New Family Page

List of 11 items.

• Course Planning & Counseling Department Information

  The Bishop Diego Counseling and Student Services Department is excited to work with your family in the school year ahead. We are proud that our team provides specialized services to all students in Grades 9-12. We encourage you to reach out with any questions or requests for support.
  
  If you were unable to make our Course Planning Night on April 14th, you will receive an email from our counseling department with course recommendations and instructions about how to make an appointment to complete your course selections.

   

  Academic Counselor
  Ms. Andrea Romo, M.Ed
  aromo@bishopdiego.org
  805-967-1266 ext 110
  Schedule an appointment with Ms. Romo here. 
  
  College Counselor
  Ms. Dana Coppa, M.Ed
  dcoppa@bishopdiego.org
  805-967-1266 ext. 107
  
  

  Personal Counselor
  Mr. Aaron Eggman, MA
  

  aeggman@bishopdiego.org

  (805) 967-1266 ext. 109 

  
  Resource Teacher
  Ms. Julianne Haines, MA
  jhaines@bishopdiego.org
  805-967-1266 ext. 202

• Communication & Portals

  All school platforms listed below can be accessed via the "Portals" tab in the top right corner of our website.
  
  Newsletter

  Weekly newsletters come out on Sundays and will be posted on Parent Square. You can also find them on our website under “News & Events” on the top menu bar, here. These are important to read in a timely manner as they include information about the week ahead. 

   

  Parent Square

  The majority of school-wide communication will come via Parent Square, including weekly newsletters and other information. New parents will be added by the first week of July. *IMPORTANT NOTE - If you already have an existing Parent Square account with another school or organization, the system will not send you a notification or invitation when you are added to Bishop Diego. Instead you will be prompted to combine accounts the next time you log into Parent Square.
  
  Please note, all communication with individual teachers will still take place via email, not Parent Square. 

  
  

  Finalsite

  Finalsite is the online platform used for enrollment and billing. All families created a Finalsite account when applying for admission to Bishop. Parents will need to log back in each year to process re-enrollment, complete forms, and set up billing.

  
  x2VOL
  x2VOL is the platform where students log their service hours. Students will receive login information at New Student Orientation in August. In the meantime, if incoming students complete community service over the summer, they should use this form to record hours. These forms can be turned into Mrs. Winnewisser when school begins in August. 
  
  BD Classroom/CANVAS
  The portal for student assignments, grades, teachers and more. Students should check BD Classroom at least once a day to see homework & due dates, check assignments are received & see grades.
  

  • During orientation in August, new students will be given password information and learn how to access BD Classroom.
  • Shortly after school begins, parents will receive an email with instructions about how to access their student's assignments and grades on Canvas. Parent Canvas Login.
  • A special help session will be available for parents the night of Back to School.
    
    

  BDTV

  This is a 7 minute broadcast 4 days a week during which current students receive news, announcements, and other important information. 

• Athletics Information

  WELCOME TO CARDINAL ATHLETICS!
  

   

  Athletic Department Philosophy

  The Athletic Department is characterized by strong Catholic, core-values on which the School is founded. BDHS recognizes the importance of athletic activities providing students with important opportunities for a total education. All students are encouraged to participate in one or more of our athletic programs, regardless of their experience or skill level. Approximately 80% of our student body participates in at least one sport throughout their four years at BDHS.
  
  Shortly after May 1st, the athletics department will send out more detailed information to all incoming students!
  
  

  List of Teams
  
  Coach Directory
  
  Athletic Clearance

• Textbooks & Supplies

  All student textbooks will be loaded onto the Bishop issued iPad which students will receive in August. There are a number of miscellaneous items that families may need to purchase for students depending on the courses in which they are enrolled. This list will be published in June.

  
  2026-27 Materials to Purchase (link coming soon)
  
  

  Math

  A graphing calculator is required for Algebra and all higher level math classes. The recommended model is the TI-84 Plus CE. While the cost for this model is approximately $100, it will be used for all four years of high school and possibly into college. 

  
  

  Art

  Students enrolled in one of our art courses pay a fee for expendable supplies & sketchbooks they use to create their artwork. Students keep any remaining supplies at the end of the school year. 

  
  

  Color & Design	$50
  Ceramics/Intermediate Ceramics	$50
  Advanced Art (Context & Application)	$50
  Painting	$50

  
  Miscellaneous Supplies
  At the beginning of the year, students will receive more information from individual teachers about preferences for notebooks, binders, etc.  Generally speaking, students use less of these materials now that the majority of their assignments are completed on the iPad, however, they will likely still need a few items.

• Mandatory Summer Assignments - 10th, 11th, 12th grades

  Required for students entering the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and some AP classes. Please see the Summer Assignments (link coming soon) page on the website under Academics.

• How can I help my child prepare for freshman year?

  If you are wondering how to make sure your child is ready for freshman year, below are a few suggested ideas & activities. These are completely optional, but will help your child prepare for 9th grade. 
  
  If you have a child entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, please view the mandatory work students must complete on the Summer Assignments page of the website, under Academics (will be published soon).

  
  

  Reading 
  Recommended (not required) reading assignment for freshmen linked here. 
  
  Most importantly, students should read literature of their choice daily over summer. 
  
