Navigating O'Dowd 2019

<strong>Navigating</strong><br />

O’Dowd<br />

A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR NEW FAMILIES | CLASS OF 2023


WELCOME


Information for Freshmen Families<br />

TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 2<br />

KEY DATES 9<br />

PARENT COMMUNICATION 10<br />

CAMPUS MINISTRY 13<br />

SERVICE LEARNING 14<br />

COUNSELING 16<br />

DRESS CODE 18<br />

DRAGON DEN 19<br />

SHOP TO GIVE 20<br />

GETTING TO O’DOWD 21<br />

LAPTOP GUIDE 22<br />

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 24<br />

ATHLETICS 26<br />

BOOKS 29<br />

BOOKSTORE ONLINE 31


FAQ<br />

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY FAMILIES<br />

1. ACCESSING GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION<br />

2 . DOCUMENTATION TO PROVIDE BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS<br />

3. START DATES AND FRESHMAN ORIENTATION<br />

(BOWOW)—Bishop O’Dowd High School, Week of Welcome<br />

4. TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS<br />

5. MEETINGS BEFORE START OF SCHOOL AND WHEN TO SIGN UP<br />

6. PURCHASE OR SECURE BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL<br />

7. GETTING INVOLVED<br />

8. PARENT ENGAGEMENT<br />

9. PARENT PLEDGE<br />

10. KEY CONTACTS<br />

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1. ACCESSING GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION<br />

Where can I find the online calendar and other relevant freshman information?<br />

In general, our website has useful information for freshman families. The O’Dowd calendar can<br />

be accessed 24 hours a day and is the most up-to-date source for O’Dowd calendar information.<br />

Please visit the website and click on the calendar icon in the top-right corner of the webpage.<br />

Specifically, we have created a webpage specially for the Class of 2023 that includes important dates<br />

with links to key information that freshmen families will want/need to access.<br />

Freshman webpage: bishopodowd.org/class-of-2023<br />

How can I access the faculty/staff directory?<br />

The Faculty and Staff Directory can be found on the website under Welcome or My O’Dowd.<br />

What happens if my child is sick or needs to leave school early?<br />

Please email attendance@bishopodowd.org regarding any attendance-related issues.<br />

2. DOCUMENTATION TO PROVIDE BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS<br />

When and to whom are immunization documents due?<br />

Please email, mail or hand deliver all medical documents to Charemon Cooks in the Main Office<br />

or at ccooks@bishopodowd.org. We must receive these documents by June 7.<br />

When and to whom is pre-participation physical documentation due?<br />

If you would like to play a sport at O’Dowd, please complete the online Athletic Registration form<br />

and complete the pre-participation physical. We recommend that you schedule your student’s doctor<br />

appointments now to complete all your medical forms (immunization, TB, and physical).<br />

When and to whom are official transcripts due?<br />

Please have your child’s middle school send official transcripts to Admissions at admissions@<br />

bishopodowd.org by June 17. Counseling and Admissions will review final transcripts. If your child<br />

received a D or an F grade on their final transcript, Admissions will contact you to discuss.<br />

3. START DATES AND FRESHMEN ORIENTATION (BOWOW—Bishop O’Dowd High School<br />

Week of Welcome)<br />

When do I need to be at school?<br />

All freshman families are encouraged to attend the dedicated frosh student and parent orientation<br />

event on Sunday, August 11, at 4:45–7:45 p.m. This is an informational and social event for all frosh<br />

students and parents to gather critical information about starting the school year in August and to<br />

mix and mingle with fellow classmates and families.<br />

All freshman are required to be at school on Monday, August 12, and Tuesday, August 13, for Frosh<br />

Orientation classes.<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

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When is frosh orientation and why do I need to be there?<br />

All incoming 9th grade students are expected to be at school on Sunday, Aug 11, from 4:45–7:45 p.m.,<br />

Monday, August 12, and Tuesday, August 13, for BOWOW (Bishop O’Dowd Week of Welcome),<br />

8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. These two days are set aside to support students in their entry to O’Dowd.<br />

Do I need to be in dress code for frosh orientation?<br />

Yes. To learn more about the required O’Dowd dress code, visit the Dress Code page on the<br />

O’Dowd website or review the Dress Code information sheet in this packet.<br />

When does school begin for ALL students?<br />

All students are expected to be at school and in class by 8:30 a.m. on Friday, August 16.<br />

4. TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS<br />

What are the transportation options for my student?<br />

There are many ways O’Dowd students get to school. Some students carpool, take the designated<br />

AC buses or use our BART shuttle service. Please see the Getting Here page on our website for<br />

the most up-to-date transportation information or reference the Getting to O’Dowd page in your<br />

<strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd packet.<br />

5. MEETINGS BEFORE START OF SCHOOL AND WHEN TO SIGN UP<br />

When will my child meet their counselor to get acclimated?<br />

An email will be sent to all families in May with your counselor assignment and option to schedule<br />

an August appointment via your admissions/enrollment portal. To contact a counselor or learn<br />

more, visit the Counseling webpage. Additional information may be found on the Counseling page<br />

in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd packet.<br />

Where can I find a copy of the course catalog?<br />

The Course Catalog can be found in Forms and Downloads on the website or under Academics.<br />

How do I ensure my student has the appropriate computer?<br />

All incoming students will need a laptop that meets the minimum specifications listed in the About<br />

the 1:1 Laptop Program page. After selecting a laptop option, students are required to attend a<br />

laptop onboarding session called Tech Check. Here, new O’Dowd families will work with our<br />

Technology staff to activate their O’Dowd credentials, install necessary programs, and make sure<br />

their laptop meets our minimum specifications. Please visit the Tech Check section on our website<br />

to view the various pathways in which students can complete this process. Also see the Laptop page<br />

in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information packet for more information.<br />

After receiving my course placement test results, do I still need to register for Summer Academy?<br />

