Winter 2014

A Preliminary Case for Support

Our History and Mission

“Pietate et Scientia,” – “with reverence and wisdom” has been Archmere Academy’s motto since 1932 when we opened our doors to the !rst 22 male students. Over 80 years later with an enrollment of 501 young men and women, we continue our proud tradition of developing empathetic leaders “prepared for every good work.”

Archmere is a Catholic, Norbertine college preparatory school, valuing community, respect, zeal, reverence and wisdom. Nurturing body and soul, mind and heart, Archmere focuses on the whole person through academic excellence, faith re"ection, social development and service to others. Inspired by its heritage, Archmere cultivates empathetic leaders – young men and women prepared for every good work (Tim. 2:2).

Our Vision In 2012, the Archmere community participated in a nine-month strategic planning process to chart the course for the Academy’s future and advance our mission in an ever-changing world. Five goals were identi!ed to help achieve our vision for Archmere. Since the adoption of the strategic plan, Archmere has undertaken a number of initiatives to accomplish these goals. 1. We will articulate, promote and live our unique mission.

t Archmere Academy has partnered with Saint Norbert College to o!er a unique leadership experience for our students, developing their leadership skills with a values-based, experiential curriculum infused with the charism of Saint Norbert.

t "e new Oratory and Spirituality Center in Saint Norbert Hall is alive with student activity, contemplative prayer and group assemblies, serving as an inspirational visual reminder of our Catholic Norbertine heritage.

2. We will enhance our exceptional academic tradition with 21st century best practices for learning to attract and advance motivated and talented students.

t Archmere Academy has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2013 to 2015 for our successful implementation of the 1:1 MacBook Laptop Program and for our innovative integration of technology in the classroom. Archmere is the only school in that received this designation.

t Archmere has broadened curriculum to include interdisciplinary classes, promote both independent and collaborative learning, and o!er new and customized learning resources for both teachers and students.

“Attending Archmere impacts your life far beyond the four years of high school. Friendships will last and you will be part of a wonderful extended community. No matter how long you may be away, coming back to campus will always feel like coming home!” -2010 Alumni Survey 2 3. We will attract, retain and develop excellent teachers and staff to preserve the Archmere experience for our students.

t Dedicated to maintaining an exceptional learning community, where faculty are recognized for their achievements, Archmere has created a merit-based compensation model, benchmarked against peer schools to ensure competitive salary and bene#t packages.

t Archmere has developed new evaluation methods for measuring teacher and sta! success, and has enhanced its commitment to support ongoing professional development.

4. We will engage our alumni to become more involved in the Archmere community.

t Serving as strategic partners in support of Archmere’s mission, vision and goals, our newly structured Alumni Association o!ers multiple and varied ways for interested alumni to get involved. "e Association’s newest initiative, “Auk Talks,” is an inspirational speakers’ series and networking opportunity that is drawing a lot of attention.

t "e establishment of the Alumni Legacy Scholarship Fund in 2012 provides #nancial assistance for students who are the children or siblings of graduates.

t Alumni engage with current students through events like Career Experience Day (pictured here), where graduates host students in their career #elds.

5. We will ensure financial sustainability by assessing and articulating the Academy’s needs and priorities. t Committed to maintaining a sustainable #nancial model, Archmere has evaluated ongoing programs and embarked on new initiatives to increase endowment and annual giving, while decreasing dependence on tuition.

t Fiscal year 2012-2013 was a record-setting fundraising year, with the overall total reaching $1,415,500. "e Archmere Fund surpassed its $550,000 goal closing at an all-time high of $580,700, enabling the lowest percentage tuition increase in 36 years. t A professional Planned Giving program and society have been established to identify and procure future gi$s for the school. 3

Our Challenge

!e environment is rapidly changing. With rising operating costs, pressure has been placed on managing tuition increases that continue to outpace cost of living increases. !at combined with a smaller population of families who can a"ord full tuition and their high expectations and demand for a measurable educational outcome worth the investment, has challenged independent schools to demonstrate that they are ful#lling their missions and maintaining their value.

While Archmere’s programs are dynamic, in the forefront and second to none, we must maintain our tradition of excellence in a changing learning environment. To ful#ll our vision for how we will educate students most e"ectively in the years ahead, we must grow our endowment to become less reliant on tuition and annual fundraising and create greater #nancial sustainability. We also need to address critical infrastructure issues in aging buildings and invest in the renovation of main student spaces to accommodate 21st century learning methods and create opportunities to enhance programming.

