The July 2009 Back to School Issue of The Falconer

Prayers
Camps and Orientations
New Parent Breakfast Socials
Calendar for 2009-2010
Farewells
Welcome to our New Teachers
Summer Construction – Pardon our Mess!
Going Wireless
Textbooks and eBooks
Netbooks
Textbooks
Supply Lists
Uniforms
Online Education Program

Athletic Physicals
Athletics for P.E. Credit
Financial Responsibilities
Students with Learning Differences and ADHD
Summer Enrichment Classes
Tutorials and Beginning Class Time
Music Program
Tips for College Preparation
Common Obstacles to Success
Study Hints for Students
Medication
Immunizations
Spanish Speaking Staff and Faculty
Transportation / Bus Schedule Changes

From the Principal

Welcome to our new students and families and welcome back to our returning students and families. This is the first of a two part special edition of the Falconer in a summer print version that makes it easier for families to have important information for the beginning of the school year. The summer Falconer will be available at the end of June and again at the end of July. In August, we will go back to our standard format of a Friday Falconer, issued online every Friday. The Falconer is Bishop Dunne’s main form of communication.

Prayers
Please keep the family of Sister Mary Patrice Murray, Daughter of Charity, in your prayers. Sister died suddenly on Sunday, June 14, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Sister Mary Patrice entered the Daughters of Charity on June 5, 1960. She served as principal of Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Grand Prairie for many years and was a teacher and counselor at Bishop Dunne during the 2003 – 2004 school year. Sister was an Archivist for Marillac Provincialate in St. Louis, Missouri, at the time of her death. Sister Mary Patrice, a dedicated Daughter of Charity, will always be remembered as a gifted teacher, an excellent principal, and an enthusiastic supporter of Catholic education.

Please keep the family of William Davis, eldest brother of Athletic Director Kenneth Davis, in your prayers. William lost his brave battle against pancreatic cancer on Monday, June 27, 2009. William taught his brother football, and was his greatest mentor and supporter during his NFL career. William’s broad smile and enthusiasm will be greatly missed on the sidelines of football games at Bishop Dunne.

Please keep Rodolfo Gary in your prayers, as he undergoes cardiac surgery. Rodolfo is the 7 year old brother of sophomore AJ Gary.

Camps and Orientations for the beginning of the School Year
The school year will begin with mandatory camps and orientations for all grade levels. The purpose of the camps is to give students an opportunity to build relationships and explore the school before classes begin. The camps are an introduction to the school and the teachers in a fun and relaxing environment. Students need to be in appropriate casual dress for the camps and will not need to bring any books or school supplies. The following is the schedule for camps and orientation.

A “red” day is the first 4 of 8 blocks (A, B , C, D) in a student’s schedule. A “blue” day is the second 4 of the 8 blocks (E, F, G, H) in a student’s schedule. This is a traditional A/B Block Schedule – a red day is followed by a blue day in rotation and classes will be 90 minutes in length. A “purple” day occurs when we run all 8 blocks on the one day and classes will be just 45 minutes. Purple days usually happen at the beginning of the school year when we do not want one grade level to get ahead of another grade level in the red/blue cycle. A color calendar will be issued in July with all red/blue days marked for the year.

Please note each grade level will begin classes the day following their camp. All students will begin the red/blue schedule on Thursday, August 20, 2009.

New Parent Breakfast Socials
Please join us for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on the following dates to meet the Principal, Guidance Team, Technology Team, and parent groups. Enjoy Chef Blair’s cinnamon rolls and coffee, get to know key school personnel and procedures, and meet other parents in a relaxed environment. We can also sign you up on Edline, the grade component of our web presence, and show you how to check grades, curricula, course outlines, directories and other information. We would also be happy to show you around the school and discuss upcoming events and plans. Please rsvp to Mrs. Dennie at sdennie@bdhs.org so that we can plan accordingly.

Calendar for 2009-2010
The following are calendar dates for the 2009-2010 school year. We hope this will help in your planning for the upcoming school year. Please look for more information in upcoming issues of The Falconer.

