From
the Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome again to all our new families. The Falconer is our monthly newsletter, distributed in the first week of the month. The Falconer, and all back copies, is available on our webpage.
Prayers
Please keep Mrs. Krissy Kistner, Mr. Michael Kistner’s
wife, in your prayers as she returns home from an extended hospital
stay. Please keep the Massey family, particularly senior Christopher,
freshman Ryan, and 7th grader Sarah, in your prayers, as Mr. Massey’s
cancer has returned and he is continuing chemotherapy. Please keep
Librarian Jennifer Johnson in your prayers as she recovers from surgery
and thyroid cancer. Please keep Nurse Janice Ross’s sister,
Jennifer Mosier, in your prayers as she undergoes radiation and chemotherapy
for a brain tumor, and her mother, Dorothy Davidson, in your prayers
as she recovers from a brain aneurysm.
Please keep in your prayers these students and faculty members who
are going through the difficulty of losing a family member: faculty
member Ivan Birch, whose grandfather, Basil Zarcznyj, passed away;
faculty member Hill Copeland, whose grandfather, Gay Yates Copeland,
passed away; senior Adam Elchlepp, whose grandfather, Harold Elchlepp,
passed away; junior Ian Imlach, and freshman Molly Imlach, whose
grandfather, Glen Imlach, passed away; sophomore Woody Paul Lawson,
whose grandfather, Jim Lawson, passed away; junior América
Martínez and cafeteria employee Silvia Martínez, whose
grandfather, Jesús Ornelas, passed away; and seventh grader
Bailey Tawil, whose grandfather, Jim Forrester, passed away.
Please
keep Mr. Copeland’s family in your prayers as the family returns
to their home, which was devastated by a tornado.
Welcome!
Congratulations to World Language teacher and chair, Mrs.
Michelle Young, and her husband, Jeremy, on the birth of Gavin Jeremy
Young. Gavin was born at Baylor Hospital on June 13, at 9:04 p.m.,
weighed 9 pounds and 9 ounces, and measured 21inches. Currently,
Mrs. Young is enjoying some time at home with Gavin, and will return
to her Spanish III classes on September 26, 2007.
AND!! This just in. Congratulations are also in order for Mr. and
Mrs. Patrick O'Sullivan. Molly and Patrick are the proud parents
of a baby girl - she is 8 pounds and 20 inches with a shock of dark
hair. Molly is doing great - Delia Cathleen was born at 3:06 p.m.
on Monday, 10 September.
Awards for Bishop
Dunne
Assistant Principal Patrick O’Sullivan was awarded the
prestigious Michael Pressley Award for Excellence in Catholic Education
from the University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education
Program. The award is given to ACE graduates who have exemplified
the mission of ACE: to value and live the Catholic faith, to serve
the community, and to be compassionate and understanding. Mr. O’Sullivan
began his teaching career on John’s Island in South Carolina
where he taught middle school for two years before coming to Bishop
Dunne ten years ago to teach math and science. He has been in administration
for five years and an assistant principal for two years.
SMART Board
Showcase School
Bishop Dunne Catholic School has been identified
by SMART Technologies Inc. as a leader in the adoption and integration
of technology to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom and
has been named a SMART Board Showcase School. Deacon Paul Wood will
become a certified instructor for the company.
Open House
This is
a note for families and friends who have younger children considering
Bishop Dunne Catholic School next year. Bishop Dunne Catholic School
will be hosting our Fall Open House program on Sunday afternoon,
October 28, 2007, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. All interested families
are encouraged to come out and see how Bishop Dunne’s 7th through
12th grade program prepares its students for college. Please feel
free to visit www.bdhs.org or call Mr. Richard Mullin at 214 339
6561.
iPods
The second year of our iPod initiative is about to begin.
Last year we distributed an iPod to every freshman as part of a pilot
program. At the end of the school year we gathered student feedback
from a detailed survey. Based on that feedback, we have decided to
continue the program and we have developed ways to enhance it.
Over
the summer, we had intensive teacher trainings on how to integrate
the iPods into various areas of the curriculum. We have also identified
key teachers in each subject area who will act as iPod lead instructors
to help teachers and students in the use of the iPod as an instructional
tool.
This year, all 9th and 10th graders will be issued an iPod
to use in their classes. We hope to have enough grant funding to
add an additional class to the program each year.
Before Mini-School
Night, September 13, there will be a presentation for 9th and 10th
grade parents to review the iPod Acceptable Use Policy and learn
how teachers will be using the iPods this year. iPods will be available
to pick up the evening of Mini-School Night when all the paperwork
is received. After Mini-School night, iPods can be picked up from
the Technology Office.
Mini-School Night
Please join us on Thursday
evening, September 13, 2007, for Mini- School Night. Parents are
asked to report to their child’s A block class by 6:30 p.m.
at the latest. Parents will then receive a schedule so that they
can follow a Red and a Blue school day. Parents will meet the teachers,
and will be given an overview of the course, classroom expectations,
and assessment procedures. Course outlines and syllabi, assessment
procedures and timeline will be available through EdLine. Mini-School
Night is not a parent/ teacher conference night, but it is a wonderful
opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and understand more
about the classroom and the curriculum. The evening will be over
by 8:30 p.m.
Alert Now
Bishop Dunne employs the services of Alert Now for notification
of events or emergencies if necessary. The Alert Now system contacts
you with a recorded message by phone. It is important that your contact
information be up to date. If any of your information changes, please
make sure you notify the school.
Edline
Please update your account
information in Edline. Once you have logged in to the Edline system,
on the left side of the page toward the bottom of the screen, click
on Manage Account, and this will take you to a screen with your information.
You have the ability to update or change any of that information.
If you have not set up your Edline account, please send an email
to Mr. Wood, at pwood@bdhs.org, with your student’s name and
grade, and the account code will be emailed back to you.
Help with
a Good Start to the School Year!
Please check EdLine and grades.
