www.BerksCatholic.org

BERKS CATHOLICHIGH SCHOOL

GOD | FAMILY | ACADEMICS | FUN

Berks Catholic High School is centered on the four pillars of God, Family, Academics and Fun. As a vibrant Christ-centered community,

the Administration, Faculty and Staff are dedicated to providing a challenging academic environment for a diverse population of

young men and women. Through Christian principles rooted in the Catholic tradition, we strive to positively impact our students spiritually,

intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally, so they can live productive lives of service in this world and attain eternal life.

1. Berks Catholic High School believes that Jesus is the heart of who we are and all that we do.

2. Berks Catholic High School believes that service is rooted in the commandment of Jesus to love one another.

3. Berks Catholic High School believes that a diverse Catholic school community is a gift to be celebrated.

4. Berks Catholic High School believes that parents and guardians are the primary educators of their children, and the school partners with them to extend the academic and faith formation of the students.

5. Berks Catholic High School believes that a quality faculty is integral to the success of the school because the administrators and teachers are the facilitators of learning who impart Christian values through daily interaction with the students.

6. Berks Catholic High School believes in a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare young minds to meet the demands of a challenging 21st century.

7. Berks Catholic High School believes in a varied extracurricular program designed to engage students to use their God-given talents and encourage spiritual growth through teamwork.

MISSION STATEMENT

OUR BELIEFS...

Choosing Catholic education is a decision that is made with much thought, deliberation, and prayer; and we at Berks Catholic High School are excited to partner with you and your family. At Berks Catholic, the core of our mission is our four pillars God, Family, Academics and Fun which helps us shape the development of our students spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically. GOD: We are a Catholic high school that is welcoming and respectful of all faith traditions. Because we are Christ-centered, the value and dignity of every individual and all life is emphasized in all we do; and students are afforded opportunities and encouraged to cultivate their relationships with each other and with God. FAMILY: “It’s like a family.” An extraordinary sense of community is palpable at Berks Catholic as well. Holding true to Catholic and Christian tradition, students have a responsibility to one another, are accountable for their actions, and have a built in support system that is an extension of your immediate family.

ACADEMICS: Caring, committed faculty challenge every student to realize their intellectual potential. In addition, each student receives individualized, college and career counseling from college admissions professionals. Often over 95% of Berks Catholic students will pursue higher education immediately after graduation. The Class of 2018 earned a record 18 million in college scholarships and grants. Berks Catholic offers the opportunity for academic success through a robust offering of College- Preparatory, Honors, and 21 Advanced Placement classes. Students who are more “hands-on” and technically inclined are able to enroll in a vocational track at the Berks Career and Technology Center while still pursuing a college-prep curriculum. The Office of College and Career Counseling is here to help your child find the right fit for them in their life after Berks Catholic. Our teachers are charged everyday with being great for their students and helping them get to Heaven.

ABOUT BERKS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Percentage of Area High School Students Attending2 and 4 Year Colleges or Universities

* The chart represents school districts where the majority of Berks Catholic students live. Data represents graduates in 2017; the most recent statistics for the State of Pennsylvania. Data Source: Public high school data from Pennsylvania Department of Education website, URL; http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/

Dear Saint Families,

While we are certainly proud of the 94% college bound population, the bigger story is how our students get to this point. Centered on our four pillars of God, Family, Academics and Fun Berks Catholic High School is committed to forming and positively impacting each student spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally. Our mission is to have our Saints lead productive lives of service and gain eternal life. Berks Catholic provides four years of comprehensive college programming and individualized college planning designed and conducted by dedicated, college admission professionals. Mr. Josh Ditsky and Mr. Mike Piersol have a combined 50 years of college admission experience and have worked at a variety of colleges and universities as undergraduate and graduate admission directors. They utilize their knowledge, expertise, and professional network to provide each Berks Catholic student and family with an educational plan tailored to the individual. Berks Catholic has committed to helping its students and families navigate the increasingly competitive world of college admission, in order to find the most appropriate academic, social, and cultural match for each student. As the Berks Catholic College Counseling Staff says: “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FIT!”

Tony Balistrere, PrincipalBerks Catholic High School

   

   *The  chart  represents  school  districts  where  the  majority  of  Berks  Catholic  students  live.  Data  represents  graduates  in  2017;  the  most  recent  statistics  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Data  Source:  Public  high  school  data  from  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Education  website,  URL;  http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-­‐and-­‐Statistics/      

