Mater Dei High School (New Jersey)

Mater Dei Prep

Fide et Fortitudine[1]
Faith and Fortitude[1]
Address
Mater Dei Prep
Mater Dei Prep
Mater Dei Prep
538 Church Street
New Monmouth, NJ 07748
United States
Coordinates 40°24′50″N 74°6′7″W / 40.41389°N 74.10194°W / 40.41389; -74.10194Coordinates: 40°24′50″N 74°6′7″W / 40.41389°N 74.10194°W / 40.41389; -74.10194
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1961[2]
Founder Monsignor Robert T. Bulman[2]
School district Diocese of Trenton
President James Hauenstein [3]
Principal James Hauenstein[3]
Chaplain Fr. Carlos Castilla
Faculty 29.3 [4]
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 270 [4] (2013-14)
Average class size 85
Student to teacher ratio 9.2:1 [4]
Color(s)     Blue and
     White[1]
Song Seraphs are a Powerhouse
Mascot Seraphs[1]
Team name Seraphs
Rival Keansburg, Saint Rose, Keyport
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[5]
Publication Insights (literary magazine)[6]
Newspaper The Seraph[6]
Yearbook Theotokos[6]
Tuition $12,200 (2016-17)[7]
Patron saint Blessed Virgin Mary
Athletic director Dennis Tobin[3]
Website http://www.materdeiprep.org

Mater Dei Prep: A Catholic Preparatory School is a four-year Catholic coeducational high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in the New Monmouth section of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.

Mater Dei is no longer part of St. Mary Parish and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.[8] It has been accredited since 1991 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools[5] and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

In February 2015, the pastor of St. Mary Parish announced that the school would be closing at the end of the 2014-15 school year, in the wake of chronic fiscal deficits.[9] A few days after the announcement, it was disclosed that the Parish Finance Council had agreed to a two-month extension in order to raise the $1 million needed to remain open.[10] Through the Seraph's Fund, and massive efforts by the student body, $1.5 million was raised in just six weeks, and the school managed to stay open. [11]

As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 270 students and 29.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.2:1.[4]

History

A hallway at Mater Dei Prep High School

The school was founded in 1961 by the Reverend Monsignor Robert T. Bulman and is located on a small portion of the parish's 32-acre (130,000 m2) campus. The school attracts students from over 30 parochial, private, and public schools in Monmouth County and Middlesex County. The school maintains an average enrollment of just under 400 students in grades nine through twelve.

The virtual learning program began in 2005 and ended in 2010. Virtual learning classes included all levels, including Advanced Placement, in Math, Foreign Languages (Latin, Italian, and Chinese) as well as History.

The school had been known as "Mater Dei High School" until July 2010, when the name was changed to "Mater Dei Prep: A Catholic Preparatory School".[12]

