|
Mount St. Dominic Academy engages its students in a few special programs that enrich our young women's' lives, both for their own personal and academic growth as well as giving back to the community. The experiences are regularly cited by students as being highlights of their time
at the Mount.
Peer Leadership
Freshmen Forum
Siena Community Service
The Justice Project
Big Sister- Little Sister
Senior Seminar
Project Excel
Peer Leadership
Peer Leadership, is designed with a dual purpose:
- to assist incoming Freshmen in adjusting to the new world of high school
- to foster the leadership qualities of selected Seniors by helping Freshmen in the adjustment process
The program starts with Freshmen Orientation, the first two days at school, and continues throughout the first semester. In small groups of ten to twelve, freshmen meet one period weekly facilitated by teams of two Senior leaders. In these groups the Freshmen share their feelings about adjusting to the Mount and seek solutions to any problems they may have. Together, they discover their new world, themselves and some brand-new relationships.
Seniors who have volunteered and have qualified for this leadership role are given special training. Under the direction of their moderator, Victoria Minish, a History teacher at the Mount, the Seniors learn how to facilitate group discussion and group activities for the incoming Freshmen, drawing upon their own experiences to initiate their younger peers into life at the Mount.
SEE Peer Leadership in Student Life for details
Freshmen Forum
Freshmen Forum is a program offered to all freshmen during the second semester of the year. All aspects of their lives are discussed and examined to further help make their high school years fulfilling. Topics include study skills, wellness, peer pressure, academic advancement and social interaction.
Siena Community Service Program
|
With so many opportunities available to our students, we ask that they give a little back to their community through our four-year Siena Community Service Program. This program, which is a graduation requirement, is designed to introduce each student gradually to the experience and responsibility of helping others. Ultimately, we strive to give our students a lifelong dedication to the value of service.
- Each year, students are responsible for logging in a specified number of hours in community service.
- As a student advances in school, her number of accountable hours increases and the area of service moves from on-campus to off-campus outreach.
- During her Senior year, each student writes about her service experience, reflecting on the impact and value of her work.
The Siena Program allows our young women to use their strengths to help strengthen others. As students discover, respond to and become more personally involved with the needs of others, they come to realize that service can be a privilege which often gives the helper as much as the one she helps.
SEE Siena Community Service in Student Life for 2008-09 details and Student/Parent contract form
|
|
The Justice Project
The Justice Project is an ongoing, school wide emersion in justice as a lived response to Catholic social teaching. Students participate in a yearly Justice Day as well as ongoing projects calling for action.
Big Sister - Little Sister
A tradition of the Mount for decades, Big Sister - Little Sister is an additional program designed to ease the newcomers' transition to high school--- a friendly face ready to give guidance and support.
- Summer before the student enters the Mount each incoming Freshman is contacted by her big sister, a Junior who welcomes and helps with any concerns or questions the younger student may have
- The relationship continues the next two years during events such as the Christmas Party, Ring Ceremony, and Big Sister- Little Sister Games Day
Senior Seminar
The road to college can be exciting and daunting to high school seniors. The Senior Seminar is designed to assist our graduating students with the knowledge and the tools necessary to make a successful transition to college life. The seminar topics include the following: time management, study skills, roommates, budgeting and credit card use, substance abuse, social life on campus, stress and healthy lifestyle choices.
Project Excel
|
This program provides the opportunity for Juniors and Seniors with an interest in a specific subject to take courses at Caldwell College.
- These courses earn transferable college credits.
- The Caldwell College course has to be taken 3 PM or after.
- There is a fee of approximately $500 per course payable to Caldwell College.
- For details on eligibility and grading SEE Project Excel in the Courses section.
|
|
|
