St. Margaret's Episcopal School
From Stmargarets
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.
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Early History
According to various speeches and unread books and articles, St. Margarets was founded in 1979 to seventy-nine students 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 text books 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, a school that does not believe in the theory of evolution. 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 it has rumored has never 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 Principle, 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, 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 who recieved high praises.
David Boyle would become principal following the short-lived reign of Dr. Rothman, and he remains the current SMES principal.
Athletics
St. Margaret's has a storied athletic past with CIF championships in nearly every major sport. Recently, a soccer team led by CIF MVPs Parker Redmond and Hutch Parker won the title in 2002. The girls volleyball team managed to win an unprecedented four consecutive titles from the years 1999-2003. St. Margaret's football last won a CIF title in the 1980's, though 2004 saw a surprise trip to the semi-finals. The St. Margaret's golf team has recently established itself as a powerhouse, not only in Southern California, but in the nation.
