Saint Mary Magdalene High School in Poznań

Saint Mary Magdalene High School in Poznań (Polish: Liceum Ogólnokształcące św. Marii Magdaleny; Latin: Ad sanctam Mariam Magdalenam; colloquially simply as Marynka) is one of the oldest and one of the most prestigious and selective high schools in Poland. School is noted for its alumni, its academics, and the large number of graduates attending prestigious universities.[1] Marynka has educated statesmen, scholars and generations of the intelligentsia and has been referred to as "the chief nurse of Poland's elites".[2][3]

Saint Mary Magdalene High School
The entrance to Saint Mary's viewed from the side of the Bernardines' Square (2012)
Address
Map
24 Garbary, Old Town

, ,
61-867

Poland
Coordinates52°24′12″N 16°56′19″E / 52.40333°N 16.93861°E / 52.40333; 16.93861
Information
Other namesLatin: Ad sanctam Mariam Magdalenam
Typepublic, selective, secondary, university-preparatory
MottoLatin: Salus Rei Publicae suprema lex
(The welfare of the Republic shall be the supreme law)
Patron saint(s)Mary Magdalene
formerly Thomas Aquinas
Established1573; 451 years ago (1573)
School boardCapital City of Poznań Department of Education
PrincipalJerzy Sokół
Key peopleHipolit Cegielski · Karol Libelt · Karol Marcinkowski
NicknameMarynka
Former pupilsMarynkarze
Websitemarynka.edu.pl

Overview

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A view of Poznań's collegiate church around 1617, a piece of an engraving from book IV of Civitates Orbis Terrarum published in 1618 in Cologne by Frans Hogenberg and Georg Braun.

History

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Early years

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The school's founding date is disputed. The school itself dates its origins back to 1303 when it was established in the then-existing St. Mary Magdalene's Collegiate Church, with authorization from Bishop of Poznań, Andrzej Zaremba in 1302. St. Thomas Aquinas, who was the patron of all elementary education in the Middle Ages, was presumably the patron of this institution.

During the Renaissance, the school had a notorious reputation. This was purported due to lectures given there by Protestant leaders, notably rector Gregory Paul of Brzeziny, which resulted in religious conflicts.

After the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) arrived in Poznań, they created the Jesuit College, which took over the church, school, and numerous other institutions. The school opened on 25 June 1573; this date was cited as the school's official founding date on the Polish Association of the Oldest Schools' website.

20th century onwards

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In 1939, in recognition of its importance and to thank the school for educating many generations of best scientists, artists and politicians in its 600 years of history, the school was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by the last free Poland's President Ignacy Mościcki.[4][5]

The Society of Alumni of St. Mary Magdalene Gymnasium (now the St. Mary Magdalene Gymnasium and High School Alumni Association) has advocated for the school's reopening since 1958.

The school was renovated using private funds. On September 1, 1990, the school reopened as St. Mary Magdalene High School. In line with medieval traditions of collegiate schools, the school founded the Fraternity of St. Thomas Aquinas, which was composed entirely of pupils. Its purpose was to encourage self-improvement and engage in discussion about education and modernity.

The school received the Medal for Distinguished Service to the City of Poznań and the Decoration of Honour "Meritorious for the Greater Poland Voivodship" in 2003. In 2009, the school was presented with the Statuette of Hipolit Cegielski to recognise its commitment to high-quality cultural upbringing and as a homage to its founders and educators.

Building

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Since 1853, the school has been accommodated in this building.

The schools central administrative building (built in 1853) is located on the East side of Bernardines' Square at the Southern end of the Garbary street in Poznań's Old Town.

Academics

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As of 2021, classes are offered at the school under the academic patronage of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Institute of Molecular Physics), Adam Mickiewicz University (Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology, Faculty of Modern Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Biology), Poznań University of Economics and Business, and Poznań University of Medical Sciences.[6]

All students are required to study two foreign languages. In addition to compulsory English, they choose German, French or Spanish.[7] In the Polish educational system, general education liceum's (Polish: Liceum ogólnokształcące) class profiles relate to the institution's unique categories of topics of study.[8] Marynka offers class profiles in Humanities (advanced Polish, English, and History), Exact and Natural Sciences (advanced Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry), Natural Sciences (advanced Biology and Chemistry), Exact Sciences (advanced Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry), and Mathematics and Computer Science (advanced Mathematics, Information Technology and English).[9]

Reputation

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The school has continuously been ranked among the top three high schools in the Capital City of Poznań out of its thirty-four active high schools and one of the most selective schools in the country.[10][11]

Notable alumni

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Gymnasium's diploma (1846)

Among its alumni the school counts writers (Jan Kasprowicz, Józef Kościelski) Enigma codebreaker Henryk Zygalski, clergy (Primate of Poland Leon Przyłuski, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Father Marian Żelazek), six rectors of research universities (including Kazimierz Morawski, rector of Jagiellonian University and candidate for the office of President of Poland in 1922), renowned legal scholars (Prof. Michał Sczaniecki, Prof. Witalis Ludwiczak), physicians (Prof. Wiktor Dega, Dr. Karol Marcinkowski) and politicians.[12][13]

Faculty School

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  • Leon Michał Przyłuski (1789–1865), Roman Catholic Bishop and Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland in the years 1845–1865, who was active in the Polish independence movement of the late 1800s.
  • Ignacy Prądzyński (1792–1850), military commander and a general of the Polish Army. A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, he was one of the most successful Polish commanders of the November Uprising against Russia.
  • Sir Paweł Strzelecki KCB CMG FRGS MRS (1797–1873), explorer and geologist who in 1845 also became a British subject.
  • Karol Marcinkowski (1800–1846), physician, social activist in the Grand Duchy of Poznań.

St. Mary Magdalene Gymnasium

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References

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  1. ^ Poszwiński, Adam; Franciszek, Forecki; Śmigielski, Henryk (1939). Jednodniówka z okazji zjazdu b. uczniów Gimnazjum św. Marji Magdaleny. Komitet Uczczenia b. Uczniów Gimnazjum im. Marii Magdaleny Poznań.
  2. ^ "Wyborcza.pl". poznan.wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  3. ^ "Wyborcza.pl". poznan.wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  4. ^ Admin. "Z przeszłości". www.marynka.edu.pl. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  5. ^ (1873–1945)(red.), Ruciński Kazimierz; (red.), Zaleski Zygmunt; (red.), Kaczmarek Kazimierz (1923-02-23). Kronika Miasta Poznania: miesięcznik poświęcony sprawom kulturalnym stoł. m. Poznania: organ Towarzystwa Miłośników Miasta Poznania 1923.02.23 R.1 Nr2. Magistrat Stoł. M. Poznania.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Patronaty uczelni". marynka.edu.pl. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  7. ^ "Planowane klasy". marynka.edu.pl. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  8. ^ "High School Profiles - Poland". www.ourkids.net. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  9. ^ "Charakterystyka klas". marynka.edu.pl. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  10. ^ "Ranking Liceów Poznań". WaszaEdukacja. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  11. ^ "Wyróżnienia dla szkoły". marynka.edu.pl. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  12. ^ Admin. "Słynni Marynkarze". www.marynka.edu.pl. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  13. ^ Z dziejów Gimnazjum i Liceum św. Marii Magdaleny w Poznaniu, „Nasza Wielkopolska" nr 3/2000, pp. 4–5.