If you are concerned about your student’s progress, please
email teachers for further clarification, help, or advice. Parents
are very welcome to meet with Mr. O’Sullivan, Mr. Johnson,
or me to review grades as frequently as parents or students would
like. These meetings are to support students, set a tutorial program,
review learning styles, and study skills. Sometimes very bright students
are not achieving well because they are unused to the block schedule,
to the work load, or they are not really sure how to study. It is
always good to understand a child better, particularly his or her
style of learning. Sometimes organization can be a problem. Students
can benefit from a monthly calendar of events, different colored
notebooks and folders for each subject or for red and blue days.
A special place for studying and completing homework at home is important,
especially a place away from the television or other distractions,
but one that can be supervised by parents. Preparing for the next
school day before a student goes to bed is also an important tip
for organization.
Student Directory
The Student and Family Directory
this year will be accessible via EdLine and will be password protected.
The Bishop Dunne Administration in no way endorses the distribution
of our families’ names and addresses for business or solicitation
purposes, and we ask our parents to please respect our families’ privacy.
Tutorials
Attached, you will find the Master Tutorial Schedule and
the email and voice mail list for all Bishop Dunne personnel. All
teachers at Bishop Dunne are available for tutoring, and the schedule
will allow your student to plan sessions and record them in his or
her planner. Email is a preferable form of communication. Please
be reminded that there is math coaching in the mornings and that
the library and writing lab is open in the mornings.
Bishop Dunne
100 Dinner
Bishop Dunne Catholic School will host the seventh annual
Bishop Dunne 100 Dinner on November 6, 2007, at The Hilton Anatole
Hotel. The proceeds from this event are used to provide financial
aid for those students who otherwise would be unable to attend Bishop
Dunne.
The school is pleased to announce that the Honorary Chairpersons
for this event are Mr. and Mrs. Bill Orender. At the Dinner, the
Voyager Award for outstanding service to the greater Dallas community
will be presented to Mr. Lee Posey. The keynote speaker for the evening
will be the Very Reverend Bishop Kevin Farrell, Bishop of Dallas.
The Master of Ceremonies will be Mr. Craig Miller, a graduate of
Bishop Dunne and morning host of 1310, KTCK, The Ticket Sports Radio.
The Bishop Dunne 100 Dinner Chairpersons are Messrs. Oliver McGonigle,
Lou Munin, and Ken Reiser.
Parents are very welcome to attend the
dinner to help support our tuition assistance program. If you are
interested in sponsoring a student or need information about ticket
information or sponsorship advertisements for the Bishop Dunne 100
Dinner Program, please contact Mrs. Lydia Torrez, Director of Development
for Bishop Dunne Catholic School at 214 339 6561 ext. 297.
Senior
Presentation Mass
Senior parents and family members are cordially
invited to attend the Senior Presentation Mass. The Mass was originally
scheduled to be held Tuesday, September 11, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. at
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church on Hampton Road, but has
been postponed. Please stay alert for announcements and updates by
checkong the various calendars on the Web, as well as any e-mail
alerts that may be sent. During the Mass, seniors are commissioned
as student leaders of the Bishop Dunne community and public servants
of the greater Dallas community. Bishop Dunne administration and
faculty will attend to support the seniors as they prepare to begin
weekly service in schools, hospitals, and various non-profit organizations
throughout the city. The Mass will be followed by a reception in
the school cafeteria.
Ghana, Africa Reception
Please join the Bishop Dunne community in
celebrating the students who attended the 2007 summer field trip
to Ghana, Africa. A reception, on their behalf, will be held on September
17, 2007, at 7:45 a.m. in the Bishop Dunne Library. At the reception,
these students will be recognized and will share their invaluable
experiences from the trip.
Faculty and Staff Summer Activities
Bishop
Dunne faculty members are encouraged to use the summer to engage
in educational activities and projects, travel, enjoy family, relax
and rejuvenate. This was a busy summer for all. Mr.
Michael Alfers attended a Basketball Coaching
Clinic, and workshops on Podcasting in the classroom. Mrs.
Veronica Alonzo attended the Advanced Placement® Spanish
Literature Summer Institute at Rice University. Ms.
Erica Barnett attended a Geographic Information
Systems workshop in Costa Rica. The workshop was designed to educate
teachers in GIS software and to demonstrate its uses in the classroom.
Ms. Barnett also participated in the 2007 trip to Ghana, Africa. Ms.
Jennifer Berry did freelance
work as a copy editor and editorial evaluator, and attended a Pre-Advanced
Placement® Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. Ms.
Marylee Boarman traveled to Atlanta for the National Education
Computing Conference and attended sessions on technology implementation,
gathering resources for classroom use, and enjoyed an electronic
field trip offered by Colonial Williamsburg. She also visited the
R.W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she gathered extensive
research on the Hudson River School to share with her U.S. History
classes.
Mr. Kevin Braun graduated from Notre Dame, and then
embarked on a vacation to the western United States, with stops at
the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and Rocky
Mountain National Park. After returning to Notre Dame, he enrolled
in the first of two rigorous 8-week summer programs through Notre
Dame’s Alliance
for Catholic Education (ACE) program. These summer sessions, coupled
with courses taken online during the school year, will allow him
to achieve a Master’s Degree in Education by May of 2009. Mrs.
Katy Bove attended a week long Advanced Placement® Summer
Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas, absorbing intense
Biology curriculum and learning precision lab techniques. Ms.
Beth Dies attended the
National Education Computing Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where
she explored new and exciting ways to integrate technology into her
curriculum, especially as relates to blogging, podcasting, and SMARTboard
applications. She attended a GIS Institute in Costa Rica, where she
worked closely with a small Costa Rican community to compile census
data, and used GIS software to map the results. The group studied
local economics, ecology, conservation, and zoology. Ms. Dies will
return to Costa Rica with students during Spring Break of 2008, to
study Spanish, GIS, ecology, and zoology. Ms. Dies attended an English
pre-Advanced Placement® training workshop in Austin, Texas, and
traveled to Washington, D.C. and Florida. Mrs.