Dear Saint Families, While we are certainly proud of the 94% college bound population, the bigger story is how our students get to this point. Centered on our four pillars of God, Family, Academics and Fun Berks Catholic High School is committed to forming and positively impacting each student spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally. Our mission is to have our Saints lead productive lives of service and gain eternal life. Berks Catholic provides four years of comprehensive college programming and individualized college planning designed and conducted by dedicated, college admission professionals. Mr. Josh Ditsky and Mr. Mike Piersol have a combined 50 years of college admission experience and have worked at a variety of colleges and universities as undergraduate and graduate admission directors. They utilize their knowledge, expertise, and professional network to provide each Berks Catholic student and family with an educational plan tailored to the individual. Berks Catholic has committed to helping its students and families navigate the increasingly competitive world of college admission, in order to find the most appropriate academic, social, and cultural match for each student. As the Berks Catholic College Counseling Staff says: “ IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FIT!” Certified by:

Tony Balistrere Principal

WHAT WE BELIEVE• In the dignity, value, dreams, and aspirations of those

whom we serve• It’s All About the Fit: In other words, every student

deserves the opportunity to realize their potential by pursuing educational and career opportunities that best suit them

WHO ARE WE• A team of college admission professionals solely

dedicated to providing college and career guidance to the students and families of the Berks Catholic Community

• The Team is comprised of: - One former university admission director with over

25 years expertise in college admissions, and college admissions advising

- One former public secondary school counselor with 34 years of emotional and college counseling experience

- Support staff with extensive experience in the college process

• Professionals who are highly connected to the college admissions community

• Leaders and educators in our state professional association, PACAC*, and members of the national professional organization, NACAC^

WHO WE SERVE• 750 Students and Families at Berks Catholic HS who

are widely diverse in terms of socio-economics, eth-nicity, family educational level, faith traditions, nation-alities, etc.

• Hundreds of students and families at the Berks Catholic Partner Schools

• Alumni of Berks Catholic, Central Catholic, and Holy Name

WHAT WE PROVIDE• 4 Years of comprehensive college and career planning education via: - Professional experience, knowledge of best

practices and current trends - Educational Programming - Experential Opportunities - Array of published and online resources• Individualized, Strategic, Data-Driven Planning for every student• Networking opportunities with college admission

and career professionals

College Advising at Berks CatholicA unique approach- it’s all about the FIT

“Trust that whatever happens, it will be ok. Your kid is strong, brave, resilient, prepared, faithful and, most of all, ready for the next chapter.

No matter where they go, they will thrive and succeed.That’s the beauty of the Berks Catholic education.”

-Berks Catholic parent offering insight into the college process

* Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling ^ National Association for College Admission Counseling

• Of the 212 members of the Class, 94% will continue their education at 4 year (85%) and 2 year institutions.

• They will matriculate at 85 different 4 and 2 year institutions in 17 different states and in Canada and South Korea.

• The Class of 2018 was awarded a record $18million in merit-based scholarships and grants- breaking the previous record of $13.3 million awarded to the Class of 2017. Counted among the 2018 total are at least 2 full-tuition scholarships for academic excellence.

• The Class of 2018 received 597 offers of admission to 169 4 and 2 year colleges and universities, in 28 different states, the District of Columbia and 3 foreign countries. Of these, 461 offers were to 175 different 4-year institutions.

Albright College Alvernia University American University Auburn UniversityBerklee College of Music, Boston College Brown UniversityBucknell UniversityCarnegie Mellon University Case-Western Reserve University, Catholic University of America Cornell University Dartmouth College Delaware Valley University Dickinson College Drexel UniversityElon University, Emerson CollegeFordham University Franklin & Marshall College Gettysburg College Georgetown UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)George Washington University

Harcum College High Point University Holy CrossHofstra University Hood CollegeImmaculata University Iowa State University Ithaca College James Madison UniversityJohns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, Juniata College Kansas State University Kings CollegeKent State UniversityKutztown UniversityLafayette College, LaSalle University Lebanon Valley CollegeLehigh UniversityLiberty University, Lock Haven University Loyola University Mercyhurst University Michigan State UniversityMillersville University MIT

Mount St. Mary’s UniversityMuhlenberg College New York University Northeastern UniversityNotre Dame, University ofOregon State UniversityOberlin CollegeOhio UniversityOhio State University Pace UniversityPenn State University Pepperdine UniversityPhiladelphia UniversityProvidence College Purdue UniversityRadford University Rensselear Polytechnic InstituteRider UniversityRochester Institute of TechnologyRose-Hulman Institute of Technology Rosemont CollegeSacred Heart University Shippensburg UniversitySwarthmore College

Stevens Institute of Technology Susquehanna UniversitySyracuse UniversityTemple University Texas A&M University Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine (early admission)Trinity CollegeTowson UniversityUnited States Military AcademyUnited States Naval AcademyUniversity of Alabama University of Arizona University of California-Berkely University of California San DiegoUniversity of California IrvineU.C.L.AUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of Georgia University of Miami University of Oklahoma

University of Pennsylvania University of PittsburghUniversity of RichmondUniversity of Rochester University of Texas-AustinUniversity of Washington Wake Forest University Washington CollegeWest Chester UniversityWilliam & MaryWilkes UniversityVillanova UniversityVirginia Tech York College

INTERNATIONALUniversity of OttowasNottingham Trent Univ.(UK)University of South KoreaKyoto Institute of Language (Japan)

• 27 members of the class of 2018 are Division I,II, II (11 of these are NCAA Division I Scholarship Athletes) and will continue their athletic careers at NCAA Division I, II, III institutions as recruited, student-athletes in the following sports: Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Track & Field, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s basketball, Women’s gymnastics, Women’s bowling Women’s Water polo.

