School's Out Forever at All-Girls Ursuline

Sonoma County's only all-girls high school held a final day of celebration before closing.

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Students and alumni of Ursuline High School, the only all-girls high school in Sonoma County, gathered on Sunday to celebrate the 130-year history of the school, which closed this month, according to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

The celebration, which included a final Catholic Mass as well as a gathering of alumni of all ages – where ancient school uniforms and changing appearances were studied via yearbook displays – was the final step in a year's worth of "lasts" since the Ursuline sisters religious order, which operates the school, announced plans to close the school in November 2010.

A declining enrollment, increasing costs, and increased demand for financial aid all conspired to shutter the school, the newspaper reported.

Most of Ursuline students will continue their education next door at Cardinal Newman High School, which was an all-boys school until Ursuline announced its closure.

The school held its final days of instruction last week.

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