Santa Catalina School for Girls
Encyclopedia
Santa Catalina School is a private school in California
founded by Sister Margaret Thompson and the Dominican Order
in 1950. Situated on 36-acre hacienda-style campus, the Upper School is an all-girls boarding school which also accepts local students. The Lower School serves both boys and girls (Preschool through 8th grade). Students in both the Upper and Lower schools are required to wear uniforms. The school emphasizes building a sense of community that challenges its students mentally and spiritually. Santa Catalina is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
. In addition, the school is associated with the National Association of Independent Schools
, the Association of Boarding Schools, National Catholic Educational Association
, and the National Coalition of Girls' Schools
.
, in what is now downtown Monterey
in 1850, when Monterey was the capital of California. With the help of Rev. Joseph Alemany
, Bishop of Monterey, she created the first Catholic school in California, excluding mission schools. Student were predominately daughters of local town residents and of nearby Spanish
landowners and classes were taught in Castilian Spanish
. In 1854 the school was moved to Benicia
, the new state capital, where it was renamed St. Catherine's Academy.
In 1950, Sister Margaret Thompson, Mother General
of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, California
, decided to reestablish Santa Catalina in Monterey. After buying the 36-acre campus from a local cattle rancher
, Col. Harold Mack, the school opened in the fall of 1950, with Sister Mary Kieran as the first principal. When Sister Kieran died in 1965, Sister Carlotta became principal, a title she held for 35 years. As principal, Sister Carlotta's goal was to "educate the whole child...by guiding young people toward intellectual attainment and social, physical, and spiritual well-being."
and Kindergarten
at the request of Sister Jean, and Sister Carlotta encouraged male students to continue their education at the school through 8th grade.
Sister Claire, after serving as Head of Upper School since 1982, became Head of School in 2002. Sister Claire, Sister Christine and Sister Jean are the only Dominican nuns who still reside on campus. Sister Claire and Sister Christine both hold administrative positions but no longer teach.
Santa Catalina Upper School aims to "combine a rigorous liberal arts
curriculum, modern educational technology, and solid Christian principles" to prepare its students for college and beyond. The single-sex environment, Catholic background, and college preparatory courses are emphasized to "teach the importance of becoming leaders in our communities by serving others." The school attempts to develop each girl's abilities and emphasizes balancing intellectual growth with spiritual awareness. Santa Catalina also seeks diversity in order to enhance a student's sense of responsibility to her community and herself.
scores, an interview, and an optional personal recommendation. Non-native English speakers are required to take the TOEFL
. The acceptance rate is 66%.
(11 students), New York University
(9 students), and Loyola Marymount University
(9 students). Out of the 2010 graduating class, 6 students attend UCLA, 4 students attend UC Berkley, and 3 students went to UC Santa Barbara and University of the Redlands.
and not affiliated with a religious order.
The Upper School is ranked among the top 20 boarding schools for faculty education because a high percentage of the faculty has advanced degrees.
In 2003 a new outdoor aquatic center was completed, featuring a 25 yard by 30 meter pool that is connected to the gym's locker rooms. This 10 lane pool is used for physical education classes and the Upper School swimming and diving and water polo teams.
Located next to the pool, the gym houses basketball and volleyball courts, bleachers, and dressing room facilities. PE classes and Upper and Lower School basketball and volleyball teams use the facility. The gym overlooks the pool and a regulation size softball and soccer field, which is encircled by an all-weather track. In addition, the gym is adjacent to 6 regulation size tennis courts, including one lighted court with stadium seating.
Resident students live in one of three dorms in either a single or double room, with faculty members living on each floor. Each room has a bed, desk, drawers, and lockable closet and there are common bathrooms for each floor. The dorms also come equipped with wireless internet, laundry facilities, and vending machines.
Thompson Dormitory—This dorm is used primarily for freshman and some sophomores, and also has faculty housing.
