Moravian Academy is a preschool through 12th-grade independent, co-educational, college preparatory school in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Moravian Academy is the ninth oldest independent school in the United States.[1]

Moravian Academy
Address
Map
Merle-Smith Campus: 4313 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020

Downtown Campus: 7 E. Market Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018

Swain Campus: 1100 S 24th St, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103

,
United States
Information
TypeIndependent, Coeducational, and College Preparatory School
MottoMore to Explore
Established1742; 282 years ago (1742)
1971
FounderBenigna Zinzendorf
Campus DirectorMerle-Smith Campus - Rachel Wright

Downtown Campus - Abby Mahone

Swain Campus - Megan Franzyshen
Head of schoolAdrianne Finley Odell
Faculty173 (on an FTE basis)
GradesPreschool12
Enrollment910 (2022–23)
Student to teacher ratio6:1
CampusSuburb Urban
Color(s)Red and Gold   
Athletics conferenceColonial League
MascotLion
Websitewww.moravianacademy.org
The Devey Building on the Downtown Campus
A portrait of Countess Benigna Zinzendorf

The school has more than 900 students and 200 employees from across the region located on three campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

History

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The history of Moravian Academy dates back to 1742, and includes the following highlights:

18th century

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20th century

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  • 1971: Moravian Preparatory School and Moravian Seminary for Girls merged to create Moravian Academy. Each spring, this merger is celebrated during the school Birthday Love Feast.[3]
  • June 10, 1972: First joint graduation ceremony with thirty nine graduating students.
  • 1987: The first issue of the Moravian Academy Journal was published. [4]
  • 1991: Moravian Academy publishes “Mind, Body, and Spirit: Moravian Academy 1742-1992.” [5]
  • 1992: 250th Anniversary Celebration of the forming of Moravian Academy.

The History of the Swain School

  • 1929: D.Esther Swain opens the Swain School. The opening of the school is celebrated annually on Founder's Day. Dogwood trees are planted in honor of D.Esther Swain. [6]
  • 1990: The Swain School celebrates 60 years

21st century

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  • 2020: Moravian Academy and the Swain School Merge to form a three campus school, Moravian Academy. Each campus is named: Merle-Smith Campus, Downtown Campus, and Swain Campus.[7]
  • 2022: Moravian Academy installs the first women head of school, Adrianne Finley Odell. [8]

Schools

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Beginning School

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The Beginning School includes preschool and kindergarten classes on the Downtown and Swain Campuses.

Lower School

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The Lower School serves students in first through fifth grades on the Downtown and Swain Campuses.

Upper School

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The Upper School serves ninth through 12th grade students on the Merle-Smith Campus.

Administration

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Henrietta Benigna Justina von Zinzendorf, founded the school in 1742. Since then, the heads of the school have been:

  • Reverend Edwin Sawyer, president (1971-1973)
  • David J Devey, head master (1973-1988)
  • Peter Sipple, head master (1988-1998)[9]
  • Barnaby Roberts, head master (1998-2007)[10]
  • George King, head master (2007-2016)
  • Head of School, Jeffrey M. Zemsky (2016-2022)[11]
  • Adrianne Finley Odell, head of school (2022-present)

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Moravian Academy | Our History". www.moravianacademy.org. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  2. ^ "Service marks Moravian celebration ** Yearlong event ended Wednesday with a chapel service that told of the founding of the school by a countess. ** Bethlehem". The Morning Call. 2001-01-19. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  3. ^ "Moravian Academy | About Us". www.moravianacademy.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  4. ^ "Explore Moravian Academy". Niche. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  5. ^ "MORAVIAN ACADEMY RECORDS ITS HISTORY". The Morning Call. 1991-09-29. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  6. ^ "Swain School celebrates its anniversary". The Morning Call. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  7. ^ "The Swain School, Moravian Academy announce partnership | Lehigh Valley Press". www.lvpnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  8. ^ "Adrianne Finley Odell new Head of School at Moravian Academy | Lehigh Valley Press". www.lvpnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  9. ^ Swasta, Susan (1991). Mind, Body, and Spirit: Moravian Academy 1742-1992 (1st ed.). Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ "MORAVIAN ACADEMY NAMES NEW HEADMASTER * BARNABY ROBERTS TO REPLACE PETER W. SIPPLE ON JULY 1". The Morning Call. 1997-12-18. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  11. ^ lehighvalleylive.com, Sara K. Satullo | For (2016-08-14). "Moravian Academy's new headmaster modern Moravian embodiment". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
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40°40′44″N 75°18′42″W / 40.678945°N 75.311794°W / 40.678945; -75.311794