Providence Day School

Infobox School
background = #f0f6fa (standard color)
border = #ccd2d9 (standard color)
name = Providence Day School


motto =
established = 1970
type = Private
religion =
principal = Dr. Jack Creeden
city = Charlotte
state = North Carolina
country = United States
campus =
enrollment = 1,471 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 124.9 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 12.8
class = 15-20
year =
patron =
SAT =
ACT =
athletics =
colors = Red, White, and Blue
teamname = Chargers
conference = NCISAA
homepage = http://www.providenceday.org
ceeb = |

Providence Day School is an independent Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 12 school located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,471 students and 124.9 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 12.8. [http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=01011157&ID=01011157 Providence Day School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 6, 2007.]

Awards and recognition

During the 1986-87 and 2003-04 school years, Providence Day School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education [Wong, Debra. [http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=539857 "Providence Day earns blue ribbon"] , News 14 Carolina, October 7, 2003. Accessed November 6, 2007. "This year, the Queen City is boasting one of those jewels in her crown. Providence Day School became Charlotte’s only Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.... Providence Day won the blue ribbon in 1987 as well. "] [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.] [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 through 2006 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.] , the highest award an American school can receive. [ [http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department] , "Journal Inquirer", November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."] [Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; "The Washington Post". September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."]

History

In July 1970, James Williams, Thomas Ridenhour began discussing the idea of beginning a school. On August 30, 1970, they held the first organizational meeting at the home of James Williams. Present were Gilbert Bell, Reid Caldwell, Joe Conrad, Charles Graves, Charles Harper, William Hester, John Locklear, Wilton Parr, Charles Reed, Thomas L. Ridenhour, Preston Sizemore, and James Williams. These men formed the Southeast Community Corporation for the purpose of beginning an independent school. They also became the school’s first board of directors. In September, a meeting was held to enlist interested parents. By the end of the night, 112 children from 108 families had registered to attend the school.

Several days later, potential property for the school had been located. The board of directors, borrowing $200 from each family who had enrolled a child, purchased convert|7.6|acre|m2 of land for $75,000 on Sardis Road.

After the deed to the land was signed, parents went to work converting the house that was on the land into a school. On September 28, 1970, Providence Day School was born. There were 150 students in fifth and sixth grade.

In February 1971, the State Department of Public Instruction rejected Providence Day as a private school. In the summer of 1971, William T. Townsend, Jr. was hired as the first headmaster and the late Gil Murdock was hired as the first coach and physical education instructor. Murdock would become the longest serving faculty member in school history before retiring in 2006. He died three days later.

The 1974-75 school year brought the school’s first state championship in sports (golf), the addition of the two-story building (later named Overcash Hall) and accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools. 1975 was also the year of the school’s first graduating class.

In 1982, adjacent property was purchased for an athletic complex to accommodate football, track, baseball, softball, and tennis. The gymnasium was dedicated and named the Thomas L. Ridenhour Athletic Center in 1983. In 1985, the wing between the Williams Building and Providence Hall was enclosed, and three classrooms were added.

Eugene Bratek became the school’s third Headmaster in 1986. Bratek retired from the school after the 2007 school year, and was replaced by Dr. Jack Creeden.

In 1990, the McMahon Fines Arts Center was dedicated and the school purchased adjoining property and a house for the Extended Day Program.

In 1998, the Dickson-Hemby Technology Center opened and now houses math, science, and computer classes. The Thompson-Jones Library and the Mosack Athletic Center were dedicated in 2001 at the conclusion of the “Tomorrow Begins Today” campaign. The Dining Hall in the McMahon Fine Arts center was expanded in 2005. This expansion also included a black box theater and more space for the band program.

Portions adapted from Providence Day School Silver Memories: The First Twenty Five Years by Clara Ellen Peeler and Catherine Campani Messmer; Providence Day School, 1995. The girls basketball team was ranked by Sports Illustrated as the third best in the nation in 2006.

In the fall of 2005, Providence Day's boys Cross Country team won Providence Day's first NCISAA State Title in Boys Cross Country. The Charger harriers followed up their first NCISAA title in '05 by adding two more in '06 and '07.

In May 2007, Providence Day Varsity Lacrosse won its first ever NCISAA State Championship over the Charlotte Country Day School Buccaneers.

Current

The school is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions, each led by a Head of Division and a Dean of Students. Dr. Jack Creeden serves as the current headmaster as of the 2007-2008 school year.

Providence Day recently established a Global Studies program through which high school students may obtain a Global Studies Diploma after fulfilling course, extracurricular, and travel requirements as well as completing a global research project.

The Varsity Football program has been solidified by former coaches Andrew Hendel (former NFL player and current CrossFit instructor) and Mario Grier (former NFL player and current Matthews Police Officer), and former Independent School Shrine Bowl players Wayne Hedgepeth (Lenior-Rhyne), Johnson Richardson (Wofford), Ben Peretsman (Princeton), Michael Carbone (UNC-Chapel Hill), Taylor Harper (Richmond), Barry James (Tennessee), and Brandon James (University of Phoenix online).

The Varsity Boy's cross country team won the CISAA conference title this year with a perfect score of 15. It was their eleventh straight conference championship. At the NCISAA state meet, the team brought home the gold for their third consecutive state title.

The 2007 Boy's Soccer team ended up losing to (#1) North Raleigh Christian 1-0 in the state Semi-Finals

Facilities

*Fine Arts Building
*Providence Hall
*Williams Building
*Ridenhour Gym
*Sports Features
*Basketball Court
*Mini-Court
*Wrestling Gym
*Dickson-Hemby Technology Center
*Overcash Hall
*Mosack Athletic Center and Surrounding Fields
*Thompson-Jones Library
*Counseling Center
*West Wing¹

"Note 1:"This facility of modular classrooms replaced former relocatable classrooms known colloquially as "ReLos."

References

External links

* [http://www.providenceday.org/ Providence Day School website]