March, 2011
Dear Sophomore Parent/Guardian,
As we proceed through the second half of our school year here at Bishop, we are reminded that your son or daughter is nearly halfway through his or her high school career. Sophomore year can be challenging – not only academically, but also emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Your student is no longer a “beginner”; he or she has become acclimated to our community and is beginning to understand what it means to be a fully active student in the Bishop community.
Sophomore year is one of transition. It is a time of preparation and goal setting, and a time in which students prepare to take on the leadership roles that are often filled by juniors and seniors. To help that process along, the Office of Campus Ministry will continue a program which holds at its core the goal of developing the student as a whole person. Using Bishop McGuinness’ Mission Statement as a model, your student is asked to participate in the Sophomore Conversations Program, a short interview between your sophomore, and a facilitator from the Office of Campus Ministry.
The purpose of this program is the overall development of the student. While we at Bishop McGuinness desire excellence from our students in all their activities, whether social, academic, or athletic, the development of the student as a whole person is at the heart of our mission statement and this provides the context of the conversation. This encounter is focused upon five characteristics which the Bishop Community strives to foster in each of its students during his or her time here. By graduation each student from Bishop should strive to be spiritual, strive to be excellent, strive to be loving, strive to be committed to justice, and strive to be open to growth. You can read more about these pillars and the Bishop McGuinness mission statement at our website (www.bmhs.us).
In the past, this program required both the student and the student’s parents or guardians to set up appointment times during after-school hours to meet with a Bishop McGuinness faculty member or administrator. The student and his/her parents/guardians would then discuss the subject matters described previously in this letter. This involved complex and strenuous scheduling challenges both for parents and students and, although there is great value in parents having the opportunity to hear their teen share their goals and accomplishments, it was often a less than ideal setting for student openess. This year, we will be implementing the program in a slightly different way. Instead of holding the “conversations” during after-school hours, we will conduct them during the scheduled school day, and we will not require parents to be present. We encourage you to discuss with your teen the attached questions on your own; as always, if you would like to speak with a member of the Office for Campus Ministry, faculty, or administration, you are welcome to call and schedule an appointment at any time.
We are excited about this program as a growth experience for your son or daughter. It is initiatives such as this which make Bishop a special place for your student. We join in your desire to raise young adults of competence, conscience, and compassion. This program is a major step along that road. Please look to the BMHS website for more information as it develops, and please feel free to contact me at the number below with any questions or concerns.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support.
God bless,
Dave Vogrinc
Campus Minister for Youth Ministry
Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School
Phone: (336) 564-1246