announcing
Unparalleled Program Opportunity and Excellence in association with
An Innovative Academic Initiative Like No Other It is with great excitement, as well as deepest gratitude, that we announce the formation of a powerful partnership between Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School and two of the nation’s preeminent universities: the University of Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins University. To be called the OLSH AP® Advantage Program, this grant-funded initiative will recognize, reward and advance OLSH students, as well as participating OLSH faculty members, and add exceptional value to the OLSH educational program. As you may know, since 2012, OLSH has worked diligently to add layers of increasing value, opportunity, and distinction to our school in general, as well as the education that our students receive in specific. These accomplishments were made possible by the Felician Sisters, our dedicated faculty and staff members, and our broad base of supporters including parents, students, alumni and a host of other contributors. This new initiative affords us with an opportunity to advance our mission in a manner that no other school can match! As we continue our work to prepare our graduates for promising futures marked by faith, academic and career success, and dedicated service to others, we can’t imagine a better setting in which students can be known, transformed and inspired than here at OLSH. Built upon a foundation of our Felician Core Values, a commitment to excellence, our Catholic faith, and a longstanding tradition of visionary leadership, our school is blessed . . . and bolstered for continued vitality. For more information on the OLSH AP® Advantage Program, please visit www.olsh.org. Sincerely,
Terry O’Rourke Donoghue President
Tim Plocinik Principal
Key features of the OLSH AP® Advantage Program include: • Enrollment of participating OLSH faculty members in the AP® Summer Institute led by the University of Notre Dame • Year-round, direct support and access to resources from the University of Notre Dame’s AP-TIP (Advanced Placement Teacher Investment Program) staff, working in cooperation with the National Math and Science Institute (NMSI) • Rigorous and more plentiful learning opportunities for OLSH students provided by well-trained teachers • Expanded opportunities for academically advanced OLSH students to enroll in online AP® courses offered by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth – affording them with the ability to study with other talented students across the world, and tailor their high school education to suit their individual needs, talents and goals • Financial incentives for faculty and students based upon qualifying AP® test results, AP® test fee remission opportunities, and tuition subsidies for JHU courses • For OLSH students: Outstanding preparation for college success; heightened prospects for college tuition savings and/or advanced standing
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School was recently adopted by the University of Notre Dame, as a participant in the University’s AP® Teacher Investment Program (AP-TIP). AP-TIP prepares high school students for college via rigorous coursework that emphasizes increased involvement in Math, Science, and English (MSE) Advanced Placement (AP®) courses. Hallmarks of the AP-TIP program include extensive training for teachers, as well as incentives for teachers and students that effectively increase participation in AP® courses, elevate AP testing results, and reward hard work and dedication.
As part of the OLSH AP® Advantage Program, Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School will partner with Johns Hopkins University - the first research university in the United States in order to provide a truly comprehensive Advanced Placement curriculum to motivated and talented students who would like to further challenge themselves and enrich their high school educational experience. The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) was founded in 1979 and has carried out its mission to “identify and develop young people of great academic promise” ever since.
Notre Dame was awarded a grant from the National Math and Science Institute (NMSI) to implement the AP-TIP program in the State of Indiana for the past four years, and the results have been significant, with participating schools’ AP® Mathematics, Science and English scores increasing by an average of 57% in their first year of involvement with the program. African American and Hispanic students saw their scores increase 154% and female students’ scores increased by 153%. This increase reflects the success of the AP-TIP and NMSI model of preparing both students and teachers for mastery of advanced subject matter, and increased access to and enrollment in designated AP® courses. OLSH is thrilled to be the first high school outside of the state of Indiana to be chosen to participate in the program.
OLSH students who qualify for enrollment in CTY will receive a tuition subsidy and take online courses taught by Johns Hopkins CTY instructors. The Center for Talented Youth not only provides a comprehensive complement of Advanced Placement classes, but also offers advanced courses ranging from languages like Chinese or Arabic, to college-level mathematics such as multivariable calculus and differential equations. OLSH students taking advantage of CTY will be in a classroom with students from around the United States and across the globe. This program truly allows students to tailor their education to suit their individual needs and goals.
Spurred by involvement in the AP-TIP program, in the coming years OLSH will increase its AP® offerings in Mathematics, Science and English. Additionally, OLSH students and teachers will receive incentives of up to $200 for each qualifying AP® test score achieved by OLSH students, (i.e. 3 = $100, 4 = $150, 5 = $200).
OLSH students participating in the CTY online classes will have access to OLSH teachers as well as our physical laboratories. We believe that enrollment in the courses will provide exceptional opportunities for OLSH students to explore and succeed in advanced subjects, allowing them to differentiate themselves, and bolster the strength of their applications to colleges.
Invest Now . . . For a Lifetime of Success. In our experience, OLSH students who fully invest themselves in high school (by taking challenging courses, and capitalizing on leadership opportunities) find great success in college and beyond. The OLSH AP® Advantage Program provides an unrivaled program of distinction, excellence and rigor that will afford an even greater opportunity for your child’s collegiate achievement – as well as the possibility of college credit and/or advanced standing. We hope you will consider the transformative impact that an OLSH education can make upon your child’s future.
For additional information, please visit: www.olsh.org https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap/for-parents http://iei.nd.edu/programs/advanced-placement-teacher-investment-program-ap-tip-in/ http://cty.ju.edu/
OLSH contacts: MR. TIM PLOCINIK, Principal tplocinik@olsh.org • (412) 264-5140
MRS. JESSICA SELLMAN, Director of Admissions and Enrollment jsellman@olsh.org • (412) 262-3300
AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this program.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (OLSH) is a Catholic college preparatory school, educating and transforming young men and women in grades 9-12 in the Felician Franciscan tradition of excellence. Students at OLSH are well-prepared for success in post-secondary studies, and alumni are leaders in a vast range of professions. OLSH’s family atmosphere fosters personal growth, and its students are enriched with challenging courses, unique electives and activities, and comprehensive athletics and arts programs. The beautiful, 80-acre OLSH campus features fully updated and well maintained LEED-certified school and gymasium buildings that provide ideal surroundings in which students from over 30 school districts develop their talents, and become fit and well-formed for bright futures, and lifelong contributions to our society. OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL • A Ministry of the Felician Sisters 1504 Woodcrest Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108-3054 • (412) 264-5140 • www.olsh.org