Morrison Academy
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| Motto | "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -- John 8:32 |
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| Established | 1952 |
| Type | Private International School Christian School |
| Chairman | Barry Owen |
| Principal | Tim McGill (System Superintendent), Dan Robinson (Taichung Campus Principal), Tim Heading (Taichung K-8 Principal), Uwe Maurer (Taipei Principal), Gabriel Choi (Kaohsiung Principal) |
| Chaplain | Josephine Wong (Taichung Campus) |
| Faculty | 92 |
| Students | 242 high school, 101 middle school, 137 elementary, about 900 (system-wide, includes Bethany, Taichung, and Kaohsiung campuses) |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Location | 136-1, Shui Nan Rd., Beitun District, Taichung City 40679, Taiwan, Republic of China |
| Accreditation | ACSI, WASC |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Mascot | Mustang |
| Yearbook | 'Morrisonian' |
| Newspaper | 'Echo' |
| Phone | +886-4-2292-1171 |
| Website | www.mca.org.tw |
Morrison Academy (Chinese: 馬禮遜美國學校; Wade-Giles: Ma-li-hsün Mei-kuo Hsüeh-hsiao; Hanyu Pinyin: Mălĭxùn Měiguó Xuéxiào; literally: Morrison American School; abbreviation MCA - from Morrison Christian Association) was established in 1952 and offers a college-preparatory and American-based Christian affiliated education to expatriate children living in Taiwan. Morrison Academy is founded in Taichung, where the main campus is located, but branch campuses have been created in Taipei (Bethany) and Kaohsiung (Morrison Academy Kaohsiung).
Although established in 1952 to serve the needs of missionary kids, Morrison Academy has attracted a large number of business children located in Taichung. Morrison Academy is currently the largest international school in Taichung and the largest Christian school in the country of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The school is recognized by the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an international school and is restricted from accepting Republic of China nationals who do not possess a foreign passport.
Graduates from Morrison Academy often attend North American colleges and universities. Because Morrison Academy is comprised primarily of missionary kids and business expatriates, a wide range of countries is represented in the faculty and the student body. However, the teachers and the students primarily come from the United States and Canada.
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[edit] Mission Statement
The school states its mission as follows: "Morrison Academy exists to meet the educational needs of the children of missionaries throughout Taiwan, helping fulfill Christ's commission to go into all the world. Morrison seeks to provide a Christ-centered school culture where all students, from missionary and non-missionary families, experience a Biblically-integrated quality education. Therefore, Morrison structures learning so that students may develop the knowledge, discernment, and ability to dynamically impact their world as Christians."
[edit] Campus
The current Taichung campus is located in the Beitun District of Taichung, a 20-minute drive from the Taichung Train Station. Morrison is one of the largest schools in Taichung City, with the school possessing:
- two parking lots,
- three soccer fields, (one which can be used as a baseball field)
- two tennis courts,
- one 25-meter swimming pool,
- one 400-meter dirt track,
- two gymnasiums (upper and lower, major events such as varsity games are held in lower gyms.),
- two libraries,
- one auditorium,
- three computer labs,
- five dorms (Brugler, Stacey, Falk, McGill, and Van Singel)
- one science building equipped with advanced laboratory material,
- over ten staff housing complexes, as well as
- individual classrooms for all of the students at the Taichung campus.
One notable campus structure is "The Plaza," or the courtyard between the high school and middle school wings. Flanked by archaic bunyan trees, the Plaza serves as a congregational location for high-school and middle-school students between classes and after school. Annual events are often held on the plaza, including the Junior Carnival and the Senior Flea Market.
The school is undergoing renovation starting in 2007 to upgrade the elementary buildings and merge the high school and the elementary/middle school libraries and to upgrade the school's athletic facilities. New faculty housing and student dormitories will also be built eventually.
[edit] Dorms
Morrison Academy has established boarding homes which house 4-12 boys and 4-12 girls in separate wings of each of five facilities (Brugler, Stacey, Falk, McGill, and Van Singel). The students may range in age from students who are in the 7th through the 12th grades. A married couple resides in each unit to serve as boarding home parents. Each boarding home has a common living area shared by everyone in the home. All five dorms eat all meals in a common cafeteria and have a rec. room for all five dorms to share with each other that has a pool table, ping pong table, foosball table, couches, and speakers. The goal of the Morrison Dorms is to create a comfortable, homelike, family-style, Christian environment for students who live a way from home.
[edit] Student Body
Currently, the Taichung campus accommodates about 450 students. The school is subdivided into three schools in accordance to the American school system: Elementary School (Kindergarten to Fifth Grade), Middle School (Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade), and High School (Ninth Grade to Twelfth Grade).
