Nazareth Academy Timeline 

Nazareth Academy Catholic School

(1867-Present)

 

Nazareth Academy is the fourth oldest Catholic School in the state of Texas and the longest running educational institution in Victoria. More than a century ago, Father A. Gardet, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (now St. Mary's) recruited the first teachers of Nazareth Academy, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. The Order was founded by Jeanne Chezard de Matel in Lyons, France. The Sisters arrived in Brownsville from France in 1853. On December 21, 1866 five Sisters arrived in Victoria. Only 17 days later, Nazareth Academy was opened on January 7, 1867.

 

1867 - "The Convent School" opened its doors to young girls with 55 students, including boarders.

 

1880 - The original school was chartered with the name Academy of Nazareth.

 

1917 - The curriculum was reorganized to provide 12 years of education instead of 10. Curriculum was divided into elementary, intermediate and high school (advanced).

 

1920-1928 - Equipment was purchased by the Catholic Daughters of America to meet requirements for state.

 

1921 - Articles of Incorporation were amended to read "Nazareth Academy."

 

1922-1923 - State accreditation was granted.

 

1932 - PTA was organized.

 

1941 - Ground breaking began for construction of new school building.

 

1951 - The new school building was dedicated.

 

1958 - A gymnasium was built and dedicated.

 

1976 - Nazareth Academy became a co-ed elementary/junior high school. School uniforms were introduced.

 

1977 – The Pre-school and after-school care were added.

 

1990 – For the first time NA had air-conditioning in the classrooms when window units were added, thanks to the generosity of many donors, especially Mr. Albert Alkek.

 

1999 - Ground breaking began and a new playground was completed.

 

2003 - Nazareth Academy acquired a school bus due to the generosity of the following families: Tali and Loretta Villafranca, Glenn and Kathy Villafranca, Sean and Tammy Brooks, David and MaryAnn Tucker.

 

2003 - Work began on Nazareth Academy Athletic Field, which is used for football, soccer, and softball. The work was an all-volunteer affair comprised of Nazareth Academy parents, students, and staff members. The land was donated to the school by the Murphy family.

 

2004 - Sept. 15 saw the first athletic event held at the Nazareth Academy Athletic Field, a 36-8 Jets win in football over St. Philip, El Campo.

 

2005 - New (year 2005) school bus was acquired.

 

2005 - New scoreboard and bleachers were acquired for N.A. Athletic Field.

 

2005 - New computer lab was installed, featuring brand new Dell computers.

 

2005-2006 – Mr. Duke Alicardi became first lay principal of Nazareth Academy.

 

2006 - First Nazareth Academy podcast was created by the N.A. Speech Class. "Jet Jive" was a biweekly program available free of charge on Apple's iTunes store. The podcast was also made available on the Victoria Advocate's website.

 

2006 – Nazareth Academy won Best Buy’s Teach Award. This honor is awarded to those select schools where learning is made fun through integrating technology into the curriculum.

 

2006 (Summer) - Nazareth Academy infomercial was created. The 30-minute presentation was created by students and staff, and was broadcast six times on Victoria's local television affiliates ABC, NBC, and FOX.

 

2006 – A sprinkler system was installed on N.A. Athletic field.

 

2006 - Premier (Sept. 2, 2006) of the "Nazareth Academy Show" on ABC. This was a monthly 30-minute television series (a new show each month throughout the school year) created on a laptop computer by N.A. students and staff.

 

2007 – A Security system was installed in the school.

 

2007 – Nazareth Academy Athletic Field was dedicated and was renamed Alicardi Field honoring C.R. “Duke” Alicardi, former Nazareth Academy principal.

 

2007 – Nazareth Academy won Best Buy’s Teach Award for the second consecutive year.

 

2007 – Nazareth Academy had 14 seventh graders earn Duke University Talent search honors for percentile or above on the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT).

 

2007 – This was the second season of The Nazareth Academy Show.

 

2008 – Nazareth Academy won Best Buy’s Teach Award for the third consecutive year.

 

2008 - Nazareth Academy had 8 seventh graders earn Duke University Talent search honors for scoring percentile or above on the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT).

 

2008 – Third season of The Nazareth Academy Show aired on the local NBC and FOX affiliates.

 

2009 - Nazareth Academy had 15 seventh graders and 12 fourth & fifth graders earned Duke University Talent search honors for scoring in the 95th percentile or above on the Stanford Achievement Test

 

2009 – Nazareth Academy won Best Buy’s Teach Award for the fourth consecutive year. This was the final year of this award.