Endowing Our Future $5,000,000 Scholarship, Facilities, Programs and People

To ensure !nancial sustainability, competitiveness and the ongoing availability of an outstanding Archmere education, we must build our endowment. A strong endowment helps assure long-term institutional health with permanent funds for scholarship to attract the best and brightest student body, to develop exceptional programming, to retain expert faculty, to promote our unique mission, and to maintain our collegiate level facilities. To achieve our goal of generating 10% of our operating budget from endowment income will require doubling the size of our endowment which is approximately $12,000,000. As an interim step, raising an additional $5,000,000 will make a signi!cant impact on our ability to minimize the rate of tuition increases and support annual operations.

Saint Norbert Hall $7,500,000

Saint Norbert Hall, the main academic building where students spend the majority of the school day, was constructed in 1959 and has not been signi!cantly renovated since that time. Originally, the building was designed for the educational style and teaching methodology of the 20th century – the teacher-centered, lecture model. #e infusion of technology into our curriculum coupled with our focus on best learning practices has led to the need for a new type of classroom, one that can accommodate collaborative teaching and problem-based learning. #is necessitates adapting and creating di$erent kinds of spaces that include both small and large group activity areas, lounges, independent learning spaces, quiet rooms for research and private study, as well as lecture halls and general classroom areas. 4 Approximately $5,500,000 is needed to renovate the building and upgrade the major systems including: heating and air conditioning, electrical to support mechanical and technology needs, !re sprinkler and alarm systems, and classroom acoustics. Additionally, our needs include relocating and enlarging the restroom facilities, expanding wireless capacity, and addressing ADA accessibility standards with a renovated central staircase and an elevator. A further $2,000,000 is needed to renovate the library, converting it into a central Learning Commons that will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary studies, discovery-based learning, analytical problem solving and research. #e library renovations will involve creating new learning spaces, upgrading major mechanical systems and adding sidewalks for a proposed new entrance.

!e Performing Arts Center $4,000,000

Built in 1983, the Performing Arts Center is dedicated to the teaching and performance of instrumental and vocal music programs as well as dramatics at Archmere. #e center also houses major school ceremonies, liturgies and assemblies of the full student body. With no signi!cant upgrades since the building’s construction, major renovations include: repairing the roof, addressing core infrastructure systems (mechanical, electrical and sprinkler systems) and updating the performance and instructional spaces. Additionally, other proposed improvements include: a new 10,000 square foot addition to include lobby and lobby restroom renovation and expansion, the addition of new classroom space, new lighting and sound systems, rigging and stage curtains and additional space for a new green room, set design and construction, and costume storage.

!e Patio and Manor $3,500,000

#e Patio, the original home of the Raskob family and the heart of Archmere’s tradition, was built from 1916 to 1918 and is now used as a principal school building housing administrative o%ces and student classroom space as well as for hosting campus social events. Support from the Friends of #e Patio, work completed by Archmere’s Art and Facilities Departments’ sta$, and income generated from renting the building have helped contribute to defraying historic preservation costs. However, to ensure the building’s functionality as an educational space, there is an immediate need to upgrade the HVAC system which is tied to the central plant in #e Manor.

#e Manor, also built from 1916-1918 as the original garage for the Raskob estate, has been used for a variety of purposes over the years, and currently houses our Visual Arts Program. However, as changes were made in the building, elements such as infrastructure, HVAC and ADA accessibility were only marginally addressed. To fully maximize the use of all "oors in #e Manor, necessary renovations entail remodeling the entire lower level, adding a central staircase and an elevator, and creating a new entrance to the second "oor. #is will allow for the creation of new studio spaces, a renovated darkroom, bathrooms for students and guests, and a !rst "oor permanent gallery for student, faculty and alumni work. Total $20,000,000 5

Our Solution

A Comprehensive Fundraising Initiative for Archmere is being considered to raise funds for critical capital and endowment priorities. We are inviting a cross-section of Archmere graduates, parents, parents of alumni, trustees, faculty/sta$, friends, businesses and foundations to help us prioritize our vision, measure leadership and support, gather counsel and gauge level of interest in the proposed plan.

