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Key Dates

August 20

Freshman Parent Meeting, 6:00 p.m. in the Main Gymnasium

Freshman Parent Social in Dominican Hall following the meeting

Eagle Store will be open following the meeting

August 23

First Day: Freshmen Only, full uniform, 1:48 p.m. dismissal

August 24

All Students, full uniform, 1:48 dismissal

August 28

School Picture Day

Senior College Planning Meeting

Semester Finals Attendance

As you make plans for our various breaks for the 2023-24 school year, please read the following policy from our Student Handbook:

Testing and Absence – Semester Final Exams

Students must be present during all scheduled finals. The only excused absence is one due to extreme illness. A doctor’s note is required for verification. If a student is ill and needs to reschedule an exam, they must contact Vice Principal Abby Teeters, abteeter@cdeducation.org, for permission and arrangements. Exams will not be rescheduled for vacations, club sports, etc. Absences due to reasons other than illness may result in the student receiving 80% of the grade earned.

Please examine our finals schedule closely and plan vacations accordingly. Inform family members, club coaches, employers, parish leaders working on service trips, retreats, etc. that students are not available until exams are over. Please do not schedule doctor’s appointments, elective surgery, etc. during this time. 

Semester Exams:

Thursday, December 14-Tuesday, December 19

Senior Final Exams:

Friday, May 17-Wednesday, May 22

Underclassmen Final Exams:

Friday, May 24-Thursday, May 30

Drop Off and Pick Up At Dismissal

Bishop Watterson is in a neighborhood and that means we have neighbors so please help us set a tone of common sense and courtesy. Due to bus congestion, we ask parents to arrive after 3:10 p.m. Please do not park or stop on the east side of Foster Street, in front of the neighbors’ homes, or in neighboring business lots. Cars who stop on this side, regardless of whether they are blocking a driveway, will most definitely be in the way for north-bound drivers on Foster. If you are picking your child up after an activity and are waiting in line at the south entrance, please pull forward against the curb or park in the lot. In addition, the City of Columbus has made Cooke Road in front of the BWHS main entrance a no-stopping zone. 

Athletics

Announcing the Bishop Watterson Sports Network!

We have partnered with PAB Sports to provide live audio coverage of Bishop Watterson sports events, starting with the 2023 varsity football season. Paul Barnes will call the games, along with a handful of analysts.

Listen live at www.bishopwatterson.mixlr.com.

Tune in this Friday as the Eagles take on Whetstone High School -- pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. with kick off at 7:00 p.m.

Health Office Updates

If your student has a medical condition for which we should be aware and/or needs medications available at school during the 2022-2023 school year, please complete the required forms and return them with your student’s OHSAA physical form to the Health Office in August. These forms can now be found on our website under Student Life> Forms & Flyers> Medications at School. There are specific forms for allergy, asthma and seizure conditions. Many of these forms require a physician signature so please print and have them on hand when you see your PCP this summer!

Please ensure your student has an updated Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine prior to start of school. Incoming freshman should have already received these upon entering 7^th grade. Students entering their senior year will need a meningococcal booster prior to starting school

Freshman Mixer

Student Council is hosting the annual Freshman Mixer on Saturday, August 26 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. This is a fun, casual dance for members of the freshman class to get to know one another.

Cost is $10 and ticketing is found on our website >Student Life >Event Ticketing, or click the button below.

Worth Repeating

Final Forms for All Students



Now is a great time to get ahead on completing your student's required paperwork for the school year. All families must complete final forms for each student. These are not just for athletics but include emergency medical information, handbook and technology acceptance, and more. Freshman families new to the school need to create an account. 

Email Communication



We have updated our parent email list for 2023-24 based on what we have listed in PowerSchool. Email/phone/address changes should be sent to Mrs. Claprood, ms.claprood@bwhs.org.

Watterson Wednesday News will arrive from bwhsinfo@bwhs.org.

Some internet service providers will occasionally push random emails into a folder other than the inbox so always check spam and other folders if you do not see it. In addition, some ISPs will shorten emails in your inbox with the option to click to read more.

