Freshman Experience - Bellarmine College Preparatory

Freshman Experience - Bellarmine College Preparatory
Freshman Experience
Get all your questions answered here.
Go to Freshman retreat
Go to Freshman Orientation
Go to FAQs
Freshman FAQs
School Policies & Procedures
What is Bellarmine's phone policy?
What is the process for missing school if I am sick or have a planned trip?
What do I wear on a dress-up day?
What is a JUG?
Where do I find my student ID number?
What do I do if I am sick or injured at school?
Can I leave campus to go grab food during my free period?
How do I fill out my required Magnus health forms?
Cell phones may be brought to the Bellarmine school zone or for school activity under the following conditions:
Cell phones may not be used during the school day. If a student uses their cell phone while on campus, they will receive a JUG unless prior permission has been given by the teacher.
Multiple violations may result in forfeiture of the privilege to bring a cell phone to school.
Harassment or threatening of persons via cell phone is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.
Cell phones may not be used for picture taking or video recording without permission.
No video recording devices may be used without the permission of the Dean of Students.
Smartwatches are not to be worn during a test/final.
All non-academic uses of electronic devices are prohibited in academic buildings and the Chapel. This includes, but is not limited to, game playing (apps and online), social networking sites (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), video sharing sites (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
Electronic devices of any kind are brought to school at the student’s own risk. Bellarmine absolves itself of any responsibility in the case of theft and will not initiate any investigation into the matter.
Attendance Procedure
If a student is feeling ill or experiencing any symptoms, the student should stay home. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are expected to call in the absence to the Attendance Line:
(408) 294-0645
prior to 8:00am on the day of the absence. Students should not make appointments during the school day. After school, Friday afternoons, holidays, and vacation periods should be used for appointments.
Procedure
Details
Reporting an Absence
A parent/guardian must call the Attendance Line (408-294-0645) before 8:00am each day the student is absent.
Only a parent/guardian may excuse an absence (even if the student is 18). If a student no longer lives with a parent/guardian, the Dean must be notified immediately of the new living situation.
Appointment Procedure
Morning Appointments:
A parent/guardian must call the attendance line by 8:00am on the day of the appointment. Upon return, the student must provide verification from the doctor or court.
Appointments During the School Day:
Students present a written note from a parent/guardian to the Dean’s Office before their first class. Verification from the doctor or court is required upon return.
Returning to School
Upon return, the student must submit an Absentee Note (signed by a parent/guardian) to the Dean’s Office before the first class. A template is available under "Resources" on Blue.
Admit Slip
The student will receive an Admit Slip from the Dean’s Office, which must be shown to all teachers.
Missed Work
Students are expected to consult Canvas and/or contact classmates for assignments and make arrangements to obtain course materials.
Extended Absences
If absent more than three (3) consecutive days due to illness, a doctor’s note is required.
Communicable Diseases
If a student is diagnosed with a communicable disease (e.g. chickenpox), the Nurse’s Office must be notified immediately. A doctor’s note is required for re-admittance.
Attendance at Co-Curricular Activities
For a student to attend or participate in any co-curricular activities the student must attend at least two (2) full academic classes on the day of the activity. For an activity on the weekend, the student must be present on the Friday before that weekend for at least two (2) full academic classes. If a student leaves school ill for the day, the student may not return to participate in any co-curricular activity. This includes all co-curricular activities, including, but not limited to clubs, club sports, athletics, theater, yell leader, robotics, and speech and debate. Any exceptions must be approved by the Assistant Principal for Academics (APA).
Planned Absences
Students and parent(s)/guardian(s) are strongly discouraged from using school days for absences other than medical or emergency reasons. It is important to note that Bellarmine does not concede to parent(s)/guardian(s) the right to alter the school calendar for their own convenience. Credit for any work missed because of the Planned Absence will be at the discretion of each teacher. Students are not permitted to take Planned Absences during classes the first week or the last two (2) weeks of each semester inclusive of final exams. Students out of school during these weeks may receive academic consequences. When a student anticipates missing school for a non-school related reason, such as college visits, non-Bellarmine athletic contests, or appointments as described above, the student must obtain a “Planned Absence Form” from the Dean’s Office or download one from "Resources" on Blue. The completed form must be reviewed, discussed, and signed by the student’s counselor and submitted to the Dean’s Office no later than one (1) week prior to the first day of absence.
More information can be found on the attendance policy page
here
A few days during the year are designated on the school calendar as “Dress-Up Days.” In addition to all other Personal Appearance policies, the following is required on Dress-Up Days:
Long, formal pants, that are not denim, worn with a belt
A long-sleeved collared shirt
A necktie worn underneath the shirt collar.
Students are expected to remain in this attire for the entirety of the school day. Permission to wear something other than the specified Dress-Up Day attire must be received from the Dean’s Office.
