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Providence HS Facts Sisters of Providence SpiritProvidence High School is a part of Providence Health and Services. Ever since the Sisters of Providence opened the school in 1955, the Sisters have shared their spirit with the Providence families. Energized by their motto, "the love of Christ urges us," the Sisters of Providence arrived in the West (Vancouver, Washington) from Montreal, Quebec, in 1856. Known for their spirit of compassion in imitation of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Sisters reached out to teach all those who longed to learn... The Providence Mission Providence High School is a Catholic, accredited, college-preparatory school for young men and women. Our goal is to develop each student to his or her fullest potential, as a leader, a responsible citizen of the world, who is imbued with a strong set of moral values, a sense of service and love of learning. Sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, the school is located in the San Fernando Valley, serving the greater Los Angeles area. We work in collaboration with the parents, who are acknowledged as the primary educators of their sons and daughters. We begin our work with the belief that each student is essentially good and infinitely lovable. Guided by our Catholic tradition, we recognize Jesus Christ as the model of the total person we are seeking to develop. In our mission of education, we strive for academic excellence and the total development of the individual. Curriculum and Instruction Providence High School offers a challenging college-preparatory academic program. The administration has carefully designed the curriculum to give students many opportunities for growth and experience in preparation for university course work. Providence students fulfill and exceed the following course requirements:
Recognizing that service to others is an integral part of the Gospel message, Christian Service is also part of the school's graduation requirement. Providence offers AP and Honors courses in subject areas throughout the curriculum. These honors courses provide the students with an opportunity for greater intellectual inquiry and discovery. Many colleges and universities give academic credit to high school students who successfully complete Advanced Placement exams. Providence offers Advanced Placement courses in several areas of study. In addition to the college preparatory courses required for graduation, Providence offers many elective courses to enrich the academic experience of each student. Faculty and Staff The Providence High School faculty and staff are comprised of highly qualified religious and lay men and women who embrace and strive to fulfill the school's mission Accreditation Providence has received full accreditation from both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Educational Association. Blue Ribbon Recognition Providence High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon status during the 1997-1998 academic year. This national educational award is given through the U.S. Department of Education to schools of excellence. The emphasis for the year Providence High School received this award was in the areas of arts education and service learning. To quote Richard W. Riley, (U.S. Department of Education Secretary), "It is, after all, through the arts and humanities that we unleash our individual and collective imaginations and imagination is, in the end, the animating force of a democracy committed to constant renewal." It is our hope that the men and women who are Providence graduates will be able to see clearly, analyze intelligently and respond lovingly to our society today and in the future. This special educational award ceremony took place on November 13th, 1998 in Washington D.C. Counseling Counselors at Providence serve the needs of students in the areas of academic, college and personal counseling. Academic counselors meet regularly with each student to help him or her set and realize educational goals and objectives. College counselors direct students through their many choices involved in selecting a college. Each year, a host of college representatives visit the campus to meet with students. As an established contact, the counselors provide assistance in obtaining scholarships and financial aid. The department also conducts testing at each grade level to facilitate individual diagnosis and direction. Personal counseling is provided for both students and parents. The goal of the department is to encourage each student to love himself or herself and others as Jesus has asked. Student Activities Providence High School supports an active co-curricular program full of opportunities for participation in areas of interest to students. Organizations include: student council; campus ministry; honor societies; drama club; choir; short and tall flags; cheerleading; student publications - yearbook, school newspaper and literary magazine; intramural, junior-varsity and varsity sports; and a large variety of special interest clubs. Our program is based on the conviction that student activities are part of a broad educational base which helps to create a well-rounded individual who will be successful in all phases of adult life. Campus Ministry The Campus Ministry Department promotes the Christian growth and development of the Providence family including: students, parents, teachers, staff and administration. Christianity is expressed in the Catholic tradition. Students gain great insight and experience through participating in many community service projects, offered both on and off campus. At Providence, the retreat program is an integral part of the spiritual formation and religious education of the students. Each year, the students participate in a full-day, off-campus retreat with their class. Seniors have an additional opportunity to attend Kairos ("Christian Awakening"), a three and one-half day, off-campus retreat. Masses are celebrated with the entire student body and always accompanied by music and song on all holy days, as well as significant school events. These liturgies are prepared by the students' Liturgy and Music Ministry clubs. Campus Facilities Providence offers its students a great opportunity for learning, growing and experiencing new challenges. The five-building complex includes twenty-seven classrooms, Student Activity Center (gym), two science laboratories, library, Auditorium, art department, computer laboratory, chapel, campus ministry center, and multipurpose room. On the grounds, we have ample parking to accommodate the needs of our students. Two Focus Programs Providence offers two programs which expand its college-preparatory curriculum. The Medical Focus Program and Media Communications Program are both four-year elective programs which build a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and integrity within each department to help students focus their desire for further education. Students involved in either program will experience professional guest lectures from their specific area of studies, off-site observations and hands-on training. Students also participate in an internship program which reinforces