Mathematics

The Student Academic Center - Opened October 2019! 

The Academic Center will be a designated place where any student may go after school to foster self-confidence and hone student-driven growth.

• All students are invited to one-on-one tutoring in each subject, organization and study skills building, writing and research assistance, and presentation coaching after school.
• The center also welcomes students looking for a quiet sanctuary for completing homework or reading.
• Mrs Conetta (director), Mrs. Doyle (faculty math tutor), and peer tutors will be available. 

Learn More About Our Student Academic Center Here

SAT Prep Course

New Exam Format

The redesigned SAT Exam is a complete overhaul of the exam that most students have become familiar with over the years.

The exam is divided into four parts:

• The Reading, Writing & Language, and Essay (optional) portions of the exam will focus on skills such as understanding words in context, evidence-based reading and writing, interpreting informational graphics, and analyzing sources.
• The Math portions of the exam will focus on three major areas: Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Heart of Algebra (linear equations and systems), and Passport to Advanced Math (complex equations). According to the College Board, the purpose of this new structure is to ask students “questions grounded in the real world, directly related to work performed in college and career.”

Course Goals

This course will help students navigate the changes to the new SAT Exam so that they can maximize their test scores. In addition, the course helps relieve the anxiety of the new format by reviewing the general skills necessary for success on the exam and breaks down the different components. By the end of the course, students will be able to walk into the Exam with the skills, knowledge and self-confidence they need to do their best.

The course begins with a full-length practice exam that will give students a baseline score. The scores include a detailed analysis of each student’s performance so that they can see the general areas and specific question types in which they need the most improvement.

Cost

The cost for both courses is $550 and includes the cost of the book, pre-test, and detailed score analysis. The cost for either course individually is $300 and also includes the cost of the book, pre-test, and detailed score analysis. Each course is taught by experienced instructors, with a maximum number of students per class.

Both Courses are open to Juniors and Seniors. Sophomores may register with prior approval of the course director.

Please contact Mr Martin Dempsey via email at mdempsey@sjcadets.org or by phone at: 203-378-9378 x201 for more information.

The most important level of support begins and ends with the student and teacher working together. If a student would like to schedule an extra help session, the student should first identify what questions or issues are causing difficulty. The student should approach the teacher to schedule an appointment and check the teacher's availability. Extra help sessions should be constructive and specific. Teachers are available to work with students until 2:45 pm on a regular school day dismissal.

The Writing Resource Center at St Joseph High School is a student-centered learning, resource, and study environment for students to obtain and seek help concerning writing expository essays, creative assignments, and research/term papers for their classes.  This program endorses writing across the curriculum, and student-trained tutors are available for tutoring sessions after school. During a session, peer tutors and teachers engage in conversation with student-writers, focusing on ideas, organization, development, argument, synthesis, and writers’ concerns.  In serving as an audience, the Writing Resource Center staff fosters active learning, skill-set growth, and writing confidence while simultaneously providing support during any stage of the writing process: idea generation, brainstorming, outlining, drafting, or revision.  

Moderators: Ms Lowell, tlowell@sjcadets.org  |  Ms Spano, jspano@sjcadets.org

Meeting Times:
Monday: 2:00-3:00pm
Tuesday: 2:00-2:30pm
Tuesday Online Tutoring Sessions: 2:00-7:00pm
Thursday: 2:00-3:00pm
Friday: 2:00-2:30pm

Location: Room 310

To better coordinate and plan individual learning strategies, teachers, counselors, and administrators are available to meet with parents and students. Conferences may be held over the phone or by appointment. If a parent would like to meet with a teacher, counselor, or administrator, the parent should contact the faculty or staff member and set up an appointment. If a conference is needed with multiple teachers in one meeting, the parent is asked to contact the counselor to arrange the date and time.

Faculty and Staff Directory

Members of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society are available to tutor students after school or during the student's study period as schedules allow.

Referrals of professional tutors are available upon request and arrangements are made at the discretion of the parent. If employed, it is requested that the tutor coordinate efforts with the subject area teacher. Please contact Lynn Mallon, Guidance Secretary for more information at lmallon@sjcadets.org.

Additionally, there is a free, school-based tutoring service with an experienced teacher, for both math and science, which welcomes students from every high school grade level who would like extra support or review.

The program is intended to provide help to all levels of students, and develop both remedial and advanced skills in these subject areas. This program joins The Writing Center in providing SJ students with practical and accessible learning resources in the college preparatory mission.

Intervention meetings may be convened by the student’s guidance counselor or the administration for the purpose of evaluating a student’s progress when the student is demonstrating poor performance. Participants will include the student’s guidance counselor, and may include teachers,  Social Worker, Dean of Students, school nurse and the administration. The student and parents will be requested to attend the review. Student progress will be reviewed on a periodic basis. It is expected that the student employ the strategies identified in the intervention meeting.

St Joseph High School uses the EasyWriter, a Pocket Reference, as a guide to improving writing and research. This reference guide is an important tool for students and teachers alike. Together, we agree to the formats used in writing and research. Departure from the formats referenced in the style guide is at the discretion of the teacher and will be communicated to the student as such.

The EasyWriter reference guide has many helpful tips for students. This guide addresses the essential areas of effective writing and research: writing, sentence grammar, sentence style, punctuation/mechanics, language, multilingual writers, research, and documentation. Students at St Joseph High School are expected to regularly refer to the style guide to assist in proper format and citation.

The following sections are of particular importance to a student as he or she documents his or her research. Specific examples are given in the style guide.

Research—please refer to the following sections in your EasyWriter:

“Materials that do not require acknowledgement”
“Materials that do require acknowledgement”
“Avoiding plagiarism”

Documentation—ask your teacher which format he or she prefers:

Modern Language Association (MLA)

• MLA manuscript format
• In-text citations
• List of works cited

American Psychological Association (APA)

• APA manuscript format
• In-text citations
• List of references

Chicago Style (CHI)

• Chicago manuscript format
• Footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography
• Council of Science Editors (CSE)

CSE manuscript format

• In-text references
• List of references