#e success of Archmere Academy has always been rooted in the collective commitment, resourcefulness, and wisdom of the Archmere community. We are con!dent that with your help we will make the right decisions to sustain Archmere’s mission – to graduate students prepared for every good work (Tim. 2:2).

Pictured to the le$ is the image of the center stained glass window in "e Saint Norbert Oratory and Spirituality Center. Beneath the design are the words “Apostolic Community.” "e window represents the Norbertine Fathers, the community formed by Saint Norbert, who founded Archmere Academy. It also serves as a symbol for the great community that is Archmere – a Catholic, Norbertine community, valuing respect for one another and #lled with zeal to grow in reverence and wisdom.

Thank you for your insight and involvement Your Opinion Matters.

6

Our Students and Alumni Are

Our Proudest Achievements Archmere Academy alumni represent a world-wide body of nearly 5,300 people and our student body includes more than 500 students from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. Archmere’s students and alumni are excelling in every #eld – from business, politics, technology and medicine, to the arts, music, athletics and philanthropy. Listed here are just a few examples of how our alumni and students uphold the tradition of excellence and exemplify how an Archmere education enriches the whole person.

Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Kathryn Cunningham Jr. ’61 is a former Hall ’04 is the recipient of Senator and longtime ranking multiple Humanitarian and member of the Senate Judiciary Service Awards and Founder Committee and two-term Vice of “Power Up Gambia,” President of the United States. a nonpro#t that provides reliable electricity and water to healthcare facilities in Gambia through solar energy. Meagan Miller ’92, a Bill Eppridge ’55, celebrated international opera recently deceased, was an star, performs as the leading award-winning photographer lady soprano on stages around and photojournalist for Life the globe, including the magazine, best known for Metropolitan Opera. his historic photo of Senator Robert Kennedy shorly a$er his Shing-Shing Cao ’14 is assassination and his coverage a National Merit Scholar of the Beatles in America. selected for multiple leadership programs, including a role as Conor Furey ’14, a multi-sport Delaware’s representative at the athlete maintaining a 3.9 GPA international World Leadership with an all honors and AP Congress. She was accepted to course-load, was recruited to Harvard University. play football for Yale University next fall. Elizabeth Burton ’14, named to All-State Band by "e Delaware Music Educators Association, Brian Zhang ’14 is a 2013 is a member of the Archmere National AP Scholar - one of Concert Band, a National Merit only 19 students in the world Commended Scholar and was to earn a perfect score on the a state champion in the 2013 Advanced Placement Computer Science Olympiad. Science A Exam.

“I became my best self at Archmere.” -2010 Alumni Survey 7

Did You Know? Archmere is a Premier Academic Institution t 17 Advanced Placement o$erings t 92 AP Scholars in all; 8 National AP Scholars (2013) t Consistent 100% college matriculation rate t Average class size: 16 t 80% of faculty hold advanced degrees t Average teaching experience: 17 Years t Archmere’s 2012 mean SAT score was 1885 (out of 2400); the 2012 national mean SAT score was 1498

Archmere O"ers a Wide Variety of Arts, Athletics & Activities t Nearly 50 clubs and activities t 21 sports programs t Over 80% of our students participate in the visual or performing arts

Archmere Has An Historic and Extensive 38-Acre Campus t #e Patio – original home of John J. Raskob, recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and now used as a core school building housing administrative o%ces, classroom space and for hosting campus social events t Saint Norbert Hall – the main general education building t #e Justin E. Diny Science Center – academic building equipped with laboratory spaces, classrooms, a three-story physics lab and a lecture hall t #e Performing Arts Center – a 750-seat theater complex t #e Manor – original garage of the Raskob estate, now home to the Fine Arts Program t #e McLaughlin-Mullen Student Life Center – the entryway to the school housing the main o%ce, guidance/counseling center, nurse’s o%ce and dining hall t #e Moglia Fieldhouse – an athletic complex with two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, locker room and training/weight room t Six athletic !elds and courts, two of which are astroturf !elds

Archmere Continues to Recruit Motivated and Talented Students t Since the recession of 2008, Archmere has increased enrollment from 470 to 500 students in the current year t During the 2012-2013 Admissions cycle, there was a waiting pool for the freshman class t Members of the class of 2017 came from 44 di$erent schools, expanding Archmere’s footprint in the tri-state area t #e average score for incoming students on the 2012-2013 Archmere entrance exam was two points higher than the eleven-year average