  Math

  Our math department recommends these series of videos and practice problems from Khan Academy to help students reinforce foundational skills and prepare for the math class in which they will be enrolled. 

  
  

  Algebra: Pre-algebra | Khan Academy

  Geometry: Get ready for Geometry | Math | Khan Academy

  Honors Algebra 2/HAT: Quadratics: Multiplying & factoring | Algebra 1 | Math | Khan Academy

   

  Writing 

  Jane Schaffer Writing Strategy

  This is an overview of the writing program used at Bishop. It is a good idea for incoming freshmen to familiarize themselves with it before the start of the year. Once they’ve looked it over, they can choose a few topics and practice!

  
  

  Novels

  If students would like to preview novels that will be read, titles for English 9 often include Of Mice & Men, Night, and Romeo & Juliet. English 9 Honors titles often include The Odyssey, Great Expectations, Romeo & Juliet, Night, and Of Mice & Men.

• Dress Code & Bishop Apparel

  Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook for specifics about the dress code. 
  
  Bishop Apparel
  

  • Cardinal Club sells a variety of clothing at various school and sporting events. Clothing will be sold at Back to School BBQ and home football games. Parents can also request to buy items via contacting our parent apparel rep at apparel@bishopdiego.org. *Subject to her availability.*   
  • Order from an outside supplier, linked here. Some parents have reported in the past that clothing sizes run large from this site.
    
  • Spirit Packs - These are sport specific sets of practice gear and apparel sold specifically for individual teams. Please keep an eye out for information from your child's coach about these as the window for ordering is often brief.

• Parent Volunteer Hours

  • 25 parent volunteer hours in service to Bishop Diego are required per family annually.
  • Opportunities to earn volunteer hours will usually be communicated through the Parent Square platform. Please see the Communication & Portals tab for more information about the Parent Square platform.
  • Valued at $25/hour. Families will be billed for unfulfilled hours at the end of the school year.
  • Hours may also be earned by purchasing items needed for various events & activities. One service hour may be earned for each $25 spent. A receipt will be needed to receive credit for these hours. *Note the mandatory Cardinal Event tickets in the fall and spring auction contribution valued at $100 do not count toward these hours.*
  • All parent volunteer hours should be logged by parents themselves on Parent Square.

• Student Community Service Hours

  • A minimum of 25 community service hours are required to be completed by students each year, for a total of 100 or more by graduation. 
  • Of the 100 hours, a maximum of 25% can be completed via Bishop Diego sponsored activities and opportunities. The remaining 75% (or more) must be completed through outside non-profit organizations.
  • Students record their community service house on x2VOL. New students will receive their login information at Orientation in August.
  • If incoming freshmen or transfer students complete service hours during the summer prior to orientation, they should record their hours on this form and turn it in when school starts in August.

  
  *Tip from past parents - keep a copy of student’s form for college application/scholarship process.

• FAQs - schedules, lunch, etc.

  School Hours: 8:20 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Except Thursdays when dismissal is 1:30 p.m. NOTE: This will be changing to a late start in 2026-27. More information will be forthcoming.)

  
  

  Schedule

  M/T/F - all 7 classes, 45 minutes each

  W/Th - Bishop PLUS days, block schedule, 75 mins each

               W - Periods 1, 2, 3, 4

               Th - Periods 5, 6, 7
  
  On a handful of weeks throughout the year due to special events or circumstances, the “Bishop Plus” schedule will not take place (i.e., no block periods on Wednesday & Thursday, no early dismissal on Thursday). These weeks will be denoted on the school calendar, on the Sunday of that week, as “No Bishop Plus” weeks.

  
  

  Teacher Office Hours
  Everyday, except Monday, from 7:45-8:15 a.m. teachers are available in their classrooms for students to ask for additional help. Teachers are also available during Cardinal Time on Wednesdays, from 9:40-10:10 a.m. Students needing additional help should reach out to their teacher to schedule an appointment.
  
  Snacks & Lunch

  Students may bring their own food from home or purchase meals and snacks on campus. Pre-ordering is the best way to do this. The Cardinal Café, operated by NuCuisine, will accept pre-orders through 8:30am for lunch that same day! Students, immediately following BDTV each morning, make sure your pre-orders for lunch are submitted. In order to pre-order/pre-pay, you must set-up an account with BOONLI. Please go to: https://nucuisine.boonli.com to create an account, the password is BDHS5.
  
  If dropping off a lunch for your student during the school day, you can drop it off on the red cart in the front office. It gets wheeled out for students during lunchtime. *It is a seniors-only privilege to order lunch online via DoorDash or UberEats ON FRIDAYS. 

  
  

  Dress Code

  Please see the parent-student handbook on our website for specifics about the dress code. On Mass days, approximately once a month, more professional dress is required. See handbook for details.
  
  Attendance
  To report your child absent, please send an email to attendance@bishopdiego.org or call the school office at 805-967-1266. *Email is preferred.*
  
  

  Important Contact

  Ms. Tina Franco, our front desk receptionist, is your first point of contact for any questions that may arise. She also keeps track of parent service hours. 805-967-1266, tfranco@bishopdiego.org.

• Important Dates

  A link to the full school calendar and a list of important dates for the 2026-27 school year can be found here.