Porter-Gaud School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto: Fides, Honor, Scientia | |
| Faith, Honor, Knowledge | |
| Head of School | [2] |
| Principals |
Upper School: Sarah Cuccio Middle School: Randy Clark Lower School: Becky Brown |
| School type | Private |
| Religious affiliation | Episcopal/Anglican |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina |
| Enrollment | 940 |
| Faculty | 95 |
| Campus surroundings | Suburban |
| Campus size | 88 acres |
| Sports teams | Cyclones |
| Mascot | The Porter-Gaud Cyclones |
| Athletic Rivals | to Follow |
Porter-Gaud School is an independent college preparatory school with historic ties to the Episcopal Church. With an approximate enrollment of 940 students in grades Kindergarten–12, Porter-Gaud is a coeducational day school located on the banks of the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina.
In 1964, three schools—Porter Military Academy, founded in 1867; the Gaud School for Boys, founded in 1908; and the Watt School, founded in 1931—merged to form Porter-Gaud School. The legal name of the institution is still "The Porter Academy".
The roots of the school go back to the Reverend Dr. Anthony Toomer Porter, an Episcopal priest, who formed the Holy Communion Church Institute in 1867 to educate children orphaned during the Civil War. The school was later known as Porter Academy and eventually Porter Military Academy.
William Steen Gaud established the Gaud School in 1908. In 1948, Berkeley Grimball purchased the school from Mr. Gaud, and over the course of 16 years increased the enrollment to nearly 150 as the Gaud School attained a position of eminence among Southeastern preparatory schools. Mrs. Ann Carson Elliott, Berkeley Grimball’s mother, founded in 1931 the Watt School, a coeducational primary school, which served as a “feeder school” for the Gaud School.
In 1964, the original Porter Military Academy campus in downtown Charleston was sold to the Medical University of South Carolina, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (now CSX) donated the current 88 acre campus on Albemarle Point.
In July 1964, the three schools merged with each other, dropping the military program, and the new entity, Porter-Gaud School, opened its doors to 435 male students in grades 1–12. As a modern school plant began taking shape across the Ashley River on the property donated by the railroad, classes met at the old Porter campus.
Porter-Gaud opened its new campus in September 1965 with an enrollment of 469 day students. In the following year it became one of the first schools in the South to adopt an open admissions policy. In 1972, the school became coeducational. Female students were admitted into the first three grades that year, and by the fall of 1976 the program was accelerated to include girls at all levels of the school, although Porter-Gaud has retained close ties to its sister school, Ashley Hall.
Porter-Gaud School graduates an average class size of 83 per year. The 4-year average SAT score is 1310 (the average for the state of South Carolina is 1023). Porter-Gaud offers 21 AP and 11 Honors courses, in addition to a variety of specialty trimester courses.
Porter-Gaud School is a member of the SCISA Athletic conference. Porter-Gaud offers over 38 Varsity and Junior Varsity sports. Their teams are named the "Porter-Gaud Cyclones."
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[edit] Porter Military Academy
On October 25, 1867, while in Magnolia Cemetery, mourning the death of one of his sons, Anthony Toomer Porter, rector of Holy Communion Church, became convinced that he should start a school. Many of his son's friends could no longer attend school, as their families had been impoverished by the war. By December of that year, Porter had founded the Holy Communion Church Institute, using church facilities.
In 1879 the old Federal Arsenal on Ashley Avenue, a block from the church, was put up for sale. Porter went to Washington and secured the help of President Hayes and Gen. Sherman (Porter had saved the life of Sherman's nephew during the war) to convince Congress to lease the property to the school for $1.00 a year.
Adapting the military buildings to school use, it was fitting that the school became known as Porter Military Academy. Both boarding school and day school, students came from towns and farms throughout the Low Country, and eventually from upper South Carolina, other states, and even other countries. From its beginning, the school accepted students from all faiths. It was and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, but is owned by its Board of Trustees, with the Bishop as an ex officio member. One of the primary goals of the school was, and is, character development, summarized in the motto on the PMA crest: WATCH: Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character, and Habits.
