FAQs

For the 2025-2026 school year, Cardinal Newman operates on an alternating block schedule (Red Day/Black Day) that begins at 8:20am and ends at 3:10pm. Each day includes four class periods, lunch, and a "skinny" period for club/class/team meetings or extra assistance.

For most weeks during the school year, students wear their informal uniform four days and their formal uniform one day, usually on a Mass day. The informal uniform consists of khaki pants, skirts, or shorts and polo shirts. The formal uniform consists of khaki pants, white button-down shirts, and ties for boys and plaid skirts, white button-down shirts, and tights or knee socks for girls. Informal/formal days are published well in advance and included on the school calendar and in weekly publications to parents and students.

The school occasionally allows "dress down" days for special holidays, Homecoming week, and to raise funds for PTO. Appropriate attire is always expected and students are encouraged to participate in themed days.

Cardinal Newman has full-time officers who patrol the campus during the school day and during all evening activities. School administration works with the Richland County Police Department to regularly evaluate campus safety, assess the school's safety plan, and train staff for emergency situations. All school exits are locked during the school day and all visitors (and late arrivals) must check in through the main office.

Students may bring their lunch or pre-order lunch from Schoolhouse Fare. Cardinal Newman partners with Schoolhouse Fare to offer lunch options from local restaurants that are delivered to the school every day. Menus are published each month and families may make selections and pre-order lunch online for their children as often as they wish. The deadline to order lunch is noon the day before the selected lunch date.

Morning drop-off begins at 7:30am. For safety reasons, students should not arrive or be dropped off before that time. All students will be dropped off at the gym entrance and will report to Alumni Hall, where they will remain until being dismissed to first period.

Cardinal Newman is pleased to offer child care after school each day, from dismissal until 5:30pm. Before school begins in August, you will need to register your student as an Extended Care participant. The registration fee is paid through FACTS. Families will then be billed monthly, through FACTS, based on usage.

Students who remain on campus for after school activities like athletics, fine arts or tutoring, must utilize Extended Care if their practice/session does not begin immediately following school dismissal.  

Each student is required to bring a personal device to school daily. The minimum requirements, which are aligned with testing standards, will be provided to families over the summer.

Our recommendation:

• Grades 7-10: iPad
• Grades 11-12: Laptop or MacBook

Cardinal Newman implemented a "no cell phone" policy for the 2025-2026 school year. The goal of this policy is to support uninterrupted academic instruction - not to limit communication between families. We understand that there may be times when you need to reach your child during the day, and the updated guidelines include information on how to do so appropriately.

55% of our students are Catholic. We welcome students and families of all faiths!

All students and staff attend Mass weekly during the school day, typically on Wednesdays. Additional Mass and worship services are offered throughout the week before and during the school day for all who wish to participate. 

As part of our commitment to forming students in faith and character, all Cardinal Newman students are required to complete a designated number of service hours each year. Students are encouraged to begin completing service hours over the summer. Annual requirements are as follows:

• Grade 7 – 15 hours
• Grade 8 – 15 hours
• Grade 9 – 20 hours
• Grade 10 – 30 hours
• Grade 11 – 40 hours
• Grade 12 – 40 hours

We use an online platform called MobileServe to log and track service hours. A list of guidelines and approved service opportunities are available to help students get started. Please note that all service must meet these guidelines in order to count toward a student's annual requirement.

Graduation requirements are listed in the Course Catalog that is available to current CN parents in the online Parent Portal. Graduation requirements include:

• 4.0 credits English
• 0.5 credit Introduction to Speech and Research
• 4.0 credits Mathematics (Must include Algebra I & II, Geometry)
• 3.0 credits Laboratory Sciences (Must include Biology and Chemistry)
• 4.0 credits Social Studies (Must include Contemporary World Geography, World History, U.S. History, Government, Economics. Personal Finance will be required for students graduating in 2027 and later.)
• 3.0 credits World Languages  (3 credits in the same language)
• 4.0 credits Theology
• 1.0 credit Technology
• 1.0 credit Physical Education/Health
• 1.0 credit Fine Arts
• 4.5 credits Electives

Total Credits 30.0 credits

Additionally, each senior must complete and present a Senior Catholic Social Justice Research Project in order to graduate.