Salem Academy

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Salem Academy is a boarding and day school for high school girls in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is formally known as Salem Academy and College where it shares its campus with Salem College, located near historic Old Salem. Salem Academy is one of the oldest and most prestigious girls' boarding schools in the United States.

[edit] History

Salem was founded in 1772 by early Moravian settlers who held the view that girls deserved an education comparable to that afforded boys. Among the town's early residents were 16 girls and women who walked more than 500 miles from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to join the new community. One of them was 17-year-old Elisabeth Oesterlein, who would be the first teacher of what is now Salem Academy and College. There were very few girls' schools at the time, particularly in the South; word spread about the girls' school, and the school accepted boarding students in 1802. The school grew considerably throughout the 19th century both in size and course offerings, with college-level courses being offered in the 1860s. As the college-level curriculum expanded, the school officially became known as Salem Academy and College in 1907. Despite such travails as the American Civil War and a measles epidemic in the 1800s, the Academy has never closed its doors in the more than two centuries since those first classes were held.

[edit] Affiliation

Originally founded by the Moravian Church, Salem Academy is now an independent institution that retains some of the traditions of the church. Salem's mission is shaped by the Moravian beliefs that have stressed the importance of education and learning as central to their mission for centuries. Other Moravian traditions still practiced at the school include the senior vespers held at the end of every fall term, which includes a Moravian Lovefeast.

Salem Academy is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

[edit] Admissions

All applicants are required to send middle school transcripts and teacher recommendations, and must take the Secondary School Admission Test. Applicants are also required to undergo an interview before receiving admission. Salem accepts students from all over the United States as well as around the world.

[edit] Academics

Salem Academy offers a college preparatory curriculum, and 100 per cent of Salem Academy students traditionally continue their education in college and are accepted at many of the top colleges and universities in the United States and around the world.

[edit] Requirements

Salem requires 20 academic credits required for graduation, including four in English, two in Latin, two in a modern foreign language, four in mathematics, three in history, and three in science, plus requirements in art, music, religion, and health and physical education.

[edit] Advising

The student-faculty relationship is central to the academic experience at Salem. Small class size, averaging 13-14 students per class, and low student teacher ratio (9:1) allows Salem's superb faculty to know all their students due to the intimate learning environment. Salem's small classes characterized by lively discussions and debates; each girl has the opportunity to be known and a chance to be heard. This relationship with the faculty is supported by Salem's advising program. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor to assist the student in the selection of her courses, serve as a liaison between the student and her teachers, consult with parents about academic and related problems, and review and discuss all grades. While an advisor has many duties, foremost is that of being the student's friend -- the adult who talks with her, helps her, and is her advocate.

[edit] January Term

January Term is a three-week mini-term that gives students opportunities to pursue internships, enroll in special classes, and travel both in the United States and abroad. The school schedules trips each year that are organized and led by faculty members from different departments. For the first two years most students spend January Term on campus in focused classes or programs that allow each student to further explore her interests. Juniors and Seniors pursue internships outside of Salem where they can gain first hand knowledge of topics and careers of interest.

[edit] Athletics

[edit] Teams

Salem Academy has 13 athletic teams. During the fall season the teams are varsity field hockey, junior-varsity field hockey, varsity volleyball, varsity tennis, junior-varsity tennis, and varsity cross country. In the winter season there are varsity swimming, varsity basketball, and junior-varsity basketball teams. In the spring there are varsity softball, varsity soccer, junior-varsity soccer, and varsity track teams. There is also an equestrian extracurricular team.

[edit] Athletic Events

The Turkey Trot is held the week before Thanksgiving. It is a 1-mile walk/run event that all members of the Salem community are invited to participate in.

In February, the Athletic Council holds a bonfire where students gather around a large fire on the athletic fields to roast hotdogs, make smores, and drink hot chocolate.

[edit] Traditions

[edit] Opening Chapel

Each fall the school year officially begins at Opening Chapel. The ceremony involves faculty and staff sharing personal messages and the Dean of Students reading letters from alumnae with well wishes and advice for current students. Alumnae from classes as far back as 1930 attend and are recognized by the current students.

[edit] Smoosh Cake Banquet

Smoosh Cake Banquet is a "birthday celebration" for the Academy. Seniors get birthday cake slices with favors baked inside that they "smoosh" to retrieve. The favors a senior receives are said to fortell her future once she leaves Salem.

[edit] Athletic Picnic

The school colors are purple and gold and the entire school is divided into two school spirit teams -- the purple team and the gold team. Each year the new students learn which team they will be on at the Athletic Picnic, held in the fall. The athletic picnic includes games and displays of school spirit on the front lawn.

[edit] Ring Banquet

Ring banquet is held on a Thursday evening in the fall. It is when the seniors receive their class rings. Ring banquet is the start of senior weekend and a favorite Salem tradition. Freshmen decorate, and the theme is kept a secret from the senior class.

[edit] Senior Day

Senior Day is held the day after the Ring Banquet. In the morning, the seniors are entertained by the faculty and staff at a special breakfast. During the day the seniors have the opportunity to share what they learned by teaching classes in their favorite subjects to the younger students. The morning is concluded by the seniors acting out skits and singing the senior song to the other students, faculty, and staff during an outdoor luncheon. Starting with the Class of 2008, senior skits no longer exist due to fact that in the past, faculty members have felt insulted by the content of the skits. Instead the seniors prepared skits portraying what their four years were like, hopefully beginning a new Salem tradition.

[edit] Senior Vespers

Senior Vespers is a cherished Christmas event that marks the close of the fall semester. The seniors lead a Moravian Lovefeast, which is a candlelight choral service in which students sing Christmas carols and seniors serve coffee and buns in the Moravian tradition.

[edit] Notable Alumnae

• Dolley Madison wife of president James Madison
• Sarah Childress Polk wife of president James K. Polk
• Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell, '19, founded WETA, Washington, D.C's first public television station.
• Tillie Kidd Fowler, '60, served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, retiring in 2000 as the highest-ranking woman in the House.
• Marshall Chapman, '67, is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Emmylou Harris, Joe Cocker and Jimmy Buffett.
• Mary Davis Holt, '68, was executive vice president and COO at Time Life, Inc. and is currently the chair of the Salem Academy and College Board of Trustees.
• Kathryn Harrold, '68, is a television actress who played Dr. Karen Wilder on Chicago Hope and has guest starred recently on CSI: New York and Desperate Housewives.
• Rolonda Watts, '77, hosted the syndicated television talk shows Rolonda and Lie Detector, and has appeared on The West Wing, 7th Heaven and The Bold and the Beautiful.
• Sarah T. Hughes, US District Court Judge, swore in president Lyndon Johnson