Hills Hall—For juniors, seniors, and faculty.
Greer Family Dormitory—This is the newest dorm and houses sophomores, juniors, and faculty.
Originally the Upper School classroom building, this 70 year old building now houses the Upper School Admissions Office, Business Office, and Development Office.
This building houses a 150 seat recital hall, a dance studio, and music studios for private lessons. The building is primarily used for student music lessons and recitals.
The chapel is located in the center of campus and was built in 1954 as a donation from by Mrs. Marcia Ferrell Hart. San Francisco architect Germano Milano was commissioned to design the building. One of the most notable features is the chapel's stained glass windows. Today the chapel is used for daily morning prayer offered for students and faculty, weekly masses for resident students, on campus faculty, and the public, as well as special events.
This building includes the student health center and the dining hall. The school uses Bon Appétit
food services, who were the winners of the National Resource Defense Council's 2009 Growing Green Award for their commitment to sustainable food. Their menus often feature locally grown foods and leftovers are composted.
Finished in 1967, the library holds about 34,000 volumes, 40 in-house periodicals, 500 media items, online databases, and 30 computers for students and teachers. It is used by both Upper and Lower Schools.
The Performing Arts Center is a 500 seat, state of the art theater that is used for Lower School Spring and Christmas concerts, various recitals, and three Upper School performances every academic year.
Upper School assembly is conducted every morning in this building. Desks are provided for every student and are arranged by class. There are also a limited number of lockers available for student use.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
founded by Sister Margaret Thompson and the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
in 1950. Situated on 36-acre hacienda-style campus, the Upper School is an all-girls boarding school which also accepts local students. The Lower School serves both boys and girls (Preschool through 8th grade). Students in both the Upper and Lower schools are required to wear uniforms. The school emphasizes building a sense of community that challenges its students mentally and spiritually. Santa Catalina is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
. In addition, the school is associated with the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
, the Association of Boarding Schools, National Catholic Educational Association
National Catholic Educational Association
The National Catholic Educational Association is a private professional educational association of over 200,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities, and religious education programs...
, and the National Coalition of Girls' Schools
National Coalition of Girls' Schools
National Coalition of Girls' Schools is an association of independent and public, day and boarding schools in U.S. which advocates for single-sex schools for girls....
.
Ranch beginnings and religious background
The original Santa Catalina Convent was founded by Sister Marie Geomaere, a Dominican sisterNun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, in what is now downtown Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
in 1850, when Monterey was the capital of California. With the help of Rev. Joseph Alemany
Joseph Sadoc Alemany
Joseph Sadoc Alemany y Conill, O.P. was a Catalan American Roman Catholic archbishop and missionary. He served as the first Bishop of Monterey from 1850 until 1853, and as the first Archbishop of San Francisco from 1853 until 1884.-Background:Born in Vic, 60 km north of Barcelona, Spain , Alemany...
, Bishop of Monterey, she created the first Catholic school in California, excluding mission schools. Student were predominately daughters of local town residents and of nearby Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
landowners and classes were taught in Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish is a term related to the Spanish language, but its exact meaning can vary even in that language. In English Castilian Spanish usually refers to the variety of European Spanish spoken in north and central Spain or as the language standard for radio and TV speakers...
. In 1854 the school was moved to Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
, the new state capital, where it was renamed St. Catherine's Academy.
In 1950, Sister Margaret Thompson, Mother General
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, California
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, California
The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael is a Roman Catholic congregation of Dominican sisters located in San Rafael, California, USA. The congregation is a religious women's order affiliated with the Order of Preachers. They are a co-sponsor of Catholic Healthcare West.-History:The Dominican Sisters...
, decided to reestablish Santa Catalina in Monterey. After buying the 36-acre campus from a local cattle rancher
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
, Col. Harold Mack, the school opened in the fall of 1950, with Sister Mary Kieran as the first principal. When Sister Kieran died in 1965, Sister Carlotta became principal, a title she held for 35 years. As principal, Sister Carlotta's goal was to "educate the whole child...by guiding young people toward intellectual attainment and social, physical, and spiritual well-being."