Iryna Dovzhanska traveled
to Ukraine and Florida. Ms. Tina Garcea supervised
the Diocese of Dallas Mission Possible, a week of service for youth
and adults from all over the Dallas Metroplex area. Sixty students
from grades 7 through 10, joined community service projects with
the SPCA, Scottish Rite Hospital, homeless shelters, nursing homes,
and food banks. Ms. Garcea participated in the Sadler’s Ultra
Challenge Alaska, an international race that has been in existence
for twenty years. The race is a time for the physically disabled
and volunteers to come together in community and build lasting relationships.
Ms. Garcea also began martial arts/ self defense/judo lessons at
Dallas Kenpo Studios under Dr. Nick Chamberlain in order to organize
classes here at Bishop Dunne. Mrs. Marcela Garcini attended
education courses, learning how to help gifted and talented students
and how to support students with learning differences. Mrs.
Laura Hastie married and
traveled to New York, California, Rome, and Assisi, Italy. Mr.
Nick Hurt studied Pastoral Care and Counseling at Boston
College. In addition to learning more about the theory and the practice
of pastoral psychology, Mr. Hurt was able to share best practices
with people working in Catholic education from all over the United
States, Australia, Ireland, Lebanon, and Egypt. Ms. Amber
Jenkins attended a GIS workshop in
Costa Rica. The workshop was designed to educate teachers in GIS
software and to demonstrate its uses in the classroom. Ms. Jenkins
also participated in the 2007 trip to Ghana, Africa. Ms.
Jennifer Johnson attended the American Library Association
Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Mr. Michael Kistner supervised
two summer volleyball camps, and three summer volleyball teams. He
also attended two Advanced Placement® summer institutes; one
for Advanced Placement® World
History, and one for Advanced Placement® Human Geography. Mr.
William Lalla moved back to Dallas from France in early
June after a 15-years stay there, and he participated with the varsity
and middle school football off-season conditioning programs in July
and August.
Mr. Jim Martin traveled to South Bend, Indiana,
to the University of Notre Dame to attend a weeklong conference for
Campus Ministers, Theology Teachers, and Service Coordinators. He
gathered valuable information and contacts to help the Campus Ministry
program, especially in the form of service, become a much more viable
part of the Bishop Dunne Community. Mr. Tim McManus traveled
to Honduras with Bishop Dunne’s youth mission trip in June.
He remained in Honduras to investigate opportunities for future programs.
He is currently working with the Diocese of Dallas to develop an
extended trip for college-aged students in Dallas. Mr. Chris
MacLellan spent a week
in Worcester, MA, working as the Prayer and Music Coordinator at
a service retreat for Young Neighbors In Action (YNIA). The retreat,
organized by The Center for Ministry Development, is based around
the seven principles of Catholic social teachings where teens gather
for a week of service, prayer, and learning. Mrs.
Sherry Nelson has
been Project Director for a literacy program at Santa Clara Catholic
School, and she has focused on learning more about the challenges
presented to many of our students to read, to learn, and to develop
as truly literate persons. She attended the State Dyslexia Fluency
Conference, the Focus on the English Language Learner-Assessment
to Intervention, Adding Necessary Zip and Zest to Lessons, and the
Dyslexia Summer Institute: The Adolescent Struggling Reader. She
will be able to use the information and the skills to help all of
our students to become more successful in their academic pursuits.
Ms. Joanne Noller completed two courses that revolved
around developing the classroom into the best learning environment
for children under the age of four. She participated in an online
discussion group through the early childhood organization known as
NAEYC and tutored Bishop Dunne students in math, helping them with
their online math courses.
Mrs. Molly O’Sullivan spent several weeks
in Ireland where she visited many pottery studios, and she continued
with her pottery work at the Craft Guild of Dallas. She also traveled
to the University of Notre Dame to support the ACE program’s
graduation. Ms.
Meile Peterson attended a Contemporary Art Museum Forum
on the Art Museums in the Dallas and Fort Worth area and a week-long
Advanced Placement® class for Studio Art, and both opportunities
helped to generate ideas for this year’s art classes. She also
developed her own art portfolio and took the opportunity to paint
and visit museums and galleries. Mr. Bill Rhyan attended
an Advanced Placement® Music
Theory workshop at Texas Christian University. This was an intense
course which covered a whole year of college level music theory. Mr.
Kyle Stevens attended the National Educational Computing
Conference in Atlanta to keep up with the cutting edge of technology.
He continued working toward his Master’s Degree in Education
with Regis University and served as an assistant coach for the Team
Texas Girls’ Freestyle
Wrestling team at the USA Wrestling National Championship. Mr.
Tom Perez worked with podcasting in order to learn how to
make video podcasts, and his first three video podcasts are now available
on iTunes. Mrs. Vivian Toole spent some time traveling back home
to the Northeast with her family, and preparing her son for college
at the University of Kansas. Mrs. Lydia Torrez and Deacon
Charlie Stump coordinated the Diocese of Dallas Global Catholic Partnership
trip to Honduras. They accompanied forty youth from three Catholic
High Schools in Dallas - Bishop Dunne, Bishop Lynch, and Ursuline
Academy - to Trujillo, Honduras, for ten days to join in solidarity
with the youth from various villages in projects to serve the local
communities. Mr. Daniel Wilson also attended the National Educaton
Computing Conference and he taught enrichment classes at Bishop Dunne.
He traveled back to England for three weeks. Deacon
Paul Wood traveled
to Boston to represent Bishop Dunne at the National Catholic Education
Association SPICE Conference. From Boston, he traveled to the National
Education Computing Conference with four other faculty members to
learn and brainstorm ideas to further integrate technology into our
curriculum. He finalized Bishop Dunne becoming a SMART Showcase School,
and will be traveling to San Jose, California, in late September
to become a SMART certified trainer.
Grading Scale
After a more careful review of our updated grading
scale, we have adjusted the scale to properly reward students for
taking the more advanced courses offered within our curriculum. As
a result of this change, the ranking of our seniors has changed.
We ask that all seniors log on to their Naviance account to view
their updated GPA and rank.
