Mount de Sales Academy (Georgia)

Last updated
Mount de Sales Academy
Mount de Sales Academy Crest.png
Address
Mount de Sales Academy (Georgia)
851 Orange Street

,
Georgia
31201

United States
Coordinates 32°50′4″N83°38′24″W / 32.83444°N 83.64000°W / 32.83444; -83.64000
Information
Type Private
MottoTouching hearts, shaping lives
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established1876(148 years ago) (1876)
Founder Sisters of Mercy
AuthorityIndependent
CEEB code 111955
PresidentBrendan O'Kane
DeanMary Pat Dadisman
Head of schoolEmily Brown (Upper School),
Kaylee Gonzalez Freeman (Middle School)
ChaplainFather Casey Cole, OFM
Staff87
Grades 612
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment518
Student to teacher ratio8:1
CampusUrban
Color(s)Blue and gold
  
MascotMonty
Nickname Cavaliers
Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools
Publicationde Sales Sheet Magazine
YearbookSalesian
Website www.mountdesales.net

Mount de Sales Academy (MDS) is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school in Macon, Georgia. It was originally founded in 1876 by five Sisters of Mercy, an order of nuns, as a boarding school for girls. [1] It is the oldest independent school in Middle Georgia and the first to racially integrate. [2] The school is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, operating on an independent basis. [3]

Contents

History

Early history

In 1871 during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, a group of five Sisters of Mercy from Columbus, Georgia, began a small school known as the Academy of the Sacred Heart Jesus on the corner of 4th and Walnut streets in Macon. [1] In 1876, the mother house of the Sisters relocated from Columbus to Macon. With help from others, the Sisters purchased the former home of Georgia Governor George W. Town for use at the corner of Orange and Columbus streets on Beall's Hill in downtown Macon. On February 28, 1876, the new school was chartered under the name of Mount de Sales in honor of Saint Francis de Sales. When the first graduation exercises were held in 1882, it had expanded to comprise three divisions: primary, preparatory and senior. It educated mostly girls in grades 1-12, housing boarding students from around the southeastern United States and Latin America. [4]

The former residence of Georgia Governor George Towns c. 1880s, the original building and site of Mount de Sales Academy. Towns mansion.jpg
The former residence of Georgia Governor George Towns c. 1880s, the original building and site of Mount de Sales Academy.

Modernization and expansion

Sheridan Hall Sheridan Hall.JPG
Sheridan Hall

In 1936, Mount de Sales discontinued its primary school. But it continued as a girl's secondary school for boarding and day students until 1959, when the first boys were admitted as day students. [1] The girl's boarding school closed in 1963 and the school continued as a coeducation day school. The first coeducational graduating class included 16 boys among 46 total graduates in 1963. The fall of 1963 marked the racial integration of Mount de Sales as a result of a diocesan edict, making it the first school in Middle Georgia to desegregate. A year later, it graduated its first two black students: Eileen Williams and Cheryl Odom. [1]

David J. Zuver Performing Arts Center David J. Zuver Performing Arts Center.JPG
David J. Zuver Performing Arts Center

In 1975, the middle school returned with the re-addition of an eighth grade. A seventh grade was reinstalled in 1988, followed by a sixth grade in 2004. [1] The Sisters of Mercy served in an administrative capacity until 2002, when the first lay head of school was appointed by the Board of Trustees, the school's governing body. Mount de Sales continues to be sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.

The original convent and boarding school building was demolished in the early 1970s and replaced with Sheridan Hall in 1990. [2] New buildings were constructed over the following decades. Cavalier Fields, a 77 acres (31 ha) athletic complex, opened in 1998 approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of the downtown campus. In 2015, the school underwent $1 million of enhancements to align with redevelopment changes in Macon's College Hill Corridor, a two-square mile area between Mercer University and the downtown business district.

