Presentation Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Presentation Academy |
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| Address | |
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861 South 4th Street
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United States
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| Coordinates | 38°14′32″N 85°45′34″W / 38.24222°N 85.75944°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, All-Girls |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Catholic |
| Established | 1831 |
| Founder | Catherine Spalding |
| President | Laura Dills '94 |
| Principal | Becca Noonan '00 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | female |
| Color(s) | Navy blue and white |
| Mascot | Topper (Top Hat) |
| Nickname | Toppers, Pres, P.A. |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Publication | Tower Yearbook (school annual); The Tower (newsletter) |
| Athletic Director | Jill O'Bryan |
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Presentation Academy
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Front and southern side
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | D.X. Murphy |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001364 |
| Added to NRHP | 1978 |
Presentation Academy is a high school for girls in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It helps students get ready for college. The school is part of the Archdiocese of Louisville.
Mother Catherine Spalding started Presentation Academy in 1831. She was also the founder of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. This makes Presentation Academy the oldest school in Louisville that has been open continuously since it began.
Contents
History of Presentation Academy
How the School Started
Mother Catherine Spalding founded Presentation Academy in 1831. The school first opened in a rented house. But in October of the same year, it moved to its own building on Fourth Street. The school stayed there for more than 50 years.
Presentation Academy was the second school ever started in Louisville. An earlier public school effort in 1828 did not last because it ran out of money. This is why Presentation Academy became the oldest school in the city that has always been open.
Growing and Changing Buildings
The school grew over time. In 1891, the group that ran Presentation Academy bought a new piece of land and a house. This was at the corner of Fourth and Breckenridge. They paid $35,000 for it.
In June 1892, plans were made to build a new school building. It would replace the old house. The new building was designed by D. X. Murphy and cost about $66,000. Later, in 1938, a gym and an auditorium were added. Another classroom section was built in 1948.
Focusing on High School Girls
The school first taught both elementary and high school students. But in 1945, the elementary section closed. This was done to make room for more girls in the high school.
The school building has a special tower in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This tower was rebuilt after a fire in 1977. D.X. Murphy, who designed the school, also designed the famous clubhouse at Churchill Downs. In 2004, the building was named one of Louisville's ten favorite places by a local newspaper. Many students have signed their names on the inside walls of the tower over the years.
Overcoming Challenges
In the 1950s and 1960s, about 800 students attended the school. But by 1993, only 230 students were enrolled. The school also had a debt of over $760,000. It was announced that the school would close in May 1995.
However, former students, current students, and parents worked together to save the school. They started a campaign and raised enough money to pay off the debt. After this, the Sisters of Charity gave control of the school to Spalding University, which is nearby.
In 2004, Presentation Academy became independent again. It was financially stable with a budget of $6.2 million. The school then created its own board of trustees to manage it.
New Arts and Athletic Center
In 2006, the school bought a property across the street. This property is 22,000 square feet. It became the new Arts and Athletic Center. This new center replaced the old gym and auditorium, which Spalding University now owns.
Construction on the new $5 million building began on May 5, 2008. It is located at 900 South Fourth Street. On January 23, 2009, Presentation Academy celebrated placing the final beam in the new center. The center officially opened on September 13, 2009. It was named the Best New Landmark of 2009 by a local website.
School Traditions
Staircase Rules
One old tradition at Presentation Academy is that only senior students can use the front carpeted staircase. Freshmen use the front entrance on their very first day of school. Seniors use it on their last day. Also, on their last day, seniors sign their names on the inside walls of the school's Tower.
Walk-A-Thon Event
Every fall, Presentation Academy holds an annual Walk-A-Thon. This event raises money to help students who need financial assistance. Each year, the Walk-A-Thon has a different theme. A student designs a special T-shirt for the event. After raising money and having a pep rally, the girls walk three miles around downtown Louisville. This shows their school spirit.
School Campus
Location Benefits
Presentation Academy is located very close to Downtown Louisville. This means students can easily access places like 4th Street Live!, the Main Library, and resources at Spalding University after school. Field trips are often taken on foot. Students can walk to places like The Courier-Journal building, the Louisville Hall of Justice, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Frazier History Museum.
Arts and Athletic Center
The new $5 million Arts and Athletic Center opened in August 2009. It is 29,600 square feet. This center replaced the old gymnasium from 1938. It now holds the school's arts programs and athletic teams, known as the Toppers.
Gil Stein & Associates designed the building, and Whittenberg Construction Co. built it. This facility was built as part of Tower Vision, which was Presentation Academy's first big fundraising campaign. The Arts and Athletic Center has a gym with 700 seats and an auditorium with 300 seats. It also has art and dance studios, plus offices.
School Uniform
Like many private schools, Presentation Academy has a dress code. Students wear uniform shirts like white polo shirts, white oxford shirts, or light blue polo shirts. They can also wear a navy blue vest, a v-neck sweater, and pants. The original navy blue skirt or a new plaid skirt are also options. For colder months, Presentation has a winter uniform, which is a navy blue jacket and pants set.
Sports Teams
Presentation Academy offers many sports for students. These include archery, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, cross country, golf, cheerleading, lacrosse, dance, basketball, swimming, softball, track, and tennis.
School Clubs
Students at Presentation Academy can join many different clubs. Some of these include the Interact Club, Newspaper Club, Book Club, Student Council, Believe Club, and Language and Culture Club. There are also the STEAM Club, Math and Robotics Club, ATL Ushers, and Podcasting Club.
Other clubs are the Environmental Club, Y Club (KYA/KUNA), National Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society. Students can also join Girl Talk, Science National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Bowling Club, Mission Club, Drama Club, Anime Club, St. Joseph of Arimathea Society, Governor's Cup, and Prezettes.
Recent Events
Spalding University has taken down the old one-story gym that was next to the historic Presentation building. This area is now a green space. Presentation Academy also hosts an event called the Tower Awards each year. This event helps raise money for the students and the school.
Achievements
- In 2005, students came to Presentation Academy from over 85 different areas in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Famous Former Students
- Mary Anderson, a stage actress
- Mia Zapata, lead singer for The Gits, who graduated in 1984
