- National Cathedral School
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The National Cathedral School for Girls 
"Women's education without limits."Location Washington, D.C.
United StatesInformation Type Independent Episcopal college preparatory school for girls Established 1900 Principal Kathleen O'Neill Jamieson Faculty ~70 Enrollment ~560 Website http://www.ncs.cathedral.org/ National Cathedral School (NCS) is an independent Episcopal private day school for girls located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Founded by Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Bishop Henry Yates Satterlee in 1900, NCS is the oldest of the institutions constituting the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation.
NCS has about 560 students in grades 4 through 12. Its mascot is the eagle. Its brother school, St. Albans, and the elementary school, Beauvoir, are also located on the 57-acre (230,000 m2) Cathedral Close in Northwest Washington near the Washington National Cathedral. Kathleen O'Neill Jamieson is the Head of School.[1] The school motto is Noblesse Oblige ("Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required," St. Luke XII, 48).[2]
Contents
Traditions
As the National Cathedral School is chartered by the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, and is an Episcopal School, the school holds a mandatory chapel service every Monday, as well as a weekly Friday morning service in the National Cathedral. Graduation is held in the Washington National Cathedral. However, students of various religions attend the school, and the chapel services are generally ecumenical in nature.
The school has charity functions and music and choral performances.
Final Cathedral services for the year include the induction of seniors into the Alumnae Association at the Alumnae Service and a "Senior Service" in which the graduating seniors plan and run the service.
NCS also has two school hymns, one dating back to the beginning of the school, and one for the school's centennial celebration composed by Richard Wayne Dirksen, former director of the National Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.
Extracurriculars and clubs
Extracurriculars include student government (grades 7-12), two student newspapers, literary publications, the yearbook, and more than 30 different clubs, including the BSU (Black Student Union), Vestry, Chorale, Madrigal Singers, Choristers, and Service Board.
Students from classes 7-12 can serve as acolytes for Friday morning Cathedral services.
NCS students also have the unique opportunity of participating in the Whitechapel Guild to learn traditional change ringing on the Cathedral bells.
Notable alumnae
- Judith Barcroft, actress, All My Children and other soap operas
- Beverly Byron, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Md.), 1978-93
- Kate Collins, actress
- Ethel Roosevelt Derby, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt
- Karenna Gore Schiff '91
- Kristin Gore '95
- Sarah Gore '97
- Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, daughters of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson
- Heather Langenkamp, actress
- Queen Noor of Jordan, née Lisa Halaby
- Maya MacGuineas[3]
- Susan E. Rice, United States Ambassador to the United Nations; former foreign policy advisor to Democratic Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D.-IL); former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
- Stephanie Ready, Professional and College Basketball broadcaster; First-ever female to coach men's professional basketball (in the US)
- Caroline Thompson, screenwriter, Edward Scissorhands
- Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
Other families who chose the National Cathedral School for their girls are the Roosevelts, the Rockefellers, the Firestones (Mary), the Wilsons of Wilson sports, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
External links
- National Cathedral School
- Washington National Cathedral
- Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation
- Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
References
- ^ Welcome from the Head National Cathedral School
- ^ Facts at a Glance National Cathedral School
- ^ Washington Weddings Washington Life Magazine, March 2002
Categories:- Independent School League
- Private schools in Washington, D.C.
- High schools in Washington, D.C.
- Girls' schools in the United States
- Educational institutions established in 1900
- Episcopal schools in the United States
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