Berwick Academy
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| Berwick Academy | |
 |
|
| Dei Timor Initium Sapiente (Latin: Fear of God is the start of knowledge) |
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| Established | 1791 |
| School type | Private, Day |
| Religious affiliation | None |
| Headmaster | Richard W. Ridgway |
| Location | South Berwick, Maine, United States |
| Campus | Rural, 72 Acres, 11 Buildings |
| Enrollment | 602 |
| Faculty | Approx. 75 |
| Average class size | 14 students |
| Student:teacher ratio |
8:1 |
| Average SAT scores (2004) |
588 Verbal 603 Math |
| Athletics | 13 Interscholastic Sports 27 Interscholastic Teams |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Bulldog |
| Conference | Eastern Independent League |
Berwick Academy is a private, coeducational day school located in South Berwick, Maine, enrolling over 600 students in grades K-12. The Academy reflects many of the stereotypes associated with the formulaic model of the New England prep school, however it is notable for its relatively small size and its status as a day school rather than a boarding school, in addition to its Lower and Middle School programs, which most other prep schools lack. Berwick is the oldest school in Maine, founded in 1791. Athletic teams compete in the Eastern Independent League, and Berwick is a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council.
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[edit] Mission
Berwick Academy was founded in 1791 to promote "Virtue and useful knowledge among the rising generations."
[edit] History
The history of Berwick Academy dates back to 1791, when the citizens of Berwick, York, and Wells raised 500 pounds to better educate the "deplorable youth in this part of the country."
Incorporated by the Massachusetts Legislature and with a charter signed by Governor John Hancock for the purpose of "promoting true piety and virtue and useful knowledge among the rising generation," Berwick Academy was established to teach languages, liberal arts, and sciences.
The oldest educational institution in Maine, the Academy was the equivalent of a comprehensive high school, and until the 1950s the town of South Berwick contracted with the school to educate local students. By 1955, Berwick reverted to a completely private status with an exclusive college preparatory program in accordance with the intent of the Academy's founders.
Berwick became a boarding school for boys, with a day department for girls, and continued to expand its facility by acquiring land for playing fields and tennis courts, as well as old homes for dormitories. A new gymnasium and the Commons - housing a dining hall and science laboratories - were completed by the mid-sixties.
Berwick experienced tremendous changes during the seventies - adding the Middle School in 1971 and discontinuing the boarding program in 1976. With the addition of the Lower School in 1977, the transformation to a true country day school was complete.
Berwick continued to expand its facility with the dedication of the Whipple Arts Center in 1985, the Kendall Lower School in 1988, the Clement Middle School in 1994, the Athletic Facility in 1997, the Jeppesen Science Center in 1999, and the opening of the Jackson Library in 2002. The Athletic Facility was originally named in honor of former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski, who was the principle donor behind the complex; the name was changed in 2003 after Kozlowski was implicated in a corporate scandal. Today, the Academy continues to build its campus and grow as an institution. [1]
[edit] Organization
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees. In charge of the day-to-day operation of the school, as well as with fundraising, is the Headmaster; currently Richard "Hap" Ridgway; soon to be Greg Schneider. Heading up each division of the school are three Division Directors.
[edit] Academics
The school is divided into three divisions, roughly along the lines of United States' public school divisions: the Lower School (grades K-4), the Middle School (grades 5-8), and the Upper School (grades 9-12). The academic calendar is divided into semesters and quarters, with students typically taking year-long classes, with the exception of certain Upper School electives, which are often limited to a semester in length.
Berwick Academy students follow a rigorous academic program where teachers combine the ideals of a classical education with the latest technology in an effort to give students the best of all scholarly worlds. In keeping with Berwick's mission of "educating the whole person," many diverse areas of academic endeavor receive attention at the school, and students are encouraged to pursue a well-rounded education. The school has excellent programs in Liberal Arts, Sciences, Fine Arts, and Music.
Berwick graduates typically matriculate to many of the top-ranked Colleges in the United States: the Ivy League, "Little Ivies," and other similarly selective institutions are popular destinations.
[edit] Athletics
Athletics are a critical part of the Academy's mission to "educate the whole person." Students participate in intramural sports in the Lower and Middle Schools, and in interscholastic competition in the Middle and Upper Schools. Teams are divided by gender and skill level. All students are required to play sports, though waivers may be obtained to allow students to pursue other activities, such as dance. Teams compete in the Eastern Independent League and New England Preparatory School Athletic Council.
[edit] Notable alumni
Some of the Notable Alumni who have attended the academy include:
- Sarah Orne Jewett, famous 19th century writer
- Gladys Hasty Carroll, bestselling author of As the Earth Turns and other novels.
- Mike Eruzione, captain of the gold medal winning 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team
- Albert A. Simpler, pioneer of solar energy technology
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is claimed to have attended Berwick for a short time before going to Bowdoin College, but this remains unproven.