The original scale employed for this
school year was as follows:
| |
Regular |
preAP/H |
AP |
| 90-100 |
4.0 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
| 80-89 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
| 70-79 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
Adjusted Scale:
| |
Regular |
preAP/H |
AP |
| 95-100 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
| 90-94 |
3.75 |
4.25 |
4.75 |
| 85-89 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
| 80-84 |
3.0 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
| 75-79 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
3.5 |
| 70-74 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
Health Notes
An influenza shot clinic is scheduled on October 10,
2007, at 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Flu shots will be $25, and students
will need to submit a parent consent form which will be available
in the October Falconer. Members of the community are welcome to
receive a flu shot for $25, but please give us notice by the end
of September if you wish to do this.
Please encourage your child
to eat breakfast every day. This will give each student the best
start to his or her day. Also, remind students to drink lots of water,
especially during the hot weather to avoid dehydration. Many students
tend not to drink adequate amounts of fluids at school. Students
are allowed to take water bottles into class.
If your child has asthma
and uses an inhaler at school, he or she must have signed permission
from you and the doctor on file in the clinic. Students must have
an inhaler on their person and a spare one in the clinic. Please
come by the clinic or send your child if you would like the school
permission form. All OTC and prescription medications to be administered
at school must be accompanied by a note from the doctor and the parent.
Medication must be in the original container.
Middle School Testing
On September 11, 12, and 13, we will administer the Stanford 10 and
the Otis-Lennon School Ability (OLSAT) tests. The OLSAT will be administered
to 7th graders, while the Stanford 10 will be administered to 7th
and 8th graders. We ask that you talk to your child about the testing
and encourage him or her to do his or her best. Attempts to prepare
or study for the tests are not encouraged. We do, however, ask that
students get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and arrive to school
on time. Testing will occur during the first two blocks of each day.
Test results will be mailed home with an explanation regarding the
performance of your child. If you have questions please contact Ms.
Jessica Perales via email at jperales@bdhs.org or by phone at 214
339 6561 ext. 243.
Farewell
We bid farewell to Nurse Janice Ross,
who has been with us for four years. Nurse Ross has resigned to be
closer to home and her ill sister. She has been a gracious and very
competent addition to Bishop Dunne, identifying the role of the school
nurse and expanding this service to our families. She will be replaced
by Nurse Kelly Trojan, who graduated from West Texas A&M University
in Canyon, Texas, with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing.
Nurse Trojan has been working at Children’s Medical Center
Dallas in the Level Trauma/Neurosurgery ICU, and is cross trained
to work in the Cardiac ICU and general ICU, and is an Organ Recovery
Coordinator. She is certified as a trauma nurse, and will be certified
in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
Students at Bishop Dunne are Here to Serve!
The Service Program
at Bishop Dunne Catholic School is taking on a new look this year.
In the past, seniors have volunteered at a number of sites in the
Dallas community, including hospitals and schools, elderly homes,
and a number of non-profit organizations. Although many will still
serve at these locales, the theme and focus of the service is being
directed to relate more specifically with the poor and the outcast.
Instead of performing clerical work for a hospital or a teacher,
the seniors will be meeting with the sick, or the elderly, or with
the students and serving them directly. In this manner, the seniors
will be living out Jesus’ call to “be compassionate, as your Father
is compassionate.”
The service program for students in grade
7 through 11 has also evolved. No longer will the students be required
to fulfill a “number of hours.” Instead, the Campus Ministry
office will organize about a dozen service opportunities throughout
the year, and each student will be required to serve at least one
of these opportunities. In addition to the actual service, each service
opportunity will also include a pre-service training, a post-service
processing, and prayer. The opportunities will include Hearts & Hammers,
done in conjunction with the Notre Dame Club of Dallas and Habitatfor
Humanity, visits to the local soup-kitchen and the North Texas Food
Bank, an after-school program for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, tutoring
at local elementary schools, visiting local elderly homes, and the
like. We are looking forward, this year, to bringing Bishop Dunne
students out into the real world of the Dallas community so they
can see the need and respond to it accurately.
The students will
receive more specific information on the particular projects in mid-September
as the Campus Ministry office makes visits to each theology classroom.
Spring Break Adventure: Costa Rica 2008
Join the Bishop Dunne World
Language Department as we travel to beautiful Costa Rica next Spring
Break, 2008. This is a 10-day, teacher-organized tour, where students
will see the unique cities of Costa Rica, experience a rainforest
adventure, go on a kayak and white-water rafting tour, see a volcano,
go horseback riding, and be immersed in the culture and wildlife
of this amazing country. This is a wonderful opportunity for students
to practice their Spanishlanguage skills and knowledge of geography.
Parents, please stop by the 400 Hallway on Mini-School Night for
more information about this extraordinary opportunity! Registration
deadlines are approaching fast! Please contact Ms. Marcela Garcini
(mgarcini@ bdhs.org), Ms. Kelly Pineda (kpineda@bdhs.org), or Ms.
Beth Dies (bdies@bdhs.org) for additional information.
News From
the Library
Online Database Services
The Bishop Dunne Library provides
access to subscription online database services for students’ school-related
and personal research. These can be accessed both at school and at
home. First, go to the Bishop Dunne homepage at http://www.bdhs.org.
Choose Library from the On Campus pull down menu. This will take
you to Books and Beyond, the library’s web site. Choose from
the options listed under Online Databases towards the top of the
right-hand margin. You will have the opportunity to search multiple
databases simultaneously or individual databases separately.
Gale
Databases:
Literature Resource Center, Scribner Writers Series, Twayne
Author Series, InfoTrac One File, Student Resource Center Gold, Texas
Almanac Online, InfoTrac Custom Newpapers.
DKC Databases:
EBSCO K-12
package (36 databases), Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition
and Enciclopedia Juvenil, Newsbank, Archive of Texas History, Extended
Collection (includes Literary Reference Center, History Reference
Center, Biography Collection Complete, Book Collection: Non-fiction,
and more), Current Issues: Reference Shelf Plus (6-12).
