Class of 2012 FROSH FEST FAQ
Answers to Your Frequently-Asked Questions
Deacon Cunningham
February 12, 2008
Thanks for attending Frosh Fest. You received information on curriculum and class choices, learned about summer school and summer sports camps, met with counselors and picked up your personalized registration and tuition assistance packets.
We have put together a number of frequently-asked questions and general answers here for you to scan while you are making your registration choices. We hope they are helpful.
Please contact Mrs. Gonzalez McDonald at 225-6794 x209 for more information.
Thanks again for attending and for choosing Central Catholic to your son's advantage.
Do I have to take band or choir?
We focused our attention on band and choir last evening because those tend to turn into four-year commitments, more than the 1-credit requirement for fine arts for graduation. Your choice of fine art, and the number of years you engage, is the family's decision.
What's this about a music scholarship?
Beginning in 2008-9, to recognize the extra time and expense, and the great PR our musical organizations give us, all second, third and fourth year band and choir students will receive a $600 annual scholarship, applied 50% to each semester's tuition. First-year choir and band students will not be included, since one year of fine art participation is required for graduation.
Do I have to audition for band or choir?
An audition with Deacon Cunningham (a trained choirmaster himself, but not the course teacher) is required for the choir. It's a simple tone-matching, range and rhythm exercise, lasting about five minutes. Students who want to take band will interview with the director to see whether they will go into beginning or advanced band, but an audition is only required when needed.
If I take band or choir, do I have to take something in summer school?
Technically, no, because one year of fine arts is required for graduation. But if you stay in band or choir for more years, you'll need to take classes in the summer to open up a period during the school day for your performing music class. This summer, we recommend you take world geography.
May I take both band and choir next year?
If you do, you'll need to take a summer class this summer and postpone your foreign language. It is hard to imagine how, with all the courses the state of Texas and TCCED requires, you'd be able to take four years of both band and chorus. Talk to one of our counselors.
What courses are available to freshmen this summer?
Communications technology, world geography, physics I and Spanish I Advancement are all available for students to "get ahead" in their class work. CommTech and Spanish I are 3-week courses in June; world geography and physics I are 6-week courses in June and July. The Acceleration Lane courses are taught in June to students who need some additional skill development in English, math or study methods. There is no three-week course for freshmen in July. We want you to have some time for vacation fun and for development in our athletic camps.
Tell me about Communications Technology.
CommTech is our basic computer science course, where you will hone your skills using the latest Microsoft Office software--word processing, PowerPoint (R), basic webpage design and desktop publishing. We have co-op agreements with several middle schools that teach these skills. If you come from one of these schools, you will demonstrate your skills as part of your Speech Communications/Rhetoric course in the fall/spring 2008-9.
What about Spanish I?
All students who have had some Spanish in middle school, the equivalent of a year of high school Spanish, are invited to take a proficiency exam. Those who do very well will receive a year's credit and move directly to Spanish 2. Those who do not qualify for credit can take the 3-week class in June and take a test for placement at the end of the course. If they do well they will receive credit for Spanish I; if not, they'll get 1/2 credit in Spanish Advancement or culture and go into Spanish 1 or Spanish 1 pre-AP. This class is offered only in June. There was a typo on the summer school registration form that implied it extends into July.
Is there a Latin advancement plan?
Students who have had the equivalent of a year of high school Latin are encouraged to take the proficiency test. If they do well, they will receive a credit in Latin 1-Honors and go directly into Latin 2-Honors.
What is the physics I class like during the summer?
Physics I is our introductory science course, Patterns and Processes in Science. It is a combined physics and algebra class with a bit of chemistry thrown in so you understand how matter is made up. The summer class is just like the course during the year, but it moves faster. Only honors-level students who have some basic algebra should take this class. With an 83 or higher grade, full credit is offered and the student is put into honors biology for his freshman year. A recommendation letter from his current math teacher is required along with the registration and tuition. This is the easiest track into the advanced science & engineering program.
The tuition is somewhat higher because the extensive lab work involved requires that we hire a student lab assistant for the teachers.
Explain how my son can get into the advanced math tracks. He's in honors algebra in 8th grade.
Central Catholic is part of an effort to vertically align the math programs of the middle schools with our math program. This effort is just beginning. This explains why we cannot yet give high school credit without testing our incoming freshmen on their algebra skills. Most students, who have a background in pre-algebra, go into our regular Algebra 1 class. Students who have had an algebra course are invited to take the algebra competency test. If a student has a high enough grade, he is given credit for algebra 1 and put into our intermediate algebra/geometry honors class. Students who score somewhat lower than the credit level are assigned either to the intermediate class or the algebra 1 honors class. This test is in May. The application form is in your packet on the back of the letter that explains the testing process. There is no fee for the test.
My son has always been an Honors student. Why is he registered in regular classes for fall?
Central Catholic is an entirely college-preparatory school. The students we accept are the best of their graduating classes; hence, most of our students are the "cream," the honors graduates, of their middle schools. Mr. Trigilio calls Central the "Stanford" of San Antonio high schools. When I graduated with honors from St. Mary's and went to Stanford for grad school, I found myself in the same position--needing to prove my ability all over again. I was in "regular" classes, and they were tough. The only honors class already chosen for your son on the course selection form is the English honors; our experienced English faculty, led by 38-year veteran Bob Bain, made that decision based on middle school recommendations, the essay your son wrote, and test scores. If you would like to discuss that decision, call to make an appointment with Mr. Bain (225-6794 x 200).
If you choose the Latin language, Latin 1 is automatically an honors class. You can choose Spanish 1 or Spanish 1 pre-AP honors (talk to the Spanish teachers). The math, as you have read, is tracked on the basis of the May test. The honors biology is available to those who have already taken physics I by the August matriculation date. Please call us if you have questions on honors courses!
My son has nothing checked in the science box. What science will he take?
Our first science is physics I, which is an algebra-based physical science course, particularly helpful to boys who have not had a strong background in science-with-math. If he took it at one of our six cooperating schools, and receives a grade of 83 or higher, he'll automatically be assigned to biology honors as a freshman. The same goes for those who take it here this coming summer session.
My son is strong in science but not in math. Can he take honors science and regular math?
Most grade and middle school science programs are what is called "descriptive" science. True science is math-intensive. If your son is really interested in science, engineering, medicine, computers, and similar disciplines, instill in him an enthusiasm for and a growth-orientation toward mathematics. We'll help.
Why are there spaces for "electives" at the bottom of the registration form? What electives may my son take next year?
The typical electives for freshmen are band and chorus. Because all freshmen must take religion, English, science, math, JROTC/speech/rhetoric, world geography, and most take their first year of language (Spanish or Latin), most freshmen fill up all seven periods in that way. If your son wants an elective, he should take world geography in the summer session of 2008.
When may we register for 2008-9?
Registration is on March 12. Call to sign up for a time if you have not done so. If this evening is not possible, please call to schedule a day and time to come in, preferably in advance of March 12. Our acceptance offer of your son is guaranteed only through March 25. After that, we will take young men on our waiting list. We will admit a maximum of 170 men into the class of 2012.
When do we register for summer school and camps?
You will register for summer classes on March 12. Bring along with your $395 registration for the school year at least $50 deposit for the summer school class. We strongly suggest that you register for summer school classes that evening, because the classes are likely to fill up very quickly. You can register for the sports camps on March 12 or anytime until the camps are full.
What is the tuition for summer school?
Acceleration lane tuition is $300 for 2 classes and $400 for all three classes. Tuition for 1-credit course is $450, for half-credit is $325. Tuition for physics I is $500.