At the head of Morrison administration is the Morrison Academy Board of Trustees, a 12-member board elected to foresee the daily operations of the Morrison System.
The current ratio of missionary to business students at the Taichung campus is about 1:3. Although in the earliest phases of Morrison history foreign expatriates in Taichung were granted admission solely on a space-available basis, currently any foreign national residing in Taiwan with a valid foreign passport is eligible to apply for admission to Morrison Academy. However, it is to be noted that acceptance rates are low because Morrison evaluates prospective students using a standard on English proficiency and the Board of Trustees does not wish to expand student enrollment at the Taichung campus rapidly.
[edit] Academics
Morrison Academy describes its academics as thus:
"Because Morrison is a Christian school, a Christian worldview is integrated into all areas of the American-based curriculum. Bible class and weekly chapel attendance are required for all students. Instruction is in English and is college preparatory in focus. The school year for students extends from mid-August to the first week of June, for a total of 180 instructional days."
Elementary, Middle School, and High School all begin at 8:00 AM and end at 3:15 PM. Elementary classes may be dismissed prior to 3:15.
High school daily schedule is generally structured into eight periods of 45-minute classes (Period 3 is 50 minutes long, to account for the time taken to read the daily announcements), with a 35-minute lunch period following Period 5. Students have 5 minutes to get from class to class. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, a block scheduling system takes effect, known as "block days." On block days, instruction is extended to 85 minutes per class period, with a 30-minute lunch following the third block period of that day. Odd-numbered block periods (e.g. Periods 1, 3, 5, 7) occur on Wednesday; even-numbered block periods (e.g. Periods 2, 4, 6, 8) occur on Thursday. Under the block system, 45 minutes remain after the last period of the day. On Wednesdays, that time is used for class meetings and special school announcements or assemblies. On Thursdays, that time is reserved for the weekly high school Chapel.
At Morrison, 97% of all graduates attend higher education in different countries worldwide. Advanced Placement level courses are offered formally in five subjects. In 2005, 54 candidates from the school took 86 Advanced Placement examinations and merited a pass rate of 87%. In the class of 2006, one student was named Finalist of the National Merit scholarship competition, three students were named Semifinalists, and eight were named as Commended students. In the class of 2007, one student was named Finalist of the National Merit scholarship and subsequently won a National Merit $2,500 scholarship. In 2005, one student from Morrison qualified for the United States of America Mathematics Olympiad.
[edit] Extracurricular Activities
Morrison provides a wide array of extracurricular activities to develop individual student interest and abilities. At Morrison, students can choose to participate in one or more of the following:
[edit] Music and Drama
- Concert Band
- Chamber Orchestra
- Three Instrumental Ensembles
- Two Choirs
- Chamber Singers (Voice Ensemble)
- Worship Team
- Drama
[edit] Art
- 9 Western and Asian art selections
[edit] Student Government
- STUCO
- Class councils
[edit] Publications
- Yearbook ("The Morrisonian")
- Journalism ("The Echo")
[edit] Model United Nations
- TAIMUN
- IASAS (2006)
[edit] Student Organized Clubs
- Various clubs organized and conducted by high school students.
Swim Club Cooking Club
[edit] Athletics
Possessing an athletic program over 50 years old, Morrison offers its students the opportunity to play in several sports. Men have the option of JV-B (Junior Varsity B Team), Junior Varsity, and Varsity teams in the following sports: basketball, soccer, and track and field. Women have the option of JV-B, Junior Varsity, and Varsity teams in the following sports: volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track and field. All Morrison Varsity athletic teams compete internationally at Far East tournaments against Department of Defense schools and other Christian schools in East Asia. Swimming had been added to the repertoire of Morrison athletics starting from the 2005-2006 school year and now currently has a JV-B and JV swim team. They participate in over 5 meets and also host a communtiy swim meet for other staff and students who would like to race against students on the swim team.
Middle school students at Morrison Academy are divided into three teams according to their grade level and abilities. Both men and women have the option in participating in the following sports: volleyball, softball, soccer, and basketball. At the conclusion of each season, middle school students at Morrison Academy compete against teams from other international schools in Taiwan at tournaments hosted at Taichung by Morrison Academy and Taipei by Taipei American School.
The “Chopstick Game” is a basketball game, held every January, between the Men’s Varsity basketball teams of Morrison and Taipei American School. The winning team is awarded a trophy that consists of two large, roughly six-foot long, wooden chopsticks which have a list of the years the game was played and its past champions. In 2008, Morrison won the Chopsticks for a record ninth year in a row.
