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Back to school Manual
A Viking Guide to the Start of School
Dear Viking, we get it, the start of school can be daunting-: new schedules, new friends, new expectations, and just lots of information to absorb. At Nolan Catholic, we strive to go above and beyond for our Viking families. One way we do this is by making sure that all of the most necessary information is easily accessible and in the same place for our Vikings.
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We hope you enjoy this Viking Guide to the 2023-24 school year. You can peruse our table of contents (below) to find the information you need. If you notice we are missing something, please don't hesitate to let us know. If you would like to ask us a more personal question, you can always reach the academic leadership team at principal@nchstx.org.
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We look forward to seeing you soon!
Table of contents
Click on any of the following links.
1.first Day of School
The first day of school can be exciting but it can also be overwhelming. That's okay! Take a deep breath; we are here to help you. Here are some important details that will prepare you for a successful first day of school:
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Gates open at 7 a.m. (for a map and instructions on carline, click here).
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Students should report to their A Period Class by 8 a.m. (so you want to arrive at least 20 minutes before class time).
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Tuesday will be a Liturgy day, this means you should wear your dress "grays." Click here to find out what this means.
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Tuesday will also be a picture day, so make sure you are well-groomed!
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If you arrive before 7:45 a.m., you will be directed to the Commons. Don't worry, other Vikings will be there to welcome you and guide you!
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As soon as you step out of your car, do a quick Viking check: make sure your cellphone is in your back-pack, your shirt is tucked in properly, that your tie is on, and that you are wearing school approved shoes. And oh! Don't forget to kiss mom good-bye (Vikings never shy away from loving on their family).
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If you are a freshmen, or a new upperclassman, please bring a sack lunch.
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Sophomores and Juniors will be dismissed at 11:15 a.m. from the Commons. Seniors will be dismissed at 11:55 a.m. New to Nolan upperclassmen will be dismissed at 1:15 p.m. All pick-ups should take place from the circle drive.
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All students will receive a "Day 1 Orientation," where we will cover academic and behavior expectations in a fun way.
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Freshmen: Starting at 1 p.m. you will be guided through your daily schedule. Practice makes perfect!
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Pick-up for Freshmen will begin at 3:00 p.m.
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Freshmen parents: Want to join Mr. Ortiz for a rosary before picking up your student? This will be a fun way to avoid carline, and a meaningful way to start building a relationship with our Head of School. Check in at the front vestibule and meet us in the chapel at 2:45 p.m.
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Feeling better about the first day of school but still want more information? We can't blame you for wanting to be super-prepared. So Here's the First Day schedule:
Worried you might forget all of this information? No worries! We don't expect you to remember everything. All you need to do is to approach the first kind face you see (which is everyone on campus) and ask for help. The Nolan Catholic staff rotate their duties to make sure that there are always several adults available to be attentive to every student's needs.
2.Second Day of School
Congratulations! You have now proved to yourself what we have always known about you: You are a young adult now and can be independent. So the second day of school should be much easier. Follow these tips and you will be good to go:
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Gates open at 7 a.m. (for a map and instructions on carline, click here).
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Classes begin at 8 a.m. (so you want to arrive at least 20 minutes before class time).
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Similar to the first day of school, if you arrive before 7:45 a.m., you will be directed to the commons, where you can play ping-pong, chess, or spend time with your new friends.
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As soon as you step out of your car, remember to do a quick Viking check: make sure your cellphone is in your back-pack, your shirt is tucked in properly, that your tie is on, and that you are wearing school approved shoes. Don't forget to kiss mom good-bye!
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The second day of school, Wednesday, August 16, will be an Anselm Day.
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Students will attend A, B, C, D, and E periods. (See academic schedule here).
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School will end at 2:40 p.m.
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Students who are being picked up should be picked up in the Circle drive. For a map of carline, please click here.
3.Academic Schedule
Now that you are a pro at doing school, there are a few resources you will always want to reference in order to stay engaged, make friends, and grow in Viking school spirit. What follows is a set of resources that will help you organize your school year.
Daily Schedule
Liturgy Schedule
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The Viking schedule is a rotating schedule.
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Students will only take five classes per day (four on Mass days).
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Classes are 60 minutes long.
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The schedule follows a college prep model: All five core classes and our 30+ electives will meet two to three times per week.
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Athletics and clubs will take place outside of the academic schedule (morning and afternoon). Students will still be able to earn Physical Education credit through participation in our athletic programs.
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Our academic schedule starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:40 p.m. every day.
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The schedule includes a daily 30-minute personal responsibility time called “Collegium.”
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The schedule includes one 10-minute passing period in the morning to allow for a snack and mental break.
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Here is our at-a-glance rotating schedule:
The easiest way to follow the class rotation is to consider which class you took last on the previous day. For example, if your last class was an “E” period, then tomorrow’s first class is an “F” period. The schedule follows an alphabetical rotation from letters “A” through “H,” making it easier to follow. You will also notice in the above eight-day cycle that our days are now named after Catholic saints who are referenced in our curriculum. A "St. Dominic" day means that our first period is a “D” period and will follow the sequence D, E, F, G, H. On days we have Mass—mostly on Wednesdays—we will drop the 5th or last period, since we only meet for four classes on Mass days. In these cases, you only need to consider the last class you took. For example, if yesterday you were on a St. Helena day, and your 5th period or “D” period was dropped because of Mass, then tomorrow will be a St. Dominic day.​
4.Quarter 1 schedule
There is no doubt that the above overview of the class rotation can be complicated. For this reason, we have put together this easy-to-use Q1 schedule to make sure you know which rotation you are following on any given day of Q1.
5.Year-at-a-Glance calendar
6.Family and student handbook
*The NCHS Family Handbook is subject to change. All updates made to the handbook will be highlighted for parents and students to see. An email notifying our Vikings of any changes will be sent within 72 hours of an approved change.
7.Handbook acknowledgement form
8.uniform expectations
Girls
Boys
Quick Reference Guide
All Nolan Catholic students should report to school each day in uniform (except on published and announced special dress days). Uniforms can be purchased through Mills Uniform Company.
Please see below some important reminders to keep in mind as you purchase uniform pieces for the upcoming school year:
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Liturgy Days
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Q2 & Q3 required outerwear - choose one of the following:
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Navy V-neck Sweater or Sweater vest or
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Navy Fleece Zip-up Jacket with logo
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*This garment will be phased out for the 24-25 school year
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Navy or Black Blazer
*Navy blazer will be required for all students for the 24-25 school year
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The long sleeved polo shirt for young men will be phased out for the
24-25 school year
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Uniform shoes
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Students must choose from the footwear listed on the Mill’s website. Any exception must be approved by the Dean of Student Formation and requires the following documentation:
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Medical doctor’s letter which states a medical diagnosis, duration of the exemption, and acknowledgement that the current shoe program is not acceptable
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If a medical accommodation is accepted, the shoe must be a solid black athletic shoe with black soles, black laces, and black brand logo.
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New requirement for young ladies: black leggings and black modesty shorts
9.grooming expectations
10.Student code of conduct
11.Demerit system
12.carline: drop-off and pick-up
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13.Download the viking app
Coming soon...