HISTORY OF THE EDUCATIVE INSTITUTION “SAGRADO CORAZÓN DE JESÚS”

In 1902, reverend Fray Abury Sanchez of the convent of Santo Domingo decides to found an Asylum for children, for that reason he asks to the founding Mother Elmina Paz de Gallo and to the General Prior Sor Maria Dominga, both from the congregation of Tucuman to find the personnel.

For that reason, five Sisters come to direct the establishment. They are received by all the commission. In August 20^th of the same year they settle in a house located in Independence 664 street, which is perfectly fixed and has a chapel where the first mass is celebrated. As this house becomes small they move to Defensa St. 1032 where many children are received, but as the house is not in good conditions they move to Belgrano St. 996; there are so many children living that they again has to move, this time to Bolivar St. 1587, where the old Italian Hospital had place a time before. Soon after the moving, there are near 400 children living, for that reason six more Sisters has to come from the congregation of Tucuman.

In 1908 many Sisters continue arriving to the asylum to become part of the Association named “Dulce Nombre de Jesús”. But then, after some internal conflicts caused by bad attitudes of the Reverend Director, it is decided to dissolve the same.

This was seen by Juan Isella, Chaplain of the army, who helped and supported the Sisters in their decision to open themselves and found their own congregation. The founder, Fray Angel Maria Baisdron, who accompanied the Sisters from the seriously difficult first days until leaving them well installed in the new house, made the definitive adjustments to the foundation with the Archbishop, titling the school Asylum “Sagrado Corazón de Jesús”. They settled in a house located in Chile St. 1408, in August 5^th of 1908, after great afflictions without finding house and after being 6 years in the Asylum of Dulce Nombre de Jesús. They were there until September 19^th, when they moved to Defensa St. 793. The inauguration was in October 25^th of 1908, with a great concurrence of families from Tucumán and Buenos Aires and the participation of Father Isella.

Year after year the classes began with a good concurrence of children, always giving much importance to the spiritual part, making every year several celebrations and masses, standing out the ones of “Sagrado Corazón”, “Santo Domingo”, “Nuestra Madre del Rosario”, “Christmas eve”, “New Year” and “Easter”, in which processions by the galleries of the school with a good participation of the society were realised. Also there was a great concurrence and participation by the children of the Asylum as much as of the whole society, in the celebrations and events that were organized, where the founds were destined to fix the house or to other school needs, that was always maintained and taken ahead by a great Sister’s sacrifice and dedication.

In 1922, the Reverend Prior Sister Cecilia Olmos, who had been chosen by three periods, finished the last one; she had been in the school from 1902, letting the house about to obtain the own building and a good organization, where there were young ladies pensioners and students of the school.

Many Sisters were changed and transferred to other houses of the Congregation and Sister Teresa López Aburradle is named General Prior. The Association “Hijas de María”, formed by Sisters of the school was organized, being replaced the directive commission. In the first meetings the director and the president were chosen among others, who would then be part of the new commission.

The following year, many resources were enthusiastically looked for in many ways to obtain the own house for the Sisters. The number of partners was increased, they organized several events: raffles, matches of tennis, etc., having collected this year $5,886, 76.

In 1924, the commission had in view to buy the house of Santiago del Estero St. 446, which was offered in $130,000 and in advantageous conditions of payment. Notes of request were send to the sugar engineers of Tucuman and also to rich people related to this institution, and they had a satisfactory result. In addition to it $4,500 from a donation of the succession of Olbarellas were received, and were intimately thanked in the name of the Dominican Sisters and the commission, having collected $ 24.580,26. Thus September 19^th the ticket of purchase of the house was signed. In November 25^th the blessing with godfathers and donors of the house acquired by the “Hermanas Terciarias Dominicas del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús” from Tucuman was done. For the acquirement had contributed: the Protect Commission, the Interior minister Dr. Vicente Gallo, nephew of the founder and godfather of the work, who signed the delivery act. The president of the republic, Dr. Marcelo T. de Alvear sent a congratulations letter.

