South Lancaster Academy
South Lancaster Academy (SLA) is a co-educational preparatory day school, consisting of grades Preschool through 12, operated by Seventh-day Adventists in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system.[5][6][7][8]
| South Lancaster Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
198 George Hill Road , 01523 | |
| Coordinates | 42.444987°N 71.682873°W[1] |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | For God so loved the world that he gave His only son that whosoever believes in him shall not parish but have everlasting life |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Seventh-day Adventist Church |
| Established | 1882 |
| Principal | David Branum[2] |
| Faculty | 25[3] |
| Grades | Preschool - 12th |
| Enrollment | 306[3] |
| Classes | 56 |
| Average class size | 20[3] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12:1[3] |
| Campus size | 500 acres (2.0 km2) |
| Color(s) | |
| Athletics | Varsity Boys Basketball, Varsity Girls Basketball, Varsity Soccer, Varsity Girls Volleyball, Varsity Boys Volleyball, Co-Ed Cross Country |
| Athletics conference | Southern New England |
| Mascot | Crusaders |
| Newspaper | The Pioneer |
| Graduates (2019) | 18 |
| Accreditation | Adventist Accrediting Association[4] |
| Website | www |
| Part of a series on |
| Seventh-day Adventist Church |
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| Adventism |
History
On April 19, 1882, the "New England School", yet unnamed, opened its doors. Nineteen students started classes and five more joined these a few days later. Stephen Nelson Haskell (1833-1922) was the founder and builder of the school; Goodloe Harper Bell (1832-1899) was the first principal. The following year in 1883, the school was named South Lancaster Academy.[9]
In 1885, the school expanded to include college preparatory. Teacher training was added in 1886, with development of a "normal school", the J. T. Browning Missionary and Industrial School.
In 1918, its standing as a junior college was formally recognized and the school name was changed to Lancaster Junior College.
In 1922 degree-granting powers were conferred by the Massachusetts legislature. Once more the school's name was changed to Atlantic Union College with the school beginning to operate on the senior college level, offering a four-year theological course. During the same period the college became a separate institute with the academy having its own board of trustees and faculty.
Since 1967, South Lancaster Academy has been a twelve-grade school. The academy attempts to maintain the historic ideals of Seventh-day Adventists on matters of morals, dress, and conduct, as its reasons for existence. South Lancaster Academy is operated by the SDA churches of Atlantic Union College, Leominster, South Lancaster Village, and Sterling. South Lancaster Academy is operated by the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.[10]
- 1882 Organized as a preparatory school on Feb 5th, under the leadership of Stephen Nelson Haskell (1833-1922)
- 1882 On April 19, first day of class for "that New England school"
- 1883 On Dec 12th, incorporated and formerly named as South Lancaster Academy
- 1887 In May, certificates were given to thirteen students who had completed the intermediate course of eight grades.
- 1888 On May 12, first SLA graduation ceremony was held.
- 1912 On Oct 27th the cornerstone was laid for the new Normal School.[11]
- 1913 Browning Normal school dedicated
- 1918 Renamed Lancaster Junior College, after advanced work was carried on for several years in theology, teacher training, and business.
- 1922 Renamed Atlantic Union College, after offering a four-year theological course and being authorized degree-granting powers conferred by the Massachusetts legislature. The Academy and College became separate institutions with the Academy having its own board of trustees and faculty.
- 1965 With the opening of Pioneer Valley Academy, SLA was no longer used as a boarding school.[12]
- 1965 Browning Elementary is re-situated at its current location on George Hill Road.
- 1967 South Lancaster Academy re-situated at its current location on George Hill Road in South Lancaster, MA.
- 1985 Administrations of Browning Elementary and South Lancaster Academy are combined into one.
- 2009 South Lancaster Academy/Browning Elementary is officially renamed to South Lancaster Academy with Browning Elementary being included as part of the school brand but not in title.
Principals
- 1882-1884 Goodloe Harper Bell
- 1884-1885 Dores Alonzo Robinson
- 1885-1888 Charles Cornell Ramsay
- 1888-1894 George W. Caviness
- 1894-1899 Joseph Harvey Haughey
- 1899-1907 Frederick Griggs
- 1907-1909 Benjamin F. Machlan
- 1909-1913 Charles Smull Longacre
- 1913-1916 Benjamin F. Machlan
- 1916-1917 William G. Worth
- 1917-1920 Mahlon Elsworth Olsen
- 1920-1920 Otto Marion John
- 1921-1922 George R. Lehman
- 1922-____ Irvil Atwood Armstrong (1887-1936) First Principal after College faculty separated
- c1930-____ Linton Garfield Sevrens
- 1944-1945 William Burton Higgins
- 1945-1952 Chester Everett Kellogg
- c1952-____ Harold F. Lease
- c1955-____ Edwin Charles Harkins
- c1961-1966 Lloyd Stanley Davis
- 1966-1967 Don Lake
- 1967-1968 Larue Cook
- 1968-1969 J. Melvyn Clemons
- 1969-1970 F. Maynard Yeary
- 1970-1971 O. E. Torkelson
- 1971 1973 - Dale Twomley
- 1973-1976 Don Wright
- 1976-1989 Alfred Peder Aastrup
- 1989- 1996 Dr. Ian Kelly
- 1996 - 2000 Jeff Foote
- 2000 - 2001 - Gary Force
- 2001 - 2002 Sandy Durand
- 2002-2007 Allyson E. Cram
- 2007-2014 Ron Huff
- 10/2014-7/2015 Theresa Robidoux, Interim
- 2015–2018 Jeffrey Lambert
- 2018–present David Branum
References
- "Free US Geocoder". Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
- "South Lancaster Academy". Adventist Yearbook. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
- Private School Review, Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- International Registry for Accreditation, Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/1115/For-real-education-reform-take-a-cue-from-the-Adventists"the second largest Christian school system in the world has been steadily outperforming the national average – across all demographics."
- "Seventh-day Adventists - Christian Denomination | Religion Facts". Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
- "Department of Education, Seventh-day Adventist Church". Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
- Rogers, Wendi; Kellner, Mark A. (April 1, 2003). "World Church: A Closer Look at Higher Education". Adventist News Network. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- "Some Highlights of the Life of Stephen Nelson Haskell" (PDF). aplib.org. Adventist Pioneer Library. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- "Our History". South Lancaster Academy.
- White, W.B. (1912-10-23). "Laying The Corner-Stone" (PDF). Atlantic Union Gleaner. XI (43). Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- "Atlantic Union College Expands To Meet Demand" (PDF). Atlantic Union Gleaner. LXIV (37): 5. 27 September 1965. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- Rowena Elizabeth Purdon, That New England School, The College Press, 1956