Transition to co-education and new leadership
Boys were allowed to enroll in PreschoolPreschool education
Preschool education is the provision of learning to children before the commencement of statutory and obligatory education, usually between the ages of zero and three or five, depending on the jurisdiction....
and Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
at the request of Sister Jean, and Sister Carlotta encouraged male students to continue their education at the school through 8th grade.
Sister Claire, after serving as Head of Upper School since 1982, became Head of School in 2002. Sister Claire, Sister Christine and Sister Jean are the only Dominican nuns who still reside on campus. Sister Claire and Sister Christine both hold administrative positions but no longer teach.
Notable alumnae
- Wendy Clark Duffy, Associate Justice, California Court of AppealCalifornia Court of AppealThe California Courts of Appeal are the state intermediate appellate courts in the U.S. state of California. The state is geographically divided into six appellate districts...
, Sixth District - Pamela Butler, Superior Court judge, Monterey County
- Terry Durkin Wilkinson, Council Member, Texas Health and Human Services
- Dr. Cynara Coomer, a surgeon who anchors a health segment on Fox News
- Maria Imelda Marcos, (Class Valedictorian) Filipino congresswoman, daughter of Philippine President Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand MarcosFerdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
& Imelda MarcosImelda MarcosImelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986... - Monica C. LozanoMonica C. LozanoMonica Cecilia Lozano is an American newspaper editor, the publisher and Chief Executive Officer of La Opinión and senior vice president of its parent company, Impremedia, LLC. Based in Los Angeles, La Opinión is the largest Spanish publication in the United States. She is a member of President...
, Publisher and CEO of the Spanish languageSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
La OpiniónLa OpiniónLa Opinión is a Spanish-language daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, USA and distributed throughout the six counties of Southern California. It is the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States and second-most read newspaper in Los Angeles . It is published by...
newspaper in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... - Kate Mitchell, CEO and co-founder of Scale Venture Partners and chairman of the National Venture Capital Association
- Teresa Barger, CEO, Cartica Capital
- Catie Ryan, Sustainable Infrastructure Research, senior analyst, Terrapin Bright Green
- Claudia de la Fuente, Human Rights Officer, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Pamela Anderson-Brule, founder and president of Anderson Brule Architects, Inc.
- Kathleen Sullivan (journalist)Kathleen Sullivan (journalist)Kathleen Sullivan is an American television journalist.She was one of a small group of anchors and reporters which launched CNN, a cable news channel, which led to the 24-hour news cycle of the U.S. cable news broadcast within the field of journalism. Her career has been involved in nearly every...
, the first woman to be hired as an anchor at CNN - Leslie CockburnLeslie CockburnLeslie Corkill Redlich Cockburn is an American writer and filmmaker who has covered a wide variety of international stories in almost every part of the globe.-Early life and career:...
, journalist, producer, director, writer, including co-producer The Peacemaker with George ClooneyGeorge ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award... - Chrissy Barnett Miller, Emmy-award winning television producer
- Marie Cantin, film producer
- Sharon GlessSharon GlessSharon Marguerite Gless is an American character actress of stage, film and television, who is best known for her roles as Maggie Philbin on Switch , as Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey and as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer...
, actress, most famously in 1980's crime drama Cagney and Lacey - Lauren Meek, associate producer of the Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)Sherlock Holmes is a 2009 action-mystery film based on the character of the same name created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The film was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. The screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon...
directed by Guy RitchieGuy RitchieGuy Stuart Ritchie is an English screenwriter and film maker who directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, RocknRolla and Sherlock Holmes.-Early life:... - Yolanda Mitchell West, award-winning soprano opera singer
- Abigail FolgerAbigail FolgerAbigail Anne "Gibbie" Folger was an American coffee heiress, debutante, socialite, volunteer social worker, civil rights devotee and member of the prominent United States Folger family. She was the great-granddaughter of J. A. Folger, the founder of Folgers Coffee...
