Germantown Academy
Encyclopedia
Germantown Academy is America's oldest nonsectarian
day school, founded on December 6, 1759 (originally named the "Germantown Union School"). Germantown Academy is now a K-12 school in the Philadelphia
suburb of Fort Washington
, having moved from its original Germantown
campus in 1965. The original campus, known as the Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses
, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The school shares the oldest continuous football
rivalry with the William Penn Charter School
, which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2006. For the 2008-2009 school year 1,122 students are registered as matriculating (592 male students and 530 female students) with 250 faculty and staff employed by the institution. The Academy plans to undergo a complete reconstruction during the 2010-2011 school year, the year after its 250th anniversary.
The Lower School program strives for a school environment wherein children are respected as individuals, while also learning to be a part of a team. A progression of classroom expectations and curricular demands has been developed to address the varying needs of children who cover a broad span of ages and abilities.
While the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic are the principle work in all of the classrooms, teaching in the Lower School requires that children are active learners. Opportunities for social interaction are of paramount importance in the classrooms. There are currently 376 students in the Lower School, and a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1.
The Middle School will be demolished and rebuilt in the summer of 2010 as part of Phase 1 of GA's New Campus Plan. The second phase being athletics. GA is doing all of these renovations, while staying "green" and eco-friendly.
The upper school runs on a house system. Each student is placed into one of seven houses. These houses include, Alcott, Washington, Galloway, Osbourn, Kershaw, Truesdell, and Roberts. Each house is named after an important figure with a Germantown Academy connection. A student will stay with their house for all four years of upper school life. Each house has a house head, these teachers include, Theodore Haynie, Rebecca Pizzino, Reed Skoug, David Martin, David Samson, Jason Straub, and Marcia Wexler. Over the course of a year, each house will meet twice a week, and for special events, they will compete against each other.
Conduct in the upper school is governed by the Honor Code, a system where students agree to a set of rules, and where, in the case of an infraction, students are judged by an honor council consisting of teachers and peers.
Nonsectarian
Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...
day school, founded on December 6, 1759 (originally named the "Germantown Union School"). Germantown Academy is now a K-12 school in the Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
suburb of Fort Washington
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Fort Washington is an unincorporated census-designated place and suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,446 at the 2010 census.-Prior to the Revolutionary War:...
, having moved from its original Germantown
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
campus in 1965. The original campus, known as the Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses
Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses
Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses is a historic school campus, the original site of Germantown Academy, located at Schoolhouse Lane and Greene Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The school shares the oldest continuous football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
rivalry with the William Penn Charter School
William Penn Charter School
William Penn Charter School is an independent school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1689 by William Penn...
, which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2006. For the 2008-2009 school year 1,122 students are registered as matriculating (592 male students and 530 female students) with 250 faculty and staff employed by the institution. The Academy plans to undergo a complete reconstruction during the 2010-2011 school year, the year after its 250th anniversary.
Lower School
The Lower School consists of three main buildings: Leas Hall, McLean Hall (constructed in 1964), and the Abramson Lower School (constructed in 1999). Leas Hall comprises the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms, while McLean Hall contains 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms. The Abramson Lower School has two 3rd grade classrooms, science rooms, and music classrooms.The Lower School program strives for a school environment wherein children are respected as individuals, while also learning to be a part of a team. A progression of classroom expectations and curricular demands has been developed to address the varying needs of children who cover a broad span of ages and abilities.
While the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic are the principle work in all of the classrooms, teaching in the Lower School requires that children are active learners. Opportunities for social interaction are of paramount importance in the classrooms. There are currently 376 students in the Lower School, and a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1.
Middle school
The Alter Middle School was established in 1997. There are currently 261 students in the Middle School, and a student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1.The Middle School will be demolished and rebuilt in the summer of 2010 as part of Phase 1 of GA's New Campus Plan. The second phase being athletics. GA is doing all of these renovations, while staying "green" and eco-friendly.
