Due to the length of our recent Wednesday News emails, some internet service providers have shortened the email in your inbox with the option to click to read more.

Dear Parents,

I hope you have enjoyed some great family time with your children this summer. This point in August, when we get ready to start a new school year, is a time of mixed feelings. We enjoy the warm weather and more relaxed schedule of summer and will miss that. At the same time, we look forward to getting a new school year underway with all of the excitement that brings.

The first day of school, Wednesday, August 21, will be Freshman Orientation. Only freshmen will attend that day. On Thursday, August 22, we will welcome back the seniors, juniors and sophomores as well as the freshmen. Both Wednesday and Thursday will be 1:48 p.m. dismissal days. Friday, August 23 will be a normal 2:57 dismissal day.

I look forward to seeing our students in two weeks as we get the 2024-25 school year underway and invite you to join our faculty and staff in prayers for another faith-filled school year.

Deacon Chris Campbell ‘77

Principal 

Important Dates

August 18

Freshman Parent Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

August 21

Freshman Orientation, see below

August 22

First Day, All Grades

August 24

Freshman Mixer, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

August 26

School Picture Day

Counselor Corner

Outlined below is the counseling department structure for the 2024-2025 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

Dominican Program Director

Mr. Vangas, mr.vangas@bwhs.org 

Dominican Program School Counselor

Ms. Gazdik, sgazdik@bwhs.org

Wellness Counselors

Ms. Gazdik, sgazdik@bwhs.org

Mrs. Vogel, ms.vogel@bwhs.org

Schedules Available in Schoology

Student schedules will be released on Friday at 10 a.m. Please note this information about schedule changes:

• No schedule change requests will be accepted before August 26 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 26 through August 30.
• 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.

Save The Date - First Quarter Upcoming Parent Meetings

Senior College Planning Meeting - Monday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

Junior College Planning Meeting - Monday, September 16 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

FAFSA and Financial Aid Meeting - Monday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

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. 

Summer Reading

This summer, BWHS students and teachers are reading Legacy of Mercy, the story of Rachel Muha and her son Brian.

Each student received a copy of Legacy of Mercy and a bookmark that contains questions to guide the reading. Books are for the students to keep, so they are free to mark important lines and sections in the book as they consider the questions and prompts provided on the bookmark.

We expect everyone to have read the book and be ready to discuss the prompts by September 2.



The cost to replace a lost book is $15. This will cover the book and provide a donation to the Brian Muha Foundation/Run the Race.

Click here for a pdf of the bookmark.

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.

Study Skills Course

Bishop Watterson High School will be offering an optional Study Skills Workshop for any student enrolled in grades 9 - 12.

Date: Wednesday, August 14

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: School Cafeteria

Cost: $40 per student​

Registration Deadline: August 13

Office Hours

August

August 1-20: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

August 21: 7:20 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.

Campus Ministry

Fall Kairos Registration Going On Now

It's time for seniors to register for the Fall Kairos, October 1-4. 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 below for the registration form.

Registration is also being accepted for winter and spring dates.

Health Office

If your student has a medical condition for which we should be aware and or needs medications available at school during the 2024-25 school year, please complete the required forms and return them with your student’s OHSAA physical form to the Health Office in August.

2024-25 Important Dates

Next School Year

August 18: Freshman Parent Meeting

August 21: Freshman Orientation

August 22: First Day of School, all grades

September 2: No School, Labor Day

September 27: No School

November 27-December 1: Thanksgiving Break

December 16-19: Semester Exams*

  *Students are required to take exams on these dates, per Student Handbook policy. Students who are sick on an exam day will be expected to make-up their missed exam on December 20 (Teacher PD day)

December 20-January 5: Christmas Break

January 20: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February 14-17: No School, Presidents Day Weekend

March 8-16: Spring Break

April 17-21: Easter Break

May 24: Graduation

May 26: No School, Memorial Day

May 27-30: Semester Exams, grades 9-11*

 *Students are required to take exams on these dates, per Student Handbook policy. Students who are sick on an exam day will be expected to make-up their missed exam on June 2 or 3.