| Bishop Seabury Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 4120 Clinton Parkway Lawrence, Kansas, 66047 United States |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Private, Middle & High School |
| Founded | 1997 |
| CEEB Code | 171680 [1] |
| Principal | Dr. Don Schawang |
| Grades | 6 to 12 |
| Gender | coed |
| Enrollment | 132 (October 2010) |
| Color(s) | Blue Green |
| Mascot | Seahawk |
| Affiliation | Episcopal |
| Website | www.SeaburyAcademy.org |
Bishop Seabury Academy is a private, co-educational, Episcopal middle school and high school (grades 6–12) in Lawrence, Kansas. The school is accredited by ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) and is a member of KSHSAA. It is named for Samuel Seabury, first bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. It is currently one of two private middle/high schools in Lawrence.
Contents |
Bishop Seabury Academy was founded in 1997 by its board of trustees and opened with about 32 students at 1411 E. 1850 Road, east of Lawrence in what used to be the Kaw Valley School. Kris Pueschel was the head of school for the first several years. The school went through a rough period during the 2001–2002 school year. Perry Williams, a seventh grader at the time, was killed in a car accident during Christmas break. Later that winter, Pueshel was removed from his position by the board of trustees. The following year Chris Carter was installed as head of school. In 2007, Carter resigned and Dr. Don Schawang, who had taught at the school since 2000, was appointed Headmaster.
In 2003 the school moved to the Alvamar Racquet Club building at 4120 Clinton Parkway in southwest Lawrence after a large renovation project that turned the building's four tennis courts into classrooms, a science lab, full size gym and stage, and a computer lab. The school also uses an adjacent building (called the annex) on the campus for administrative offices. In December 2006, the school announced a $1.5 million 10th Anniversary Capital Campaign to replace the annex with a new building.[2]
In the spring of 2007, Chris Carter, in an e-mail sent to parents and alumni, announced that he would be resigning at the end of the 2007–2008 school year. Matt Patterson, an English teacher and college counselor for the school, was named the assistant head of school, and he assumed many of the duties of head of school during the transition period.
In July 2007, Beth Stella, the president of the board of trustees for the school, sent an e-mail to the Seabury community announcing that Dr. Don Schawang, the school's theater program director, had been appointed head of school, and that Chris Carter would be leaving immediately instead of after the 2007–2008 school year.
Bishop Seabury Academy has several competing athletic teams in KSHSAA division 1A. Teams are:
One play each season (fall, winter, and spring) are produced by both the upper school and lower school (ninth graders can be cast in either upper or lower school plays, depending on where they are needed). There is also an annual variety show called Applause every spring.
Past and future plays include:
The Bishop Seabury forensics team won second at the 1A state tournament in 2008 and third at the 1A state tournament in 2010.
The debate team, which was started in 2009, is the only 1A debate team competing in the 4-man 3A Kansas debate circuit, and placed fifth in the 3A state championship tournament in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
The journalism program consists of an afternoon program responsible for the production of the yearbook, The Anchor, and a class that produces the school's newspaper, The Seabury Chronicle. During the 2007–2008 school year, The Chronicle was produced once every three weeks by a staff of four—two juniors and two seniors. The paper covers student opinions, school activities and school sports, and is currently not being published. The Anchor yearbook is produced by three student editors and a rotating group of about ten other students each season. All students receive the 64-page book free-of-charge at the Welcome Back To School party in August. The Chronicle and The Anchor are members of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
The academy sponsors multi-day field trips to international destinations every year during the two-week spring break. Past trips have included destinations such as Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and London, England. In 2012, students and teachers will travel to Costa Rica. [3]
Headmaster's Holiday is a yearly special event at Bishop Seabury created to provide a break to students. At the beginning of the day, if it's Headmaster's Holiday, a teacher or senior reveals, through some complex series of events, that they are wearing a special green Headmaster's Holiday shirt. The students are served a "breakfast", usually consisting of doughnuts, and are taken away in a school bus to a location not revealed until they arrive. Previous locations have included an ice-skating trip and a Renaissance Fair. The students are returned to school, via bus, shortly before the normal dismissal time. [4]
Form Trips are another annual event designed to relieve stress, wherein students are taken on trips, which last between two and four days. Each grade (or form) goes on a different trip, hence the name "form trips." [5]