"To reach the heights, aim high!"

Dear Fenwick Family,

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and it serves as a great reminder of all the many blessings God has bestowed on each of us. The holiday is a great time to celebrate with friends and family and share the gratitude we have for the blessings we have received. May we give thanks through giving to others who are in need to make God’s presence known in our world.

We also give thanks for the life that will soon enter this world. Math teacher Mrs. Abby Emsley and her husband are preparing for the birth of their first child! Mrs. Emsley will be having her baby very soon and we wish all good health and blessings on her and her family. She will be on maternity leave starting today through early March. Mr. Bill Lyons will be taking over her teaching schedule during that time and will be communicating with parents through portals as he assumes his long-term substitute duties.

May you have a relaxing and blessed Thanksgiving. 

Yours in Service,

Blane M. Collison

In This Issue:

News and Updates

• Financial Aid Applications Due
• Attendance Reminders
• Parking Lot Traffic Reminder

Christmas Present Toy Drive

Fenwick Faith Formation

• Grandparents Thanksgiving Mass
• Upcoming Service Opportunities
• Faith Flock Block
• Reconciliation Service
• Service Reminders
• First Friday Adoration

Admissions News

• Two Remaining Shadow Days

Counseling Connections

• Flock Block with the Counselors
• Save the Date!
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital
• Class of 2024
• College/Enrichment
• Scholarships/Financial Aid
• Wellness Tip of the Week

College Credit Plus

• CCP Information Nights

Fenwick Parent Association

• Thursday and Friday Flock Block Volunteers

Spirit Shop

• Special Hours
• Spirit Shop Volunteers

Upcoming Dates



News and Updates

Financial Aid Applications Due

Financial aid applications for the 2024-2025 school year are due on Friday, December 1, 2023.

Families must apply annually for financial assistance. You can apply online here.

Important information for the 2024-2025 school year: If you are an Ohio resident and would like to be considered for a financial aid award from Fenwick, you are required to apply for the Ohio EdChoice Expansion scholarship. New applications are expected to open with the State of Ohio in February 2024.

Attendance Reminders

Below are attendance policies and procedures from the handbook:

• When a student is absent from school for any reason, his or her parent/guardian (for all students, regardless of age) is to call the attendance hotline (513-423-0723 and press 2 for attendance) prior to 8:30 on the day of the absence. Attendance must be reported to the school via the attendance hotline—please do not send an email. An absence lasting more than one day is to be reported each day. 
• Ohio state law and Bishop Fenwick High School require the parent to provide written documentation stating the day(s) absent and the reason for such absence upon the child’s return to school.  Consecutive absences of more than three days due to illness require a doctor’s note upon return. 
• Notification from parent/guardian is not needed when a student is missing school for a Fenwick retreat, Fenwick athletic event, or Fenwick field trip. For all other absences, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian (for all students, regardless of age) to leave a message on the attendance hotline prior to 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. 
• Students are not permitted to leave the building, even to go to their car to get something, without permission from the main office staff. Students (regardless of age) may not leave the school grounds during the school day without a dismissal phone call from a parent/guardian (prior to 8:30 a.m.) without EXPLICIT permission from the Assistant Principal or other administrator. 
• Students who have valid reasons to leave school before the end of the school day must do the following: 
• Parent/guardian (for all students, regardless of age) must call the attendance hotline prior to 8:30 a.m. on the day of the dismissal. 
• The student will receive an early dismissal pass via e-hallpass to be approved by the teacher at the time of dismissal. The student must then sign out at the main office after confirming the dismissal with an office staff member (a student should never leave the building without confirmation from an adult in the office). 
• If the student returns to school that same day, he/she must sign in at the main office and receive a return to class slip upon return.
• Dismissal without notice (from a parent/guardian via the attendance hotline) is a disruption to the order of the school day. Request for an early dismissal without a phone call prior to 8:30 a.m. on the day of the dismissal may require waiting until the end of the current class bell for the student to be dismissed. 
• UNPLANNED DISMISSAL: A student leaving early due to illness or other emergency must see the school nurse before permission to leave early is given. Permission to leave due to illness will be at the discretion of the school nurse, a licensed medical professional. If the school nurse approves the student’s dismissal due to illness, a parent/guardian will be notified to make arrangements for the student to go home. Bishop Fenwick High School has no facilities where ill students can remain at school. 

Parking Lot Traffic Reminder



All drivers are reminded that the driveway along the front of the school is reserved for school busses and guests at the end of the school day. All student drivers, and those picking up students, should exit the campus by going around the back of the school to the exit on the east side of campus.

Christmas Present Toy Drive

Our Christmas Present Toy Drive is in full swing, thanks to our leadership from Student Council! The toy drive ends on Wednesday, December 6. We are collecting toys for Creekview Elementary in Middletown.

Boys will buy for boys and girls will buy for girls.

