Back to School 2026

SOARientation for Freshmen

Friday, August 14 and Monday, August 17, 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Attendance is required for the Class of 2030 on both days. 

SOARientation will include engaging activities, dynamic presentations, small groups led by our upperclassmen Link Crew leaders and the Class of 2030 Mass, marking the beginning of your student's spiritual journey at Santa Margarita, which culminates in the celebration of their Baccalaureate Mass as seniors.

All students will receive their class schedules, do a walk-through to find their classrooms, and take yearbook/ID photos on Friday, Aug. 14. Not only will students make new friends and form lasting connections, but they will also gain an abundance of knowledge and resources to successfully begin the school year.

Photos: 

• Students will take their class photos on Friday, Aug. 14. 
• All students must be in an SM collard shirt or polo for their photo. No jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, or pullovers will be permitted. All dress code guidelines, as outlined in the Parent Student Handbook, must be followed for pictures.
• To order photos, click here. 

Lunch: Lunch will be provided. If your student has a dietary restriction, please click here to complete the form so we can work to accommodate their needs.

Dress code: SM uniform as outlined in the Parent Student Handbook. (formal Mass uniform is NOT required).

Attendance: Any student unable to attend SOARientation needs to follow attendance policies and procedures at outlined in the Parent Student Handbook. If the student is to be absent for part of or all of any school day(s), a parent or legal guardian must call the Attendance Office BEFORE 8:00 a.m. on the day of the absence at (949) 766-6020. Emails and notes are not accepted. We appreciate your cooperation.

For questions about SOARientation, please email linkcrew@smhs.org.
 

SOARientation for Transfer Students

Monday, August 10, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

Attendance is required on Monday, August 10 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and at their grade-level Formation Day.

Formation Day
Class of 2029 (sophomores): Tuesday, Aug. 11, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Class of 2028 (juniors): Wednesday, Aug. 12, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Class of 2027 (seniors): Thursday, Aug. 13, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Dress Code: SM uniform as outlined in the parent student handbook. (formal Mass uniform is not required).


Pictures: Pictures will be taken on Tuesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 19, during the school day. Please refer to the information below regarding pictures.

• All students must be in an SM collard shirt or polo for their photo. No jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, or pullovers will be permitted. All dress code guidelines, as outlined in the Parent Student Handbook, must be followed for pictures.
• To order photos, click here. 

Attendance: 
Attendance at both SOARientation and the assigned grade-level Formation Day is mandatory. Any student who is absent must follow attendance policies and procedures as outlined in the Parent Student Handbook. If the student is to be absent for part of or all of any school day(s), a parent or legal guardian must call the Attendance Office BEFORE 8:00 a.m. on the day of the absence at (949) 766-6020. Emails and notes are not accepted. We appreciate your cooperation.

For questions about SOARientation, please email linkcrew@smhs.org.

Each incoming freshman and transfer student must attend one session to receive their Lenovo Yoga Tablet PC and training on the program's essential aspects.

SESSION DATES:
July 14
July 16
July 21
July 23
July 28
July 30

SESSION TIMES:
8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is required. No walk-ups or same-day registrations will be allowed. Please ensure you have pre-registered. Students must attend the entire 2.5 hour session.

If you are attending or have already received your tablet through MUN Camp or Freshman Prep, you DO NOT NEED TO SIGN UP for tablet training again.

IMPORTANT POLICIES:

Multiple Student Registrations
Families enrolling more than one student at Santa Margarita will need to complete the registration process separately for each student.

Registration Modifications
In the event you need to make changes, revisit the Tablet Distribution and Training Sign-Up page, log in, and select a new date. Changes require more than 24 hours notice.

Rescheduling & Cancellation Restrictions
Rescheduling and cancellation is not permitted within 24 hours of your scheduled training date.

No-Shows and Late Cancellations
These actions strain our staff and limit session availability for other students. Students who frequently cancel late or fail to show up may lose the privilege of receiving a tablet before the school year begins.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR TABLET TRAINING & DISTRIBUTION 

The SMCHS app and website at www.smhs.org/bellschedule will have specific details on each day's schedule. Each block represents a specific amount of time each day and the period corresponds to your school schedule.

Directions to Add the Bell Schedule to Your Mobile Calendar

• From your smartphone/device, visit the bell schedule webpage by clicking this link.
• At the top of the page there is a calendar with a grey and white RSS icon.
• Click on the RSS icon and you should get a "Subscribe to Calendar" pop up that provides two ways for you to subscribe.
• From there you can get a link  to add directly to your default calendar or copy link to add to your personal calendar.
• You should be set!