Upper School
The Upper School curriculum, according to the mission statement of the school, promotes curiosity, reasoning and questioning, imagination and aesthetics, understanding of others and oneself, clear communications, broad applications of knowledge, and satisfaction in learning. Students are required at minimum, five credits per year and at least four years of English, three years of Math, Science, History, two years of Language, and one year of Art. Classrooms are generally characterized by a significant degree of informality, and the school prides itself on the close relationship between the teachers and the students. There are currently 485 students in the Upper School. The student to teacher ratio is currently 8:1 in the Upper School.The upper school runs on a house system. Each student is placed into one of seven houses. These houses include, Alcott, Washington, Galloway, Osbourn, Kershaw, Truesdell, and Roberts. Each house is named after an important figure with a Germantown Academy connection. A student will stay with their house for all four years of upper school life. Each house has a house head, these teachers include, Theodore Haynie, Rebecca Pizzino, Reed Skoug, David Martin, David Samson, Jason Straub, and Marcia Wexler. Over the course of a year, each house will meet twice a week, and for special events, they will compete against each other.
Conduct in the upper school is governed by the Honor Code, a system where students agree to a set of rules, and where, in the case of an infraction, students are judged by an honor council consisting of teachers and peers.
Mission statement
"Germantown Academy, a coeducational college preparatory school, offers strong academic and extracurricular programs that enable students to acquire the knowledge, confidence and judgment needed to become good citizens and productive leaders in a global society. The school seeks students and teachers from all economic, ethnic, religious and national backgrounds who will challenge themselves and contribute to the life of the school. Germantown Academy is an academic community committed to the following:- Trust, responsibility and kindness;
- High standards for effort, behavior and achievement;
- Close working relationships among students, teachers and parents;
- A curriculum that promotes curiosity, reasoning and questioning, imagination and aesthetics, understanding of others and oneself, clear communications, broad applications of knowledge, and satisfaction in learning;
- Talented teachers who enjoy young people and model for them what it means to be a continuing learner and mature individual;
- Encouragement for students’ emerging identities, learning styles, talents and interests;
- Student leadership and service to others;
- Respect for the environment;
- Good sportsmanship, fitness and health:
- Regular evaluation and adjustment of programs to fulfill the school’s mission."
Notable alumni
- Fran CrippenFran CrippenFrancis "Fran" Crippen was an American long-distance swimmer. After being a pool swimmer for most of his career, Crippen made the transition to open water swimming in 2006 where he had tremendous success. In international competitions, Crippen won seven medals, five of which were in the open...
(Class of 2002), Swimmer - Caroline DotyCaroline DotyCaroline Marie Doty plays guard for the UConn women's basketball team, the 2009 NCAA National Champions. She has only lost 2 games during her career at the University of Connecticut.-References:...
basketball player at the University of ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually... - Matt WalshMatt Walsh (basketball)Matt Walsh is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for UCAM Murcia in Spain. He is listed at 1.99m , and he plays at the small forward and shooting guard positions.- Early years :...
(Class of 2002), NBA basketballer (New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
) - Jarrod Spector (Class of 1999), Actor, (Jersey Boys Original Broadway Cast)
- Maddy CrippenMaddy CrippenMadeleine Crippen is a former female medley swimmer from the United States, and daughter of Peter and Patrica Crippen...
(Class of 1998), USAUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
swim team - Alvin WilliamsAlvin WilliamsAlvin Leon Williams is a retired American professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association, and current Director of Player Development of the Toronto Raptors.-Basketball career:...
(Class of 1993), NBA basketball player (Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
) and sports commentator (Comcast SportsNetComcast SportsNetComcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
). - Brian KlugmanBrian KlugmanBrian Klugman is an American actor.Klugman was born in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father is a real estate broker, and his mother is a school teacher. Klugman's uncle is Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jack Klugman. Klugman has two brothers and one sister: Michael "Mike"...
(Class of 1993), film and TV actor, scriptwriter (PsychPsychPsych is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts...
, Tron: Legacy) - Bradley CooperBradley CooperBradley Cooper is an American film, theater, and television actor. He is known for his roles in the films The Hangover, The A-Team, and Limitless. In 2011, People magazine named Cooper "Sexiest Man Alive".-Early life:...