 

2009 – Fourth season of The Nazareth Academy Show, renamed: “Jetstream.” The 30 minute show was available on Apple’s iTunes.

 

2009 – Nazareth Academy was named a National Catholic School for Tomorrow. Nazareth Academy was one of only twelve Catholic schools nationwide, and the only school in Texas, to receive this award

 

2009 – First SMART board was obtained (awarded to Nazareth Academy from SMART, Inc. as a result of the Catholic School for Tomorrow award). The SMART Board was installed in the Jr. High Math classroom.

 

2010 - Nazareth Academy had 18 of 44 seventh graders (41% of the class) earn Duke University Talent search honors for scoring in the 95

 

2010 – Four Dual Touch SMART boards were purchased and installed into classrooms. At the time Nazareth Academy was only the second school in the state of Texas to obtain the Dual Touch boards, the latest in technology from SMART, Inc.

 

2010 - Nazareth Academy won 1st place in Math Counts Competition.

 

2010 – New, state of art Fire Alarm System was installed in the school.

 

2011 - Nazareth Academy had 20 of 40 seventh graders (50% of the class) earn Duke University Talent search honors for scoring in the 95 earned State honors for their scores on the college admissions SAT.

 

2011 – SMART boards were installed in all classrooms 1st to 8th grade.

 

2011 - Nazareth Academy won 3rd place in Victoria Chapter Math Counts Competition.

 

2011 – Nazareth Academy won the Runner Up trophy at the 2011 PSIA Regional Academic

Competition, winning 44 placement ribbons, advancing to State in 13 events.

 

2011 - Nazareth Academy student Haley Charbula won State Championship in prose interpretation at PSIA State Competition, our 1st State Champion in PSIA.

 

2011 (Summer) – School building was completely re-wired to allow for future enhancements.

 

2011 (Summer) – New elevator was installed.

 

2011 (December) - Nazareth Academy placed 1st and 2nd in District and 5th in State in the District VFW Patriot Pen Essay Contest.

 

2012 (February) – Nazareth Academy won 1st place in the Victoria Chapter Math Counts Competition.

 

2012 (Summer) – Another classroom floor was re-finished this summer. New carpet was laid down in the Music Room and the Faculty Workroom has a new natural wood-like tile floor installed. Some additions to the playground and new picnic tables were installed on the playground by parents. Two new SMART Boards were installed into the Kindergarten classrooms, with the only classroom remaining to be done the Pre-K classroom.

 

2012 (August) – Nazareth Academy once again has a Sister as principal when former principal, Mr. Scott Kloesel, accepted a position at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School in Houston as Dean of students. Welcome back Sister Evelyn Korenek.

 

2012 (August) – Elliett Hanes, sixth grade student at Nazareth Academy, starred as Annie in theVictoria Theater Production of “Annie.”

 

2012 (August) – Nazareth Academy 8th grade cheerleaders Reina Balboa and Haley Charbula were selected to the National Cheerleaders Association All-American Cheer Squad. Reina participated in the 63rd Annual Holiday Parade Thanksgiving Day in Houston.

 

2012 (September) – Nazareth Academy student Tori Chapa won 3rd place on the National Level in the Catholic Daughters of America National Education Contest.

 

2012 (September) –The Adopt a Beach art work of William Seiler, sixth grade student at Nazareth Academy, is featured in the 2013 “Treasurers of the Texas Coast” calendar.

 

2012 (November) – Nazareth Academy had seven eight grade students earn Duke University Talent search honors for scoring in the 95th percentile or above on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.

2013 (August) – A part-time Mission Advancement Director was hired. Nazareth Academy's website was updated to eCatholic.

2013 (November) – 25% of Nazareth Academy students from 4th-7th grade were recognized as Duke Scholars for 2013-2014.

2014 (Summer)- Brand new modern playground equiptment was purchased by HSA and student fundraisers.

2014 (Spring) - Nazareth Academy began early planning for a Capital Campaign for an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) System and to update current technology.

2014 (Fall) - Nazareth Academy football team won district for the first time in several years.

2014 (November)- 36% of Nazareth Academy students from 4th-7th grade were recognized as Duke Scholars for 2014-2015.

2014 (Spring)- MATHCOUNTS Team placed 1st in the Victoria Chapter Math Counts competition.

2022 (Spring) - Sr. Evelyn Korenek retires as Principal of Nazareth Academy and Mrs. Leslie New was hired as the principal beginning the 2023-2024 school year.

2022 (Spring) - New playground was installed and updated.