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Welcome to the 2nd 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
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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.
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Open House Set for November 2, 2014
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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 (presentations at 12 noon and 1 pm in the gymnasium).
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.
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Applications for the Freshman Class of 2019 Now Being Accepted
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Online Applications Available for Freshmen Starting in 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), applications are now being accepted 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.
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Catholic High School Admissions--How Does it All Work?
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Parent Seminars Coming to a School in Your Neighborhood
  - What are Catholic high schools looking for in prospective students?
- What is the HSPT Placement Test all about?
- How is the HSPT used for admissions in a Catholic high school?
- Is there financial aid available and how does my family apply?
- What are the steps to become a Catholic high school student?
- Honors classes, placement decisions, academic tracks...oh my?
- Do Waiting Lists still exist and what are they?
- How does Santa Margarita Catholic HS fit the mission of a Catholic HS?
The high school admissions process may be a challenging process for families. If you have any of the questions listed above, a Catholic High School Admissions Seminar may be just the means to get your questions answered.
Ron Blanc, the Admissions Director at SMCHS, will be offering these seminars at a variety of schools in your area. These seminars are free to all and no reservations are necessary. Simply find the seminar that's most convenient to you and bring your questions. Each seminar will include a Q&A session, so answers to your most pressing questions will be addressed. All sessions begin at 6:30 pm.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School--Thursday, October 23, 2014
5330 Eastside Cir., Yorba Linda, CA 92887
St. Edward the Confessor Catholic--Tuesday, October 28, 2014
33866 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point, CA 92629
St. John's Episcopal School--Tuesday, November 4, 2014
30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Mission Basilica Catholic School--Wednesday, November 5, 2014
31641 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
St. Anne School--Wednesday, November 12, 2014
32451 Bear Brand Rd. Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School--Thursday, November 13, 2014
105 N. La Esperanza, San Clemente, CA 92672
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Student Shadow Days Announced for 2014-2015
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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.
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Santa Margarita Leads the Way with National Merit Semi-Finalists
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No Other Catholic High School in Orange County Has More Students Honored
 Each year, the nation's juniors take the PSAT in preparation of later taking the SAT for college admissions, and also to compete for scholarships in the National Merit scholarship program.
This year, 5 Santa Margarita students were named as National Merit Semi-finalists:
William Mortimer of Coto de Caza
Daniel Semeniuta of Coto de Caza
Lauren Czaja of Coto de Caza
James Griffin of Foothill Ranch
Sebastian Reyes of Coto de Caza
Once again, Santa Margarita has more National Merit Semifinalists than any other Catholic high school in the county. These academically-talented high school seniors are five of approximately 16,000 students nationwide (out of 1.4 million taking the PSAT exam) that will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
For more information about these five students and the National Merit program, please click here.
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Eagle Pride 8th Grade Visitation Day--November 19, 2014
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Reserve Your Seat at This Unique Spirit Showcase
Santa Margarita Catholic High School is pleased to invite 8th grade students who wish to visit our campus for Eagle Pride Visitation Day on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. The day begins at 9 am (please arrive no later than 8:45 am) and concludes at 12:15.
Eagle Pride Visitation Day is a unique tour of our campus and a showcase of our students' talent and spirit. On the tour, presentations will be held in the Eagle Athletic Center, the Banquet and Conference Center, the Sacred Heart Chapel, the Borchard School Library, the Eagle Dome Theater, and our very own Eagle Television Studio.
If you wish to sign up for this event, please check with your current school to see if your middle school is bringing your 8th grade class to the event. If your school is not bringing its 8th grade class, you may RSVP to the event individually by contacting Rhonda Ury at 949-766-6076 or uryr@smhs.org.
It's a Great Day to Be an Eagle!!
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World's Largest One Day Model United Nations (MUN) Conference Held at Santa Margarita Catholic High School
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Nearly 1300 Delegates Participate in SOCOMUN Conference
Santa Margarita's Model United Nations program hosted its annual SOCOMUN conference on October 1, 2014 attracting high school student delegates from over 20 high schools. This conference, the largest single day MUN conference in the world, is a training conference for high school MUN programs. Members of the Santa Margarita MUN program provide instruction and training for the student delegates on how an MUN conference works. These high school students are then able to enjoy successful MUN conferences throughout the year.
Santa Margarita has been a leader in MUN nationally for many years. In 2014, SM's Model United Nations program was recognized as one of the top 150 MUN programs in the United States. MUN is an honors-level social studies class here at Santa Margarita and may be taken in a student's freshman year through senior year. For more information about this fantastic conference, please click here.
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SMCHS Welcomes Home New President
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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!
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Catholic Parish Verification Forms Being Accepted
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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
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.
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Need a Ride to Santa Margarita?
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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. 
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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!
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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.
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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
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