Rally

Origins of Rally

The feast of St. Ursula, Patroness of the Academy, October 21st, was always celebrated with a Mass and a free day. In 1948, in order to extend the religious focus of the feast, Sr. Marie McCloskey, Headmistress, came up with the idea of a Rally Night to include all facets of the curriculum: volleyball intramurals, a skit, a poster, songs and cheers.

She also suggested the idea of a class name to replace sororities (then allowed in the high school and believed by her to be unchristian). Sr. Marie asked that each class choose a name. This way, in addition to school spirit, the girls would have peer support and bonding on the peer group level. (If you take something away, you have to put something in its place.) The idea came from the Lord, out of Sr. Marie’s own teenage experience.

Sr. Marie approached Clayre Ahern (now Mrs. Crook), who was then the P.E. teacher. Miss Ahern took up the idea with enthusiasm and organization, and brought forth successfully the first Rally Night in New Orleans in 1948. Since that time, the P.E. teachers / Athletic Directors have enthusiastically and happily continued the tradition of a bigger and better Rally Night.

The original names of the classes in 1948 were as follows: Seniors chose The ’49ers, the gold rushers, as that was their graduation year; the juniors chose Leprechauns and showed “the little people of Ireland theme” in their poster of a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end, with shamrocks and little leprechauns; the sophmores were the Sioux and came out in a canoe in their red and black indian costumes (only original name left); the freshmen were the Valkyries.

In 1949, the seniors, as their name was distinctive to that one year, did not pass on their name. In 1950, the Leprechaun seniors began the passing on of their name to their little sisters at the end of the Freshman year.

The name Merrimacs replaced the Rebels in 1952–53, and in 1956 Skipperettes replaced the name Leprechauns. In 1995–96, the Leprechaun name was reintroduced for the Freshman year only — not to be passed on.

  • Merry Macs

    • Represented By: Scottie Dog
    • Colors: Red, Green, Black, and Yellow
    • All About: Plaid
    • Patron Saint: St. Michael

  • Sioux

    • Represented By: Teepee
    • Colors: Red and Black
    • All About: The Tribe
    • Patron Saint: St. Joseph

  • Skipperettes

    • Represented By: Anchor
    • Colors: Navy Blue and White
    • All About: Anything Nautical
    • Patron Saint: Our Lady Star of the Sea

  • Scotties

    • The Scotties are the little sister class of the Merry Macs. When the senior class is the Merry Macs, the freshman class is known as the Scotties.

  • Red Feathers

    • The Red Feathers are the little sister class of the Sioux. When the senior class is Sioux, the freshman class is known as the Red Feathers.

  • First Mates

    • The First Mates are the little sister class of the Skips. When the senior class is the Skips, the freshman class is known as the First Mates.

  • Leprechauns

    • All students in the 8th grade class are known as the Leprechauns for their first year of high school.
    • Represented By: Shamrock
    • Colors: Kelly Green and White
    • All About: Anything Irish
    • Patron Saint: St. Patrick