Devon Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
Devon Preparatory School is a private, Catholic
college preparatory school in Devon, Pennsylvania, founded in 1956 by the Piarist fathers. It is an all-boys school, divided into a middle school
(grades 6–8) and an upper school
(grades 9–12), both located on the same campus of 20 acres (80,937.2 m²). The school
operates independently with the blessings of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
.
The mansion, the centerpiece of the estate, was built in 1913 by Philadelphia publisher Dr. Charles M. Lea. The task of transforming the mansion into a school began in March 1956. It was renamed Calasanctius Hall after St. Joseph Calasanctius, founder of the Piarist Order. Devon Preparatory School opened its doors on September 8 with 49 freshmen, including several boarders. Philadelphia Archbishop John Francis O’Hara dedicated the school on December 8, 1956. In the years that followed the other buildings became functional parts of the campus. First, the stable became the chapel; next the carriage house became the chemistry lab, and finally the workers’ cottage became the student activities center.
The school graduated its first class on June 4, 1960. The following September groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new school and gymnasium. Construction was finished the following year and Archbishop John Krol dedicated the new buildings on October 21, 1961. Today that building houses mostly upper school classes. St. Anthony Hall was opened in 2004. It includes a state of the art computer center, library media center, a science lab and six classrooms.
Today, Devon Prep has the largest enrollment of its history, a faculty of Piarist Fathers and both male and female lay faculty, a staff of more than 20 persons, and an alumni base of over 2000.
Devon Prep offers 17 Advanced Placement courses. Advanced Placement courses include: AP Statistics
, AP European History
, AP Human Geography
, AP Biology
, AP English Language and Composition
, AP U.S. History, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics B
, AP Physics C
, AP English Literature, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Chemistry
, AP French
, AP German, AP Spanish
, AP Environmental Science
. All students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses are required to take the Advanced Placement examinations. AP courses are available upon request.
, inherited his fortume from the Lea & Febiger publishing firm, the oldest publishing company in the United States (1785–1990). The firm's best known title was the American edition of Gray's Anatomy
, which they began publishing in 1859. The original 20-acre (81,000 m2) tract on the east side of Valley Forge Road was expanded in 1920, with the purchase of an additional 83 acres (340,000 m2). This consolidated property was known as Westthorpe Farm.
The main entrance to Westthorpe Farm was at the intersection of Conestoga Road, Valley Forge Road and Hunters Lane where large stone pillars still stand. A number of stone pillars, that originally formed a southern fence line, remains partially in place along West Conestoga and Upper Gulph Roads. The current entrance to Devon Preparatory School, on Valley Forge Road, was the servants' entrance to the mansion. An outbuilding from Westthorpe Farm still stands northeast of the intersection of Upper Gulph and Hunters Lane.
The Westthorpe mansion, a twenty-five room masterpiece designed by Brockie & Hastings, was the home of Charles M. Lea until he died in 1927. His widow, Charlotte Augusta Lea, remained at the mansion until her death in 1945.
The property was then sold to Alexander Shand, a developer, who built one of the first post-World War II developments of homes known as the Shand Tract, on Steeplechase Road and Hunters Lane. Shand sold the mansion to Dr. Joseph Lerner, who had hoped to make it a psychiatric hospital. Because of neighborhood opposition to his project, Lerner sold the property to the Piarist Fathers in 1955.
Calasanctius Hall-The "old building" or "mansion" is now home to the Middle School, with six classrooms on the second floor. Calasanctius Hall also houses the Art Center and the school's Admissions Office. A large first floor hall has hosted presentations, school plays, and receptions. The Piarist Fathers live on the third floor.
Upper School Classroom Building – Built in 1961, the main building includes nine classrooms, a Biology Lab, and a Physics Lab. It also includes Devon's Bookstore, Health Center, and various administration offices.
Gymnasium – A full-sized basketball court hosts home games for the Middle School CYO team and the Upper School JV and Varsity teams. Weekdays after school feature intramural games. A large stage makes the gym an all-purpose auditorium for student assemblies, theatrical performances, guest speakers, and dances. A major addition to the Athletic Facility was completed in 1999, adding additional locker room space, Coach's Room, and weight-training equipment.
Chemistry Building – Once the carriage house, this building has been converted into a Chemistry Lab on the first floor nd a Music Center on the second floor.
St. Mary's Chapel – Formerly a stable, this is now the School Chapel seating over one hundred. Devon uses the chapel for Mass and smaller gatherings.
Activities House – Originally the servants quarters, this building is now used as a meeting place for several student activities, including the school yearbook, The Calasanctian.
