Maria High School (Chicago, Illinois)
| Maria High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
6727 South California Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60629 United States |
|
| Coordinates | 41°46′15″N 87°41′33″W / 41.77083°N 87.69250°WCoordinates: 41°46′15″N 87°41′33″W / 41.77083°N 87.69250°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, All-Girls |
| Motto | Maria Women Make a Difference in the World. |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1911 |
| Opened | 1952 (current building) |
| Closed | 2013 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Color(s) | Blue and Gold |
| Athletics conference | Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Newspaper | Maria Herald |
| Website | www.mariakupascenter.com |
Maria High School was a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Chicago, Illinois. Its building survives and is located near Marquette Park and Holy Cross Hospital, within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.
The school's predecessor, St. Casimir Academy, was established in the Marquette Park area of Chicago, Illinois, in 1911 by the Sisters of Saint Casimir. Due to increased demand, a bigger but adjacent school was built and opened in 1952 as Maria High School.
Maria Kaupas, who would be the future Mother Maria (foundress of the order of the Sisters of St. Casimir), was born on January 6, 1880, in Lithuania. At the age of 17 she immigrated to Pennsylvania and worked as a housekeeper and then as a teacher of religion. In 1907, she founded the Sisters of St. Casimir in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Later, the order purchased about ten acres of prairie land at Marquette Road and Rockwell Avenue in Chicago. The sisters arranged everything for the construction of a school, St. Casemir Academy, which was completed in 1911 and opened with 21 students. Increased demand from prospective students led to the building of a modern high school, adjacent to the Academy, in 1952. It was named Maria High School both for their foundress Mother Maria and the Blessed Mother. Maria High School officially opened on September 8, 1952. About 14,000 young women graduated from the school throughout its years of operation.
Students at Maria High School were required to wear uniforms.
Starting from the early 1950s, the entire student body wore a uniform consisting of a navy blue A-line skirt with a "bolero" jacket (collarless, with long sleeves, and with a hook only at the neck). The blouse was white cotton with short sleeves and a "Peter Pan" collar (rounded). Navy blue head pieces called "beanies" (round skull cap) were worn when attending Mass. In the late 1950s, students were allowed to wear hosiery but it had to be plain (no black, no grey, no white). The skirt and bolero were made of a wool-type material and could not be laundered. Both items had to always be dry cleaned.
For gym classes, students changed into a one-piece turquoise blue jump suit that came to mid-thigh and had elastic around each leg. It had to be buttoned-up and there was a fabric belt attached. White socks and white gym shoes were required.
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