The school throughout its history has passed through good and others not really good moments, of much effort and sacrifice, just like the society in which it is summoned. Between the years ‘50 and ‘55, it was quite a conflicting time because of the different democratic and military changes of government, and the school could not be maintained to the margin, by the proximity to Plaza de Mayo and much less for being a religious institution.

In 1957, appears the possibility of moving the school by buying a house in Belgrano St. 1400, but when receiving the news that the cost had raised to 3 million, it is impossible to make specific the operation.

In July 27^th the almost miraculous opportunity of buying an ample mansion with land available for construction in Carlos Calvo St. 1559, property of Miss Defferrari appears. In November arrives to an adjustment by the sale of the house of Santiago del Estero Street and by the purchase of Carlos Calvo St. 1559, and in December all the personnel works in the preparations for the moving.

In January 1958, the move begins and the last mass is done in Santiago del Estero Street. The installation of the new marble altar begins and all the community settles in the new address. In March the inscription of students begins and the 16^th of the same month the classes begin in a completely reduced atmosphere. In April the preparations to start the work of the construction in the school begin, but it is delayed by a strike, beginning in May 20^th after a length and distressing proceeding to obtain a loan of the Bank.

The following year, by a delay in the work and with permission of the Counsel of Education, the classes begin. A collect is made to pave the patio and the War Ministry is committed to make the patio and to fix the skylight. Works that are finished the next year (1960)

In 1960 Sister Isabel Rosa Battaglia assumes as the Director of the Establishment.

In 1963, the kindergarten classroom is inaugurated.

In 1966, a commission of parents is formed in order to help the school, who organize events with great success. Two years later, a donation of Cattaneo S.A. of 40 meters of mosaic is received, and they are placed in the dining room of the young pupils.

In 1971 the personnel increases, many adjustments in the chapel and the patio are made and there are projects to make a new classroom.

There has always been a fluid contact with the other houses of the Congregation, located in Haedo, Rosario, Hersilia, Bahía Blanca, Cordoba and Tucumán. There have been visits, meetings and transfers of Sisters and students.

In December 29^th of 1987 the director of the school, in a personnel education meeting, informs that the proprietary society, that was the Congregation of the Hermanas Dominicas del Santísimo nombre de Jesús, needs the building for the student functioning and that during year 1988 gives freedom to the personnel to find location in another place of work. With this unexpected communication the personnel is surprised and alarmed, because the school was very recognized in the neighbor, and the academic and social function work that were done where very outstanding, as it consists in acts of the book of supervision of the Direction of Education of Private Management (DGEGP).

The loss of the work source and the unusual announcement to give freedom to search positions in another institution, move the personnel to consult in the legal and official scope, where instances to prevent the closing begins.

In February 1988, the personnel are urgently summoned to a meeting and receive the news of a change of decision, which was that the school was not closing. It is informed that the director understands the benefits of her retirement and that Sister Liliana Badaloni will occupy her place. From the first encounter the new director adopts a position of opening to the educational personnel and also to the parents of the students. She organizes meetings with the personnel and asks for the collaboration on projects for the future. Warmly the educational community leads to that task and positions from renovation and change starts to arise.

In June 1^st of 1988, Sister Liliana Badaloni requests license and assumes like substitute director Mrs Velia Marta Pieroni, who is seconded in her task by the resident Sisters in Buenos Aires. The school follows ahead and in August the Sisters slide the possibility that the educational personnel make a cooperative and take charge of the school.

The idea was enthusiastically received, but when it was necesary to concrete, the majority decides not to add itself to the project. Of 16 initial people, a group of 7 people decides to follow ahead and the Civil Association Sacred Heart of Jesus starts its constitution.