If you were accepted with a Summer Academy requirement of English 1 Intensified and did not place<br />

out using the placement test, you must register for the High School Prep Summer Academy Program.<br />

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How do I register for Summer Academy?<br />

Visit the Summer Academy Registration page to register your child for Summer Academy.<br />

Can I place out of English 1 Intensified after attending Summer Academy?<br />

The summer course is an assessment course. Following the completion of the course, students and<br />

families will be notified if fall placement has changed.<br />

6. PURCHASE OR SECURE BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL<br />

Where and how can I order books?<br />

You will receive a course schedule over the summer. When you receive your schedule, you will be<br />

able to order books online. You can visit the O’Dowd Online Bookstore to order books. Also refer<br />

to the Books and Bookstore page in the <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information packet.<br />

Do I need to follow dress code every day at school?<br />

Yes, you are expected to follow O’Dowd dress code to school every day. To learn more about the<br />

required O’Dowd dress code, visit the Dress Code page on the O’Dowd website or reference the<br />

Dress Code page in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information packet.<br />

Where can I purchase O’Dowd wear?<br />

You will be able to purchase O’Dowd wear at the <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd event or online through our<br />

online Dragon Den Store. Please also see the Dragon Den page in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information<br />

packet.<br />

What food options are available at school?<br />

O’Dowd has partnered with EPICUREAN GROUP, a restaurant management company that<br />

specializes in providing an exceptional dining experience. Epicurean partners with local farmers and<br />

suppliers to provide students with fresh foods that nourish the body and mind.<br />

How do I sign up for meal service at O’Dowd?<br />

To set up your student’s School Bucks account:<br />

1. Go to MySchoolBucks.com and register for a free account.<br />

2. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to activate your account.<br />

3. Add your student using their school name and student ID.<br />

4. Make a payment to your students’ accounts with your credit/debit card or electronic check.<br />

If you have any questions, please contact MySchoolBucks directly at parentsupport@myschoolbucks.com<br />

or at 1-855-832-5226.<br />

Do I need my own computer?<br />

You must either purchase a school-distributed-and-supported laptop or bring a school-approved<br />

Windows or Mac laptop. For additional laptop info, visit the 1:1 Laptop Program page on our website<br />

and the Laptop page in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information packet.<br />

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7. GETTING INVOLVED<br />

How can I get involved, and do I need to sign up over the summer for various activities?<br />

There are many opportunities to get involved. Please review the list below and visit the website.<br />

Most activities begin when school starts but there are a few exceptions.<br />

How can I join a club or get involved in student leadership?<br />

In the fall, students hold a large club fair. You can sign up for various club options at the<br />

fair. There will also be various announcements throughout the school year about leadership<br />

opportunities for 9th grade students.<br />

I want to play a sport. How do I sign up?<br />

If you would like to play a sport at O’Dowd, please complete the online Athletic Registration<br />

form and see the Playing Sports page in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information packet.<br />

How can I get the athletic schedule and tryouts?<br />

For all athletic program information, visit the Athletic tab on the O’Dowd website<br />

homepage and the Athletics page in your <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd information packet. The<br />

website drop-down menu includes links to all athletic program information. With respect to<br />

tryouts, communication to students is posted one month prior to the season on the website<br />

and is emailed to students from coaches based on their pre-participation form information.<br />

I am interested in the music program at O’Dowd. How can I get involved?<br />

View band and orchestra schedules and contact Band Director, Fred Randolph at<br />

frandolph@bishopodowd.org to learn more about music at O’Dowd or to schedule an audition.<br />

I am interested in the drama program at O’Dowd. How can I get involved?<br />

You can sign up to take Performing Arts and fulfill your required fine and performing<br />

arts elective. You can also audition for the fall and spring musical or play. Please pay close<br />

attention to the newsletter, website and student announcements for the fall audition<br />

schedule. Auditions are usually held mid-to-late August. Click here to visit the Drama page<br />

on the website or email the Director of Drama Productions at dkohles@bishopodowd.org.<br />

I am interested in the speech and debate program, how can I get involved?<br />

Visit the Speech and Debate program webpage or email debate coach at jthorpe@<br />

bishopodowd.org for more information.<br />

I am interested in mock trial, how can I get involved?<br />

Visit the Mock Trial webpage or email the mock trial coach at bsussman@bishopodowd.org<br />

for more information.<br />

I am interested in learning more about robotics at O’Dowd, whom should I contact?<br />

For robotics program information, please contact La Quietta Hill at lhill@bishopodowd.org.<br />

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8. PARENT ENGAGEMENT<br />

How can parents get involved at O’Dowd?<br />

Dragon Parents is O’Dowd’s parent association, with the mission of supporting school<br />

outcomes by building engagement and community. You can learn about Dragon Parents on<br />

the website or by speaking with the Dragon Parents Board representatives at <strong>Navigating</strong><br />

O’Dowd event. In addition to supporting Dragon Parents programs and activities, there are<br />

many opportunities to volunteer at O’Dowd. When you enrolled your student, you indicated<br />

your interest in various volunteer areas. The Dragon Parents Volunteer Coordinator will use<br />

this information to issue requests for volunteers throughout the year.<br />

9. PARENT PLEDGE<br />

Why am I asked to make a parent pledge and what is it used for?<br />

Tuition and fees cover 89% of the cost to educate your student at O’Dowd. In order to<br />

minimize tuition increases and still provide an excellent O’Dowd education, we depend on<br />

the generosity of parents, family and friends to close the gap. Your pledge directly supports<br />

an enriched high school experience for every student through technology upgrades, comprehensive<br />

academic support and counseling, and enriching programs such as drama, campus<br />

