 2006, it opened a boys division, Berchmans Academy, for boys in grades PK3-2nd grade. Berchmans Academy currently accommodates boys in PK3 - 12th grade. In 2006, the administration decided to rename the institution that runs both the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Berchmans Academy. The new name is Schools of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau. In 2006, Headmistress Mary Burns announced her retirement at the conclusion of the 2006-2007 school year. She was temporarily succeeded by Sister Claude DeMoustier, who was then succeeded by Sister Lynne Lieux in 2008. In 2016, Dr. Yvonne Sandoz Adler, Ph.D. became the new Head of School.
