1
CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC GUIDEBOOK By: Melissa Vorndran and Mimi Burbank (Class of 2016)
2 Hey future Freshmen! We are so excited for you all to be joining the Dons family. Adjusting to high school freshman year can be a little difficult but hopefully some of the advice we share can help you through it. You're in for a great first year. Roll Dons! - Melissa & Mimi
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS Before School Class Schedule......................................................................................................4 Student Store........................................................................................................5 Dress Code........................................................................................................5-6 Traffic....................................................................................................................6 Summer Assignments.......................................................................................6-7 Getting Where You Need to Go...........................................................................7-8 Bells...................................................................................................................8-9
Rest of the Year Rallies.....................................................................................................................11 Sports.......................................................................................................................12 Finals......................................................................................................................13 iPads.........................................................................................................................14 Homework & Grades.............................................................................................14-15 Clubs...........................................................................................................................15 Teachers.....................................................................................................................16 Mass Days..................................................................................................................17 Tardies.......................................................................................................................18 Make Time For......................................................................................................18-20 Worst Case Scenarios: What if?.............................................................................21-23 Don't Stress About............................................................................................................24
4
CLASS SCHEDULE In high school, the class schedule is a bit different than what you've experienced in middle school. You're probably familiar with block schedule which does carry over to the Cathedral schedule! At Cathedral, we have red and gold days. Red days consist of blocks 1, 2, and 3; Gold days consist of blocks 4, 5, and 6. 7th period is new to Cathedral and it is 50 minutes long and at the end of everyday except for Mondays, when we get out at 1:20. It will take a while to get used to the rotation schedule but don't worry if you forget, ask anyone around they'll be happy to tell you which block is next.
RED 1
GOLD 4
RED 2
GOLD 5
RED 3
GOLD 6
1
4
2
5
3
6
2
5
3
6
1
4
3
6
1
4
2
5
7
7
7
7
7
7
5
STUDENT STORE At Cathedral, we have our very own student store where you can buy lots of CCHS apparel and items like lanyards or water bottles. We highly suggest you buy CCHS polos from the student store because they have more color options and styles available than the ones at Dennis! You'll also need to come to the student store to buy your P.E. uniforms and locks for your lockers. Make sure to grab a spirit shirt that you can wear on Fridays with blue jeans and any other spirit days we have!
DRESS CODE Dress code is probably one of the major reasons for detentions at Cathedral. You are going to find it very annoying at times, but it's important that our school maintains a professional image. You can read ALL the dress code rules in the Student Handbook provided on your iPad but the bottom line is: if you're not in dress code, there will be consequences. Here are a few things you should always ask yourself:
- Am I wearing the right shoes? (Close-toed, no slippers; boots allowed on rainy days)
- Do I have a polo on under my sweatshirt? - Are my pants/shorts from Dennis? - Is my skirt more than 3 inches above my knee?
6
For more information on dress code and what/what not to do, be sure to read your Student handbook.
TRAFFIC Since you go to St. Patrick's you are most likely familiar with Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos area, and are probably aware of how horrible the freeway can be in the morning. Make sure you plan with your parents/carpool/ guardians when you will leave in the morning in order to make it to school on time. Be prepared to wake up a little earlier than normal so you won't be late for school!
SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS Depending on the classes you are taking, you may have summer assignments for them. It is important that you complete these assignments during your vacation time because most if not all are due on the day classes resume. Make sure to at least
7
view which assignments you have at the beginning of summer and plan how you will complete them throughout the months! Do NOT wait until the last minute: you will regret it. We promise. To view which Summer assignments you have, go to the CCHS website: cathedralcatholic.org, select the tab Academics and click on Summer Assignments and click on any of your classes to view your assignments! Make sure you put a lot of effort into these: they are your first grades in the gradebook!
GETTING WHERE YOU NEED TO GO Cathedral has a very big campus, from our gym and chapel, to our football and baseball fields, our pool, and our classroom buildings. It will be hard for the first few weeks getting around campus but you'll have a map on your planners and your peers to help you out! The Guadalupe Center is the Visual and performing
8
arts building; the Claver Center is the gym; the Juan Diego Center is the student services and food court; Drexel Hall is the math/science building; Cabrini Hall is the language building; Assisi Hall is the English/social science building; De Sales Hall is the religion/campus ministry building. When finding your classes the first few weeks, look at your schedule and the class number next to it. For example, if you were taking AP Psychology, on your schedule the class room number would read A202. The "A" is for Assisi and 202 is the room number. If your class's room number starts with a 2, it is upstairs, if it starts with a 1, it is downstairs. This goes for all the buildings. D for Drexel, C for Cabrini, GC for Guadalupe Center, and S is for De Sales since the D was taken for Drexel. When looking for your classes, don't be afraid to ask around if you're lost or whip out that schedule!
