UMS-Wright Preparatory School: Cultivating Excellence in Mind, Body, and Spirit
UMS-Wright Preparatory School stands as an independent, co-educational institution in Mobile, Alabama, dedicated to fostering the holistic development of its students. From its foundation, the school has been committed to nurturing not only academic excellence but also the physical and spiritual growth of each individual. This article delves into the multifaceted aspects of UMS-Wright, exploring its history, mission, campus life, extracurricular activities, academics, and overall commitment to producing well-rounded individuals ready to contribute to the community.
A Foundation Built on Tradition and Vision
The story of UMS-Wright begins with the vision of Dr. Julius T. Wright, who established the University Military School on October 2, 1893. The school opened its doors at 559 Conti Street, braving the elements of the 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane on its very first day. With a modest start of twenty-five pupils and a single teacher, the school charged a tuition of $8 a month. Dr. Wright's leadership continued until his death in 1931, after which William Pape assumed the role.
In 1923, thirty years after the establishment of the all-male University Military School, Dr. Wright expanded his vision by founding the Girls Preparatory School. This institution aimed to provide young women in Mobile with an education comparable to that offered to their male counterparts. However, the Girls Preparatory School closed after only eight years, following the death of Dr. Wright. The spirit of female education was rekindled in 1956 with the opening of Julius T. Wright School for Girls at the same location as the former Girls Preparatory School, which had been newly renovated at 1315 Dauphin Street. This revival was the result of a sustained campaign by alumni of the original Girls Preparatory School who sought a female equivalent to University Military School. The Julius T. Wright School for Girls moved to 1400 S University Blvd in 1972.
The evolution of UMS-Wright culminated in 1988 when University Military School and Julius T. Wright School for Girls merged to form the co-educational UMS-Wright Preparatory School, aligning with the trend of single-gender schools transitioning to co-educational models.
Mission and Educational Philosophy
The UMS-Wright Preparatory School mission is to educate all students to their highest potential in mind, body, and spirit and to produce in each student character of the highest possible order. This mission is the cornerstone of the school's educational philosophy. UMS-Wright builds the foundation for excellence through devotion to advancing students in mind, body, and spirit. The school's teachers, administrators, and staff are dedicated to equipping students with the skills necessary to be successful in life and beneficial to the community.
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Campus Life: A Holistic Experience
Life outside the classroom is an integral part of the UMS-Wright educational experience. Students of all ages are presented with numerous opportunities to interact with each other and with their teachers in one-on-one and group settings. In addition, students are encouraged to be active in local, state, national, and world communities with specific emphasis being placed upon our obligation to serve others.
The UMS-Wright campus consists of several best-in-class facilities, academic environments, and athletic fields. The campus includes five Lower School buildings, two middle school buildings, and one high school building. All three have separate offices and principals. When you set foot on the UMS-Wright campus, opportunity awaits.
Facilities that Foster Growth
The campus boasts a range of facilities designed to support various aspects of student life. The on-campus pool is available to students of all ages for swim meets, physical education classes, intramural swimming, and summer camps. The Arts Center fosters creative growth with Dunlap Auditorium, Huckabee-Foster Amphitheater, and four state-of-the-art classrooms including a band room, a choral room, a studio art room, and a drama lab as well as four rehearsal rooms shared by all performance groups. Throughout campus, there are various athletics facilities, including Wilson Gym, Ervin S. Cooper Stadium, Urquhart Field, R. H. Radcliff Baseball Field, Gerald Reid Field, and Martha B. Matre Softball Field.
All students have the opportunity to dine at the on-campus cafeteria daily. The fresh food that we serve provided by Lexington Independents is carefully selected to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. The monthly lunch menus can be found by clicking the buttons below.
Extracurricular Activities: Nurturing Diverse Interests
Student life outside the classroom is also an integral part of the UMS-Wright educational experience. The school encourages students to pursue other personal interests through myriad activities offered in the Arts, Athletics, and Student Life Departments. The lessons learned and the qualities developed through participation in such activities help students internalize positive characteristics such as self-discipline, respect for others, and selflessness.
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UMS-Wright offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities catering to various interests and talents. These activities provide students with opportunities for personal growth, skill development, and community engagement.
Clubs and Organizations
- American Sign Language Club: By learning how to sign, members will learn a strong appreciation and understanding for deaf culture, along with promoting the understanding and appreciation of the language among others. Biweekly meetings during lunch in either Señora Lawrence or Mrs.
- Book Club: Every month, this club will meet and discuss a book of a particular topic. Not only discussing books, but also partaking in many great opportunities around the school (ie. Meetings on Tuesdays during lunch in the library.
- Chess Team: The UMS- Wright Chess Team is an excellent experience for students of many ages to learn, practice and master the rules and nuances of chess play. There are four matches throughout the year with two invitation-only Championship games. Weekly practice every Thursday 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm, unless school is out for a holiday, or we are at a league match instead! Mandatory attendance at ALL league matches. All players are expected to do some individual chess work/study/game play on their own. Good behavior is expected at practice and especially at matches. Take care of and help keep track of all UMS chess equipment. Experienced players are expected to take notation of their competitive games for review with their coach.
