History

On September 24, 2010, exactly 70 years after its first issue as a print publication, Achona, the student newspaper of Academy of the Holy Names, went online. Achona Club members and students in the three classes of AP Literature contributed media and stories throughout the first year of the publication.

With the leadership of a newly formed Honors Journalism class in Fall 2011 and the Multimedia News Club, Achona began its second year as an online publication, supported again by students in AP Literature classes in the fall issues. The 2011 first-semester class numbered only eight students, but by second semester, the class had expanded to 14 students, who made it possible to publish campus news in a more timely manner.

Print History of Achona

Stories in the first print issue of the 1940 Achona include the announcement of  “Right Reverend Joseph Hurley, successor to our beloved Bishop Berry.” Also, announced are “new activities” for the school year: “student government, a glee club, an athletic club, a dramatic club, and flag exercises.” In the bottom right corner of the first page, a poem explains the meaning behind the  acronym for Achona:

A – C  for Academy — the school of our choice; All of her praises we ever will voice.

H – O for holy, our aim for us all as strong Christian women we answer life’s call,

With always before us the Names we revere

N – A stands for Jesus and Mary, most dear.