Marianapolis Preparatory School

Marianapolis Preparatory School
Schola Marianapolitana
Address
26 Chase Road
New England
Thompson, Connecticut, Windham County 06277
United States
Coordinates 41°57′28″N 71°51′49″W / 41.95778°N 71.86361°W / 41.95778; -71.86361Coordinates: 41°57′28″N 71°51′49″W / 41.95778°N 71.86361°W / 41.95778; -71.86361
Information
Type Private, boarding, coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1926
Area trustee The Trinity Foundation
CEEB code 070780
Head of School Joseph Hanrahan
Chaplain Fr. Timothy Roth
Teaching staff 48
Grades 9–12, Postgraduate
Enrollment 400 (2014-2015)
Average class size 15
Student to teacher ratio 8:1
Campus Rural
Campus size 150 acres (0.61 km2)
Color(s) Maroon and Gold         
Athletics conference NEPSAC
Sports Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country, Wrestling, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis, Golf, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Crew, Badmiton, Equestrian, Dance, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Tai Chi, Yoga
Mascot Knight
Team name The Golden Knights
Accreditation New England Association of Schools and Colleges[1]
Tuition $15,155 (day); $45,364 (residential)
Male/Female 51%/49%
College acceptance rate 100%
Athletic Director Lauren Moore
Website marianapolis.org

Marianapolis Preparatory School is a private, co-educational, Catholic high school located in rural Thompson, Connecticut.

History

Marian Hills College was established in 1926 under the guidance of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in Hinsdale, Illinois for young men of Lithuanian descent. Marian Hills College embraced a mission of preparing young men to take leadership roles in society and the Catholic Church. In 1931, the Marians purchased the estate of businessman Norman B. Ream, located in Thompson, Connecticut, and subsequently used the Reams' mansion Carolyn Hall as the main building on campus. Marianapolis College was ordered by the Government of the State of Connecticut to award college degrees in 1936 (due to a need for said degrees prior to World War II). In 1948 the decision was made to rename the school Marianapolis Preparatory School and focus exclusively on high school education. In 1955, Marianapolis officially became part of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

A fire broke out in early 1964 which destroyed the Carolyn Hall, at the time renamed St. Joseph's Hall, killing one Marian brother, but then-headmaster Fr. John Petrauskas and the other students were able to escape. After the fire, students attended classes in the basement of St. John's Dormitory. In 1966, with support of the community a new school building was built on the ashes of the Ream mansion.

In 1974 the school finally became co-educational with a enrollment of 108, eight of whom were female. In 1989 the Blessed George Matulaitis Chapel was built along with a new dining hall. In 2001 the Trinity Foundation, a group of parents, alumni, and friends assumed governance of the school. A small community of Marians including former Headmaster Fr. Timothy Roth, MIC reside on campus and remain an integral part of the community.

Since 2001 the school has seen a dramatic rise of enrollment under the leadership of Headmistress Marilyn Ebbitt and Head of School Joseph Hanrahan. The campus itself has also grown to include new facilities such as a campus bookstore, expanded dining room, student lounge, blackbox theater, weigh-room, additional classrooms in St. Johns, a baseball field, and has seen the restoration of the Grotto. A statue of the Virgin Mary, located in the Grotto, currently overlooks the newly constructed Track & Field, completed in 2016 and named after long time soccer coach and athletic director Eric Gustavson.

Athletics

Athletics are a crucial part of the Marianapolis experience. Each student is required to participate in two sports after school for the entirety of each sport's season. There are three seasons at Marianapolis: fall, winter, and spring. Each season has its own set of sports.

Residential Life

Marianapolis offers a traditional boarding school experience with a English as a Second Language Program (ESL) that dates to the 1980s. Students come from states within the New England area as well as countries from around the world. There are currently six residential halls on campus: St. John's, St. Albert's, Bayer House, Villa St. Joseph, Villa Maria, and White House. Four of the houses are nestled on the historic Thompson Common.

Community Service

Service is an integral tradition of the Marianapolis learning experience. Students participate in a number of service traditions including, Homelessness Awareness Night, Thanksgiving Turkey Dip for Muscular Dystrophy, Holiday Food Drive, Disaster Relief Outreach, and the Relay for Life. Recent service trips have touched communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and West Virginia.

Traditions

Rake Day: Every autumn, students at Marianapolis are excused from a day of classes to participate in the annual Rake Day tradition. Traveling around campus by advisee group, students and advisors attack the terrain with rakes, bags, and tarps, collecting fallen leaves from the trees surrounding the school. As they migrate from place to place, students can stop for hot chocolate and tea to stay warm.

Alumni Soccer Game: Played during Homecoming Weekend in October, the match pits faculty, alumni, and students against one another in a good-spirited game of soccer. Historically, the day also features a great deal of rain and mud.

The Victory Bell: A bell located on a small island in the middle of the front parking lot is always rung when a home victory is achieved. On graduation day, each graduating senior rings the bell to signify the transition between student and alumnus/alumna.

The Dodgeball Game: A game of dodgeball held by the senior class which consists of many teams made up of people from parents to faculty and including many students. In the most recent game, the winners were the faculty team.

Summer Programs

Camp Stonewall: A residential summer camp open to kids 8-15. Participants choose from a wide variety of sports, drama, and arts & crafts activities during the day, and enjoy all-camp special events in the evenings. International campers are welcomed as part of the International Summer Learners (ISL) program.

References

  1. ↑ NEASC-CIS. "NEASC-Commission on Independent Schools". Retrieved 2009-07-28.
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