St. Vincent Pallotti High School
| St. Vincent Pallotti High School | |
|---|---|
|
Front entrance | |
| Address | |
|
113 St. Mary's Place Laurel, Maryland, (Prince George's County) 20707 United States | |
| Coordinates | 39°6′27.89″N 76°51′24.94″W / 39.1077472°N 76.8569278°WCoordinates: 39°6′27.89″N 76°51′24.94″W / 39.1077472°N 76.8569278°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Patron saint(s) | St. Vincent Pallotti |
| Established | 1921[1] |
| Chairperson | Mr. Tom Downs[2] |
| President/Principal | Mr. Jeff Palumbo[3][4] |
| Faculty | 63[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 515[1] (2013) |
| Average class size | 18[1] |
| Color(s) | Navy Blue, White, Light Blue |
| Mascot | Vinny the Pallotti Panther |
| Team name | Panthers |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[5] |
| School fees | $575[6] |
| Tuition | $13995[6] |
| Dean of Students | Mr. Stephen Walker[7] |
| Admissions Director | Ms. Lindsay Dively[7] |
| Athletic Director | Mr. Rick Diggs[7] |
| Website | http://pallottihs.org |
St. Vincent Pallotti High School, usually called Pallotti, is a private school located in eastern Laurel, Maryland. It was founded by the Pallottines in 1921 and is within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Pallotti is a co-ed school serving young men and women from Prince George's County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and Montgomery County. The school is currently attended by approximately 500 students. The school is noted for its MIAA Lacrosse championship victory at Johns Hopkins in 2006[8] and its Varsity Girls Soccer IAAM "A" conference championship victory in 2007.[9] Pallotti is home to the 2014 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association C Conference Football Champions.[10]
School history
On July 9, 1911, Father Joseph A. Myer came to St. Mary of the Mills parish in Laurel. In 1913, he started a parochial school for the children of the parish, and asked the Sisters of Mercy to staff it. Father Myer purchased a colonial mansion known as the Tiffany Estate in October 1917. The mansion, which was the home of the manager of the Laurel Mills, was located just north of the present high school gymnasium. A remnant of the original circular driveway can still be seen. The mansion was modified by the addition of a frame wing to the south side of the main structure, in order to accommodate a convent, school and boarding rooms for girls. The school drew pupils from a wide geographic area. In 1920 Father Myer purchased additional land close to the Academy with the intention of opening a high school in September 1921. He applied for additional Sisters of Mercy, but they were unable to supply the desired number of teachers. Thus, the Sisters of Mercy withdrew from Laurel in 1921. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill Pennsylvania staffed the elementary and high school from 1921 to 1934.
In 1934, under the direction of Mother de Pazzi Meurer, the American Province of the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines), acquired ownership of the property and took over the administration of the schools. As well-educated and experienced teachers, the Pallottine Sisters brought with them an innovative and professional character to the schools, which continues to this day. Within two years, expansion was necessary for the boarding house. Upon completion, the accommodations for boarders were increased from fourteen to fifty. In 1938 the co-educational Academy, under the principalship of Sister Bede Kurth, SAC, received accreditation from the State of Maryland. By that year enrollment had risen from 23 in 1934 to 179. In 1949 the Academy added two new classrooms, but by 1957 the school had outgrown itself again. The entire eighteenth century mansion was razed and construction of the present high school and day care building was begun. It was thought at that time that the new facility, with a capacity for about four hundred students and residence for thirty sisters, would end all of the space problems for the future. The new building also brought a change in the name from St. Mildred’s Academy to Pallotti High School in honor of the founder of the Pallottines.
Leadership change
In 2011, the school's Principal/President Stephen J. Edmonds stepped down after a five-decade career with the school. In March 2011, Mr. David McKenzie was announced as the new principal of Pallotti High School, effective July 1, 2011.[11] However, in December it was announced that McKenzie would not return to Pallotti when the school year started again after the Christmas break, leaving Rick Diggs to take over as the temporary principal. The official cause for his departure was given as "pressing family issues".[12]
Drug policy
The school has a strict "No-Tolerance" policy for illicit substances. Thus, the school cooperates with the Prince George's County police force in conducting random drug searches. On a few occasions, illicit substances have been found in these searches.
School colors and mascot
The school colors are navy blue, Columbia blue, white, and black. The mascot of Pallotti is the Panthers.
Landmarks
The Chapel - A building which can hold about 200 and contains its own tabernacle. It has marble floors and is revered by the students as visually and spiritually pleasing. (shown right)
References
- 1 2 3 4 "School Profile 2013–2014" (PDF). St. Vincent Pallotti High School. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Board of Directors". St. Vincent Pallotti High School. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Palumbo prepares for first year as Pallotti principal". Laurel Leader. Tribune. August 15, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ↑ "St. Vincent Pallotti High School : Administration". Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ↑ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- 1 2 "Tuition & Financial Aid". St. Vincent Pallotti High School. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Faculty & Staff Directory". St. Vincent Pallotti High School. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Past MIAA Varsity Lacrosse Champions". Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Fall 2007 All-Met Girls' Soccer". The Washington Post. Fall 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
to spark the Panthers (12–5–2) to their first IAAM-A Conference title
- ↑ Worgo, Tom (November 8, 2014). "Roundup: Pallotti defeats AACS, 43–14, for 'C' championship". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Lifelong Catholic educator David McKenzie named new president/principal". St. Vincent Pallotti High School. March 7, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Pallotti Prep President/Principal David McKenzie steps down". The Baltimore Sun. December 22, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.