Farewells
We say a fond farewell to our faculty and staff who are moving on to new positions or to other parts of the country and thank them for all their dedication, hard work and positive outlook. They all played a very important role at Bishop Dunne and we wish them the very best: Mr. Ivan Birch; Ms. Lauren Bugos and Ms. Amber Jenkins, both of whom are moving to California; Mrs. Kristin Eklund; Mrs. Melody Hopkins; Ms. Elizabeth Kearney who is heading to the private sector; and Mr. Kyle Stevens, who is moving to the public school system to become a wrestling coach. Mr. Tim MacManus is taking a position as a community organizer and will work intermittently with Bishop Dunne, and Mr. Daniel Wilson is taking time to pursue a doctorate at SMU but will remain connected to Bishop Dunne as the Advanced Placement Chair and the moderator of the Film Club.

Welcome to our New Teachers
Please welcome our new faculty who join us for the 2009-2010 school year. Ms. Victoria Doan joins us from the University of Notre Dame where she graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Ms. Doan graduated from Bishop Dunne in 2005 as valedictorian and is our new Assistant Director of Alumni and Advancement. Mr. Christopher Dittrick joins us from the Alliance in Catholic Education program at the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and chemistry. Mr. Dittrick is currently studying for his Masters in Education degree at the University of Notre Dame, and will be teaching chemistry and theology. Mrs. Alma Cooper Keglovits joins us as a science teacher. Mrs. Keglovits graduated from Bishop Dunne in 1999 and entered a pre-medicine program at college. She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in biology, and from the University of Dallas with an education component. Mrs. Keglovits has taught at St. John the Apostle Catholic School in North Richland Hills. Mr. Preston Prior joins us as our new Music Director. Mr. Prior is a graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a K-12 certification in music. Mr. Prior also taught at Bloomington Junior High School in Bloomington, Illinois. Mr. Bill Rhyan will be moving to the Math Department and we thank him for his years of very successful service with the bands and all his achievements. Mr. Rhyan will continue to work with the music department. Ms. Alexis Stern has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Texas at Arlington, and previously taught at Newman Smith High School. She will be teaching social studies and high school history.

Summer Construction – Pardon our Mess!
Summer is a busy time for us with planning, renovations, cleaning, organizing, evaluating, setting goals, and dreaming! It is also a time when we move forward with our maintenance and construction plans. This summer, the main building is closed for a hallway ceiling asbestos abatement, replacing the old ceiling with a new drop ceiling and new environmentally efficient lighting, installation of an updated fire alarm system, and rewiring. The project should be complete by late July and has been funded through the generous donations of the Catholic Foundation ($44,000); The Hillcrest Foundation ($56,000); and the Scanlon Foundation ($100,000). This $200,000 project will ensure further safety of our main building and bring it up to the same fire and health standards as the new buildings.

Construction began on Monday, June 8, 2009, with the first phase of the abatement in the 100 and 200 hallways, chapel, cafeteria, and band hall. Following completion of the first phase, workers will move on to the 300 and 400 hallways, front and back hallways, and the girls’ 400 hallway restroom. Estimated time of completion of the entire project is the end of July. Containment is according to EPA standards, and air monitoring is done throughout the abatement process. However, there will be no access into the areas mentioned above during the active phases of the abatement.

Summer enrichment classes will take place in the newer classrooms and St. Mary’s Hall, but these areas can only be accessible through the gym foyer and around the south side of the building, respectively.

Summer office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with the main office being closed on Fridays. The office will be closed July 6 through July 13 as the construction will be finalized near the office, but the administration team will be available online for parents.

Going Wireless
This summer, we are installing a state of the art Cisco wireless environment throughout the whole school. The system has become a reality partially to technology infrastructure grants from the Kenedy Foundation ($40,000) and the Sturgiss Foundation ($30,000). These generous grants will enable us to more fully embrace laptop computer and netbook technology in the classroom, moving towards the goal where every student has a laptop and can access the internet and eBooks seamlessly.

