Onward Newsletter

Inaugural Onward Newsletter

September 1, 2026

For us, "Onward” is more than a word. It’s a challenge: to be your best, to dream big, to attempt what feels difficult—and to do it with courage and hope.

- Cindy & John Smet

A Message from Nancy Portillo,

O2HS and OSP Executive Director

Welcome to the first edition of our Onward Newsletter! As the new Executive Director of the Onward Scholars Program and the continuing Executive Director of Onward 2 High School, I am excited to serve both programs and share the incredible work happening across our community. This newsletter will be a place to celebrate our students, highlight program updates, and share success stories. We hope you enjoy our newsletter and share it with others. Onward!

Onward Scholars Program Application Open!

Calling all 8th graders: Apply today!

The Onward Scholars Program application is now open! To apply for OSP, visit each of our partner schools:

Bishop Mora Salesian High School (All boys)

Cathedral High School (All boys)

Sacred Heart High School (All girls)

St. Mary's Academy (All girls)

St. Anthony High School (Co-ed)

St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy (Co-ed)

Onward Scholars Program Application Timeline

September 1: Application Opens
January 20: Application Deadline
February: Semifinalist & Finalist Interviews (dates vary by site)
March 5: Decisions Emailed
March 12: Class of 2031: Program Commitment Deadline

Onward Scholars: 2026 - 2027 Kickoff!

"I chose to apply to the Onward Scholars Program because I wanted to challenge myself, grow as a student, and be surrounded by people who motivate me to reach my goals" -OSP student, Class of 2029

Onward Scholars is excited for the year ahead as we inspire our scholars to dream big, embrace new opportunities, and take bold steps toward the future they envision. Through our selective admissions process, OSP welcomed 48 freshmen, bringing the total to 288 exceptional scholars from over 100 distinctive Catholic, charter, public, and private schools.

We look forward to providing students personalized support through scholarship, mentorship, and college access programming. Together, we help scholars reach their full potential, excel academically, lead with purpose, and dream boldly about the future!

OSP College Access Corner: College Exposure Pillar

Representatives from Brown University, Occidental College, Stanford University, and University of Southern California joined OSP families for a special panel, giving parents the opportunity to learn directly from admissions representatives and ask questions about the college journey. Onward Scholars explore higher education opportunities and expand their vision for the future through fully funded workshops, trips, and college visits across California and the east coast.

If you are a college representative and would like to learn more about the ways to engage with our scholars and families, please contact us!

Onward 2 High School: 8th Grade Honors Algebra I

The Onward 2 High School Program had an exciting 2025-2026 school year, expanding to 18 schools across the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. More than 100 eighth-grade students across 12 partner schools were selected for Honors Algebra I, demonstrating significant growth across multiple assessments and strengthening their readiness for advanced coursework. Today, many are beginning their high school journeys in higher-level mathematics at our partner Catholic high schools equipped with the confidence, critical thinking skills, and solid math foundation needed for success.

As the 2026-2027 school year begins, more than 115 students are already accelerating their math achievement in eighth-grade Honors Algebra I courses! In just the first week of school, students began building strong algebra foundations through the study of linear equations and systems across our partner schools. Mr. Smet and Mrs. Portillo recently visited classrooms to see this learning in action and engage with students as they begin another year of academic growth and achievement.