BELLS Just like any other school, there are a series of bells that ring so you know when: school is about to begin, you should start walking to class, you have a break, you can go to lunch, and school ends. At 7:50 A.M. a bell will ring to let you know that school begins at 8:00, aka the 10 minute bell. Another bell will ring at 7:55 to let you know that school begins in 5 minutes (I think you can guess what this bell is called). After those two bells, at 8:00 a third bell will ring to signify that school has started and if you're not in class when you hear this bell, then you're late. After the first block of the day, a bell will ring for break which is 15 minutes long,
9
and a 5 minute bell will ring to let you know that class is starting soon. There is no ten minute bell during break! After block 2, a bell will ring for lunch which is 35 minutes. A ten minute and a 5 minute bell will ring during lunch to let you know when you should start walking to class. Don't worry, you won't have to run to class at the ten minute bell, you will make it on time! Start walking a little bit early if you feel like you'll get lost, but once you get familiar with your classes you'll be more comfortable leaving at the 5 minute bell and you'll have more time to talk to your friends during break!
10
THE REST OF THE YEAR
11
RALLIES Rallies occur a few times each school year and are a great way to encourage school spirit. As freshman, you have the unfortunate likelihood that you will be booed at rallies, especially the first one. It’s not that the other classes don’t like you, it’s just some strange rite of passage. It’s similar to how, when you were in seventh grade, you were called “sevvies”, which was equally weird. You’ll soon learn the “our house” chant and will be ready to show off your school spirit. If your class has an idea for the rally, try to make sure that it is cleared with admin before you go all out (is it really worth a detention?) Rallies are during class time, so even if you don’t love them, you get out of class for them.
12
SPORTS Sports are a large part of the CCHS community. Whether it be participating in a sport or cheering on your friends in the stands, sports can be a great way to meet new people and show off some school spirit. Starting this year (2015-16), all sophomores will be enrolled in PE for an additional semester if they do not participate in a sport freshman year. So try out for whichever sport is your favorite, or choose a no-cut team to join. If you do choose to participate in a sport, remember that you need to be eligible in order to do so (keep your grades above a 2.0). Academics should come first, so be careful with your time management. A planner can be really helpful to figure out the best time for you to do homework and study but still make it to practice on time. Good luck!
13
FINALS Twice a year, school winds up a bit before you get to take a nice, much needed break. Even though you’ve taken finals at St. Pats, high school finals are a bit different. You’ll have two in one day, but get to leave around lunchtime. The best way to minimize finals-season stress is to work hard during the school year. Obviously, this seems a little tedious, but there is no magic trick to getting the grade that you want on your finals if you haven’t worked hard. If you have a “borderline” grade going into the final, you’ll want to check out a final grade calculator online to see what you’ll need on the final to get the grade that you want overall. Sometimes, you won’t do so hot on the final and your grade will drop a bit. It’s key to realize that, even though grades are important, they’re not the only thing that matters. That being said, studying for finals is important. You know all the information, you just need to refresh your memory a bit. Distraction-free studying is the way to go, even if you need to go to Panera or the library to get some peace and quiet. I’m a firm believer in the idea that a good night’s sleep can be more beneficial than an extra bit of studying. Don’t forget to take care of yourself during finals! You’ll soon find out the best study method for you. The best part about finals is that once they are over, you are free! Enjoy your break!
14
iPADS Because CCHS is a “one to one” school, you will receive your own iPad before school starts. The iPad is yours in that you are responsible for it and can download games and music (just nothing explicit). However, the tech office has access to your iPad, so don’t be doing sketchy things in class (not that you would anyway). While iPads are awesome and definitely a great tool, they can sometimes be more of a distraction than a “learning tool.” If you can’t focus on taking notes because Candy Crush is calling your name, you might need to put the iPad away for a bit to concentrate. On the same note, some teachers may not think that the iPad is not as great as you do, or they may be super into it. It depends on the teacher. Overall, the iPad is a great tool if you let it be.