In 1990 the Association is formed with the following members: Ana Maria Pérez Bodria; Velia Marta Pieroni, Lucia Baudiño, Yolanda García, Norma Romagnoli, Ana Ojeda and Stella Barrabes. When it is already organized, a precontract is signed, in where they assume the pedagogical conduction of the school and its administration. During that period they were accompanied by the congregation, its equipment of education and office staff. At the same time the daily contact with the Sisters from the pastoral Department fortified the identity in the Dominican charm and enriched the pupils and educational personnel with its gospel roll.

In April 19^th of 1994, the General inspectorate of Justice grants the legal function to the association with the resolution number 306.

In July 23^rd 1996 a contract of lease is definitively signed with the Congregation of Hermanas Dominicas del Santísimo nombre de Jesús by the term of 5 years with option to 3 more and the option of purchasing the building.

In July 24^th of 1996 the transference of the educative establishment “Colegio Sagrado Corazón de Jesús” (A-150) is signed by scripture number one hundred seventy one 404/96, Notary Mrs Maria Cecilia Herraro de Pratesi, between the Congregation of the third Regular Order Hermanas Dominicas del Santísimo nombre de Jesús and the Civil Association Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. Among another documentation, statutes of the Civil Association and educational antecedent of the members of the Directive Commission of the Association acquirer accompanies the scripture, in order to credit the suitability of these people in educational tasks and in the handling of the school. Also accompains the scripture a sworn Declaration of the transfering Congregation respect of the suitability and good reputation of the members of the Directive commission of the Association acquirer, to especially fulfill the objective for which the Association was created, and in another way, from which it arises that from 1990 the Association has collaborated closely in the conduction of the school.

From the moment that the school begins to be leaded by the Association, it begins to work on the following principles that are still remaining unalterable and that are valued in the educative ideology, and started up in the project.

A personal, transforming and participating education is assumed, open to the dialogue, to the personal and communitarian service and, essentially, intimate related to the moral values of justice and service to poorest.

In 1989 the computer laboratory is created and the psychopedagogical cabinet in charge of psychologist Alejandra Pagano is implemented.

In 1992 begins the mixed school from 1^st degree in the primary section; with the growth of the scholastic population the Institution begins to work in two sections. The optional afternoon class is created.

From 1994, the joint of the pre-school section of the “Cevallitos” institute takes place with 1^st degree of our institution. It also takes place the articulation to the secondary schools through its directors with the presentation of the projects to the students of 7^th degree and parents from our institute.

The institutes “Nuevo Horizonte”, “La Providencia”, “Santa Rosa”, “Esteban Echeverria” and a special mention deserves “Nuestra Señora del Huerto”, take entrance examinations to our students of primary and, as they are so successfully, in the last years they are exempt to give the test of entrance.

In 2001 the Kindergarten is brought to an own and independent place in the 1^st floor of the building.

Other conducted pedagogical that were made:

Religious Area:

• To catechize in a uncatechized world

• To find Jesus like something alive, revived

• To construct the kingdom of God in the society

• To promote the lay mysteries

• Justice and Peace

• Respect to the human rights

• Participation through social comunication

• Procesiones in neighbors and within the school

• Importance

• Via Crucis

• Scholastic catechesis, familiar catechesis, sacrament of the communion, Confirmation and of Reconciliation

• Solidary attendance to geriatrical

• Participation of the campaign of Caritas

• Collaboration with small border schools

Artistic Area:

• The project on the cultural patrimonies of our city, has marked an inclination of the pupils to pronounce itself artistically.

• The students attend museums, samples, galleries, Book Fair, schools of Art, etc.

• A very particular relation exists with the Institute in Devout art Angelicus.

• The children participate in the factories that offer sculpture, painting, design, drawing and carving. Also the students of the last year collaborate in specific classes with our educational personnel of plastic and technology.

Social Area:

• Participation of the school in activities supported by neighbour Associations like the Association “Friends of Constitución neighbor”

• Organization of festivals in from Leonesa Region

• Academic ceremony of 7^th degree and pre-school degree n the union of the feeding.

Physical education Area:

• Campings and quarterings

• Summer colony in Regatas Club of Avellaneda (opened to the neighbor)