Porter developed a broad curriculum, ranging from Greek to woodworking to athletics. The school day began with bugle call, breakfast, and chapel. Facilities ranged from a dormitory, an infirmary, library, classroom buildings, rifle range, tennis courts, a parade ground, and the notorious "bull ring" where detention students were made to march. Porter had one of the first high school football teams, one of which in a 1913 scrimmage held the Citadel to a 0 to 0 score.
[edit] The Gaud School for Boys
Mr. Gaud, born in Canada, had a master's degree from the University of Chicago, and had been headmaster of Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. After marrying a Charleston girl, he founded the Gaud School in 1908 with 34 students. In 1912 he turned the school over to others in order to teach at Phillips Exeter and then to serve during World War I. He returned to Charleston in 1919 and again took over his school.
Last Graduating Class of 1964 The school was first located in a building behind his home at 29 Legare Street, but in 1920 it relocated to 77 Church Street. From 1928 until 1941 and again from 1957-1961, the school was located at 90-92 East Bay Street on the corner of Adger's Wharf. The school had also been located for a time at 77 Church Street and at 79-81 East Bay Street.
Upon Mr. Gaud's return to Charleston in 1919, his school essentially became a school to ready Charleston boys for successful entry into New England boarding schools. Its high academic standards meant that Mr. Gaud often had a waiting list of applicants. The number of his students ranged from ten to eighteen, and these were divided into two grade levels in his one schoolroom, one class studying while the other recited. After Mrs. Watt's school began in 1931, it was customary for boys to attend her school through the third grade, and then fit in to Mr. Gaud's school, which went through the eighth grade. Mr. Gaud would let his students take a break in the school day and go to the nearby playground, where one of the games was called "Gaud ball" - rather like baseball without a bat.
In 1948 Mr. Gaud retired at age 82 and his equity in the school was purchased by Mr. Berkeley Grimball for $125.00. Mr. Grimball began to build his school, a grade at a time, until he had some 180 students. The building on East Bay Street became too small for the growing school. In 1961 Mr. Grimball bought the Rutledge mansion on Broad Street where the students had classes until 1964. Mr. Grimball continued the high academic standards of Mr. Gaud, at first teaching many of the subjects himself. As the school grew, he added fine teachers such as Mr. Maurice McLaughlin, who taught Latin and Spanish, and Admiral Florence, who taught math. Mr. Grimball was a particularly fine teacher of literature and history. The school lacked athletic facilities, but Mr. Grimball at first used the East Bay Street playground and later took boys out to practice on his tennis courts on James Island; soccer was also added to the activities.
[edit] The Watt School
Mrs. Watt was Mr. Grimball's mother, so running a school came naturally for him. After her husband died, she began her school in 1931 in the depth of the Great Depression. Her first classes were held in the dining room of her Broad Street home, but she had a small classroom building constructed at the rear of her property. The reputation of her school grew among her neighbors and among those living south of Broad Street. Many of her graduates went on to the Gaud School, particularly after Mr. Grimball became headmaster there. Most of the children would walk to school and then walk home for the traditional 2:00 p.m. dinner. It was a homey and welcoming school and very “Charlestonian.”
[edit] Athletics
Porter-Gaud Participates in the South Carolina Independant School Sssociation or SCISA.
Sports Offered
Fall Sports: Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Sailing, Swimming, Tennis (Girls'), Volleyball
Winter Sports: Basketball, Cheerleading, Ice Hockey, Strength and Conditioning
Spring Sports: Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis (Boys'), Track
Rivals
- Bishop England High School - Porter-Gaud and BE have been rivals in Football since the 1920s, when both schools were located in Downtown Charleston. The rivalry has spread to other sports including Basketball and Volleyball.
Note: it was announced in the fall of 2006 that the historic rivals PG and BE would join forces for the first time in history, with the merger of the schools' respective ice hockey teams.
- Pinewood Prep - Porter-Gaud and Pinewood have become rivals in the past decade. The rivalry is centered around Basketball.
- Ashley Hall - Shortly after the merger, PG began to accept female students. As a result, the historical sister school of PMA, Ashley Hall, became an instant rival. PG and Ashley Hall are primarily rivals in girls Volleyball and Basketball.
