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Moravian Academy in Action
A Legacy of Learning and Love: Three Generations of the Polt Family at Moravian Academy
Every December, as the familiar strains of the Moravian Star hymn fill the sanctuary of Central Moravian Church, three generations of the Polt family are bound by a shared tradition. Grandmother Patricia “Bonnie” Polt ‘60, father Peter ’96, and now Grant ’35 and Henry ’32 have all attended Vespers under the soft glow of candlelight, celebrated Country Fair on the Merle-Smith Campus, and walked the same historic paths that have shaped Moravian Academy students for generations. But beyond these cherished rituals, what unites the Polts most deeply is the lasting gift of a Moravian education—an education rooted in curiosity, community, and character, passed down like an heirloom through the decades.
For Bonnie Polt, Moravian Seminary for Girls (as it was known in her time) was a life-shaping experience. Growing up on a farm in Bloomsbury, NJ, her parents sought an all girls private boarding school where she would be surrounded by peers and gain a well-rounded education with college preparatory courses. They chose Moravian Seminary, located just 20 miles away, and it quickly became more than just school.
“The current Snyder Conference Room was our dining hall,” Bonnie recalls. “Seniors were allowed to eat breakfast and dinner in a special area called the Loge and they could even have coffee—a true privilege.” Life as a boarder was full of structure and tradition: sewing hour in Snyder on Saturdays, weekend outings to the Boyd Theatre or Moravian Book Shop, and dances with visiting boys from Blair Academy and Valley Forge Military Academy —school chaperones always with a 12-inch ruler to ensure proper dance-floor etiquette.
From boarding in Benigna and Heath Houses to attending classes in Snyder House, Bonnie witnessed firsthand the formative power of a Moravian education. “Looking back, it was all part of a great foundation for life,” she reflects. “Discipline, structure, and teachers who made us think outside the box—that education taught me accountability, and that’s something young people need more than ever today.”
Bonnie studied Latin, Spanish, and French, and later took German in college. It’s a source of joy for her that Grant is now in Moravian’s Spanish Immersion program, a link across time that speaks to how some traditions evolve while others endure. One of the most meaningful evolutions, she notes, is diversity. “To my knowledge, there was limited diversity in private schools in the 1950s. I didn’t know it to exist in my time. I think it’s a significant and wonderful change. It’s one of the things I’m happiest about for my grandchildren to experience as students here—total inclusivity and diversity.”
Bonnie’s son, Peter Polt ’96, came to Moravian in a moment of transition. Having spent his early years at a boarding school in Boston, he began spending summers with his grandmother in the Lehigh Valley. He came to know and make many new friends including some who were Moravian Academy students. In the middle of eighth grade he fervently asked his mother if he could change schools and enroll in Moravian Academy. Bonnie was not so surprised. But a 360 mile separation between the two was a big factor to consider.
“Peter was very insistent,” Bonnie recalls with a smile. She arranged an interview at Moravian Academy during Peter’s Spring Vacation when they would be in the Lehigh Valley visiting his grandmother. A few weeks after Peter’s interview Bonnie’s whole world changed—her mother was diagnosed with Cancer. Within 24 hours, Bonnie made the life- altering decision to leave her job in Boston and move back to Pennsylvania to care for her mother, and enroll Peter at Moravian. It was his grandmother’s great wish to see her only
grandson, Peter, graduate from Moravian Academy as her daughter had graduated from MSG in 1960. Her wish was granted and she lived to attend Peter’s graduation in 1996.
Peter’s experience at Moravian was co-ed, unlike his mother’s, but echoed many of the same touchstones: dorm life, chapel services, athletics, and lifelong friendships. He boarded in 9th and 10th grade and transitioned to being a day student for his final two years, just as his mother had done. He fondly remembers moving-up ceremonies, assemblies, and how Chapel encouraged respect for diverse religious perspectives and helped students develop a broad, inclusive worldview—one that remains a hallmark of the school’s values today.
For Peter and Laura Polt, Moravian Academy represents more than just academic excellence—it’s a community built on purpose and shared values. “One of the things I love about Moravian is that it provides a great sense of community and nurtures curious learners,” Peter says. “I tell my kids that they have this tremendous opportunity, and it’s their responsibility to pay it forward. It’s not my job to tell them what they should do with their lives—just that they should do good and give back.” Laura echoes that sentiment, noting how the school’s culture is shaped by the families who choose it. “No matter their background, every parent at Moravian has made a very intentional decision to be here,” she says. “That shared commitment—to their children’s future, to education, to values—makes it easy to build meaningful relationships and create a true sense of community.”
Today, Grant and Henry are thriving. They love Red, White, and Gold Games—especially knowing they’re on the Gold team, just like their grandmother Bonnie was during her time at Moravian Seminary for Girls, when the tradition was known as the Purple and Gold Games. They also enjoy the First Grade and Senior Buddy Program and most importantly, their friends. One special full-circle moment for the family: Peter’s former dorm parent from Illick, Amy Bowser ’87, is still helping to shape the experience for the next generation as a beloved Kindergarten teacher on the Historic Downtown Campus.
