NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL, MOYLAN ROSE VALLEY

•1902 – history of Moylan begins with purchase of property as a summer residence for Sisters and pupils of Rittenhouse Square. It was a private dwelling with nine acres of lawn.

•1907 – additions to the building, including the first chapel dedicated to Julie

•Sisters from the Square spent the summers here; boarders came with five sisters over the weekends during the school year

•1925 Boarding school erected on the property (Architect – Emile Perrot, father of one of the sisters.)

•1926 - school in Moylan established as a boarding school for girls. Cardinal Dougherty present for laying of corner stone.

•Financial problems led to negotiations with the diocese for school to become an archdiocesan high school.  Diocese accepted arrangement whereby school would continue to be administered by the Sisters.

•For a year (1935/36), two separate schools were maintained: the Academy with 11 boarders and 26 day students; and the diocesan high school with 295 students.

•1936 – high school accredited by State of Pennsylvania.

•June 1936 – decision to close the Academy at Moylan

•By 1941, almost one thousand students and 23 sisters on the faculty.

•By 1954 there were over 1400 students in 30 classrooms

•From 1956 to 1960 – some students were taught in the Chester Annex – unused rooms at St. James High School for boys.

•1959 – two story additional wing built at Moylan

•It became an archdiocesan school in 1935.

•1959 – new wing added because of number of students; also 20 private “cells” for the Sisters who had been living in a dormitory setting

•1969 – Sr. M. Shawn Scanlan appointed principal

•In 1970 during province Assessment of works, Moylan seen as area of critical need and priority given to operating the school

•For school year 71/72, many new programs introduced and a more beneficial contractual arrangement made with Archdiocese

•36 Sisters serving on the faculty with more manageable student body of 970.

•Variety of circumstance, e.g. diocesan assignment of parishes to other schools; very innovated but costly program, and unionization of lay faculty led to significant financial difficulties.

•By 1977, enrollment in serious decline; diocese indicates there would be question of school continuing if below 600.

•December 1980, diocese decides NOT to renew support for Notre Dame high school as diocesan school;  cost per pupil is $1100; other schools are at $800.

•54 years and some 12,000 graduates later, the doors closed in 1981.

•Sisters continued to live in the convent and maintain the property until May 1982 when it was purchase by the Philadelphia Institute of Technology for $700,000.

Still living who served at Moylan

Sr. M. Shawn Scanlan

Sr. Mary Margaret Pignone

Sr. Betty Smoyer

Sr. Marcella Missar

Sr. Maura Prendergast

Sr. Louise Mayock (OH)

Sr. Eileen Hegarty (OH)

Many Sisters still living graduated from Moylan

As of 1981 23% of the Sisters were graduates of the school.