For Class of 2030 families:

SM 2030 FACEBOOK GROUP

For our transfer families:

Join these official, school-managed Facebook group pages:

• SM 2029 FACEBOOK GROUP
• SM 2028 FACEBOOK GROUP
• SM 2027 FACEBOOK GROUP

There are no school supply lists. Individual teachers will go over what is needed during the first few days of school.

Our Microsoft Tablet PC program helps maximize organization and workflow success. With OneNote, students can organize all of their class materials including lecture notes, homework and classwork, essays, and nearly everything they need for class. Teachers will often use OneNote to distribute pages to their students which contain the assignment for the day and they can then grade that work later in real time, right there inside of OneNote. It is truly the ultimate digital three-ring binder and spiral notebook, all rolled into one. Read more about our learning platforms.

Join Mr. Sulick for a President's Roundtable meeting. Come meet him, members of the administration, and other new parents in a small group setting and get a more in-depth look at who we are as a Santa Margarita family and see where we are headed over the next few years. 

Registration link coming soon! 

Visit the Counseling Office website by clicking here. The counselors will answer your questions regarding academic planning and assist you in establishing goals for your high school journey as well as college admission.

Santa Margarita Catholic High School uses eCampus as our official textbook provider. Book sales opened Thursday, July 16. We recommend that you make your purchases as soon as possible so that there is time to set up your e-book accounts prior to the beginning of classes. An email with personalized login information and instructions was sent to all the email addresses the school has on record for your student July 2-3.

View More Information 

You will see your student's class list when you log in to purchase your books. Your student's finalized schedule with teacher assignments and periods will be emailed to students before the first day of school.There are no schedule changes. The only exception is for students who are misplaced in a course or need a level change.

There is required summer reading for all incoming freshmen. Advanced level courses also have summer assignments. 

View Summer Assignments

When you log in to purchase your books, you will see your student's class list. Your student's finalized schedule with teacher assignments and periods will be distributed to students prior to the start of school. New students will do a trial run to find their classes on campus during SOARientation in August.

Course Description Book

All returning students will attend their grade-level formation day at SMCHS before the first day of classes. Formation days are treated as a school day; dress code, attendance, cell phone and other procedures/policies outlined in the parent student handbook will be followed.  

Class of 2029: Tuesday, August 11, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Class of 2028: Wednesday, August 12, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Class of 2027: Thursday, August 13, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Students will pick up their class T-shirts (if pre-purchased) at the conclusion of formation  from 12-1 p.m. Juniors and seniors can pick up parking permits (if pre-purchased) and seniors will order their cap and gown (included with the graduation fee). 

Attire: SMCHS full school uniform as outlined in the parent-student handbook. 

Parking/Drop-Off: Students who drive to campus can park in designated unmarked student parking spaces. Drop off for students will be at the front of campus. 

• All teachers are required to hold office hours to provide additional support for students as well as make up assessments.
   
• To accommodate faculty involved in extracurricular commitments, teachers will have the option to hold Office Hours in the morning before classes begin or after school. This flexibility is intended to increase faculty availability and support the timely start of after-school activities.
   
• Students with low grades may be assigned to mandatory attendance at Office Hours to help these students make up missed work, improve their grades, enhance study skills, and develop effective academic habits.
   
• Office Hours will remain open to all students. Any student may attend to seek additional academic support or to make up assessments.

VIEW HANDBOOK HERE

• Class schedules will be emailed to all SM families the week before school starts. Please keep an eye on your email for this important information. 
• Access codes to the 2026-2027 Aeries Database for all new and transfer students will be emailed to parents and students a few days before school starts. Please keep an eye on your email for this important information. Aeries is the official school grading program which allows parents and students to review current graded assignments and test scores online 24 hours a day from any computer. In addition, it allows parents and students to review the official school records for discipline, attendance, and quarter/semester grades. Aeries can be accessed here. 
• For assistance during the school year with any Aeries account issues, click here.  

The Attendance Policy and Procedures can be found in the Parent Student Handbook. 

For bus information, please visit the SMCHS transportation page:

SMCHS Transportation 

SMCHS is excited to partner with Go Kid carpool service to support our school community's transportation needs. 

SMCHS Transportation 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DRESS CODE

At this time, uniforms are not available online and can only be purchased in store.

Summer Campus Store hours are by appointment only. 

