Moravian Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moravian Academy |
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Merle-Smith Campus: 4313 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
Downtown Campus: 7 E. Market Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018 Swain Campus: 1100 S 24th St, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103, United States
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| Information | |
| Type | Independent, Coeducational, and College Preparatory School |
| Motto | More to Explore |
| Established | 1742 1971 |
| Founder | Benigna Zinzendorf |
| Campus Director | Merle-Smith Campus - Rachel Wright
Downtown Campus - Abby Mahone Swain Campus - Megan Franzyshen |
| Head of school | Adrianne Finley Odell |
| Faculty | 173 (on a FTE basis) |
| Grades | Preschool – 12 |
| Enrollment | 910 (2022–23) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 6:1 |
| Campus | Suburb Urban |
| Color(s) | Red and Gold |
| Athletics conference | Colonial League |
| Mascot | Lion |
Moravian Academy is a special school for students from preschool all the way up to 12th grade. It's an independent school, which means it's not run by the government. Both boys and girls go there, and it helps students get ready for college.
This school is located in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest independent schools in the United States, being the ninth oldest.
Moravian Academy has about 910 students and 173 teachers and staff. These students and staff come from all over the region. The school has three different campuses. Two campuses are in Bethlehem, and one is in Allentown.
Contents
School History and Milestones
Moravian Academy first opened its doors in 1742. Over the years, many important things have happened.
Early Beginnings: 1700s
- 1742: A woman named Countess Benigna Von Zinzendorf started the Moravian Seminary for Girls. This was the very first part of what is now Moravian Academy.
Growth and Mergers: 1900s
- 1971: Two schools, Moravian Preparatory School and Moravian Seminary for Girls, joined together. This created the Moravian Academy we know today. Every spring, the school celebrates this special merger with a "Birthday Love Feast."
- June 10, 1972: The first group of students, 39 in total, graduated from the newly merged Moravian Academy.
- 1987: The school started publishing its own magazine, called the Moravian Academy Journal.
- 1991: A book about the school's history, "Mind, Body, and Spirit: Moravian Academy 1742-1992," was published.
- 1992: Moravian Academy celebrated its 250th birthday!
The Swain School's Story
- 1929: Another school, The Swain School, was opened by D. Esther Swain. This opening is celebrated each year on "Founder's Day." Dogwood trees are planted to honor D. Esther Swain.
- 1990: The Swain School celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Modern Era: 2000s
- 2020: Moravian Academy and The Swain School merged. This created a larger school with three campuses. These campuses are now called the Merle-Smith Campus, the Downtown Campus, and the Swain Campus.
- 2022: Adrianne Finley Odell became the first woman to lead Moravian Academy as the Head of School.
School Sections
Moravian Academy is divided into different sections based on age and grade level.
Beginning School Programs
The Beginning School is for the youngest students. It includes classes for preschool and kindergarten. These classes are held at both the Downtown Campus and the Swain Campus.
Lower School Grades
The Lower School is for students in first through fifth grades. Like the Beginning School, these grades are taught at both the Downtown Campus and the Swain Campus.
Upper School Grades
The Upper School is for older students, from ninth through 12th grade. These students attend classes at the Merle-Smith Campus.
School Leaders
Henrietta Benigna Justina von Zinzendorf founded the school way back in 1742. Since the merger in 1971, these people have led the school:
- Reverend Edwin Sawyer, president (1971-1973)
- David J Devey, head master (1973-1988)
- Peter Sipple, head master (1988-1998)
- Barnaby Roberts, head master (1998-2007)
- George King, head master (2007-2016)
- Jeffrey M. Zemsky, head of school (2016-2022)
- Adrianne Finley Odell, head of school (2022–present)
Famous Alumni
Many students who attended Moravian Academy have gone on to do amazing things. Here are a few:
- Catherine Drinker Bowen, a famous writer who wrote biographies.
- Sally Kohn, a political commentator who shares her views on TV.
- Santo Loquasto, an actor and a winner of the Tony Award for his work in theater.
- Gilmer McCormick, an actress.