Father John Cuddy Hall Father John Cuddy Hall.JPG
Father John Cuddy Hall

Academics

The upper school's curriculum includes honor, Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment college courses in most subject areas, along with a broad range of elective courses. Upper school students must perform 20 hours of community service annually, while middle school students are required to complete service projects. The middle school's House System places students in cross-grade level groups to foster positive social development. All students take theology courses and attend Mass on Holy Days. While Mount de Sales has a Catholic heritage, about two-thirds of students are of non-Catholic faiths. [5] Students hail from more than 30 Georgia zip codes and the school hosts dozens of international exchange students. [6] [7]

Controversy

In 2014, the school's administrators fired Flint Dollar, an openly gay music teacher who planned to marry his longtime male partner, based on the Catholic church's doctrine against same-sex marriage. [8] Opposition to the firing came from students and parents. [9] In 2015, both parties reached a confidential legal settlement. [10]

Athletics

Mount de Sales competes in a number of interscholastic athletics in Class A of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), where it previously was a member from 1961 to 1980. [11] Prior to the 2014-15 school year, it competed for 33 years in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA).

The Cavaliers, as the school's teams are nicknamed, compete at the varsity, junior varsity and C-team levels. The school also sponsors cheerleading and a band. Cavalier Fields is home to Mount de Sale's football stadium, soccer fields, a track, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and practice fields. Most indoor athletics are held at McAuley Hall, the downtown campus gymnasium. The Cavalier Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who have made significant contributions to the athletic program. [12]

Accreditation and membership

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon, Georgia</span> Consolidated city-county in Georgia, United States

Macon, officially Macon–Bibb County, is a consolidated city-county in Georgia, United States. Situated near the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is 85 miles (137 km) southeast of Atlanta and near the state's geographic center—hence its nickname "The Heart of Georgia".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters of Mercy</span> Religious congregation

The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute for women in the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute has about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They also started many education and health care facilities around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School</span> School in Augusta, Georgia, United States

John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (DFA) is a public magnet school for the fine and performing arts located in downtown Augusta, Georgia, United States. It draws students in grades 6 through 12 throughout Richmond County. In addition to a basic curriculum of college preparatory and Advanced Placement academic courses, Davidson offers academic and fine arts courses in the areas of visual arts, music, chorus, dance, cinema production, and theatre. It has been recognized as a National Grammy Signature School, has been ranked as the #1 school in the state of Georgia, and has placed in the top 100 tier of Newsweek's "America's Best High Schools."

Savannah Christian Preparatory School (SCPS) is a private, college preparatory, non-denominational Christian school located in Savannah, Georgia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stratford Academy</span> Private school in Macon, Georgia, United States

Stratford Academy is a private school in Bibb County, Georgia, United States, near Macon. It opened September 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount St. Mary Academy</span> Catholic high school in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States

Mount Saint Mary Academy is a four-year private high school for girls, located in Watchung, in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen, the school operates financially independent of the Diocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westlake High School (Georgia)</span> Public high school in Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Westlake High School is a comprehensive public high school located in unincorporated Fulton County, Georgia and is accredited by the Georgia Department of Education and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The academic growth rate for Westlake students was higher than 95% of schools in the state and was above the state average in college readiness in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Presbyterian Day School</span> Private day school in Macon, Georgia USA

First Presbyterian Day School (FPD) is a private, college-preparatory Christian day school in Macon, Georgia, United States. FPD was founded in 1970 by Macon's First Presbyterian Church and has been described at the time of its founding as a segregation academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Vincent's Academy</span> Private school in Savannah, Georgia, United States

St. Vincent's Academy (SVA) is a private, Catholic, all-girls high school located next to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in downtown Savannah, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1845 when Father Jeremiah Francis O’Neill brought six Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy from Charleston, South Carolina, the school operates within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah and enrolls about 350 girls in grades 9-12.

St Francis de Sales College is a Reception to Year 12 Catholic co-educational school located in Mount Barker, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston County High School (Georgia)</span> Public high school in Warner Robins, Georgia , United States

Houston County High School is a public high school for grades 9-12 in the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1991 and is part of the Houston County School System.

Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA) is a college preparatory, all-girls Catholic high school founded in 1962 by the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Despite its location in Franklin Township, the school has a Newfield mailing address. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools.

St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School is named for Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and Pope Pius XII. The school's history stretches back to 1868. Located in Columbus, Georgia, St. Anne-Pacelli is the only Preschool -12th grade Catholic school serving southwestern Georgia.

