Senate Resolution No. 4470

BY: Senator GOLDEN

COMMEMORATING the 85th Anniversary of St. Edmund
Preparatory High School to be celebrated on April
22, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those institutions of true purpose and high achievement whose
exemplary programs and accomplishment clearly demonstrate an enduring
pursuit of excellence in the education of the youth of the Empire State;
and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 85th Anniversary of St. Edmund Preparatory High School
to be celebrated with a Gala on Sunday, April 22, 2018, at Giando on the
Water, Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, On February 2, 1932, St. Edmund Preparatory High School was
opened as St. Edmund Academy, a two-year high school for girls with a
class of just 60 students; four years later, the name was changed to St.
Edmund Commercial High School, offering a two year commercial program;
and

WHEREAS, In 1962, the now four-year school was once again renamed
St. Edmund High School, accredited by Middle States; and

WHEREAS, During the period from 1932 to 1962, classes for the school
were held in part of the building that now houses the grammar school and
church; on June 12, 1960, ground was broken for a new high school
building; the new school building opened in September of 1962, and
graduated its first class of 232 students in June of 1964; and

WHEREAS, In September of 1994, the school was again renamed as St.
Edmund Preparatory High School and became an independent entity run by a
Board of Trustees; during this time, the school became a co-educational
institution dedicated to preparing boys and girls for entrance to
college; and

WHEREAS, From its opening, the administration of St. Edmund
Preparatory School was in the capable hands of the Dominican Sisters of
the Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sparkill, New York; in
1986, as the number of Dominican teaching faculty decreased, the
administration of the school was turned over to the equally capable
hands of the Congregation of The Sisters of Saint Joseph; and

WHEREAS, In September of 1999, Sister Barbara Doyle was appointed
Campus Minister and James Benson was appointed as the first lay
Assistant Principal; due to an ever increasing student population it was
determined that another layer of administration was required and Tom
Maher and Ray Malafronte were appointed Academic Deans; and

WHEREAS, On February 14, 2007, St. Edmund Preparatory High School
took the first step towards expanding its physical school building with
a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Library and Media Center Wing; and


WHEREAS, Responding to the needs of its students, St. Edmund
Preparatory High School cemented its place as an institution dedicated
to rigorous academic study when the school officially became an
International Baccalaureate World School in September of 2008, and began
teaching IB courses in the Fall of 2009; and

WHEREAS, In June of 2014, Reverend Edward Brophy retired as Pastor
of St. Edmund Parish and ended his tenure as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, a post he held since coming to the Parish in 2001; on June 30,
2014, Reverend David Dettmer took over as both Pastor and Chairman of
the Board of Trustees; and

WHEREAS, On March 8, 2017, after 22 years as Principal of St. Edmund
Preparatory High School and 48 years in Catholic education, John
Lorenzetti announced his retirement; Allison McGinnis took over as the
school's 11th principal beginning at the start of the 2017-2018 academic
year; and

WHEREAS, St. Edmund Preparatory High School has continually
demonstrated an impressive dedication, an unparalleled devotion and an
unremitting enthusiasm for the quality of educational programs and
opportunities offered for the benefit of its faculty and students as
well as for the entire community; and

WHEREAS, St. Edmund Preparatory High School is proudly aware of its
distinguished past, eager to fulfill its present commitment to parents,
students and the community, and planning with vision and purpose for the
ebb and swell of growth and change it will encounter in the years to
come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 85th Anniversary of St. Edmund Preparatory High School
to be celebrated on April 22, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to St. Edmund Preparatory High School.