The
present 21-acre site was purchased in May 1954; however, because of a lengthy
battle over zoning, which finally received a favorable decision by the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania, ground breaking did not take place until February 23,
1958. In May 1958, the Reverend
Thomas J. Dempsey was appointed founding principal of the co-institutional
structure. Although the building
was not ready for the start of the school year, the 740 freshman and sophomore
students who had enrolled, traveled to Cardinal Dougherty High School from
September to December. On December
9, 1958, the two top floors of the building were ready for occupancy and the
faculty and students moved into the building.
The
first Commencement Exercises were held in June 1961 at
As
years passed, the school experienced a continual increase in enrollment, which
necessitated the establishment of an annex at St. David’s in
From
its beginning, McDevitt offered a comprehensive and challenging academic
program along with complementing co-curricular and extracurricular activities
which grew in number to accommodate the expanding enrollment. By September of 1968, McDevitt had 2,090
students.
In
1970, McDevitt became co-educational, one of the first Archdiocesan secondary
schools to do so. In 1988 the
Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited the school. In 1993, the Open Enrollment Policy of
the Archdiocese contributed to changes in the makeup of the student body. Instead of students coming from fifteen
local “feeder” parishes, the school population now draws from 45
city and suburban parishes in three counties representing 14 public school
districts. The student body is
diverse with regard to racial, religious, and ethnic background.
Alma Mater
The
challenge of a marching world
We
meet with accent bold
While
cherishing a standard
Ever
new, as ever old.
We
bear our banner gold and white
Our
sign of royalty
And
glory in our Queen’s delight
Of
flow’ring purity
Refrain
All
hail, all hail to Bishop McDevitt High
We
pledge our loyalty to you
May
we prove the trust our patron ever lived
With
ideals inspired by love.
Hail
to you, our Alma Mater
Hail
to you, our Alma Mater
May
faith and courage be our guide
God
our final goal.
May
Mary hover near with help
Our
motto is our plea
That
we our vantage may sustain
While
gaining victory.
At
dusk, at dawning may we see
Amid
the heavens fair
Our
lovely Star of morn and sea
Whose
symbol bright we bear.
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM
Catholic
education necessarily places an emphasis on prayer and moral living. The Office of School Ministry strives to
provide opportunities through which students may grow in relationship to an
understanding of themselves, God, and Church.
Chapel
The
Chapel is located on the third floor in the center of the building. The Blessed Sacrament is revered there
throughout the school year. The
Chapel is open for student use during the day. Gatherings for prayer services with
teams and clubs occur from time to time, as well as Penance Services that are
scheduled throughout the school year.
Each morning the Celebration of the Eucharist takes place at 7:30 AM.
Liturgies
The
Celebration of the Eucharist occurs several times in the course of the school
year. While the purpose or nature
of the occasion determines the size of the gathering, all students are expected
to attend and participate in the Masses that are celebrated in the
community. In addition to the
Celebration of the Eucharist, a variety of paraliturgical and devotional
services take place during the year where students’ attendance and
participation are not only expected, but are also welcomed.
Rite of Reconciliation
Each
Catholic student is offered the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of
Reconciliation within the context of the regularly scheduled Penance
Services. The School Minister is
also available during a student’s lunch or study period if that is a more
convenient time.
Annual Retreats
It
is an Archdiocesan policy that each student enrolled in a diocesan high school
attends an annual retreat as a requirement for promotion and/or
graduation. Retreats will be
scheduled for the students by grade throughout the school year.
Vocations
The
School Minister serves as vocation coordinator for both boys and girls. Special focus is given to vocation
awareness in cooperation with the Archdiocesan Offices for Vocations. The School Minister is also available
for informal talks concerning the student’s spiritual life and choice of
vocations.