• Additionally, BC ’18 student-athletes have earned All State recognition for Football

• 2 members of the class of 2018 earned 1st place in the prestigious Berks Best Competition for Business and Social Studies.

Class of 2018 Graduation Summary: What follows is just a sampling of the accomplishments

of the Class of 2018

College Acceptance History Sampling of College/University Acceptances

AdministrationPrincipal - Tony BalistrereAssistant Principal of Academics - Alice EinolfAssistant Principal of Discipline and Athletics - Bill HessDirector of College and Career Counseling- Josh DitskyDirector of Admissions and Marketing - Nicole SmithDirector of Guidance and School Counseling - Noelle VilardoDirector of Development - Betsy WoytovichCampus Chaplain - Father Stephen Isaac

Enrollment (2018-2019)• 750 Students• 46% Male 54% Female• Diversity 38%• Non-Catholic - 20%• 19:1 Student to Faculty Ratio• 20 years average faculty teaching experience• Berks Catholic is 1:1 with iPads

2018 Graduates• 212 total graduates• 94% attending 2- or 4-year colleges• The Class of 2018 received a record 18 million in college scholarships• 27 will participate in Division I,II,III College Athletics• Every Berks Catholic student gets individual College/Career Plan

4 years of Comprehensive Colleges & Career Advising culminating in an individualized plan for each student

Advanced Placement21 A.P. Courses offered202 A.P. Exams in 2018135 B.C. Students enroled in A.P. courses1 National A. P. Scholar8 A. P. Scholars6 with Distinction37 with HonorsDual Credit through Alvernia * RACCDual Enrollment with Penn State BerksPartnership with Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences

BERKS CATHOLIC FACTS...

Clubs and ActivitiesArt ClubAuditorium AidesB.I.G. (Believers in God)Book ClubBroadway ShowBusiness/D.E.C.A.Campus Ministry SaintsChorus/BandForensicsGaming Club Golden Saints ClubHarry Potter ClubHeart to Heart ClubInternational ClubMarquee ClubNHS (National Honor Society)Olivet Club VolunteersPeer Listeners/HOPEProject ImpactPro-Life ClubRelay for LifeSaint AmbassadorsSelect ChoirSki ClubStudent GovernmentYearbook

Founded - In 2011 • School Motto - Unum In Christo ‘One in Christ’ • School Colors - Black and Gold

AthleticsBaseballBasketball*BowlingCheerleadingCross Country*Field HockeyFootballGolf*Ice HockeyLacrosse*Soccer*Tennis* Volleyball*Track*Wrestling, Swimming, Water Polo and Diving are available through a co-op program with Reading High School

*denotes boys and girls

For more information on how to Be A Saint, please contact

Nicole Smith, Director of Admissions

610.374.8361 ext 1144 • nsmith@berkscatholic.org

“At Berks Catholic, I was more than a number, I was family. Whether inside or outside the classroom, Berks Catholic challenged me to grow academically and spiritually; preparing me to make a difference in the world! Come and be part of something great! Go Saints!”

– John Foster ’12 First Graduating Class and Co-President of the Student Body After graduating from Berks Catholic John completed his undergraduate degree at Duquesne University. John is currently a graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy studying Security Studies and International Negotiations & Conflict Resoloution. Upon graduation, John will be sworn in as a Foreign Service Officer w/the US Dept. of State where he will work overseas at US embassies.

“During my time at Berks Catholic, I figured out that I was most passionate about helping other people through science by taking academically rigorous classes in several subjects. Most importantly, I had teachers who supported, encouraged, and challenged me every step of the way! I wouldn’t be where I am today without my BC family!”

- Baotram Nguyen ‘17 Valedictorian and President of National Honor Society

Baotram is currently a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying biochemistry. Before choosing to be a Penn Quaker, Baotram had offers from Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Penn State Schreyer Honors College.

“Throughout my time at Berks Catholic, I developed lasting relationships with friends and faculty, all of whom propelled me to pursue my high-est ambitions in life. The spiritual support is unmatched, and I know my faith in Christ has grown exceptionally because of the foundation that BC provided through their passionate and motivated teachers. Being a part of such a high-performing crowd pushed me to my goals in life, which I will appreciate forever. ”

- Class of ‘17 former Executive Council President

Isaac is currently a Sophomore Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point.