St. Margaret's Episcopal School

From Stmargarets

Revision as of 19:51, 29 September 2007

St. Margaret's Episcopal School is a K-12 college preparatory school with a history as rich and controversial as any European Dynasty. This website has been created as an attempt to document and organize SMES' colorful past. Feel free to contribute anything, so long as it won't cause a lawsuit.

Early History

According to various speeches and unread books and articles, St. Margaret's was founded in 1979 by the Rev. Canon Ernest D. Sillers aka Father Sillers. The school began with only 79 students (that's one away from 80), with kindergarden through grade six.

The first couple of years were rough indeed, with graduating class of no more than 10 or 15 students and virtually no textbooks or school equipment. The first 10 years of St. Margaret's might be compared to the current state of affairs at Junipero Serra High School, Sage Hill, or even CVCS. But through a combination of luck and skill the school would soon grow to the point of national notoriety. Much celebration came with the school's inclusion in Princeton Review's prestigous top 443 private schools in the United States book. Other high points including multiple CIF championships confirmed the school's importance.

Over it's 25 year history, St. Margaret's slowly opened up new schools and new buildings.

Then, in the past couple of years, the school has taken on a new mission statement of, "if you build it, they will come". Realizing they already had students, they changed it to a long and boring 'philosophy' that is rumored to never have been read.

Recent History

The past ten years of SMES history have been marked by a number of controversies and a seemingly unstoppable desire to expand the school. One of the earliest controversial decisions was to replace Upper School Principal, Tim Quinn with Steve Balak. Before the switch took place there was a period better known as "The Dark Ages" in which no true headmaster was in position and Mr. Cullinan served as a temporary headmaster. Martial law was issued throughout the school until finally Balak came into power. The move deeply upset the student body and engendered an inevitable hostility towards Balak.

During the Balak administration a number of new scandals erupted including the Lost Soul Incident, Prank Night Nightmares, the Tom Knight Off-Campus Lunch situation, the Boring Revolution, and the attempted Upper School Constitution. For further controversies on the SMES campus, see controversies.

Eventually Steve Balak resigned as upper school principal and was replaced by Dr. Rothman who would only last in the position for three months. At the same time, the school's long-time headmaster Mark Campaigne was replaced by Marcus Hurlbut, who would spearhead the school's ambitious expansion program.

A highlight of the Balak Administration were the impromptu Jack Bartlett convocation performances which recieved high praises.

David Boyle would become principal following the short-lived reign of Dr. Rothman, and he remains the current SMES principal. As with his many predecessors, the student body is having difficulty coping with some of Mr. Boyle's policies including a wrath of suspensions during the 2004-2005 school year.

Steve Balak is now creating hell at Webb School, in Knoxville Tennessee.

Student Life

Some students at SMES are notoriously preppy and cliqish. While all students are generally cheery and polite to visitors, social allegiances run deep among the entire student body

Food

SMES boasts a world class dining facility featuring a weekly rotated schedule of catered food. Students are required to prereserve their catered food from In 'n Out, Pick up stix, Tannins (formerly Tre Vigne), Baja Fresh, and Ball Park Pizza These fast food chains seem nice to the public eye, as thats all SMES cares about, but are coated with terror! SMES has recently started serving shaved ice or italian ice as some call it, although it has nothing to do with Italy and considering that SMES is a Scotish school. This ice has many flavors of which are mango and strawberry.

For second semester juniors and seniors, the options are far larger. For those who are bold enough to dare getting to class late, many fast food restaurants are in close proximity to the SMES campus, notably Carls Jr., Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, Del Taco, and Arby's. Some students have even dared to venture all the way to [[Pat