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    Patti Smith

    St. Mary's Preparatory
    Address
    Map
    3535 Commerce Road

    Orchard Lake Village
    ,
    Michigan
    48324

    United States
    Information
    TypePrivate, Co-divisional.
    Motto"Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini"
    (The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.)
    Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
    Patron saint(s)St. Mary
    Established1885
    FounderJoseph Dabrowski
    HeadmasterBob Pyles
    Grades9–12
    Enrollment515 (2021)
    Student to teacher ratio13:1
    Campus size125 acres (51 ha)
    Campus typeSuburban/Rural
    Color(s)Red, white and black
         
    Fight songHail Mary
    Athletics conferenceCatholic High School League
    NicknameEaglets
    AccreditationMichigan Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association
    Websitewww.stmarysprep.com
    St. Mary's Preparatory
    St. Mary's Preparatory is located in Michigan
    St. Mary's Preparatory
    St. Mary's Preparatory is located in the United States
    St. Mary's Preparatory
    LocationIndian Trail, Orchard Lake, Michigan
    Coordinates42°35′38″N 83°21′28″W / 42.59389°N 83.35778°W / 42.59389; -83.35778
    Architectural styleGothic, Tudor Revival, Queen Anne
    Part ofOrchard Lake Schools Historic District (ID82002859[1])
    Designated CPMarch 19, 1982

    St. Mary's Preparatory, often referred to as "Orchard Lake St. Mary's (OLSM)" or "St. Mary's Prep," is a private, co-divisional, Catholic college preparatory located in the Detroit, Michigan suburb of Orchard Lake Village.[2] Its core values are "God, Family, St. Mary's."[3] The school offers both day school or either a five or seven day boarding school program.

    History

    On January 14, 1879, Pope Leo XIII, responding to a petition by Rev. Leopold Moczygemba, authorized the establishment of a seminary specifically dedicated to training priests to serve Polish-American immigrant communities in the United States.

    The institution, initially known as "The Polish Seminary," was formally realized in 1885 through the efforts of Rev. Joseph Dabrowski. Dabrowski secured approval from Caspar Borgess, the Bishop of the Diocese of Detroit to construct a seminary building at 4671 St. Aubin Street in Detroit, Michigan, and to organize the institution’s academic curriculum. Rev. Dabrowski subsequently became the seminary's first rector.

    The continued growth in student enrollment and the subsequent need for expanded facilities prompted the second rector, Rev. Witold Buchaczkowski, to relocate the seminary in 1909 from its urban Detroit location to the campus of the former Michigan Military Academy in the rural village of Orchard Lake, Michigan.

    Originally, the academic program of the seminary comprised ten years of instruction divided into two distinct parts: a five-year preparatory classical curriculum and an advanced five-year division, consisting of two years devoted to philosophy and three years to theology. In 1927, a significant administrative restructuring took place, resulting in the creation of three separate but affiliated four-year institutions: SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, St. Mary’s College (now a satellite campus of Madonna University), and St. Mary’s Preparatory. Collectively, these institutions became known as the Orchard Lake Schools.

    The current St. Mary's Prep mascot is a result of this spilt into distinct institutions as St. Mary's College took the mascot Eagles for their athletic teams, in honor of the Polish Eagle. St. Mary's Prep thus became the Eaglets. Efforts in the past to change the mascot have failed due to alumni disapproval.

    In 2020, St. Mary's Preparatory transitioned to a co-divisional education model by opening its admissions to female students. All classes are taught in single-sex classrooms, however extracurriculars, clubs, sports teams, and arts programs are co-educational.

    Academics

    St. Mary's academic program is designed to meet the entrance requirements for any college curriculum. Requirements for graduation are four years of Catholic theology and English; four years of mathematics; three years of science and social studies; three years of a foreign language; and a semester each of computer programming, computer applications, physical education, health, fine arts, and speech. Students are required to fulfill 28 credits for graduation.[4] Over 60% of the 90 different courses offered by St. Mary's Prep from grades 9-12 are at the honors and AP levels.[5]

    All students are educated in the Catholic tradition, regardless of their religious heritage or identification. This tradition includes four years of theology in the classroom as well as attendance at Mass twice weekly. Class retreat and other activities are available for students. The school chaplain and many campus priests can guide students regarding their individual programs.

    A full-time guidance counselor assists students in selecting colleges and universities. The school held the national record for most students in a single year to go to the U.S. Naval Academy (4).

    St. Mary's Preparatory is fully accredited and licensed by the State of Michigan's Department of Education, the Michigan Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association (MNSAA), the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Detroit Catholic League, the Oakland Schools Consortium, and the Michigan High School Athletic Association.[6]

    Campus and student life

    The "Prep Building" is the main school building of St. Mary's Preparatory. Formerly the Academic Building of Michigan Military Academy, it is now home to many administrative offices, one student lounge, thirteen classrooms, and two computer labs.

    Students walk from class to class as they are located in the numerous campus buildings. The outside walks offer scenic views of Orchard Lake and Apple Island.

