Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School (Wyandotte, Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, closed 2011, was the last remaining private
, Roman Catholic high school
in Wyandotte, Michigan
. It was closed as the last Polish-American Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
.
Curriculum in the early years consisted of required subjects only. As the enrollment increased many classes were added in general and vocational subjects. As the school grew, the educators had striven for state accreditation. In 1933, Our Lady of Mount Carmel passed its examination and received the University of Michigan accreditation. With the increase of students came the initiation of four sports: basketball, boys and girls, football, baseball, and rowing. Trophies from all sports dating back to the early 1940s are kept safe inside the school.
In 1943, Father Krych initiated the idea of a school newspaper, the “Carmonte.” Many editors, staff and moderators have strived to incorporate the high ideals of good journalism. In 1948, the first yearbook, the “Carmion” was published. In 1971, another hardcover yearbook was published entitled Terminus.
In 1940, Sister Mary Emmanuel initiated the first Our Lady of Mount Carmel band. Sister Mary Paulette directed the band along with Mr. E. Jensen as band instructor. Band awards were won by Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the first time in Wyandotte, July 4, 1948. Prizes for best music, best drum major, best drilled band and best dressed band amounted to $225.00. In 1968, Mount Carmel’s marching band ceased to exist, but the orchestra lingered on until 1971.
In addition to its intellectual pursuits, the school offers extracurricular activities in the form of clubs. Teachers, artists and many other vocational fields have the opportunity to express themselves in club activities. Those with acting talents performed in dramas throughout Mount Carmel’s history. In 1945, Mount Carmel produced its first operetta “Hats Off.”
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Roman Catholic high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
. It was closed as the last Polish-American Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
.
History
In September 1928, Father Kruszka realized a long cherished dream and brought into existence the Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School. The Felician Sisters instructed the students in the newly built two-story structure annex equipped with facilities for all the departments. Sister Mary Simplicia worked as a pioneer to establish the school along with Father Kruszka. The school opened with Sister Mary Bernadette as first principal (1928 to 1931), with an enrollment of 26 students. When the first class graduated the enrollment reached 127 students.Curriculum in the early years consisted of required subjects only. As the enrollment increased many classes were added in general and vocational subjects. As the school grew, the educators had striven for state accreditation. In 1933, Our Lady of Mount Carmel passed its examination and received the University of Michigan accreditation. With the increase of students came the initiation of four sports: basketball, boys and girls, football, baseball, and rowing. Trophies from all sports dating back to the early 1940s are kept safe inside the school.
In 1943, Father Krych initiated the idea of a school newspaper, the “Carmonte.” Many editors, staff and moderators have strived to incorporate the high ideals of good journalism. In 1948, the first yearbook, the “Carmion” was published. In 1971, another hardcover yearbook was published entitled Terminus.
In 1940, Sister Mary Emmanuel initiated the first Our Lady of Mount Carmel band. Sister Mary Paulette directed the band along with Mr. E. Jensen as band instructor. Band awards were won by Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the first time in Wyandotte, July 4, 1948. Prizes for best music, best drum major, best drilled band and best dressed band amounted to $225.00. In 1968, Mount Carmel’s marching band ceased to exist, but the orchestra lingered on until 1971.
In addition to its intellectual pursuits, the school offers extracurricular activities in the form of clubs. Teachers, artists and many other vocational fields have the opportunity to express themselves in club activities. Those with acting talents performed in dramas throughout Mount Carmel’s history. In 1945, Mount Carmel produced its first operetta “Hats Off.”