Seattle Preparatory School
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Seattle Preparatory School, popularly known as Seattle Prep, is a Catholic high school located on the north slope of Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington, United States. Until 1974, it only admitted boys.
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[edit] Early history
Seattle Prep was founded in 1891 by two Jesuits, Father Victor Garrand and Father Adrian Sweere, as the School of the Immaculate Conception. Its original location was St. Francis Hall at the corner of 6th Avenue and Spring Street in downtown Seattle, and the school offered both high-school and college-level classes. In 1898, the school changed its name to Seattle College and moved to First Hill, at which point the high school split off as Seattle College High School and moved to its present location. Seattle College High School changed its name to Seattle Preparatory School in 1933; Seattle College changed its name to Seattle University in 1948. The school's motto is "Virtus in Arduis" or virtue in all work. This incorporates the Jesuit motto of "Ad Majoren Dei Gloriam" which means, literally, "For the Greater Glory of God."
[edit] Curriculum
Seattle Prep is still closely tied to Seattle University, and not just by their common Jesuit heritage (both schools are still managed by the Jesuit Order). Seattle Prep has an innovative curriculum arrangement with Seattle University wherein students of Seattle Prep can qualify for admission to Seattle University after three years of education at Seattle Prep under the Matteo Ricci College program, named after the 16th Century Jesuit missionary to China Matteo Ricci. Students admitted to Seattle University under the Matteo Ricci College program can acquire a Bachelor of Arts degree after three more years, thus reducing the combined study requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree to six years, versus eight years in a traditional four year high school and a traditional four year college. Students can then elect a course load at Seattle University with electives which can qualify for a second bachelor's degree with an additional year of study (it is not uncommon for a student to acquire two bachelor's degrees through this program of study, such as one in the humanities and another in the sciences.) This unique curriculum arrangement is fully accredited and has received several awards, including recognition from the prestigious Academy for Educational Development as "one of the twelve most successful educational innovations" in America.
Not all Seattle Prep students elect to pursue the Matteo Ricci program. Instead many pursue a traditional four year course of study at Seattle Prep and then pursue other arrangements (entrance into a four-year college, or a two-year college).
Seattle Prep emphasizes its curriculum for college preparation. Its literature and humanities courses are known as Collegio. Collegio combines the study of literature and social studies into a single interdisciplinary course. Art is taught in AAD (Artistic/Aesthetic Development) and freshman physical education is taught in PPD (Psychological-Physical Development).
A wide variety of extracurricular activities are offered at Seattle Prep including Chess Team, Mock Trial, Multicultural Club, Dance Team, Yearbook, Newspaper, ASB, Photography Club, and Drama.
[edit] Physical structure
In the 1950s, McDonnell Hall was added to the existing Adelphia Hall, and in the 1960s, Peyton Hall was added across the parking lot from McDonnell and Adelphia Halls. The McHugh Gymnasium was built in front of Adelphia Hall in the 1970s, a result of the school's first major fundraising campaign. Funds from this campaign were used to remodel the third florr of Adelphia Hall for improved science facilities. During this time the library was moved to Peyton Hall.
There were several major additions to Seattle Prep in the late 1990s. A new underground parking garage was built to replace the old parking lot, which was replaced by a grass quad. In addition, St. Ignatius Hall was erected across from Peyton and McDonnell Halls.
In 2007, the Paccar Commons were completed. As of March 2007, construction is underway on the Thomas Healey S.J. Theater and Classrooms. This is the first major renovation since the addition of St. Ignatius Hall. The workout rooms and locker rooms will also be altered in this remodel. The space below the theater will be used for classroom space for the arts. AND IT'S SUPER AWESOME! and gorgeous too!
[edit] Notable alumni
Prominent alumni of Seattle Prep include Greg Nickels, the current mayor of Seattle, Mike McGavick, the former CEO of Safeco and former Republican candidate for the United States Senate, professional tennis player Tom Gorman, Martell Webster of the Portland Trailblazers, Bryce Fisher of the Seattle Seahawks, and current University of Washington basketball standout Spencer Hawes.
[edit] Seattle Prep athletics
Seattle Prep has a rich athletic tradition, and has won numerous league, district, and state titles in many different men's and women's sports. By size, Prep is a lower-end 2A class school, but plays up in 3A classification. In 2006 the men's basketball team, led by current University of Washington player Spencer Hawes, won the 3A state championship (it has also won in 2000; the women won in 2002)[citation needed]. Prep's volleyball team won three straight state titles from 2001 - 2003[citation needed].
Prep men's cross country team won the title in 1966 (led by future 4th place finisher in the Montreal Olympics marathon Don Kardong), 1972 and 2000. Under current head coach Dr. John "Doc" Robertson, Prep's mens cross country teams have finished as one of the top four 3A teams for every year but one since 1996. During that span, Prep has never placed lower than second in the Metro League. 2006 saw Prep gain its first All-American in cross country, Max O'Donoghue-McDonald, who placed 15th at the Footlocker Nationals meet. Max also broke a longstanding Lower Woodland course record, clocking 15:22 for the 5 kilometer distance. Also in 2006, Prep won its first women's Metro League team title.
In 1998, Seattle Prep junior Patrick Fowler set the national high school 100-yard-breaststroke record in a time of 53.66, splitting a 25.05 at the 50 yard mark[citation needed]. The record still stands.