concepts and skills taught in the classroom. Participation outside of school hours is required. Pre-admission essay and/or project information is required within the admissions application folder. Only a select group of students is admitted into these programs as ninth-graders each year. Students must be academically qualified, highly motivated, dedicated and mature in order to master the materials of these programs and maintain high marks in their college-preparatory course work. Admission Requirements As a college-preparatory school, Providence maintains high standards of admission. In an effort to assure success, students are carefully selected based on the following requirements: Transcripts (satisfactory performance in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) Recommendation of principal and teachers Providence Entrance Exam results Student application In addition to identifying potential, we select students who are willing to take responsibility for their own education and are concerned with their growth as persons. Nondiscrimination Policy Providence High School, mindful of its mission to be a witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, color and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The mission statement of PHS challenges each teacher to prepare our students to become productive members of society. To this end, there are specific skills that are incumbent upon our students to acquire in order to succeed, not only here, but in college and in the working world as well. Therefore, writing skills, as a means of self-expression and analytical thinking, are central to our curriculum. The English department's vision and goal is to see Writing Across the Curriculum implemented school wide. In order to do that, the department has developed guidelines and policies which are disseminated, taught and required among departments and faculty. We view writing effectively as a process that begins with pre-writing, proceeding through the stages of shaping the essay, rough draft, revision, and final draft culminating in publication. Grade 9: Having reviewed the skills necessary for effective communication, that is, grammar, mechanics and usage, students, by the end of the first semester, can write a body paragraph, consisting of a topic sentence, concrete details and commentary, ending with a concluding sentence. By the end of the ninth grade, students can compose a four paragraph essay, consisting of an introduction that includes a thesis statement, two body paragraphs that respond to the thesis statement and ending with a concluding paragraph. These essays may be of two types: the personal essay and the literature based essay. Grade 10: Tenth graders expand the four paragraph essay to five paragraphs and continue to hone their skills in the area of commentary and analysis of literature. They will continue to work on acquiring the tools of effective communication, that is, grammatical and mechanical skills. They will learn to embed quotes accurately and use them effectively to advance their thesis. The literature based essay is the primary type of writing in the 10th grade. Grade 11: Eleventh graders focus on literary analysis. Now that their writing skills are adequate, they can begin to polish and experiment. Students will be encouraged to synthesize information from more than one source. They are writing four and five paragraph essays, which require them to learn how to cite their sources through parenthetical citations. Students will be exposed to other modes of writing such as the persuasive, descriptive and narrative modes. Grade 12: Besides further practice and polishing of the body paragraph and multi-paragraph essay, students will learn in stages how to put together a research paper. Honors/Advanced Placement: At all levels, writing is central to the curriculum and writing assignments that are more challenging than the non-honors courses are the norm. Timed writings: At all grade levels, timed writings are a normal part of the English classroom curriculum. These are appropriate to the grade level and skill acquisition level. Evaluation policy: The department has composed general rubrics that are applied to student writing samples. These are adjusted and adapted to assist teachers to arrive at appropriate assessments of student work. These rubrics are published for all faculty members and individual departments are required to adopt similar tools to evaluate student writing. PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL is a college preparatory, coed high school that admits students who are seeking a learning experience that enhances the faith experience they have gotten from their parents/guardians. PHS accepts students from many and various cultures, with a wide range of hopes and expectations for their continued learning, both in the traditions of their faith and in their academic interests and abilities. We have, as part of our curriculum and instruction package, a cohesive college preparatory program, a challenging Honors and an Advanced Placement program. PHS has two Focus Programs that are special: The Medical Focus Program which is a partnership program with Providence St. Joseph Medical Center and a Media Communications Program which is a unique and high technology program for high school students, utilizing a Pro Cut Final and an AVID. Since PHS is located in the "Media District", there is opportunity for this program to offer special opportunities. College Preparatory Program Providence High School's college preparatory program is developmental, cohesive and solid. Its goal is set towards guiding and providing the opportunity for each student to take the courses which will prepare him/her for admission into the University of California system, the California State University system, and most private universities and colleges. The course of studies at PHS requires four years of religious studies, four years of college preparatory English, three and a half years of social studies, three years of college preparatory mathematics, a minimum of two and one half years of science, and fine arts for a minimum of one year, a minimum of two years of one Modern Language with four years recommended, along with information/computer science. All areas of core subjects and a variety of electives can round out various subject areas of study into four year learning accomplishments. The curriculum and instruction is meant to meet the needs of the fine students that we have at PHS. The electives and co-curricular activities are to develop the whole person in an enriching and satisfying manner. Honor Roll Students earn their place on the Honors Lists (1st and 2nd Semesters each year) by their grade point average for the semester, from which the Honor Roll is determined. First Honors is awarded to those students who have earned a semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.60 or higher. To receive Second Honors, a student must earn a GPA of 3.00-3.59 for the given semester. In the junior and senior years, the program consists of honors courses which fulfill the University of California criteria for honors in these subject areas of studies. All Honors courses at PHS are five-point classes (A=5, B=4, C=3 etc.), and therefore may enable the student to achieve a high G.P.A. and class rank. A student desiring to take any of these courses can expect in-depth reading and writing assignments and project work that is over and above the regular college preparatory course work done at the same grade level. Ability to read, express oneself orally and in writing, and to be recommended by a given department faculty are to be assumed. Honors Level Courses: Providence High School acknowledges Honors courses (weighted) for the Providence High School G.P.A. Some of these are also recognized as Honors courses by the UC system. To find the ones that are accepted by the University of California system, go to this web site: http://www.ucop.edu/pathways/infoctr/. Advanced Placement Program Through the Advanced Placement (AP) program, students can qualify for college credit. PHS presently offers AP courses in the following: Studio Art, Biology, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, French IV, Spanish IV, Government, Economics, Statistics, Calculus, Physics and U.S. History. All Advanced Placement courses at PHS are five-point classes (A=5, B=4, C=3 etc.), and therefore may enable the student to achieve a high G.P.A. and class rank. Each of these courses has prerequisites which are stated in this catalog. All students enrolled in these courses are required to take the Advanced Placement exam. A course fee will be charged for all AP courses taken. Academic Information about Honors and Advanced Placement Courses: The courses of studies at PHS challenge the students to "take a risk" when developing their own learning patterns. It is to their character-building sense of continued learning that we encourage capable students to take these demanding courses. However, all courses within the college preparatory curriculum at PHS provide the excellence of education to assure a strong preparation for the colleges and universities of choice by the students. Generally, a student takes no more than three AP courses in any one year. Independent Study Program: For some students this is an avenue of developing and studying an area of interest that is over and above, or outside the scope of courses taught at PHS. Yet, these areas of study must be related to the scope and sequence of the college preparatory courses given at PHS. A student can earn credit for work done under the guidance of an instructor in the field of the student's study and with the approval of the syllabus for study by the Academic Vice Principal. This work on the part of the instructor must be done outside of the regular school day. A student and parent/guardian must sign an agreement as to the course of studies, the manner and time in which the work will be done and how this work will be assessed. The progress of a student will be given at the "Progress Report" date, along with all other courses that are evaluated at that time. For students who are capable and interested in a specific topic within a particular disciplined subject, the independent study opportunity provides a way to develop their understanding in a given area of study. Elective Program PHS offers a wide variety and scope of curricular choices. Some programs, including Accounting, Art, Drama/Theater, Music, Basic Law, Journalism, Model United Nations, Close Up in Washington D.C., Mock Trial, California History, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Environmental Science, Journalism, Yearbook and the two Focus Programs, utilize co-curricular activities and provide the students with the opportunity for travel, public performance and competition with other students. In particular, the two Focus Programs demand extended hours outside regular school hours. These hours are validated and calculated into the assessment of, and continuance in, these focus programs. University/College Preparation At Providence High School the scope and sequence of the curriculum and instruction are designed to prepare a student for a successful college experience of studies. Providence is fully accredited by the Western Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, which means that the credits a student earns while studying at PHS are recognized for admission purposes by colleges and universities. PHS is also accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association which, working in concert with the WASC, means that the teachers of Religious Studies are certificated by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for the teaching of Religious Studies in the Catholic high schools. Acceptance into the university or college of one's choice depends upon many things: whether or not the student meets entrance requirements in terms of courses taken in high school; the level of scholastic achievement, as measured in GPA, SAT and ACT scores; whether or not a student has met filing and application deadlines. In order to be admitted into the college or university of one's choice, it is important that a student begin planning early so as to meet all subject and participation requirements. The following pages outline course requirements for a variety of types of colleges and universities. Before making decisions about a course of study, however, students should seek guidance from parents, academic homeroom teacher advisors and the PHS college counselors. Also, it is important that students do some initial college searching by using the various college computer programs, as well as the Internet, available in the Library/Media Center. Scholarship software programs are updated annually and identify financial scholarships as well as various types of colleges and universities. P.H.S. Graduation Requirements and Honors Successful completion of the following courses is required for graduation from Providence High School. (See the inside of the back cover of this booklet.) Note: At PHS, 3 years of Mathematics is required, 4 years are encouraged. All students enrolled at Providence are required to take the Religious Studies courses. Physical Education is required by all students unless excused by a doctor for sufficient cause. In this case, the State Health, Safety and First Aid requirements must be met. Providence High School students are required to meet the Service Hours required in order to be graduated. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian of any graduating class from PHS must have attended the eight semesters at PHS to be awarded this honor. Students in the two Focus Programs will wear a cord of distinction at the time of graduation. Honors are based on the first seven semesters of studies, with no appreciable drop in GPA during the eighth semester of studies. Summa Cum Laude 3.75 and above grade point average, (Total weighted; PHS GPA) Magna Cum Laude 3.50 to 3.74 grade point average, and (Total weighted; PHS GPA) Cum Laude 3.00 to 3.49 grade point average. (Total weighted; PHS GPA) Students who need to complete any units of study for their, Providence High School graduation diploma, must complete these credits with passing grades, and request from the Providence High School registrar, their graduation diploma within a three (3) year period |
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