PORTLAND, Maine — The board of trustees of Catherine McAuley High School, a 46-year-old college preparatory institution that is Maine’s only high school for girls, announced Thursday during the school’s annual awards ceremony that the school will become The Maine Girls’ Academy on July 1.
The school initiated a naming process that included the entire community. Faculty, alumnae, students and community members submitted over 400 name suggestions that were then reviewed by a committee representing each constituency group, including students and marketing professionals.
After reviewing the work of the naming committee, the board of trustees unanimously chose The Maine Girls’ Academy as the new name for the school.
The school announced last fall that it will become independent on July 1, after being a Sisters of Mercy-sponsored school since its founding in 1969.
Many of the school’s traditions will also continue, including the school’s colors of green and gold, the Lion mascot and the plaid skirts, while at the same time enhancing its offerings and experiences for girls, according to Ericka Prefontaine Sanborn, director of marketing.