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 would close its doors at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The last class graduated on June 3, 2021.

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 offered academic subjects with an emphasis on preparation for higher learning. Some of the courses were business-oriented and taught skills to those students who were interested in the business and computer fields. Electives were 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.

References

External links