ORCHARD LAKE SCHOOLS
3535 COMMERCE ROAD • ORCHARD LAKE, MI 48324 • (248) 682-1885
Campus Communicator
Click below to view the most recent edition of our monthly newsletter
Ever Forward
Click below to read more about the
Ever Forward
Strategic Master Planning Project.
Ambassador's Ball
This OLS tradition returns to the Townsend Hotel on April 20, 2024. Get your tickets now and enjoy this great event!
Founder's Day 2024
Founder's Day 2024 looks to be even better than last year's celebration, with more alumni games, recreation, and of course the big dinner!
Alumni Scholarships
See more photos of the speeches and winners from the Alumni Scholarship Awards competition!
New Baseball Coach
We’re so excited to welcome back
Nick Di Ponio as St. Mary’s Preparatory Head Baseball Coach!
Pink on the Rink
Read more about this new annual tradition of fundraising at Orchard Lake St. Mary's Hockey!
2024 Fidelitas Medalists
With great joy, we want to share the news of this year’s distinguished Fidelitas Medalists!
FAITH, EDUCATION, TRADITION
Since 1885, the Orchard Lake Schools has been a prestigious center of Catholic faith, educational excellence and Polish tradition. Our family builds on the individual strengths of each of our three main institutions:
ST. JOHN PAUL II LITURGICAL CENTER
Fostering our Catholic Heritage
OUR MISSION
To foster Catholic identity in the spirit of St. John Paul II at the Orchard Lake Schools by providing liturgical celebrations and spiritual guidance to the internal community (students and staff) as well as outreaching the community at large and to promote Polish Catholic spirituality and traditions.
ST. MARY'S PREPARATORY
God. Family. St. Mary’s.
OUR MISSION
St. Mary’s Preparatory is a Catholic, co-divisional college preparatory high school with a Polish-American heritage and legacy since 1885 A.D. We exist to provide deserving young men and women the moral guidance, discipline, and education to become Christ-like models of service and leadership for the world. By completion of our spiritual and educational model, these students gain the character, reverence, and fortitude to meet all challenges for the greater glory of God and their alma mater.
POLISH INSTITUTE OF CULTURE & RESEARCH
Preserving Cultural Ethnicity & Tradition
OUR MISSION
The purpose of the Polish Institute of Culture & Research at Orchard Lake Schools, which were founded in 1885 by Polish immigrants, is to preserve and promote Polish and Polish-American culture, tradition, and history for present and future generations. The Polish Institute of Culture & Research organizes programs, courses and events that highlight Polish and Polish -American culture and accomplishments, and ensures a repository for artifacts, archival materials, works of art, and publications for research and study.
Mailing List Update
To notify the Orchard Lake Schools about a birth, marriage, death or change of address and/or email, please email
news@orchardlakeschools.comIntentions
Request a Mass Intention
WE INVITE YOU to reserve the intentions of the Holy Mass that will be celebrated in the
SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary.Polish Radio Mass Offerings
Polish Radio Mass ($300)
We ask you to sponsor the Polish Radio Mass, especially for those sick or unable to attend regular Mass. Our way of thanking you for your $300 sponsorship of this Mass is your Mass intention of and at this Mass.
- Use the following link to access the Polish Radio Mass each Sunday from 9:00 -10:00 am.
http://player.polskieradio24.pl/41 - Sunday Mass at 9:00 am - Seminary Chapel
- Please contact:
Fr. Bernard Witek
- Use the following link to access the Polish Radio Mass each Sunday from 9:00 -10:00 am.
Events & Gallery
Orchard Lake Schools Upcoming Events
Weddings
For wedding information, please contact:
The 51st Annual Ambassadors Ball
Orchard Lake Schools
Founder's Day
Saturday & Monday - June 1 & 3, 2024
Saturday, June 1 - Founder's Day on Campus
Monday, June 3 - Founder's Day Golf Outing
More Information to Come!
Alumni Reunion
St. Mary's College
July 13, 2024
OLSM Campus Quad and Old Gym
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Call to Artists
Artists, Artisans, & Performers
Saturday & Sunday-September 28 & 29, 2024
10:00 am-4:00 pm
Polish Institute
sponsors Children's Program at the 30th annual Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival
Pink in the Rink
St. Mary's Hockey joining in the fight against cancer.
Thanks from Coach and Lisa Klanow
OLSM, you provided a momentous day of hockey at the 2nd Annual Pink in the Rink and kicked cancer’s butt in support of pediatric cancer charities! We are so proud of our success at Pink in the Rink! We had over 1,500 attendees supporting Karmanos and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
We were able to honor cancer survivors and were so excited to have Hudson Gazsi as our honorary Eaglet who was escorted on and off the ice by Warren Davis, University of Michigan Quarterback, who also is a cancer survivor. Hudson is on his path to winning against Leukemia. We will be excited to tell you our final donation numbers soon but it looks like we will be close to doubling our goal from last year!