Other:
CountryWatch
Passwords for Home/Remote Access: You will need usernames/ passwords
to get into the databases at home. Please ask in the library for
the passwords or email Ms. Johnson. There is also a document on Edline
in the Library Group that lists the passwords. If you have questions
about any of our online resources, please contact Ms. Johnson at
jjohnson@bdhs.org.
Annual Band Fundraiser
The Falcon Band and Drumline
members will again be selling candles, lotions, and room fresheners
from Home Interiors, beginning September 5 and ending on September
25, 2007. Delivery of the items will be between October 2 and October
11, depending on the time that the orders are processed. All members
of the organization will have brochures and order forms available
for the fundraiser. The annual fall season fundraiser will benefit
the Band Activity Fund. Last year, monies from the Band Activity
Fund were used to help fund expenses for the band’s competition
spring trip, and summer music camps for several band members. Please
see any of the Band and Drumline members for your purchase.
Marching
Band Physicals
Mr. Rhyan, Band Director, is requiring all band and
drumline members of the Falcon Marching Band to have a physical on
file at Bishop Dunne before the first home game on September 20,
2007. This request was issued during the summer band camp and has
been on Edline for several weeks. The physical is regarded as a safety
measure for both the student and the organization in which he or
she is a participant. If a student does not have a physical on file
before September 20, that student will not be allowed to perform
with the band and Drumline until such time that the physical is completed
and processed.
CBS Early Show
On Friday August 3, the Bishop Dunne
Drumline and Cheerleaders were invited to the Kelly Holcomb Concert,
Live on CBS’ Early Show. After the concert, The Diesel was
asked to perform for the crowd as they exited Victory Plaza. 2 The
Diesel truly rocked Victory Plaza, with dazzling new cadences. Radio
103.7 FM and 104.5FM were also on the air live and featured the group
playing “Back It Up.” It was an exciting morning for
the drumline and cheerleaders and we wish to thank all our supporters
who attended a very early morning session!
Poetry Corner
Congratulations to junior David Ratcliff for recognition
of his original poetry. On Tuesday, August 28, 2007, David read three
of his original poetry selections at the opening reception for the
newly renovated third floor Humanities Division of the Dallas Central
Public Library. David’s selections are published in both the
2006 and 2007 editions of the Dallas Public Library’s Express
Yourself finalist’s anthologies. Earlier this year, David recited
an original work at the Dallas County Community College District’s
Light Up Your Life with Reading, Books, and Friends celebration.
In early July, he was invited to share his poetry during the Dallas
International Book Fair. David has two anthologies ready for publication
and has a nationally known medical researcher committed to funding
the publication of one. His latest anthology, Positive Poetry in
Pink, dedicated to breast cancer survivors, is set to launch in October,
Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Yearbook Photos
The Yearbook staff
invites students and families to submit photos of fall sports events
and other school activities. Please send digital copies to Ms. Zeske
at rzeske@bdhs.org. Please label them with the event, date, and any
student names if possible.
Homecoming Dance
The 2007 Homecoming Dance
will be held Saturday, October 13, 2007, from 8:00 p.m. through midnight
at the Dallas Trade Mart (located next to the World Trade Center)
near downtown Dallas. The dance is for students in grades 9 through
12. Even though the dance is a little over a month away, here are
some early details and rules regarding the dance. Tickets will go
on sale the week of October 1 through 5 with ticket prices being
$30 each. Directions and other information will be handed out to
students when tickets are purchased. Students may bring one date
or guest of the opposite gender to the dance. If a student wishes
to bring a guest who does not attend Bishop Dunne, the Bishop Dunne
student must fill out and turn in a “Guest Registration Form” before
purchasing his or her guest’s ticket. All guests must be of
the appropriate age, and everyone is expected to act according to
the standards set in the Bishop Dunne Handbook at the dance. The
latest students may arrive at the dance is 8:30 p.m. and the earliest
they may leave is 11:30 p.m. The dress code for the dance is semi-formal
with gentlemen typically wearing a dress shirt, tie, dress pants,
sports coat or a suit and ladies wearing full-length dresses. Other
school guidelines do apply as well at the dance and are listed in
the Student Handbook. The dance will be an elegant, memorable, and
fun time for the students. If there are any questions, please contact
Mr. Michael Alfers at malfers@bdhs.org.
Volunteer Hours
Thank you to all the families who have donated items
to the school. We appreciate all of you! All families are asked to
volunteer forty hours of service. You can also acquire hours by donating
muchneeded items.
The following is a detailed list:
Avery #11271
( 5 ) Tabs Extra Wide Pockets Dividers - PK2135C
Avery #5960 Mailing
Labels - White
Dividers with Alphabet Tabs-Letter Size
Label Maker
Tape - Brother TZ- 241 Black on White .25 inch
Plain Paper Copier
Film Transparencies
HP Black Ink Cartridge #10
Large and Small Paper
Clips
Dry Eraser Markers - Dark Colors - Wide
Dry Erasers for Dry
Erase Boards
Red Folders with and without Pockets
Bright Blue Paper
- 8½” x 11”
Manila File Folders - Letter Size
Batteries AA & AAA
3M Dust Remover
Bottled Water
Your donation
should have your name clearly marked. Please include the organization
name if you want the donation to go to a particular group. Also mark
it “Volunteer Hours” so that Mrs. Barragan can note it
in your account. Please send your donations to the Front Office.
For your convenience, a navy blue Volunteer Book is available at
the front desk to sign your name and log in your donations. Please
contact Mrs. Barragan at lbarragan@bdhs.
org if you have any questions.
Early Childhood Center
Welcome back to a new school year from the
early Childhood Center! We wanted to take this opportunity to remind
everyone that the Early Childhood Center is still collecting Boxtops
and Campbell Labels for Education. Please give them to Ms. Joanne
Noller or Mrs. Molly O’Sullivan. Thank you to all who contributed
items last year. Also, we are always accepting age-appropriate donations.
Some of our needs include small bikes, outdoor equipment, children’s
books, and art supplies. Any donation received that can’t be
used will be passed on to another charity. Help us to provide a quality
learning environment for our youngest students. Please see the Falconer
for qualifying items for Boxtops and Campbell Labels.
