February 2015 Bishop McNamara`s Family Newsletter Vol. 25, No. 7

February 2015
Bishop McNamara’s Family Newsletter
Counselor Corner
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2015-2016 Scheduling Process
Second week of February: Counselors visit classrooms
to hand out course bulletins and selection forms. Selection sheets MUST BE SIGNED by a parent or guardian.
Students, parents, counselors will have time to discuss
course selections.
Teachers will sign selection sheets on February 23 and
February 24.
First week of March: Counselors visit classrooms to
collect course selection sheets.
Mid-March: Students receive course verification sheets.
They should see their counselor if there are ANY errors
or changes.
QUARTER 2
REPORT CARD DISTRIBUTION:
Thursday, February 5th, 4-7PM. Report Cards will be
distributed from the Fine Arts Concourse. Teachers will
be available for short conferences. If you need more
than 5 minutes with a teacher, please arrange for an
appointment.
Quarter 2 Report Cards will be posted by 4 pm to the
Parent Portal on Friday, Feb. 6th
Forgotten Portal password or locked out?
Email [email protected].
Third Quarter Progress Reports
are scheduled to be available on the Parent Portal by 4 p.m.
on February 27th. If you have questions about your child's
progress report call your student's guidance counselor at 301735-8401.
Ms. Di Clemente (freshmen): x145 or
[email protected]
Ms. Wilson (sophomores): x 143 or
[email protected]
Ms. Owens (juniors): x 146 or
[email protected]
Ms. Auchmoody (seniors L-Z): x 144 or
[email protected]
Ms. Treichel (seniors A-K): x140 or
[email protected]
STUDENT DROP-OFF
Parents are reminded that students are not to be
dropped off in the front circle or the driveway. All students are to exit vehicles in the back parking
lot. Please follow the security guards directions.
Vol. 25, No. 7
Winter Break
No Classes February 13th-16th
Bishop McNamara Class of 2019
Acceptances Mailing: February 20th
Admissions Honor Coffee: February 28th
Accepted Students Day: March 7th
ON-LINE Re-Registration for
Classes of ’16, ’17 & ’18
available on-line on February 20th
The registration process will takes place on-line. Please ensure your Parent Portal has an accurate e-mail
address listed as you will receive a link in late February to
register for the 2015-16 school year. Your log-in and password for this link are the same as those for the parent portal.
E-mail [email protected] for log in help. In order to avoid
the $100.00 late fee, registration must be completed by
Monday, March 10, 2015.
Questions? Please contact
Mrs. Ball at [email protected] or 301-735-8401 x125 or
Mrs. Garber at [email protected] or x113.
2015-2016 Tuition and Fees
Will be announced via e-mail in mid February
School Closing Policy
>Bishop McNamara High School generally follows the
PG County Public Schools policy (www.pgcps.or g)
in regard to cancellation, late opening and early dismissal of students. Please listen to local radio and TV stations for announcements. BMHS school telephone message system will announce any changes.
>Families should, however, access local media, the
school website or call the school to check for special
information regarding BMHS in the event that the
school schedule differs from the decision made by PG
County. An evaluation by the BMHS administration
will determine whether or not after school/evening
events will take place in the event of an early dismissal.
>Unplanned Canceled School Distance Learning:
After two days of canceled school, one Maroon day and
one Gold day, assignments will be posted on teachers’
websites by 9am for each day from there after. Students
are expected to work from a distance to maintain the
learning process. These distance learning assignments
will be for the classes scheduled on each day that was
canceled, after the first two days.
Bishop McNamara High School • 6800 Marlboro Pike • Forestville, MD 20747 • 301-735-8401 • http://www.bmhs.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THESE DATES
Parents’ Club Meeting
Tuesday, February 24th
Topic: Internship and Volunteer Service Fair
It’s not too early to start planning for the summer.