ministry, and debate.<br />

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10. KEY CONTACTS<br />

Academics:<br />

Admissions:<br />

Athletics:<br />

Attendance:<br />

Campus Ministry:<br />

Counseling:<br />

Debate:<br />

Drama:<br />

Dragon Den:<br />

Dragon Parents:<br />

Health and Wellness:<br />

Mock Trial:<br />

Music:<br />

Parent Pledge:<br />

Retreats:<br />

Robotics:<br />

Service Learning:<br />

Student Life/Club<br />

Summer Academy:<br />

Technology:<br />

Transportation:<br />

Associate Principal, Dr. Colette Roche, croche@bishopodowd.org<br />

Director of Admissions, Kerryn Pincus Gallagher,<br />

admissions@bishopodowd.org<br />

Associate Athletic Director, Carlos Arriaga, carriaga@bishopodowd.org<br />

attendance@bishopodowd.org<br />

Director of Campus Ministry, Mary Hicken, mhicken@bishopodowd.org<br />

Chris Abdenour, cabdenour@bishopodowd.org<br />

Jon Thorpe, jthorpe@bishopodowd.org<br />

William McNeil, wmcneil@bishopodowd.org<br />

Cindy Conley, dragonden@bishopodowd.org<br />

dragonparents@bishopodowd.org<br />

Director of Health and Wellness, Mark Lederer, mlederer@bishopodowd.org<br />

Bonnie Sussman, bsussman@bishopodowd.org<br />

Fred Randolph, frandolph@bishopodowd.org<br />

Karolyn Cherryhomes, kcherryhomes@bishopodowd.org<br />

Michael Downs, mdowns@bishopodowd.org<br />

La Queitta Hill, lhill@bishopodowd.org<br />

Director of Justice and Kinship, Michael Downs, mdowns@bishopodowd.org,<br />

Director of Student Activities, Starr Gray, sgray@bishopodowd.org<br />

summeracademy@bishopodowd.org<br />

Tech Support, techsupport@bishopodowd.org<br />

Director of Logistics, Gerald Bennett, gbennett@bishopodowd.org<br />

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KEY DATES<br />

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER<br />

JUNE 1<br />

Uniform orders should be placed to ensure delivery<br />

by the start of school<br />

JUNE 7<br />

Immunization test due to the school Main Office<br />

JUNE 17<br />

Final official transcript due<br />

JUNE 19–JULY 12<br />

Summer Academy: High School Prep (M-F)<br />

See our Summer Academy website for more<br />

information at<br />

bishopodowd.org/summer/hs_prep<br />

JULY 11<br />

Online Bookstore launches for students to<br />

purchase or rent textbooks<br />

VARIOUS DATES<br />

throughout the summer<br />

Tech Check for new students:<br />

Attendance at a Tech Check<br />

session is required for students.<br />

Check dates at bishopodowd.org/<br />

tech-check.<br />

AUGUST<br />

Summer Counseling Meetings for Freshmen and<br />

Families (look for an email in May to schedule<br />

your counseling appointment)<br />

AUGUST 1<br />

Athletic Registration Deadline for Fall Sports<br />

bishopodowd.org/athletic_registration<br />

AUGUST 11<br />

*Freshman Barbecue (students and parents):<br />

4:45–7:45 p.m.<br />

Freshman and Parent Welcome<br />

Important parent information session<br />

Student icebreakers and games<br />

AUGUST 12<br />

*Bishop O’Dowd H.S. Week of Welcome<br />

(BOWOW) Orientation: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.<br />

Mandatory for all freshmen<br />

AUGUST 13<br />

*BOWOW Orientation: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.<br />

Bishop O’Dowd H.S. Week of Welcome<br />

Mandatory for all freshmen<br />

AUGUST 16<br />

*First day of classes for all students<br />

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PARENT COMMUNICATION<br />

STAYING ON TOP OF THE INFORMATION<br />

Communication between home and school is a high priority at O’Dowd.<br />

To that end, the school uses various channels to communicate on specific<br />

topics, ranging from your student’s progress to timely, important, and<br />

interesting information to parents and students alike.<br />

PowerSchool — O’Dowd provides online access to grades<br />

via PowerSchool, making it easy for parents to view grades<br />

and attendance, update home address, phone number, and<br />

email address. bishopodowd.powerschool.com/public/<br />

Schoology — An online learning management system that<br />

O’Dowd uses to extend learning beyond the classroom,<br />

provide additional modes for students to interact with course<br />

content and ideas, and communicate course assignments and<br />

progress with students and parents. Parents can use Schoology<br />

to access the assignments, course updates, and course<br />

progress of their children.<br />

E-News — Electronic newsletter that provides current<br />

parents/students with practical, time-sensitive information<br />

about events and activities that require action, including daily<br />

announcements. It also includes general campus news and<br />

parent-specific information. Frequency: Distributed weekly<br />

— Wednesday morning.<br />

BrightArrow Notification System — This system is used to<br />

send student course schedules, report cards, and reminders<br />

about events like Back to School Night. Other official school<br />

communications, including emergency alerts and special advisories<br />

from the principal, are also sent via BrightArrow.<br />

Family Connection/Naviance — An online career and<br />

college program that links students, parents, and counselors.<br />

Counselors send important notifications regarding SAT and<br />

ACT testing, college visits, and scholarship opportunities via<br />

Naviance from O’Dowd’s Counseling Department.<br />

connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=odowd<br />

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School Website — bishopodowd.org offers up-to-date<br />

information on all aspects of the school. Please contact<br />

webmaster@bishopodowd.org with website questions.<br />

2023 Freshmen Page on Website — bishopodowd.org/<br />

class-of-2023, offers up-to-date key dates and critical<br />

information links on information related to first year<br />

students.<br />

Dragon Parents page of O’Dowd website — Where<br />

important information is posted regarding parent volunteer<br />

opportunities, social events, and more. bishopodowd.org/<br />

students-parents-portal/dragon-parents-group/<br />

O’Dowd Online — A monthly e-newsletter for the<br />

O’Dowd community that features stories highlighting the<br />

accomplishments/contributions of students, faculty and staff,<br />

and alumni, and showcases special events happening on<br />

campus. Frequency: Distributed monthly, third Thursday of<br />

the month.<br />

Dragon Magazine — O’Dowd’s signature magazine<br />

published twice a year and mailed to alumni, alumni parents,<br />

current parents, and friends of O’Dowd. It can also be viewed<br />

online at bishopodowd.org.<br />

O’Dowd Social Media Channels<br />

Facebook (facebook.com/ODowdDragons/)<br />

Instagram (instagram.com/odowddragons/)<br />

Twitter (twitter.com/ODowdDragons)<br />

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Parent Initiated Communication<br />

with O’Dowd<br />

How do I contact teachers?<br />

You are encouraged to contact teachers at any time to partner with them on your student’s progress.<br />

