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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- We want to send our child to the middle school but can’t take the entrance exam in December. Is there any way we can, “save a seat?”
A Registration Form, with deposit, will be accepted after the first exam date passes, subject to all procedures and restrictions of our Rolling Admission Policy. SEE ADMISSIONS. Priority consideration is determined by date received. Registrations received without deposit receive no priority consideration.
- Do you have a school nurse?
Yes. A Registered nurse is available to students all day, every school day.
- My child took the entrance exam last year. Is it necessary to take it again?
Yes. A separate exam is given for each grade level: 6,7,8.
- Is there anything we should do to prepare for the entrance exam?
No. The entrance exam is a placement exam used to measure what the student has learned. We do not have specific cut-off scores for admission purposes. The exam is one indicator, when combined with past academic records and an interview assessment, used to evaluate the student’s potential to succeed in a challenging academic environment. We recommend a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before the exam!
- What kind of test do you use for the entrance exam?
We use the Educational Development Series by Scholastic Testing Services. We test 3 areas; reading, language arts, and math. The exam takes approximately 3.5 hours including snack time and a tour of the facility.
- Is there any after school supervised care available?
There is no after-school supervised program at this time. Students not being picked up immediately after school are required to report to the library unless they are participating in other activities or have made arrangements for after school help with a specific teacher. Students are not allowed to leave the building or roam throughout the school waiting for rides/buses. Arrangements must be made to pick up your student by 3:00 or immediately upon conclusion of the activity.
- How do I get more information on bus rates and schedules?
All SBS students ride the same buses. Contact the Bus Coordinator at 848-1271, Ext. 134 for details or visit our ‘working’ web site to see current bus routes. See ABOUT US for a direct link.
- Do you offer foreign language in all grades?
No. It is our policy not to schedule foreign language as special instruction. Our scheduling does not allow the insertion of a sixth core subject into an already challenging, comprehensive curriculum in 6th and 7th grades. Eighth grade students who demonstrate proficiency in Language Arts have the opportunity to take freshman Latin, French or Spanish courses as a full time course. Successful completion of this course permits freshmen to take Level II of their chosen language.
- What is required from a non-Catholic student?
All students are required to take religion as a core subject and attend liturgical events with the student body, including monthly Mass. Non-Catholics do not participate in the Celebration of the Eucharist but must attend Mass in a respectful manner. Religion classes, although faith-based, are similar to history classes in many respects. It is not the mission of SBS to convert non-Catholics to Catholicism. We celebrate the cultural and religious diversity of our students.
- Are 8th grade students automatically accepted into the high school program and do they take the high school entrance exam during school hours?
No. Acceptance into the high school is a competitive process for all applicants. The Director of Admissions makes a presentation during school hours and provides students with necessary forms and information. Students are strongly encouraged to take the December exam to qualify for scholarship opportunities related to the exam. The majority of middle school graduates choose to attend and with few exceptions, all interested students have been accepted. The middle school works hard to coordinate our programs and curriculum with the high school program, making our student body highly competitive for those seats.
- Do classes go on field trips?
Yes, Field trips and enrichment programs are offered at various times throughout the year in all grades. A small activity fee, together with fundraising activities, helps offset the cost of the ‘extras’ that students and staff enjoy!
- What is a middle school graduation like?
Graduation is a respectful celebration of our students and their families. Several pre-graduation activities are planned including a class trip, awards night, and semi-formal dance. Wearing caps and gowns, graduates participate in their Baccalaureate mass and presentation of diplomas in the auditorium, followed by a small reception.
- Do I have to wear a uniform every single day?
No. There are lots of days when the uniform stays in the closet and you will have to get up earlier to figure out what to wear! We have relaxed dress days and jeans days for students to show their style!
- Does everyone take midterm and final exams?
Midterms (January) and finals (June) are half-day schedules for everyone. The middle school prepares students for these cumulative exams by increasing their responsibility for preparing independently at each grade level. 6th graders generally have Chapter exams while 7th and 8th graders have cumulative exams with varying degrees of comprehensive study guides. 8th grade students taking freshman courses take their exams according to the high school schedule.
