The 2019 school year has just begun and Noozhawk’s Private & Independent School Guide is sure to make things easy when planning for your child’s education! Our school guide provides you and your child with all the necessary information about private schools in Santa Barbara County.
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about which school is the best fit for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local private & independent schools for this year’s school guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Cristy McNay, Director of Admissions & Advancement at Bishop Garcia Diego High School to learn more about what they offer at their school.
Bishop Garcia Diego High School
Question: What is the mission or vision for your school?
Answer: Bishop García Diego High School is an independent Catholic co-educational secondary school that welcomes students of all faiths and provides them with the spiritual, personal, and intellectual knowledge to meet the enduring challenge of realizing their God-given potential in a multi-cultural society.
Q: How is your school operated or governed?
A: A local Board of Trustees, comprised of alumni, current and past parents, and members of the local community, governs the school.
Q: What curriculum is available and taught at your school?
A: Based on the foundation of a classical and holistic education, Bishop offers 23 AP and Honors courses and a high-powered curriculum that exceeds University of California and California State standards.
Q: What extracurricular activities does your school offer?
A: Student Body Government, clubs, athletics, Campus Ministry, Performing Arts, service opportunities, and more.
Q: Describe the typical day in the life of a student at your school.
A: Every day at Bishop is unique, but students can count on the availability of their teachers during office hours each morning from 7:45 until 8:20 am when first period begins. With a break in the morning and lunch midday, classes are completed at 3:05 pm Monday – Wednesday and on Fridays. A modified block schedule on Wednesdays and Thursdays allows students the chance to dive more deeply into a lab or study session with classes that last 75 minutes, as opposed to 47 minutes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. During lunch, students can eat at the Cardinal Cafe, hang out with friends, meet with teachers, or play ping pong, pool, or other games that are available around the campus. After school, students participate in clubs, athletics, and leadership activities.
Q: How does your school select/hire teachers?
A: Bishop has a highly selective process by which it chooses its teachers. All faculty hold credentials, many are masters in their field, and 70% have master’s degrees or higher. Bishop chooses a teacher based not just on their resume and experience, but also on their expressed love for teaching and genuine interest in helping students learn, thrive, and grow.
Q: What professional development opportunities do teachers have? In what ways do teachers collaborate?
A: Teachers are offered continuous opportunities to expand their knowledge through professional development. Each week, all faculty gather as a staff and in their respective departments to establish and execute collaborative learning goals.
Q: How can parents get involved at your school?
A: Parents are the primary educators of their children and Bishop partners with them through opportunities to serve throughout the year. Whether it is at an athletic event, assisting with a fundraiser, or providing support for a student experience, our parents become a big part of the Cardinal family. We have a very active Cardinal Club and Parent Advisory Board and this small community within a community is extremely supportive of one another, our students, and our school.
Q: What are your schools greatest accomplishments?
A: Bishop’s students are smart when they arrive, but they leave with something more. Every fiber of our school is woven with our core values of Respect, Perseverance, and Compassion. Whether it is in the front office, in a classroom, on a field, court, or pool, or at any other school-sponsored event, every student is safe, known, and loved. The ability to offer this type of environment and to see our graduates become compassionate changemakers are the two greatest accomplishments we could ever hope to achieve.
Q: How does your school support students who have academic, social, or emotional difficulties?
A: Bishop Diego offers a Resource program that supports students with learning disabilities. Students with 504 plans, IEPs, or documented needs are supported by two full-time teachers as they complete all of the requirements to graduate from Bishop Diego. While we can accommodate all needs, Bishop can support most students with documented learning differences.
Q: What is the cost or tuition to attend your school? Do you offer financial aid or scholarship programs?
A: Tuition for the current school year is $15,400 and the annual registration fee is $1000. The actual cost to educate each student is approximately $20,000, but every student receives an automatic tuition reduction thanks to the generosity of our benefactors. Nearly 70% of our students are on some form of Tuition Assistance and Bishop Diego strives to help families make the gift of a Catholic education possible, regardless of their ability to pay full tuition. Generous donors make the Tuition Assistance program and many independent scholarship awards a reality for students who qualify.
Click here for more information about Bishop Garcia Diego High School.