, coffee heiress, civil rights activist - Patricia Hearst, newspaper heiress, former member of Symbionese Liberation ArmySymbionese Liberation ArmyThe Symbionese Liberation Army was an American self-styled left-wing urban militant group active between 1973 and 1975 that considered itself a revolutionary vanguard army...
Enrollment
There are 269 students in the Lower School, 60% of which are girls and 40% are boys.Class size and student-teacher ratio
Class sizes are generally small, but vary by grade level as follows:| Grade Level | Students | Teachers | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 20 | 3 | 8:1 |
| Kindergarten | 24 | 2 | 12:1 |
| Grades 1 & 2 | 24 | 2 | 12:1 |
| Grades 3-5 | 24 | 1 teacher and 1 assistant | 12:1 |
| Grades 6 - 8 | 19 per section, 2 sections per grade | 1 teacher per subject | 5: 1 |
Tuition
Tuition varies by grade level and the school offers need-based financial aid. Below is tuition and financial aid for the 2010-2011 school year.- Pre-K: $9,700
- Kindergarten: $15,000
- Grades 1-8: $18,250
- 25% of students receive financial aid
Enrollment, class size, and student-teacher ratio
As of 2010, there are currently 240 girls enrolled at Santa Catalina: 111 of them are resident students and 129 are day students. International students make up 12% of the student body. The average class size is 14 students and the student-teacher ratio is 7:1.Tuition
Upper School tuition varies between resident and day students and both need and merit-based financial aid are offered.- Boarding: $42,500
- Day: $27,500
- 30% of students receive financial aid
- Incoming freshmen and sophomores are offered a chance to apply for the Merit Scholarship, which covers 20% of tuition.
Mission
Santa Catalina Lower School "encourage[s] each boy and girl to work effectively, to communicate articulately, [and] to approach life with a sense of purpose and competence" and prepares students for secondary schooling.Santa Catalina Upper School aims to "combine a rigorous liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
curriculum, modern educational technology, and solid Christian principles" to prepare its students for college and beyond. The single-sex environment, Catholic background, and college preparatory courses are emphasized to "teach the importance of becoming leaders in our communities by serving others." The school attempts to develop each girl's abilities and emphasizes balancing intellectual growth with spiritual awareness. Santa Catalina also seeks diversity in order to enhance a student's sense of responsibility to her community and herself.
Requirements
- 4 years of English, religious studies, and the arts
- 3 years of math, foreign language, and lab sciences
- Extracurricular activities are required for each of the three athletic seasons. Students have a choice each season between sports, performing arts (theater, dance, and music), and physical education. Juniors and seniors are not required to take part in extracurricular activities during the winter season.
Admissions
Santa Catalina accepts students on the basis of academic achievement and personal qualification "without regard to race, creed, color, or national and ethnic origins." The admissions office requires a questionnaire and writing sample, school transcript, teacher recommendations, parent statements, SSATSSAT
SSAT is an abbreviation for:*Samsung Aptitude Test*Secondary School Admission Test*Specialist Schools and Academies Trust*Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test*Social Security Appeals Tribunal...
scores, an interview, and an optional personal recommendation. Non-native English speakers are required to take the TOEFL
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Departments
Academics are divided between the following departments: Art, Drama, English, Foreign Language (including French, Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese), History, Math, Music, Religion, and Science.Honors and AP opportunities
Santa Catalina School offers 18 AP (Advanced Placement) and 13 Honors courses.College counseling and acceptance
The school has college counselor on campus who works closely with seniors and assists with students' college applications and SAT and ACT registration. In addition, the school has an online resource for students called Family Connection, which provides further college counseling. In addition, approximately 65 colleges and universities from within the United States and abroad send representatives to Catalina to discuss their schools with students throughout the academic year. The average SAT score of students is 1732. 100% of graduates attend college and within the past five years the most-attended colleges were UC Davis (20 students), UCLA (11 students), Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(11 students), New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(9 students), and Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
(9 students). Out of the 2010 graduating class, 6 students attend UCLA, 4 students attend UC Berkley, and 3 students went to UC Santa Barbara and University of the Redlands.
