Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Freshman Orientation is Aug. 24-25, 2011. These are required days of attendance and students who do not attend will be marked absent for a day of school. Regular classes for the 2011-2012 school year begin on and Aug. 29, 2011. 

All freshmen are assigned to  Freshman Counselor Mrs. Wende Borowski. 

Sophomore, junior and senior students are assigned a counselor alphabetically by their last name as follows:

A-D - Mr. Daron Gallian

E-K - Mr. Kris Jondle

L-Q - Mrs. Kerry Vicencia

R-Z - Mrs. Alyssa Flynn

IB Students - Mrs. Lyn Alexander

How can I speak with a Counselor?
All counselors will be available at the Incoming Freshmen Scheduling Night on Wednesday, April 20, 2011. You may call the Counseling Office to set up an appointment with the Freshman Counselor, Wende Borowski, after your attendance at the Scheduling Night. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Counseling Office: 949-766-6010

Does SMCHS recommend private counselors?
SMCHS does not recommend the use of an outside or private counselor because we provide a personal/academic counselor for each student.  Parents do have the option of employing a private counselor.  However, SMCHS does not make referrals.  We feel the SMCHS counselor you are provided is the most knowledgeable about your academic needs and preparation for college.  We often find that private counselors recommend options for students that are not possible or do not coincide with the policies/guidelines of our academic and/or school program.

May I request to have (or not have) a teacher?
Unfortunately, we cannot honor requests for teacher choices.  All students are randomly assigned to classes by the computer so that all classes are balanced.

Do you offer placement exams to test into honors classes?
The World Language Department is the only department that offers a separate placement test. The test is offered March 17, March 22, and May 18. For more information contact World Language Department Chair Tom Gerlach at gerlacht@smhs.org. Placement into English, Math and Science honors courses is based on the  High School Placement Test, as well as middle school testing, grades and recommendations. See question below for more information.

 

English: For those students who did not achieve the minimum standard scores in verbal, reading, and language and are still interested in English 1 Honors, their writing sample done on the day of the Entrance Exam in January can be used to assess their placement in English 1 honors. If the student did not take the Entrance Exam at Santa Margarita and wishes to have this opportunity, please email Mrs. Borowski, our freshman counselor,at borowskiw@smhs.org and make arrangements to do this writing sample. If the student’s writing sample does not qualify them for English 1 honors, the door is not permanently closed. There will an opportunity to apply again for the sophomore year by:

• Maintaining A's both semesters of the freshman year
• Taking and passing the honors placement test offered in the winter of the freshman year

 

Am I required to take honors courses if I test into them?
No.  It is important for you to think carefully about the workload required in accelerated courses.  If you do not feel honors is appropriate simply inform your counselor.

Will I be competitive for college admission if I do not complete Honors course?
YES!  Colleges and universities seek students of varied academic abilities. It is more important that you complete courses in which you will be the most successful.  It is better to remain in college-preparatory academic courses earning strong A's and B's than struggle in honors to maintain a C average.

How do I know if I was placed in the Interdisciplinary Program (ID)?
After the Incoming Freshman Scheduling Night and before the end of this school year, a course placement list will be mailed home to all incoming freshmen.  On the course placement list, if your Algebra 2, Biology, and Cultural Geography with Health course identification numbers end with the letter "B", you have received placement in the ID Program.  The corresponding codes will read: Algebra 2 = 2200B, Biology 3200B, Cultural Geography = 4110BS, and Health = 8010BS.

I requested the Interdisciplinary Program (ID) and it is not on my tentative course list.
For placement in the ID Program, incoming freshmen must be enrolled in Algebra 2 and Biology and be in the the traditional academic track. Each year, more students request the ID program than we have space available. We make every effort possible to accommodate requests.

Do I have to take physical education during my freshman year?
No. Students may take PE at anytime.  All students must complete two years (20 credits) of PE to graduate.  This requirement can be met in the following ways:  during the regular school day (periods 1-7), through participation in a CIF-sanctioned sport (8th period), participation in band, color guard, dance team or cheerleading.  In addition, PE classes are offered during the summer. 


May I attend summer school?
Yes!  Incoming freshmen may enroll in summer session PE. They man also enroll in Language Arts or Math Freshmen Prep provided space is available. Students participating in MUN must register for Health during the summer prior to their freshman year. Summer programs and registration can be found on the school website at www.smhs.org in the drop down menu for Academics under "Summer Classes and Camps."

Uniform Orders