• Freshmen—Fourth and Fifth Grade presents (age 9–11-year-old)
• Sophomores— First and Second Grade presents (ages 6–8-year-old) 
• Juniors—Third Grade presents (ages 9-10 years old) Third and Fourth Grade presents (ages 8-10-year-old) 
• Seniors—Fourth and Fifth Grade presents (ages 10-11 years old) Kindergarten and First Grade presents (ages 5–7-year-old)

Unwrapped presents should be dropped off in the morning in the Media Center. A Student Council member will be there to collect presents. 

Presents can be up to $15. Please do not purchase toys that require batteries, and please do not wrap the presents.

Toy Ideas: Legos, baby dolls, cars, trucks, footballs, basketballs, Barbie dolls, coloring books, crayons, puzzles, games, bracelet making kit, etc.

Student Council will be wrapping presents on December 7 beginning at 3:00 p.m. All are welcome to come to help wrap presents in the cafeteria after school. You will receive service hours for wrapping presents. Be sure to sign up to wrap presents on the sheet outside of Mrs. Longworth’s classroom after Thanksgiving break (Room 302.)

We will keep track in the main hall by the cafeteria letting everyone know where their grade stands by bringing in the presents. The first grade to reach their goal of bringing in their gifts will receive a special prize. If the entire school reaches their goal of bringing in 460 presents, we will be off school the day after the Super Bowl (Monday, February 12.) 

Let’s bring in those presents! The important thing to remember is we will be making a bunch of children very happy at Christmas time. 

As of right now, we should be allowed to deliver the presents and spend a couple of hours with the students at Creekview Elementary on December 19th after exams. There will be more information to follow about delivering the presents. Remember, this is the only present a lot of these students will receive this year, so please make sure to buy a present.  

Fenwick Faith Formation

Grandparents Thanksgiving Mass

We would like to invite Fenwick students and their grandparents to Fenwick’s 49th Annual Grandparents Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate our many blessings as a community!

Grandparents Thanksgiving Mass

Tuesday, November 21 at 1:30 p.m.

Main Gym at Fenwick

Please share this invitation for Grandparents Mass on November 21 with your student’s grandparents. We would love to celebrate with them! They are able to RSVP using this Microsoft forms link. You are also welcome to fill out the RSVP on their behalf! Please note that it is extremely important that they RSVP. We will be ordering cookies and coffee for after Mass and want to make sure that we order enough for everyone attending. Please RVSP by Sunday, November 19.

Also, the Fenwick Spirit Shop will be open from 2:30-3:30 p.m. after Mass. 

Thank you so much! We are looking forward to a blessed time with family at Fenwick! 

Upcoming Service Opportunities

Hope House - If you are in need of service hours still, consider joining Ms. Richardson at Hope House Mission on December 7 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Students are responsible for their own rides, but are encouraged to carpool. Although these hours will be completed after they are due, they can count for first semester if you are still in need! You can sign up here.

St. John Craft Show - Sandy Shake, the chairperson for the Tri-County Catholics/St. John craft fair needs help setting up for an event on Saturday, December 2 any time from 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. They are also looking for volunteers on Friday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. Any amount of time is appreciated, and the students will get a certificate with the number of hours worked. To sign, students can email Mrs. Shake with the days and times they would like to work.

St. Susanna Sunday School Program - Lauren Zinnecker, the Sunday School Director at St. Susanna parish, needs volunteers for the Sunday School program at St. Susanna parish in Mason. This would be a regular commitment each Sunday from 9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m. with holiday breaks in between. Please reach out by email or by phone (513-398-3821 ext. 3400) if you are interested. 

Faith Flock Block

Campus Ministry put on the last Faith Flock choice day for the semester. Students were able to choose from a wide range of different options including discussions on how to find God in our everyday, small groups, listening to peer testimonies, Kairos 4th Day meetings, Mass, and much more! 

Reconciliation Service

On November 30, students will have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the morning if they choose to do so. We will have several priests from the community hear confessions for our students. 

Service Reminders

Please note that service hours for the first semester are due on December 1. Each student is required to submit to x2VOL at least five hours of direct service (gold hours) but the rest can be indirect service (red hours.) If you need ideas for these hours, please click here.

First Friday Adoration

Thank you to all the parents who make the First Friday Adoration devotion possible! It is a gift to give our students the opportunity to spend time in prayer during Eucharistic Adoration. If you are interested in signing up for future slots, please click here.

Admissions News

Our Admissions Season is in full swing as we welcome prospective students to campus for different events. If you know a family interested in learning more about Fenwick, please encourage them to contact Director of Enrollment Chris Kemper via phone (513-428-0525) or email (ckemper@fenwickfalcons.org).

Two Shadow Days Remaining

Fenwick's scheduled Shadow Days are almost over! We only have three more days scheduled: November 30 and December 1. If you know an eighth grader interested in spending the day at Fenwick, please encourage them to visit the Shadow Day page on our website.  

