Students Return to SMCHS, And It's Cool

By Martin Henderson

So much for school beginning in the fall. Students at Santa Margarita Catholic High returned to school from the summer break on Wednesday, two weeks earlier than usual. 

The early start time will allow the private school to complete its first semester before the Christmas break, which will be a big benefit to students, said president Paul Carey. 

"In the former system, students were reviewing first semester material when they returned from the Christmas break and the semester was ending in late January," Carey said. "We're starting two weeks earlier and we'll end one week earlier, right after Memorial Day."

One notable change this year is that it's going to be a lot cooler to be an Eagle. For the first time, the gymnasium—also called Moiso Pavilion—will be air conditioned. In fact, the entire campus is now fitted with A/C, and the central plant is being replaced, which will reduce the carbon footprint and make the campus more green. 

Carey said Wednesday he is "always going to be excited about the students" whenever there's a new school year, but this year he's especially excited about the teachers. SMCHS added five full teaching positions, which includes new hires in almost every department but English. 

He said the student-teacher ratio has dropped to 16 students per instructor.

"By adding those five net new positions, it's a great dynamic to have," said Carey, who added there was a great energy on campus for the first day.  

Another new thing on campus is the teachers' use of electronic tablets, which will give them a full year to get accustomed to them before students get their Lenova Helixes next fall—err, summer.