2025-2026 Summer Mailer by Bellarmine College Preparatory

SUMMER MAILER

PREPARING YOU FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR

ALL GRADE LEVELS

1ST SEMESTER CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

September

Sophomores:

Juniors:

Seniors:

ATHLETICS

KEVIN SALDIVAR (ATHLETIC DIRECTOR) ksaldivar@bcp.org

All students trying out for a school sport are required to be cleared medically PRIOR to the start of tryouts. Students will not be permitted to participate in any conditioning program, tryout, practice, scrimmage, or game until they have completed all necessary information through Magnus Health. Please direct all your questions regarding medical eligibility to Director of Sports Medicine, Mark Moreno at mmoreno@bcp.org

For information regarding:

• Fall tryouts for all levels of cross country, football, and water polo, click HERE

• Freshmen football, including summer mini-camps and sports performance camps, click HERE

• Incoming freshmen sports performance camps, click HERE

CAMPUS MINISTRY

MISSY SCOTT-FLOREZ (CAMPUS MINISTRY DIRECTOR) mscott-florez@bcp.org

RETREATS

BCP Retreats Video

KAIROS (Juniors & Seniors): Kairos retreat registration is open to Juniors and Seniors. This 4-day, 3-night retreat is transformative. Kairos is a pinnacle Bellarmine experience that should not be missed. Patterned on the 4 movements of the Spiritual Exercises, Kairos is an internal spiritual adventure where one has the opportunity to build deep friendships, discover their true self, and become the person God is calling them to be. Check out THIS video to learn about the impact of Kairos.

SOPHOMORE RETREAT: This 2-day retreat is called the Sophomore Leadership Overnight Retreat and focuses on students’ growth as servant leaders. On retreat, students will have an opportunity to rest, be in nature, connect with friends, play games, and listen to God's voice as it speaks to their hearts. This retreat is a fun experience, and an excellent opportunity to build an identity as a servant leader and a person for and with others.

FRESHMAN RETREAT: This is a required activity for all students in the class of 2029. The overnight retreat will begin on Thursday, January 29 and conclude on Friday, January 30. The retreat is hosted at Asilomar Retreat and Conference Center, and transportation, lodging, and meals will be provided. Please plan your family calendar so that your son can attend, and more details about the retreat will be shared during the fall semester.

For more information on all opportunities that Campus Ministry is offering for students to get involved this year, CLICK HERE.

CLASS SCHEDULES

SCHEDULING OFFICE: sched@bcp.org

Scheduling Philosophy:

For the past several years, our scheduling practice has been rooted with great intention, beginning with our admissions process, and continuing with our annual counseling presentations. Students will continue to discern their course selections by engaging in thoughtful conversations with their personal counselors that include discussing their social, spiritual, and leadership growth, in addition to their co-curricular activities. Our counselors are experts in understanding adolescents and are quite aware of your student’s aspirations and abilities, hence focusing on the need to have balance in their lives. Our experience provides us with the knowledge of how to ensure the appropriate course placement to satisfy Bellarmine’s high school graduation requirements and prepare your student for college admissions.

All course selections entered in the OCR are viewed as having equal priority when scheduled. Course availability is subject to change, and there is no guarantee of course placement. Thus, we are unable to accommodate all requests. While we make every effort to place the students in their requested courses, at times, we are unable to do so. There are several reasons as to why a student may not be placed in a course, such as: pre-requisites not being met; desired course not being offered; a scheduling conflict with another required course; etc. As such, the Director of Scheduling reserves the right to adjust a student’s schedule to ensure graduation requirements are being met, even if that means enrolling the student in a course that was not requested.

Expected Distribution:

Class schedules will be distributed at the end of July.

CURA:

• As a reminder, all students from grades 10 through 12 have a course called CURA built into their schedule. This class is designed to provide support and guidance to students as they navigate their high school years. It meets periodically with the counseling department, and focuses on topics such as academic planning, career exploration, and social-emotional well-being. For 9th graders, CURA is a course that is part of their regular schedule, providing them with a strong foundation for their high school experience. CURA is not a free period. Students are expected to attend during the times CURA is scheduled.

“Free period” is the only course without a requirement to meet.

Schedule Adjustments

We understand that occasionally, unique situations may arise with a student’s schedule. Please note that schedule modifications are rare, as we work diligently to ensure all graduation requirements are met while honoring student course requests. If you believe your schedule has a significant error - such as missing a required course, an incorrect number of courses, or other oversights – please contact the Scheduling Office at sched@bcp.org

Responses to inquiries will begin in early August.

When

Is the Add/Drop Period?

There are two opportunities for students to add or drop a course at the beginning of the school year:

• Summer Add/Drop Period: Opens on August 4, 2025 and closes on August 6, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.

• Fall Semester Add/Drop Period: Opens on August 18, 2025 and closes on September 5, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

For the Spring Semester, the add/drop period opens on January 5, 2026 and closes on January 9, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. This add/drop period only applies to newly enrolled classes.

Where Can I Find the Drop Forms?

The Drop Form may be found in the Portal (b.bcp.org) under Resources. Available later this summer.

The Late Drop Form may be requested from either a Personal Counselor or the Assistant Principal of Academics.

What Courses Can Be Dropped?

• A student may drop an AP/Honors course.

• A student may drop a Visual and Performing Arts, Computer Science, or Finess and Health course in order to obtain a free period, provided they are enrolled in at least seven (7) classes and receive counselor approval based on graduation requirements.

How Many AP/Honors Courses Can Be Dropped?

• A student may drop only one (1) AP or Honors course from his schedule during a semester.

