Archmere Academy
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| Motto | “Pietate et Scientia" (Faith and Knowledge) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1932 |
| Type | Private, Co-Ed College-Prep Day School |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Affiliations | Norbertine |
| Principal | Paul Pomeroy |
| Headmaster | Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem |
| Students | 508 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | 3600 Philadelphia Pike Claymont, DE 19703, Claymont, Delaware, USA |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Campus | Suburban Campus |
| Colors | Green and White |
| Mascot | Great Auk |
| Yearbook | The Patio |
| Newspaper | The Green Arch |
| Graduates Accepted to College | 100% |
| Contact | (302) 798-6632 |
| Website | archmereacademy.com |
Archmere Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school of 508 students in Claymont, Delaware. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
Contents |
[edit] History
Archmere was founded in 1932 with assistance from the Norbertine religious order, initially as an all-boys school, in the former home of U.S. industrialist John J. Raskob. It was also a boarding school, but due to the space available at the time, the size of the school was quite small. Over time, the school grew in size, forgoing the style of a boarding school, and eventually accepting girls in 1975.
In April 2001, an internal dispute[1] among the Norbertines relating to the establishment of Claymont Priory[2] separate from Daylesford Abbey[3] spilled over into the administration of Archmere Academy and left the campus in turmoil. Interventions from noted alumnus Joseph Biden and the superior general of the Norbertines in Rome calmed the turmoil and eventually resulted in the academy taking control of the former Raskob residence, now know as "The Patio."
On January 29, 2003, Headmaster, Rev. Timothy F. Mullen died unexpectedly in his office; the Rev. Michael Collins, O.Praem. ’68 was appointed as Archmere’s seventh Headmaster. On July 1, 2004 the Board of Trustees selected Rev. John C. Zagarella, O.Praem. as Archmere’s eighth Headmaster. Most recently, on July 28, 2006, Rev. John C. Zagarella, O.Praem. resigned as Headmaster. The Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O. Praem. replaced Father Zagarella immediately and will serve as Headmaster for one year while the Board of Trustees designs a new long-term leadership structure for the school. Father McLaughlin previously taught at Archmere from 1970-1983 before becoming Headmaster until 1996. Since 2001, Father McLaughlin has served as Archmere's Chaplain.[2]
[edit] Development
Currently Archmere is undergoing its first capital campaign in over 20 years. The Campaign’s goal is to:
- Complete the Justin E. Diny Science Center (including a technology center, two multimedia classrooms and three-story physics lab for hands-on learning)
- The new McLaughlin/Mullen Student Life Center, which has been successfully completed and whose opening ceremony was held on October 13, 2007, is being used to house the campus dining and worship as well as consolidate student’s services center (health, guidance and counseling suite)
- Renovations of the gym’s ground floor (women’s and men’s lockers, fitness center and coaches offices)
- Athletic field refurbishments and site improvements
[edit] Proposed Further Development
Future improvements to the campus will include:
- Renovations to St. Norbert Hall
- A new gymnasium
- Renovations to the Manor
- Patio restoration
[edit] Academics
As a college preparatory school emphasizing a well-rounded student, Archmere students are required to take a large number of courses in a variety of areas, including eight semesters of English, as well as seven semesters of religion, and six semesters of mathematics, foreign language, history, and the sciences. Students also have many choices for elective classes, including art, yearbook (which meets during classtime), band, chorus, and computer courses.
Archmere offers a large number of AP courses, including Spanish, French, German, Statistics, Calculus, both AB and BC, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Art Portfolio in 2-D and 3-D, Computer Science, English, Composition, US History, European History, and World History.
[edit] Athletics
Archmere competes in the Diamond State Conference for interscholastic sports such as football, field hockey, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, diving,lacrosse, volleyball, golf, tennis, cheerleading, baseball, softball, cross country, track and field, and wrestling. Archmere's mascot, the Great Auk, frequently compared to a large penguin by neighboring schools, is the only known one of its kind in the United States. Students are required to participate in either a school sport, a physical education class, or an outside program approved by the school.
[edit] Student Clubs and groups
Many students find time for clubs in addition to academics and sports, including student council, National Honor Society, drama and stage crew, Academic Bowl, Mock Trial, The Green Arch (school newspaper), bowling, foreign language clubs and societies, school dances, class trips, the astronomy club, ecology clubs, and Model UN.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Class of 1961. Senior United States Senator from Delaware, first elected in 1972, and 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate.