Edwin D. Keller Memorial Field – Improved in 1990, the athletic fields are capable of hosting two simultaneous soccer games, or a baseball game. During the spring break of 2007, the school added dugouts for the baseball field and redid the pitchers mound and the home plate area.
St. Anthony's Hall – This building features six classrooms, a Computer/Technology Center, a Library and Science Lab. It was dedicated by Cardinal Rigali on Oct. 2, 2004.
Devon Prep also has an Ultimate Frisbee team that went to states in 2008.
, Science Olympiad
, Diplomacy
Club, Film Club, German-American Exchange Program, Devon Dialogue (newspaper), Calasanctian (yearbook), Ballroom Dance, Art Club, Debate Club, Campus Ministry, Chess Club, Ping-Pong Club, Computer Club, and Frisbee Club.
Society, the National Honor Society
, the National Junior Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society
, (President- Jacob R. Boehmer '10) (La Orden de Santiago), and the German National Honor Society (Delta Epsilon Phi)
In 2009, the Devon Prep Academic Challenge Team won the Chester County Championship and took 4th place in the state tournament in Harrisburg. Devon Prep is the first and only private school to win the Chester County Academic Challenge Competition. http://www.devonprep.com/about/news08/academicchall.html
, the Devon Prep Music Society is open to all Devon members and consists of several performing groups. Students receive academic credit for their musical work.
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
college preparatory school in Devon, Pennsylvania, founded in 1956 by the Piarist fathers. It is an all-boys school, divided into a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
(grades 6–8) and an upper school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(grades 9–12), both located on the same campus of 20 acres (80,937.2 m²). The school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
operates independently with the blessings of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The diocese was...
.
The mansion, the centerpiece of the estate, was built in 1913 by Philadelphia publisher Dr. Charles M. Lea. The task of transforming the mansion into a school began in March 1956. It was renamed Calasanctius Hall after St. Joseph Calasanctius, founder of the Piarist Order. Devon Preparatory School opened its doors on September 8 with 49 freshmen, including several boarders. Philadelphia Archbishop John Francis O’Hara dedicated the school on December 8, 1956. In the years that followed the other buildings became functional parts of the campus. First, the stable became the chapel; next the carriage house became the chemistry lab, and finally the workers’ cottage became the student activities center.
The school graduated its first class on June 4, 1960. The following September groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new school and gymnasium. Construction was finished the following year and Archbishop John Krol dedicated the new buildings on October 21, 1961. Today that building houses mostly upper school classes. St. Anthony Hall was opened in 2004. It includes a state of the art computer center, library media center, a science lab and six classrooms.
Today, Devon Prep has the largest enrollment of its history, a faculty of Piarist Fathers and both male and female lay faculty, a staff of more than 20 persons, and an alumni base of over 2000.
Academics
Devon Preparatory Upper School students must take a minimum of 4 years of English, 4 years of Mathematics, 4 years of Science, 3 years of Social Science (History), 3 years of a Foreign Language, 2 years of Latin, 4 years of Religion, and 4 years of Physical Education. Every freshman, sophomore, and junior takes the PSAT in October.Devon Prep offers 17 Advanced Placement courses. Advanced Placement courses include: AP Statistics
AP Statistics
Advanced Placement Statistics is a college-level high school statistics course offered in the United States through the College Board's Advanced Placement program...
, AP European History
AP European History
Advanced Placement European History is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
, AP Human Geography
AP Human Geography
Advanced Placement Human Geography is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program in the USA.This college-level course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human...
, AP Biology
AP Biology
In the United States, Advanced Placement Biology , is a course and examination offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn placement credit for a college-level biology course....
, AP English Language and Composition
AP English Language and Composition
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program....
, AP U.S. History, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics B
AP Physics B
AP Physics B is an Advanced Placement science course that is divided into nine different sections: Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. The course is equivalent to a one-year college course that...
, AP Physics C
AP Physics C
Part of the College Board's Advanced Placement Program, consisting of two separate courses:*AP Physics C: Mechanics*AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism...
, AP English Literature, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Advanced Placement Chemistry is a course and examination offered by the College Board as a part of the Advanced Placement Program to give American and Canadian high school students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and earn college-level credit.-The course:AP Chemistry is a course...
, AP French
AP French
AP French can stand for two distinct Advanced Placement Programs provided by the College Board:*AP French Language*AP French LiteratureA.P. French can also refer to Anthony Philip French, an emeritus professor of physics at MIT....
, AP German, AP Spanish
AP Spanish
AP Spanish can stand for two distinct Advanced Placement Programs provided by the College Board:*AP Spanish Language*AP Spanish Literature...