What Is the Process for Dropping a Class?

• Students can access the Drop Form via the Portal (b.bcp.org) under the Resources section and should follow the listed steps outlined

What Happens If a Student Is Dropped from a Course After the End of the Add/Drop Period?

• If a student drops a year-long AP/Honors course at the end of the first semester, he will receive the grade earned on his transcript and placed in the college prep equivalent.

• If a student drops any AP/Honors course after the close of the add/drop period but before the end of the semester, he will receive a W (withdrawal) on his transcript. This situation occurs in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Assistant Principal for Academics. The Late Drop Form must be completed.

When a Student Drops, What Course Will Be Added?

• Students who withdraw from an AP or Honors course will be placed in the corresponding college preparatory (CP) equivalent course. The student’s current grade will transfer to the new course with no AP/Honors grade bump.

• If no CP equivalent exists and the student requires a course in that department or to fulfill graduation requirements, they will be reassigned to a non-AP/Honors course within the same department. If the student has already satisfied the department’s graduation requirements, they may be placed in a CP course from another department. In such cases, the student must complete essential assignments as designated by the course instructor and approved by the Assistant Principal of Academics.

Other Considerations

• During the add/drop period, AP/Honors courses must offer students feedback on a minimum of one (1) graded representative assessment to aid with appropriate decision making.

• If a student drops an AP/Honors course, purchase of new books or materials may be required for the new course.

Additional Scheduling Notes:

• Sophomores are required to take one semester of Health & Wellness.

TEXTBOOKS

Bellarmine has partnered with BNC Services (formerly MBS Direct) to provide a convenient and affordable solution for your student’s textbook needs. Our dedicated virtual bookstore ensures that every textbook you order is the exact edition required by the teacher. BNC Services offers a variety of options, including digital and print formats, as well as new, used, and rental books. Most titles are eligible for guaranteed buyback, and customer loyalty programs are also available. Additional information about the BNC virtual bookstore will be included in the scheduling notification email sent in July. Textbooks will be available for purchase from BNC once student schedules are released.

CO-CURRICULARS

There are more than 100 co-curriculars for your student to become involved in, with the levels of commitment varying greatly. Club Day (in early September) will provide your student with an opportunity to explore the options. A few of our larger cocurriculars include Maker Lab; Robotics; Speech and Debate; student media such as the Carillon (yearbook), The Bell Online (newspaper), Bellarmine Creative Studios (video) and KBCP (radio); theatre both acting and theatre tech; and choir. In addition, there are a wide range of clubs in the categories of government, service, academics, tech, culture, career, food, games, entertainment, and sports.

THE BELLS CHOIR

GINA ADAMS (CHOIR DIRECTOR) gadams@bcp.org

The Bellarmine “Bells” Choir sings at school liturgies, Baccalaureate Mass and special school events In addition to liturgical music, the choir sings contemporary Christian music accompanied and acapella. Music suggestions are always welcome. Rehearsals are held on Mondays after school from 2:40-3:30 p m in the Leontyne Chapel. All Bellarmine students are welcome to join the choir. The Bells Choir will be joined by the Presentation High School Choirs singing together in two holiday concerts. The choir is always in need of musicians let us know what instrument you play

COMMUNICATION: EMAIL & SOCIAL

EMAIL: We send emails to parents throughout the year. Make sure you keep your email address current with the school. If you need to make a change, please email the Registrar, Cindy Dunn at cdunn@bcp.org

SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow us, Like us, Subscribe!

PARENT PORTAL: BLUE

Bellarmine uses a parent portal to centralize information for parents. In this section, you will find a quick explanation of what is available in the Parent Portal (also known as “Blue”), plus instructions on how to sync the school calendar with your digital calendar.

TO LOG IN: Parents go to: HTTPS://B.BCP.ORG - OR - go to BCP.ORG and look for the BLUE LOGIN icon on the upper righthand corner of your screen.

What Is in Blue?

Dash: takes you to Blue Homepage.

Groups: takes you to your student’s class group and the parents’ group.

Classes: allows you to access your student’s Canvas pages for each class and see homework, due dates, etc.

Directory: will allow you to access the school’s directory of students and parents.

Link to Canvas to see your student’s class pages. Note: grades are typically progress grades.

News: takes you to recent news articles about the school and students.

Calendar: (available August 1) shows the school’s Master calendar. You can download the calendar from here.

Resources: is where you can find forms and handbooks, such as the StudentParent handbook, absentee note, CSP timecards, etc.

Explorer and Search: is the place to go to find out about activities and groups at the school.

Link to Powerschool to see your student’s official grades.

How to Download the School Calendar (Available August 1):

Click on “Calendar”, then click “iCal Sync” to download a file called “blueCal.” For Apple users, the iCal link will be copied to your clipboard and when you open the downloaded file, it will automatically sync with your Calendar app. For Google Calendar users, navigate to your settings within Google Calendar and click “Import & Export.” Select the downloaded “blueCal” file from your computer and click “Import.”

COMMUTING TO BELLARMINE

CALTRAIN

Caltrain stops at Bellarmine’s College Park Station four times per day. New in 2025: Bellarmine participates in the GoPass Program which offers student riders the opportunity to purchase an Annual Caltrain Pass for $99 per year. Please contact Sonya Arriola sarriola@bcp.org for more information on how to purchase a GoPass. You will find schedule details on Caltrain’s website.

Important: Caltrain Service Change Affecting Riders from South County

Starting Monday, June 16, 2025, Caltrain will suspend electric train service to Tamien Station for approximately eight months due to construction work on the Guadalupe Bridge. During this period, students traveling from South County who normally transfer at Tamien should instead transfer at San Jose Diridon Station.

