St. Vincent Pallotti High School
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St. Vincent Pallotti High School, usually called Pallotti, is a private Catholic school located in eastern Laurel, Maryland. It was founded by the Pallottines in 1902 and is within in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Pallotti is a co-ed school serving young men and women from Prince George's County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and Montgomery County. The school is currently attended by approximately 500 students.
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[edit] School History
On July 9, 1911, the extraordinary Father Joseph A. Myer came to St. Mary of the Mills parish in Laurel. Shortly thereafter, in 1913, Father Myer started a parochial school for the children of the parish, and asked the Sisters of Mercy to staff it. Father Myer named the school after his own sister, Sister M. Mildred, who was also a member of the Sisters of Mercy. Desirous that St. Mildred’s should expand, Father Myer purchased a colonial mansion known as the Tiffany Estate, in October 1917. Names famous in the history of Laurel, the Catholic Church in Maryland, and the political life of the nation are all associated with this original Snowden family mansion and land that was directly across the street from St. Mary’s Church. The mansion, which was the home of the manager of the Laurel Mills, was located just north of the present high school gymnasium. A remnant of the original circular driveway can still be seen.
The mansion was modified by the addition of a frame wing to the south side of the main structure, in order to accommodate a convent, school and boarding rooms for girls. The architectural integrity of the beautiful stone and frame edifice was preserved, and St. Mildred’s Academy became well known for cleanliness, good taste and comfort. The school gained the reputation of being the most homelike school in Maryland, and drew pupils from a wide geographic area. In 1920 Father Myer purchased additional land close to the Academy with the intention of opening a high school in September of 1921. He applied for additional Sisters of Mercy, but they were unable to supply the desired number of teachers. Thus, the Sisters of Mercy withdrew from Laurel in 1921. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill Pennsylvania staffed the elementary and high school from 1921-1934.
In 1934, under the direction of Mother de Pazzi Meurer, the American Province of the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines), acquired ownership of the property and took over the administration of the schools. As well-educated and experienced teachers, the Pallottine Sisters brought with them an innovative and professional character to the schools, which continues to this day.
Within two years, expansion was necessary for the boarding house. Upon completion, the accommodations for boarders were increased from fourteen to fifty. In 1938 the co-educational Academy, under the principalship of Sister Bede Kurth, SAC, received accreditation from the State of Maryland. By that year enrollment had risen from twenty three in 1934 to one hundred seventy-nine.
In 1949 the Academy added two new classrooms, but by 1957 the school had outgrown itself again. The entire eighteenth century mansion was razed and construction of the present high school and day care building was begun. It was thought at that time that the new facility, with a capacity for about four hundred students and residence for thirty sisters, would end all of the space problems for the future. The new building also brought a change in the name from St. Mildred’s Academy to Pallotti High School in honor of the founder of the Pallottines.
[edit] Administration
Current administration consists of:
- Steve Edmonds, Principal
- Shae Johnson, Dean of Students
- Sr. Karen Lester, Sponsorship Director
- Jim Moorhead, Dean of Studies
[edit] Controversy
The school has a strict "No-Tolerance" policy for illicit substances. Thus, the school cooperates with the Prince George's County police force in conducting random drug searches. These searches have came under recent criticism, as students and parents feel it violates their fourth amendment rights by searching student's possessions without a warrant or reasonable cause. During lockdowns, students are ordered to put all their belongings against a wall, and may not leave the room under any circumstances for approximately an hour. Police dogs search the students' possessions, which has resulted in damage to property. As of January 2008, no illicit substances have ever been found in these searches.[citation needed]
[edit] School Colors and Mascot
The school colors are navy blue, Columbia blue, and white. The mascot of Pallotti is the Panther.
[edit] Landmarks
The Chapel - A building which can hold about 200 and contains its own tabernacle. It has marble floors and is revered by the students as visually and spiritually pleasing. (shown right)