Disciplinary Detention (JUG)
Disciplinary detention (JUG) is action taken for misconduct within the daily movements of the school. The consequences involve written or physical work and will be administered for approximately one (1) hour after school, beginning 10 minutes after the final bell. A student is expected to serve this JUG the day of the infraction. Failure to attend JUG will result in two (2) days of JUG. Failure to clear JUG in a timely manner may result in Saturday JUG being assigned. JUG may be given for any behavior or conduct that a faculty or staff member finds inappropriate.
Saturday JUG
Misconduct of a more serious nature that does not warrant suspension or probation may result in a four (4) hour Saturday JUG. Given the serious nature of Saturday JUG, it is assigned only by the Dean. Saturday JUG is scheduled at the convenience of the school and takes precedence over any personal plans the student or family may have made. Failure to attend Saturday JUG will result in eight (8) hours of JUG. Students will be notified of the date they are to serve Saturday JUG via their BCP email addresses.
Parents can access their student's ID number in Portal. They can view it next to their student's photo. See the sample below.
The first time students can access their ID number is when they are given their Surface. They will be given a handout with that information on it. After that, they will be able to access their ID number on Blue.
First, please tell an adult if you are feeling unwell or injured. That adult will direct you to see the nurse.
See the nurse anytime between 7:30 am-2:40 pm if you are feeling sick or are just feeling off. Her office is in Wade Hall on the first floor near IT.
See the athletic trainers after school, your free period, or during CT time if you have already been in communication with the athletic trainers about an injury. Do not miss class for non-emergent injuries. Their office is across from the pool, near the pool entrance to the locker room.
Bellarmine is a closed campus. This means that while expected to be on campus, students cannot leave campus to go grab food, meet friends, or simply leave campus.
The exception to this rule is if your free or Cura 10-12 period (and there is no class meeting scheduled) is the first or last period of the day. If it is the first period of the day, you may come at CT. If it is the last period of the day, you may leave at lunch.
Bellarmine partners with Magnus Health to collect and store student health information and some school permission slips. Required health record tasks depend on whether a student is new to Bellarmine, returning, or participating in athletics. Only parents and guardians can complete Magnus health and permission forms. Students do not have access.
Accessing Your Student Medical Record (SMR):
1. Log into PowerSchool using your Bellarmine parent account credentials.
2. Click the “Yellow M” button.
3. Complete all flagged “to-do” items in your online SMR.
Important Deadlines:
All Magnus Health Forms are due on
June 30, 2026
Student-Athletes:
A physical examination must be submitted before your son’s first day of Bellarmine athletics, including summer workouts and/or weight room.
Need Help?
Magnus Health technical support: 877-461 -6831 or service@magnushealthportal.com
Bellarmine technical support: helpdesk@bcp.org
Health requirements questions: Mark Moreno, Director of Sports Medicine, mmoreno@bcp.org
Student Life
What should I do during Community Time?
Who do I contact if I have a question?
How do I pay for food in the cafeteria?
Where do I go for academic help?
How does the rotating block schedule work?
What is a Big Brother?
How do I join or start a club?
How do I know what is going on at Bellarmine?
Where can I hang out when I am not in class?
Community time is from 9:35 am until 10:25 am on a regular Monday-Thursday school day. This is a great opportunity to check out Bellarmin's co-curriculars like
clubs, affinity groups,
the
Maker Lab
, and more. Students also use the time to catch up on homework in the
library
, visit a teacher's office hours to get support in a class, or visit the
Academic Resource Center
. You'll also see many students stopping by the cafeteria to grab a snack and visit with friends.
Bellarmine has lots of great resources and qualified staff who want to help you. Here is a short list of whom you might contact with which type of questions:
Question
Contact Name and Email
Question about your schedule?
Chat with your counselor. Counselors are not available between May 29th and August 10th. However, they will be glad to chat with you when they return to campus on August 10th.
Question about Orientation?
Reach out to Mrs. Kathleen Martin (
kmartin@bcp.org
).
Question about carpools or transportation?
Check out the
BCP Transportation page
. If you have further questions, reach out to Dr. Sonya Arriola (
sarriola@bcp.org
).
Question about the Academic Resource Center or Office of Accessibility?
Reach out to Mrs. Katie Hogan (
khogan@bcp.org
) about the
Office of Accessibility
. Reach out to Mrs. Jennifer Johnson (
jjohnson@bcp.org
) about the
Academic Resource Center
(ARC) before May 29th and after August 10th.
Questions about Attendance or JUGs?
First, check out the attendance FAQ and the
attendance policy page
, then reach out to Mr. Alex Sarett (
asarrett@bcp.org
) with any attendance questions. For questions about JUGs, please reach out to the Dean of Students, Kevin Miller (
kmiller@bcp.org
).
Questions about Christian Service Requirements or Hours?