Come to the next Parents’ Club meeting for information on student internships, volunteer service, summer learning and employment opportunities. Find out
what you need to know about requirements, deadlines,
applications and qualifications. For more info, check
out the Parents’ Club link at www.bmhs.org. A light
dinner starts at 6:30and the meeting begins at 7:00
pm in the school cafeteria.
ICE NIGHT
NOTE: Date to be Determined
The FACE club will be hosting ICE Night (InterCultural Exchange Night) sometime in April in the Fine
Arts Theater. Come enjoy an evening celebrating Bishop McNamara’s incredible cultural diversity. There
will be cultural performances, entertainment and the
opportunity to taste exotic foods from our various cultures. Cost: $5.00.
Mustang Cup Golf Tournament
Father/Daughter Dance
Saturday February 21, 8-11pm at BMHS
Tickets on sale February 1st - 17th
$30 a couple includes light appetizers, drinks,
desserts and music provided by Ultrasound Deejays
Any questions, contact Mrs. Corley
at [email protected]
La Reine Reunion
Sunday, March 1, 2015
PLEASE SEE FLYER ON PAGE 6
7th Annual Mother/Daughter Brunch
March 7, 2015
PLEASE SEE FLYER ON PAGE 7
Friday, May 1st
Renditions Golf Course
The Mustang Cup Golf Tournament, in memory of
Phil Terry, will be held on Fr iday, May 1st at the
Renditions Golf Course. Information will be available on the website by mid February. Please plan on
registering your foursome early...we will sell out!
There are sponsorships at many levels available for
businesses and individuals. For additional information contact L’oreal Edmondson at [email protected] or 301-735-8401 x134
Driver's Education Class
February 2nd through February 17th
3:15pm - 6:30pm; Fee: $350.
Register at
http://www.gregsdrivingschool.net
Annual Spring Phon-a-thon
Mother/Son Brunch
May 3, 2015
Committee Chair: Contact Charlene Howard
Next meeting date: January 14th; 7PM at the school.
For more Information:
Contact: [email protected]
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS
February 2-12
Student Council will be sponsoring the Pennies for Patients Drive from February 2-12 to help in the fight
against Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma. Every
penny counts! Keep an eye out for our online donation
page! Please contact Ms. De Leonibus at Angela.DeLeonibus @bmhs.org with any questions.
“50 Years of Excellence in Education”
March 1st-4th
Please consider making a pledge to support our academic and co-curricular programs if you get a call from
one of our wonderful volunteers!
Labels for Education
The Parents’ Club is collecting labels from Campbell
products (soups and juices including V8), Prego, Pepperidge Farm, Swanson Broth, and FrancoAmerican Gravies to ear n fr ee mer chandise for
McNamara. Click on www.labelsforeducation.com for
more information.
Please contact Sandi Hodges at 301-868-2402 with
questions. Collection box is located in the main office.
Holy Cross Mission:
Campus Ministry
Kairos 29 will be held February 18-20 at Loyola Retreat Center. We ask you to keep the retreatants &team members in your prayers.
Check out our Campus Ministry blog at bmhsministry.wordpress.com – a few students are posting spiritual reflections each week for
our community!
Our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bmhsministry) is updated daily with the morning prayer that is read at school for the
day. Please check it out!
We’re also on Twitter! @BMHS_Ministry
Holy Cross Service
Students who have fulfilled their service hour requirements: Seniors 24%, Juniors 15%, Sophomores 18%, Freshmen 31%.
Deadline to complete service hours: Seniors have less than 3 months to complete their hours; Juniors have less than 2 ½ months to
complete their hours, Sophomores have less than 2 months to complete their hours; Freshmen have just over 1 ½ months to complete
their hours. Students who do not complete their hours by the deadline will receive a time extension and will have to complete 5 additional hours.
All students must complete and submit the Service Agreement & Action Plan. No service hours will be recorded for a student until
this document is received by the Campus Ministry office. The document is available through the ‘Service Hour Forms’ page in the
Holy Cross Service section of the BMHS website.