Senior Portraits
On September 10 and 11, senior portraits will be taken. A representative
from Don Painter Photography will return on Friday, October 9, to
hand out proofs. Orders will be taken on October 18. A deposit is
required when the order is placed. Both the delivery of proofs and
the taking of orders will occur during second and third lunches.
Picture make-up day is Wednesday, October 31, during lunch, for
any senior who missed the original day or is having a retake.
Underclass
Pictures
Underclass pictures will be taken on Wednesday, September
12. Students are to be in full dress uniform. Sophomore students
with Honor Roll breakfast invitations are asked to bring a shirt
and tie or a blouse for the picture. Picture proof envelopes for
students in Grades 7 through 11 will be given to students in mid-
September. Students are responsible for taking the proof envelope
home so that parents can decide if they want to order pictures. The
proof envelope must be returned to the homeroom teacher with or without
an order by the due date, printed on the envelope. If an order is
not placed, parents are asked to sign the envelope, indicating that
they have seen the proof. The student’s picture will be in
the yearbook regardless of whether an order is placed. Retakes for
underclassmen are allowed only if there is a defect in the original
picture. For more information about ordering pictures and picture
packets contact Don Painter Photography.
Retakes are scheduled on Wednesday, October 31, for any
student who missed the original day or has been allowed a retake.
Build the Village Online
This year, we are going to build on a
fundraising opportunity called Build the Village Online that we started
in the spring. The best thing about this new program is that it requires
you to do nothing but shop online as so many are already in the habit
of doing. By making purchases at Bishop Dunne’s new Online
Shopping Mall, your purchases generate a “Cash Back Reward” to
the school.
The school’s Online Shopping Mall has more than
300 well-known merchants, including Barnes & Noble, Lands End,
Office Depot, eBay, Apple Store, Del, and Macy’s. Each time
you make a purchase Bishop Dunne will receive a commission.
The Bishop
Dunne Shopping Mall is a gateway to Internet merchants online. It
can be found as a link named Building the Village on the school’s
Edline, which you can bookmark or save as a desktop icon to your
computer for easy access. The school’s portal takes you directly
to that merchant’s official web site where you purchase products
and services as usual. Because you accessed that merchant through
our Online Shopping Mall, we receive a commission. Every time you
make personal or business purchases online, the school raises money.
Please share the site, http://bdhs.btvo.org, with any family members
or friends who shop on line. As long as you register and go through
Bishop Dunne, a commission will be generated.
Thank you for your
support,
Kate Dailey Principal
From the Athletic Department
Heat Stress
Students who are working out or practicing in the heat
of Texas need to be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and
need to keep hydrated. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness,
weakness, irritability, confusion or the inability to think clearly,
nausea or vomiting, fainting, and pale, clammy skin. Our coaches
will make sure that students take plenty of water breaks and are
well hydrated, but it is also important for students to know to drink
plenty of fluids during the heat.
Baseball
Bishop Dunne baseball
players will participate in a fall league in Duncanville beginning
on September 15, 2007. Games will take place on Saturdays throughout
the fall. There will be a U18 and a U16 team, and the cost of participating
will be approximately $100. This includes a team shirt. If you would
like your son to participate, please contact Coach McManus at tmcmanus@bdhs.org.
Middle school baseball does not begin until the spring, but there
will be several clinics offered to the 7th and 8th graders throughout
the fall. Information about these clinics will be released soon.
Boys’ and Girls’ Tennis
The Bishop Dunne Middle School
and High School Tennis Teams will begin their Fall practice season
in mid-September. We will maintain a light practice and match schedule
through the end of December, and then begin our regular District
season in mid- January. The Tennis Team is open to all players, from
all grades, and with all skill levels. If you are interested in learning
a fun and exciting new sport, this is a great opportunity. Please
contact Head Coach Beth Dies (bdies@bdhs.org) or Assistant Coach
Nick Hurt
(nhurt@bdhs.org) for further information. We look forward
to seeing you on the courts!
Volleyball
The Volleyball teams are off and running! We have consolidated into
two teams, varsity and junior varsity, but not before we won the
Maypearl JV Volleyball Tournament. Our freshmen girls took an impressive
second place in the Maypearl Freshmen Volleyball Tournament. The
trophies are on display in rooms 108 and 112. In our latest two matches,
the girls defeated Garland Christian and W.T. White. Our offense
is strong, and our defense is getting better. The girls have worked
very hard this off-season and in the preseason. Please congratulate
them on their efforts, and come and support them at the matches.
We would love to see you, and you will be very proud of them.
Soccer
All girls, 9th through 12 grade, who are interested in playing girls’ soccer,
need to begin pre-season conditioning in mid-September. Please listen
for announcements and look for flyers in the hallways for specific
dates and times. Attendance is optional, but those girls who attend
will be given extra consideration during evaluations in October.
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Berry at jberry@bdhs.org.
Volunteer Opportunities in the Athletic Department
Your Bishop Dunne
Falcons need your help! Volunteer opportunities are available in
the athletic department during all home events. We need help with
concessions, spirit items sales, team pre-game meals and drinks.
Please contact Mrs. Hopkins at ext. 236 or mhopkins@bdhs.org if you
are interested in helping out in any of these areas.
2007-2008 Gate Fees & Passes
The TAPPS District has set the following gate fees for athletic events.
Football Varsity $6.00 – Adults $3.00 – Students
Freshman/JV $4.00 – Adults $2.00 - Students
No Charge for Middle School Football.
Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball
The gate admission will be the same for all levels. Adults - $4.00
Students - $2.00
There will be no charge for Soccer games, with the exception of
tournaments hosted by Bishop Dunne.
Tennis, Golf and Cross Country will not charge admission.
Bishop Dunne students are admitted free to all athletic events,
except tournaments and playoff games, as long as they show their
Bishop Dunne student ID card on entry.