Teachers are available through email or voicemail (all teacher contact information is posted on the<br />

school website). You can expect a response within 48 hours.<br />

How do I make an academic or disciplinary complaint?<br />

O’Dowd takes seriously any academic or disciplinary complaint and encourages students to be advocates<br />

for themselves and proactively handle situations directly. With that said, if a student and/or<br />

parent/guardian believes there are reasonable grounds for a complaint concerning an academic and/or<br />

disciplinary matter involving a teacher, the following five steps are recommended:<br />

1<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

P R E PARE YOUR<br />

STUDENT<br />

STUDENT TO<br />

TEACHER<br />

STUDENT/<br />

PARENT TO<br />

TEACHER<br />

STUDENT/<br />

PARENT TO<br />

COUNSELOR<br />

STUDENT/PARENT<br />

TO ASSOCIATE<br />

PRINCIPAL<br />

Discuss the problem and help your student to develop a strategy for meeting<br />

with the teacher. Present your observations and concerns to your<br />

student, ask a few questions to gain clarity, and then listen. If he or she<br />

presents the problem to you, ask him or her to give you as much information<br />

as possible.<br />

Encourage your student to talk with his or her teacher. Students need to<br />

learn how to communicate with their teachers about their own grades. This<br />

promotes dialogue between the student and teacher and often provides<br />

students confidence and a sense of control over their own affairs.<br />

Communicate with the teacher. Talking with the teacher before contacting<br />

the student’s counselor might provide you with the most immediate classroom<br />

update and give you the answers that you need to solve any problems<br />

or misunderstandings. E-mail is an excellent way to contact teachers who<br />

are required to respond to parent concerns within 48 business hours.<br />

Contact the department chair and/or counselor. Department chairs work very<br />

closely with faculty and can help mediate issues between students, parents, and<br />

teachers. Counselors serve as an advocate for your student both academically<br />

and personally. If you do not know the name of your child’s counselor, consult<br />

the Counseling link on the school website or log on to Family Connection.<br />

Contact the associate principal. When all other avenues above have been<br />

exhausted, the Academic associate principal is happy to discuss the issue.<br />

The associate principal can be reached by phone or e-mail.<br />

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CAMPUS MINISTRY<br />

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRESHMEN<br />

Mission Bishop O’Dowd High School is a Catholic community that is enlivened by people of all faith<br />

backgrounds. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Campus Ministry invites people to authentic, deeper<br />

relationship with God, self and others. Our programs plant seeds of faith and justice and cultivate a space<br />

for transformation through: Retreats, Masses and other Liturgies, Peer Ministry, Adult Spirituality and<br />

local/international community drives.<br />

LITURGIES AND MASSES O’Dowd offers Mass after school and regularly scheduled liturgies<br />

throughout the school year that provide students the opportunity for prayer and reflection. Led by our<br />

Campus Ministry Team, our entire community comes together to celebrate Mass as a primary means of<br />

fostering and exploring the Catholic faith and spirituality.<br />

CAMPUS MINISTRY TEAM Our Campus Ministry Team (14 Seniors) is involved in intensive<br />

year-long training in ministry and leadership skills. Students plan the school-wide liturgies, execute the<br />

various charity drives on campus throughout the year, assist in planning and facilitation of retreats, and<br />

participate in faith and spirituality discussion. Students work and learn from one another well as from the<br />

adult Campus Ministry staff.<br />

RETREAT PROGRAM Retreats provide a stepping back from life at school to facilitate students’<br />

reflection on relationships with others, themselves, the earth and God. Our program enables students to<br />

examine what is truly important in their lives and who we are as a community of faith.<br />

Current offerings are:<br />

• Freshman – Welcome: mandatory day-long retreat<br />

• Sophomore – Superheroes: two-day overnight retreat<br />

• Junior – Kairos: three-day overnight retreat<br />

• Senior – Discernment: two-day overnight retreat<br />

PEER MINISTRY Optional groups gather to build community, plan liturgies for their class and<br />

support the charity work of Campus Ministry. These Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior groups<br />

typically meet one to two times a semester.<br />

CHARITY DRIVES As a school, we strive to educate leaders of competence, conscience and compassion.<br />

One way we show our ongoing compassion is through our charity drives: the Dollar Days, the fall<br />

Goods and Toy Drive, and the spring Mission Drive.<br />

DOLLAR DAYS These one day collections in homerooms are to support a local concern and raise<br />

awareness in our community. Students are asked to give loose change or small bills.<br />

GOODS AND TOY DRIVE / MISSION DRIVE Each fall our school-wide Good and Toy Drive<br />

helps families in need through St. Vincent’s Day Home. Every homeroom class collects household goods<br />

and toys for one family and all students are expected to participate in this tremendous effort. Each spring,<br />

the entire school participates in our week long Mission Drive, a chance for us to focus our charity internationally<br />

and educate our students about social justice issues, which impact our global community.<br />

