Organization

The Naval Academy Primary School Association, Incorporated is a private, nonprofit Maryland corporation, formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a school to provide a high-quality preschool through fifth-grade education for children of persons eligible for membership in the Association. Order of priority for membership in the Naval Academy Primary School Association is listed in the schools corporate bylaws, which are printed in the back of this book.

 

The Naval Academy Primary School (NAPS) is dedicated to providing a substantial elementary school educationincluding an extended-day programin an environment conducive to learning. The enrollment ranges from 265 to 285 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school endeavors to limit class size as follows: eight for pre-K 2; eight or ten for pre-K 3, depending on room size; twelve for pre-K 5; 16 for kindergarten; and eighteen for first through fifth grade. The small classes promote close interaction between teacher and child. Small classes also provide great flexibility in adapting individual lessons to challenge each child at his or her ability level. Teachers work with the students in all areas of development.

§       NAPS is not a Department of Defense (DoD) school nor is it associated with the DoD school system in any way.

§       NAPS is not a member of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools or any other accrediting agency.

§       NAPS falls outside the jurisdiction of the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools and the Maryland State Department of Education.

§       NAPS is a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

History

The Naval Academy Primary School began in the early 1900s as a nursery school for children of Naval Academy faculty and staff, both military and civilian. Two sisters, the Misses Liza and Mary Magruder, operated the school, often referred to as The Magruder School.  From the schools inception until the late 1940s, it was housed in a succession of locations: the east end of Dahlgren Hall; the lower level of the Naval Academy chapel until 1913 when John Paul Joness body was placed in the chapels crypt; and Isherwood Hall, a building subsequently demolished to provide the site for Alumni Hall.

 

In 1949, the school moved across the Severn River into a  building that formerly housed a BOQ and later  an officers club annex.* The school continues today in this delightful location on Mill Creek, only minutes away from the Naval Academy and historic Annapolis, Marylands capital city.

 

*In March 1943, construction was completed on a new BOQ at the Navys Radio Transmitter Facility (RTF) located on Greenbury Point across the Severn River from the Naval Academy. These quarters housed an influx of military personnel working at the RTF during the height of the World War II.  When the war ended, the number of officers stationed at the RTF declined and occupancy at the BOQ fell significantly. In 1947, this BOQ was converted to an annex for the nearby Naval Academy Commissioned Officers Mess, and  included a dining hall, ballroom, bar, bowling alley, and guest rooms. In 1949, the seldom-used mess annex was turned over to a group of military parents supervising the operation of the Naval Academy Nursery School then located in a golf shack at Perry Circle near USNAs gate eight. The Navy gave the group permission to convert building 74 for use by the Naval Academy Nursery School. In 1953, the Naval Academy Nursery School Association was chartered and recognized by the Maryland Secretary of State as a nonprofit Maryland corporation. Five years later, the schools name was changed to Naval Academy Primary School.

 

Management

The administrative and financial management of the school is vested in the NAPS Board of Directors with daily operation supervised by the school director. The board of directors comprises the school director, a staff representative, and officers who are elected by and from the NAPS Association members. Board members serve two-year terms and may stand for reelection. The board, which meets monthly, operates under the rules set forth by the school's by-laws.

 

Staff

·       Administrative: Director, bookkeeper, and 2 administrative assistants plus 1 custodian.

·       Teaching:  18 classroom teachers, 6 special-subject teachers (art, computer, French, library, music, and physical education), 1 resource teacher, and classroom aides for pre-K and kindergarten.

·       Extended-day program: Supervisor and 4 assistants