Statement of Philosophy :: Curriculum :: Calendar :: Graduates :: Homework Assignments :: Final Exams

Marking Procedures :: Honors :: AP Scores :: Graduate Expectations

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Statement of Philosophy

St. Mary’s High School is committed to the proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel. The school proclaims its Catholic identity by teaching doctrine, building community, and promoting service to others. The school is also a concrete example of the Church’s commitment to educate its people.

The school desires to guide its students to achieve a personal relationship with Christ through religious instruction, the Christian atmosphere of the school, and the good example of the staff. Because students live in a world filled with sin and suffering, the school tries constantly to present a Christian and hopeful view of the human condition. Teaching Christian values and Christian

morality is one of the main thrusts of the school’s educational ministry. Just as Jesus identified Himself as the vine and His Church as the branches, He calls us to community based on shared faith, hope, and love in the life of the Spirit. “Community is at the heart of Catholic education as a reality to be lived.” The role of the school is to create a readiness for growth in community through worship and prayer and through the events of everyday life. Since community grows through personal relationships, it is the responsibility of the family to model in their own relationship the values of Christian community. (To Teach As Jesus Did, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1972).

Jesus repeatedly impressed on his audiences the necessity for service. He constantly reached out to others, “I am in your midst as one who serves.” As a Christian community, we share beliefs, experiences, ideals and values. Christian community leads us to put aside selfish goals and private interests for the sake of others. Service, then, is the result of hearing the message of hope, of growing in its understanding in community, and of sharing that growth with others.

St. Mary’s High School also strives to create within its believing community a learning community and strives for excellence in both areas. “We are concerned with constant and careful attention to cultivating in students the intellectual, creative and aesthetic faculties of the human person; to develop in them the ability to make correct use of their judgment; to promote in them a sense of values; to encourage just attitudes and prudent behavior; to prepare them for higher education and professional life; and to encourage the friendly interchange among students of diverse cultures and backgrounds that will lead to mutual understanding.” (Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith)

St. Mary’s also believes that additional sources of learning, which exist within a school community are the co-curricular and athletic programs. In these settings, students learn the importance of an education, are held accountable for academics and the reputation of the school, and are helped to succeed personally. Through their participation in co-curricular and athletic programs, students experience positive interaction, support, and healthful living.

Lastly, St. Mary’s acknowledges that every person is an individual endowed with great dignity by Almighty God, capable of happiness and success in the world. The staff strives to respect each individual by affirming the value of that individual in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. The staff also treats the students with fairness, and concern by helping them achieve self-discipline, personal, spiritual, and academic growth.

St. Mary’s community is blessed with tremendous diversity. Both students and faculty represent varied backgrounds and bring to the community a variety of gifts and talents. It is our responsibility to provide fertile soil so that the gifts and talents of all will be nourished. Within the school environment, we help students to recognize that they are being called to share their gifts and talents with the larger community. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians writes that one generation lays a foundation, each succeeding generation builds on it.

In our time, we depend on what has gone before, and we contribute to what will be for the future.

Curriculum
 

There are ten departments at St. Mary's from which students choose their required and elective courses: Religion, English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education & Health, Science, Computer, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts. Some courses are offered on three levels: remedial, college prep, and honors.
 

In addition, students may take courses at Delta Community College or the University of the Pacific.
 

In order to graduate from St. Mary's High School, a student must have successfully completed the following:

Policy With Regard To Units That Must Be Completed

Advanced Placement courses are offered in American Literature, English Literature, Chemistry, European History, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Psychology, Calculus and Biology.
 

*72% of our juniors and seniors take upper division mathematics; 67% of our juniors and seniors are enrolled in upper division science. Also 69% of our students are enrolled in French, Italian, or Spanish.
 

Calendar
 

The school year is divided into Fall Semester and Spring Semester. In addition to semester exams and grades, quarter exams and grades are mailed home. Progress reports and deficiency reports are sent to parents halfway through each quarter grading period.

Graduates
 

99% of the Class of 2008 were accepted at the following colleges and universities* and earned awards and scholarships totaling over $8,250,000.

Homework Assignments

Teachers will give an out-of-class assignment each day when appropriate and beneficial. Assignments are usually written, but reading assignments are also regarded as "homework".

It is assumed by the administration that every teacher gives an assignment for every class when appropriate. This is important in securing parental cooperation and knowledge of the school program.

In assigning homework, teachers are to be considerate of just claims of the other classes upon the students' time for study. Students are expected to spend time at home each night preparing for classes.

After an absence, it is the student's responsibility to see the teachers about making up missed work. When students are able to work during the absence, they are encouraged to obtain their assignments from fellow classmates. A teacher is expected to submit a list of class assignments upon request. If a student will be absent because of illness for three days or more, parents should contact the school through the Guidance Office to obtain a list of assignments to be completed at home for the length of absence.

St. Mary's has a policy regarding unscheduled vacation time. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to plan vacations when school is not in session. Therefore, the administration, faculty, and staff are not obliged to render any special services to any student who is absent because of vacation plans.

Final Exams Policy

Final exams are crucial to the process of student assessment. Attendance is mandatory with the following considerations:

a) Make-up or pre-arranged advance exams shall be considered for the following:

• In the event of a documented illness, medical condition or family emergency.

• In the case of a CIF-sponsored playoff event which cannot be rescheduled.

• In the case of a school-sponsored activity which covers one final exam period. Any event under this guideline must be pre-approved by the principal or a designee.

b) All make-up or pre-arrranged advance exams must be arranged through the teacher(s) and approved by the academic dean or designee.

Marking Procedures

GPA and class rank are calculated by converting grades to honor points and dividing by attempted credits.

Honors
 

In May 2008, 49% of the freshmen, 38% of the sophomores, 59% of the juniors, and 61% of the seniors achieved honors - first and second.

AP Scores
 

Graduate Expectations

Saint Mary's High School graduates will to the best of their abilities:

• respect and appreciate the differences and similarities of the human condition thus empowering them to understand people throughout their lives.

• make moral decisions based on their understanding of Christian values and so apply the message and teaching of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.

• endeavor to experience prayer which fosters a personal relationship with God.

• participate in campus life beyond the classroom in order to develop and share their talents and gifts and to form a balanced outlook on life.

• participate through curricular requirements and extra-curricular opportunities in Christian community service and so acquire a moral and social conscience.

• demonstrate the fundamental academic skills necessary to pursue post-secondary education and career opportunities and be able to read, listen, and communicate effectively.

• develop the necessary critical skills in order to apply basic knowledge and academic skills to new situations.

• participate in a variety of forms of physical activity and understand the importance of physical fitness in their lives.

• experience the support of a community that encourages each student to contribute to the long tradition of Saint Mary's High School.

Statement of Philosophy :: Curriculum :: Calendar :: Graduates :: Homework Assignments :: Final Exams

Marking Procedures :: Honors :: AP Scores :: Graduate Expectations