Shenandoah Valley Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shenandoah Valley Academy |
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| Address | |
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234 West Lee Highway
, 22844
United States
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| Coordinates | 38°39′02″N 78°41′20″W / 38.650480°N 78.688945°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Parochial, Private, Day & Boarding |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Seventh-day Adventist |
| Established | 1908 |
| Authority | Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists |
| Principal | Donald Short |
| Teaching staff | 13 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Enrollment | 244 (2010) |
| International students | 15% |
| Average class size | 30 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 11:1 |
| Campus size | 450 acres (1.8 km2) |
| Campus type | Rural |
| Color(s) | Navy and White |
| Slogan | Serve God, Value Knowledge, Accept a Life of Service |
| Athletics conference | Cavalier Athletic Conference |
| Sports | 7 Varsity Teams, 1 Junior Varsity Team |
| Mascot | Stars |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Virginia Council for Private Education, Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools |
| ITED Composite average | 70th% |
| Newspaper | Shen-Val-Lore |
| Yearbook | Shenandoan |
| Tuition | ≤$21,200 |
| Alumni | <6,000 |
| Website | SVA Website |
Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) is a special high school in New Market, Virginia, USA. It's a private school where both boys and girls learn together. Students can either live at the school (this is called a boarding program) or come for the day.
SVA teaches about 250 students from grades 9 to 12. The school is located in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It is about 90 minutes west of Washington, DC. SVA first opened its doors in 1908. The first group of students graduated in the spring of 1911.
Contents
School History
How SVA Started
In 1905, a man named Charles D. Zirkle from New Market gave 42 acres of land to the Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He wanted a school built there for young Adventist students. Two years later, building began. The school was first called New Market Academy. However, that name was already used by another school. So, it was changed to Shenandoah Valley Academy, which is still its name today.
The private school opened in September 1908. It had ten grades and 15 students in its first year. The first four students graduated in 1911. When it was founded, Shenandoah Valley Academy was the seventh Seventh-day Adventist high school in the United States.
Challenges and Growth
SVA faced tough times and did not operate in 1913-1914 because of money problems. From 1916 to 1921, the school struggled to stay open. Principal H. M. Forshee and Elder R. D. Hottel helped a lot. Elder Hottel collected money and food for the school.
During World War I, the school lost students. In 1918, the Spanish flu epidemic also hit. One person died, and the school had to close temporarily.
In the fall of 1927, W. C. Hannah became the principal. He served for 26 years, which is the longest of any principal in SVA's history. He helped the school and its campus grow a lot.
Students Today
Today, most students at SVA come from Virginia and Maryland. Many also come from other parts of the United States, like the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic states. Some students even come from far away, like the South and West. SVA also welcomes students from other countries, such as South Korea, Angola, and Argentina. By 2019, over 5,300 students had graduated from SVA.
School Campus
The school is located on a large 450-acre campus in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The Shenandoah River runs along one side of the campus. Students can enjoy views of Massanutten Mountain.
Most classes are held in Twomley Hall. This building also has the school's main offices, the library, and an auditorium. Hewitt Hall has the student center and classrooms for applied arts. The boys' dorm, Phanstiel Hall, and the girls' dorm, Hadley Hall, were updated in the early 2000s.
What Students Learn
Classes and Diplomas
SVA has a required set of classes for all students. These include English, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. Students also take religion courses every year. They learn about applied or fine arts, personal finance, and physical education.
For students who want to go to more selective colleges, there are extra requirements. These include foreign language classes and more advanced science and math courses. SVA also offers special classes like Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit courses. These can include English, Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, Precalculus, Calculus, Personal Finance, and two religion courses.
SVA offers three types of diplomas:
- An Advanced Studies Diploma for students aiming for top colleges.
- A College Preparatory Diploma.
- A Standard Diploma.
Student Life
Performing Arts
SVA has a very active and award-winning performing arts program. Two full-time teachers and several graduate students from James Madison University help teach music. They offer many instrumental lessons to SVA students. SVA is one of only 12 high schools in Virginia with a full orchestra.
Music groups at SVA include:
- The Shenandoans: This is a special choir that travels to perform.
- The Valley Ringers: A group that plays handbells.
- The Chorale: A large choir.
- Concert Band.
- String Ensemble.
The Shenandoans, Valley Ringers, Concert Band, and Symphony Orchestra often go on tours. They visit places both in the United States and other countries. Recent tours have included Germany, Austria, Florida, and Costa Rica.
There are also Praise Teams that lead the school in singing during weekly chapel events. A drama club on campus writes and performs small plays. They perform for elementary schools and at some school events.
Athletics and Sports
Sports are a big part of life at SVA. Many students play on the school's eight interscholastic teams. Even more students join in the fun of intramural sports, which are games played just for fun among students.
Sports Facilities
- The Charles Zirkle Gymnasium: Used for basketball and volleyball.
- A full-size professional soccer field (updated in 2009).
- A baseball field (updated in 2009).
- An outdoor track.
Other sports, like tennis, are played at locations off campus in New Market, Virginia.
School Sports Teams
SVA has several sports teams:
- Boys' Varsity Soccer (Fall)
- Girls' Varsity Volleyball (Fall)
- Boys' Varsity Basketball (Winter)
- Girls' Varsity Basketball (Winter)
- Boys' Varsity Baseball (Spring)
- Girls' Varsity Soccer (Spring)
- Boys' Junior Varsity Basketball (Winter)
Notable Alumni
Some well-known people who went to Shenandoah Valley Academy include:
- Astrid Heppenstall Heger, MD, Class of 1960: A professor and founder of a program that helps victims of violence.
- Samuel H. Wood MD, Class of 1975: A scientist and fertility specialist.
- James (Jim) Davis, DDS, Class of 1965: A former member of the North Carolina General Assembly.
- Dale E. Twomley, PhD, MBA, Class of 2009 (honorary): A businessman, educator, and former president of Worthington Foods. He was also a principal at SVA three times.
See also
- List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools
- Seventh-day Adventist education
