Transition Year FAQs

List of 11 frequently asked questions.

• Who do I contact if I have questions?

  The SHS community is eager to hear from you and available to connect in a variety of ways.
  

  • Contact the SHS Admission Team
  • Contact Parent Ambassadors found in your acceptance packet!
  • Keep an eye out for our Gator Greeter parents who will be connecting with new families directly starting in May, to welcome you to our community!

• I'm having trouble finding my new parent login information. What should I do?

  After a new student is admitted, parents should receive an invitation to create a Blackbaud ID to login to the SHS Parent Portal. If you are having trouble logging in, please review these troubleshooting instructions.

• Can I revisit campus before making a decision?

  Yes - the Sacred Heart campus is open to you!
  
  

  Admit Revisit Day (Grades 6-12): We invite both admitted Middle School & Prep students and parents to revisit campus on Tues, March 25th to meet current families, coaches, and academic leadership as you consider your future at SHS! See event details & registration below:

  • Prep: March 25 11:15am/ 3:30pm (RSVP by 3/23) 
    • Admitted Student Revisit - 11:15am - 3:15pm Admitted students are invited for a half-day visit to campus for lunch and two classes with a current student host! Parents/Guardians are welcome to pick up and drop off or come back for the Q&A described below.
    • Admitted Family Q&A -  3:30 - 5:00pm Parent and admitted students are welcome to drop-in for an informal Q&A: connect with current families, school leadership, Gator coaches and more to ask questions about specific programs or aspects of SHP.
  • Middle School: March 25 - 9:15-11:15am (RSVP by 3/23)
    

    • Admitted Student Revisit -  Admitted students are invited for a morning visit to campus for a tour, mini-lessons with our teachers, and the opportunity to ask questions of a SHS student host! Parents/Guardians are welcome to pick up and drop off or stay for the parent portion described below.
    • Admitted Family Q&A - We welcome parents to drop by for coffee and connect with current parents to ask questions about Gator life followed by an optional tour led by current parents. 

  Note: This is the only date we are able to offer a structured classroom revisit & Q&A before the March 28 decision deadline. For other opportunities, please see below.

  
  

  Informal Drop-in: All newly-admitted families are welcome to drive to campus and take a look around any time after 3:15pm using the map linked here. Note: please email admission@shschools.org to notify us when you are thinking about dropping by or let us know if you want to arrange time during the school day. 

  
  

  Virtual: Finally, you are always welcome to explore campus virtually, with some of our wonderful student guides to get a sense of our campus and community, online. 

  
  

  We look forward to hosting all of our new families for fun, in-person welcome events by grade level in April and May (Please see spring events questions for more details).

• Will there be any events for new families/new classes this spring?

  
  Absolutely!  SHS will host multiple activities for our newly admitted families this spring. Our Admission Team, Student Life Team, and Parent Association are excited to meet our new students and parents.  Go Gators!
  
  

  Informational Welcome Zoom

  • Preschool-Grade 5: April 3, 2025, 10:00am
  • Middle School (6th grade): April 3, 2025, 6:00pm
  • Prep: April 3, 2025, 7:00pm

  
  

  In-Person Welcome Events

  • Preschool-Grade 5 Welcome Coffee: May 7, 2025, 9:00am
  • Middle School (6th grade) Welcome Night: April 28, 2025, 5:30pm
  • Prep Welcome Night: April 29, 2025, 5:00pm

  *all dates/times subject to change

• How do I find out about SHP placement tests and fall classes?

  
  

  • All incoming 9th grade students will take Science, Math & World Language placement tests on Saturday, April 26 2025.
  • In May, students will meet with their counselors 1:1 to discuss their schedules for the fall.
  • You may review the the 9th Grade Curriculum Guide linked here, for details about the scope and sequence of courses.
  • The SHS Admission Team will cover this topic in more detail during the Informational Welcome Zoom on April 3 at 7pm and your Academic Counselors will be in touch with details, soon!

• Where can I find the 2025-26 SHS School Calendar?

  
  Visit the SHS Main Site’s Calendar page for the latest version of the 2025-26 academic & athletic calendars. Here is a link to the general 25-26 Calendar PDF.
  Please note:

  • The first day of school is the week of August 20, 2025.
  • For Prep students planning on participating in a fall sport, tryouts are typically in early August.
  • For Middle School students planning on participating in a fall sport, registration opens and practice typically begins in August.

• Is there after care for Preschool-Grade 5?

  Yes! Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton partners with the Champions After Care program.
  
  Grades: Preschool-Grade 5
  Dates: Dates align with the SHS school calendar/schedule (including coverage during most school breaks & some holidays)
  Hours: Preschool: 2:40 - 6:00 PM / K-Grade 5: 3:15 - 6:00 PM
  
  Visit the Champions site (Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton location) to learn more.

• How does my student find out about athletics, arts and club opportunities?

  
  The SHS Admission Team will update and remain in contact with families about different offerings available to students in the 2025-26 academic year.  Grade level welcome events will also cover important dates and contact information for program leads.

• Are there summer opportunities for my student(s) on campus?

  YES! There are many summer opportunities at SHS.

   

  SHS Camp Gator '24 (All grade levels): Camp Gator summer programs feature something for everyone! This year's athletic offerings include camps/clinics in baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, and water polo. Additionally, SHS welcomes Mid-Pen Sports (Powered by Hi-Five) back to campus to run their youth sports camps. Please visit the Camp Gator website for additional information and registration.

  
  Feel free to spread the word to anyone who may be interested in SHS summer opportunities (participants do not need to be SHS students to attend)!

  
  Summer Programming at SHS (K  - Grade 8)
  

  Registration for our half-day and full-day SHS enrichment summer classes/camps is NOW live! Camps are open to students from other schools. Your child is encouraged to invite a friend or two to join in all of the fun! 

  
  The Lower school will offer a range of options from Math Masters, Literacy Readiness, and Art Exploration while Middle Schoolers can choose from Fantasy Writing, Game Design, Writing Essentials, Citizen Math, AI and Wood Working, to name a few.  You can view the extensive list of offerings here. All groupings require a minimum number of registrations, and are limited in space - so sign up today to secure your child’s spot! Register here.
  
  SHP Summer Academics (Prep Only)
  SHP Summer Session features a variety of courses and experiences designed to fit the unique opportunity for learning which summertime makes possible. For course offerings and registration, please review details here.
  

• Do SHS students wear uniforms?

  
  Grades 9-12:  No uniform. Students are expected to follow some informal attire guidelines (i.e. appropriate for weather and school, dress days for special events, etc).
  
  

  Grades Preschool - Grade 8: Yes. 

  • For reference, please refer to the 24-25 uniform guidelines.
  • Families can acquire uniforms through the following options:
    1. School Sponsored Uniform Exchange
    2. Lands' End SHS school uniform site
  • A few pointers from our veteran parents: 
    1. Sign up for the Lands’ End email mailing list for notice of future sales
    2. No need to stock up on extra items such as sweatshirts as you may find them through the SHS Uniform Exchange Program (Coming soon! Exact date TBD)
    3. Some girls prefer to wear the "boys" SHS mass sweater vests instead of the cardigans.

• Where can I purchase SHS gear?

  
  Visit:
  

  • SHP Athletics Sideline Store
  • Gator Pit Shop
  • Grades P-8 Nike Gear