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SERVICE LEARNING<br />

FRESHMEN SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT<br />

As the first service experience for the O’Dowd student, this project will introduce students to the joy<br />

of service, help them connect with the community, meet community needs, and practice foundational<br />

work/community service skills for the remaining required Service Learning projects and beyond<br />

(i.e., scheduling, arranging transportation, reporting to a supervisor, etc.).<br />

ALL FRESHMAN STUDENTS WILL:<br />

• Find and serve at a placement within the Bay Area that is committed to one of the following: elder<br />

care, faith in the community, hunger and food security, environmental justice, and sustainability.<br />

• Learn about the needs of their communities.<br />

• Acknowledge the role of service they can play in their community.<br />

• Recognize the dignity of all creation.<br />

• Practice independence in establishing a relationship with an offsite agency/organization and<br />

following through with service commitment.<br />

• Practice self-advocacy.<br />

• Enliven their understanding of Judeo-Christian faith tradition.<br />

PHILOSOPHY OF THE FOUR-YEAR<br />

SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM<br />

The overall Service Learning program is<br />

designed to progress through four specific<br />

projects. It is service as an educational<br />

method — learning in particular about<br />

social justice through the hands-on service<br />

projects each student does — and then<br />

how to take action to better the world.<br />

Please visit the service learning page on the<br />

O’Dowd website for more information.<br />

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SCOPE AND SEQUENCE OF REQUIRED SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM<br />

Project Year Accompanying Hours Course Connection<br />

Community 9 Those in the community 10 Hebrew Scriptures<br />

with a need for service<br />

St. Anthony’s Justice 10 Those experiencing homelessness 5 Christian Scriptures<br />

Education Day<br />

Friends 10 Children 25 Catholic Experience<br />

Anawim 11/12 Anyone experiencing 60 Peace and Justice<br />

social injustice (student choice)<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

15


COUNSELING AT O’DOWD<br />

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FROM COUNSELING<br />

FRESHMEN<br />

• Meet with counselors in the first month of<br />

school<br />

• Begin work on Naviance/Family Connections<br />

through Dragon Launch<br />

• Participate in Freshman Retreat in October<br />

• Apply for honors-level and AP classes in<br />

January<br />

• Complete Scheduling Worksheet online with<br />

parents<br />

• Meet with counselor to finalize schedule for<br />

sophomore year<br />

• Self-refer to counselor as needed (academic,<br />

personal issues)<br />

SOPHOMORES<br />

• Take PSAT test (pre-SAT) in October<br />

• Receive PSAT test results, original test,<br />

answers, predicted SAT score<br />

• Apply for honors-level classes and AP classes<br />

in January<br />

• Complete Scheduling Worksheet online with<br />

parents<br />

• Meet with counselor to finalize schedule for<br />

junior year<br />

• Complete career surveys on Naviance<br />

• Self-refer to counselor as needed (academic,<br />

personal issues)<br />

JUNIORS<br />

• Take PSAT test (pre-SAT) in October<br />

• Receive PSAT test results, original test and<br />

answers and predicted SAT score<br />

• Apply for honors-level classes and AP classes<br />

in January<br />

• Complete Scheduling Worksheet online with<br />

parents<br />

• Explore job market, complete resume,<br />

through Dragon Launch<br />

• Meet with counselor to construct college list<br />

• Visit college campuses during spring break<br />

• Take test preparation course, if necessary<br />

• Sign up for SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject<br />

tests and/or ACT test spring semester<br />

• Self-refer to counselor as needed (academic,<br />

personal and college issues)<br />

• Consider and sign up for College KickStart<br />

during the summer<br />

SENIORS<br />

• Begin to write rough draft college essay in the<br />

summer and visit college campuses<br />

• Complete and return Senior Questionnaire to<br />

counselor<br />

• Meet with counselor to finalize college list<br />

and begin college process<br />

• Practice interviewing in preparation for<br />

college interviews through Dragon Launch<br />

• Sign up for additional testing as needed<br />

(generally to be completed by December)<br />

• Send test scores to college choices<br />

• Continue college exploration and college<br />

visits<br />

• Apply to UCs in November and CSUs in<br />

October and November<br />

• Apply to private colleges by their due dates<br />

• Complete financial aid forms as needed<br />

(parents and students)<br />

• Send Student Intent to Register to college of<br />

choice by May 1<br />

• Complete housing forms<br />

• Complete Final Transcript Request online at<br />

Naviance in May<br />

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PHILOSOPHY<br />

“Expect to get to know your counselor at O’Dowd<br />

and allow them to get to know you.”<br />

O’Dowd’s comprehensive counseling approach begins with creating a personal relationship with each<br />

student. This relationship helps students develop their talents, identify and address challenges, and build<br />

resiliency and competency with the goal of finding their place, not only in high school, but also in college<br />

and beyond. We expect our students to engage with us so that we can better support their intellectual,<br />

personal, college, and life goals. We know that students and families can experience intense pressures<br />

during the high school years. By working side by side with our students, we help them acquire key tools<br />

to handle those pressures and to transform into confident, proactive adults.<br />

DISCOVERY = Student + Family + Counselor<br />

Students, families, and counselors work together for the student’s entire high school experience. This<br />

unique, student-centered relationship inspires and challenges students to be their best selves. Holistic<br />

focus on development of the whole person informs each student’s process.<br />

SELF-REFLECTION = Student + Counselor<br />

Counselors meet students where they are and support them as they build independence and self-advocacy.<br />

Students learn to make thoughtful choices as individuals — both academically and personally.<br />

Students develop outside interests that contribute to the development of the whole person. Counselors<br />

model self-reflection, care, and compassion, guiding students to be kind to themselves and others.<br />

CONFIDENCE = Student + Counselor<br />

Easy accessibility of their counselor means students have access to a non-judgmental sounding board.<br />

