Eagle Vision: The SMCHS Admissions Newsletter

September 2014

In This Issue

Applications for Freshmen

Open House

President Sulick

Shadow Program

Docent Training

Year in Review

Tablet/PC Launch

Catholic Verification

Bus Transportation

Admissions Video

Quick Links

SMCHS Home

Admissions Process and Application

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Welcome to the 1st Edition of Eagle Vision for the 2014-2015 School Year. Eagle Vision is my way of communicating with our local schools, parishes, and prospective students about Admissions events and the latest news from Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Ron Blanc Admissions Director

Discontinuing the Admissions E-Newsletter

If you no longer wish to receive the Admissions E-Newsletter, please contact Ron Blanc, Admissions Director. Please do not select Unsubscribe, as this will remove your e-mail address from every Santa Margarita e-mail list.

Applications for the Freshman Class of 2019 Now Available

Online Applications Being Accepted for Freshmen for the Fall Semester of 2015

For current 8th grade students who would like to become Eagles in the Freshman Class of 2019 (beginning Fall of 2015), we are beginning to accept applications online. Please click here to begin the admissions process.

Once you complete the online application, you will be asked to send SMCHS the following items:

$50 application fee (check payable to SMCHS)
7th and 8th Grade Transcripts (please wait until the 1st grading period of 8th grade is complete and your current school posts official 8th grade marks before requesting your current school to send SMCHS this document)
Standardized Testing Record (the most recently available testing)
3 Recommendation Letters (from your Math teacher, English teacher, and Principal/Counselor)
Immunization Record
Catholic Parish Verification (to receive the Catholic tuition rate--ask your Parish Pastor to sign and send us this form)

Once we have received all of the above items and the results of the HSPT Placement Test (held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 8 am to 12:30 pm), our Admissions Committee will review your application for an acceptance decision that will be mailed out in late February.

Open House Set for November 2, 2014

Campus Open From 11 am to 2 pm

We often get the question, "Why is Santa Margarita such an amazing high school?"

Discover the answer for yourself at our Open House on Sunday, November 2nd!

See why SMCHS ranks in the Top 40 Private High Schools in the United States year after year (according to the Washington Post's annual high school rankings).

Join us any time between 11 am and 2 pm on November 2nd for a tour of our 42 acre campus, meet our teachers, coaches, and moderators, hear presentations about all things Eagle, and get all of your questions answered about our school.

No reservations are necessary, just enjoy the fantastic weather, pick up a famous Santa Margarita cookie, and picture yourself wearing the Blue & Gold of a Santa Margarita Eagle.

SMCHS Welcomes Home New President

President Andy Sulick Returns to His Alma Mater

Santa Margarita is proud to announce the hiring of our new President, Mr. Andy Sulick. A graduate of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in its charter class (Class of '91), Mr. Sulick is thrilled to return home after teaching at Santa Margarita in the Social Studies department, coaching Eagle golf and football, and serving as the Director of Admissions and the Assistant Head Master at JSerra Catholic High School for the past 12 years. For more information about Mr. Sulick's appointment, please click here.

Welcome home Andy!

Student Shadow Days Announced for 2014-2015

Shadow Days Available For Current 8th Grade Students

If you are in the 8th grade and interested in seeing what Santa Margarita Catholic High School is like on a typical day of school, sign up for a Shadow Day.

On a Shadow Day, 8th grade students are paired up with a current SMCHS freshman or sophomore for a day of school. The visiting student will sit in on the classes of their host student and see our teachers in action. We will even provide lunch.

To set up a Shadow Day for your student, please see the list of available Shadow Days at the link here.

Once you select a day, please call the Admissions Office at 949-766-6076. We will match up your student with a current SMCHS freshman or sophomore with similar interests as your child.

Shadow Days typically begin at 8:15 am and end at 1:45 pm. Space is limited to 25 Shadow students per day, so please call us at least 3 days in advance to reserve your date.

Calling All Docents!

Interested in Becoming a Parent Docent? Sign Up Here!