- Will my child have many textbooks?
Yes – several pounds of them! Your child will be issued a textbook in every core course (most are hardcover) and receive workbook(s). You pay a book fee each year to rent these books. The fee allows us to provide newly published, quality textbooks. The student must cover the books and return them in good condition to avoid having to purchase the book at year’s end.
- Will I get a locker?
Yes! You can go to your locker between every class if you desire. We suggest you do not purchase book bags with wheels. They don’t fit in the lockers and are not allowed on the shelving provided for sports bags only.
The following FAQ’s were included as an attachment to a letter from William P. McKenna, Headmaster, dated August 30, 2006.
Why were Saint Bernard Academy and Saint Bernard High School merged now? While the decision to operate the Schools as one unified education system may seem sudden to students, parents, and those outside the staff, SBS has been considering the Xaverian educational philosophy for the past five years. We chose to:
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align ourselves with the growing and thriving community now
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to start engaging change with the new school year
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to mark the 50th anniversary with the new beginning, AND to retain a talented and experienced Headmaster who is available now
What is the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School (XBSS)?The XBSS is a network of Roman Catholic secondary schools who share a common mission and a similar governance structure. Most of the XBSS schools trace their origin directly to the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier (Xaverian Brothers) and its mission of evangelization through the ministry of education. Other XBSS schools have come to embrace the Xaverian governance model and mission after a history of association with other religious congregations or dioceses. Each school, however, has its own particular identity, history and tradition, and incarnates its mission in unique ways. The eleven other XBSS schools currently include 11,000 students and their families, 1,000 faculty, staff and administrators, and 300 trustees.
Why change the name?Saint Bernard School has undergone many changes over the past 50 years from Saint Bernard High School in New London to Saint Bernard High School in Montville (when merged with Notre Dame), to the addition of Saint Bernard Academy. A natural transition would be for the two entities under the Saint Bernard name to unite and become one successful school.
What is a Headmaster?The structure of a XBSS is one that allows for strong leadership, but input and support through administration and board development. By having a Headmaster, the school has added an administration level more commonly called CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in the business communities, with the two principals serving as COO (Chief Operating Officer) for their respective student communities. In this way, a Headmaster can dedicate his attention to running the school, while the Principals run the education model.
Who is the Saint Bernard School (SBS) Headmaster?Bishop Cote named William McKenna as the Headmaster of SBS on August 17, 2006. Mr. McKenna comes to SBS following many years of service as an administrator at Xavier High School and a teacher at Mercy High School in Middletown.
What about the school colors, crest, and mascot?Red and Grey continue to be the colors of our beloved school. The “Big Dog”, recognized by generations, will remain our mascot. The seal will require updating, with a blending of the established historic elements, but with new additions as we bring a new generation of growth at SBS.
Will there be changes in curriculum?Transition to an XBSS educational model will take time and will happen as a series of phases, with input from the faculty, staff, students and a newly developed Board. There is very little about SBHS or SBA that were not already similar to XBSS, which is why it was such a natural selection for the newly unified school.
What will change and what will not change?The only change of any significance is the change in name. Otherwise, the staff, great faculty, intimate class sizes and a commitment to excellence will remain the same.
Will sports be affected?Due to Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) rules, only grades 9 – 12 may participate in high school level sports. The middle school will continue their successful athletic program.
Will SBHS Alumni be without a school?Our beloved Alum will still very much have a school; only a bigger and better one, positioned to thrive and remain a viable institution. Change is never easy, but often necessary. As we end the first fifty years of educational excellence, we are excited to welcome the next fifty years as Saint Bernard School and eager to meet the challenges of this millennium.
More questions?We know each day there will be more questions and we are determined to answer each and every one of them. We ask for your patience and understanding as we are a work in progress. We will keep you posted during this transition via our website with a FAQ document link.
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