Students can view their total number of required service hours recorded by our office in the Maccess gradebook (this is not the same
as the gradebook in the portal). Students will need to access their “Holy Cross Service” course in Maccess. To the right of the
“Calendar” button, there is a “Gradebook” button for Holy Cross Service. Once students have completed (and submitted) the minimum number of service hours, they will see that their grade is marked as “complete.” This is updated on the 1st and 15th of each
month.
Pre-Approved Service Site Lists can be found on the BMHS website: click on “Faith & Service,” navigate to “Approved Service
Opportunities,” then click on list for the appropriate grade level.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Soup Kitchen: Juniors may sign-up to volunteer at this soup kitchen during the school day (they are permitted to take advantage of this in-school opportunity once during the school year). We also need volunteers to drive and volunteer
with students during the school day from 7:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m. Please contact Ms. Longest at [email protected] if interested.
FEBRUARY EVENTS
Daily Mass in the Chapel at 7am
February 9-12: Holy Cr oss Week
February 11: Bir thday of Blessed Fr . Basil Mor eau, CSC (founder of the Congr egation of Holy Cross) Litur gy – All are always welcome to join us at 8:15am for School Masses!
February 18: Ash Wednesday Pr ayer Ser vice – All are welcome to join us at 8:15am
February 18-20: Kairos 29
Contact Rosemary Pezzuto at
[email protected] or check
out www.campfireusa-patuxent.org for
more information.
Teens in Action Meets weekly from 3-430 in the school library. Teens work on and plan service projects, participate
in learning projects, and engage in career and leadership opportunities. Enrollment is open to all students. Teens pay a
membership fee to cover membership and dues. Feb and
March Activities include the following Service and Leadership Opportunities
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Mentoring Middle School Students in Technology
Working with planning a service project for Veterans In
February
Hosting a party for homeless children and Families.
Planning a service trip for Spring Break
Attending the National Service Learning Conference in
April
Enrolling and beginning the Congressional Leadership
Program.
Working on a Teen Driving Safety project for the
Spring.
Hearing and Vision Screening For Freshmen
Will be provided by the Prince George’s County Health Department for all freshmen on May 6th & 7th.
Black History Month AM Assembly
Monday, February 23rd
Spring Blood Drive; March 24
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8:00 AM—1:00 PM
McNamara students age 16 and older, families, and
members of the community are encouraged to donate
blood—one pint of blood can save three lives.
Contact [email protected] for more
information or to sign up as a blood donor.
March Calendar
1-4
Spring Phon-a-Thon
6PM Winter Sports Ceremony
Mother/Daughter Brunch
2015-2016 Registration Contracts Due
Spring Play
SAT at McNamara
Feast of St. Joseph Liturgy
PG County Music Festival
End of 3rd Quarter
WAMTC Elementary Band Festival at
BMHS
24
Blood Drive
25
6pm Board of Directors Mtg
25-27 Kairos
27
3rd Quarter Reports on Portal
26-28 Dance Festival
28-April 6 Easter Recess
3
7
10
13-15
14
19
19-21
20
22
FADE COLLOQUIUM #5
THEATRE WORKSHOP
Senior Showcase, Wednesday, February 11th at 7:00
pm in the Fine Arts Theater. All are welcome to attend
and support our talented seniors.
FADE COLLOQUIUM #6
“Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble”
Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Fine Arts
Theater. All are welcome to attend this fine combination of: live music, singing, comedy, and percussive
dance.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
BMHS Fine Arts Theater, 10am - 6pm
Students in grades 5 - 8 will participate in workshops
on acting, improvisation and theatre technology. Participants will perform in a Showcase audience of friends
and family, starting at 5pm. More information and the
Registration Form can be found here .
