Saint Basil Academy (Jenkintown, Pennsylvania)

Saint Basil Academy was a private, Ukrainian Catholic, all-girls high school in Abington, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and also within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Saint Basil Academy was established in 1931 by the Sisters of Saint Basil. On October 8, 2020, Saint Basil Academy announced that it will close its doors at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The last class graduated on June 3, 2021.

Saint Basil Academy "Basil's"
Location
711 Fox Chase Road Abington , (Montgomery County) , Pennsylvania 19046 United States
Coordinates	40°5′20″N 75°6′7″W
Information
Type	Private, All-Female
Motto	'Educate the Girl, Empower the Woman, Enlighten the World'
Religious affiliation(s)	Ukrainian Catholic
Established	1931
Closed	2021
CEEB code	393450
Principal	Connie D'Angelo
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	265 [1] (2014)
Student to teacher ratio	9:1
Color(s)	White and Gold
Mascot	Panther
Team name	Panthers
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Publication	Laureate (literary magazine)
Newspaper	Basilian Pillar
Yearbook	Basilianette
Tuition	$11,300 per year [2]
Alumni	3000+
Vice Principal	Alexandra Penkalskyj
Director of Development	Pamela D. Vasserman
Director of Admissions	Kimberley Clearkin
Director of Finance	Vincent Dolan
Website	www.stbasilacademy.org

History

In the early part of the 20th century, the Sisters of Saint Basil came to the United States. In 1911, the Sisters came to Philadelphia at the invitation of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Soter Ortynsky, OSBM, who was the first Ukrainian Catholic Ordinary in America.

For the first few decades, the Sisters expanded their talents to the education of grade school children in the orphanage and parishes, but during these years, they did not forget the idea of a Catholic high school for girls. Saint Basil Academy, a convent boarding school for girls, began on July 19, 1931 in the classrooms of the newly constructed convent building dedicated only a day earlier.

Space and limited facilities on the main campus could no longer provide for updated laboratory and library expansion during the oncoming years. In 1968, the administration of the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great, undertook the construction of a new building, capable of housing 400 students.

Program of study

Saint Basil Academy offers academic subjects with an emphasis on preparation for higher learning. Some of the courses are business-oriented and teach skills to those students who are interested in the business and computer fields. Electives are also offered in the fine arts.

Course offerings

Art

• Art Appreciation
• Art I
• Art II
• Art III

Business

• Keyboarding with Computer Applications
• Accounting I
• Accounting II
• Business Communication
• Applied Economics
• Desktop Publishing

English Department

• Honors English I
• English I
• Honors English II
• English II
• Honors American Literature (Honors English III)
• American Literature (English III)
• Advanced Placement English
• British Literature (English IV)
• Literary Genres
• Journalism
• Creative Writing

Language Department

• French
  • French I
  • French II
  • French III
  • French IV
  • Advanced Placement French Language
• Latin
  • Our Classical Roots
  • Latin I
  • Latin II
  • Latin III
  • Latin IV
• Spanish
  • Spanish I
  • Spanish II
  • Spanish III
  • Spanish IV
  • AP Spanish Literature
• Ukrainian
  • Introduction to Ukrainian
  • Ukrainian I
  • Ukrainian II
  • Ukrainian III
  • Ukrainian IV

Music Department

• Classical Piano
• Piano Class for Madrigals
• Guitar I
• Instrumental Ensemble
• Madrigals
• Theory I
• Theory II
• Choral Music
• Music Appreciation
• American Music
• AP Music Theory
• Glee Club
• Ukrainian Singers
• Handbells

Health and Physical Education Department

• Phys. Ed I
• Phys. Ed II
• Phys. Ed III
• Phys. Ed. IV
• Health

Science Department

• Geological and Atmospheric Science
• Honors Biology
• Biology
• Honors Chemistry
• Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Honors Physics
• General Physics

Religious Studies Department

• Religion I - The Christian Faith
• Religion II - Jesus the Christ
• Religion II - Prayer & Sacraments
• Religion III - The Church
• Christian Morality
• Religion IV - Hebrew Scripture
• Religion IV - Love & Relationships
• Death and Dying
• Peace Through Justice
• Dating and Sexuality

Social Studies Department

• World Cultures
• Honors Modern European History
• United States History
• Advanced Placement United States History
• United States Government
• Practical Law
• AP United States Government and Politics
• Psychology and Sociology
• History in Film
• Culture, Race, and Ethnicity in America

List of principals

• Gwenda Coté (2012–2017)
• Connie D'Angelo (2017—2021)
• Sr. Carla Hernández, OSBM (1986–2012)

Notable alumni

• Sister Emellia Prokopik, a nun of the Catholic Church in Ukraine and the Superior General of her congregation for 12 years.

External links

• Official website^{(Archived 16 June 2021)}