- Augusta Christian - Porter-Gaud and Augusta Christian have built up a sort of "mini-rivalry," in the past few years. The establishment is due to a PG loss to AC in the 2005 State Championship Football Game.
[edit] School Publications
Porter-Gaud has six student produced publications. Each is funded by the School and supervised by a member of the faculty. Porter-Gaud's Development Office also produces two regular publications. In addition to the eight aforementioned official publications, unofficial student produced and funded weekly newspapers can be found on campus.
Student Publications
- Polygon - School Yearbook
- The Porter Grits - Upper School Newspaper, est. 1920
- Watch - Upper School Literary Magazine
- The Porter Gaudzette - Middle School Newspaper
- Daze Between - Middle School Literary Magazine
- The Paper Clip - Lower School Literary Magazine
Development Publications
- Gaudeamus - annual summer magazine, distributed to all alumni, families, students and faculty
- Gaudeamus Online - weekly electronic publication
Unofficial Publications
- The Frog - a weekly newspaper produced and funded entirely by students, est. 2000 by the senior class
- The Weekly - a weekly newspaper produced and funded entirely by students
[edit] Traditions
- Halloween Carnival: An annual carnival held by the Student Council and Parents Guild. It is the primary fund raiser for all school clubs. It has been consistent festivity for several decades. Granted satisfactory weather, the carnival is spread across much of the 88 acre campus. If poor weather is present, the carnival may be spread through The Wendell Center, Fishburne Gym, Washington Hall and Breeze Ways.
- Halloween Parade: An annual parade envolving the 1st grade and senior class. Both classes dress up in their holloween costumes to march hand in hand along a traditional route around campus. It is viewed as a right of passage for the seniors, in the run-up to graduation.
- Thanksgiving play: An annual play performed completely by the 1st grade, with the guidance and leadership their teachers; it delivers the traditional story of Thanksgiving. The play and accompanying music was written entirely by 1st grade teachers, in the 1970s. There are typically several performances, the most popular of which is for the High School, who enjoy spotting their old part in the play.
- Founders' Day Concert: An annual Concert held in October, features a revolving theme.
- Holiday Market: Held in the weeks before Christmas, it is an annual Holiday focused venue for Charleston area artisans to sell their goods. It is held by the Parents Guild, who uses the proceeds towards the annual fund. It is always held in the Fishburne Gym.
- Simple Gifts of Christmas: An annual play performed completly by the 2nd grade.
- Holiday Assembly: A tradition that has that has become a sort of phenomenon within the community. It occurs on the last day before Christmas Vacation and feature's massive singing competition between the grades. Typically the live music is performed by the Jazz Ensamble. In the past years, it was held in the Wendell Center.
- Porter-Gaud Holiday Classic: Annual basketball invitational tournament held on the Porter-Gaud Campus at the Wendell Center and Fisburne Gym.
- Winter Formal: An annual dance held during the winter months. In the past, has been held at the South Carolina Aquarium.
- The Baccalaureate: Held in the closing days of the school year, before graduation. It is the closing sermon to graduating class and occurs at the old Campus in the former St. Timothy's Chapel (now St. Luke's.)
[edit] Campus and Facilities
The school sits on an 88 acre campus, located on the banks of the Ashley River in Charleston, SC. The tract was donated to the newly merged entity by CSX Railroad in 1965.
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Athletics
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[edit] Notable alumni
Business
- Sallie Krawcheck - CFO for Citigroup Inc.. Krawcheck was the seventh most powerful woman in the US in 2005.[3] Krawcheck also set up the Krawcheck Scholarship to provide full tuition to needy students with exceptional aptitude.[1][2]
- Rufus C. Barkley, Jr. - President, Cameron & Barkley, a distribution company based in Charleston, SC. Led the company from the state of a small family business to a seven billion dollar international player. [3] During college at UVA, he was the starting QB on the football team. His senior year, he threw 16 touchdowns for a school record. That year, his team was ranked 13th in the nation.