Student Concerns
The
School Minister is available to every student to discuss any matter relative to
family concerns. The School
Minister should be contacted to arrange for visits to the sick at home or in
the hospital. The School Minister
attends wakes and Funeral Masses or other services of deceased members of the
Bishop McDevitt community and their immediate family members.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The
Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs arranges academic offerings consistent
with policies determined by the Department of Education of the
The
Academic Assistant Principal, in conjunction with guidance counselors,
department chairpersons, and teachers, assists students in their selection of
courses. A Course Description Book
is published annually and distributed to all students early in the second
semester. The book provides
information on all courses and programs of study along with an update of
academic policies/procedures.
Admissions
Admission
of students to Bishop McDevitt is based on open enrollment with the following
priorities: students who attend Catholic parish elementary schools or Catholic
academies will be admitted first.
Catholic and non-Catholic graduates of public or private elementary schools
will be admitted, if there is room to accommodate them and if the
student’s records (both academic and disciplinary) are satisfactory. A non-refundable
registration fee is due at the time of registration.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
The
academic program at Bishop McDevitt works to develop the abilities, talents,
and needs of all students. Bishop
McDevitt offers a four-year comprehensive program of studies. The student is able to select college
preparatory courses, business courses, vocational-technical courses, or a
combination of the three programs.
Advanced Placement courses are offered to academically talented
students.
The
following are the minimum requirements for graduation from
Religion 4.0
credits
English 4.0
credits
Social
Studies 3.0
credits
Mathematics 3.0
credits
Science 3.0
credits
Health/Physical
Education 1.0
credit
Computer
Applications .5 credit
Electives 5.5
credits
Total 24.0
credits
Most
Bishop McDevitt students graduate with at least 25 credits.
All
freshmen are rostered for seven major subjects. Physical Science or Honors Biology,
Religion, English, World History, Algebra 1, Business Technology, World
Language. When appropriate, Remedial
Reading and Remedial Math will replace the World Language requirement.
All students follow an academic roster for the first two years, after which they may decide to continue in the college-preparatory program or to follow an academic/business program or an academic/vocational-technical program. All programs will provide the student with sufficient academic credits for college admission.
Although
world language is not required for graduation, a minimum two (2) years of a
language is strongly recommended for college bound students. Any student who elects a first year
language is usually required to take the second year of that language. Exceptions to this policy are made only
in exceptional cases by the Administration. Four-year language programs in Italian
and Spanish are available.
A
four-year Art program and a two-year Business Technology program are also
available to all students. Students
in the eleventh or twelfth grades may choose to attend the
Each
year Juniors and Seniors have the opportunity to select courses for
Dual-Credit. This program sponsored
by Alvernia College permits students to take courses at Bishop McDevitt during
the normal school day and receive college credit for those courses. Students also will receive a grade from
Bishop McDevitt for the courses.
Credits accepted by
Courses
offered by
Course Changes
For
a fee the School permits limited roster changes
Before
August 1st there is no fee.
After
August 1st the fee is $30.00.
The
following procedure will determine the roster change:
A
written request, accompanied by the fee, must be made to the Academic Affairs
Office.
The Assistant Principal will review the request
and determine the feasibility after reviewing all aspects.
Normally,
rosters will not be changed after the first full week of school. Requests for change in roster because of
a serious problem during the school year must be presented to the Assistant
Principal for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the department
chairperson and the teacher involved.
A solution will be developed at the discretion of the Administration.
Student Tracking
Ability
grouping is the means used for meeting the instructional needs of a
student. Because the range of
achievement is so broad, grouping by ability and achievement narrows the range
to maximize student achievement.
Ability grouping makes possible the adjustment of the curriculum to the
individual’s intellectual ability, interest, and achievement.
Incoming
freshmen are tracked according to their 2nd report of the eighth grade, the
eighth grade teacher’s recommendation, and their performance on
standardized tests.
In
considering ability, past and present scholastic achievement is reviewed. Ability grouping in each subject is a
good means to meet individual instructional needs of students. Students and parents should know strong
and weak subject areas. They should
be realistic in their goals, choose courses which enable students to achieve
their objectives, make use of vocational and college brochures to acquaint
themselves with qualifications demanded by institutions of employment and
higher education and discuss these goals with appropriate counselors.