Lower School academics
From Kindergarten to Fifth Grade, students take courses in Art, Computer Studies, Language Arts, Math, Music, Physical Education, Religion, Science, and Social Science. Spanish classes are introduced in the 4th Grade. In grades 6 – 8, students take classes in Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language (Latin or Spanish), History, Math, Music, PE, Religion, and Science.Faculty/Administrators
Despite the school's religious background, the current administrators are lay peopleLaity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
and not affiliated with a religious order.
- Head of School - Sister Claire Barone
- Assistant Head of School - John Amie
- Head of Upper School - Dr. John Murphy
- Assistant Head of Upper School - Sister Christine Price
- Lower School Division Head, Grades 5 – 8 - Linda Mutty
- Lower School Division Head, Grades PreK-4 - Christy Pollacci
The Upper School is ranked among the top 20 boarding schools for faculty education because a high percentage of the faculty has advanced degrees.
Facilities
- Aquatic Center
In 2003 a new outdoor aquatic center was completed, featuring a 25 yard by 30 meter pool that is connected to the gym's locker rooms. This 10 lane pool is used for physical education classes and the Upper School swimming and diving and water polo teams.
- Bedford Family Gymnasium Complex
Located next to the pool, the gym houses basketball and volleyball courts, bleachers, and dressing room facilities. PE classes and Upper and Lower School basketball and volleyball teams use the facility. The gym overlooks the pool and a regulation size softball and soccer field, which is encircled by an all-weather track. In addition, the gym is adjacent to 6 regulation size tennis courts, including one lighted court with stadium seating.
- Dormitories
Resident students live in one of three dorms in either a single or double room, with faculty members living on each floor. Each room has a bed, desk, drawers, and lockable closet and there are common bathrooms for each floor. The dorms also come equipped with wireless internet, laundry facilities, and vending machines.
Thompson Dormitory—This dorm is used primarily for freshman and some sophomores, and also has faculty housing.
Hills Hall—For juniors, seniors, and faculty.
Greer Family Dormitory—This is the newest dorm and houses sophomores, juniors, and faculty.
- The Hacienda
Originally the Upper School classroom building, this 70 year old building now houses the Upper School Admissions Office, Business Office, and Development Office.
- Mary L Johnson Music Center
This building houses a 150 seat recital hall, a dance studio, and music studios for private lessons. The building is primarily used for student music lessons and recitals.
- Rosary Chapel
The chapel is located in the center of campus and was built in 1954 as a donation from by Mrs. Marcia Ferrell Hart. San Francisco architect Germano Milano was commissioned to design the building. One of the most notable features is the chapel's stained glass windows. Today the chapel is used for daily morning prayer offered for students and faculty, weekly masses for resident students, on campus faculty, and the public, as well as special events.
- Santo Domingo Hall
This building includes the student health center and the dining hall. The school uses Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit Management Company
The Bon Appétit Management Company is a Palo Alto, California-based on-site restaurant company, owned by Compass Group, that provides café and catering services to corporations, colleges and universities. The company operates 400 cafes in 28 states. Princeton Review has named Bon Appétit the "No...
food services, who were the winners of the National Resource Defense Council's 2009 Growing Green Award for their commitment to sustainable food. Their menus often feature locally grown foods and leftovers are composted.
- Sister Mary Kieran Memorial Library
Finished in 1967, the library holds about 34,000 volumes, 40 in-house periodicals, 500 media items, online databases, and 30 computers for students and teachers. It is used by both Upper and Lower Schools.
