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Important Dates

August 18

Freshman Parent Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

August 21

Freshman Orientation

August 22

First Day, All Grades

August 24

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

August 26

School Picture Day

Parents,

I would like to share some updates with you as we head into the 2024-25 school year.

First, we wish all the best to Ms. Abby Teeters who took a position teaching art with Pickerington schools, and we welcome Mrs. Heather Law to the position of Vice Principal for Academics. She is well prepared for the role and familiar with the administrative team through her work here as a member of our math department and as the Dean of Girls and Dean of Student Achievement. Mrs. Law will serve as the main point of contact for teaching and learning.

Next, I want to thank all of you who took the time to complete our parent survey this past spring. A couple of common themes emerged from that survey that we are addressing:

Cell phones

There was a consistent theme among survey results about enforcing the cell phone policy and not allowing students to carry/use phones. We agree that our classrooms and building need to be a place for learning and personal interaction. Our policy has always been that phones are to remain off and in the student’s locker. This coming school year, this will be a point of emphasis for our administration and teachers. We will relay this to the students as part of their class meetings early in the school year and we ask for your help in reminding your student of this rule.

Vaping

Teen vaping remains an issue nationwide. We understand your concerns about this issue and are installing vape detectors that will notify administration of any possible use. The consequences surrounding vaping are severe, both here at school and for a student’s personal health, and we hope to educate and deter students from this activity.

Finally, work on our chapel expansion continues as we start the school year. We look forward to having the project completed in October and giving our families an opportunity to visit.

Deacon Chris Campbell '77

Principal

School Pictures:

Monday, August 26

For Seniors: Monday, August 26 will be the official senior portrait photo day. This will be the photo used in the yearbook and on the wall composite.

SENIOR Attire Guidelines:

Boys: jacket, shirt and tie, clean shaven, hair must meet handbook guidelines

Girls: modest top that is above the collar bone and not sleeveless, hair must meet handbook guidelines

Grades 9-11 will wear their regular school uniform.

HR Imaging has mailed a bar-coded prepay flyer to each student that contains all of the information needed for picture day. The envelope on the flyer actually serves as their personal pre-filled camera card. Students should bring the envelope portion of the flyer to school on Monday, August 26 so that photos happen efficiently.

Lunch Menu

The lunch menu for August will be posted soon on our website >Student Life>Lunch Menu. 



To load lunch funds, click on the button at the top of the page. If you are new to adding lunch funds, a how-to video can be found at the bottom of the Lunch Menu page.

Freshman Mixer

Date: August 24

Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Cost: $10

Location: Bishop Watterson Cafeteria

Attendees: Bishop Watterson Freshman

Dress: Casual

Click on the button below to purchase tickets. Tickets will be sold through August 24.

Spirit Sign Orders

It’s time to order your spirit signs! Click on the button below and scroll down for the order form and list of icon options.

Eagle Store

August Hours

August 1 -- 3:00-5:00 p.m.

August 18 -- after freshman parent meeting, open 6:45 p.m.-8:00 p.m. 

August 2 – 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Enter at Dominican Hall entrance.

School Year Hours

Mondays and Thursdays—2:30-3:30 p.m.

Enter at Main Office facing Cooke Road.

Also by appointment. Email Heather Law, mrs.law@bwhs.org or Ryan Schwieterman, rschwiet@cdeducation.org.

Sailing Team Club

Did you know students can sail for Bishop Watterson through the Hoover Sailing Club? There is no experience necessary, we will teach you everything you need to know! We have a fall and spring sailing season.

High school sailing is awesome and full of opportunities for all of our sailors to get on the water, not only at practice but in the many regattas we sail and host every season. Come learn more at our Open House on Monday August 19, starting at 6:00 p.m. at Hoover Sailing Club.

Questions? Click here or contact team parent Theresa Maher at (614) 397-6250.

Practices for fall start August 20 and run through the end of October.

Worth Repeating

Counselor Corner



Schedules Available in Schoology

Student schedules were released last Friday. 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.

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.