ACADEMIC STATUS
Grading
Report
cards are distributed quarterly.
Tentative distribution dates appear on the school calendar. The highest report card grade that may be
given is 100; the lowest passing grade is 70; the lowest failing grade is 60.
90
- 100 Excellent
(A) 70 - 72
Passing (D)
80
- 89 Above
Average (B) Below 70
Failing (F)
73
- 79 Average (C)
The
quarter grade reflects the progress
that a student has made during that marking period. This grade reflects achievement on major
tests and quizzes, a quarterly assessment, completion of homework assignments,
and classroom participation. These
are major components in determining the quarter grade. Major projects, term papers, and the
quarterly assessment, which are reasonably spaced over the quarter, are also
used. Semester grading will be 2/5 first
quarter grade, 2/5 second quarter grade, and 1/5 semester assessment grade.
Quality Points
To
compensate for the degree of work demanded in each track, a system of quality
points has been devised by the diocesan secondary school system. For each grade a student receives, a
corresponding number of quality points, based on the track level of the subject
is given. Current and cumulative
rank in class is determined by these quality points.
Quality Point Table
GRADE TRACK GRADE TRACK
AP H 2 3
4 AP H
2 3
4
100 54 48 44 40 36 79 33 27 23 19 15
99 53 47 43 39 35 78 32 26 22 18 14
98 52 46 42 38 34 77 31 25 21 17 13
97 51 45 41 37 33 76 30 24 20 16 12
96 50 44 40 36 32 75 29 23 19 15 11
95 49 43 39 35 31 74 28 22 18 14 10
94 48 42 38 34 30 73 27 21 17 13
9
93 47 41 37 33 29 72 26 20 16 12
8
92 46 40 36 32 28 71 25 19 15 11
7
91 45 39 35 31 27 70 24 18 14 10
6
90 44 38 34 30 26 69 23 17 13 9
5
89 43 37 33 29 25 68 22 16 12 8
4
88 42 36 32 28 24 67 21 15 11 7
3
87 41 35 31 27 23 66 20 14 10 6
2
86 40 34 30 26 22 65 19 13
9 5
1
85 39 33 29 25 21 64 18 12
8 4
0
84 38 32 28 24 20 63 17 11
7 3
0
83 37 31 27 23 19 62 16 10
6 2
0
82 36 30 26 22 18 61 15
9
5 1
0
81 35 29 25 21 17 60 14
8
4 0
0
80 34 28 24 20 16
Rank in Class
A
student’s rank in class is determined by the quality points earned
according to the grades achieved at the first semester and final marking
periods. The rank in class is
computed for each current year and also cumulatively for all four high school
years. Rank is printed at each
report period.
Academic Honors
Honors
are computed at the end of the first three marking periods and for the final
grade of the year. To attain First Honors, a student must have a
general grade average of 90 or above, with no single grade below 85. To attain Second Honors, a student must have a general grade average of 85 or
above with no single grade below 80.
To
receive an Academic Letter, a student must have first or second
honors for six marking periods, be involved in a co-curricular activity and
have a good conduct grade.
To
receive a Distinguished Letter, a student must have first or second
honors for twelve marking periods, be involved in a co-curricular activity and
have a good conduct grade.
GRADUATION POLICIES
Participation
in Commencement Exercises, which includes both Baccalaureate Liturgy and
Graduation, is a privilege not a right.
Students who have completed all requirements for a diploma and are in
good standing may participate in the Commencement Exercises. Students will be excluded from
participation in these exercises for:
a scholastic failure in any subject; failure to complete the community
service requirement, a discipline failure, excessive demerits, and any serious
violation of the discipline code; a failure to fulfill financial requirements
(tuition, school fees, graduation fees, etc.); and excessive absences. All students awarded a diploma
regardless of participation in Commencement Exercises must pay the Graduation
Fee in full.