Sankofa Nights Presents:
SPRING PLAY
The Madwoman of Chaillot
by Jean Giraudoux
March 13, 14, and 15, 2015
Student Performers can pre-order tickets until
February 9th, 2015
Student Tickets will be sold in the BMHS Cafeteria
during lunch on Wednesday, February 11, 2015
(Non-performing students may purchase one
ticket for themselves).
Tickets go on sale to the general public
at www.bmhs.org from:
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2015 – Wednesday, Mar 11, 2015.
All tickets are $10.00.
Music Trip News……. ATLANTA 2015
The third payment was due January 30th– If you are
behind, please send in your payment.
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The Final Payment is due on Friday, March 20th,
2015 – All fees must be paid.
Mandatory student/parent/guardian meeting, Monday, April 13th @ 7:00 pm in the Main Gym.
Trip dates are: Wednesday, April 15 – Sunday,
April 19, 2015.
Exact Departure and Arrival times to be announced
at a later date.
Spring Dance Festival
March 26, 27, and 28, 2015
Student Performers can pre-order tickets until Friday, February 20, 2015.
Student Tickets will be sold in the BMHS Cafeteria during
lunch on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.
(Non-performing students can purchase one ticket for themselves).
Tickets go on sale to the general public
at www.bmhs.org on March 2, 2015. All tickets are $10.00.
Mandatory rehearsal: in the Fine Arts & Athletic Center:
· Wednesday, March 18th 3-8:30pm
· Monday, March 23rd 3-8:30pm
· Tuesday, March 24th 3-8:30pm
A detailed schedule will be given to dance students at a later
date.
“Cristo”
April 23rd – April 26th, 2015
Student Performers can pre-order tickets until
Friday, March 13, 2015.
Student Tickets will be sold in the BMHS Cafeteria
during lunch on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.
(Non-performing students can purchase one
ticket for themselves).
Tickets go on sale to the general public
at www.bmhs.org on Monday, March 23, 2015.
All tickets are $10.00.
Spring Music Concerts
Various Dates in April & May
Tickets for ALL of the Spring Music Concerts
will go on sale to the general public
at www.bmhs.org on March 19, 2015.
Jazz Lab & Jazz Ensemble – April 8, 2015
Concert Band, Symphonic Band, &
Percussion Ensemble – April 30, 2015
Choir Concert – May 1, 2015
String Orchestra &
Wind Ensemble Concert – May 8, 2015
Spring Sports Practices
Start February 23rd
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Spring Sports: Golf, Women’s and Men’s Lacrosse,
Softball, Baseball, Track and Men’s Tennis.
All students participating in a spring sport must have a
current Medical Evaluation of Student Form (dated after June 1, 2014), the Concussion Form and an Emergency Medical Authorization for Athletic Participation Form on file. Questions? Call the athletic office
at 301735-8401 x103.
Parent Portal
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Please update your Parent Portal and
ensure accuracy of information
It is vital that your Parent Portal has an accurate e-mail
address listed as you will r eceive a link in late Febr uar y
to register your student(s) for the 2015-16 school year
Your updates to the household from the parent portal do not
become final until they are “accepted” by “support”—you
may be called to confirm an entry.
Need help or have questions, contact [email protected] or
Mrs. Vinci at 301-735-8401 x147.
BMHS Financial Aid Applications
Parent Volunteer Service Opportunities
2015-2016 School Year
Deadline was December 15, 2014
Volunteer Service Hours Coordinator: Alice Case
Phone: 301-735-8401 x122 or E-mail
Any applications submitted/completed after December 15,
2014 will be considered in the SECOND round of allocations
in the spring, if funds remain available. Families requesting
consideration for financial aid must apply online and submit
the necessary supporting documentation directly to FACTS
Grant & Aid Assessment. The online application is available
at BMHS FACTS. Paper applications are not available. Supporting documents may be faxed to 866-315-9264 or mailed
to:
Concession Stand Workers: Volunteer s needed
to work at basketball games. Call Diane McDuffie
at 202-398-7846.