Specifically: Students who currently take Train 819 and transfer to Train 113 at Tamien should make that transfer at San Jose Diridon instead. Students should continue to board the third car from the north on Train 113, which is the designated car that opens at College Park Station.

For updated schedule details, visit www.caltrain.com/status.

VTA

The closest VTA bus Route 22 stop is located at the corner of The Alameda and Taylor/Naglee Streets, just a few blocks from Bellarmine. It also services the Santa Clara and Diridon train stations. Buses run approximately every 15 minutes. You can view current schedules, routes, and VTA safety rules at www.vta.org.

CARPOOL PORTAL

Bellarmine is proud to announce a new, searchable Carpool Portal to assist in your carpool planning. The new portal provides families with a customizable map and a downloadable list of families near your home address. A few things to note:

All families are automatically enrolled in the Carpool portal unless they opt-out. The portal is only accessible to registered families at Bellarmine. The portal will display your home address and home phone number. If you’d like your email or cell to also display on the portal, you must set those preferences to “yes.”

Please note this portal is to be used for carpooling only. Use of families' information for any other purpose is strictly prohibited.

Access the portal at HTTPS://B.BCP.ORG/CARPOOL

BELLARMINE BUS PROGRAM

Bellarmine will service morning-only home-to-school bus routes to these four locations. The cost is $1,500 per student rider for the school year.

1) Almaden to Bellarmine

Two stops: Almaden and Camden at 7:35 a.m.; San Jose Water District Parking lot at 7:45 a.m.

2) Silver Creek to Bellarmine

Two stops: Silver Creek Community Market (5667 Silver Creek Valley Rd) at 7:20 a.m.; Aborn & Capitol 7:30 a.m.

3) Los Altos/Cupertino to Bellarmine

Two stops: Andronico’s at Magdalena and Foothill 7:30 a.m.; Homestead Square Shopping Center 7:43 a.m.

4) Fremont to Bellarmine:

Two stops: Warm Springs BART station 7:25 a.m.; Milpitas at the Great Mall 7:45 a.m.

TO REGISTER FOR THE 2025-2026 BELLARMINE BUS:

Parents go to: HTTPS://B.BCP.ORG

Log in, click on Parent Photo (or Profile & Forms) and then click on your STUDENT’S name under "Household." Scroll down to “Bus Routes.” [See screenshot below.] Under “Taking a bus to school," select "Yes.” In the drop-down menu, select your student's desired route and stop. Click “Save Changes.” We will follow up with you to request payment in August when school starts.

NEW FEATURES:

Bellarmine's bus provider Student Transportation of America has a tracking app so parents can see bus arrival and departure times. The provider will contact families in late July with instructions on how to download and use the tracking app.

If you have questions on any of the above, please contact Sonya Arriola at sarriola@bcp.org or 408-537-9202.

HEALTH FORMS (REQUIRED)

MARK MORENO (DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE) mmoreno@bcp.org

Bellarmine continues to partner with Magnus Health to collect and store student health and medical information. Your list of health record “to-dos” is dependent upon whether your student is new to Bellarmine, is a returning student, or whether they are an athlete.

Your list of to-dos will be flagged in your online Student Medical Record (SMR) on the Magnus Health site. You will access the SMR via PowerSchool, using your Bellarmine parent account credentials and clicking on the button titled “Magnus Health SMR Portal.” A reminder that all items in Magnus were due by June 1. If you have not completed them yet, please do so as soon as possible. Course schedules will be held until all forms are completed.

If your student is a prospective student-athlete, please note that a physical must be completed prior to their first day of Bellarmine Athletics, including participations in summer workouts.

Magnus Health customer support is available to help you with any difficulties you may have navigating through the Magnus system. They can be reached at 877-461-6831 or service@magnushealthportal.com You can also reach out to helpdesk@bcp.org with additional technical questions.

For questions related to health requirements for students, please contact Mark Moreno at mmoreno@bcp.org.

CAFETERIA ACCOUNTS

The cafeteria and trailer are convenient places for students to purchase meals or grab a snack. Fresh and healthy choices are prepared daily on campus, and prices are competitive and reasonable.

HOURS OF OPERATIONS

Cafeteria:

Monday –Thursday: 7:30 a.m - 3:00 p.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Trailer:

Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

NEW MEAL ONLINE PLATFORM - MySchoolBucks

The MySchoolaccount via FSS/Vanco platform has been discontinued, and Bellarmine has newly partnered with MySchoolBucks, an online service where you can easily and securely pay for school meals using a credit/debit card or electronic check.

Parents may no longer fund their student lunch account via MySchoolaccount, and final account lunch balances from MySchoolaccount have been rolled over to MySchoolBucks for immediate student use.

Parents are required to create a MySchoolBucks account in order to add funds to their student’s meal account, view meal balances and cafeteria purchases, and receive low balance alerts.

HOW TO CREATE A MYSCHOOLBUCKS ACCOUNT:

1. Download the mobile app or visit myschoolbucks.com

2. Create your free account

Make sure to select “Bellarmine College Prep” under the “school/district” dropdown menu.

3. Add your student

Input your student’s first name, last name, and student ID number

4. Add funds to your student’s meal account

For More Information on How To:

• Create Your Account, click HERE

• Set Up Automatic Payments, click HERE

• Set Up Low Balance Alerts, click HERE

SCHOOL CAFETERIA PROGRAM

Bellarmine’s goal is to become a cashless campus. There are three payment options to purchase items from the cafeteria or trailer:

1. Pay with MySchoolBucks – For details, reference “Funding Your MySchoolBucks Accout” section below.

2. Credit Card: Processing fees of 4.3% plus $0.40 per transaction.

3. Apply Pay: Processing fees of 4.3% plus $0.40 per transaction. Bellarmine Student IDs are required to be presented when issuing payment.