Make an appointment 
Store Hours During the School Year: 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily when students are present.

Spirit Wear:
Spirit wear is available in the Eagles Nest Campus Store and can be purchased online.

• Shop the campus store
• Shop BSN for custom orders

Freshman and sophomore students attend organized events with their religion classes to complete the necessary hours of service. Juniors and seniors work with an organization outside of SMCHS to complete the required number of hours to meet graduation requirements. Learn more about Christian Service at SMCHS. 

There will be two bag drop locations, one location is a flatbed trailer in the front of the school and a storage room located in the back of the school. Once school begins, the flatbed trailer will be moved inside the main campus and placed toward the storage room located in the back of the school. The trailer will be placed in the back of the fire lane. The image is of the flatbed trailer.  

• All incoming freshmen will take their school and ID pictures on Friday, August 14 as part of Freshmen SOARientation. 
• Sophomores, juniors, and seniors (including transfer students) will take their school and ID photos on Tuesday, August 18, and Wednesday, August 19, with their Theology class.
• All students must be in an SM collard shirt or polo for their photo. No jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, or pullovers will be permitted. All dress code guidelines, as outlined in the Parent Student Handbook, must be followed for pictures.
• To order photos, click here. 

SENIORS:
If you still need to schedule your senior portraits or need further information, please contact South Coast Coast Photographic directly. All seniors must have their portrait taken to be included in the yearbook and senior photo banner.

South Coast Photographic may be contacted at:

https://appointment.southcoastphotographic.com/

26237 Enterprise Court Lake Forest, CA 92630

(949) 699-0199

Please click here for more information on parent organizations.

Click here for more information on volunteering.

Please click here for information on immunization requirements and medications.

View information regarding the school's campus dining program featuring Hanna's on Campus.

Click here to view information about student parking permits. 

View traffic flow maps. 

The Wellness program will provide a range of resources and referrals to support students and their families in meeting the challenges of adolescence through prevention, early-intervention and education. Visit www.smhs.org/wellness to learn more. 

ASB Cards

SMCHS is excited to announce the 2026-2027 ASB Card, available now to all SMCHS students! Purchasing an ASB Card is not only a great way to support SMCHS Activities and students but also the best way to save money throughout the year. The ASB Card offers discounts to all SMCHS dances, ASB events, class T-shirts, yearbooks, parking permits, and more! 

Purchase ASB Cards Here

Class T-Shirts

ASB Card Members: $0 (included in ASB Card membership. Size recorded within the ASB Card Purchase Process).

Non-ASB Members: $30 

Cotton T-Shirts sizes: XS-3XL 

If you purchase a class T-shirt for more than one student, you must submit the form for each student. Class T-shirts can only be purchased through the online store and are not available through the Campus Store. 

Class t-shirt orders placed before Monday, July 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. are guaranteed to be picked up at SOARientation and Formation Day in August.

Orders placed after July 27 will be available for pick up during the first week of September. 

August 14 is the last day to order a Class T-Shirt for September pickup. 

For questions, please contact activities@smhs.org

PURCHASE CLASS T-SHIRTS HERE

The SMCHS Athletic Department utilizes a third-party website for athletic registration. Please visit the link below for more information. Student-athletes must be athletically cleared before participating in summer camps or sports programs. If you have any questions regarding athletic clearance, please email the athletic trainers at at@smhs.org.

ATHLETIC CLEARANCE INFORMATION

Calendar resources, including our master calendar, daily bell schedule and year-at-a-glance calendar, can be found at the link below.

View Calendar Webpage

View Bell Schedule Webpage

We invite new SMCHS parents for an evening to meet fellow parents from their student’s grade and members of the administration. This is a special evening for our parents only on Monday, August 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Moiso Family Pavilion/Strader Grotto.

This event is for all parents who have a NEW student at the school. The event is open to the following parents:

• Freshmen families (who do not already have a student enrolled at SMCHS)
• Transfer families for the 2026-27 school year (who do not already have a student enrolled at SMCHS)

RSVP link coming soon!

Back to School Night is on Wednesday, August 26. More information will be added as it becomes available.

BLUE & GOLD INFORMATION

Friday, September 4, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Moiso Family Pavilion

SM Mothers Club invites all SM moms to join us for our welcome coffee. Hear from SMCHS faculty, meet new friends, reunite with old ones and learn more about SM Mothers Club.

Advance registration is required. There is no cost to attend.

RSVP link coming soon!