Parent Orientation 1Apr. 6, 2017

►Course Selection ► Books► 4-Year Plan► Communication►Transportation►Athletics

• Learning

• Growing

Our mission is to provide students an education rooted in the life of Christ and to foster the pursuit of excellence in the whole person.

Course Selection Process

• What have you done so far?– Registered and set up tuition plan (FACTS)– Submitted course requests at registration– Received letter with prelim course list

• What are we doing now?– Data collection from testing/transcripts– Registering students for summer classes– Setting up general school course schedule

• As the process continues…– Required – Personal choice– Test results– Prerequisites

Course Selection Process

April/May• Diocesan world

language testing• English Honors

qualifying tests

June• Diocesan math test• Department placement

notifications• Updated course lists

mailed

July• PTO Used Book &

Uniform Sale

August• Schedules and school

opening information

Course Selection Process

Language Placement Exams– Students in Arlington Diocesan elementary schools will take this

exam at their school. – Students in all other schools (including Archdiocese of

Washington schools) must take this exam at O’Connell on Tuesday, May 9 after school.

• Algebra Exemption Exam– All students currently taking Algebra 1 or Geometry must take

the Diocesan Algebra Exemption Exam at Bishop O’Connell on Saturday, June 3.

• English Honors Qualifying Testing

– Department contacts students who requested honors with arrangements for testing.

Course Selection Process

Taking Summer Courses?

Consider:– Timing– Content– Format

Registration is Open Now– Offerings listed in program of study (updated online)– Families who indicated interest were emailed

Am I registered for class?

• Used Book & Uniform Sale– Sponsored by the PTO– Saturday, July 15, 2017– www.bishopoconnell.org/ubs

• MBS Direct – Official vendor– Book lists for each class posted in June

www.bishopoconnell.org/textbooks

Updated course lists (June 2017) include course numbers for book purchase process.

Course Selection Process

• Mark your calendar:Saturday, July 15, 2017

• All proceeds benefit Bishop O’Connell.

• The PTO is looking for parent volunteers willing to give 20 hours to help organize and staff the Used Book and Uniform sale.

• Contact usedbooksale@bishopoconnell.org

• Parent Orientation Series703-237-1449

• Freshman Counselors703-237-1460

• Academics Office703-237-1431

• Center Office703-237-1400

Course Selection Process

• Colleges view course rigor, grades and extra-curricular activities beginning in the freshman year.

• Students’ decisions and actions each day impact their future!

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

• Transcript

• Course Selection—Four-Year Plan

• GPA

• Standardized Testing

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

9th Grade12th Grade11th Grade10th Grade

• Build on 7th and 8th grade achievements• Counseling for graduation and beyond• Path to Honors/Advanced Placement courses• Dual enrollment opportunities• Monitoring Diploma Requirements• Targeting prerequisites • Standardized test tracking/counseling• Career Interests/Connections

GPA - Grade Point Average

The GPA is a system of weighting grades earned according to the difficulty of the level of the class.

Throughout high school students will have an ongoing average of all their grades called a cumulative GPA. Every year counts, so students must consistently work hard to learn and earn high grades.

Only the final grade in each class shows on the transcripts.

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

Letter Range College Prep Honors AP

A+ 97-100 4.3 4.8 5.0

A 93-96 4.0 4.5 5.0

A- 90-92 4.0 4.5 5.0

B+ 87-89 3.3 3.8 4.3

B 83-86 3.0 3.5 4.0

B- 80-82 3.0 3.5 4.0

C+ 77-79 2.3 2.8 3.3

C 73-76 2.0 2.5 3.0

C- 70-72 2.0 2.5 3.0

D+ 67-69 1.3 1.8 2.3

D 65-66 1.0 1.5 2.0

F 64 or below 0.0 0.0 0.0

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

• Provide high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and achieve college credit or advanced placement.

• Signal to admissions officers that you’ve undertaken the most rigorous classes your high school has to offer.

• Enrollment requires students to meet our school’s prerequisites.

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

• Pre-ACT– Multiple choice assessment designed to assess knowledge in the areas: English,

mathematics, reading and science. It also has an interest inventory. The Pre-ACT providesa standardized testing experience, with information on students strengths and areas for growth.

• PSAT/NMSQT– Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test– Helps students start thinking about and planning for college, see which academic skills

they need to work on, and get ready for college entrance exams.– Taken in 10th and 11th grade

• SAT – Globally recognized college admissions test that show colleges what you know and how

well you can apply that knowledge.– Tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math

• ACT– National college exam that consists of subject area tests in English, math, reading and

science.– Results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

• Counselors will meet with students in the fall to begin this process in the four year planning process.