FUNDING YOUR MYSCHOOLBUCKS ACCOUNT

• Credit Card & Electronic Check:

Once logged into your MySchoolBucks you may add funds to your student’s account with a credit card/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card) or an electronic check. A handling fee of $3.25 will be assessed for each deposit funded with a credit/debit card and a handling fee of $2.75 will be assessed for each deposit funded via e-check, with a maximum deposit of $200 per deposit. It will take an average of half an hour for the deposit to be applied to your student’s account at school.

We encourage families to use the MySchoolBucks “Auto Pay” feature to automatically fund your son’s account on a specific date and continue on a reoccurring basis or, you can have the payments made automatically when a student’s account falls below a specified amount. To learn more about the “Auto Pay” feature, please click HERE.

• Checks:

You may mail a check or send a check with your student, and the money will be deposited into your MySchoolBucks account on the day that it is received. There are no processing fees for funding your MySchoolBucks account with a check, and there are no limits/maximum on the amount of the check payment.

Checks should be made out to Bellarmine College Preparatory and in the memo of the check, please include “lunch account”, your student’s name, and the student ID number.

Checks may be delivered to the Bellarmine Business Office (2nd floor of Mathewson Hall), or mailed to Bellarmine College Prep, Attn: Business Office, 960 W Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95126. Starting the second week of school, checks may also be delivered to the Cafeteria Staff at the lunch line.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions about getting started with MySchoolBucks, please call (855) 832-5226. If you have any questions about our lunch program, please email the Business Office at businessoffice@bcp.org with the subject line: “Student ID, Student Name, Lunch Account.”

MATHEWSON LIBRARY

PAUL BALLESTEROS (DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY & RESEARCH SERVICES) pballesteros@bcp.orgThe library provides resources and services for the Bellarmine community. We are located downstairs under the Liccardo Center. We are open: Monday –Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p m and Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p m. The Mathewson Library offers: research support and instruction, BellBooks (student book club), spaces for individual and collaborative study, docking stations with monitors and charging capabilities, comfy furniture and large tables, printing and scanning, and access to San José Public Library’s print and digital resources. Our on-site collection includes nonfiction and fiction books, including genres such as fantasy, graphic novels, and self-improvement, eBooks via Sora/Overdrive, scholarly databases, and textbooks for in-library use

PARENT PARTICIPATION IN THE BELLARMINE COMMUNITY

The relationship between parents/caregivers and school plays an important role in the educational success of students. Parents are also instrumental in helping build a sense of community through participation in campus events, donation of time and individual talents, and support of all Bellarmine students.

GET INVOLVED & CONNECTED

The Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild (BMG) and Dads’ Club are incredibly active on campus. In fact, as a parent of a current student, you are automatically considered a member of BMG or the Dads’ Club. One of the best ways to meet other families is by participating in the many cultural, social, spiritual and/or informational events that our parent groups spearhead. Events are included on the school calendar, and community-wide reminders are noted in the weekly connection email prior to upcoming events. There is something for everyone! For more information, visit:

 Dads’ Club Information

 Mothers’ Guild Information

The Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild will hold its ﬁrst meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd at 5:45 p.m. for socializing with a light dinner, followed by a presentation at 6:40 p.m. in the Liccardo Center. All moms are welcome. Meetings are held every month (except December) usually during the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month.

To encourage community building and information sharing, BMG hosts a Facebook Group for each grade. To join, request access using your student’s name and agree to the group rules. A WhatsApp group for each grade is also available Use the links in the Parent Connections section (in Blue) to join.

Support our school community by helping with events or special projects, click Volunteer Opportunities to view signups and get involved throughout the year.

MOTHERS’ GUILD 71st FASHION SHOW FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE

SAVE THE DATE – NOVEMBER 22, 2025

The Fashion Show is BMG’s signature community event and the Bay Area’s longest running event of its kind. In the spirit of the Jesuit mission “for and with others,” the show is a way for our community to come together, celebrate our boys, and raise critical tuition assistance funds.

Please save the date, November 22nd, at the Signia by Hilton in downtown San Jose for a lunch or dinner show. This year’s theme “Bright Lights, City Nights” highlights our boys as shining lights on stage while taking the audience on a fashion adventure to exciting places. We appreciate your support, whether it’s volunteering, donating, and/or walking with your senior son in the show. The whole school, from freshman families through senior families, alumni, faculty and staff are needed to make this event a success. Please fill out this volunteer form to get involved and also look for updates on our Fashion Show website, Instagram, and Facebook. For questions, reach out to the Fashion Show chair, Jodi Buyyounouski, fashionshow@bcp.org or jodi.buyyounouski@gmail.com.

Also mark your calendars for the Fashion Show Kick-off meeting on Thursday, August 28th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Liccardo Center at Bellarmine. Go Bells!

CAMPUS STORE

SHANNON BRANNAN (CAMPUS STORE MANAGER) sbrannan@bcp.org

Get involved at the Bellarmine Campus Store! The Bellarmine Campus Store is proudly staffed by volunteers - and we’d love for you to join us! Whether you are available once a week, once a month, or somewhere in between, your time is welcome and appreciated. Volunteers typically commit to a three-hour shift during the school day. If you’re available for an occasional evening or weekend shift instead, we’d still love to hear from you! To become a regular volunteer, please contact Shannon Brannan at sbrannan@bcp.org or 408-537-9240

Campus Store Hours

Summer Hours (June 16 – July 25):

Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Closed July 3 & 4.