- John W. Kercheval, III - A financier and college professor
Media
- Shepard Fairey - The creator of the OBEY art campaign, stickers and stencils bearing the likeness of Andre the Giant. Many of his early creations can be viewed in the lobby of The Berkley Grimball - Fine Arts Building. (did not graduate)
- Jack Hitt - Contributing editor to Harper's, GQ, Lingua Franca, and This American Life. He also frequently appears in media like the New York Times Magazine and Outside Magazine. In 1990, Hitt received the Livingston Award for national coverage.
- Archibald Rutledge - (1883-1973) - South Carolina poet laureate. His ancestors included a Governor of South Carolina, a chief justice of the US Supreme Court, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Joel Derfner - Musician. Recently scored the musical, "Terezin," which is set in a concentration camp outside Prague. At Porter-Gaud he participated in choir and other musical activities. He attended Harvard where he began his musical career, writing his first musicals.
- Stephen Colbert - A comedian, most famous for his work as a correspondent and writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.[4]
- Mark A. Neely - A movie and television actor
Military
- General Charles P. Summerall - During World War I, he was Commander of the First Division and later the Fifth Corps. He completed his military career as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He retired from the military in 1930, assumed the duties as the President of The Citadel in 1931, until retiring in 1953.
- Kurt W. Tidd - Rear Admiral of the US NAVY and Director for Strategic Capabilities Policy
Politics
- Burnet R. Maybank - A sucessful, Depression era, two term mayor of the city of Charleston, South Carolina. He was elected Governor Of South Carolina twice, though did not complete his second term. This was due to Senator James F. Byrnes' resignation, Maybank filled his seat in 1941, he held on to it until his death in 1954.
- George Swinton Legaré - Five time US Congress Representative from South Carolina.
Athletics
- Ovie Mughelli - Full back for the Baltimore Ravens. Ovie rushed for more than 4,500 yards and scored 69 TDs during his career at Porter-Gaud, 2,167 yards and 29 TDs as a senior. He was named the state Player of the Year in his classification and was a Regional All-Star selection in all divisions, as well as a three-time All-Conference and team MVP honoree. Led the team to a state title in 1996 and state runner-up honors during his senior year (1997).
Religion
- The Rt. Rev. Henry Parsley - Episcopal Bishop of Alabama, with his seat at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also Chancellor of the University of the South, and was one of four nominees for the office of presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in 2006.
[edit] Notable faculty
- Benjamin Hutto served as music director and choirmaster at the school during the 70s through the 90s, during which time the Porter-Gaud Choir recorded several albums.
- Fernando Rivas is a graduate of the Juilliard School and winner of two Emmy Awards for songs he wrote for PBS' "Sesame Street." In 2006, Rivas scored the Disney Channel show Handy Manny. He was the subject of a "High Profile" interview published in The Post and Courier in July, 2003, and has been with Porter-Gaud's Fine Arts Department since 2002.
- Hervey Allen was a famous author from Pennsylvania. His work's include: Anthony Adverse, Israfel, Action at Aquila, and The Forest and the Fort.
- DuBose Heyward was an American author best known for his 1924 novel Porgy. He was also co-author of the non-musical play adapted from the novel, which became the foundation of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess.
- Wyndham Meredith Manning was a graduate of the United States Military Acedmy at West Point, after which he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. Later he took up a teaching position at Pinopolis School in South Carolina resulting in his resignation from the army. Two years later he was elected Commandant of Cadets at Porter Military. He went on to take military other positions, but made three attempts to follow in the foot steps of his father as Governor. He was never sucessful. He did, however, manage to join the South Carolina House of Representatives with two consectutive victories.
[edit] Trivia
- The old military program, once boasted a naval program, including several surplus NAVY vessels. The "Porter Navy" only discontinued after a fire destroyed the ships.
- In 1966 it became one of the first schools in the South to adopt an open admissions policy.
- During the early 20th century, Porter Military scrimmaged several University Football teams:
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[edit] Featured in Literature
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[edit] References
- ^ Sallie Krawcheck at Citygroup
- ^ " Smith Barney CEO coming to The Citadel", The Citadel, Press release: February 4, 2004.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Good Morning Lowcountry: Native Sons", The Post and Courier, December 29, 2005.