Pinecrest Academy is a private Catholic school in Cumming, Georgia, United States, for students from Pre-K through 12th grade. It is in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tattnall Square Academy</span> Private school in Macon, Georgia, United States

Tattnall Square Academy (TSA) is a private Christian school located in Macon, Georgia, United States. It was chartered by Tattnall Square Baptist Church in 1969 and has been described at the time of its founding as a segregation academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacelli High School (Columbus, Georgia)</span> Private, coeducational school in Columbus, Georgia, United States

Pacelli High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Columbus, Georgia, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah and is the only Catholic high school in southwestern Georgia. The school is connected to St. Anne School, and both schools are governed through a joint system by St. Anne Catholic Church.

Mount Pisgah Christian School is a private Christian school located in Johns Creek, Georgia, United States. It is located on Nesbit Ferry Road off of Highway 19.

Mount Aviat Academy is a Roman Catholic independent, co-educational school, located in Childs, Maryland, United States. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and is operated under the direction of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales. The current enrollment is just about 250 students, from Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Mount Aviat was selected as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. This prestigious award is given annually to only 50 private schools nationwide.

Denmark High School is a public high school in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States. It serves grades 9–12 for Forsyth County Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Interscholastic Association</span> High school athletic league during segregation

The Georgia Interscholastic Association (GIA), formed in 1948, was a sports league of high schools serving African Americans in Georgia. It merged into the Georgia High School Association with desegregation in 1970. As If We Were Ghosts is a documentary film made about the league and its athletes. The Georgia Interscholastic Association held state championship competitions from 1948–70 and joined the Georgia High School Association the following year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our History".
  2. 1 2 School profile, macon.com. Accessed August 28, 2022.
  3. "Office of Catholic Schools | Catholic Diocese of Savannah".
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2016-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Mount de Sales religious diversity, macon.com. Accessed August 28, 2022.(subscription required)
  6. Mount de Sales profile, mountdesales.net. Accessed August 28, 2022.
  7. "De Sales Sheet Magazine | Spring Digital Edition".
  8. "Gay Teacher Files Sex Discrimination Claim Against Georgia School". NPR.org.
  9. "Mount de Sales trustees defend ouster of band director".
  10. Confidential settlement reached between Mount de Sales Academy and Flint Dollar, macon.com. Accessed August 28, 2022.(subscription required)
  11. Sports section, macon.com. Accessed August 28, 2022.(subscription required)
  12. "Mount de Sales Academy | Athletics Programs in Macon, GA".
  13. "NAIS Bookstore".
  14. "List of Member Schools - Georgia Independent School Association". 30 April 2012.
  15. "2021-2022 GHSA Member School Directory | GHSA.net".
  16. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2017-01-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "The NCEA Member School Locator - School ID".
  18. "Mercy Schools". Network for Mercy Education. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  19. Cognia, mountdesales.net. Accessed August 28, 2022.
  20. "BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  21. Flora, Joseph M.; Vogel, Amber (2006-06-21). Southern Writers: A New Biographical Dictionary. ISBN   9780807148556.
  22. "Bill Berry - Biography | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-15.
  23. "Savannah sister to welcome Pope Francis, meet President Obama during historic visit".
  24. Jones, H. (1964). "In Memoriam Mary Givens Bryan 1910-1964". The American Archivist. 27 (4): 505–507. doi: 10.17723/aarc.27.4.k8257nx455568059 .
  25. "Miss Georgia is crowned Miss America 2016". USA Today .
  26. "Class of 2004". MaconSportsHOF.com. Bibb Media, Inc. 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023. Larry Lawrence lettered in football and basketball at Mt. de Sales. He was an All-State basketball player in 1976 and received a scholarship to Dartmouth College.
  27. Reference to alumna Natalia Livingston, macon.com. Accessed August 28, 2022.(subscription required)
  28. "Cole Miller UFC Bio" . Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  29. "The Punaro Group: About Arnold Punaro and the Punaro Group".
  30. Justin Baxley (March 1, 2019). "Lisa Sheridan, Macon native and 'NCIS' actress, found dead in New Orleans apartment". The Macon Telegraph.
  31. Tachman, Tyler (November 17, 2022). "'Resilient' Dexter Williams getting chance to prove he's answer to IU's QB question". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved November 6, 2023.