Regular Hours Resume August 14:

Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

You can also shop the Campus Store online anytime at https://store.bcp.org open 24/7 for your convenience!

ANNUAL GIVING SUPPORT

Fundraising is an essential component of our annual budget. We respectfully ask that all parents consider making a ﬁnancial contribution to Bellarmine beyond tuition at a level commensurate with their circumstances. What matters more than the size of any gift is the full participation of our parent community in contributing to the Bellarmine experience for our students.

Parents are invited to support the school in a variety of ways. The Bellarmine Fund provides resources necessary to offer outstanding academic and co-curricular programs; the Direct Tuition Assistance Fund supports tuition assistance for one in every four students; our Endowment helps secure Bellarmine’s future; and capital campaigns and projects, as applicable, ensure continued campus improvements that enhance the educational experience for our students.

Other ways to support Bellarmine include participation in our two signature fundraising events: the Mothers’ Guild Fashion Show for Tuition Assistance in the Fall, and the Golden Bell Auction in the Spring. For more information, please contact Brian Christensen, Director of Annual Giving, at bchristensen@bcp.org or 408-5379210.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

If you need technical help with ANY of our online systems, including issues with logging in, the BCP Helpdesk is ready to support you. Simply e-mail helpdesk@bcp.org. The beginning of the school year is one of our Helpdesk’s busiest times, so thank you in advance for your patience.

FRESHMEN

NEW BEGINNINGS: ORIENTATION

Orientation for Freshmen & Transfer Students

We are excited to host an orientation for all freshmen and transfer students on Wednesday, August 13 Freshmen should arrive on campus at 8:30 a.m. and expect to stay until 3:00 p.m. Transfer students should arrive on campus at 11:00 a.m. and expect to stay until 1:00 p m. This is a mandatory orientation for all incoming students. The primary goal of this day is to create a support system for new students with their “Big Brothers,” help them learn about what Bellarmine offers them both inside and outside the classroom, and to encourage them to quickly become full and active participants in the Bellarmine experience. Lunch is provided. Students should bring a hat and/or sunscreen, a small backpack or bag, a reusable water bottle, and their Bellarmine Surface. More info available here. Contact Mrs. Kathleen Martin (Servant Leadership Coordinator) at kmartin@bcp.org with questions.

CHRISTIAN SERVICE PROGRAM

GERONIMO DESUMALA (DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE) gdesumala@bcp.org

One of the hallmarks of Bellarmine education is a deep commitment to service rooted in our Jesuit tradition. Through our four-year Christian Service Program (CSP), all students are invited to serve and give back to their communities-both near and far. This program is a graduation requirement and begins in each student’s very first year.

When Can My Student Start Logging Service Hours?

While many new students are eager to begin earning CSP hours over the summer, please note that freshmen may only begin logging hours starting Wednesday, August 13, 2025, which is the first day of orientation Any service performed before this date will not count toward the freshman year requirement unless your student is enrolled in Bellarmine Prep during Bellarmine Summer Days Students register for Bell Prep will participate in a special Christian Service Unit, which includes opportunities to learn about the program and start earning hours early.

What Are the Requirements?

Freshmen are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of direct service during the school year. Service hours are divided into two checkpoints:

• 7.5 hours due by Wednesday, December 3, 2025

• Remaining 7.5 hours due by Wednesday, April 15, 2026

By the Spring deadline, those Freshmen who exceed 100 total hours will be eligible for an Arrupe Distinction from the Christian Service Program at the Spring Awards Assembly.

What Counts as Direct Service?

Freshman service must involve face-to-face interaction with younger children (Pre-K through 8th grade). Examples of approved service include:

• Assisting in elementary or middle school classrooms

• Helping with sports, crafts, or enrichment activities

• Volunteering in school day care or after-school programs

• Tutoring or mentoring programs offered by public libraries or youth centers Students may serve at any public or private elementary or middle school, library, or one of our approved agencies.

Requests to serve at agencies not on our list can be submitted for approval. Many students reach out to a former elementary school teacher to arrange a meaningful service opportunity.

Please note:

• Babysitting or informal tutoring for neighbors or friends will not fulfill this requirement.

• A family member cannot supervise or verify a student’s hours.

School breaks-including Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and February-are excellent times to complete service hours.

Required Service Day: October 15

Wednesday, October 15, 2025, is a mandatory freshman service day. All freshmen will spend this special school day completing at least three hours of service. We will guide students on how to sign up or arrange their service once the school year begins.

To learn more about Bellarmine’s Christian Service and Immersion Programs please visit: https://www.bcp.org/faith-service

We look forward to supporting your student in making meaningful contributions to their community during their time at Bellarmine.

FRESHMEN COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

Personal Counselors for the Class of 2029

Metanoia Maka nmaka@bcp.org 408-537-9278 Acosta, Jesus – Kunimura, Baxter Bill San Hamel wsanhamel@bcp.org 408-537-9265 Landhuis, Isaiah – Zia, Rayyan

Director of Personal Counseling – Wilfredo Vargas

We are looking forward to welcoming your student to the Bellarmine community in August as well as greeting you during our Parent events. In the meantime, we hope the following information may be helpful to you as your students begin their Bellarmine experience. Enjoy your summer! We look forward to meeting you.

Counseling

Your student has been assigned to either Metanoia Maka or Bill San Hamel. Assignments are made alphabetically. The counselors will be available when they return to campus on August 11 During Back-to-School Night on Thursday, August 21, you will be able to meet your student’s counselor during the time set aside for their “free period.”

