From the Desk of the Principal

Dear Bishop Family –

May your days be filled with peace, hope, and joy this Christmas Season.

Remember, Advent is the beginning of our new liturgical year and is the time of expecting, waiting, and preparing for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at His second coming.

Please join me in an Advent prayer from The Dynamic Catholic Institute:

Dear Jesus, may the light of your love always shine in our hearts. As Christmas draws closer, we marvel at your great love for us. Let your love transform every aspect of our lives and touch everyone we encounter. Our hearts are open to you, Jesus. Amen.

BMCHS campus will be closed to all students, faculty/staff, and coaches from Friday afternoon, December 22, 2023, to Tuesday, January 02, 2024, for the Christmas break.

BMCHS Administration Office will open on Wednesday, January 03, 2024, at 8:00 AM with limited staff; email will be the best form of contact due to many staff being on Christmas vacation.

BMCHS Faculty will return on Monday, January 08, 2024, for Faculty Professional In-Service Day. There is no school for students.

BMCHS students will return on Tuesday, January 09, 2024, at 7:45 AM for classes and semester two begins. All students will report to their homeroom in the classroom by 8:00 AM to receive their semester 2 schedules.

Lastly, our next Newsletter will be sent out on Friday, January 12, 2024. Please have a wonderful Christmas Holiday and Happy New Year! 

Take care and create peace,

Ms. Jenalisa Zummo

Principal 

As part of the Diocesan-wide Parish Growth Initiative

and National Eucharistic Revival,

the Diocese of St. Petersburg is extending a 

special effort to invite all in the five counties of the Diocese to Mass this Advent/Christmas.

Dear Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Families,

We hope this message finds you well and rejuvenated after a restful holiday break. As we bid farewell to 2023 and welcome the new year, we are excited to announce the commencement of the second semester at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School.

The start of a new semester brings with it a sense of renewal, fresh opportunities, and a chance for both students and faculty to set new goals. We are eager to build upon the successes of the first semester and continue fostering an environment of growth, learning, and community.

Class Schedules: Students will receive their new class schedules on January 9, 2024 during homeroom. Please review these schedules carefully, and do not hesitate to reach out to the guidance office if there are any concerns.

Course Selection: As we embark on the second semester, if your child has any questions about their schedule please encourage them to speak with their guidance counselor.

Report Card Distribution: Report cards will be available for viewing on the parent and student portal on January 10, 2024.

Parental Involvement: We value the partnership between parents, teachers, and students. Parent-teacher conferences are an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, set academic goals, and address any concerns. We encourage active participation in your child’s education.



Stay informed: Keep an eye on our school website, social media channels, and newsletters for updates on school events, achievements, and important announcements.

We are looking forward to a semester filled with academic achievements, personal growth, and memorable experiences. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Mr. Gary Schlereth

Assistant Principal

We are thrilled to share the remarkable achievements of our thespian troupe at the recent District Thespian Festival! Our troupe performed remarkably well - with our talented performers garnering a total of 2 Good, 15 Excellent, and 8 Superior ratings!! 

Guiding our Troupe to success were the exceptional leaders of our Performing Arts team: Mr. Cragin, Mrs. David, Ms. Hawkins, and Mrs. Messana. We extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated Bishop parents and guardians who generously supported us with nourishment, chaperone assistance, and uplifting encouragement for our talented students. Their invaluable contributions played a vital role in creating a collaborative and supportive environment for our performers to thrive.

A standout moment occurred when Bishop Sophomore, Chloe Madison, was honored with the prestigious Critic's Choice Award for her outstanding Costume Construction. This accolade speaks volumes about Chloe's dedication and skill, truly making her a shining star within our troupe. We later discovered that Chloe was selected among ALL TECHNICAL THEATRE EVENTS (scenic design, choreography, direction, stage management, publicity, costume design, etc.) to represent District 14 at the Opening Ceremony of the Florida State Thespian Festival in March, a tremendous honor!

Alongside Chloe, the following troupe members qualified and will be competing at the State Festival:

Makayla Madison

Nataley Noble

Emersen Torres

Suri Jordan

Jaelynn Figueroa

Bella GiacInto

Caroline Johns

Marcella Dimonda

Lauren McCaughey

Andrea Aqueron-DeJesus

Jacob Harris

Adrian Jester

Alessandro Alamban

Ethan McKay

Derek Driscoll

Griffin Lister

Jonathan Leal

George Croghan-Ingraham

Christian Williams also qualified, but with only six event spots open, he graciously deferred his spot so the other events could thrive. What an exemplary demonstration of teamwork and generosity!

The accolades don't end there! Our Large Group Musical Act, featuring the entertaining performance of “All for the Best” was one of just two Large Group Musical Acts at this year’s Festival to achieve a Superior Rating. Additionally, Alessandro Alamban and Nataley Noble's Duet Musical event was one point shy of a perfect score!