(Class of 1993), film and TV actor (Sex and the CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
, AliasAlias (TV series)Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
, Wedding CrashersWedding CrashersWedding Crashers is a 2005 American comedy film directed by David Dobkin. It stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, with Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams, Isla Fisher, Bradley Cooper, Diora Baird, Jane Seymour, and an uncredited Will Ferrell....
, Wet Hot American SummerWet Hot American SummerWet Hot American Summer is a 2001 satirical comedy film written by David Wain and Michael Showalter, and directed by Wain. The film takes place during the last day at a fictional Jewish summer camp in 1981, before closing for the summer...
, and The HangoverThe Hangover (film)The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha and Jeffrey Tambor...
) - Deirdre QuinnDeirdre QuinnDeirdre Quinn is an American actress, who currently portrays the recurring character "Texas" Tina in the television series Heroes. Quinn has also appeared in Miss Congeniality, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: NY.Deirdre Quinn grew up outside of Philadelphia,...
(Class of 1989), Actress (Miss Congeniality, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (film)The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (film)The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is a 2003 television miniseries prequel to the film Rose Red . Directed by Craig R. Baxley, the film stars Lisa Brenner as Ellen Rimbauer, Steven Brand as John Rimbauer, and Tsidii Le Loka as Sukeena.-Synopsis:...
, HeroesHeroes (TV series)Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
) - David WhartonDavid WhartonDavid Lee Wharton is a former butterfly and medley swimmer from the United States, who won the silver medal in the 400m Individual Medley at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea....
(Class of 1987), Olympic Silver Medalist (Seoul, 1988) in the 200 swimming Individual Medley - Michael F. GerberMichael F. GerberMichael F. "Mike" Gerber is Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 148th Legislative District since 2005...
(Class of 1990), Pennsylvania State RepresentativePennsylvania House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
. - Mike RichterMike RichterMichael Thomas Richter is a former ice hockey goaltender. One of the most successful American-born goaltenders in history, he is best known for having led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup title in 1994 and for repeatedly representing the United States in international play. Due to his...
(Class of 1985), New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
goaltender. - Robin Bissell (Class of 1986), Film Producer (The Hunger GamesThe Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games is a first person young-adult science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins. It was originally published on September 14, 2008, by Scholastic. It is the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy. It introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world...
, SeabiscuitSeabiscuitSeabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
, PleasantvillePleasantvillePleasantville may refer to:Canada*Pleasantville, Newfoundland and Labrador*Pleasantville, Nova ScotiaUSA*Pleasantville, Indiana*Pleasantville, Iowa*Pleasantville, New Jersey*Pleasantville, New York*Pleasantville, Ohio...
, The Tale of DespereauxThe Tale of DespereauxThe Tale of Despereaux, also known as The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread is a 2004 Newbery Medal winning fantasy book written by Kate DiCamillo. The main plot follows the adventures of a mouse named Despereaux, who sets out on his quest...
) - Eric LiptonEric LiptonEric Lipton is a reporter at the New York Times. Lipton joined the Times in 1999, covering the final years of the administration of New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, as well as the 2001 terror attacks. He is co-author of the 2003 book City in the Sky, the Rise and Fall of the World Trade Center...
(Class of 1983), Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning journalist and author, currently with the New York Times. - Brian L. RobertsBrian L. RobertsBrian L. Roberts is Chairman/CEO of Comcast, an American company providing cable, entertainment, and communications products and services. He is the son of Comcast co-founder Ralph J. Roberts.-Life and career:...
(Class of 1977), CEO of ComcastComcastComcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the... - Timothy StackTimothy StackTimothy Stack is an American film and television actor and screenwriter.-Life and career:He was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the son of Joan and Tom Stack. He graduated from the esteemed Philadelphia-area prep school Germantown Academy in 1973 and graduated from Boston College in 1978...
(Class of 1974); Actor, Writer and Producer (Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Son of the Beach, My Name is Earl) - Edward PiszekEdward PiszekEdward John Piszek co-founded the Mrs. Paul's frozen foods brand with John Paul, a bread salesman. Piszek bought out his partner in the 1950s....