Controversy

On April 12, 2011, William Miltner, a former teacher and former dean at the school, was arrested for having engaged in sexual relations with an underage female student.[13] The Monmouth County Prosecutor charged Miltner with 2nd Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, and 4th Degree Aggravated Sexual Criminal Conduct.[14]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Facts & Figures, Mater Dei Prep. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Mission & Philosophy, Mater Dei Prep. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 2010 - 2011 FACULTY & STAFF DIRECTORY, Mater Dei Prep. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 School Data for Mater Dei High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 5, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Mater Dei High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed June 13, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 Extracurricular Activities & Clubs, Mater Dei Prep. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  7. ↑ Tuition, Mater Dei Prep. Accessed May 25, 2016.
  8. ↑ School Directory, Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. Accessed June 13, 2011.
  9. ↑ Spahr, Rob. "Mater Dei Prep in Middletown announces it will close in June", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com]], February 3, 2015. Accessed February 4, 2015. "Just days after a planned celebration for its 50th anniversary, Mater Dei Prep will reportedly close its doors. Citing a severe, multi-year financial deficit, Father Jeff Kegley - the pastor of St. Mary Parish - announced in a letter to parents on Tuesday that the coed Catholic high school would close in June at the end of its current school year."
  10. ↑ Kegley, Fr. Jeff. "ANNOUNCEMENT/Press Release: Parish announces extension for Mater Dei Prep to raise needed funds.", Mater Dei Prep, February 5, 2015. Accessed February 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ O'Neill, Natalie; and Buiso, Gary. "Brian Williams hasn’t donated a dime to his cash-strapped high school", New York Post, February 22, 2015. Accessed May 5, 2015. "The school has raised $427,000, but is still waiting to hear from its most famous graduate, according to Palmer."
  12. ↑ Staff. "Mater Dei High School to be called Mater Dei Prep", Atlantic Highlands Herald, July 5, 2010. Accessed June 9, 2012."Mater Dei High School has announced it will change the school’s name to Mater Dei Prep: A Catholic Preparatory School, effective July 1, 2010."
  13. ↑ Staff. "Former Mater Dei Dean of Students Charged with Sex Assault of Minor", Atlantic Highlands Herald, April 13, 2011. Accessed February 2, 2012. "The Middletown Police Department has charged the former Dean of Students at Mater Dei High School, located on Cherry Tree Farm Road, with sexually assaulting a former student who was sixteen years old at the time of the assault. Detective Kelly Godley charged William Miltner, age 28, from Acker Drive in Middletown with second degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and fourth degree Aggravated Sexual Contact."
  14. ↑ Yates, Toni. "Prep school Dean arrested for sexual assault", WABC-TV, April 13, 2011. Accessed July 20, 2011. "At just 28-years-old, William Miltner was a Dean, teacher, and the soccer coach at Mater Dei Catholic High School. He was arrested Tuesday and charged with 2nd Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, and 4th Degree Aggravated Sexual Criminal Conduct, the Monmouth County prosecutor says with a 16-year-old girl at Mater Dei."
  15. ↑ Oliwa, Lori Anne. "Mater Dei Prep Celebrates 50 Years of Musicals", The Monitor, July 3, 2014. Accessed February 9, 2015. "'The performing arts program at Mater Dei has produced a tremendous amount of talent,' Meenan added, noting the names Mary Kay Adams from television series The Guiding Light; Mark Lamura from All My Children; Ted Kurdyla, a producer and director in Hollywood; Kerrianne Spellman, a Broadway actress; Robert Harper; Emmy and Grammy Award-winner Trudy Craney; Hollywood actor and musician Bob McEvilly; Joe Rapolla, musical legend and current chair of the music department at Monmouth University; Robert Waldron, a well-known director; musician Robert Marriner, and actresses Kathy Smith Logan and Catherine Tarpey."
  16. ↑ Hemhauser, Danielle. "Setting the stage: Setting the stage", Asbury Park Press, March 28, 2006. Accessed July 19, 2008. "Mater Dei High School is connected to Broadway through Gerard Canonico, 16, a junior from Matawan."
  17. ↑ Garafolo, Mike. "Monmouth County's Billy Devaney now making waves as GM of the St. Louis Rams", The Star-Ledger, April 21, 2009. Accessed July 20, 2011. "'He's very happy right now. And I can tell he is, too,' said Mike Corley, Devaney's best friend from before their days together at Mater Dei High School in New Monmouth.... It was a fitting career path for a self-proclaimed "draftnik" (before there were draftniks) who used to take the bus from Leonardo -- a section of Middletown -- to Port Authority in Manhattan to pick up a copy of Street & Smith's draft guide."
  18. ↑ Gillespie, Nick. "Really Strange Bedfellows IIA final word (for now) on libertarians vs. conservatives", Reason (magazine), December 20, 2001. Accessed February 2, 2012. "It's been a long, long while since I've been accused of impairing the morals of a minor (really). In fact, the last time I can remember such a claim being leveled against me was back in high school when I coaxed some classmates at good old Mater Dei High School into seeing Monty Python's Life of Brian rather than a less theologically charged movie."
  19. ↑ Staff. "Mater Dei Prep Celebrates 50 Years of Musicals on June 18, 2014", Atlantic Highlands Herald, June 10, 2014. Accessed February 9, 2015. "Returning alumni slated to perform include Grammy and Emmy award winner Trudy Craney, Hollywood producer and director Ted Kurdyla, Broadway, National and World Tour actors Kerrianne Spellman (Les Miserables) and David J.V. Meenan (A Chorus Line, 42nd Street), music legend Joe Rapolla, Hollywood actor and musician Robert McEvilly, director Robert Waldron, musician Robert Marriner, Kathy Smith Logan and Catherine Tarpey."
  20. ↑ Spoto, Mary Ann. "Long time Red Bank resident questions Brian Williams' Christmas mugging story", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 9, 2015. Accessed February 9, 2015. "Murphy's friend, actor and New Jersey native Mark LaMura, said Williams lives in a society that likes to build up celebrities and then tear them down. LaMura, who graduated Mater Dei High School in Middletown 10 years ahead of Williams, said he hopes the professional career of his fellow alumnus can survive."
  21. ↑ Chmiel, David. "His Heart Belongs to Jersey: Anchorman Brian Williams is as comfortable hosting Saturday Night Live as he is interviewing world leaders for NBC Nightly News. An avowed Springsteen fanatic, car nut, and adrenaline junkie, the Middletown native still clings to his Garden State roots.", New Jersey Monthly, June 9, 2008. Accessed July 20, 2011. "NBC anchor Brian Williams returns to Mater Dei High School in New Monmouth, where he was a member of the class of '77."
  22. ↑ Giase, Frank. "Red Bulls fire longtime assistant coaches Richie Williams, Des McAleenan", The Star-Ledger, February 28, 2011. Accessed July 20, 2011. "Williams, a Mater Dei graduate who played eight years in MLS, including stints with the MetroStars in 2001 and 2003, was entering his sixth year as an assistant coach, but he has been much more important to the team than that."
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