Padua Academy

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Padua Academy is an all-girls Catholic high school in Wilmington, Delaware. The high school was founded in 1954 by Rev. Joseph L. McCoy, O.S.F.S. and built with the help of members of the St. Anthony of Padua Parish. Its patron saints are St. Francis of Assisi and St. Francis de Sales and the teachings of both saints are emphasized as well as the values of spirituality, scholarship, service, and sisterhood. The first classes of Padua Academy (in the late 1950s) took place in the upper level of Saint Anthony of Padua Grade School, located at 9th and North Scott Streets, two blocks away from the present building. Classes also took place in the old P.S. #11 school building in the early years. The building, built in the 1870s, was condemned in the 1990s and was demolished to make way for a bigger parking lot for church-goers in March of 2006.

The present building at 10th and Broom Streets was designed and executed by Rev. Roberto Balducelli, O.S.F.S., who came to the United States from Italy in the 1940s. The school was built by volunteer labor with the help of Brother Michael Rosenello, O.S.F.S., who still helps with the daily operation of the school. Both Brother Michael and Father Roberto (or "Father Robert") are still in residence at Saint Anthony of Padua Rectory located next to the Italian-immigrant built church at 901 N. du Pont Street, two blocks away from the present Padua Academy building.

Padua, as it is usually called, has an enrollment of over 600 girls and is within walking distance of its male counter-part Salesianum, the other girls' high school, Ursuline Academy, and another Catholic High School, St. Elizabeth's. Often, students from each of these schools can be found after school on each other's campuses for various activities and sports events. Padua currently sends students to Salesianum and Ursuline Academy first period for band, chorus, and other classes that cannot be found at Padua and in turn receives students from Salesianum for classes that are not offered at that school.

1 Athletics
2 Trivia
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Athletics

The Padua Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track teams have won several State Championships. In 2006, all three teams won their respective State championships. This was the third time that Padua won the "triple crown" of those sports, making Padua the first school in Delaware history to achieve that distinction.
The Soccer team won its first state championship in 2006.
The Padua volleyball team is debatably second best in the state of Delaware, with many considering Ursuline Academy's to hold the front spot.
They participate in the the Catholic conference.

[edit] Trivia

Padua Academy is a four-time winner of the “Superstars in Education” Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. ^[1]
Padua has nearly 6,000 alumnae.
Padua Academy, with other area Catholic High Schools, holds a High School Placement Test Prep Course for 8th grade girls each Fall.
Padua draws students from four states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Padua students wear sweaters during the colder months: the upperclassmen wear maroon ones and the underclassmen wear navy blue ones.
Padua students may choose to wear grey uniform pants instead of a kilt or skirt.
Students must wear nametags while in school.
Padua has a school dog, a St. Bernard named Michaela. Michaela is the school's sixth St. Bernard. The first five were named Marco Polo, Claire, Bridget, Meghan and Katelyn.
A class of 2005 artist won the Congressional Art Award and had her artwork selected to reperesent the state of Delaware and be displayed in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. for one year.
In sports, Padua has a fierce rivalry with Ursuline Academy.
After students from Salesianum produced a prank video which featured Padua students signing a petition to end women's suffrage, the video surfaced over the Internet and the incident was reported in the local newspaper. ^[2]