Students are encouraged to develop strong connections with peers, teachers, and family. Students are<br />

encouraged to develop their personal, autonomous voice.<br />

COMPETENCY = Student + Counselor<br />

Students gain confidence and achieve success inside the classroom and beyond. Academic success is<br />

fostered through individualized advising, allowing each student to work toward their own benchmarks.<br />

Counselors challenge students toward resiliency and independence. Students leave O’Dowd prepared for<br />

what lies ahead.<br />

Confident, Proactive, Ready-to-Launch Young Adults<br />

= STUDENT + FAMILY + COUNSELOR<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

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STUDENT DRESS CODE<br />

PHILOSOPHY<br />

The faculty and administration of Bishop O’Dowd High School believe that appropriateness in attire has<br />

a positive influence on student work and that it enhances the learning environment for all involved. A<br />

dress code also emphasizes to students the societal expectation that personal grooming and appropriate<br />

dress reflect a person’s sense of purpose and seriousness toward their work and behavior. We realize that<br />

many factors can influence the choice of clothing. All members of the faculty, staff and administration are<br />

empowered to enforce all aspects of the dress code.<br />

Here is what we expect every O’Dowd student to wear every day, on campus, from 8:00am - end of<br />

school day:<br />

• Approved unaltered O’Dowd polo and approved O’Dowd outerwear<br />

• Clean, intact jeans, dress slacks, or khakis, shorts to the knees<br />

• Shoes with backs or back straps<br />

Here is an expanded description of these items:<br />

• The standard item of school wear continues to be the unaltered O’Dowd polo. The O’Dowd polo<br />

and/or approved outerwear should be worn and visible at all times. The O’Dowd polo should not<br />

be shortened and should completely cover the mid-section when arms are raised. Students cannot<br />

take off their approved outerwear unless they are wearing a polo.<br />

• Approved O’Dowd outerwear is the only acceptable outerwear that can be worn over the polo.<br />

(Outerwear is defined as any and all outerwear that has been purchased from the Dragon Den or<br />

by school teams as “official outerwear.”)<br />

• Students may wear jeans, khakis, or dress slacks of their choice provided they are worn and<br />

secured at and around the waist, not the hips. Pant legs must be mid-calf to ankle length. Pants<br />

must not have any holes in them, be torn, or have frayed edges. Inappropriate clothing includes<br />

sweatpants or sweat-type pants, workout shorts, warm-ups, tights, PJs, yoga pants or jeggings.<br />

No short skirts, skorts, or dresses. The only acceptable skirts are full-length ones made of<br />

non-transparent material.<br />

• Students may wear regular shorts, solid colors, or plaid, but the shorts must cover the legs to the knee.<br />

• Shoes need to be appropriate for a school setting and must not compromise safety in an emergency.<br />

In case of doubt, the Deans will decide whether a particular shoe may be worn.<br />

• Hair must be well groomed and no inappropriate hair styles will be allowed. In case of doubt, the<br />

Deans will decide whether a particular style or hair color may be worn. No headgear of any kind,<br />

including hats, may be worn at any time indoors while a student is on campus. This includes the<br />

cafeteria, the classroom buildings, the theater, etc. The Deans will decide if particular headgear<br />

may be worn for religious/cultural/medical reasons. Sunglasses may not be worn at any time<br />

indoors during the school day.<br />

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THE DRAGON DEN STORE<br />

ALWAYS OPEN AT BISHOPODOWD.ORG<br />

For delivery of your order prior to the beginning of the school year, place<br />

your order online by June 1.<br />

Need to try something on? Come visit us.<br />

• Dragon Den tables in the cafeteria during <strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd, May 4.<br />

• Campus store on the 2nd floor of Hurley Hall; please check the online Dragon Den calendar for<br />

hours of operation.<br />

• Campus store during special Saturday hours: May 18, <strong>2019</strong>, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.<br />

O’Dowd strives to purchase goods and services that have been manufactured in a fair and just manner<br />

in accordance with our Fair Trade Policy. You will find some items in the Dragon Den are made from<br />

recycled materials and are manufactured in factories that meet the standards of fair trade, fair labor, and<br />

sustainability. It is our goal to bring quality and justly produced apparel and other products to our school<br />

community, and we are diligently working toward that goal.<br />

For assistance, please contact:<br />

Cindy Conley | dragonden@bishopodowd.org | (510) 577-9100 ext. 138<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

19


“SHOP TO GIVE” AND<br />

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL<br />

AMAZON AND ESCRIP<br />

Did you know you can support Bishop O’Dowd High School and all of its<br />

wonderful co-curricular programs that are so vital to the O’Dowd student<br />

experience—including clubs, athletics and other student activities—every<br />

time you shop on Amazon? Or every time you buy groceries? Giving to our<br />

school has never been easier.<br />

AMAZON ASSOCIATES<br />

As an affiliate, O’Dowd can earn a percentage rebate of the purchases you make via Amazon—at no<br />

added cost to you. Just remember to start with the “Amazon Shop to Give” link on the school’s website.<br />

It’s easy to find.<br />

• Go to bishopodowd.org<br />

• Click on My O’Dowd and then Amazon Shop to Give<br />

• Start shopping!<br />

Be sure to tell grandparents and friends about this easy way to contribute to our school. O’Dowd receives<br />

rebates that average around 5% of the total purchase amount.<br />

Amazon does not share individual’s purchasing details with O’Dowd through this program.<br />

eSCRIP<br />

You may be familiar with this well-known rebate program. If you’ve been an eScrip contributor at another<br />

school, please consider changing your designated organization to Bishop O’Dowd High School.<br />

Rebates can be earned at Lucky supermarkets and other specialty retailers such as Mollie Stones, Lunardi’s<br />

and Piedmont Grocery, and other participating business such as Macy’s Home Depot, and Travelocity<br />

are featured on the eScrip online portal.<br />

To register for eScrip:<br />

• Go to escrip.com and “Sign Up!”<br />

• Designate “Bishop O’Dowd High School” to receive contributions or use ID# 139840033.<br />