Season Passes
Falcon Pass - Individual $75.00
Falcon Pass II – 2 Adults $110.00
Falcon Power Pass – 2 adults & 2 children $140.00
Falcon Power Pass II – 2 adults & up to 6 children $175.00
Season passes will allow admittance into ALL HOME athletic events.
Passes do not include entry for tournaments or playoff games. Season
passes may be purchased at the gate of any home athletic event beginning
August 14, 2007.
Alumni Passes
Alumni passes allow a 50% discount to all home athletic events. Passes
do not include entry for tournaments or playoff games. Please contact
Lydia Torrez at ltorrez@bdhs.org, or 214 339 6561 at extension
297 to request an alumni pass.
High School Swimming
All students interested in participating on
the Bishop Dunne Swim Team this year are requested to attend a meeting
on Wednesday, September 12 from 3:15 p.m. through 3:30 p.m. in Room
402. Please contact Ms. Zeske at rzeske@bdhs.org or Mrs. Hopkins
at mhopkins@bdhs.org if you need additional information.
Middle School
Swimming
All middle school students interested in participating on
the Bishop Dunne Swim Team this year are requested to attend a meeting
on Wednesday, September 19 from 3:10–3:25 p.m. in Room 402.
Please contact Ms. Zeske at rzeske@bdhs.org if you need additional
information.
From the Business Office
Dates to Remember
5th of each month- payments are due to the TCCCU.
7th of each month- the Business Office will attempt to notify the responsible party of non-payment.
14th of each month- payments for balances at BDCS are due.
15th of each month- students whose accounts have a balance at BDCS are not permitted to attend class or participate in any extracurricular activities, including sports.
16th of each month- students whose accounts are not current at TCCCU will not be permitted to attend class or participate in any extra-curricular activities, including sports.
Class Fees
These fees will be billed after the start of the school year and
are due on the 15th of the month following billing. Some textbooks
are of a prohibitive cost, are outdated as the subject involves
the latest technology, or are not required. Individual class fees
cover the cost of: photocopying, computer printer costs, library
and research materials, upkeep and updating of equipment and labs,
field trips, band equipment, maintenance, new instruments, music
association fees, art supplies, athletic training programs and
supplies, and books purchased by the school that are distributed
to the students. Fees charged are dependent upon your student’s
course selections and may be incurred each semester. The following
classes will be assessed a $65 fee:
ACT/SAT Prep
Adult Christian Relationships
Anthropology
Art
Band
Band Fundamentals
Broadcast Journalism
Choral
Computer Science
Eastern Religions
GIS
Graphic Animation
Graphic Design
Intermediate Band
Intro to Film
Journalism
Middle Eastern Religions
Peace Studies
Science and Religion
Social Justice
Speech/Study Skills
Theatre Arts
AP Statistics will be charged a $25 fee. Christian Service and PE
will be charged a $50 fee.
Graphic Animation and Journalism are full year classes and are
charged one $65 fee for the entire year. If a student does not enter
the class until the second semester, the charge is still the entire
amount of the fee.
The following miscellaneous fees are assessed, as applicable:
Advanced Placement Tests $89
PLAN and PSAT tests $15
8th-grade graduation $50
Senior graduation $175
Junior Retreat $120
Senior Retreat $180
Bus Fees
| Route |
|
|
|
| |
Annual Fee
Round Trip |
Semester Fee
Round Trip |
Annual Fee
One Way Trip |
| |
|
|
|
| St. Thomas (East Dallas), St. Monica (North Dallas) |
| 1 student |
$730 |
$440 |
$400 |
| 2 students |
$875 |
$515 |
$450 |
| |
|
|
|
| St. Luke (Irving), Immaculate Conception (Grand Prairie) |
| 1 student |
$730 |
$440 |
$400 |
| 2 students |
$875 |
$515 |
$450 |
| |
|
|
|
| Holy Spirit (Duncanville) |
| 1 student |
$650 |
$425 |
$395 |
| 2 students |
$770 |
$485 |
$410 |
The $50 non-refundable registration fee is due with the completed registration form. Semester Payments are due August 14, 2007 and January 8, 2008. We are considering stops in Cedar Hill, Waxahachie, Midlothian, DeSoto, St. Phillip Catholic School and Downtown Dallas.
Two Accounts
Many families have two accounts for their student(s). One is with the school and the other is with the Texas Catholic Community Credit Union (TCCCU). All families have one account at Bishop Dunne for all items that are paid directly to the school, such as fees for classes, after school care, bus, testing, retreat, graduation, and lost library books. The Business Office handles these accounts. Additionally, many families also have an account at the TCCCU to finance tuition and the student activity, the facility and the technology fees.
Texas Catholic Community Credit Union
If monthly payments are not received at the TCCCU by the due date of the 5th of the month, the Business Office will attempt to contact the Responsible Party. If payment has not been received by the TCCCU by 8 a.m. on the 16th, students will not be allowed to attend classes or participate in any extracurricular activities until the delinquent amount has been paid in full. If students are in class, they will be called from class to contact a parent. No promises to pay or extensions of credit will be accepted. If you have any questions, you may contact the credit union at 214.348.8670. Roy Adams at extension 106, Karen Williams at extension 105, and Anna Cavanar at extension 114 are available to assist you. The TCCCU, which is located at 10103 Shoreview, near White Rock Lake, has a night drop box.
Payment Methods
Bishop Dunne Catholic School accepts cash, cashier’s checks,
money orders, MasterCard or VISA for any payments.
Name, please!
Some of our students have a different last name than their parent or guardian. We keep our accounts by student name. Please indicate on your checks for what and for whom you are making payments. Writing in the memo section of your check or money order will help staff out tremendously. Thank you!
Separate Checks, Please
Please do not include fees for extracurricular activities, lunch fees, booster fees or fines in the same check as the invoiced payment. Payments may be made separately in the same envelope, but not in the same check, as different bank accounts are used for some fees. Thanks!
