Padua Academy
Encyclopedia
Padua Academy is an all-girls Catholic
high school
in Wilmington, Delaware
. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
. It is a four-time winner of the “Superstars in Education” Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. . The school has been awarded Blue Ribbon School status.
and built with the help of members of the St. Anthony of Padua
Parish. Its patron saints are St. Francis of Assisi
and St. Francis de Sales
. The first classes of Padua Academy (in the late 1950s) took place in the upper level of Saint Anthony of Padua Grade School, located at 9th and North Scott Streets, two blocks away from the present building. Classes also took place in the old P.S. #11 school building in the early years. The building, built in the 1870s, was condemned in the 1990s and was demolished to make way for a bigger parking lot for church-goers in March 2006.
The present building at 10th and Broom Streets was designed and executed by Rev. Roberto Balducelli, O.S.F.S., who came to the United States from Italy in the 1940s. The school was built by volunteer labor with the help of Brother Michael Rosenello, O.S.F.S., who still helps with the daily operation of the school. Both Brother Michael and Father Roberto (or "Father Robert") are still in residence at Saint Anthony of Padua Rectory located next to the Italian-immigrant built church at 901 N. du Pont Street, two blocks away from the present Padua Academy building.
Padua, as it is usually called, has an enrollment of over 600 girls and is within walking distance of its male counter-part Salesianum
. Often, students from these schools can be found after school on each other's campuses for various activities and sports events. The school strongly emphasizes academics with a strict disciplinarian code. Padua students and students from other Catholic high schools have an exchange program during the first period class which allows the schools to offer classes not held at the students' own school.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high 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....
in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
-External links:**...
. It is a four-time winner of the “Superstars in Education” Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. . The school has been awarded Blue Ribbon School status.
History
The high school was founded in 1954 by Rev. Joseph L. McCoy, O.S.F.S.Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are a congregation of Roman Catholic priests and brothers who base their spirituality on the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (Latin: Oblati Sancti Francisci Salesii, O.S.F.S.) are a congregation of...
and built with the help of members of the St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony of Padua (church)
St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church in Wilmington, Delaware. Named in honor of Anthony of Padua, it is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. It is situated in Wilmington's Little Italy neighborhood where the parish includes St...
Parish. Its patron saints are St. Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
and St. Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales was Bishop of Geneva and is a Roman Catholic saint. He worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism, and was an accomplished preacher...
. The first classes of Padua Academy (in the late 1950s) took place in the upper level of Saint Anthony of Padua Grade School, located at 9th and North Scott Streets, two blocks away from the present building. Classes also took place in the old P.S. #11 school building in the early years. The building, built in the 1870s, was condemned in the 1990s and was demolished to make way for a bigger parking lot for church-goers in March 2006.
The present building at 10th and Broom Streets was designed and executed by Rev. Roberto Balducelli, O.S.F.S., who came to the United States from Italy in the 1940s. The school was built by volunteer labor with the help of Brother Michael Rosenello, O.S.F.S., who still helps with the daily operation of the school. Both Brother Michael and Father Roberto (or "Father Robert") are still in residence at Saint Anthony of Padua Rectory located next to the Italian-immigrant built church at 901 N. du Pont Street, two blocks away from the present Padua Academy building.
Padua, as it is usually called, has an enrollment of over 600 girls and is within walking distance of its male counter-part Salesianum
Salesianum
Salesianum School is an independent Catholic secondary school for boys, located in Wilmington, Delaware. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. Salesianum was founded in 1903 and is operated by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales...
. Often, students from these schools can be found after school on each other's campuses for various activities and sports events. The school strongly emphasizes academics with a strict disciplinarian code. Padua students and students from other Catholic high schools have an exchange program during the first period class which allows the schools to offer classes not held at the students' own school.