(Class of 1960), co-founder of Mrs. Paul's KitchensMrs. Paul'sMrs. Paul's is a brand of pre-packaged seafood products owned by Pinnacle Foods. The brand began in the 1940s and was owned by Campbell Soup until 1996.... - Martin "Cruz" (William) SmithMartin Cruz SmithMartin Cruz Smith is an American mystery novelist.-Early life and education:Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pennsylvania, he was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing in 1964...
(Class of 1960), novelist (Gorky ParkGorky ParkGorky Park may refer to:* Amusement parks in the USSR named after Maxim Gorky; in particular:** Gorky Park ** Gorky Park ** Gorky Park ** Gorky Park...
) - Frederick Crews, literary critic, University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
professor, and noted anti-Freudian scholar. - Connie Mack, Jr. (Class of 1928), Son of Philadelphia Athletics manager, Connie Mack, and subsequently owner of the team.
- Bill TildenBill TildenWilliam Tatem Tilden II , nicknamed "Big Bill," is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. An American tennis player who was the World No. 1 player for seven years, he won 14 Majors including ten Grand Slams and four Pro Slams. Bill Tilden dominated the world of...
(Class of 1915), professional tennis player. - Charles DarrowCharles DarrowCharles Brace Darrow was born in Philadelphia; he is best known as the purported inventor of the Monopoly board game. Darrow was a domestic heater salesman from Germantown, a neighborhood in Philadelphia during the Great Depression. The house he lived in still stands at 40 Westview Street...
(Class of 1907), creator of board game Monopoly (game)Monopoly (game)Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
. - Thomas Sovereign Gates, Sr. (Class of 1891), University of Pennsylvania president.
- Owen Josephus RobertsOwen Josephus RobertsOwen Josephus Roberts was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court for fifteen years. He also led the fact-finding commission that investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time of World War II, he was the only Republican appointed Judge on the Supreme Court of the United...
(Class of 1891), Associate justiceAssociate JusticeAssociate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the United States Supreme Court. - Cornelius Weygandt (Class of 1887) author, professor of English at University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(The Wissahickon Hills, Philadelphia Folk, The Plenty of Pennsylvania) - Witmer StoneWitmer StoneWitmer Stone was an American ornithologist, botanist, and mammalogist, and was considered one of the last of the “great naturalists.” Stone is remembered principally as an ornithologist. He was president of the American Ornithologists’ Union 1920–23, and was editor of the AOU’s periodical The...
(Class of 1883) ornithologist, botanist, mammalogist - Frederick Winslow TaylorFrederick Winslow TaylorFrederick Winslow Taylor was an American mechanical engineer who sought to improve industrial efficiency. He is regarded as the father of scientific management and was one of the first management consultants...
(did not graduate), Efficiency expert & inventor of Scientific ManagementScientific managementScientific management, also called Taylorism, was a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized workflows. Its main objective was improving economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes and to management... - Alfred C. HarmerAlfred C. HarmerAlfred Crout Harmer was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Alfred C. Harmer was born in Germantown, PA. Began work as a shoe manufacturer. He became a member of the city council of Philadelphia, serving from 1856–1860 and then a recorder of deeds for...
(Class of 1843), U.S. Congressman and shoe manufacturer - Robert Montgomery BirdRobert Montgomery BirdRobert Montgomery Bird was an American novelist, playwright, and physician.-Background:Bird was born in New Castle, Delaware on February 5, 1806. After attending the New Castle Academy and Germantown Academy, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1824...
(Class of 1824), physician; playwright - Fernando Bolivar (Attended 1822), Venezuelan diplomat, nephew and adopted son of South American revolutionary Simon Bolivar.
- George Washington Parke CustisGeorge Washington Parke CustisGeorge Washington Parke Custis , the step-grandson of United States President George Washington, was a nineteenth-century American writer, orator, and agricultural reformer.-Family:...
(Attended 1790s), Step-grandson and adopted son of President George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
Further reading
- Archivist Edwin N. Probert II. The GA Bell, its Belfry and Their History.
- Archivist Edwin N. Probert II (Winter 1999–2000). Owen Josephus Roberts: A Short Retrospective on a Favorite Son. "The Patriot."
- Head of School James Connor. The GA Flag. Excerpts from a speech delivered at the September 2003 Flag Raising Ceremony.