Textbooks and eBooks
This fall Bishop Dunne is embarking on a new era of instructional tools. We are offering the option of utilizing digital textbooks for as many courses as possible. This does not mean we are doing away with textbooks, we are simply offering to deliver the content contained in the textbooks in a different format. We believe that eBooks will be more interactive with our existing SMARTBoard technology, pertinent to evolving information technologies, and more relevant to student directed activities and to research based projects. Laptops and eBooks are more cost effective than books in the long term, saving several hundreds of dollars over the student’s high school career, and furthering our objective in being a “green” school with a minimum of energy and paper usage.

Digital versions of textbooks are identical to traditional printed textbooks in content, in most cases down to the page numbers. Traditional textbooks can become out of date in some subject areas, almost as soon as they are printed, and are one dimensional interactively. Printed textbooks can also be extremely expensive and it is alarming to see how heavy so many of the students’ book bags have become. EBooks are electronic versions of a traditional print book and are an affordable and convenient alternative, requiring a laptop computer or an e-reader device. Students access digital versions of textbooks through the internet and will be assigned a unique login and password to access their books. Students will not need to cart heavy textbooks around or worry about leaving a textbook at school or home, as they can access their eBooks anywhere they have an internet connection. Students may also download chapters in PDF format for times when they do not have access to the internet; they can still read the text through a PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat Reader.

EBooks are also more than a PDF or digital copy of the printed book, as they offer interactive tools to aid students in their learning. New terminology and vocabulary terms are linked directly from the chapters to audio files that read the term and definition. Often options are available for both English and Spanish translations. The eBooks also offer interactive reviews that provide students instant feedback on their understanding of the material they study. Another tool available to students is the ability to annotate and highlight the chapters as well as add bookmarks to important concepts, make notes, save selected text, check online dictionaries and glossaries and alter font sizes and styles. Students may also search through the text and their notes using the eBook’s search engine.

The costs for eBooks are approximately $20 - $25 for regular classes. For Advanced Placement classes and some advanced classes that use college level texts, the cost will be 40 - 60% off the printed version of the text. For example, the Spanish I text costs $65 for a new printed copy, but the eBook is $20. What is being purchased with the eBook is actually a one year subscription to online access to the book. This is why the price is so low, and also why the subscription cannot be resold to another student the following year.

We are investing in making our entire campus wireless and upgrading the speed of our network. Students are free to bring in their own WiFi enabled device for accessing the internet and their eBooks. This includes laptops, netbooks, iPod Touch, or similar devices. If you do not have one of these devices, but are interested in purchasing one, we have some recommendations as well as special pricing. Please note, this is NOT a requirement for students to purchase a laptop, it is optional. Students who do not wish to use a personal device may still participate in the iPod program. The same contract rules and regulations for using a school issued iPod will be in place. We will not be issuing iPods to all students, only to those who request them. Please note that the iPod Classics we have are not internet capable, but may be used in the same format as in past years (storage, podcasts, audio recording, etc.).

Please remember that eBooks are merely one of many options for buying textbooks. Students may go digital, select a new print version, or purchase a used version of any print textbook. If parents are unsure about going completely digital, they may want to try subscribing for one digital text and getting the rest in the traditional printed version.

Netbooks
Netbooks are small, portable, lightweight computers that have come a long way in the last two years. They are now equipped with faster processors, larger hard drives, and improved WiFi access. Netbooks also have built in web cams and microphones and weigh about three pounds with a battery life of eight hours on a single charge.

We believe these tools, along with the advent of more digital versions of textbooks will eventually reduce a student’s 35 pound backpack to a small ruggedized computer and case. Over the past year we have been researching the various types of netbooks and have done trial programs with the 6th grade middle school students and a few high school volunteers, and the Technology Office is available to parents to discuss recommendations.

Again, students are not required to purchase a laptop. Students can access our advanced technology at school computer labs; purchase their own computer; use a computer they already have; or use a school iPod. Bishop Dunne will provide an opportunity for parents to buy netbooks through the school at an educational volume discount pricing. Students will be responsible for the care and maintenance on their laptop, it will not be provided by the school. Therefore, we highly recommend an extended warranty and insurance.