The connections run deep.
Three generations. One school. A shared legacy of learning, growth, and love. As Bonnie Polt reflects on the arc of her family’s journey with Moravian Academy, her voice is filled with gratitude.
“To think that I have grandchildren here—it’s very meaningful to me.”
For Bonnie Polt, Moravian Seminary for Girls (as it was known in her time) was a life-shaping experience. Growing up on a farm in Bloomsbury, NJ, her parents sought an all girls private boarding school where she would be surrounded by peers and gain a well-rounded education with college preparatory courses. They chose Moravian Seminary, located just 20 miles away, and it quickly became more than just school.
“The current Snyder Conference Room was our dining hall,” Bonnie recalls. “Seniors were allowed to eat breakfast and dinner in a special area called the Loge and they could even have coffee—a true privilege.” Life as a boarder was full of structure and tradition: sewing hour in Snyder on Saturdays, weekend outings to the Boyd Theatre or Moravian Book Shop, and dances with visiting boys from Blair Academy and Valley Forge Military Academy —school chaperones always with a 12-inch ruler to ensure proper dance-floor etiquette.
From boarding in Benigna and Heath Houses to attending classes in Snyder House, Bonnie witnessed firsthand the formative power of a Moravian education. “Looking back, it was all part of a great foundation for life,” she reflects. “Discipline, structure, and teachers who made us think outside the box—that education taught me accountability, and that’s something young people need more than ever today.”
Bonnie studied Latin, Spanish, and French, and later took German in college. It’s a source of joy for her that Grant is now in Moravian’s Spanish Immersion program, a link across time that speaks to how some traditions evolve while others endure. One of the most meaningful evolutions, she notes, is diversity. “To my knowledge, there was limited diversity in private schools in the 1950s. I didn’t know it to exist in my time. I think it’s a significant and wonderful change. It’s one of the things I’m happiest about for my grandchildren to experience as students here—total inclusivity and diversity.”
Bonnie’s son, Peter Polt ’96, came to Moravian in a moment of transition. Having spent his early years at a boarding school in Boston, he began spending summers with his grandmother in the Lehigh Valley. He came to know and make many new friends including some who were Moravian Academy students. In the middle of eighth grade he fervently asked his mother if he could change schools and enroll in Moravian Academy. Bonnie was not so surprised. But a 360 mile separation between the two was a big factor to consider.
“Peter was very insistent,” Bonnie recalls with a smile. She arranged an interview at Moravian Academy during Peter’s Spring Vacation when they would be in the Lehigh Valley visiting his grandmother. A few weeks after Peter’s interview Bonnie’s whole world changed—her mother was diagnosed with Cancer. Within 24 hours, Bonnie made the life- altering decision to leave her job in Boston and move back to Pennsylvania to care for her mother, and enroll Peter at Moravian. It was his grandmother’s great wish to see her only
grandson, Peter, graduate from Moravian Academy as her daughter had graduated from MSG in 1960. Her wish was granted and she lived to attend Peter’s graduation in 1996.
Peter’s experience at Moravian was co-ed, unlike his mother’s, but echoed many of the same touchstones: dorm life, chapel services, athletics, and lifelong friendships. He boarded in 9th and 10th grade and transitioned to being a day student for his final two years, just as his mother had done. He fondly remembers moving-up ceremonies, assemblies, and how Chapel encouraged respect for diverse religious perspectives and helped students develop a broad, inclusive worldview—one that remains a hallmark of the school’s values today.
For Peter and Laura Polt, Moravian Academy represents more than just academic excellence—it’s a community built on purpose and shared values. “One of the things I love about Moravian is that it provides a great sense of community and nurtures curious learners,” Peter says. “I tell my kids that they have this tremendous opportunity, and it’s their responsibility to pay it forward. It’s not my job to tell them what they should do with their lives—just that they should do good and give back.” Laura echoes that sentiment, noting how the school’s culture is shaped by the families who choose it. “No matter their background, every parent at Moravian has made a very intentional decision to be here,” she says. “That shared commitment—to their children’s future, to education, to values—makes it easy to build meaningful relationships and create a true sense of community.”
Today, Grant and Henry are thriving. They love Red, White, and Gold Games—especially knowing they’re on the Gold team, just like their grandmother Bonnie was during her time at Moravian Seminary for Girls, when the tradition was known as the Purple and Gold Games. They also enjoy the First Grade and Senior Buddy Program and most importantly, their friends. One special full-circle moment for the family: Peter’s former dorm parent from Illick, Amy Bowser ’87, is still helping to shape the experience for the next generation as a beloved Kindergarten teacher on the Historic Downtown Campus.
The connections run deep.
Three generations. One school. A shared legacy of learning, growth, and love. As Bonnie Polt reflects on the arc of her family’s journey with Moravian Academy, her voice is filled with gratitude.
“To think that I have grandchildren here—it’s very meaningful to me.”