Mrs. Maka and Mr. San Hamel will help your student with their transition to Bellarmine and their overall experience as a member of the Class of 2029. Your student will meet with their assigned counselor to discuss course schedules, academic performance, responsibility, integrity, appropriate Surface use, and balance. They will encourage your student’s involvement in our extensive co -curricular clubs, sports, Christian Service, and Campus Ministry programs to promote their personal growth and leadership skills. The counselors will underscore that Bellarmine is an environment where your student can begin to discover their likes, dislikes, and what they might be good at. There are many ways for them to become involved and deﬁne themself as a Bell!

College Planning

As your student enters the second semester of their junior year, they will take a College Guidance course and then begin to work with their assigned College Counselor. This work will continue through the college application, admission, and decision processes. The Bellarmine College Counselors hold Sophomore and Junior Parent College Nights each semester to introduce parents to the services, opportunities, and requirements for college exploration, ﬁnancing, selection, and decisions.

MAIA Learning

MAIA Learning is a web-based program we use with our students and families as they explore opportunities in colleges and careers during their four years at Bellarmine. Each freshman and their parents/guardians will receive their MAIA Learning username and password. During the upcoming year, students will be working with their Personal Counselors as they explore their future educational career options and interests. In the junior year, members of the Class of 2029 will begin to focus on college characteristics and their opportunities. They will participate in the Junior College Guidance course in January 2028 and will receive their College Counselor assignments at that time.

Course Options

As Bellarmine is a college preparatory school, our course patterns and graduation requirements are designed to meet the standards for admission to the University of California and California State University, as well as private colleges and universities. Students’ academic performance in these courses all four years will be very important as they apply to college. We thought you might be interested in referring to the “Graduation Requirements Tracker” document, which outlines options for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. These documents are available from the Personal Counselors.

Time Management

Your student’s growth as a learner and a healthy teen is dependent upon balanced intellectual, physical, and emotional living. The BCP Time Management Grid is a tool utilized each year in counseling to identify how students spend their time and energy and might highlight areas of over or under commitment. Used in conjunction with the Course Workload Estimation sheet, you and your student can determine if they have time to relax, to engage in activities, to study, and to take good care of their body. These documents are available from the Personal Counselors.

E-Mails

We send e-mails to students and their parents/guardians throughout the year. If you are not receiving e-mails or if your e-mail has changed, please contact the Registrar, Cindy Dunn at cdunn@bcp.org to update your e-mail address. Once you have established your own MAIA Learning account, please keep your e-mail address up to date in MAIA as we send parent e-mails through MAIA, as well.

FRESHMEN COUNSELING AND COLLEGE COUNSELING PARENT NIGHTS

Fall, TBA (All Freshman Parents/Guardians and Transfer Parents/Guardians) Freshman & Transfer Parent Night

This evening will provide an overview of the Freshman Year: expectations with technology, academic load, overall balance, study skills, communication, and involvement, as well as information about student support services. Presented by Class of 2029 Personal Counselors, Metanoia Maka and Bill San Hamel.

Fall, TBA, Virtual (Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Parents/Guardians Only) College Admission Testing

Up-to-date information and explanation of SAT, ACT, and PSAT will be presented along with advice on how, when and why test prep works and does not work. Presented by the College Counselors.

FRESHMEN SUMMER ACADEMIC TO-DO’S

ALL MATH LEVELS

If your student would like to self-study math this summer to prepare for their next year’s class, here’s what we recommend: For students entering Geometry or Algebra 2, use Bellarmine’s CPM curriculum materials to brush up on previous material. For Geometry Readiness and Algebra 2 Readiness, we recommend solidifying your Algebra 1 skills. There is no reason to preview or “get ahead” as the most successful students have solid prior knowledge. To receive a pdf study guide, complete with practice problems and solutions, email Mr. Williams at jwilliams@bcp.org by July 15th.

If they are entering into Precalculus or Calculus, email Mr. Williams at jwilliams@bcp.org to request recommended self-study materials for Precalculus Readiness or Calculus Readiness by July 15th.

ENGLISH 1 & ENGLISH 1 HONORS

Your summer reading assignment can be found HERE. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. DeLateur at mdelateur@bcp.org

SOPHOMORES

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

Personal Counselors for the Class of 2028

Chris Atkins catkins@bcp.org

408-537-9207

Heidi Rolfson hrolfson@bcp.org 408-537-9288

Director of Personal Counseling – Wilfredo Vargas

Ablao, Ethan - Krugh, Benjamin

Kung, Chase - Zverok-Chai, Xander

We are looking forward to working with you and your student in the coming months. Sophomores face a more challenging curriculum and have the opportunity to become more involved in service, retreats, leadership, athletics, speech and debate, Robotics, the Quiz Bowl, and other organizations both on and off campus. We are here to support their academic success as well as their personal and spiritual development.

E-Mails

We send e-mails to students and their parents/guardians throughout the year. If you are not receiving e-mails or if your email has changed, please contact the Registrar, Cindy Dunn at cdunn@bcp.org to update your e-mail address. Once you have established your own MAIA Learning account, please keep your e-mail address up to date in MAIA as we send parent e-mails through MAIA, as well.

Time

Management

Your student’s growth as a learner and a healthy teen is dependent upon balanced intellectual, physical, and emotional living. The BCP Time Management Grid is a tool utilized each year in Counseling to identify how students spend their time and energy and might highlight areas of over or under commitment. Used in conjunction with the Course Workload Estimation sheet, you and your student can determine if they have time to relax, to engage in activities, to study, and to take good care of their body. These documents are available from the Personal Counselors.