• Naviance - An online tool and planning resource.– Resume building– Interest inventories– Look up specific colleges– Search types of colleges– Search scholarships

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

More on broad range of counseling services in next session.

Contact

Main Counseling Number - 703-237-1460

Erin O’Malley - Dean of Student Serviceseomalley@bishopoconnell.org or 703-237-1449

Follow us on Twitter @DJOCounseling

A Four-Year Plan for College Readiness

• The Friday Blitz– Weekly emailed announcements– Update your info by contacting ccarroll@bishopoconnell.org

• School Messenger– Email, text messages, and sometimes phone messages– Only used for extremely time-sensitive information

• News Alerts– Completely optional. You can subscribe to news (and team)

alerts in your MyDJO account.

Staying in Touch

• We follow Fairfax County Public School decisions in inclement weather. Look for information:– www.fcps.edu– TV and Radio– We DO NOT send out emergency information when we are following FCPS.– Will post on our homepage and send out on Twitter

• Situations unique to Bishop O’Connell– School Messenger– Posted on the homepage

• School Messenger - Opting In– Email will be sent to every email on record– Text messages will be sent to all mobile phones on record. HOWEVER, in order to receive the message,

many carriers require you to opt in.– text the words OPTIN or YES to 68453– Keep your contact information up to date. To make changes, contact ccarroll@bishopoconnell.org

If you would like to stop receiving emergency messages on any of your mobile phones, you can text the word STOP at any time to 68453. You may also stop receiving messages on email by following the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of the email.

Staying in Touch

www.bishopoconnell.org

• News on the home page– Subscribe to news

• “Parents” Tab at the top of the home page

• Make it an app on your smart phone– Open www.bishopoconnell.org on phone browser– Select the “forward” button– Choose “Add to Home Screen”

Staying in Touch

• Submit Student Health Information– Magnus Health gateway– Also for sports physicals & permissions

• Find links to frequently requested links for parents

• Set news and alert subscriptions

• Access your students’ class information

• Opt in to family directory– View and update profile information– Decide to hide or unhide specific pieces of information

PLEASE NOTE – Each parent has a unique login and password

Staying in Touch

Let’s see for ourselves…

• Single Sign On (SSO) from Parent MyDJO.

• All student health info is handled through online portal.

• REQUIRED TO ATTEND CLASS:– Immunization Form– TB Screening Form

• Required before any sports tryouts– Physical (after May 1)– Permission forms and agreements

Staying in Touch

• Facebook– www.facebook.com/oconnellhs– Bishop O’Connell High School (Official Page)

• Twitter– www.twitter.com/oconnellhs– @oconnellhs

• Instagram– oconnellhs

• YouTube– www.youtube.com/oconnellhs

Staying in Touch

Mary Jane SpurlockDirector of Communications

703-237-1425mjspurlock@bishopoconnell.org

Staying in Touch

Transportation

• School Bus Transportation

– Virginia

– Maryland

• Carpooling

• Metro Shuttle Bus

• Arlington Bus

Time (AM) Stop Time (PM)Route #1

6:30 St. Michael, Annandale 3:506:45 Holy Spirit, Annandale 3:407:00 St. Leo, Fairfax 3:20

Route #2

6:30 St. Theresa, Ashburn 3:556:48 St. Joseph, Herndon 3:407:00 St. Thomas a Becket, Reston 3:23

Transportation

Transportation

• La Plata

• Pomfret

• White Plains

• Waldorf

• Brandywine

• Clinton

• Accokeek

• Upper Marlboro

• Temple Hills

• Camp Spring

• Ft. Washington

*Afternoon drop off locations include Oxon Hill Library

Transportation

• Express bus to O’Connell

– Arrives at school by 7:20 a.m.

• Route bus continues to designated Maryland stops and limited Virginia stops, including St. Thomas More and stops along the way.

– Arrives at school by 7:30 a.m.

Transportation

• South Patrick St./Rt. 1• Jefferson Davis Hwy.• Alexandria• Potomac Yard• South Glebe Rd.• Arlington Ridge Rd.• George Mason Dr.• St. Thomas More Cathedral School• Washington Blvd.

Transportation

• Registration packets are sent out by the second week in July to:– All registered Maryland students

– Virginia parents requesting information

• For more information, contact:

Cathy Carroll(Academics Office)

ccarroll@bishopoconnell.org

703-237-1461

Transportation

• East Falls Church Metro Station on the Orange and Silver Lines

• O’Connell Shuttle Bus leaves the Kiss and Ride side promptly at 7:20 a.m. each morning.

• No registration required.

Transportation

• Arlington Transit Bus Route #52

• Stops on Trinidad Street right in front of the school.

• This bus travels between the Ballston Metro and the East Falls Church Metro in regular intervals.

