Back-to-School Basics

The Catholic School Advantage
The Catholic School advantage is reflected in the philosophy that permeates the total education program and the lives of the faculty and students. This philosophy challenges students to improve the world by sharing Gospel values and living Christ’s message of salvation. They grow to understand the roots of their faith and their responsibilities as Christians.

• Students explore their faith through classes and activities in Scripture, Sacraments, Church, and morality.
• Catholic Schools stress the value of self-discipline and commitment.
• Faculty and staff are role models who share their faith, their talents, and their time.
• While not all students who come to the Catholic Schools are Catholic, all share experiences of faith and values.
• Catholic Schools encourage each student to accept the challenges of being a Christian in tomorrow’s world.

Values which promote understanding and service to the elderly and the handicapped, the poor and the ill, are an important part of the Catholic School experience. As a faith community, we emphasize those values which encourage students to accept others rather than exclude them, to understand the difference between right and wrong, and to commit themselves to serve God by serving others.

A Catholic education is a challenging education. High standards, strong motivation,
effective discipline and an atmosphere of caring combine to foster excellence, and, a high quality of student performance is supported by the evidence.

• Catholic School students score significantly above the national averages on standardized testing.
• Research shows that because of a greater emphasis on homework and study, Catholic School students develop more effective writing skills.
• Catholic High School students attend post-secondary education at a rate in excess of 95 percent and are more likely to complete their program of studies.
• Catholic Schools have an excellent success rate in educating minority students.

Archdiocese of Newark, 973-497-4260.

Hillside Catholic Academy
As Hillside Catholic Academy’s second year is filled with new additions that promise to make an already fine school even better. These include the following:

• The creation of a second Kindergarten.
• Introduction of Spanish two times a week to the course of study for Grades 6,7,8.
• Introduction of vocal music to the course of study for Grades 6,7,8.
• Introduction of a study skills course to the course of study for Grades 6,7,8.
• Introduction of drama to the course of study for Grades 1,2,3,4.
• All in all year two promises to be even more exciting than year one.

Hillside Catholic Academy,
908-686-6740;
www.hillsidecatholicacademy.org

Mount Saint Mary Academy
In early September, school bells herald the beginning of the academic year. Indeed
classes will begin at the Mount on Tuesday, September 6, but there will never be a
school bell heard from the first day, until the last in June. The sound of enthusiastic young
women changing classes and going about their daily college prep routine amid the chime of the chapel bells is what you’ll hear. What you’ll see is a newly renovated facility with an up-dated look, and state-of-the-art science labs, advanced technology and well-equipped classrooms.

Mount Saint Mary Academy, established in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy, is a private
independent day school for girls in grades 9-12. The mission of the Academy is to
challenge each student to develop her fullest potential in a Christian atmosphere of love and caring. The Mount is committed to academic excellence with special concern for its young women as they prepare to face the challenges of their future.

A wealth of opportunities abounds at this “best kept secret” independent school – challenging college prep academics including honors and 11 Advanced Placement Courses, cultural enhancements in drama, music and art, 11 varsity sports and varied extra-curricular activities. The supportive faculty, most with advanced degrees, sees their students as individuals and can get to know them well in the small class environment. All 100 graduates of the Class of 2005 will be attending 4 year colleges this fall including Boston College, Notre Dame, Harvard, Williams, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Lehigh, Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon. This class received over $6 million in scholarship and grant awards.

With an environment for spiritual growth, the Mount has it all to nurture a young woman’s dreams and talents. You are invited to see for yourself at the annual Open House presentation on Oct. 22 at 1:30pm in Mercy Hall on the school’s picturesque campus, located at 1645 Highway 22 at Terrill Road in Watchung. Applicants are considered for admission into grades 9, 10 and 11. The girls are encouraged to visit the school and spend a day attending classes to get a feel for the all-girls small school atmosphere. Finding the perfect fit when researching private schools is of the utmost importance, and there is no better way than visiting the campus many times throughout the admissions process. You will get the best opportunity to get to know the Mount at the informative program presented at Open House on October 22.

Candidates for the 2006-2007 school year may apply to take the Entrance Test scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2005.

Mount Saint Mary Academy, Donna Venezia Toryak, Director of Admissions; 908-757-0108 x4506;
dtoryak@mountsaintmary.org; www.mountsaintmary.org

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