Since
the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Graduation constitute the Commencement Exercises
for Bishop McDevitt, any student absent from the Baccalaureate Liturgy will not
be permitted to participate in the Graduation Exercises.
Homework
The
Administration and faculty view homework as a vital part of the complete
educational process. Students are
expected to devote approximately three hours each school night on
homework. Homework includes reading
assignments, written assignments and long-term projects. It is considered an integral part of the
subject grade.
Testing Schedule
To
allow students to prepare adequately for tests and to avoid multiple tests on
the same day,
DAY SUBJECTS
1 Language Business Mathematics
2 Art English Religion
3 Science Social
Studies Computer
4 Language Business Mathematics
5 Art English Religion
6 Science Social
Studies Computer
Quarterly Assessments are scheduled by the
Academic Affairs Office for the last week of each quarter. The mark is included within the
quarterly grade.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT: All students in
Advanced Placement courses are required to take the Advanced Placement
Examinations in May. The College
Board determines the fee for the Advanced Placement Examination.
Failure Warnings
When
a student is not performing at a satisfactory level or is in danger of failing
for the quarter, semester or the entire school year, notification will be sent
to the parents/guardians at least twenty school days before the close of the
marking period. Approximate dates
are noted on the school calendar. A
notice of unsatisfactory work may be issued later in the marking period if the
student’s academic performance changes dramatically.
Parent-Teacher
Conferences
Parents
have the opportunity to meet with teachers on the Parent/Teacher Conference
nights, which are scheduled after the first, second, and third quarter
reports. These nights afford
parents an opportunity to discuss with the teachers the student’s
academic progress. Students are
encouraged to accompany their parents to these conferences. Parents are encouraged to contact
teachers at school as the need arises.
Parents
may make appointments for conferences with teachers or Administrators by using
the telephone directory at 215-887-5575.
Anyone having difficulty contacting a teacher may call the Academic
Affairs Office at ext. 226. Parents
may also contact teachers through the website www.mcdevitths.org
FAILURE AND SUMMER
SCHOOL POLICY
A
student receiving one or more failures in required, elective, major or minor
courses must rectify these grades by attendance at summer school and earning a
passing grade. This is a Diocesan
policy and therefore no exceptions can be made if the student wishes to return
to Bishop McDevitt.
A
senior who fails any subject, elective or required, must attend the Diocesan
Summer School, may not participate in the Graduation Exercises, and does not
receive a diploma until the successful completion of summer school.
Archdiocesan
directives state that students with excessive absences, not excused by medical
certification, do not successfully complete the school year until they make up
the time missed in an approved Diocesan summer school. This applies even though
there are no academic failures. In
this situation, the student attends the classes in which the lowest grade was
received.
The
Diocesan summer school is conducted at
ACADEMIC PROBATION AND
DISMISSAL
A
student will fail a course if the student has shown insufficient effort.
Tenth,
eleventh, and twelfth-grade students with four academic failures in major
subject at the end of the first semester are liable to dismissal in
January. The Administration has the
right to retain students who would normally be dismissed if they judge that
there are grave reasons to do so, whether this judgment results from knowledge
they gain independently or after consultation with other members of the
faculty.
Any
Senior with at least one failure at the 2nd Semester and one failure
at the 3rd Quarter in the same subject will be placed on academic
probation from all activities unless he/she actively participates in the
Monitored Study Program.
MULTIPLE FAILURES &
ACTIVITIES/SPORTS
The
following rules of probation in all activities/sports are in effect for
remedial, not punitive, purposes.
A
student with one failure during any quarter, or at the end of the first
semester, is liable for a 20 school-day probation with respect to
activities/sports. This decision
will be made by the Administration.