Mid-Semester Fall Break in October

Monday and Tuesday, October 13-14

Wednesday, October 15

Regular Classes

PSAT given at BCP, required of all BCP Sophomores

Thursday and Friday, October 16-17 Fall Break (Classes do not meet)

COLLEGE COUNSELING PARENT NIGHTS

Fall, TBA, Virtual (Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Parents/Guardians)

College Admission Testing

Up-to-date information and explanation of SAT, ACT, and PSAT will be presented along with advice on how and when and why test prep works and does not work. Presented by the College Counselors.

Tuesday, December 9 (Sophomore Parents/Guardians)

Sophomore Parent College Night

7:00 p.m. Sobrato Theatre

We will be presenting information on the college admissions world, as trends and factors are substantively changing the ways families choose college and colleges recruit and admit students. Parents will receive speciﬁc information on the college planning process, admissions, testing, and the BCP calendar. Presented by the College Counselors.

Tuesday, February 10 (Sophomore Parents/Guardians)

Joint Sophomore Parent College Night

7:00 p.m. Virtual Event

In a program jointly sponsored by BCP, Cristo Rey, Presentation and Notre Dame HS, college admissions ofﬁcers from a CSU campus, a UC campus, Santa Clara, and an out-of-state college will be describing the educational opportunities and admission requirements for their institutions

SOPHOMORE SUMMER ACADEMIC TO-DO’S

ALL MATH LEVELS

If they are entering into Precalculus or Calculus, email Mr. Williams at jwilliams@bcp.org to request recommended self-study materials for Precalculus Readiness or Calculus Readiness by July 15th.

ENGLISH 2 HONORS

Your summer reading assignment can be found HERE. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. DeLateur at mdelateur@bcp.org.

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE

Students, be on the lookout for an email from Sr. Martinez-Serranía with instructions on how to access our class in Enfoques called “BCP Verano: 4APLyC (JK y LMS).” Be sure to complete all assigned activities by Sunday, August 10th

AP WORLD HISTORY

Please see Mr. Young’s email from 5/19/25 about the summer reading assignment from A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage.

JUNIORS

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

Personal Counselors for the Class of 2027

Elizabeth Valencia evalencia@bcp.org

Chirs Colletti ccolletti@bcp.org

Director of Personal Counseling – Wilfredo Vargas

Director of College Counseling – Katy Murphy

408-537-9269

408-537-9251

Abe, Makoto – Manullang, Harrison

Maragliano, Sam – Zucek, Daxton

College Counselors – Madeline Duckhorn - Sneha Kohirkar - Marc McGee - Joe Romano – Jenny Uribe

We are looking forward to working with you and your student in the coming months. During this year, juniors will face their toughest academic challenges, and we hope to further develop their organizational and leadership skills. They will also become much more involved in the college exploration process. Your student will continue to meet with their Academic and Personal Counselor this entire year. In January 2026, your student will also be assigned a College Counselor to assist in the college search and application process. This collaborative effort provides you and your student with support and guidance as they navigate their junior year.

E-Mails

Juniors and MAIA Learning

MAIA is a great source of information on college characteristics and notiﬁes students about upcoming college admissions ofﬁcer visits to Bellarmine.

Junior College Guidance Class

We strongly encourage juniors to come meet with the college admissions ofﬁcers who visit Bellarmine in the Fall. All juniors will be taking the College Guidance class during their Cura class over three days in the fall and four days in January and March. The students will learn their college counselor assignments in early January 2026. Individual college counseling meetings will begin in February. Family college counseling meetings will take place in May and June 2026.

Time Management Tools

Mid-Semester Fall Break in October

Monday and Tuesday, October 13-14

Wednesday, October 15

Regular Classes

PSAT given at BCP, required of all BCP juniors Mini College Fair in the Quad for students after the PSAT until 1:00 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, October 16-17 Fall Break (Classes Do Not Meet)

COLLEGE COUNSELING PARENT NIGHTS

Tuesday, November 11 (Junior Parents/Guardians)

Fall Junior Parent College Night

7:00 p.m. Sobrato Theatre

We will be presenting information on the college admissions world, as trends and factors are substantively changing the ways families choose colleges and colleges recruit and admit students. Parents will receive speciﬁc information on the college planning process and BCP calendar. Presented by the College Counselors.

Fall, TBA, Virtual (Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Parents/Guardians) College Admission Testing

Up-to-date information and explanation of SAT, ACT, and PSAT will be presented along with advice on how, when and why test prep works and does not work. Presented by the College Counselors.

Thursday, January 22 (Junior Parents/Guardians)

Junior Parent College Night

7:00 p.m. Sobrato Theatre

Join the College Counselors as they host a dean of college admissions in a discussion on how parents can work effectively in the process of college exploration, admission, and selection. The College Counselors will also present updates on testing and admissions trends.

JUNIOR SUMMER ACADEMIC TO-DO’S

ALL MATH LEVELS

If they are entering into Precalculus or Calculus, email Mr. Williams at jwilliams@bcp.org to request recommended self-study materials for Precalculus Readiness or Calculus Readiness by July 15th.

AP BIOLOGY

Your summer assignment will be emailed to you by one of the AP Biology teachers. Any questions, please reach out to Ms. Patel at spatel@bcp.org or Ms. Yi at lyi@bcp.org

ENGLISH LITERATURE AP

Your summer reading assignment can be found HERE. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. DeLateur at mdelateur@bcp.org

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE

AP US HISTORY

The main textbook is Henretta’s America’s History for AP, 10th Edition. It will come with a review book, Strive for a 5, for the 10th Edition.