Would you like to join the ranks of our Parent Docents? What's a Parent Docent you may ask? Well, Parent Docents help the Admissions Office carry out the important duties of admissions for the next generation of Eagles. This may include providing guided tours for prospective families, meeting new SMCHS families, and helping the admissions office to get ready for Admissions Events.

If you would like to learn more about this important volunteer opportunity, we have our Parent Docent Training on Wednesday, September 10th from 9 am to 11 am. No experience is necessary, just RSVP to Rhonda Ury at 949-766-6076 if you would like to check out the possibility of being a Docent. We'll provide all the information you will need to know to be a well-informed ambassador of our school.

2013-2014 School Year Paves the Way for 2014-2015

The 2014-2015 school year is off to a great start, and as we begin the next chapter in Eagle history, here's a brief recap of some of the school's accomplishments from the past 12 months:

$33.2 million in college scholarships offered to the Class of 2014

61 student athletes continuing to play their respective sports in college

99% of the graduating class continuing their education in college

91% of the graduating class attending a 4 year school

100% of the graduating class completed their Christian service projects

33% of the graduating class had a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher

15 National Merit Commended Students

92 AP (Advanced Placement) Scholars from the Class of 2014

6 CIF Team and 9 Individual CIF Championships

MUN (Model United Nations) ranked in the Top 150 MUN programs in the U.S.

Talon Theater's Pippin Wins M.A.C.Y. Award for Best High School Musical of the Year

Eagle Eye student newspaper ranked as the #9 school newspaper in the U.S.

Cheer and Song teams crowned 2014 USA National Champions

#38 Private High School in the U.S. according to the

Washington Post

Highest Rated Catholic High School in Orange County (Washington Post)

One-to-One Tablet/PC Launched in 2014-2015

Intensive Research and Training Leads to Tablet Launch

After a thorough review process to select the one-to-one platform and device, and a year of training for faculty and staff, Santa Margarita unveiled its tablet program for the students this school year.

The summer also saw every student go through a 3 hour training to familiarize themselves with the device and the school-loaded software programs.

To ensure that students get all technical questions and concerns answered, SMCHS opened up its Tech Center located in the school library. At the Tech Center, which is open from 7 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, students may bring their tablets in for service, get help with answers to their questions, and learn tips on optimizing their device.

Catholic Parish Verification Forms Being Accepted

Catholic Tuition Rate Received with Receipt of Catholic Verification from your Parish Pastor

For students beginning school next Fall, if your family is registered at a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Orange, your family will receive the Catholic tuition discount by asking your pastor to sign and complete the Parish Verification Form. The Parish Verification form may be downloaded here.

The determination of Catholic verification takes place at the parishes (not at the high school), so your pastor will be able make the determination, sign the form and send it directly to our business office. Once this form is received, your family will receive the Catholic tuition discount for the 2015-2016 school year.

Need a Ride to Santa Margarita?

School Bus Program Expanding with New Route and Bus Stops

The Santa Margarita Bus Transportation program is expanding once again, adding new stops and a new route to better serve our communities to the north, south, and now west of our campus. Taking the bus to SM each day is a great way to save on gas bills and make new friends.

For 2014-2015, the 3 routes we are offering will connect the following areas to our school with stops in the following communities:

South Route #1:

San Clemente

San Juan Capistrano

Dana Point

Laguna Niguel

Ladera Ranch

South Route #2:

Newport Coast

Aliso Viejo

Laguna Niguel

Laguna Hills

Mission Viejo

North Route:

Yorba Linda

East Orange

Irvine

For more information about pricing and routes, please see our Bus page on the SMCHS website here.

What's Your Santa Margarita?

Santa Margarita Showcases Admissions Video

Please click the video below to check out the latest chapter in the Santa Margarita story!

What's Your Santa Margarita?

Forward This Email To A Friend

If you know of a family that has expressed interest in Santa Margarita Catholic High School for their son or daughter, or may be interested in learning more about SMCHS, please forward this e-mail to them.

Thank you for your interest in Santa Margarita Catholic High School. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (949) 766-6076 or admissions@smhs.org .

In Eagle Spirit,

Ron Blanc, Admissions Director

Santa Margarita Catholic High School

email: admissions@smhs.org

web: http://www.smhs.org