1. 8th Grade High School Application Process
St. Bernadette Catholic School Sept 2018

2. Welcome Parents! Tonight we will be discussing:
Visiting the High Schools – Open House
Shadowing
High School Placement Test (HSPT®)
Applying To High School
Brag Sheet

3. Our Diocesan High Schools
Bishop Ireton – Alexandria, VA
John Paul the Great – Dumfries, VA
Bishop O’Connell – Arlington, VA
Paul VI – Fairfax VA

4. Other Popular High Schools
Gonzaga College High School – NW DC, All Boys High School
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School- Georgetown, DC, All Girls High School
Please note these schools have different application deadlines and require different teacher recommendation forms!

5. Shadowing At A High School
Shadowing is an option offered by the high school’s in which your 8th grade student is paired with a 9th grade student to observe for the day.
This is a great way to see the high school from a student’s perspective!
Be aware: There are a limited number of shadow spots available each day, so set this up soon!
To set up a shadow date, call or the Admissions Office of the high school(s) your student is interested in attending next year.

6. Open House Dates Saturday, October 13, 2018 – Georgetown Visitation
Sunday, October 14, 2018 – Bishop O’Connell
Sunday, October 21, 2018 – Bishop Ireton
Sunday, October 28, 2018 – Paul VI
Sunday, November 4, 2018 – John Paul the Great
Sunday, November 18, Gonzaga

7. High School Placement Test (HSPT®)
Test Date: Wednesday, November 28, St Bernadette School
Makeup Date: Saturday, December 8, the Diocesan High Schools
The HSPT® is an exam for eighth grade students to determine their placement in the ninth grade.
The scores assist with admissions, scholarship selection, and curriculum placement
Required exam for all students that will be attending a Diocesan High School
Please return the registration form to the school office by October 15, 2018

8. Brag Sheet
Brag Sheets are your student’s opportunity to brag about themselves!
Teachers will use this to help them in writing their Teacher Recommendations to the high schools
List academic honors, club activities, volunteer activities, sports your student is involved in. List everything that your students in involved in to help teachers give the best recommendation possible!
Turn the Brag Sheet in to your homeroom teacher by October 15, 2018

9. Applying to High School

10. High School Application Process
Application (online or paper) for student’s selected high school
7th Grade Transcripts
8th Grade 1st Trimester Transcript
HSPT Scores
Teacher Recommendation Letter**
Copy of Birth Certificate
#’s 2-6 will be sent to the high schools directly. You are only responsible for sending the application to the high school.
**If you are applying to a non-Diocesan High School, you are responsible for sending the recommendation form to your students teacher!
Please send this in at minimum 2 weeks before the application deadline.

11. High School Application Process cont.
Application for registration can be found online on the high school website. Typically require a $50 application fee
Teacher Recommendations will automatically be sent to your student’s 1st and 2nd choice, as indicated on the HSTP. Along with their transcripts and HSPT scores
Please note: High Schools like Gonzaga and Visitation have earlier deadlines and do not use the Diocese teacher recommendation form!
Please look at their websites for the necessary forms

12. Application Deadlines
Georgetown Visitation Application – Friday, December 7, 2018
Gonzaga Application – Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Gonzaga & Visitation Financial Aid Deadline – Friday, January 11, 2018
Bishop Ireton, Bishop O’Connell, John Paul the Great, Paul VI Applications – Friday, January 11, 2019
FACTS Financial Aid Deadline - Tuesday, January 22, 2019

13. High School Contacts
Mary C. Gildersleeve Director of Enrollment Management John Paul the Great
Phone: (703)
Glenn Farello Admissions Officer Paul VI
Phone: (703) ext.340
Michael Cresson Director of Admissions Bishop O’Connell
Phone: (703)
Nicole Mahon Director of Admissions Bishop Ireton
Phone: (703)
Janet Donnelly Keller Director of Admissions Georgetown Visitation
Phone: (202) , ext.2241
Andrew Battaile Dean of Admissions Gonzaga
Phone: (202)

14. Questions?

15. Handouts
HSPT
Brag Sheet
High School Contacts
Important Dates