Beyond the numbers and ratings, it's essential to acknowledge the passion and dedication that fueled these outstanding performances. Each member of our troupe poured their heart and soul into bringing these stories to life, creating magical moments that will be remembered for years to come.

Join us in celebrating the triumph of our thespian troupe, a testament to the vibrant Performing Arts culture at BMCHS. We are immensely proud of the talent, creativity, and teamwork that define our troupe's success.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements and contributions of our talented performers.

Warm regards,

Mr. Cragin

Director of Performing Arts

Hallow is the #1 app for Catholic Meditation & Prayer. A DOSP donor paid for a one-year membership for all BMCHS teachers/staff and students. Parents and Families also have a 90-day free trial, just in time for Advent – see below for instructions on how to redeem. Enjoy!

Extended free trial for Parents and Families: 

Go to //Hallow.com/redeem

Enter the following promo code: BishopMcLaughlinDOSPFLparents23-24

Need help? Here's an article on how to apply a promo code. 

We would like to invite you to get involved in the Bishop Athletic Family. Click on the links below to support Bishop Student/Athletes. 

Complete your service hours with Winter Sports Volunteer Opportunities

Athletic Membership                

Sponsorship Opportunities        

Please visit our Athletic Calendar for up to date Athletic Schedules

Thank you for your support of Bishop Athletics!      

IMPORTANT INFORMATION BELOW REGARDING ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR!

Current Student Enrollment for Next Year:

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School will be introducing Continuous Enrollment beginning in 2024. Continuous Enrollment eliminates the need for re-enrollment each year. Please see the details below regarding the enrollment fee for the 24-25 school year. In addition, please help us keep your demographic information current in the FACTS family portal.

1.WWithdrawal: If your family is not returning to BMCHS for the 24-25 school year, please let Mr. Potosky know via email at admissions@bmchs.com so that he can go over the withdrawal deadlines and fees.

• We kindly ask that you communicate this by Wednesday, January 9, 2024. This allows our school to properly plan and create student schedules in a timely manner for the 2024-2025 school year.

2.EEnrollment Fee for the 24-25 School Year: Each year, a re-enrollment fee (non-refundable) is assessed for all students for the following school year. This non-refundable, one-time payment fee is $650 per student and is used for curriculum, technology, and secures a spot for your child next year.

• The enrollment fee is $650 (non-refundable). This charge will be invoiced via your FACTS Incidental Billing account and payment will be due by Friday, February 16, 2024.
• Failure to make this payment on time will result in the delay of enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year, including the finalization of course requests and schedules.
• *Exception: Re-enrollment is not eligible for:

1. AAny student in poor academic and/or behavior standing.
2. AAny family that has not met their financial obligations.
3. CContact List for:

Academics: Mr. Gary Schlereth, Assistant Principal: ap@bmchs.com

Behavior: Mr. Weston Dell, Dean of Student Growth: dean@bmchs.com

Finance: Ms. Randi Hodgson, Director of Finance: finance@bmchs.com 

3.IIncoming Siblings: If you have a sibling that will be attending Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School next year, it is time for you to begin the admissions process. If you have not received application instructions, contact Mr. Potosky at admissions@bmchs.com.

4.NNew Students: Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School is now accepting applications for new students for the 24-25 school year. If you know someone that is interested in having their child attend Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, they can apply on our website at www.bmchs.com.

In turning on the light of the Christmas tree, we wish for the light of Christ to be in us. A Christmas without light is not Christmas. Let there be light in the soul, in the heart; let there be forgiveness to others; let there be no hostilities or darkness. … Let there be the beautiful light of Jesus. This is my wish for all of you, when you turn on the light of the Christmas tree.

Pope Francis

RAFFLE TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW!

Parent Service Hour Opportunity!

JOIN US ON MARCH 2, 2024, BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGE BELOW!

December 25th - January 2nd

Christmas Holidays, School Closed

January 3rd - January 5th

Administration Office Open with limited staff

January 8th

Faculty Professional In-Service Day

January 9th

Classes Resume/Semester 2 Begins

January 10th

Small group parent listening session with Ms. Zummo. By appointment only.

S1 Report Cards Distribution, FACTS 5PM

January 11th

Small group parent listening session with Ms. Zummo. By appointment only.

January 15th

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, School Closed

Interested in Volunteering?

To ensure the safety of our students, all volunteers must complete the three requirements below.

Each volunteer will need:

1. A Volunteer Application Form: Click here
2. Background/Fingerprinting. Background and Fingerprinting can be scheduled by the volunteer applicant at: https://dosp-scheduler.fingerprintlocations.com/landing (BMCHS does not pay for this.)
3. CMG Safe Environment Training. CMG training is located at https://stpetersburg.cmgconnect.org/. Please email certificate to marketing@bmchs.com.



Link to Safe Environment Frequently Asked Questions: Click here

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School staff member you will be volunteering with.