Please email Director of Technology Mr. Paul Wood (pwood@bdhs.org), Education Technology Specialist Mrs. Christine Voigt (cvoigt@bdhs.org) or me (kdailey@bdhs.org) if you have any questions or need further clarification.

Textbooks
MBS Direct is Bishop Dunne’s official online textbook provider. All registered students have received their schedule, and MBS Direct maintains the official listing of courses and course materials, including e-books. Parents can order textbooks or e-books online at www.mbsdirect.net or by phone by calling their customer service number 1-800-325-3252.

The booklist for 2009-2010 is also available on our website at www.bdhs.org. Click “on campus” then click “books”. There is also a short video to show parents how to order books online and a link to the online bookstore. The booklist includes the option to purchase eBooks where specified this year through MBS Direct or through other sources as indicated. Certain eBooks, such as Physics AP and English IV, will be purchased by the school and parents will be billed. MBS will also buy back used textbooks.

The MBS Direct online store opens July 13, 2009, and parents can choose from a variety of payment options and orders are shipped within 24 hours. If you have any questions or need assistance with the textbook ordering process, please contact Mrs. Aurora Owens via email at aowens@bdhs.org.

Supply Lists
Following are the supply lists for students by grade level and subject area. It is expected that students have all their books and supplies by the start of school.

6th Grade Class Supply List
1 Three inch – Three Ring Binder and five subject dividers (lA)
1 Three subject Notebook – Red (Math)
4 One subject notebooks – (blue/science, green/social studies, red/math, black/theology)
5 Three brad folders with pockets, color is not important
2 College ruled reams of paper (to be used in class)*
2 24 count pack of #2 pencils*
1 Pack of blue erasable pens
1 Pack of red pens for corrections
1 Pair or scissors*
1 Plastic math compass for drawing circles*
1 12 inch ruler plastic or wood*
1 Plastic protractor for drawing angles*
1 Box of “fat” colored markers*
1 Box of “thin” colored markers*
1 Box of colored pencils*
1 Pack of 12in x 18in multi colored construction paper*
1 Pack of 12in x 18in white construction paper*
3 Glue sticks*
2 Box of Kleenex Tissues*
1 Bottle of instant hand sanitizer
1 2 Gigabyte flash drive (Also called a thumb drive or portabledrive)

* Items that have an asterisk will be collected by the first period teacher and kept in a central location to be used as a class. These materials will become “class materials” and should not have the student’s name on them. If parents would prefer their student to keep his or her own materials, then the student will be held accountable for bringing the materials to class when needed, and keeping up with them.

7th and 8th Grade Supply List
English - 1 binder with 5 tabbed dividers, notebook paper 1 composition book; 2 red pens for grading; blue or black pens; 1package of note cards.

Literature - 1 folder with notebook paper.

Math - 1 binder; notebook paper; #2 pencils; red and black pens for grading; 1 protractor; 1 compass; and 2 dry erase markers any
color.

Social Studies - 1 binder with 5 tabbed dividers; 1 composition book; and colored map pencils.

Science - 1 pocket folder with brads; notebook paper; black, blue and red pens.

World Language - 1 binder with notebook paper; red, blue, black and green pens.

Theology - New American Bible by Fireside; 1 small binder with 5 tabbed dividers.

Students may bring the following items to their first block A or E teachers:
3 boxes of Kleenex
3 Clorox Wipes
4 pack of dry erase markers

9th - 12th Grade Supply List
English - 1 binder with notebook paper; blue or black ink pens; and 3 different colored highlighters.

Math - 1 binder with notebook paper; graph paper; mechanical pencils; TI-84 calculator required for all new students; 2 dry erase markers; 1 spiral notebook; (1 protractor and 1 compass for Geometry students only).

History - 3 ring binder; notebook paper; colored pencils; colored highlighters.