Past issues of Watterson Wednesday News, can be found on our website 24/7 on the About menu click on Stay Informed.

Early Release Wednesdays

Bishop Watterson will continue our early release Wednesdays as we did last year.

Each Wednesday, students are released at 1:48 p.m. On the second and third Wednesday of each month, students should be meeting with teachers for extra help. There may also be opportunities for clubs to meet.

Students will also be released early during semester finals, around 12:30 p.m.

Bus Service for 2022-23

It is time to register for bus service from Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard or Worthington for the 2022-23 school year. Links to the district transportation information can be found at bishopwatterson.com. On the Student Life menu click Forms & Flyers. Or click on the button below.

Counselor Corner

Outlined below is the counseling department structure for the 2023-2024 school year. Counselors are assigned to students by grade level and last name. 

Grades 9-10 School Counselors

A-K - Mrs. Sponseller, jsponseller@cdeducation.org

L-Z - Mr. Johnson, mr.johnson@bwhs.org

Grades 11-12 School Counselors

A-K - Ms. Creighton, ms.creighton@bwhs.org

L-Z - Mrs. Zirkle, mrs.zirkle@bwhs.org / Mrs. Fontaine, mfontaine@bwhs.org

CLICK HERE for a letter from counselors to 11th and 12th grade families further explaining the 11th and 12th grade counselor support. 

Dominican Program Director and Counselor

Mr. Teeters, mr.teeters@cdeducation.org

Wellness Counselors

Ms. Gazdik, sgazdik@bwhs.org

Mrs. Vogel, ms.vogel@bwhs.org

Schedules Available in Schoology

Student schedules are available. Please note this information about schedule changes:

• No schedule change requests will be accepted before August 28 unless there is an error (missing or incorrect class) on your schedule. If there is an error on your schedule, please email your counselor.
• Alternate choices may have been put in place of first choice electives if there was a scheduling conflict or a class was at maximum capacity - those are not scheduling errors.
• Students must follow their schedule as is through the first two days of school, and then will be able to request changes from August 28 through September 2.
• At that time, electives may be changed to another elective offered the same period or study hall period and honors may be changed to CPI. 
• Core classes will not be rearranged for elective requests.
• Changes are not made for teacher, period, or lunch preference.

School Pictures: Monday, August 28

HR Imaging will be mailing a bar-coded prepay flyer to each student that contains all of the information needed for picture day. The envelope on the flyer actually serves as their personal pre-filled camera card. Students should bring the envelope portion of the flyer to school on Monday, August 28 so that photos happen efficiently.

New for Seniors: Monday, August 28 will be the official senior portrait photo day. More information regarding attire will be emailed to senior parents soon.

Eagle Store & Online Spirit Store

The Eagle Store is stocked for the start of the school year!

Upcoming store hours:

August 10, noon-1:00 p.m.

August 15 & 17, noon-1:00 p.m.

August 23 & 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

In addition, our online spirit store offers activity/sport-specific items shipped directly to your home. Click here.

Athletics

Sports Passes

Annual sports passes are now on sale at the link below. Take advantage of a one-time processing fee and savings compared to

per-game prices of $7.00 for all ages. BWHS students will need their student ID# to purchase.

Campus Ministry

Fall Kairos Registration Going On Now

It's time for seniors to register for the Fall Kairos, October 3-6. Kairos is a 3½ day experience for seniors which invites them to encounter themselves, others and God in new, meaningful and unexpected ways. For more information or scholarship information, email Campus Minister Mrs. Beth Simmonds, mrs.simmonds@bwhs.org.

Click here for the registration form.

Registration is also being accepted for winter and spring dates.

Summer Office Hours

August

August 1-22: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Starting August 23: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

ACT-SAT-PSAT Prep

Juniors or seniors who are testing on any of the ACT or SAT test dates, please contact Karen Gallo for any college entrance test prep needs. Individual Zoom tutoring with Mrs. Karen Gallo is offered at times that will accommodate your schedule.

Contact Mrs. Gallo with questions about tutoring at KarenSATtutor@columbus.rr.com.