St. Vincent Pallotti High School
Encyclopedia
St. Vincent Pallotti Preparatory High School, usually called Pallotti, is a private school located in eastern Laurel, Maryland
. It was founded by the Pallottines
in 1921 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.
100% of graduates move on to a four-year college.
Pallotti is noted for its MIAA
Lacrosse championship victory at Johns Hopkins in 2006, and its state championship in Wrestling in 2011.
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 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.
In March of 2011, David McKenzie was announced as the new principal of Pallotti High School, effective July 1, 2011.
, Columbia blue
, and white
. The mascot of Pallotti is the Panthers
.
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)
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
. It was founded by the Pallottines
Pallottines
The Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six...
in 1921 and is within in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
.
Pallotti is a co-ed school serving young men and women from Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, Howard County
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
, and Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. The school is currently attended by approximately 500 students.
100% of graduates move on to a four-year college.
Pallotti is noted for its MIAA
Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association is a boys' sports conference for private high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore. The MIAA has 27 member schools and offers...
Lacrosse championship victory at Johns Hopkins in 2006, and its state championship in Wrestling in 2011.
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 MercySisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
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 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
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
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.
Recent News
Pallotti Principal & President Stephen J. Edmonds stepped down after a five-decade career with the school.In March of 2011, David McKenzie was announced as the new principal of Pallotti High School, effective July 1, 2011.
Drug Policy
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. No illicit substances have ever been found in these searches. The school also participates in "random" drug-testing for students.School Colors and Mascot
The school colors are navy blueNavy blue
Navy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue which almost appears as black. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue worn by officers in the British Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world....
, Columbia blue
Columbia blue
Columbia blue, also known as Jordy blue, is a light blue tertiary color named after Columbia University. The typical Columbia blue is defined by Pantone Columbia Blue 3 .- Usage, symbolism, colloquial expressions :...
, and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
. The mascot of Pallotti is the Panthers
Panthera
Panthera is a genus of the family Felidae , which contains four well-known living species: the tiger, the lion, the jaguar, and the leopard. The genus comprises about half of the Pantherinae subfamily, the big cats...
.
Landmarks
Church tabernacle
A tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....
. It has marble floors and is revered by the students as visually and spiritually pleasing. (shown right)