• Register your grocery club cards from participating merchants and your credit cards.<br />

• If you have an existing account, update credit cards and add Bishop O’Dowd High School as the<br />

designated organization.<br />

Thank you for taking that extra step when you shop to benefit our students! If you ever have any questions<br />

about these programs, please email dragonparents@bishopodowd.org.<br />

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GETTING TO O’DOWD<br />

BY CAR<br />

After 7:45 a.m., students must be dropped off on Stearns Avenue or in the 98th Avenue parking lot. In<br />

the afternoon, students must be picked up on Stearns Avenue or in the 98th Avenue parking lot until<br />

3:30 p.m. Please do not park in the middle of Stearns or 98th Avenue to pick up your child. Remain in<br />

your vehicle and remember to be courteous to other drivers. Any time before 7:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m.,<br />

you may pick up or drop off students in the main upper parking lot.<br />

BY BART (BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT) with SCHOOL SHUTTLE<br />

The shuttle provides a safe, affordable and convenient transportation to and from Bishop O’Dowd High<br />

School and the San Leandro BART Station for students and staff. There is no fee for the shuttle service.<br />

From San Leandro BART: 7:40 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. in passenger drop-off/pick-up area. To San Leandro<br />

BART: (1st) 3:10 p.m./(2nd) 3:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. from the yellow curb alongside the theater. Special<br />

Schedules (Silver Days): 1:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. from the yellow curb alongside the theater.<br />

A/C TRANSIT<br />

Two buses serve Bishop O’Dowd High School, dropping off directly at the school entrance at 98th and<br />

Stearns. Bus Route 680 picks up in Rockridge and runs the length of the Highway 13 corridor before<br />

dropping off in front of O’Dowd. Bus Route 682 runs along MacArthur Avenue from Lakeshore Avenue<br />

before dropping off students in front of O’Dowd.<br />

You can download the schedule at bishopodowd.org/portal_parents/getting_here.php<br />

For detailed information on the bus service, visit the AC Transit website and enter the route number.<br />

Maps and route information are also available for pick up in O’Dowd’s main office.<br />

YOUTH CLIPPER CARDS<br />

Students can apply for Youth Clipper Cards and receive a discount off adult fares. Visit the Clipper Card<br />

website at clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/discounts/youth.do for more information.<br />

BY CARPOOLS<br />

With students commuting to and from O’Dowd from over 30 different cities, you may be interested in<br />

finding a carpool for your student. Find-A-Carpool is a new parent carpool system now being used by<br />

O’Dowd. In order to access this parent carpool network, you must:<br />

• Use a Google account (an existing one, create a new one or set up using a non-Google account) to<br />

request membership into this group.<br />

• Upon approval, select the city of interest to connect with other parents in the network.<br />

Check out the online instructions to get started. https://bod.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017871253<br />

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LAPTOP GUIDE FOR<br />

NEW STUDENTS<br />

CHOOSING A LAPTOP: THINGS TO CONSIDER<br />

Choosing the right laptop is an important decision for new students and<br />

parents to make. In addition to the classic question of Mac or PC (hint:<br />

it’s whichever option the student is most comfortable with), there’s also a<br />

balance to strike between weight, size, speed, battery life, and storage.<br />

• Weight and Size. Generally, the larger the computer is, the more usable it is. However, student’s<br />

bags are already heavy and it’s important that we don’t add unnecessarily to this burden.<br />

• Speed. The more RAM a laptop has, the faster it will operate.<br />

• Battery Life. The longer the laptop can run on battery the better. A laptop should last a full school<br />

day on a single charge.<br />

• Storage. A solid-state hard drive is much more durable and boots up quicker, making it ideal for<br />

students shuffling from class to class. But with 128GB of storage (average), a student who has a lot<br />

of pictures and music may want a larger, traditional hard disc drive.<br />

These days, with cloud storage and streaming services, not much is stored on the laptops, other than<br />

schoolwork.<br />

All incoming students are required to bring an approved laptop to<br />

complement the educational experience, and can opt to bring their own<br />

laptop or purchase one through the school:<br />

I want to bring my own laptop<br />

Generally, any laptop purchased in the last three years should be fine. Your laptop selection must meet the<br />

following minimum specifications:<br />

Cost: Varies<br />

Model: Windows or Mac*<br />

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro+ (service pack 1) OR Mac Mojave 10.14.3+<br />

Wi-Fi: 802.11g or higher<br />

Bluetooth: 3.0+ internal microphone<br />

Warranty: Extended warranty that includes accidental damage protection (recommended)<br />

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*APPLE LAPTOPS<br />

When purchasing a Mac, visit our O’Dowd Family-Funded Mac Program at apple.com/edu/bishopodowd.<br />

This ensures that you’re buying the Apple device your student needs at an educational<br />

pricing discount, and offers the same great features you find when shopping on the Apple website,<br />

including free delivery or in-store pickup.<br />

I want to purchase a laptop from O’Dowd<br />

If you’ve selected this option during the enrollment process, our Tech Support team will be in touch with<br />

you to support your purchase.<br />

Cost: $1,180<br />

Model: Toshiba Portege Z30-A<br />

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro, 128 GB SSD, i5 processor<br />

Memory: 8GB RAM<br />

Graphics: Mobile Intel HD<br />

Warranty: 3 years of Toshiba System Guard and service, includes accidental damage protection<br />

Other Specs: 13.3” widescreen HD LED backlit display<br />

ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE PROTECTION<br />

Most laptops serviced in O’Dowd’s Tech Support Center are due to accidental damage such as breaks,<br />

spills, drops, etc. The O’Dowd laptop comes with three years of accidental damage protection, which covers<br />

this kind of damage. Because AppleCare does NOT cover accidental damage, a third-party warranty<br />

