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Moravian Academy

Coordinates: 40°40′44″N 75°18′42″W / 40.678945°N 75.311794°W / 40.678945; -75.311794
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Moravian Academy
Address
Map
Merle-Smith Campus: 4313 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020

Downtown Campus: 7 E. Market Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018

Swain Campus: 1100 S 24th St, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103

,
United States
Information
TypeIndependent, Coeducational, and College Preparatory School
MottoMore to Explore
Established1742; 282 years ago (1742)
1971
FounderBenigna Zinzendorf
Campus DirectorMerle-Smith Campus - Rachel Wright

Downtown Campus - Abby Mahone

Swain Campus - Megan Franzyshen
Head of schoolAdrianne Finley Odell
Faculty173 (on an FTE basis)
GradesPreschool12
Enrollment910 (2022–23)
Student to teacher ratio6:1
CampusSuburb Urban
Color(s)Red and Gold   
Athletics conferenceColonial League
MascotLion
Websitewww.moravianacademy.org
The Devey Building on the Downtown Campus
A portrait of Countess Benigna Zinzendorf

Moravian Academy is a preschool through 12th-grade independent, co-educational, college preparatory school in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Moravian Academy is the ninth oldest independent school in the United States.[1]

The school has more than 900 students and 200 employees from across the region located on three campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

History

The history of Moravian Academy dates back to 1742, and includes the following highlights:

18th century

20th century

  • 1971: Moravian Preparatory School and Moravian Seminary for Girls merged to create Moravian Academy. Each spring, this merger is celebrated during the school Birthday Love Feast.[3]
  • June 10, 1972: First joint graduation ceremony with thirty nine graduating students.
  • 1987: The first issue of the Moravian Academy Journal was published. [4]
  • 1991: Moravian Academy publishes “Mind, Body, and Spirit: Moravian Academy 1742-1992.” [5]
  • 1992: 250th Anniversary Celebration of the forming of Moravian Academy.

The History of the Swain School

  • 1929: D.Esther Swain opens the Swain School. The opening of the school is celebrated annually on Founder's Day. Dogwood trees are planted in honor of D.Esther Swain. [6]
  • 1990: The Swain School celebrates 60 years

21st century

  • 2020: Moravian Academy and the Swain School Merge to form a three campus school, Moravian Academy. Each campus is named: Merle-Smith Campus, Downtown Campus, and Swain Campus.[7]
  • 2022: Moravian Academy installs the first women head of school, Adrianne Finley Odell. [8]

Schools

Beginning School

The Beginning School includes preschool and kindergarten classes on the Downtown and Swain Campuses.

Lower School

The Lower School serves students in first through fifth grades on the Downtown and Swain Campuses.

Upper School

The Upper School serves ninth through 12th grade students on the Merle-Smith Campus.

Administration

Henrietta Benigna Justina von Zinzendorf, founded the school in 1742. Since then, the heads of the school have been:

  • Reverend Edwin Sawyer, president (1971-1973)
  • David J Devey, head master (1973-1988)
  • Peter Sipple, head master (1988-1998)[9]
  • Barnaby Roberts, head master (1998-2007)[10]
  • George King, head master (2007-2016)
  • Head of School, Jeffrey M. Zemsky (2016-2022)[11]
  • Adrianne Finley Odell, head of school (2022-present)

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Moravian Academy | Our History". www.moravianacademy.org. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  2. ^ "Service marks Moravian celebration ** Yearlong event ended Wednesday with a chapel service that told of the founding of the school by a countess. ** Bethlehem". The Morning Call. 2001-01-19. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  3. ^ "Moravian Academy | About Us". www.moravianacademy.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  4. ^ "Explore Moravian Academy". Niche. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  5. ^ "MORAVIAN ACADEMY RECORDS ITS HISTORY". The Morning Call. 1991-09-29. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  6. ^ "Swain School celebrates its anniversary". The Morning Call. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  7. ^ "The Swain School, Moravian Academy announce partnership | Lehigh Valley Press". www.lvpnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  8. ^ "Adrianne Finley Odell new Head of School at Moravian Academy | Lehigh Valley Press". www.lvpnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  9. ^ Swasta, Susan (1991). Mind, Body, and Spirit: Moravian Academy 1742-1992 (1st ed.). Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ "MORAVIAN ACADEMY NAMES NEW HEADMASTER * BARNABY ROBERTS TO REPLACE PETER W. SIPPLE ON JULY 1". The Morning Call. 1997-12-18. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  11. ^ lehighvalleylive.com, Sara K. Satullo | For (2016-08-14). "Moravian Academy's new headmaster modern Moravian embodiment". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved 2023-05-02.

40°40′44″N 75°18′42″W / 40.678945°N 75.311794°W / 40.678945; -75.311794