St. Mary's Preparatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Preparatory |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Address | |
|
3535 Commerce Road
, 48324
United States
|
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private, 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 |
| Established | 1885 |
| Founder | Joseph Dabrowski |
| Headmaster | Bob Pyles |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 515 (2021) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 13:1 |
| Campus size | 125 acres (51 ha) |
| Campus type | Suburban/Rural |
| Color(s) | Red, white and black |
| Fight song | Hail Mary |
| Athletics conference | Catholic High School League |
| Nickname | Eaglets |
| Accreditation | Michigan Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association |
|
St. Mary's Preparatory
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Indian Trail, Orchard Lake, Michigan |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Tudor Revival, Queen Anne |
| Part of | Orchard Lake Schools Historic District (ID82002859) |
| Designated CP | March 19, 1982 |
St. Mary's Preparatory, often called Orchard Lake St. Mary's (OLSM) or St. Mary's Prep, is a private Catholic school. It is located in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, a suburb near Detroit. The school helps students get ready for college. St. Mary's has core values of "God, Family, St. Mary's." Students can attend classes during the day or live at the school as boarders.
Contents
The History of St. Mary's Prep
St. Mary's Preparatory was founded in 1885 by Józef Dąbrowski. It was first known as "The Polish Seminary." The school's main goal was to train priests for Polish families who had moved to the United States. It started in Detroit at 4671 St. Aubin Street.
As more students joined, the school needed a bigger space. In 1909, it moved to the former campus of the Michigan Military Academy in Orchard Lake Village. This move happened under the leadership of Rev. Witold Buchaczkowski.
In 1927, the school was reorganized into three separate parts. These were SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, St. Mary's College, and St. Mary's Preparatory. Together, they were known as the Orchard Lake Schools. St. Mary's College is now a campus of Madonna University.
In 2020, St. Mary's started accepting female students. Now, classes are taught separately for boys and girls. However, activities like clubs, sports, and arts programs are open to everyone.
What Students Learn at St. Mary's
The academic program at St. Mary's Preparatory is designed to prepare students for college. To graduate, students must complete many different subjects.
Here are some of the main subjects students study:
- Four years of theology (religious studies)
- Four years of English
- Four years of mathematics
- Three years of science
- Three years of social studies
- Three years of a foreign language
Students also take one semester of computer programming, computer applications, physical education, health, fine arts, and speech. In total, students need to earn 28 credits to graduate.
More than 60% of the school's 90 courses are offered at Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) levels. These advanced classes can help students earn college credit while still in high school. St. Mary's is approved by several groups, including the Michigan Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association.
Campus Life and Sports
St. Mary's Preparatory has a unique and historic campus. It was once home to the Michigan Military Academy. One of the most famous buildings is the administration building, called "The Castle." It was originally a large house overlooking Orchard Lake.
The campus also has the Chapel of Our Lady of Orchard Lake. This chapel is a special place for St. John Paul II. He visited the campus and held mass there in 1969 and 1976 when he was the Archbishop of Krakow.
Besides historic buildings, the campus has modern facilities for sports and fun. These include:
- A hockey arena
- Multiple gymnasiums (one was a riding stable for military cadets)
- Weight rooms
- Baseball and softball stadiums
- A wrestling room
- A boathouse on Orchard Lake for crew (rowing)
Sports are a big part of student life at St. Mary's. The school competes in various divisions of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). St. Mary's has won 41 state championships in different sports as of 2019. Some of their traditional rivals include Brother Rice, Detroit Catholic Central High School, and Detroit Country Day School.
Museums on Campus
The campus is home to the Polish Home Army Museum. It also has many other collections that show Polish military and cultural history. These are mostly found in the Ark Building. The museums are open to the public on the first Sunday of each month, known as "Polish Sundays."
Living at St. Mary's
St. Mary's Preparatory offers boarding options for students. This means students can live at the school. There are options for students to stay five days a week or seven days a week.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from St. Mary's Preparatory. Here are a few:
- Walter Ciszek – A Jesuit priest and missionary.
- Adam Joseph Maida – A Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit.
- Jay Penske – The founder and CEO of Penske Media Corporation.
- Thomas John Paprocki – The Bishop of Springfield.
- Jeff Petry – A professional ice hockey player for the Florida Panthers.
- Josh Bourke – A former professional Canadian football offensive lineman.
- David Bowens – A former professional American football linebacker.
- K. J. Hamler – A current American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills.
- Allen Robinson – A current American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.
- Dion Sims – A former American football tight end.
Notable Former Faculty
Some notable people have also taught or coached at St. Mary's:
- Dan Gheesling – The winner of Big Brother 10. He was an assistant football coach and taught health, biology, and physical education.
- George Porritt – A former Athletic Director and head coach for football, basketball, and lacrosse. He is in the MHSAA Hall of Fame and won ten state championships across these sports.
