Celebrating the Founders
In our 35th anniversary year, Montrose celebrates Founders' Day.
On Founders’ Day, a unique Montrose tradition, students, faculty and staff gather and look back to Montrose School's origins thirty-five years ago. Seven founding parents and educators were inspired to start a girls’ college preparatory school in 1979 that focused on the dignity of each student. “Every year we celebrate Founders’ Day to commemorate their bold vision, the history of the school and the inspiration behind our mission,” said Madeline Reilly ’15 in opening the assembly.
Members of the senior class traced the history of St. Josemarie Escriva, Opus Dei and Montrose School in their presentations. Katrin O’Grady ’15 related the life of St. Josemaria, noting that he was divinely inspired on October 2, exactly 86 years earlier, to found Opus Dei in order to mobilize “Christians from all walks of life who would make the world holy by offering God their daily duties.” Amanda Condrin ’15 told students that “in 1958, our very own Father Dick became the first American member of Opus Dei.”
Members of the senior class traced the history of St. Josemarie Escriva, Opus Dei and Montrose School in their presentations. Katrin O’Grady ’15 related the life of St. Josemaria, noting that he was divinely inspired on October 2, exactly 86 years earlier, to found Opus Dei in order to mobilize “Christians from all walks of life who would make the world holy by offering God their daily duties.” Amanda Condrin ’15 told students that “in 1958, our very own Father Dick became the first American member of Opus Dei.”
Head of School Dr. Karen Bohlin read a letter to Montrose parents from 1982, describing highlights from the school’s first four years. Many familiar school traditions, such as an end of the year school outing, mother-daughter event, junior-senior prom and sports banquet, were already underway at this early stage. Lindsay Lombardo ’15 and Sarah Morrill ’15 described the introduction of more traditions that developed soon after, such as big/little sister, a class will and the trip to Washington, DC.
Seniors described the many changes and milestones from Montrose’s history, from the different locations of the school to the different footwear requirements.
As the seniors narrated, a slideshow of images from the years played in the background. Images of Father Richard Rieman in the early years of the school, Dr. Bohlin as an English teacher, and teachers Ms. Kate Cusack ’99, Ms. Abby Milton '08, Ms. Bridget Schirrippa ’10 and Ms. Kate Fitzgerald ’10 in the student years were crowd favorites.
Finishing with Montrose School's most recent history, Mary Theresa Whalen ’15 noted that this year, “to everyone’s excitement, the Arts & Athletics Center opened.” Madeline Reilly concluded, “The halls of Montrose are filled with many connections from the past. We have granddaughters and nieces of founders, alumnae teachers, and faculty who have stayed the course from Westwood to Natick to our final home in Medfield.”
An independent school for girls in grades 6-12 guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church.
