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Statement of
Philosophy ::
Curriculum
:: Calendar
::
Graduates ::
Homework Assignments
::
Final Exams
Marking Procedures ::
Honors ::
AP Scores
::
Graduate Expectations
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:
|
4
years of English |
40
units |
|
4
years of Religion 1 |
40
units |
|
3
1/2 years of Social Studies |
|
|
Geography (9) |
5
units |
|
Modern World History (10) |
10
units |
|
United States History (11) |
10
units |
|
Government (12) |
5
units |
|
Economics (12) |
5
units |
|
2
years of Mathematics 2 |
20
units |
|
2
years of Physical Education |
20
units |
|
2
years of Science |
20
units |
|
State Requirements: |
|
|
Driver Education |
2.5
units |
|
Health Education 3 |
2.5
units |
|
Computer Course |
5
units |
|
Visual/Performing Arts |
10
units |
|
Required Course Units |
195
units |
|
Additional units of electives |
60
units |
|
|
|
|
Total Units required for graduation |
255
units |
|
1. Transfer student
excepted
2. Mechanical
Drawing, CAD, or Business Math may satisfy 10 units
of this requirement)
3. Beginning with the
Class of 2009, 5 credits of Health will be required
for graduation. |
Policy With
Regard To Units That Must Be Completed
|
For
The 10th Grade Standing |
60
units |
|
For
The 11th Grade Standing |
125
units |
|
For
The 12th Grade Standing |
190
units |
|
For
Graduation |
255
units |
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.
|
Arizona State University |
Holy Names University |
|
Azusa Pacific |
Howard University |
|
Boise State University |
Loyola Marymount University |
|
Boston University |
Marquette University |
|
Bucknell University |
Monterey Peninsula College |
|
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo |
San Joaquin Delta College |
|
California
State University |
Santa Clara |
|
Chico |
Seattle University |
|
Fresno |
Southern Methodist University |
|
Fullerton |
University of California |
|
Irvine |
Berkeley |
|
Long Beach |
Davis |
|
Los Angeles |
Santa Barbara |
|
Monterey Bay |
United States Merchant Marine Academy |
|
Northridge |
United States Naval Academy |
|
Sacramento |
University of Nevada Las
Vegas |
|
San Diego State |
University of Nevada
Reno |
|
San Jose State |
University of the Pacific |
|
Sonoma State |
University of Portland |
|
Stanislaus |
University of Redlands |
|
Dartmouth |
University of San
Diego |
|
Dominican University of California |
University of San Francisco |
|
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
University of Southern
California |
|
Gonzaga University |
University of Washington |
|
|
*Partial Listing Only |
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
|
Numerical |
Letter |
Regular |
Honors/AP (Grades 11,12) |
|
100 - 90 |
A |
4.0 |
5.0 |
|
89 - 80 |
B |
3.0 |
4.0 |
|
79 - 70 |
C |
2.0 |
3.0 |
|
69 - 60 |
D |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
59 - 00 |
F |
0.0 |
0.0 |
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
St. Mary's
exceeded state and national test averages on AP exams for 2001-2008 and from 1990 to 2008 has exceeded state and national averages on AP
exams.
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
St. Mary's High School
5648 N. El Dorado St.
Stockton, CA 95207
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