Subiaco Academy
Subiaco Academy is a boarding/day school of Catholic tradition for any qualified young man in grades 7 through 12. It offers college preparatory classes, with co-curricular activities including sports, arts and music and outdoor activities including hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing and kayaking.
| Subiaco Academy | |
|---|---|
| File:SubiacoAcademyUSA Aerial.jpg | |
| Address | |
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405 North Subiaco Avenue , , 72865 | |
| Coordinates | 35°18′4″N 93°38′0″W / 35.30111°N 93.63333°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, All-Male |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1887 |
| Headmaster | Fr. Leonard Wangler, OSB |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Average class size | 12 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12:1 |
| Classes offered | 11 AP |
| Color(s) | Blue and Orange |
| Slogan | America's Best Value in Boarding Schools |
| Sports | Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Golf |
| Mascot | Trojan |
| Team name | Trojans |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools [1], Independent School Association of Central States, Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association |
| Newspaper | Periscope |
| Yearbook | Pax |
| Graduates | 35-45 |
| Academic Dean | Cheryl Goetz |
| Dean of Men | Greg Timmerman |
| Admissions Director | Scott Breed |
| Athletic Director | Tim Tencleve |
| Website | http://www.subiacoacademy.us/ |
About the Academy
The school, founded in 1887, is an educational apostolate of the Benedictine monks at Subiaco Abbey. Located on the Abbey's 1,800 acres of farmland, the school is nestled against the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in the Arkansas River Valley, which offers many opportunities for outdoor activities.
The Academy strives to instill in its students the values of St. Benedict: a love of learning, a balanced life of work and prayer in harmony with nature, and a dedication to community life. Subiaco provides an engaging and supportive environment that is academically well-rounded, structured, and challenging for every student.
Subiaco Academy is staffed by Benedictine Monks of Subiaco Abbey and dedicated lay men and women. The Academy is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Arkansas Non-public Schools Accrediting Association.
Subiaco is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, National Catholic Education Association, Midwest Boarding Schools, Catholic Boarding Schools Association, and The Association of Boarding Schools.
The school colors are orange and blue. The school mascot is the Trojans.
The college placement rate for graduates is 100%.[2] The academy's goal is to "challenge students to grow - mind, body and spirit".
History of Subiaco Academy
Subiaco Academy is a private, Roman Catholic, boarding school, owned by the corporation entitled: "Subiaco Abbey," the religious community of Benedictine monks at Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas. The Benedictine Order in the Catholic Church, to which Subiaco Abbey belongs, evolved from the "Rule" written by St. Benedict of Nursia in Italy in the early sixth century. The education of youth in some form has been a significant part of the apostolate of Benedictine Monks since that time--almost 15 centuries. Hence, Subiaco Academy has a rich tradition of educating young men.
The school came into existence as a result of the German migration to the Arkansas River Valley in the 1870s and especially in the 1880s and 1890s. The Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad Company had thousands of acres of free land in the area. They had resolved to sell this land only to German Catholic settlers if possible. This company approached the Swiss Benedictine Monks in Indiana to send missionaries to Logan County Arkansas in 1878. These monks brought with them their Swiss Benedictine heritage of a monastery school. Until the First World War, numerous additional monks and recruits from Switzerland strengthened this educational tradition.
In 1887 the monks opened a school called St. Benedict's College to educate young men between the ages of 14 and 20 in the basic humanities. There were never more than 20 students in this school and it was terminated in the summer of 1892. The monks reorganized this educational project that summer, and in the fall, the school was reopened as a seminary to train students for the ministry. This school was called The Scholasticate. Modeled upon European "Gymnasium" lines, it consisted mostly of classical languages and musical training. This form of the school reached its peak with some 70 students in 1901 when the institution was largely destroyed by fire.
By the spring of 1902, the school reopened in its present location in a stone building that had already been under construction when the 1901 fire occurred. The name was changed to Subiaco College. This school comprised a six-year program, still modeled on European lines, with three courses of study: classical, scientific, and commercial. By the mid-1920s, enrollment stood at over 200 young men.
In December 1927, the institution was again destroyed by fire, but a primitive school, Subiaco Academy, was reopened in February 1928, in what was left of the Main Building. This school barely survived the Depression Years.
During World War II, enrollment soared, but it was only after 1945 that Subiaco Academy was able to begin expanding its physical plant. In 1952, a classroom building was completed; a fitting campus church was dedicated in 1959; a guest house was opened in 1963; a stadium in 1965; a fieldhouse and dorm building in 1966; a new library in 1967 and the Performing Arts Center in 1978. In the summer of 1992, the old, open dorms of the Main Building became air-conditioned, semi-private rooms. The Health Center, expanded from the old Infirmary, was completed for students and monks in January 1996. In the summer of 1998, the classroom buildings were renovated and air-conditioned; in the summer of 1999, the art building, the student dining room, and the Student Union were renovated and air-conditioned.
In the 1960s, when the vast majority of Subiaco's students were enrolling in college, Subiaco Academy became college prep and was admitted to the North Central Association in 1968.
The earliest administrators and teachers were all Benedictine monks. By the time of the First World War, there were one or two male lay teachers. Hired coaches were added after the mid-1920s. The great number of non-monk staff (teachers and administrators), including female faculty members, came only in the mid-1970s.
Subiaco Academy is unique in the state of Arkansas in that it is the only such Catholic boarding school and in the fact that the vast majority of its students board at the school. Almost half of these young men come from outside the state as well as from several foreign countries.