• REQUIRED summer reading: King of the North: Martin Luther King’s Life of Struggle Outside the South by Jeanne Theoharis

• OPTIONAL summer reading: The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and Citizens Who Fought to Defend It by Corey Brettschneider

There is NO need to purchase summer reading books. You may borrow from a library. We will have an assessment on the required reading the first or second class meeting of the year.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS/SOCIAL JUSTICE

All Juniors must read Men and Women for Others by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. before classes begin.

College Counselors for the Class of 2026

SENIORS

COLLEGE COUNSELING

Sneha Kohirkar skohirkar@bcp.org

Acosta, Diego – Corai, Adrien

Marc McGee mmcgee@bcp.org Cortes, Kyle – Guo, Thomas

Katy Murphy kmurphy@bcp.org Gupta, Aarush – Lee, Jason

Madeline Duckhorn mduckhorn@bcp.org Lee, Joshua – Okyar, Aidan

Jenny Uribe juribe@bcp.org Olakangil, Anthony – Simmers, Nathan

Joe Romano jromano@bcp.org Simmons, Trevor – Zullo, Cole

We are looking forward to working with you and your student in the coming months as they continue their journey toward their ultimate college choice. Please feel free to contact your college counselor by e-mail when we return to campus on August 14. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Mandatory College Launch Part Two on Sunday, August 17 from 12:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Beginning in the Gym. Seniors are required to attend and remain for the entire program. Failure to attend will result in two Saturday JUGs. Parents/guardians are encouraged to attend as well! Optional Family Mass at 12:00 p m in the Chapel.

The purpose of this program is to familiarize seniors and their parents with the “logistics” of applying - deadlines, teacher recommendations, ﬁnancial aid, scholarships, transcripts, testing, etc. We will also be presenting information on the new processes we have put in place to simplify the requests for transcripts and recommendations. Please plan to bring:

1. Materials to take notes during the program.

2. Water and snacks for the breaks.

3. Comfortable clothes (it will most likely be warm that day!)

Parent Reference

You will be receiving parent/guardian reference forms from your student’s College Counselor in August. The College Counselors often use information from these forms as we work with our seniors and write counselor recommendations. We hope you will enjoy this process, just a little! Please return this to College Counseling by mail or scanned document by e- mail no later than September 1.

E-Mails

Time Management

Your student’s growth as a learner and a healthy teen are dependent upon balanced intellectual, physical, and emotional living. The BCP Time Management Grid is a tool utilized each year in counseling to identify how students spend their time and energy and might highlight areas of over or under commitment. Used in conjunction with the Course Workload Estimation sheet, you and your student can determine if they have time to relax, to engage in activities, to study, and to take good care of their body. These documents are available from the Personal Counselors.

Parent Homework Summer Reading

• First priority: Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be by Frank Bruni

• Any: Admissions Matters by Springer; College Admission by Mamlet and VanDeVelde; Colleges That Change Lives by Pope; College Unranked by Thacker; The Hidden Ivies or The Public Ivies by Greene and Greene

Optional School Day SAT

Bellarmine has arranged for a School Day SAT on Monday, October 6th. This assessment is optional and available only for Bellarmine seniors. This is an official SAT, and these results will be available before the November 1 Early Application deadline. Registration will go through Bellarmine (not the College Board) and will open in late August. All seniors registering on time will be guaranteed a seat. Those working with Mrs. Hogan will be able to take the SAT with accommodations if they have been approved.

Mid-Semester Fall Break in October

Monday and Tuesday, October 13-14

Wednesday, October 15

Thursday and Friday, October 16-17

Regular Classes

Optional Assistance for completing UC and CSU applications by the College Counselors. Mini College Fair for students in the Quad from 11 a m – 1 p m.

Fall Break (Classes do not meet) This break gives seniors and their parents/guardians an excellent opportunity to visit colleges while they are in session!

SENIOR COUNSELING AND COLLEGE COUNSELING PARENT NIGHT

Wednesday, September 24 (Seniors and Parents/Guardians)

Senior Family Financial Aid Night

7:00 p.m. Virtual

Seniors and their parents are encouraged to attend to learn the vocabulary and timeline for applying for financial aid for college. Components of a financial aid package will be presented along with important information about completing the forms efficiently.

SENIOR SUMMER ACADEMIC TO-DO’S

ALL MATH LEVELS

If they are entering into Precalculus or Calculus, email Mr. Williams at jwilliams@bcp.org to request recommended self-study materials for Precalculus Readiness or Calculus Readiness by July 15th.

AP BIOLOGY

Your summer assignment will be emailed to you by Ms. Patel. Any questions, please reach out to Ms. Patel at spatel@bcp.org or Ms. Yi at lyi@bcp.org.

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Your summer assignment will be emailed to you by Mr. Flowers Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Flowers at sflowers@bcp.org.

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

Your summer reading assignment can be found HERE Any questions, please reach out to Mr. McCrystle at pmccrystle@bcp.org.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AP

Your summer reading assignment can be found HERE. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. DeLateur at mdelateur@bcp.org.

AP PHYSICS C

Your summer assignment will be emailed to you by Mr. Dutton. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Dutton at ddutton@bcp.org.

AP PHYSICS 2

Your summer assignment will be emailed to you by Mr. Yav. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Yav at pyav@bcp.org.

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE

Students, be on the lookout for an email from Sra. Martinez-Serranía with instructions on how to access our class in Enfoques called “BCP Verano: 4APLyC (JK y LMS). Be sure to complete all assigned activities by Sunday, August 10th