Science - 1 binder with tabbed dividers; 1 notebook; black, blue and red pens; colored map pencils; TI-84 calculator; 1 box of latex
disposable gloves.

Theology - The New American Bible by Fireside required for all grades.

World Language - 1 binder with notebook paper; black pens; one dictionary to translate either Latin/English, French/English or
Spanish/English.

Students are asked to bring the following to their A or E block teachers.
3 Boxes of Kleenex
3 Clorox Wipes
4 pack of dry erase markers

Uniforms
Parents: before you buy uniforms for your students, please make sure you are thoroughly aware of all the updated guidelines and restrictions written out in the Falconer. Strict guidelines for such things as style, fabric, length, and fit must be followed carefully or replacement items will need to be purchased. Sue Mills is Bishop Dunne’s main uniform provider, and parents can access the online store through our website. Simply go to www.bdhs.org and click on “Parents.” There will be a link to the Mills website with a price listing and brochure for all of our uniforms. The school number for Bishop Dunne is #725. The Mills Uniform store is located in Dallas at 14902 Preston Road, Suite #704, Dallas, Texas, 75254. The phone number is 972 385 9121 and the customer service phone number is 1 800 541 1850. Mills Uniform is having a sale until July 7, 2009. For a complete listing of the uniforms, please visit www.millswear.net. If you choose to purchase other brands, please carefully check the regulations in the Uniforms Policy section of the Falconer as other brands often do not comply with our fabric and style requirements.

Some of this year’s changes include:

• The Mass uniform for girls specifies ¾ sleeve blouses and the plaid skirt. See the Falconer for details on skirt lengths and other requirements for girls.
• Hooded sweatshirts are no longer allowed during the school day. School uniform sweatshirts in red or navy with the school crest will only be allowed during the school day. Navy pullover sweaters will also be allowed.
• Uniform sweatshirts and P.E. uniforms will be available for purchase in the school store, which opens when school starts.

Online Education Program
Online summer school began June 29, 2009, with late registration running through July 3, 2009. The online summer session features a wide variety of accelerated learning classes and credit deficiency classes. The accelerated classes are filling up quickly and no student will be allowed to start after the July 3 date. The credit deficiency classes can be started anytime, but a late registration fee will be charged. Students are required to register and make-up any failed classes within six months of receiving a failing grade. It is extremely important to make-up credits in a timely manner so that a student does not face Academic Probation or an August graduation. Letters were sent out at the end of the 08-09 school year listing any and all credit deficiencies. Please take advantage of the summer session by contacting Mr. Hill Copeland at hcopeland@bdhs.org or Ms. Sandra Brooks in the business office at sbrooks@bdhs.org or at 214 339 6561 extension 232. All online correspondence will be conducted via the Bishop Dunne email accounts and Edline. Please be sure that your student is aware of email addresses and Edline passwords. If he or she has forgotten or misplaced either, he or she may contact Mr. Paul Wood at pwood@bdhs.org for confirmation.

Athletic Physicals
All student athletes must have a physical examination before they can participate in fall and spring semester athletics. Physicals are required annually for any student who participates in band, drill team, cheerleading, and sports. Students will not be allowed to participate until an up-to-date physical is on file. All students participating in extracurricular activities at Bishop Dunne must have had an ECG in addition to the annual physical. The ECG needs to be completed only one time during students’ attendance at Bishop Dunne. A link to the form that is to be completed by a licensed healthcare practitioner is posted under the “TAPPS physical form” link on the athletics page of the school’s website.

Parents are free to take their child to the practitioner of their choice for physicals. Please have the physician fill out both the TAPPS physical form and the ECG form. All physical forms and ECG forms must be given to Nurse Price.

Physicals and ECG’s are offered at Bishop Dunne. The cost for just the physical or ECG is $20.00. The cost for both is $40.00. Dr. Simonson will be available on August 3, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. for physicals and ECG’s, and Nurse Price will be available on July 27 and 28, 2009. Please email Nurse Price for an appointment at yprice@bdhs.org.