We want to thank St. Mary’s faculty and staff, students, hockey families, coaches, the Orchard Lake Hockey Association, our amazing Pink in the Rink committee, and all of our incredible sponsors! You all made this possible. This night. These people. Cancer isn’t just about saying you care. It’s showing up for people. It’s love and true connection. It’s strength. #hudsonfortough
Brian & Lisa Klanow
On behalf of all who made this possible!ST. MARY'S PREPARATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nick Di Ponio (P’98)
New Head Baseball Coach
OLSM 2024 Baseball Staff
Head Coach: Nick Di Ponio (P ‘98)
Oakland University, Italian Baseball Professional
League (Rovigo+San Marino Baseball Club)
Assistant Coach: Dominic Carmosino - Oakland University, Milb Detroit Tigers (27th Round). Assistant varsity coach at OLSM 2006-2010
Assistant Coach: Pat Misch - Western Michigan University, MLB: San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Milb: Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, CPBl: Lamigo Monkeys, NPB: Orix Buffaloes
Assistant Coach: Theo Piccirilli (P’10 )- Western Michigan University
Assistant Coach: Peter Varon - Oakland University, Mid Missouri Mavericks Independent Frontier League, Greek National Team 2002
Nick Di Ponio (P’98) – New Head Baseball Coach
We’re so excited to welcome back Nick Di Ponio as St. Mary’s Preparatory Head Baseball Coach! The Prep Class of 1998 graduate helped lead the varsity baseball team to its first MHSAA state championship (1998) in school history. During his senior year, he was named to the All-State Dream Team and USA Today All-American honorable mention. “I played freshman and JV basketball, plus JV baseball in 9th grade,” said Di Ponio, “and Varsity Coach John Willis asked my dad, Ben, if he’d be interested in the JV head coaching job. After I was asked to step into a few varsity games, I was moved up, and during my sophomore year, my dad moved into the varsity assistant coach position. I earned the privilege of being a two-year team captain my junior and senior years at OLSM.”
Di Ponio continued his baseball career at Oakland University where he finished with a career .339 batting average, and currently ranks in the top ten all-time in several offensive categories. During his college years, he pursued his degree in business and finance and met his wife, Lisa, who was pursuing a secondary education degree before going on to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching and Teaching English as a Second Language in subsequent years.
Following his collegiate career, he played overseas in the Italian Professional Baseball League for four seasons. In 2002, he was a member of the San Marino Baseball Club competing in the European Cup in Barcelona, Spain.
Nick and Lisa married in 2004. From 2005-2010, he served as OLSM’s varsity baseball head coach, bringing dad, Ben, back as an assistant coach along with 1984 World Series Championship team member Dan Petry as another assistant coach. “During these six years, I brought in several other assistant coaches, including OLSM alumnus Joe Zacharzewski, and former Oakland University teammates Tony Marulli and Dominic Carmosino.” Di Ponio helped lead the team to six district titles, three regional titles, and state runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2009. Several of his former players went on to college and professional baseball.
As their family grew, Di Ponio knew he had to move on with his family’s needs and career demands in his real estate, property management and building business while wife, Lisa, worked full-time teaching high school students in the Farmington Public Schools.
“In 2017, an opportunity arose to purchase an old driving range,” adds Di Ponio. “It gave us a blank slate – a place to build an athletic complex.” Today, Coach Di Ponio owns and operates the Huron Valley Athletic Complex (HVAC) in Milford, Michigan, as well as owning and operating the West Oakland Wings (WOW) amateur baseball and softball program, with 18 current travel teams from 8U-18U. He and Lisa have three children: Gaetano “Guy” (16) -- a sophomore at St. Mary’s Prep, Cecilia (13), and Angelo (11).
“For me, to really understand what it is to be a St. Mary’s student, you must experience it,” he adds. “Going through your formative years in high school, finding yourself, your faith, and the people you’ll share these memories with for the rest of your life, and finding out what that means to you and others are gifts OLSM gave me. Sports taught me many life lessons, but the Prep taught me how to take these values out into the world.”
Coach Di Ponio is so excited about returning to OLSM. “The students are thriving! The Girls Division is building on its legacy and drawing from the values and traditions of what has meant so much to the Boys Division. My family and I will be a part of the St. Mary’s family for years to come. I’m happy to be back! St. Mary’s Prep’s future depends on our students. You are the legacy that is growing our 139-year history.”
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