Transportation

• Many of our families enjoy the convenience of carpooling.

• As a courtesy, the admissions office compiles and distributes an interest list for parents to connect.

• Find a link to our online interest form:

NEW PARENT RESOURCES

Transportation

Athletics

• Cheerleading (girls and boys) – JV and Varsity

May 30 & 31 (5-8 PM) - Mandatory Clinics

June 1 (5-9 PM) - Final Tryout

Auxiliary Gym

Royalette Dance Team (girls) – Varsity

April 4-6 (6-8:30 PM) Main Gym Clinics

April 7- Auditions, Check in at 5:30 PM

• August 5– JV Football starts *NO CUT- Full Participation is required

• August 15 – Cross Country (boys and girls) *NO CUT

Must be able to run 2 miles in allotted time (Boys – 16 min./Girls – 18 min.)

– Field Hockey (girls) - JV and Varsity– Soccer (boys and girls) - JV and Varsity– Volleyball (girls) – Freshman, JV and Varsity– Crew (Boys and girls) - Varsity and Novice (learn to row program)

*NO CUT– Sailing (Boys and Girls) - Affiliated sport via DC Sail (no experience

necessary)– Tennis (Girls) Varsity

Athletics

• Start times and meeting locations will be posted on Parent Portal.

• Current physical (after April 1) uploaded to Magnus (access via parent login to MyDJO), along with:– electronically sign consent form

– concussion protocol

– student driving form.

Athletics

Can I miss tryouts for vacation? No, athletes must be at the first day of tryouts.

How long will tryouts last?

• Each athlete trying out for a team will be given a minimum of three days to tryout.

• Tryouts typically last one week.

• Teams will have workouts prior to tryouts.

• Workouts are not mandatory, but athletes are encouraged to attend.

• Contact Head Coaches/ view team pages for information on off-season workouts and expectations.

• Start on November 8

– Basketball (boys and girls) - Freshman, JV, Varsity

– Wrestling (boys) *NO CUT

– Swim and Dive (boys and girls) *NO CUT

• Start Date TBD

– Ice Hockey (boys and girls) - JV and Varsity.Starts Oct. 15, with 6 optional skates prior to that.

• Start on February 20– Softball (girls) - JV and Varsity– Baseball (boys) – Freshman, JV and Varsity– Lacrosse (boys and girls) - JV and Varsity– Golf (co-ed) - Varsity– Crew (boys and girls) - Novice and Varsity *NO CUT– Tennis (boys) - Varsity– Track & Field (boys and girls) *NO CUT– Sailing (boys and girls) - Affiliated with DC Sail

(no experience necessary)

• Coaching as a ministry

• Parent, coach and player learning opportunities

Athletics

• Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 7 PMOrientation #4 Mandatory Parent Like a Champion

• Our coaches consider themselves teachers

• Opportunity to teach life skills-high standards

• Professional, knowledgeable, and organized

• Team retreat programs

• Service opportunities as a team

• Staffed with two certified athletic trainers.

• Pre-season baseline concussion testing for all contact sports.

• Care, rehabilitation, and safety.

Athletics

• Go to games

• Buy a booster pass or passes for your family

• Volunteer to help boosters with events and concessions-2 required per season

• Be a booster rep, team parent, spirit captain, or communication captain

• Help with game day operations (video stream, clock, announcing, chains, etc.)

Nearly 70% of our students participate in at least one sport.

• Tryout for a team - there are no cut teams each season.

• Love sports, but don’t want to play? Become a manager.

• Work in athletics - stream videos, game day management, announcing, work in press box, etc.

• Cheer on classmates and join the student cheering section!

• Find coaches’ contact information at:www.bishopoconnell.org/coaches

• Always feel free to contact the Athletics Office:Joe Wootten - Athletic Directorjwootten@bishopoconnell.org

Tommy Orndorff - Asst. Athletic Directortorndorff@bishopoconnell.org

Patrick Demers- Asst. Athletic Director/Facilities and Equipmentpdemers@bishopoconnell.org

• Orientation 2Tuesday, June 20 or Thursday, June 22 (9:30 a.m. or 7 p.m.) Campus ministry, student services and activities, Christian service program, technology, uniforms, institutional advancement.

• USED BOOK AND UNIFORM SALE – Saturday, July 15, 2017

• Orientation 3Wednesday, Aug. 9 or Tuesday, Aug. 15 (9:30 a.m. or 7 p.m.)Opening week schedule, school rules, “A Day in the Life,” bell schedules and Knight Time.

• Orientation 4Tuesday, Aug. 29 (6:30 p.m.) Play Like a Champion Today - Required workshop for parents of students who plan to participate in any sport.