Athletics for P.E. Credit
Students may earn up to 1 credit towards the fulfillment of the 1.5 credit Physical Education requirement by virtue of completing a high school sport. Specific criteria must be met as outlined by the Director of Curriculum in order to earn credit. Each season of a sport will be the equivalent of .5 credit. No grade will accompany this credit.

Financial Responsibilities
As we approach the new school year, it is important to review parents’ financial responsibilities regarding the payment of Bishop Dunne tuition and fees along with the related collection procedures that the School will be using during the upcoming school year.

Each family that has made a Tuition Loan with the Texas Catholic Community Credit Union is responsible for paying their monthly Bishop Dunne tuition and fee charges on or before the 5th of each month beginning in July. If any tuition and fee payment is delinquent on the first day of school, your student will not be allowed to attend classes until all delinquent amounts are paid in full. Starting in September, if monthly tuition and fee payments become delinquent and remain unpaid on the 15th of the month, your student will not be allowed to attend classes until all delinquent amounts are paid in full.

Bishop Dunne Catholic School does not have the financial resources to provide ongoing educational services for any student whose family does not pay their monthly tuition and fees. For this reason, Bishop Dunne is not able to keep students with unpaid tuition and fee balances in school, nor can the School accept any promises to pay or grant additional credit to parents through the extension of payment terms. Bishop Dunne does not grant any exceptions to the School’s payment and collection policies.

Monthly tuition and fee amounts must be paid in full each month to keep your student in attendance at Bishop Dunne. In order to avoid having your student miss classes, the School recommends that you arrange with Texas Catholic Community Credit Union to have your payments automatically transferred each month from your financial institution.

Students with Learning Differences and ADHD
If you have a student with a learning difference or ADHD and you are seeking accommodations, please notify our Learning Resource Specialist, Mrs. Leslie Oeftering, as soon as possible. For a student to qualify for accommodations, testing must be current within the last three years or a doctor’s statement within the last year with a diagnosis of ADHD. Mrs. Oeftering’s email address is loeftering@bdhs.org and her phone number is 214 339 6561 ext. 293.

Please make an appointment in the first month of school with Mrs. Dailey or Mr. O’Sullivan, so that we can be sure that we understand your child’s learning difference.

Summer Enrichment Classes
Summer Enrichment Classes will be for incoming 7th, 8th and 9th grade students, and are designed to help students master some concepts from elementary school and prepare for the rigor of the Bishop Dunne curriculum. Classes will be on July 27 through August 15, and will be from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon. A complete list of classes is on our web page.

Tutorials and Beginning Class Time
Classes for the high school begin at 8:30 a.m. and students are expected to be at school no later than 8:25 a.m. However, there will be a comprehensive tutoring schedule published in the first week of school, where tutorials are scheduled both before and after school. Tutorials offer individualized help and group tutorials from teachers to help students understand class material better and to enable them to complete homework and projects under a teacher’s direct guidance. Students are strongly encouraged to attend tutorials, and tutorials may be mandatory, especially for Advanced Placement classes or for students where the teacher determines that one on one tutoring is required.

Middle School students are expected to be at school no later than 7:55 a.m. as all middle school classes begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Music Program
This is an exciting time for our music program as we welcome Mr. Preston Prior, our new Music Director. Each student is encouraged to take part in the music program, as music is indicative of a well rounded education. As the program grows, there will be more opportunity for students to become involved, either through musicals, choirs, or the orchestra.

Students are encouraged to join band as it will give them many opportunities to learn music and make new friends, as music teaches the concepts of teamwork and cooperation. Students who participate in music programs score higher in standardized tests especially in reading, language and math. Our 6th grade is especially encouraged to be involved in music and lay the groundwork for a well rounded fine arts education.

Please look for more information later in the summer about joining band or other musical opportunities. Parent meetings will be set in July and August.

Tips for College Preparation
College preparation at Bishop Dunne begins at 6th grade. In the highly competitive world of college admissions, it is important to plan a student’s high school career.