    Campus buildings include the Chapel of Our Lady of Orchard Lake - Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II, a hockey arena, a multiple libraries, a large Marian grotto, a three-story residence hall, a bookstore, two gymnasiums, a science center, administration buildings, a laboratory and science building, a field house, and a dining hall. It has a quarter of a mile of beach on Orchard Lake open only to members of the school community.

    The Eaglets compete in the MHSAA Division I, II, and III, depending on the sport. In the Detroit Catholic League, they compete in the large school Central Division. St. Mary's traditional conference rivals are Birmingham Brother Rice and Detroit Catholic Central High School. Traditional non-conference rivals are Detroit Country Day School, Cranbrook Schools (hockey), and Clarkston High School (Michigan) (basketball).

    A high percentage of students participate in sports. The boys division offers 14 varsity sports: football, basketball, baseball, bowling, track and field, cross country, golf, wrestling, crew, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, skiing, and snowboarding. The Girl's Division offers skiing, cheerleading, soccer, volleyball, basketball, crew, track and field.[7] The Eaglets have won many league, district, and regional titles in its history. As of 2019, it had 41 Michigan State Championships. In 1998 the school's rowing team placed second in the Henley Royal Regatta. The Eaglet football team reached the state finals fourteen times, winning eight times. In 2021, the Eaglet baseball team won the high school baseball National Championship, it was the first time that a team from Michigan had won the National Championship, the Eaglets won it while finishing 43-1 on the season.[8][9]

    The athletic facilities include an athletic center with a hockey arena, a weight room, an indoor track, locker rooms, a banquet hall, and a basketball gymnasium. The crew team has its own boathouse just off Orchard Lake. Outdoors, St. Mary's has two football fields, two baseball diamonds, and a basketball court. The St. Mary's Ski team practices at Alpine Valley Snow Ski Area in White Lake, Michigan.

    Museums

    The "Ark Building" contains the Polish Home Army Museum. The Ark Building also houses many other museums of Polish military history and Polish history in different rooms including the Reading Room of the Central-Archives of Polonia; Museum of Fr. Józef Dąbrowski; Museum of the Polish Army Second Corps; Archive and Museum of Polonia Radio and TV, Robert Lewandowski Collection; Commemorative Room of Polish Diaspora; Archive, Library, and Museum of the First Polish Armored Division; Archive, Library, and Museum of the Polish Home Army AK; Archive, Library, and Museum of the Polish Air Force; Museum of the Singers Alliance of America – Circuit 4; Museum of the Polish National Alliance, Aloysius A. Mazewski Collection; Dr. Loda and Edward C. Rózanski Collection; Museum of the Polish Falcons – Nest 31; and the Museum of the Polish Association of Former Political Prisoners.[10]

    The Galeria (Building #8) museum features art by Polish artists, including painting, sculpture, china, and antique furniture.

    The museums are open for tours on Polish Sundays, the first Sunday of the month.

    Boarding program

    There are seven-day and five-day boarding students.

    Notable alumni

    Notable former faculty

    • Dan Gheesling, Winner of Big Brother 10. Asst. Coach of a Football team, & Teacher of Health, Biology, & Physical Education at St. Mary's.
    • Jeff Wall (lawyer), former civics teacher
    • George Porritt, MHSAA Hall of Fame, former Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, Head Basketball Coach, Head Lacrosse Coach

    References

    1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
    2. ^ "OLSM Admissions". St. Mary's Prep. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
    3. ^ "St. Mary's Prep About". St. Mary's Prep. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
    4. ^ "OLSM Admissions". St. Mary's Prep. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
    5. ^ "OLSM Admissions". St. Mary's Prep. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
    6. ^ "St. Mary's School Statistics".
    7. ^ "OLSM Admissions". St. Mary's Prep. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
    8. ^ "OLSM Football Archives".
    9. ^ "MHSAA Football Yearly Champions".
    10. ^ "Museums". St. Mary's Prep. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
    11. ^ "Jay Penske".
    12. ^ "Members Emeritus".
    13. ^ "MSGR. Ziemba, who served Orchard Lake, Bl. John Paul II, dies at 85".
    14. ^ "Father Machalski Installed as St. Mary's Chancellor". February 22, 2012.
    15. ^ https://www.stmarysprep.com/alumni (“Fr. Stan Ulman (P’64) – 50 Years a Priest”)
    16. ^ https://www.sscms.edu/trustees (Trustees bio)
    17. ^ "Trustees".
    18. ^ https://www.stmarysprep.com/alumni (“Mac Watts (P’06)”)
    19. ^ "Trustees".
    20. ^ "Trustees".
    21. ^ "Trustees".
    22. ^ "Trustees".
    23. ^ "Trustees".
    24. ^ "Fr. Leonard Francis Chrobot".
    25. ^ "What really is behind the decision to close the Polish Seminary in Orchard Lake?". July 21, 2021.
    26. ^ "Brock Porter Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
    27. ^ "Caden Prieskorn - Football - Post Graduate". Fork Union Military Academy Athletics.
    Credit: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary%27s_Preparatory

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