Patron saint(s) Saint Stephen the King Founder Father Egon Javor, OSB Head of Upper School/Academic Dean Brian Schlaak | Established 1957 Head of school Tim Molak Middle School Head Caitha Ambler | |
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Type Private, coeducational, day and boarding school Motto "Ora Et Labora"
(Prayer and Work) Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic;
Benedictine Address 302 Portola Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028, United States Tuition 2015-2016 school year; $40,675 (day); $61,665 (boarding) Similar Menlo School, Sacred Heart Schools, Castilleja School, Woodside High School, Pinewood School‑U Campus | ||
Woodside priory school portola valley
The Woodside Priory School, commonly known as The Priory, is an independent, coeducational, Benedictine Catholic, college preparatory, day and boarding school located in Portola Valley, California, United States. It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco.
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History
The Priory was founded in 1957 by a group of seven Hungarian Benedictine Monks from Saint Martin's Archabbey in Pannonhalma, Hungary. In 1974, the monks affiliated with Saint Anselm Abbey in Goffstown, New Hampshire.
The school began on an 18-acre (73,000 m2) ranch and over the years has expanded significantly to the point that the campus now encompasses some 50 acres (200,000 m2). Originally the school was made up entirely of all-male boarders, but over the years the ratio of boarders to day students changed, and today the boarding school accounts for a smaller percentage of the upper school student body. In the early 1990s, the school began admitting females to the day program, with the first coed senior class graduating in 1995. The Priory's boarding program was expanded to include girls in 2004.
The Priory was granted a six-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Catholic Education Association in June, 2012.
Student body
The enrollment of the Priory is 370 students spanning grades 6-12. The major population of the student body is from the Bay Area; however, international students are from 12 countries including South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Singapore, Russia, Spain, Nigeria and Thailand.
Athletics
The Priory offers football, track and field, basketball, soccer, volleyball, cross country, equestrian, swimming, golf, baseball, water polo, lacrosse, and tennis. In 2000, the girls' volleyball team won the state championship for Division V.
The school competes in Central Coast Section (CCS) post-season competition.
Student activities
The school's newspaper is the Priory Post.
The school has a number of yearly events such as a dodgeball tournament, fashion show, and the three plays.
Performing arts
The school offers orchestra, choir, dance, drama, and tech. Three buildings were completed in 2009, including orchestra and choir rooms, a drama practice room or black box theater, a theater equipped with modern sound and lighting, and a music lab.
Robotics
The Priory fields an award-winning robotics team that competes regionally and statewide.