• Advanced Placement – students should take pre Advanced Placement classes or Advanced Placement classes wherever possible and work hard for the AP examinations. Colleges will expect students to take more difficult and challenging classes and not easy options.
• Students need to make studying a number-one priority, working diligently at homework, which is usually preparation for upcoming quizzes and tests. Whereas the first three weeks of school will introduce students to the rigor of Bishop Dunne’s curriculum, after that, students should be completing an hour and a half to two hours of homework a night. Students need to review notes, podcasts, read extensively and study.
• Parents and students need to understand that freshmen grades become part of the Grade Point Average.
• Students need to participate in extracurricular activities. Colleges look for a well rounded student with active interests with a resume showing that interests in extracurricular activities started in the freshmen year.
• Students need to begin to work on community service hours. A resume is very impressive when community service hours have been completed at all grade levels, not just in the Senior or Junior year.
• Students should get to know their guidance counselors as soon as possible and check in with their counselor frequently. Students and parents need to attend school-sponsored information meetings.
• Students need to make the summers meaningful and consider college summer school, a part-time job, volunteer work, and enrichment opportunities. When on family vacations, try to visit as many colleges as possible to understand college placement and locations better. Drive through and walk around college campuses just to get the feel of a large school, a small school, a far-away school, different types of campuses, and the admissions process.
• Students need to start working with English teachers to begin a working resume of activities.
• Read thoroughly and often. Read Newsweek and Time magazines and work on building vocabulary and grammar skills.

Common Obstacles to Success
Please work with the school to maximize the opportunities for your student’s success. Parents should make a point of attending Mini- School Night and Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please check with the Guidance Department and Administration frequently if you wish to review student progress and set goals. Please communicate with the teachers via email and feel very welcome at the school and in the classrooms. Edline is an invaluable tool which will let parents know student grades, course outlines, assessment rubrics, calendars and notes. Parents and students can keep organized and informed through Edline. The Technology Department will run parent tutorials for Edline so that you can set up your Edline account and learn to navigate Edline.

Sometimes students are so overwhelmed and afraid to ask questions, so they stay hidden behind a nonchalant attitude. Some students have an undiagnosed learning difference and need our Counselor for Students with Learning Differences to observe the student in class to help with understanding learning styles. Bishop Dunne has a testing diagnostician under contract for parents who do not wish to use the public school avenue for student testing. Many students need help learning to multi-task, manage time and become better organized. Bishop Dunne has an extensive Study Skills course where students can learn to identify their individual learning styles and how to apply, adapt and study their own techniques, including but not limited to setting up a study center and tips on concentration, budgeting time, organizational skills, note taking techniques, test taking strategies, and memorization techniques. Students will be encouraged to improve reading skills and comprehension.

One of students’ biggest errors is a lack of understanding that future success in life is connected to success at the high school level. Freshmen, particularly, need to be reminded of the reality of Grade Point Averages, transcripts and a resume for college.

Study Hints for Students
The following are some hints and ideas for students about how to study.

1. Every student needs to be responsible for his or her study habits. Students must set aside a couple of hours a day for homework, class work review, reading and research and be realistic about the amount of time needed and be disciplined in an approach. There is a correlation between a student’s grade and the time spent doing homework and preparing for class.
2. Students must be prepared for each class and bring the right materials in order to refer to text or notes as needed.
3. A comfortable place for homework and study with ample writing surface needs to be set aside. All supplies should be readily available. The area also needs to be a quiet place without interruptions, television or the phone ringing. Some people can work better to music, but the music should be muted.
4. Students need to be organized. Regularly organizing material reduces down time, increases study time, and help prevents loss of materials.
5. Students must be in the habit of doing homework and review the same day that they have a class. This allows the next day to see teachers for further clarification or for tutoring.
6. Students need to succeed at schoolwork and not take on too many responsibilities. Too many hours of extra-curricular activities and employment will detract from study time, family time or sleep.
7. Students need to read ahead in textbooks, review after class lectures, re-read the chapter and highlight important concepts and vocabulary words after they are discussed.
8. Students need to take ample notes during class and make sure that they are organized for reference, rewriting notes if necessary.
9. Students must never wait to study the week before final exams or major assessments and need to keep up to date with the material and study for final exams by reviewing your notes. Procrastination causes very real stress for students.
10. Students must actively study – make flashcards; outline the material; draw diagrams; discuss material with study groups; go to tutoring sessions; articulate concepts; work problems through at the board; review with teachers.
11. Students need to write down homework and dates of assessment in their planners religiously, check Edline each week to see grade updates, and check course outlines, lesson plans and assessment details on EdLine.
12. Students should use the resources in the Guidance Department, seeking help with a tutoring schedule and time management skills.
13. Students should read Newsweek and Time weekly to promote vocabulary skills for the verbal section of the PSAT and SAT.
14. Students should get adequate sleep and eat well.

