Saint Mary's College High School

Saint Mary's College High School is holding an Information Night on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium.

Below are questions, with answers, that were asked by our guests at the conclusion of last year's Information Night. Since we were not able to get to all the questions, we asked our guests to write their question on an index card and submit it. The questions and answers below were submitted. I will leave these questions on this page until we complete Information Night 2010.

If there are any specific questions that you cannot find the answer to on our website, please email Lawrence Puck, Director of Admissions, at lpuck@stmchs.org.

Here are some of the questions from Information Night 2009 followed by the answer.

What are the specific "religious classes" that are required in each of the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years?
Saint Mary's requires all students to take four-years of Religious Studies. The academic program, with descriptions of each course, can be found in our curriculum guide.

Can a child without a catholic upbringing feel a part of this community?
Saint Mary's is 54% Catholic and 46% non-Catholic. Our Catholics and non-Catholics are active in all parts of our community. Non-Catholic families are an active part in our community.

Are there any religion questions on the entrance test?
The HSPT test contains no questions on religion. The test covers basic skills such as: mathematics, reading, language (punctuation, grammar, etc), quantitative skills, and vocabulary.

Are classes combined with other grades?
Students are placed in courses based on their academic knowledge and preparedness. Saint Mary's will offer incoming students an opportunity to take a placement exam in Math, Language (Spanish or French), or in the various Visual and Performing Arts. Based on the results of the exams, freshman can be placed in courses that will have sophomores or juniors in them.

How do we prepare for the test?
The best way to prepare for the HSPT is to pay attention in class, review basic skills, and make sure to listen to your teachers as they review for the test.

How many applicants do you usually receive and how many do you take?
For the past 10 years, Saint Mary's has received over 400 applications for approximately 160 seats.

What are the chances of getting into Saint Mary's when you have so many applications?
Most all qualified students who really want to be a part of the Saint Mary's Community do get in. We spend a lot time reading an applicants file, meeting them through the interview process, and, at times, talking directly to the applicant's current principal or a teacher to get additional information. It is important to let us know if Saint Mary's is the school you really want to go too.

What are some examples of how you avoid balkanization of the student body?
Saint Mary's Community strives to promote one community. We do not allow any clubs or organizations that divide the student body by culture / ethnicity or gender. We have a common lunch period where all of the students come together for various clubs and an intramural programs. We are very proud of our students and the work they do to try to include others in their personal world. It also takes the effort of each individual to work at being involved. As we all know, avoiding be isolated from a community requires both parties to work at it.

If you participate in a serious sport outside of the school, do you have to take PE?
All Saint Mary's students take a semester of P.E. and a semester of health in their freshmen year. Physical education and health are considered academic courses. The two courses work in conjunction with one another. Playing for an outside or school sport does not fulfill the academic requirement.

Do all the teachers dress like the Brothers?
The Brothers dress in a religious habit. The lay teachers dress in professional attire traditional for non-religious.