HOMEWORK AND GRADES Homework- everyone’s favorite part about school. Now that your classes are truly on block schedule (except for 7th period), procrastination is that much easier. Learning to manage your precious time between sleep and sports and socializing and eating, etc. can be stressful, but it is an important skill that will help you through the rest of high school and into college. Planning out when you are going to do your homework as well as what the assignment is is a very helpful way to ensure that you get your homework done. Even a tiny assignment skipped or ignored can set your grade back from what you deserve. Doing your homework
15
and actually learning the material is a surefire way to do better on the tests and in the class. Contrary to what some people will tell you, freshman year DOES matter academically. Don’t stress if you don’t get straight A’s, but you should be trying your hardest to do your best. The habits that you form your freshman year will carry over to the rest of high school and beyond. Hopefully, these habits will be good!
CLUBS Clubs are also a good way to meet more people and to incorporate something that interests you into your school day. CCHS has a wide variety of clubs that you can read about on the school website. Check out the clubs at Club Week, pick a few that sound interesting, and join them with a friend or by yourself. If there isn’t one that suits you, you can always start your own, which is a great way to get some leadership experience.
16
TEACHERS I’m sure you’ve heard some “advice” coming into high school that sounds something like “Don’t get Mr./Ms. ________, they’re the worst!!” Obviously, you can’t help which teachers you get. If you do get a “bad” teacher, remember that what you heard about them was based off of other people’s experiences and not your own. Chances are, however, that you will end up with a teacher that you don’t like once or twice during school. The best thing to do in this scenario is just to try your best and give your most solid effort in that class. It’s easy to look at your friends who have a “better” teacher and be jealous of them, but it was just the luck of the draw. You’ll be luckier next time, and better for having endured a tricky class.
17
MASS DAYS Mass days, or Liturgy days, are different at CCHS because they don’t happen every single week. (You can go to mass most mornings at the Chapel though.) All school liturgies have their own schedule and their own dress code, so it’s important to mark them on your calendar. Regardless of your gender, you’ll need to find a white button up dress shirt to wear on mass days. (These don’t have to be from Dennis, so we recommend going to the mall and finding one you like.) Girls need to wear flats, so try to find a comfortable pair! Be sure to look up the schedule for mass days on the website or in your school planner so you’re prepared when your building gets called. After the first liturgy, you’ll have the schedule down pat.
18
TARDIES Especially if you live in North County, you’ll likely be late to school once or twice during the year. Whether it’s because you slept late or traffic was terrible, it’s not the end of the world if you’re a little late. Remember that a tardy is only up to 20 minutes after class starts; if it’s after that it counts as an absence. If traffic or anything makes you later than 20 minutes, make sure to have your parents call the attendance office. One or two tardies is fine, but if you pass 8 tardies in a semester you will start getting detentions. 9 tardies gives you a 2 hr. Saturday, 12 gives you a 2 hr., 15 gives you a 4 hr., etc. Just try your best to make it to school on time and you’ll be fine.
MAKE TIME FOR... Friends: Even though you have a lot going on, it's important to find time to spend with your friends. High school is more than just schoolwork and your GPA. You won't have any fun if you don't have anyone to have fun with! As everyone is trying to figure out who they are, you'll find that you may drift apart from people you have known forever. Don't stress about it but remember to make time for the friends you do have and for the new friends you may pick up along the way!
19
School Events: Dances: Rule number one: you don't need a date to have fun! Go with a group of friends or go by yourself and meet new people! Dances ARE fun! You're a freshman, live it up! They may seem lame or unpopular but you'll regret not going in the long run and you will have a great time! Sports Events: Even if football isn't your favorite sport, you'll have a lot of fun sharing school spirit on a Friday night. Paint your face, eat some popcorn and have a fun time. It's a good way to meet people that aren't in your classes. Also, you should check out other sports games (Waterpolo, Swim meets, Soccer or whatever you'd like!) If there's only one game you choose to go to ALL
20
year: go to the Holy Bowl! It's basically a requirement as a Don to support our school against its most famous rivals: the Saintsmen. Drama Shows: Thanks to Miss Wilson and the talented members of Drama Club, Cathedral puts on some of the best shows in San Diego! From Footloose to Hairspray to Little Shop of Horrors, Cathedral's shows are phenomenal! Make sure to support your fellow Dons in the fall and spring shows! Or better yet, audition!
