Oratory Preparatory School
Encyclopedia : O : OR : ORA : Oratory Preparatory School
| Oratory Preparatory School | |
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| Fidelitas | |
| Established | 1907 |
| School type | Private, Day |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Headmaster | Mr. Timothy M. Lynch |
| Location | 1 Beverly Road Summit, NJ, USA |
| Campus | 10 acres |
| Enrollment | 273 |
| Faculty | 39 |
| Average class size | 16 |
| Student:Teacher ratio | 10:1 |
| Average SAT scores (2006) | 1250 |
| Athletics | 11 varsity sports |
| Color(s) | Blue and Gold |
| Mascot | Rams |
| Homepage | http://www.oratoryprep.org |
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The school is currently associated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, to whom it was sold during the 1950s when the school ran into significant financial difficulties.
For the 2005 academic school year, 73 applicants applied for the seventh grade alone. 24 were accepted, a rate of 32.8 percent.
History
Though the school is named Oratory, it does not have any connection to the Oratorian Fathers. However, there may have been in the past, as advertisements for the school in The New York Times during the 1910s mention the Oratorian Fathers. The significance of the name change is said to be because the school wanted to attract Oratorian Priests, however this plan did not work. Oratory was founded as an exclusive boarding school serving boys in grades 4 through 12, though in 1964 it became strictly a day school.Oratory originally resided on a fifteen acre lot, but was reduced to its current ten after selling off a portion of land in the 1960s. Among century-old specimen trees and rolling hills, the campus is comprised of two main academic buildings, athletic fields, and prayer garden. The Newman Hall mansion houses two classrooms, chapel, and admission/development offices. At the turn of the century, the campus was conversationally referred to as "The Park" by Summit residents because it had various athletic fields, intricate lamp posts, its own irragation system, and a small pond that was used for skating during the winter season. The Fr. John Bain Academic building, built in 1959, contains classrooms, cafeteria, library, gymnasium, guidance offices, computer lab, chemistry lab, and art room. Oratory's Kelly Field hosts a baseball diamond as well as Northern New Jersey's largest high school soccer field. Three practice tennis courts are adjacent to Kelly Field.
Oratory Prepartory School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Capital Improvement Plan
Oratory Prep is governed by an 21-member Board of Trustees, appointed by the Archbishop of Newark. Annual Giving provides approximately 20 percent of the school's annual budget, which currently averages about $3.9 million. Corporations, foundations, parents, and alumni contribute to the Annual Giving Program.With support from all resources, Oratory has made significant changes to the school in the past five years. In the summer of 2004, a $1.3 million renovation to Fr. John Bain Academic Building was completed, gutting each classroom and installing Smart Boards. In 2005, a new library and art studio was built on the location of the previous stage area.
Throughout the summer of 2006, improvements will include a new marquee on the Morris Avenue side of the school, as well as a renovation to the main lobby. The demolition of the current cafeteria, and replacement with a "glass enclosed" cafeteria will begin at the end of the 2007 academic school year.
Future and unconfirmed plans for the campus include the installation of field turf on the current Kelly Field, and the demolition of the Newman Hall building for a new lower school.
Athletics
More than 80 percent of students at Oratory participate in at least one sport. The athletic teams are in the Mountain Valley Conference, and compete in parochial B state finals because of the school's small population.
The golf team was the NJSIAA Non Public B State Champions in 2004-2006. They have won the NJSIAA Prep B State Championship in 2004-2006 as well. For the 2006 season, the Oratory golf team ranked 14th in the state. Oratory's home course is Canoe Brook Country Club, and often play at Baltusrol Golf Club. The team is led by coach Kevin Mahoney '86, who is also the swim coach for both Oratory and Mount St. Mary Academy. For eleven consecutive years, the swim team has been the Mountain Valley Conference and NJ Prep Champions since inception to the League of Champions. The cross country team was the NJISAA Prep B State Champions in 2004, and has continually place first in the conference for the past ten years. The team is led by Coach Cronin, who is also the junior vasity baseball coach. The varsity baseball team, coached by biology teacher Chris Trefz, has won the conference championship since 1995, and placed first in the NJ Prep B States in 2003-2006.
Oratory employs three part time athletic trainers for strength and conditioning year-round.
Extracurricular activities
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Noted alumni
- Richard Codey, former Governor of New Jersey
- Danny Devito, actor
External links
- [Oratory Prepartory School website]
- [National Center for Education Statistics data for Oratory Prepartory School]
| Private High Schools and Prep Schools in New Jersey Blair Academy | Delbarton School | Dwight-Englewood School | Gill St. Bernard's School | Hun School of Princeton | Lawrenceville School | Morristown-Beard School | Newark Academy | Peddie School | The Pennington School | The Pingry School | Princeton Day School | Ranney School | Rutgers Preparatory School | Seton Hall Preparatory School | Saint Benedict's Preparatory School | St. Peter's Preparatory High School | ||
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