- Sister Carlotta Performing Arts Center
The Performing Arts Center is a 500 seat, state of the art theater that is used for Lower School Spring and Christmas concerts, various recitals, and three Upper School performances every academic year.
- Study Hall
Upper School assembly is conducted every morning in this building. Desks are provided for every student and are arranged by class. There are also a limited number of lockers available for student use.
Lower School
Competitive sports are offered, but not required, for students in Grade 6 - 8. Teams compete by grade level with other public and private schools in the area.| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Volleyball | Basketball | Tennis |
| Soccer | Golf | |
| Flag Football | Track and Field |
Upper School
Students can chose to participate in one sport per season. Teams compete in the Mission Trail Athletics League (MTAL) and the CIF / Central Coast Section (CCS). The Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, Water Polo, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, and Softball teams compete at both the Varsity and Junior Varsity Level.| Fall | Winter | Spring | Year Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volleyball | Basketball | Swimming and Diving | Equestrian |
| Tennis | Soccer | Track and Field | |
| Water Polo | Lacrosse | ||
| Field Hockey | Softball | ||
| Cross Country | |||
| Golf |
Performing arts
Students may also participate in theater or dance, rather than athletic teams, after school.- Theater: In addition to offering drama classes, the school presents 2 musicals and 1 drama each year, which students can choose to participate in.
- Dance: Dance classes are offered in ballet, tap, and jazz, and meet every day.
- Music: In addition to the required extracurricular athletics or performing arts, private musical and vocal lessons are available to students. There are also school-wide recitals and a school choir.
Community service
- Upper School - Each class has a day designated for mandatory community service. Students choose between the following sites: Dorothy's Place, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store , Salvation Army Youth Center , Ave Maria Convalescent Center, Ag Against HungerAg Against HungerAg Against Hunger is a non-profit organization based in Salinas, California that collects surplus produce from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz County growers on the central coast of California...
, Gateway Center , Harbor Project, STAR Riders , and Food Bank of Monterey County . Certain sites are also offered for students two afternoons each week.
- Lower School - The entire Lower School is involved in one community service project each month.
Student clubs
| Academic / School Support | Activism | Entertainment | Sports / Outdoors | Social | Student Government (All Students Are Elected to These Positions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Club de Espanol (Spanish Club) | Amnesty International Amnesty International Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's... |
Accents (Advanced Dance Club) | Fencing Fencing Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games... Club |
Back to Basics (cooking and sewing club) | Student / Faculty Senate |
| French Club | Community Service Club | ecco! (A Capella Group) | Fit Club | Dumbledore's Army (Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry... enthusiasts) |
Resident Council |
| PEMDAS (Math Club and Peer Tutoring) | Operation Smile Operation Smile Operation Smile is a not-for-profit medical service organization based in Norfolk, Virginia , founded in 1982. A secular NGO, the children's medical charity provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, assists countries in reaching self-sufficiency with these surgeries, and... |
Lamplighter (student newspaper issued 7 times a year) | Journey: Jump Outside Until Real Nature Experiences You (outdoor club) | Fashion Club | Day Student Council |
| Admission Tour Guides and Class Guides | Pax Christi Pax Christi -History:Pax Christi was established in France in 1945 as a reconciliation work between the French and the Germans after the Second World War. In 2007, it existed in more than 60 countries... |
MOSAIC (literary magazine) | Scuba Club | Great Indulgences (art, literature, and film club) | Prefects |
| Big / Little Sisters (Seniors who help freshman ease into their first year) | R4: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore (Environmental Club) | Reverb (singing and songwriting club) | Geocachers Geocaching Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.... |
Knit Wits (knitting club) | |
| Catalinan (Yearbook) | Model UN Model United Nations Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda.... / UN Student Alliance |
Tokyo Drift (Japanese Club) | |||
| STAR (Student - Alumni Organization) |