First, check out the
Christian Service page
, and then reach out to Mr. Jalal Beauchman (
jbeauchman@bcp.org
).
Questions about Freshman Retreat?
Please check out the
Freshman Retreat page
, and then reach out to Mrs. Cindy Bailey (
cbailey@bcp.org
).
Students pay for the food in the cafeteria and Bell Food Truck using their MySchoolBucks account, which is linked to their thumbprint. Students cannot pay with their student ID numbers or with cash. At the Bell Food Truck, students can only pay with their thumbprint, but at the cafeteria, students can pay with either their thumbprint, credit card, or Apple Pay. Students will set up their thumbprint during Freshman Orientation.
To load money onto your MySchoolBucks account or learn more about how these accounts work, check out
this page
Academic Resource Center (ARC)
Located on the second floor of the Lokey Building, students can find a quiet place to study or meet with a teacher. Learning specialists are available for targeted support and accountability. ARC staff also run the Bellarmine Academic Mentoring (BAM) program, where students can request a peer tutor in certain classes, subject to availability. ARC staff also have an active and extremely helpful page on Canvas where students can access the most up-to-date resources in academic support, learn about study sessions being held in ARC, and request a BAM.
Office Hours
Teachers have posted office hours in their syllabus and on their Canvas page. These are incredibly valuable times to spend one-on-one or in small groups with teachers to receive targeted academic support about course content, ask questions about a recent assessment, or simply do homework with close access to support from like-minded peers and their teacher.
See the daily class schedule template
here
and check Blue or Outlook for your most up-to-date schedule, including which periods are at what times, room assignments, and any special schedules for assemblies, rallies, or masses.
Big Brothers are servant leaders on campus who model other-centered service for our community by fostering belonging and joy amongst the freshman class. These upperclassmen mentors lead Freshman Orientation, Freshman Retreat, and meet with their freshmen throughout the year to provide support, answer questions, and generally be a "Big Brother."
Bellarmine has over 100 student organizations that you might join. Check out the complete list of clubs, affinity groups, and student groups
here
. Freshmen can start clubs in December, or they can wait to create their club in April when the application goes out to the whole school.
The best thing to do is to check your email daily. Your BCP email in Outlook is how you will learn about events like mixers and dances, tryouts for sports, special schedules, JUGs, meetings with your counselor, and more. Your email is how you will learn about
everything
, so check it every day.
An especially handy email to check is the WGOTW email from ASB. In this email, you'll find the cafeteria menu, the week's schedule, announcements about special events, and more.
Bells can hang out in the quads, the silent study area on the second floor of Wade, the SLC, the cafeteria, the Library, or the ARC.
The Library and ARC are academic places, so if you're hanging out there, you should be studying too. See hours for individual locations below.
The Library
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Friday
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ARC
Monday-Friday
8 a.m. - 4 p.m, closed at lunch
The SLC
Monday-Thursday
8 a.m. - 3:45 p.m, occasionally closed for special events
Friday
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m, occasionally closed for special events
Freshman Orientation
is a time for freshmen to meet their Big Brother, explore campus, meet their teachers, run through their schedule, learn about resources and policies on campus, and meet their Cura class, with whom they will spend Freshman Retreat.
Freshman Orientation is Wednesday, August 12th from 8:30 am-3:00 pm.
Orientation is a
mandatory
event for all members of the Class of 2030.
Please fill out
this survey
before May 1st so that event organizers can make sure that each Bell has what they need to have a fun, safe, and inclusive experience at Orientation.
What happens at Freshman Orientation?
What should Bells bring and wear to Orientation?
Who do I reach out to with questions?
By the end of orientation, all freshmen will...
Meet their assigned Big Brothers
Meet the students in their Cura class
Learn more about the campus and the services offered at Bellarmine for students
Run through their class schedule for the first two days of school including going to their physical classrooms and meeting their teachers and classmates
Get further acquainted with their Surface, Canvas, and Windows
Take their yearbook photo
Receive their official student planner
Locate and practice opening their assigned locker
Feel more ready to tackle their first week of school as new Bell students
Bells should bring...
A reusable water bottle
A backpack or drawstring bag
Their Surface and its charger
Bells should wear...
Comfy clothes that they feel comfortable moving around in and playing games
Sunscreen or a hat
Running shoes or sneakers
Please direct questions about Freshmen Orientation to Bellarmine's Servant Leadership Coordinator, Mrs. Kathleen Martin (kmartin@bcp.org).
Mrs. Martin will be unavailable between June 1-30. If you have an urgent question about orientation during this period, please direct your questions to Bellarmine's Assistant Principal of Mission and Ministry, Nick Creech (
ncreech@bcp.org
) or to Bellarmine's Admissions team.
Freshman Retreat is a time for the freshman class to bond with each other, their Big Brothers, and their teachers while exploring key aspects of our Ignatian spirituality.
Check out the Freshman Retreat PAGE