A
student with more than one failure during any quarter or, at the end of the
first semester, is placed on a 20 school-day probation with respect to the
activity/sport. The 20 school-day
probation begins the day the Monitored Study Program begins. The Student may continue to practice,
play, or participate in an activity or sport if they attend a 45-minute
tutoring session held for ten days after school. Upon successful completion of the
program, a student will be removed from probation. If a student chooses not to attend the
tutoring program, they will not be permitted to practice, play or participate
in an activity until a progress report is completed after the 20 school-day
probation. Should the student show
no improvement during that period of time, the student will be suspended from
the activity or sport. The student
is also prohibited from joining any new extracurricular activity.
The
Guidance Counselors interview students with multiple failures to motivate
improved study habits and time management.
Additionally, the National Honor Society provides individual tutoring for
these students.
The
Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs will notify the student and coach or
moderator that the student is placed on probation. After the 20 school-day period, the
Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, after consulting with the teacher,
will decide whether to reinstate the student to the sport or activity. The suspension will be removed at the
discretion of the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs.
Early Dismissal Roster
Seniors
and juniors with no scheduled eighth period class or lab have an early
dismissal. For these students, the
school day ends with their last scheduled class period. Sophomores and freshmen with no class
scheduled in the eighth period are automatically rostered for a study
hall. For these students, there is
no early dismissal.
Students
who are dismissed before the end of eighth period MUST go to their lockers and
wait either in the cafeteria or in the area adjacent to the bus lane behind the
auditorium. Students may not remain
in any other part of the school building without the direct supervision of a
moderator.
Missing School/Class
Time
Students
who are absent from school or miss class time for any reason are expected to
see their teachers concerning missed work and are responsible for any necessary
make-up. Failure to satisfactorily
complete assignments, homework, tests, or quizzes could result in a failure in
a marking period and/or final report.
Extended school absences require parental contact with the Academic
Affairs Office for arrangements concerning missed school work. The school does not permit student
vacations during the school year.
Transfer/Withdraw
To
transfer/withdraw from Bishop McDevitt, a student must have written permission
from a parent or guardian. The
Academic Affairs Office will provide the form which must be completed by the
parents. The student must also
arrange for an exit interview with the Principal or Assistant Principal for
Academic Affairs. Transfers will be
issued to the parents and guardians only.
Transfers are mailed to the parents of students who are asked to leave
the school for academic, disciplinary, or financial deficiencies. No
transcript of grades will be issued until all financial obligations have been
met and all books and equipment have been returned. The Academic Affairs Office will send all
transcripts directly to the Principal or Registrar of the new school. Transcripts
will not be given to the student.
Vocational/Technical
Courses
Vocational/Technical
courses are provided at the
Special Programs
The
Bishop McDevitt High School Administration reserves the right to approve and
grant credit for all off-campus educational programs: Diocesan Scholars Program, Advanced
Accounting, Computer Science, Engineering classes at Penn State University,
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology courses; College on-campus offerings,
and Dual Credit – Alvernia College, Drexel University –Organization
of American States, and Chestnut Hill College.
STUDENT SERVICES
The
system of discipline in a Catholic school has as its basic purpose the teaching
of responsibility to God, to self, and to others. An effective discipline code contributes
toward establishing a proper educational atmosphere in the school. While the Assistant Principal for
Student Services is directly responsible for overseeing and coordinating all
discipline efforts, discipline is the responsibility of everyone: students, parents, Administration,
faculty, and staff.
Note To Parents
Good
discipline originates in the home; therefore parents should:
property.
procedures.
student, including discipline.
Parental
interest and support at home are important to the child and greatly appreciated
by our teachers. Teachers have the
authority to assign reasonable and just punishments. In this code, a single demerit - even
one - is cause for concern for both the parents and the students. The School Administration, however, will
make the final decision regarding sanctions and applications.
YOUR SCHOOL AND THE
COMMUNITY
Any
student acting inside or outside of school in a manner, which is alien to our
Catholic philosophy or in a way that would cast shame or cause embarrassment to
Any
student taking part in any unlawful act on or off campus or in any outside
community is liable for suspension, expulsion, or both. If a student is
presently attending or is applying for admission to