, AP Environmental Science
AP Environmental Science
Advanced Placement Environmental Science is a course offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program to high school students interested in the environmental and natural sciences...
. All students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses are required to take the Advanced Placement examinations. AP courses are available upon request.
Campus History
The site where the Devon Preparatory School stands has a documented history that dates back to at least 1913 when prominent Philadelphia publisher, art collector, and socialite. Dr. Charles Matthew Lea built his mansion that was later to become Calasanctus Hall. Lea, son of historian Henry Charles LeaHenry Charles Lea
Henry Charles Lea was an American historian, civic reformer, and political activist. Lea was born and lived in Philadelphia.-Parents:...
, inherited his fortume from the Lea & Febiger publishing firm, the oldest publishing company in the United States (1785–1990). The firm's best known title was the American edition of Gray's Anatomy
Gray's Anatomy
Gray's Anatomy is an English-language human anatomy textbook originally written by Henry Gray. The book is widely regarded as an extremely influential work on the subject, and has continued to be revised and republished from its initial publication in 1858 to the present day...
, which they began publishing in 1859. The original 20-acre (81,000 m2) tract on the east side of Valley Forge Road was expanded in 1920, with the purchase of an additional 83 acres (340,000 m2). This consolidated property was known as Westthorpe Farm.
The main entrance to Westthorpe Farm was at the intersection of Conestoga Road, Valley Forge Road and Hunters Lane where large stone pillars still stand. A number of stone pillars, that originally formed a southern fence line, remains partially in place along West Conestoga and Upper Gulph Roads. The current entrance to Devon Preparatory School, on Valley Forge Road, was the servants' entrance to the mansion. An outbuilding from Westthorpe Farm still stands northeast of the intersection of Upper Gulph and Hunters Lane.
The Westthorpe mansion, a twenty-five room masterpiece designed by Brockie & Hastings, was the home of Charles M. Lea until he died in 1927. His widow, Charlotte Augusta Lea, remained at the mansion until her death in 1945.
The property was then sold to Alexander Shand, a developer, who built one of the first post-World War II developments of homes known as the Shand Tract, on Steeplechase Road and Hunters Lane. Shand sold the mansion to Dr. Joseph Lerner, who had hoped to make it a psychiatric hospital. Because of neighborhood opposition to his project, Lerner sold the property to the Piarist Fathers in 1955.
Calasanctius Hall-The "old building" or "mansion" is now home to the Middle School, with six classrooms on the second floor. Calasanctius Hall also houses the Art Center and the school's Admissions Office. A large first floor hall has hosted presentations, school plays, and receptions. The Piarist Fathers live on the third floor.
Upper School Classroom Building – Built in 1961, the main building includes nine classrooms, a Biology Lab, and a Physics Lab. It also includes Devon's Bookstore, Health Center, and various administration offices.
Gymnasium – A full-sized basketball court hosts home games for the Middle School CYO team and the Upper School JV and Varsity teams. Weekdays after school feature intramural games. A large stage makes the gym an all-purpose auditorium for student assemblies, theatrical performances, guest speakers, and dances. A major addition to the Athletic Facility was completed in 1999, adding additional locker room space, Coach's Room, and weight-training equipment.
Chemistry Building – Once the carriage house, this building has been converted into a Chemistry Lab on the first floor nd a Music Center on the second floor.
St. Mary's Chapel – Formerly a stable, this is now the School Chapel seating over one hundred. Devon uses the chapel for Mass and smaller gatherings.
Activities House – Originally the servants quarters, this building is now used as a meeting place for several student activities, including the school yearbook, The Calasanctian.
Edwin D. Keller Memorial Field – Improved in 1990, the athletic fields are capable of hosting two simultaneous soccer games, or a baseball game. During the spring break of 2007, the school added dugouts for the baseball field and redid the pitchers mound and the home plate area.
St. Anthony's Hall – This building features six classrooms, a Computer/Technology Center, a Library and Science Lab. It was dedicated by Cardinal Rigali on Oct. 2, 2004.
Athletics
All of Devon Prep's athletic teams compete in the Bicentennial Athletic League (12 teams).- Fall: Cross Country, Soccer (varsity, junior varsity and freshmen), and Golf (varsity and junior varsity)
- Winter: Basketball (varsity, junior varsity and freshmen), and Indoor Track
- Spring: Baseball (varsity and junior varsity), Lacrosse, Track and Field, and Tennis.
Devon Prep also has an Ultimate Frisbee team that went to states in 2008.