Medication
Only medication necessary for a student to remain at school will be given during school hours. Whenever possible, administration of medication to students should take place at home. Only medication prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant will be administered by authorized school personnel. No stock medication will be kept for student use. Signed parental and physician consent for either prescription or non-prescription medication must be on file in the Nurse’s Clinic. Medication must be in its original container. Medication received in an unlabeled container or plastic bag will not be accepted. All medication for students in grades 6 through 12 must be left with the Nurse. Students are not to carry medication of their persons. When a student receives medication, he or she shall report to the Nurse.

Students with asthma are allowed to carry a rescue inhaler on their person and are required to have an extra inhaler in the clinic. Medication guidelines regarding a signed parental and physician consent on file at the beginning of each school year apply to inhalers.

Students with chronic illness, asthma, diabetes, seizure disorder etc., as indicated on the registration form, must have an individualized care plan from a physician for each school year.

Immunizations
It is the policy of the school, the Diocese, and the state that all immunizations are current in order to be admitted to school or to remain in school. Please be sure your child’s immunizations are current prior to starting the next school year. The summer break is a great time to update these immunizations. The following are the ones most often delinquent: Hepatitis B and Varicella (chickenpox), which are to be completed by age 12, and Tetanus/Diphtheria, which is a booster shot due ten years after the one received at age 4-5 years of age. If your child had chickenpox, a statement of illness from the parent is required in place of the Varicella vaccine.

Spanish Speaking Staff and Faculty
For our Spanish speaking families, there are several faculty and staff members who will be able to discuss school programs for you. There will also be Spanish speaking faculty at parent meetings to further discuss meeting content in Spanish.

Our Spanish speaking faculty and staff are:

Dr. Veronica Alonzo - valonzo@bdhs.org
Mrs. Isabel Arista - iarista@bdhs.org
Mrs. Norma Echavarria - nechavarria@bdhs.org
Ms. Valerie Garcia - vgarcia@bdhs.org
Mrs. Marcela Garcini - mgarcini@bdhs.org
Mr. Alex Meza - ameza@bdhs.org
Mr. Richard Mullin - rmullin@bdhs.org
Ms. Jessica Perales - jperales@bdhs.org
Ms. Kelly Pineda - kpineda@bdhs.org
Ms. Alexis Stern - astern@dhs.org
Mrs. Lydia Torrez - ltorrez@bdhs.org
Ms. Amanda York - ayork@bdhs.org

Transportation / Bus Schedule Changes
It is time to start considering new bus routes for next school year. If you are interested in riding the bus next school year and/or would like us to consider a new stop, please email Mr. Steve Guerrero at sguerrero@bdhs.org or call 214 339 6561 extension 244. The current stops that Bishop Dunne will offer next school year are North Dallas (St. Monica), East Dallas (St. Thomas), North Downtown Dallas (Holy Trinity) and Irving (St. Luke. Stops that we are considering are Duncanville (Holy Spirit), Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Grand Prairie (Immaculate Conception), Arlington/Mansfield, Waxahachie, Midlothian, St. Phillip Catholic School and St. Augustine Catholic School. In order for us to consider a new bus route we must have ten students registered to ride the bus.

Thank you for your support and please do not hesitate to email with questions or if clarification is needed,

Kate Dailey
Principal