[edit] Morrison Intramural Activities
[edit] Junior Carnival
Occurring every year in October or November, the Junior Carnival is a theme-based fair conducted by high school Juniors to garner class funds. The Junior class is divided into groups of two or three students who design, create, and run individual game booths for the Morrison community. Entrance fee is traditionally 10 New Taiwan Dollars (about 30 USD cents), with each "ticket" costing 10 New Taiwan Dollars as well. An average customer spends around 200 to 300 New Taiwan Dollars (about 10 USD) throughout the course of the Carnival. Although the fair had traditionally been held during daytime, in recent years it had shifted to nighttime.
"Traditional" booths include: dunking, the Jail, sponge throw, and the "maze".
[edit] Missions Trip
Each year, the High School Missions class conducts an off-island mission trip to spread the Gospel to and conduct volunteer work in other nations. Traditionally, this 12-day trip occurs during Easter break. Each year, anywhere from 10 to 30 students from Morrison go on the Missions Trip. In recent years, Morrison teams have visited Nepal, Kenya, and the Philippines. The Mission Trippers visit orphanages, churches, and slums during their trip, interacting with many people from different economic backgrounds and walks of faith.
[edit] Spiritual Life Weeks
Twice a year, the high school chaplain invites different Christian speakers and missionaries from around the world for a one-week visit to the Morrison campus. Throughout the week, Morrison students attend chapels every single morning before their regular classes. In addition, visiting speakers often supplemented their visit by hosting nighttime devotionals and worship sessions.
[edit] Christmas Project
This project is held every year at Christmastime where Morrisonians give money and donate it to worthy causes. We usually donate to 2 causes making our general goal 350,000 NT dollars. Then on the last day of school before Christmas break, we host a special Christmas assembly and give the money we earned to representative of the causes.
[edit] Intramural Concerts
Three major musical concerts are scheduled throughout the year. Chamber groups have additional concerts throughout the school year.
[edit] Intramural Banquets
At least one banquet is held by STUCO through the course of the school year, although STUCO reserves the right to call additional banquets. Banquets provide an occasion for Morrison high school students to gather and socialize in a night of food and entertainment. A separate banquet (Junior-Senior Banquet) is held in the months of April or May for the graduating seniors.
[edit] Drama Productions
Although Morrison does not have a Drama class, Morrisonian thespians sacrifice their after-school free time to work on plays, musicals, and madrigals staged throughout the year. Musicals and madrigals occur biannually, alternating from musicals in one year and madrigals the next. The music department works closely with the drama department for musicals and madrigals.
[edit] Senior Flea Market
Conducted in the spring by the Seniors, the Senior Flea Market is an opportunity for Seniors to clear their house of unwanted junk before graduation. In addition, the Senior Flea Market provides an opportunity for the Morrison community to mingle and socialize.
[edit] Taipei Campus (Bethany)
The Taipei Campus of Morrison Academy was founded in 1961 under the name of Bethany Christian School. When the school joined the Morrison Christian Association in 1967, it was incorporated into the Morrison System. Morrison Academy Bethany offers expatriates residing in Taipei a quality Morrison education from Kindergarten to Ninth Grade, and is currently accredited through two internationally recognized accreditation associations - The Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
[edit] Location
Located in Downtown Taipei, situated right next to the CES Seminary, Bethany is at the heart of Taipei City. Bethany is right next to the MRT Taipower Building Station of the Xindian Line, otherwise known as Metro Taipei. National Taiwan University, the most prestigious center of higher learning in Taiwan, is 5 minutes away by foot from Bethany. A popular hangout spot for young people and the site of a night market, Taipower Building Station, is also about 5 minutes by foot from Bethany.
[edit] Campus
Bethany possesses:
- 1 parking lot (outdoors basketball court)
- 1 gymnasium (indoors basketball court)
- 1 library
- 1 auditorium / multi-purpose room
- 1 computer lab
- 3 classrooms especially set up for learning Mandarin
- 1 science lab with quality lab equipments
- 2 ELL (English Language Learners) classrooms
- Individual Classrooms for students at Bethany
[edit] Student Body
The K-9 enrollment at Morrison Academy Bethany is about 200. About half of each graduating class on the Bethany campus attend Taipei American School while the other half continue their Morrison education at the Taichung campus. The majority of the latter resides in dormitory halls located in the Taichung campus.
[edit] Academics
Bethany offers many different Mandarin (Mandarin) courses, from beginner to advanced, for different levels of Mandarin speakers.
Every year, the 7th grade class goes on a 4-day trip in which the class travels around the island to study the diverse cultural background of Taiwan.
