Parent/Student Handbook

Academics

Curriculum
A typical four-year sequence of courses at St. Michael’s Prep might include the following: (Note:  [AP]=Advanced Placement, [H]=Honors.  All courses are College Preparatory [CP] unless indicated.)

College Counseling
All St. Michael’s students plan on going to college.  College counseling at St. Michael’s, therefore, focuses on college-readiness (in terms of standardized testing), individual and group advisement regarding college choice and financial aid support for both the student and his family throughout the college decision-making and application process.

Individual student appointments during the junior and senior years assist students in doing online college searches and in determining which colleges the student will apply.  Juniors and seniors go on a formal tour of a local college, attend a College Fair Night, and hear presentations by college reps who visit St. Michael’s during the school year.  Students may research individual colleges by viewing the college file and scholarship notebook available in the school library.
 
St. Michael’s College Counselor is available by email (gloriaryan@StMichaelsPrep.org), voicemail (949-858-0222 extension 319), or personal appointments with parents and students throughout all phases of the college-application and decision process.  Two college counselor presentations are scheduled at parent meetings in fall (college decision-making and applications) and early winter (financial aid for college).  While targeted at senior parents, parents of students at all grade levels are encouraged to attend.

Academic Competitions

Speech and Debate
Forensics is one of the most popular extracurricular activities at St. Michael’s Preparatory School. Some of the popular choices in this arena of speech are Student Congress, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. It is a chance to hone public speaking skills as well as to socialize with students from different schools.  Forensics is an entertaining, yet educational venture, even though its challenging nature may seem daunting.

National Latin Exam
The National Latin Exam is offered under the joint sponsorship of the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. About 150,000 Latin students from all fifty states participate, as do students from more than a dozen foreign countries.  The exam tests grammar, reading comprehension, mythology, Roman life and history as well as derivatives and literary devices.

AP Testing
Through college-level AP courses, the student enters a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school; through AP Exams, the opportunity exists to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation’s colleges and universities.  AP offers 37 courses and exams across 22 subject areas. The only requirements are a strong curiosity about the subject you plan to study and the willingness to work hard. 

Young Poets Speak Out
Students compete against other students in this statewide competition to win prizes and become published.  The top writers in each of two divisions (poems and essays) receive a monetary award and a complementary book that contains their published poem or essay.

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