21
WORST CASE SCENARIOS: WHAT IF? What happens if:
-
You show up to the wrong class: In all likelihood, you will show up to the wrong class at least once in your high school career. Don't worry, everyone does it. Hopefully, you've followed our advice and got to class a little bit early for the first couple weeks so you're familiar with your classes and where they are. But if you end up at the wrong classroom and the bell is about to ring, just ask the teacher and they can write you a note to tell your actual teacher that period what happened. If you're afraid, you're going to the wrong class, just ask anyone in the hall, "hey is it Red/Gold__?" and they'll let you know!
-
You have test/quiz/project overload! Sometimes it seems like your teachers are out to get you. Whether or not they realize it, somehow they have scheduled all of their assessments on the same day. While you might just want to run away, the best advice we have is to show up to class. Don't skip that day, ultimately it results in more work and more stress. Take a deep breath, plan ahead and be ready to turn down that invite out the night before so you can study or complete your projects. Get a good night sleep! Maybe bring yourself a treat to reward yourself for getting through that day. Once you're done, you made it! Congratulations!
22
-
You're feeling sick: Before school: if you wake up and aren't feeling too hot, or went to bed feeling sick, have your parents call the Attendance Office to report your absence. This is extremely important because you don't want unexcused absences or truancies (when the school thinks you ditched). During school: If you feel sick, or have a headache, etc., ask your teacher for a nurse's pass. Provided that you're not doing anything super important, they'll let you go. Once you're in the nurse's office (located in the Attendance Office) sign into the sheet on the clipboard and let them know what's wrong, and if you need to go home.
-
You get a detention: Most likely, you were either talking in class, weren't in dress code, or some other minor thing. Do not stress out. You will still graduate. Believe it or not, detentions can happen to the best of us, and they aren't that horrible. Make sure you look at the posted schedule as to where you have to report for detention. If you need to reschedule your detention, go to the attendance office and they will help you. Do NOT skip your detention! It'll turn into a Saturday (and you don't want to end up there). Be sure to tell your carpool/parents/guardians, that you will be late because of your detention!
- You forget: Your iPad or it dies: You will forget your iPad at some point or multiple points, whether you leave it on the charger or in the car. You should go in early to all
23 your teachers and let them know you won't have your iPad for the day. If you forgot your iPad in a previous class, just ask if you can go get it. You might be a little behind leaving class or not having it. If it does, ask around for a charger, most teachers will let you charge it during class. Your P.E. clothes: You get points taken off if you don't dress up for P.E. but no worries, you're not going to fail. If you have a friend who has P.E. a different period, ask if they will let you borrow them. If you still end up without them, it's not the end of the world. Your locker combination: Hopefully, when you got your lock, you wrote down your combo on a note or in your phone (which we recommend). If you still can't find it or remember it, the attendance office has a copy of your combination (that you should have turned in the first week of school) and you can ask them to give it to you. If you failed to turn your slip in, they will have to cut off your lock, and you will need to purchase a new one. Your homework: The homework policy for each teacher should be talked about on the first day of school in the syllabus. Some teachers are really understanding, some have zero tolerance policies. Whatever the case, be sure to let them know. Do NOT try to turn in your friend's homework or pull some other trick. If you have time, you could re-do the assignment before class, but please for the love of God DO NOT CHEAT because the consequences for cheating are far larger and harsher than a 10-point homework assignment.
24
DON'T STRESS ABOUT... College: Although freshman year matters, you do not need to be planning out the next ten years of your life. While its a good idea to stay on top of things, don't think you need to know what career you want and what college you want to go to. You can worry about that all Junior and Senior year, just enjoy being a freshman. Friends: While friends are obviously important, they are not the end-all, be-all. You'll meet some of your best friends when you least expect it. We've realized that we have found our best friends sophomore and junior year! Popularity: Despite popular (ba-dum-tss) belief, popularity is not important, we promise you. Don't try to change yourself because you think it is cool or dumb yourself down to fit in. You'll find the best people being yourself. Relationships: Don't worry about finding your soulmate freshman year. There are a lot of other important things to invest your time in. Focus on yourself and strengthening your faith and relationship with God!
