"Humility, simplicity, charity, above all charity."
Blessed Émilie Gamelin
Sister of Providence Foundress
Our Mission
As expressions of God’s healing love, witnessed through the ministry of Jesus, we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.
Our Vision
As people of Providence, we practice joy, challenge ourselves intellectually, and commit to faithful service by valuing everyone as individuals within the healthiest possible learning community.
Our Promise
Know me; Care for me; Ease my way.
Our Values
Compassion
Jesus taught and healed with compassion for all. –Matthew 4:24
Jesus taught and healed with compassion for all. –Matthew 4:24
We reach out to those in need and offer comfort as Jesus did. We nurture the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of one another and those we serve. Through our healing presence, we accompany those who suffer.
Dignity
All people have been created in the image of God. –Genesis 1:27
All people have been created in the image of God. –Genesis 1:27
We value, encourage and celebrate the gifts in one another. We respect the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. We recognize each interaction as a sacred encounter.
Justice
Act with justice, love with kindness and walk humbly with your God. –Micah 6:8
Act with justice, love with kindness and walk humbly with your God. –Micah 6:8
We foster a culture that promotes unity and reconciliation. We strive to care wisely for our people, our resources and our earth. We stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable, working to remove the causes of oppression and promoting justice for all.
Excellence
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. –Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. –Colossians 3:23
We set the highest standards for ourselves and our ministries. Through transformation and innovation, we strive to improve the health and quality of life in our communities. We commit to compassionate, safe and reliable practices for the care of all.
Integrity
Let us love not merely with words or speech but with actions in truth. –1 John 3:18
Let us love not merely with words or speech but with actions in truth. –1 John 3:18
We hold ourselves accountable to do the right things for the right reasons. We speak the truth with courage and respect. We pursue authenticity with humility and simplicity.
Alma Mater
Hail, all hail our Alma Mater
Praise her to the sky!
Proudly we, her sons and daughters
Hail, Providence High.
Raise your banners, raise your voices,
Then as echoes die,
Each of us with pride rejoices,
Hail Providence High!
Dedicated to Our Lady,
Steadfast through the years,
With her mantle on our shoulders
Banishing our fears.
So as foes before us totter,
Join the joyful cry,
Hail, all hail, our Alma Mater!
Hail, Providence High!
Our History
1955 - 1969
August 29, 1955 — Sister Maria Teresa, the superior of the new Providence High School, arrived to prepare for the first incoming class at the new school.
September 19, 1955 — The first class of 81 young women arrived at the new campus. Since construction of the buildings weren't complete, the girls started the school year in temporary canvas circus tents provided by next-door neighbor, Walt Disney.
1956 — The first three buildings of Providence High School’s campus were completed and dedicated in a ceremony officiated by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre.
1959 — 68 young women took part in the school's first commencement, held at the Starlight Bowl.
197o - 1979
1974 — Young men began attending Providence High for the first time as the school adopted a coeducational model.
198o - 1989
1988 — Declining enrollments led the school to announce it would close at the end of the 1988-1989 school year, but a group of determined parents and alumni worked together with administration and faculty members to increase enrollment. Their success saved the school.
1989 — The Medical Track and Media Track, now called Cinema Arts Program, debut on campus
199o - 1999
1992 — The school's Board of Regents, an advisory board comprised of interested and influential community members, was established.
1998 — Providence High recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education.
2ooo - 2oo9
2002 — The completed Fritz B. Burns Student Activity Center was dedicated and blessed.
2o1o - 2o19
2010 — The Technology Focus Program is introduced, further diversifying the specialized programs available to students.
2012 — The Science Center opened, complete with three dual wet lab and classroom set ups for biology, chemistry, and physics classes.
2015 — The Cinema Arts Center, a full state-of-the-arts production studio, with the newest technologically advanced equipment, was unveiled.
2017 — The new Technology Focus Program Center opened, complete with a maker space and 3D Printers in the multi-use computer lab classroom.
2o2o - today
2024 — 131 Class of 2024 graduates took part in the school's sixty-sixth commencement ceremony held at the Starlight Bowl, the first time in decades.
Our Heritage
The Sisters of Providence were founded in 1843 by Emilie Gamelin, a young widow, in Montreal. Inspired by the love of Christ, Emilie felt called to serve those in need - including the poor, hungry and sick. People living near Emilie were so grateful for her help that they referred to her work as "Providence."
In 1856, Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart traveled to the Pacific Northwest along with four other sisters. Together, they established schools, orphanages, and other establishments for those in need - all in the name of Providence. The mission of the Sisters of Providence states "God has called and united us as Sisters of Providence in the Church to proclaim the mysteries of Providence and Our Mother of Sorrows to the society of our times by our compassionate love and creative, prophetic solidarity with the poor. In the tradition of our foundress, we serve society's most vulnerable members." Mother Emilie Gamelin's mission of caring for the needy has truly evolved over the years, as the Sisters of Providence have expanded their focus to include education, parish ministry, health care, serving the community, ministering to those in prison, and more.
The Sisters of Providence have ministered in the West for 150 years. When I think of my life as a Sister of Providence, I know that God called me to join this community. This vocation is a grace that I treasure. I have always been proud to belong to a group with the name of Providence. I am also grateful that the Sisters of Providence have, since our very beginnings, worked with lay persons who share in our "good works". This collaboration is enriching and enhances our compassion with and for others.
To belong to the Sisters of Providence is to become aware of the needs of our societies, to gain a sense of the many works of Providence and to feel a participation in all of these works in many areas of the world. To be charged with the mission of proclaiming Providence is a sacred trust. God loves each one of us, and for that blessing, I am most grateful. Providence of God, I thank you for all.
—Sister Mary Hawkins, SP (1940 - 2024)
Former member of the Board of Regents
Former Providence High School administrator
