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Mount de Sales Academy (Georgia)

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Coordinates: 32°50′4″N 83°38′24″W / 32.83444°N 83.64000°W / 32.83444; -83.64000
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Mount de Sales Academy
Address
Map
851 Orange Street

Macon
,
Georgia
31201

United States
Coordinates32°50′4″N 83°38′24″W / 32.83444°N 83.64000°W / 32.83444; -83.64000
Information
TypePrivate
Motto"Touching hearts, shaping lives"
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1876
FounderSisters of Mercy
AuthorityIndependent
PresidentDavid Held
DeanMary Pat Dadisman
PrincipalMichael C. Franklin (Upper School),
Kari Alderman (Middle School)
ChaplainFather John Coughlin, OFM
Staff87
Grades6–12
GenderCoeducational
Student to teacher ratio12:1
Color(s)Blue and gold    
MascotMonty
NicknameCavaliers
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools
Publicationde Sales Sheet Magazine
YearbookSalesian
AffiliationNational Catholic Educational Association
Websitewww.mountdesales.net

Mount de Sales Academy, commonly referred to as MDS, is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school in Macon, Georgia. It was founded in 1876 by five Sisters of Mercy as a boarding school for girls. In 1959, it became coeducational and ended boarding school operations in 1963. The Sisters served in an administrative capacity until 2002, when the first lay head of school was selected by the school's Board of Trustees. Mount de Sales is governed by its trustees and continues to be sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.

History

Early history

In 1871 during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, a group of five Sisters of Mercy from Columbus, Georgia, began a small school known as the Academy of the Sacred Heart Jesus on the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets in Macon.[1] In 1876, the mother house of the Sisters relocated from Columbus to Macon. With help from others, the Sisters purchased the former home of Georgia Governor George W. Town for use at the corner of Orange and Columbus streets on Beall's Hill in downtown Macon. On February 28, 1876, the new school was chartered under the name of Mount de Sales in honor of Saint Francis de Sales. When the first graduation exercises were held in 1882, it had expanded to comprise three divisions: primary, preparatory and senior. It educated mostly girls in grades 1-12, housing boarding students from around the southeastern United States and Latin America.[2]

The former residence of Governor George Towns c. 1880s, the original building and site of Mount de Sales Academy.

Modernization and expansion

Sheridan Hall

In 1936, Mount de Sales discontinued its primary school, but continued as a girls' secondary school for boarding and day students until 1959, when the first boys were admitted as day students.[3] The girls' boarding school closed in 1963 and the school continued as a coeducation day school. The first coeducational graduating class included 16 boys among 46 total graduates in 1963. The fall of 1963 marked the racial integration of Mount de Sales as a result of a diocesan edict, making it the first school in Middle Georgia to desegregate.[4]

David J. Zuver Performing Arts Center

In 1975, the middle school returned with the re-addition of an eighth grade. A seventh grade was reinstalled in 1988, followed by a sixth grade in 2004.[5] The original convent and boarding school building was demolished in the early 1970s and replaced by Sheridan Hall in 1990. New buildings were constructed over the following decades. Cavalier Fields, a 70 acres (0.28 km2) athletic complex, opened in 1998 approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of the downtown campus.

Father John Cuddy Hall

Academics

The upper school's curriculum includes honor, Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment college courses in most subject areas, along with a broad range of elective courses. Upper school students must perform 20 hours of community service annually, while middle school students are required to complete service projects. The middle school's House System places students in cross-grade level groups to foster positive social development. All students take theology courses and attend Mass on Holy Days. While Mount de Sales has a Catholic heritage, about two-thirds of students are of non-Catholic faiths. Students hail from more than 30 Georgia zip codes and the school hosts dozens of international exchange students.[6][7]

Controversy

In 2014, Mount de Sales came under national scrutiny when administrators fired Flint Dollar, an openly gay music teacher who planned to marry his longtime male partner, based on the Catholic church's doctrine against same-sex marriage.[8] In 2015, both parties reached a confidential settlement.[9]

Athletics

Mount de Sales regularly competes in a number of interscholastic athletics in Class A of the Georgia High School Association. Teams compete at the varsity, junior varsity and C-team levels. Additionally, the school sponsors cheerleading and a band. Cavalier Fields is home to a football stadium and practice fields, soccer playing and practice fields, track, softball and baseball fields, tennis courts and concessions. Most indoor athletics are held at McAuley Hall, the downtown campus gymnasium. The Cavalier Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who have made significant contributions to the athletic program.[10]

Accreditation and membership

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ https://www.mountdesales.net/about/our-history/
  2. ^ http://www.mountdesales.net/misc/advancement/deSalesSheet_Fall2015.pdf
  3. ^ https://www.mountdesales.net/about/our-history/
  4. ^ http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/Vol_65__1964.pdf
  5. ^ https://www.mountdesales.net/about/our-history/
  6. ^ https://www.mountdesales.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2016-MDS-Profile.pdf
  7. ^ https://myemail.constantcontact.com/de-Sales-Sheet-Magazine---Spring-Digital-Edition.html?soid=1116188035096&aid=MK2jJZ4b0SQ
  8. ^ https://www.npr.org/2014/07/09/329235789/gay-teacher-files-sex-discrimination-claim-against-georgia-school
  9. ^ http://www.macon.com/news/local/education/article30704754.html
  10. ^ http://www.mountdesales.net/athletics/athletics-program/
  11. ^ "SACS CASI Accredited Schools". Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 2007-12-10. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  12. ^ "SAIS: Mount de Sales Academy". Southern Association of Independent Schools. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  13. ^ "Georgia Independent School Association: Mount de Sales Academy". Georgia Independent School Association. Archived from the original on 2007-12-25. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  14. ^ https://www.ghsa.net/
  15. ^ "Mercy Schools". Network for Mercy Education. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  16. ^ https://www.ncea.org/NCEA/School_Locator/NCEA/School_Locator.aspx?hkey=ddf4fdd5-6144-44b4-a381-17b31cd6e3d3
  17. ^ http://www.nais.org/Users/Pages/SchoolSearch.aspx
  18. ^ a b https://www.mountdesales.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Student_Parent-Handbook-2016-2017.pdf
  19. ^ https://www.collegeboard.org/membership
  20. ^ http://cumlaudesociety.org/
  21. ^ "BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  22. ^ Flora, Joseph M.; Vogel, Amber (2006-06-21). Southern Writers: A New Biographical Dictionary. ISBN 9780807148556.
  23. ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/1483784/bill-berry/biography
  24. ^ http://savannahnow.com/news-latest-news/2015-09-16/savannah-sister-welcome-pope-francis-meet-president-obama-during/
  25. ^ Jones, H. (1964). "In Memoriam Mary Givens Bryan 1910-1964". The American Archivist. 27 (4): 505–507. doi:10.17723/aarc.27.4.k8257nx455568059.
  26. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/09/13/miss-georgia--crowned-miss-america-2016/72237830/
  27. ^ http://www.macon.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/ed-grisamore/article30147885.html
  28. ^ https://diosav.org/sites/all/files/archives/S8318p03.pdf
  29. ^ "Cole Miller UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  30. ^ "Micah Miller MMA Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  31. ^ http://punarogroup.com/about-the-punaro-group/
  32. ^ Justin Baxley (March 1, 2019). "Lisa Sheridan, Macon native and 'NCIS' actress, found dead in New Orleans apartment". The Macon Telegraph.
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