- Fall/Spring Chorale: Fall/Spring Chorale welcomes all students who enjoy singing or want to explore their musical side. Most opportunities involve singing in groups, but there are opportunities for solos if interested. The group concludes their time together with a performance in December/April. Some students will be eligible for trips off-campus.
- French Club: Are you enrolled in a French class? Fascinated by French and Francophone culture? Excited by unique learning experiences? Interested in our connections to countries around the world? Members meet once a month to engage in culturally enriching activities with roots in French and Francophone societies.
- Investment Club: Invest in a small portfolio together. Would meet and discuss what to invest in or sell. Guest speakers.
- Key Club: Key Club is the primary Community Service Club for our school. Members have to commit to a minimum of 30 service hours and at least 4 Key Club/School Sponsored Service events. To participate and have it count as a co-curricular students must commit to a minimum of 50 service hours and at least 4 Key Club/School Sponsored Service events. Each month a list of Key Club events is posted and offered as well as other various opportunities that come up for students to participate in.
- UMS-Wright Band: Students must take the band class during the school day, play or be learning to play a wind or percussion instrument, and attend band camp in the summer.
- Mind's Eye: Create together the Mind’s Eye, which is our student literary and arts magazine.
- Sailing Team: The sailing team practices once a week, and we have regattas on the weekends. Members attend practices after school and attend at least one regatta each year. Members of the Sailing Team have to be junior members of the Mobile Yacht Club in order to participate on the team. Members use their own equipment.
- STEM Club: Students will meet once a month during lunch to listen to medical professionals.
- Sports Media: Students participate in digital production for sports teams. Students may choose to work individual events for service hours. To receive co-curricular credit, students must work 30 hours throughout the year.
- Student Bulldog Ambassadors: The Student Bulldog Ambassadors is an elite group of 11th and 12th grade students who represent the ideals and spirit of UMS-Wright. Mainly supporting the Admissions and College Counseling Offices, the Ambassadors act as liaisons for visitors to campus and lead rising freshmen in their transition to the upper school. In addition, they assist with on and off campus events, representing UMS-Wright and strengthening the bond within the school and our community. Students will have the opportunity to polish their interpersonal skills, advance communication skills, and have a lasting impact on students and families at UMS-Wright. Students must attend a required training and attend all assigned events.
- Student Government Association: Complete elected process in the Spring. Must meet criteria to run for a position.
- Spanish Club: $25 fee. Students must log at least 50 hours of involvement during the year to earn their pin. Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities during the school year both during the week after school and on weekends. Weekly opportunities include La mesa de español (Spanish conversation group) and Spanish Peer Tutoring.
- UMS-Wright Theatre: All students are eligible to audition to be cast members or sign up to be crew members for both the fall show and the spring show. The school does not turn anyone away and have room for all who are interested. Students audition approximately 8-10 weeks prior to show dates (audition dates will be announced when students start school).
- Youth Judicial: The UMS-Wright Marvin Mostellar Sr.
- YMCA Mock Trial: A mock trial program coordinated by the YMCA of Greater Montgomery with a statewide competition in Montgomery sometime in the late fall. Students work on a team made up of six members (3 attorneys, 3 witnesses), either for the prosecution/plaintiff or defense (determined by the YMCA, not UMS-Wright). Students work mostly on their own time outside of school hours to prepare individually and as a team. Students required to attend the following meetings: (1) a program overview meeting in August for interested students; (2) an after-school meeting to read through the case and to register for the program and hotel rooms; (3) the district meeting sponsored by the YMCA, usually a Sunday afternoon in late September, where officials with the YMCA as well as youth judges explain the program, trial procedures, and courtroom decorum. Students are encouraged to work with a local attorney - family member or friend - to prepare their case. The school expects our teams to follow the program's rules and prepare to the best of their ability. The YMCA allots each school a certain number of slots in either the Premier or Major league. The school may have to have tryouts if the number of teams signing up is greater than the slots they've been allotted. Should that be the case, students need to plan to try out in front of me and other faculty members.
- Current Events Club: The purpose of this club is to dive into the social, political, and economic currents of our world and discuss how these concepts shape current events. Members will each express their opinions on how a current event occurred and find out what larger developments caused it to occur. A member must attend the meeting times during lunch.
Athletics: Building Character Through Competition
UMS-Wright offers thirteen team sports for students from lower school to high school. The school competes in the AHSAA division 4A. UMS-Wright also has a long-standing athletic rivalry with St. Paul's Episcopal School, another local private high school that is just 2.2 miles away down Old Shell Road.
Academics: Preparing Students for Success
UMS Wright was ranked second out of ninety-seven schools in Niche.com "Best Private K-12 Schools in Alabama" ranking. The average ACT score is 30 and the average SAT score in 1360. 99% of graduating seniors attend a four-year college or university, with the 3 most popular being the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and the University of South Alabama.
The school's commitment to academic excellence is reflected in its college placement record and standardized test scores.
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