St. Mary's Preparatory facts for kids
St. Mary's Preparatory is a co-educational, Catholic high school located in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It helps students get ready for college. The school's main message is "God, Family and St. Mary's."
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Preparatory |
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3535 Commerce Road
, 48324
United States
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| Type | Private, Co-Educational. |
| 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 | Stanley Milewski |
| 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 |
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St. Mary's Preparatory
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U.S. Historic district
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| 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 |
Contents
About St. Mary's Prep
St. Mary's Preparatory was started in 1885. It was founded by Rev. Joseph Dabrowski in Detroit. The school was originally for Polish-American boys. Its goal was to train them for the priesthood.
In 1909, the school moved to a bigger campus. This new campus is 125 acres large. It is located on the shores of Orchard Lake. The school is still there today. Since 2020, girls can also attend St. Mary's Preparatory.
The campus is shared with SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. Some offices and classrooms for Madonna University are also on campus. The Felician Sisters have helped the Orchard Lake Schools since 1935.
Learning at St. Mary's
St. Mary's helps students get ready for college. The school's program meets college entrance requirements. To graduate, students need 28 credits.
This includes four years of theology and English. They also need four years of math. Three years of science and social studies are required. Students must take three years of a foreign language. They also need a semester of computer programming and applications. Physical education, health, fine arts, and speech are also required.
More than 60% of the courses are advanced. These are honors and AP (Advanced Placement) level classes. St. Mary's offers about 90 different courses.
Students do not have to be Catholic to attend. However, all students learn about the Catholic tradition. This includes theology classes for four years. Students also attend Mass twice a week. There are also class retreats and other activities. School priests can help guide students.
All St. Mary's graduates who apply to college get accepted. A guidance counselor helps students choose colleges. The school once held a national record. Four students in one year went to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Students often walk between classes. Classes are in different buildings. This gives them fresh air and nice views. They can see the campus and Orchard Lake.
St. Mary's Preparatory is officially approved. It is licensed by Michigan's Department of Education. It is also part of the Michigan Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association. The school is a member of the Orchard Lake Schools. It is also part of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Campus Life and Sports
The campus has many buildings for student life. There is a hockey arena and a large library. A Marian grotto is also on campus. There is a three-story dorm for boarding students. The school has a bookstore and two gyms. There is also a science center and administration buildings. A field house and dining hall are available. The Shrine Chapel is also on campus.
The school has a quarter-mile of beach. This beach is on Orchard Lake. Only school members can use it.
Students enjoy playing many sports. The school offers 14 varsity sports for boys. These include football, basketball, and baseball. Other sports are bowling, track and field, and cross country. Golf, wrestling, rowing, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, skiing, and snowboarding are also offered.
The Girl's Division offers cheerleading and volleyball. They also have basketball, crew, track, and field. The school's teams are called the Eaglets. They have won many championships. As of 2019, they had 41 Michigan State Championships. In 1998, the rowing team placed second at the Henley Royal Regatta. The Eaglet football team has reached the state finals 14 times. They have won eight of those times. In 2021, the Eaglet baseball team won the National Championship. This was a first for a Michigan team. They finished the season with a 43-1 record.
The athletic facilities are excellent. There is an athletic center with a hockey arena. It has a weight room and an indoor track. There are locker rooms and a banquet hall. A basketball gymnasium is also inside. The crew team has its own boathouse. It is right off Orchard Lake.
Outdoors, St. Mary's has two football fields. There are also two baseball diamonds. An outdoor basketball court is available. The St. Mary's Ski team practices at Alpine Valley Snow Ski Area. This is in White Lake, Michigan.
The Eaglets compete in the MHSAA. They are in Division I for ice hockey. For other sports, they are in Divisions II and III. In the Detroit Catholic League, they compete in the Central Division. St. Mary's has strong rivalries. Their main rivals are De La Salle Collegiate High School, Birmingham Brother Rice, U of D Jesuit, and Catholic Central High School.
St. Mary's hosts a large high school fair every year. This fair helps raise money for the school. Thousands of people attend this event. You can learn more at stmaryspolishcountryfair.com.
Museums on Campus
The "Ark Building" has several museums. It includes the Polish Home Army Museum. Other rooms house museums about Polish military history. There are also museums about Polish history. These include the Museum of Fr. Józef Dąbrowski. There is also a museum for the Polish Army Second Corps.
Other museums include the Archive and Museum of Polonia Radio and TV. The Commemorative Room of Polish Diaspora is also there. You can find the Archive, Library, and Museum of the First Polish Armored Division. The Archive, Library, and Museum of the Polish Home Army AK are also present. There is also an Archive, Library, and Museum of the Polish Air Force.
The Galeria (Building #8) shows art by Polish artists. This includes paintings and sculptures. You can also see china and antique furniture. The Galeria and museums are open for tours. These tours happen on Polish Sundays. This is the first Sunday of each month.
Boarding at St. Mary's
St. Mary's offers a boarding program. Students can live at the school. There are options for seven-day and five-day boarding.
Well-Known People
Notable Former Faculty
- Dan Gheesling: He won Big Brother 10. He was an assistant football coach. He also taught health, biology, and physical education.
- Art Paddy: He is in the Michigan High School Football Hall of Fame. He coached varsity football at St. Mary's from 1973-1977.
Notable Alumni
- Robert Bolden: A former college football quarterback. He played for Penn State, LSU, and Eastern Michigan.
- Josh Bourke: A former professional Canadian football offensive lineman.
- David Bowens: A former professional American football linebacker. He played twelve seasons in the NFL.
- Charles Davis: A former American football tight end.
- K. J. Hamler: A current American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.
- Gary Ignasiak: A former Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He played for the Detroit Tigers.
- Mike Ignasiak: A former MLB pitcher. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Filmel Johnson: A former American football defensive back. He played for the Buffalo Bills.
- Scott Kowalkowski: A former American football linebacker. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
- Matt Linehan: A quarterback for the Salt Lake Stallions.
- Kalin Lucas: An American professional basketball player.
- Adam Maida: A cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.
- Grant Mason: A former American football cornerback.
- Jim Paciorek: A former professional baseball player.
- Jay Penske: A businessman in media and publishing.
- Jeff Petry: A professional ice hockey defenseman. He plays for the Detroit Red Wings.
- Leonard Renfro: A former American football defensive tackle. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Allen Robinson: A current American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Sam Rogers: A former American football linebacker. He played for the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, and Atlanta Falcons.
- Dion Sims: An American football tight end. He played for the Chicago Bears.
- Morgan Trent: A former American football cornerback.
