Graduate Support Program

Our Graduate Support Program (GSP) started in 2013-14, and has expanded this year, with the hiring of a Graduate Support Program Director. The GSP offers preparation for our current students to succeed in high school, as well as support for our graduates to excel in high school and college (for a more detailed description of the GSP, see the attached Powerpoint). Each year, 8th graders, and sometimes 6^th and 7^th graders, receive such preparation. Such preparation includes:

• HSPT Prep course once a week in the fall semester and into the spring semester, and a College Exploration course in the Spring
• Intensive HSPT workshop offered for free and on-site by St. Anthony High School
• The actual HSPT offered free and on-site here for students
• Parent Information night last year at Jubilee Hall to introduce GSP Director, Ms. Clemens, and share about the expansion of the program
• Parent and Student information night regarding the HSPT 
• One-on-one guidance for selecting a high school
• Class tours of Catholic high schools and individual shadow days at Catholic high schools 
• One-on-one guidance for preparing academically for High School
• High School Panel where SMMS alumni currently attending and teaching in Catholic high school offered insights and advice for our students, as well as fielded questions about their experiences
• High School Fair where local Catholic High Schools visited our school with staff and students, and our 5^th-8^th graders were able to informally interview and be interviewed 
• Help with applications for scholarships, including the Marianist Urban Student Program (MUSP) Scholarship through Central Catholic and the St. Joseph’s Scholarship
• Help with the full range of the application procedure for Catholic High Schools
• The cultivation of a college-bound culture through a College Corner, College dress days, college tours, and our stated goal of college and college signage in the school
• Admissions and residential tours for 8^th graders last year at UTSA, Trinity University, UIW, and OLLU; this year, students will attend these institutions and possibly other local universities
• Antonian High School and Providence High School visited last year to offer guidance on preparing for college now, discussing, for example, College Boards