The 8th grade class each year has a science fair project in March, in which students research and present on a topic of their own choice.
The class of 2011 went down to Kenting for a marine biology trip from April 3-6, 2008.
[edit] Campus Activities
Sports
Bethany possesses both Middle School and JV-B teams that compete in island-wide tournaments under the banner of the Bronco.
- Volleyball
The JV-B girls came in 2nd for two years in a row during the volleyball tournaments, in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.
- Soccer
The Broncos came in 5th place during the JV-B boys soccer tournament in 2006-2007, but 4th place in 2007-2008.
On March 8, 2008, the A girls won 1st place in the MS Soccer Tournament.
- Basketball
Bethany won the A team basketball tournament in 2004-2005, JV-B(both boys and girls teams)in 2005-2006, and were runner-ups during the JV-B boys basketball tournament in 2006-2007.
On May 12, 2007, the B boys and the C girls teams won the TEAMS Championship.
On January 26, 2008, the JV-B girls won 1st place in the basketball tournament.
On May 10, 2008, the Bethany C Girls won 1st place again for the second consecutive year.
Music
Bethany has a music program consisting of beginning band (fifth graders), concert band, symphonic band, jazz band, orchestra, and choir (all ensembles above listed except for beginning band are part of exploratory/optional courses). The musical groups at Bethany have traveled to hospitals, schools for disabled, and other locations to perform. They also perform in Christmas and Spring Concerts held annually at Bethany in the gymnasium.
2008-2009 Music Directors
- Concert Band, Choir - Mrs. Nevada McKenzie
- Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Beginning Band, Jazz Band - Ms. Kathy Gross
StuCo 2008~2009
- President - Elizabeth Tseung
- Vice President / Treasurer - Brian Chang
- Secretary - Cynthia Chou
- 9th Grade Rep. - Curtis Lu
- 8th Grade Rep. - Bridget Homer
- 7th Grade Rep. - Jamie Wong
- 6th Grade Rep. - Micah Bettinger
Mission Trip
By custom, every year the 9th grade class conducts a mission trip to a certain selected location for four days.
In May of 2007, the class of 2010 went to the Christian Mountain Children's Home.
Starting from the school year of 2007-2008, however, mission trips are to consist of only 8th and 9th graders under a voluntary basis.
From March 19-24 in 2008, the mission team went to the small village of Taimali near Taidong.
Banquets
Introduced by Ms. Natasha Mentore in the school year of 2006-2007, Bethany now has an annual sports banquet for those who participate in sports teams.
The 8th grade class traditionally holds a year-end banquet in May to mark the end of middle-school education.
Christmas Project
Every year, Bethany introduces a Christmas Project around November/December in which students raise money for and donate money to worthy causes. During the winter of the school year 2007-2008, Bethany raised over 400,000 NT for the Children's Home in Nepal.
Talent Show
The 8th grade class annually hosts a talent show in which all students from K-9 are welcomed to audition for the oppurtunity to perform their talents on stage.
Youth Group
Starting from April 11, 2008, the 9th graders each year will be leading the newly organized youth group "The Righteous Generation" every friday at Bethany.
[edit] Recent Events
During the summer of 2007, Bethany underwent major renovations, including building a sundeck, moving the library from the second floor to B1, and moving the computer lab from the second floor to B1 as well.
[edit] Contact Morrison Academy Bethany
The Official Bethany Campus Website
97, Section 3, Ting Chou Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan
Telephone: +886-2-2365-9691
[edit] Kaohsiung Campus
Morrison Academy Kaohsiung (MAK) was founded in 1974 to serve missionary families working in the Southern part of Taiwan. Following its establishment, the campus had moved twice. The current MAK campus is located in Dashe Hsiang of rural Kaohsiung County, about a 30 minute drive from Downtown Kaohsiung. The campus was built in 2000 on land leased from the Taiwan Sugar Corporation. Morrison Academy Kaohsiung is currently accredited through two internationally recognized accreditation associations - Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI)and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
[edit] Student Body
The current total enrollment at MAK is about 170 (K-9). Graduating students will attend the Taichung campus as boarding students. In addition, MAK sponsors a satellite campus at Chiayi City with a current enrollment of sixteen.
[edit] Campus Activities
Sports
MAK possesses both Middle School and High School JV-B teams that compete in island-wide tournaments under the banner of the MAK Shark.
Music
MAK has a music program consisting of beginning band, symphonic band, orchestra, strings and choir.
[edit] See also
- Taipei American School
- National Experimental High School
- Dominican International School
- Kaohsiung American School
- American School in Taichung