Returned Checks
Payment of a returned check which was presented to BDCS and the related fee are due immediately upon notification by BDCS. If payment of fees on any student account is delayed twice due to checks returned by the bank, the Business Office will require that cash, cashier’s check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa be used for any future payments on that account. If payment made on behalf of a student by a third party is returned by the bank, the responsible party will immediately become responsible for the tuition or fee intended to be paid by the 3rd party, but not the returned check fee. Payment of a returned check which was presented to the TCCCU and the returned check fees are due immediately upon notification by the TCCCU or BDCS. Payment of the amount of the check and any fees assessed must be paid in full to the TCCCU with cash, cashier’s check, or money order before the student(s) will be allowed to return to class. Two returned checks at the TCCCU will require that all future payments to the TCCCU and to BDCS be made with cash, cashier’s check, or money order to TCCCU or cash, cashier’s check, money order, MasterCard or Visa to BDCS.
Tuition Refunds
If a student withdraws from BDCS prior to the end of the current academic year, the student and his or her family may be entitled to a refund of tuition for any unused school quarter. Any unpaid fees or fines will be deducted from the refund. Additionally, there will be an administrative fee assessed to all such refunds resulting from voluntary withdrawal from the school.
Volunteer Hours
Each family is expected to perform a total of at least 40 hours of community service for the School or to pay a $200 sustentation fee. Donations of items such as office supplies and bottled water count toward your volunteer time. The school can only accept donations of Cadbury Schweppes products. If you are unsure of the number of volunteer hours accumulated or have a question about making a donation, please contact Mrs. Linda Barragan at extension 247. Volunteer hours may be accumulated from April 1 of the prior school year through March 31 of the current school year.
Extended Day Program
Note: Students are not charged for the Extended Day Program until 4:30 p.m.
The purpose of the Extended Day Program (EDP) is to provide a convenient, safe, and affordable Christian environment to complement the value system of Bishop Dunne. School policies, procedures, and regulations are in effect at all times. The EDP follows the same expectations and consequences as stated in the Bishop Dunne School and Family Handbook.
Hours of operation are from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Students who are left unsupervised on the campus after 3:30 p.m. must attend the EDP. Students are not allowed to roam the campus freely. Parents should strongly convey to their student(s) that any unsupervised student who does not report to the EDP promptly will be subject to a detention.
Students who participate in extracurricular activities are to remain with their coach or moderator until their transportation arrives. However, students are to be picked up promptly after extracurricular activities. Teachers will remain with students in tutoring for their assigned time. If parents are not on time to pick up their students after extracurricular activities or tutoring, the student will be sent to the EDP and parents will be charged for this service beginning 15 at 4:30 p.m. There will be no free EDP beginning at 4:30 p.m. for students who come to EDP before the start of their extracurricular activities.
There are three payment options:
1. A monthly fee of $140 ($85 for December since school is in session for a shorter period of time), which is approximately $4 per hour and is payable in advance, offers a tremendous discount over the hourly rates. Because of the staggered start dates in August, the hourly rate of $10 per hour (option #3) will be charged in August, unless parents choose to make an advance payment (option #2)
2. Advance payment for students who do not use the EDP enough to warrant paying a monthly fee, but who attend the program regularly. Parents may purchase hours in advance. The minimum number of hours a student may purchase is 5 hours at $8 an hour for any portion of an hour used for a total of $40. However, parents may purchase as many hours as they wish at the $8 per hour rate. The sign-out sheets will reflect the number of hours paid and used.
3. The rate for drop-ins is $10 per hour for any portion of an hour used and must be paid when the student is picked up for the day. Parents will be subject to the hourly rates until payment has been received for the monthly rate or the pre-paid rate. It is preferred that advance payments (options 1 and 2) be made to the Business Office. A receipt will be given for any cash payments. If students are not picked up by 6:00 p.m., a fee of $25.00 for every 10 minutes (or any portion thereof) will be assessed.
Please note: Students will not be released from the EDP program unless a parent is visible to the adult in charge. Students will not be released to meet their ride any place other than the south parking lot between the high school and middle school buildings.
Parking Lot Etiquette
We ask that all parents, students, and visitors to Bishop Dunne Catholic School
please drive safely and courteously through the school parking lots. Speed
should be kept to 10 mph or below. Drivers are asked to not drive around the
speed bumps. This makes for a dangerous situation for those that are exiting
their parked cars. Cars should only stop along the curb to pick up and drop
off students. Many parents stop in the flow-through line and 12 cause a traffic
jam. Some of our parents need to get back to work, so please leave the lane
away from the curb open for those who have already picked up their precious
cargo. Finally, please do not block the pedestrian crosswalk when dropping
off or picking up your students. Thanks!
Student Guests at Football Games
Our
students often bring guests to the football games or have friends dropped off
at the games. Students who are not Bishop Dunne students or students from the
local Catholic high schools or feeder schools must show their ID and are not
allowed to enter the game without an adult in attendance. The adult does not
have to be a parent, but is required to be in attendance at the game.
Cafeteria
The breakfast and lunch menus, as well as the price lists are available at
bdhs.org. Select On Campus, then Cafeteria. The price of a breakfast plate
is $2.00 and includes a breakfast entrée and 1 – 2 sides. The
price of a lunch plate is $3.75 and includes 2 - 4 sides. Sides include vegetables,
fruit, milk and juice. Condiments come with the meal, as appropriate. Extra
condiments are 25 cents each. Beginning later this month, you will be able
to set up an account for your student. It will be necessary for your student
to present his or her I.D. card to charge lunch to his or her prepaid account.
Until that time, it will be necessary for students to pay cash for their lunch.
Students who do not have lunch money will be served a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich and milk for $2.00 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Mrs. Debbie Champion in the Bishop Dunne Business Office at 214 339 6561, extension
235.
Cafeteria Refunds for Credit Balances for 2006-2007
Bishop Dunne is no
longer using the cafeteria services of Educational Catering Inc. If you have
a credit balance on your Dine Pay account from the 2006-2007 school year, please
contact Educational Catering Customer Service at 1 800 595 9503, extension
301 or at eci@ed-cat for a refund. If you have any questions or concerns, please
contact Debbie S. Champion in the Bishop Dunne Business Office at 214 339 6561,
extension 235. |