Clubs and Activities
Devon Prep has over 25 different clubs and activities. Some of them include: Mock Trial, Model United NationsModel United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
, Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
, Diplomacy
Diplomacy (game)
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. Its main distinctions from most board wargames are its negotiation phases and the absence of dice or other game elements that produce random effects...
Club, Film Club, German-American Exchange Program, Devon Dialogue (newspaper), Calasanctian (yearbook), Ballroom Dance, Art Club, Debate Club, Campus Ministry, Chess Club, Ping-Pong Club, Computer Club, and Frisbee Club.
Student Council
The Devon Prep Student Council (DPSC) plays an integral part of student life at Devon Prep. DPSC mediates between the administration, faculty, Parents Association, alumni, and the student body, and also administers and finances most of the students' activities. Everything from mixers, tailgates, basketball games, Battle of the Bands, prom, and other various activities is organized and managed by the Student Council. The revenues of all of these activities and events provide much of the necessary funds for the impressive operating budget of over $100,000. Members of the student council are elected by fellow students.Honor Societies
Devon Prep students can be inducted into several honor societies. The honor societies present at Devon Prep are the Quill and ScrollQuill and Scroll
Quill and Scroll is an international high school journalism honor society that recognizes and encourages both individual and group achievements in scholastic journalism. According to the Quill and Scroll website, over 14,104 high schools in all 50 U.S. states and 44 countries have established local...
Society, the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, the National Junior Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society is an academic honor society focused on Spanish language excellence in secondary education and promotes a continuity of interest in Spanish studies. The group, which was established in 1953 in the United States is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of...
, (President- Jacob R. Boehmer '10) (La Orden de Santiago), and the German National Honor Society (Delta Epsilon Phi)
Academic Challenge Team
Devon takes part in both the Varsity and JV divisions of the CCIU Academic Challenge Competition, in which students from different schools in the area compete in a quiz game to test their general knowledge.In 2009, the Devon Prep Academic Challenge Team won the Chester County Championship and took 4th place in the state tournament in Harrisburg. Devon Prep is the first and only private school to win the Chester County Academic Challenge Competition. http://www.devonprep.com/about/news08/academicchall.html
Christian Action Program (CAP)
The Christian Action Program is a student-run organization dedicated to improving the surrounding community through ongoing acts of service. One of the most active programs at Devon, C.A.P consists of students from grades six to twelve. The club serves several purposes; while attending to the spiritual and physical needs of those in the area, it also offers Devon students an opportunity to take roles of responsibility and use their skills to accomplish meaningful work.Music and Theater
Led by Dr. Valentin RaduValentin Radu
Valentin Radu is founder, artistic director and conductor of Vox Ama Deus, with performances at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and other various city, suburban, and Main Line area venues, has led numerous orchestras and vocal ensembles in Europe and the U.S., including the ,...
, the Devon Prep Music Society is open to all Devon members and consists of several performing groups. Students receive academic credit for their musical work.
- Jazz Band – With approximately 30 members each year, this group is responsible for bringing big band, swing, and jazz charts to the Devon stage, as the musicians learn style, technique, and theory.
- Choral Tide and Rip Tide – Members of these two choral groups sing all genres of music and perform both inside and outside of Devon.
- Fall Drama – The Fall Drama is annually performed in early November by students from Devon Prep and its surrounding sister schools.
- Spring Musical – The Spring Musical, usually a Broadway musical, is performed in early spring by students from Devon Prep and its surrounding sister schools. Recent productions include Guys and Dolls, South PacificSouth Pacific (musical)South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
, The Scarlet PimpernelThe Scarlet Pimpernel (musical)The Scarlet Pimpernel is a musical with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics and book by Nan Knighton, based on the novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy. The show is set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution...
, Bye Bye Birdie, and Hot MikadoHot MikadoHot Mikado is a musical comedy, based on Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, adapted by David H. Bell and Rob Bowman...
.
Summer Enrichment Program
In the summer, Devon Prep hosts a Summer Enrichment Program. Throughout the two sessions students participate in sports and dramatic arts camps as well as various courses designed to motivate, educate and fascinate each participant. They attend classes in algebra readiness, digital photography, painting and sculpting, video production, study skills, web building, history explorations and more. The sports camps include baseball, soccer, track, golf and basketball.See also
- PiaristsPiaristsThe Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools or, in short, Piarists , is the name of the oldest Catholic educational order also known as the Scolopi, Escolapios or Poor Clerics of the Mother of God...
- St. Joseph Calasanz – founder of the Pious Schools and the Order of the Piarists
- List of high schools in Pennsylvania