The "community" of Subiaco Academy consists of its students, its faculty, its parents and its support staff. In a broader sense, however, the school "community" also consists of the entire monastic community of monks, the Academy's alumni, and the residents of the surrounding area.
Academic Philosophy
The primary objective of Subiaco Academy is to foster a system of education, guidance, and community fellowship that develops both the mind and body. To that end, all of the academic classes, religious activities, and extracurricular activities are designed to enhance a close fraternal and cooperative relationship built on mutual respect and Christian love.
Teachers and staff should endeavor to communicate by their words and actions a sense of the spirit of St. Benedict, as expressed in his rule: a respect for the value of work, development of personal talents to serve others, a sense of peace and fraternity, self-discipline, trust, and an appreciation of the Christ centered nature of monastic communities.
Subiaco Academy admits male students of any race, color, creed, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the Academy. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, athletic policies, scholarship and student aid programs, and other school administered programs.
Student Life
The Academy has a diverse student body attracting international students mainly from South Korea and Mexico.[citation needed] There are also students from Curacao in the Netherland Antilles, China, Belarus, Spain, Thailand, and Japan. In addition, the Academy attracts students from across the United States.
A wide range of extracurricular activities are made available to students at the Academy. Kayaking, hiking, and fishing excursions are regularly made available to all students who are able to attend. In addition, the Academy owns a cabin located on Lake Dardanelle near Russellville, Arkansas to which students may go if they wish to participate in water sports. Another unique opportunity which students receive is the opportunity to participate in Renaissance Days--days on which students choose to spend the day learning about various out-of-classroom trades from faculty members. In addition, the academy offers many extracurricular activities such as Quiz Bowl, Science Club, National Honor Society, International Global Finance Club, Cultural Awareness as Subiaco Academy (CASA) Club, Jam Band, Jazz Ensemble, Choir, Praise and Worship Band, Benet Club (Studies Benedictine Monastic Life), Boy Scouts, Student Government, and The Order of the Blue Arrow (Student Ambassadors). Regular trips are also made to local cities so that students may purchase necessary supplies, enjoy a meal at a restaurant or participate in any number of activities from bowling to watching movies. A student-run cafe is also located on the campus of Subiaco. Known as Die Bunkerstube (German for "The Underground Cafe") or simply "The Stube," this cafe is open regularly and provides students with a way to socialize, watch TV and support the student body through the purchase of food sold in the Bunkerstube. A recreation room with pool, ping-pong and Foosball tables; two TV rooms and athletic facilities such as volleyball, tennis and basketball courts; weight rooms; fitness rooms; an outdoor swimming pool and a track are also located at various locations on campus and are available for use by the students on the weekends and during free time.
Many services are offered to students in addition to extra activities. Residential Deans are located on each floor of Heard Hall and the Main Building, the residential facilities at Subiaco Academy. The deans of underclassmen students may be assisted by upperclassmen students who have demonstrated a strong responsibility and good conduct, known as Residential Assistants. Multiple study halls are available to all students. A structured study hall is offered for first-year students and those who cannot maintain sufficient grades. Structured study halls are proctored by volunteer students and teachers. An independent study hall is required of the remaining students who have demonstrated their ability to work independently. Independent study hall is held in the residence halls and is proctored by the deans, Residential Assistants and appointed faculty. A math lab is hosted on Monday evenings and is available to all students who may need assistance with any math class. The math lab is sponsored by the mathematics department head and is run by students enrolled in advanced mathematics courses. Additional tutoring services are offered by appointed students and a teacher assistance period is scheduled during every school day.
Religion is an integral part of the student life at Subiaco Academy. In addition to a mandatory class in Theology for each year spent at Subiaco, religious activity is strongly encouraged of all students. Activities common in the Roman Catholic Church such as Altar Serving, Eucharistic Ministering and Lectoring are all available to any student who wishes to participate. Mandatory Masses are held every Sunday and Wednesday morning in the abbey church. Also, students are required to witness important religious events such as Solemn Professions and Funerals of Monks, Catholic Solemnities and other significant school events such as the Baccalaureate Mass.
Sports
The academy has a sports program consisting of football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, and track and field.
Subiaco Academy has a long and proud history in athletics. The philosophy of the athletic program at Subiaco is in accordance with the school's overall philosophy statement. It is the primary goal of the Academy to provide an education for students that is centered on the development and formation of the whole Christian person. Our program is based on strong academics, development of social skills, encouraged interest in providing community service, and spiritual education in Catholic Christian values and teachings.
Subiaco Academy recognizes that an important component of a student's well being is that of physical development. In addition, it is important for students to develop socially as they learn to work in a team situation and to practice good sportsmanship. The goal of the athletic program is to produce young men of strong character, who can be successful in the competitive society in which we live. A secondary goal of the athletic department is the development and cultivation of school spirit.
Since 1974 the Subiaco Trojan Tennis Team has a record of 228 wins, 46 losses and four ties and won nine state 4A titles, most recently in 2008.[3]
Notable alumni
- Frank Stanford, poet
- Harvey Wheeler, writer and co-author of Fail-Safe
Media references
KNWA-TV, a Fort Smith, Arkansas television station, produced a half-hour report on the history of the Abbey and Academy in March 2009.[4]
References
- ^ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Retrieved 2009-06-23. [dead link]
- ^ http://www.subiacoacademy.us/documents/Periscope/forms/10%20-%20Overview%20Sheet%20Nov%2017.pdf
- ^ http://www.arkansas-catholic.org/article.php?id=2293
- ^ [1] retrieved April 1, 2009 [dead link]
External links
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