Queen of Peace Soup Kitchen: in need of dr ivers to drive and volunteer with students during the
school day from 8:00 am – 11:15am. Please contact Ms. Longest at [email protected] if
interested.
FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment
PO Box 82524
Lincoln, NE 68501-2524
Phonathon: Volunteer s needed fr om 2-5pm and
5-8pm on Sunday, March 1st and 6-9pm on Monday March 2, Tuesday March 3 and Wednesday
March 4. Earn 5 hours of service for each 3-hour
shift. Light dinner and training provided. Contact
Alice Case at 301-735-8401 x122 or
[email protected]
Parent Club Opportunities
Contact: [email protected]
Used Uniform Sales Coordinator: We ar e looking for a parent volunteer to coordinate the Parents
Club used uniform sales. Please contact Eva Stattel
at [email protected].
Volunteers needed for: Mother Son Brunch
Committee: Contact: [email protected] for
more information.
FACTS Tuition Management
If you have any questions regarding your child’s tuition
account or payment terms, please contact Mrs. Gessner
at [email protected] or 301-735-8401 x158.
“Unforgettable Spirit” Scholarship
Sophomores and Juniors are invited to compete for this
scholarship in memory of Randell Duncan ’00. The
focus of the scholarship application is “stopping teen
and young adult violence."
Information and applications are available from the
main office and Ms. Jolly.
The deadline for application is March 15.
The Carousel Uniforms
is celebrating our 38th Anniversary.
As a "thank you" to our valued clients, we
are offering a 38% off ONE item to each
student for the month of February!
Passport to the Future Award
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor up to
5 Seniors will be awarded a U.S. Passport at this year's
graduation ceremony. Award winners will be selected
based upon an essay they submit to Mr. Williams or
Mr. Pozniak.
Further information regarding this award will be presented to every Global Studies class in February. For
further information, please contact, L'oreal Edmondson,
Director of Advancement at [email protected]
The eligibility requirements are listed below.:
Students in their senior year who:
 Do not hold a current valid U.S. passport (or whose
valid passport is due to expire by December 31
of the current year)
 Are in good academic standing (not less than a C
average at the end of the first semester) in course of
Global Studies including Honors
 Submit an award-winning essay
 Meet all passport application criteria and deadlines
SAGE DINING LUNCH MENU
is available on the BMHS website
under SAGE
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Attendance Office Notes
301-735-8401 x149
Absences: Please call the attendance office
by 10am to report student absences and follow up
with a note when they return.
Early dismissals: Please send in wr itten notification, send an email ([email protected]) or
call (301-735-8401 x149) before pick-up time.
Your student is then given a pass to be in the attendance office at the time you designate. This
helps alleviate class disruptions caused by failure
of notification beforehand.
Student illness during the day. It is school policy
that students must report to the attendance office to
call parents—they should not call parents themselves. ·
Pick up of student: If someone other than the
parent is coming to pick up the student, that person’s name must be submitted to the attendance
office.
LA REINE HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
March 1, 2015
Bishop McNamara High School is honored to host and invite you to the
La Reine High School Reunion on
Sunday, March 1, 2015
in celebration of our enduring Catholic partnership with the school,
as well as our own 50th-year anniversary.
10:30 AM - Mass at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church
12:00 PM - Reception in the Bishop McNamara Fine Arts and Athletics Center
12:45 - 3:00 PM - optional Tour of La Reine & Bishop McNamara (transportation provided)
3:00 PM - Speaking presentation
$20 PER PERSON
Please RSVP at La Reine Reunion
Contact Melissa Antonio Huar LR ‘91 at
[email protected] or
301.735.8401 ext. 138
Bishop McNamara is located at
6800 Marlboro Pike
Forestville, MD 20747
Limited Tickets! Tickets on sale now! First Come First Serve!
Daughters: Mother Tributes Due no later than February 16, 2015