Counseling Connections

Flock Block with the Counselors

Seniors met with counselors to work through a virtual Scavenger Hunt! They were asked to use their top college’s website to find a series of facts and figures to help them learn as much as they can about their intended major, living options, and much more.

Save the Date!

Junior parents are invited to join the counselors on Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria for a presentation on the college search process. This presentation is for parents only. Juniors will be treated to the same presentation during Flock Block.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Cincinnati Children's Hospital has announced a group treatment program at the Center for ADHD for high schoolers and their families. Go to cincinnatichildrens.org/adhd and select Programs and Services. 

Class of 2024

What should I be doing now?

• Checking your email regularly.
• Submitting your scholarships as you receive them - Scholarship Reporting. Please read the directions carefully before entering the data. 

 College/Enrichment

Otterbein University – STEM Showcase, Saturday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. The morning will be filled with hands-on activities to get students excited about collegiate STEM opportunities – everything from biology, engineering, zoo, conservation, and computer sciences. Lunch will be catered, and faculty will be available after lunch for any students that have more in-depth, specific questions about our programs. For more information about this day, click here.

Savannah College of Art and Design - SCAD Challenge entries must consist of a single piece and demonstrate creativity, innovation, and a strong understanding of aesthetics. Students should let their design speak to their skill level and ability to handle university-level art and design assignments. The undergraduate challenge is open to current juniors and seniors in high school as of the 2023-24 academic year. A panel of SCAD faculty will review and evaluate entries, and winners will be selected from each category. Students can apply and complete their submission by February 12, 2024. Winners will be announced March 1, 2024. Learn more online!

Undergraduate categories:

• 2D design 
• 3D design
• Acting
• Animation, motion, and technology
• Fashion
• Film
• Graphic design
• Photography
• Writing

Scholarships/Financial Aid

College Covered – Visit collegecovered.com for free information about the scholarship search and tips for applying.

GE-Reagan Scholarship Foundation - The foundation will award up to $40,000 for high school seniors nationwide who showcase leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship. Click here for more information.

Wellness Tip of the Week

5 Ways to Ease Thanksgiving Stress - The holidays often bring equal parts joy and stress. You know how to handle the joy; here are some tips for dealing with the stress.

Click here for an article chock full of advice for people of all ages. 



Counselor Information

As a reminder, our counselor breakdown is:

• Students with the last names A-G: Jean Horn (jhorn@fenwickfalcons.org)
• Students with the last names H-N: Sabrina Snyder (ssnyder@fenwickfalcons.org)
• Students with the last names O-Z: Vicki Weisbrod (vweisbrod@fenwickfalcons.org)



College Credit Plus

CCP Information Nights

The State of Ohio has a program called College Credit Plus (CCP), that allows students to earn college credit and high school credit while still in high school. Most out-of-state colleges will refer to this as "dual enrollment."  It is only called CCP in Ohio. 

At Fenwick, it is typically juniors and seniors who are involved in CCP, but by state law, the CCP program is open to everyone at Fenwick. CCP courses taught at Fenwick are only open to juniors and seniors. There is an option for any student at Fenwick to take a CCP course either online or on the college campus. 

The first step of learning more or participating in this program for the 2024-25 school year is to attend a mandatory informational/counseling meeting. This is a requirement set by the State of Ohio.

Date of the Informational/Counseling mandatory meeting:

• There are two options to attend this mandatory meeting. The two meetings are identical. You only need to attend one meeting.
• Sunday, December 10 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Fenwick Main Gym. Required sign-in will be in the main hallway. Please arrive in time to sign in and get settled in the main gym to start at 6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, February 25 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Fenwick Main Gym. Required sign-in will be in the main hallway. Please arrive in time to sign in and get settled in the main gym to start at 6:00pm 
• If the student and a parent do not attend this meeting, the student will not be permitted to participate in the CCP program. There will be no recording of the meeting.
• Please plan ahead - students should ask off work from their part-time jobs or volunteer, families should make arrangements to be able to attend this meeting.
• Parents and students will be required to sign in at the meeting and submit a signed form stating that they attended the meeting in full.
• Parents and students are required to attend even if they have participated in CCP before.

For more information, please view the FAQs. 

Fenwick Parent Association

Thursday and Friday Flock Block Volunteers

We are looking for parents to lead Faith Flock and Friday Flock sessions. If you are interested in helping, please click here. Feel free to email Kateri Richardson or Rob Lauer if you have any thoughts or questions. Thanks! 



Spirit Shop

Special Hours

The Spirit Shop will be open on November 21 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. after the Grandparents Mass. 

Spirit Shop Volunteers

The Spirit Shop is looking for volunteers to staff the 2023 Falcon Spirit Shop during lunch hours for the first semester. If you are interested, please click here. 

Looking Ahead

November

18 - High School Placement Test (HSPT)

21 - Grandparents Thanksgiving Mass

22-24 - Thanksgiving Break

30 - Reconciliation Service

December

1 - Financial Aid Applications Due

CCP Dates

December 10 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the main gym

February 25 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the main gym