(ex: Worth Ave. Group, SquareTrade, etc) is highly recommended for students who opt to bring their<br />

own laptops, especially Apple laptops.<br />

LAPTOP ACCESSORIES<br />

Required<br />

• Backpack or bag with a padded laptop compartment<br />

• Padded laptop case (neoprene or foam)<br />

• USB flash drive<br />

Optional<br />

• Wireless mouse (instead of using the laptop trackpad)<br />

• Headphones Recommended<br />

• USB-C Adapter for newer Macbooks<br />

• VGA adapter (to connect to the classroom projectors)<br />

• Portable, external Hard Drive (for storage of photos, music, videos, and other personal data)<br />

• Extra AC adapter power cord<br />

Questions? Contact techsupport@bishopodowd.<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS<br />

AT O’DOWD<br />

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FROM HEALTH AND WELLNESS<br />

The vision of health and wellness at Bishop O’Dowd High School is to<br />

use data-driven decision-making processes in supporting students in their<br />

social-emotional growth, equipping faculty and staff to educate the whole<br />

child and engaging parents as the primary educators of their children.<br />

Students<br />

Our Health and Wellness program supports the social and emotional growth of students in a community<br />

of care with a focus on four basic areas for students: relationship health and wellness, physical health and<br />

wellness, mental health and wellness, and community health and wellness.<br />

Relationship Health and Wellness<br />

All students are encouraged to address issues related to relationship health and wellness through the Safe<br />

Environment curriculum, which meets and exceeds the mandate of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops<br />

to be in compliance with the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People. Special focus is<br />

placed on healthy relationships with self and others through all school programming, class meetings, and<br />

classroom lessons.<br />

Community Health and Wellness<br />

All students are encouraged to address issues related to community health and wellness by participating<br />

in Dragon Talks, which are student-led conversations supported by faculty and staff with the intention of<br />

creating a space where all members of our community feel safe and supported in sharing their thoughts,<br />

feelings, and experiences.<br />

Physical Health and Wellness<br />

All students are encouraged to learn about substance use and abuse awareness and prevention through a<br />

comprehensive curriculum delivered online, in class, and in class meetings at each grade level. Freshmen<br />

complete an online course as part of the Bishop O’Dowd week of welcome (BOWOW). Sophomores and<br />

Juniors receive in-class instruction as part of the Heath and Christian Morality classes, respectively. Seniors<br />

receive information about the risks and harm of drug and alcohol use as part of the Senior class meetings.<br />

Mental Health and Wellness<br />

All students are encouraged to learn about mental health and wellness as part of our Health and Wellness<br />

Week offerings. All students are welcome to receive mental health and wellness support from our School<br />

Therapist by self-referral or speaking to their Counselor. A classroom-based youth suicide prevention<br />

workshop led by Crisis Support Services of Alameda County is offered for sophomores in Health class.<br />

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Faculty and Staff<br />

Faculty and staff are supported in their professional development to integrate core social and emotional<br />

competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible<br />

decision-making into the student experience of learning. All faculty and staff receive training in identifying<br />

and referring students at risk of a mental health crisis. Attention is paid to providing faculty and staff<br />

with the necessary skills to be trusted and caring adults in the lives of students.<br />

Parents<br />

The Parent Education program is a partnership between Bishop O’Dowd High School and the Dragon<br />

Parents in the shared interest of working together to raise happy and healthy young men and women.<br />

Events are offered throughout the year aimed at supporting parents as the primary educators of their<br />

children and building a meaningful sense of community. The programing is developed in response to<br />

parent feedback in partnership with the Dragon Parent Group Board Parent Education Chair.<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

25


ATHLETICS<br />

PLAYING SPORTS AT O’DOWD<br />

REGISTER TO PLAY<br />

Parents of freshmen and transfer students considering playing sports at O’Dowd are required to register online<br />

through the O’Dowd Athletics webpage by selecting “Register to Play.” You may indicate one or multiple<br />

sports or add sports at a later date. Coaches will be in touch with parents when season planning begins.<br />

HOW TO REGISTER:<br />

• Step 1: Go to the O’Dowd Athletics “Register to Play” webpage at<br />

bishopodowd.org/athletic_registration.<br />

• Step 2: Create an account following the steps as listed on the website.<br />

An up-to-date physical is required.<br />

• Step 3: That’s it—you’re registered!<br />

TRYOUT INFORMATION AND STARTING DATES<br />

Most teams at O’Dowd conduct tryouts for the purpose of selecting the members of athletic teams.<br />

While competition to make a team in some sports are certainly competitive (for example, men’s and<br />

women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball), all seasons have at least one “no cut” sport. Football<br />

(fall), cross country (fall), rugby (winter/spring), swimming (spring), and track (spring) do not make cuts.<br />

Specific tryout times and location details for the first week of the season will be released and posted to<br />

the athletic website one month prior to the official start date listed below. Please direct specific tryout<br />

process selection questions to the head coach of each sport.<br />

Athletic Department and Coaching Staff Directory: bishopodowd.org/athletics/athletics-coaches/<br />

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ATHLETIC TRYOUT START DATES<br />

Fall Sports (August–November)<br />

Official Season Tryout Start Dates<br />

Cheerleading (freshmen-only tryouts) Week of May 6<br />

Football Monday, August 5<br />

Volleyball—Women’s Monday, August 12<br />

Cross Country—Men’s and Women’s Monday, August 12<br />

Golf—Women’s Monday, August 12<br />

Tennis—Women’s Monday, August 12<br />

Water Polo—Men’s and Women’s Monday, August 12<br />

Winter Sports (October–March)<br />

Official Season Tryout Start Dates<br />

Basketball—Men’s and Women’s Monday, November 4<br />

Soccer—Men’s and Women’s Monday, November 4<br />

Spring Sports (January–June)<br />

Official Season Tryout Start Dates<br />

Rugby—Men’s and Women’s Saturday, January 4<br />

Baseball Monday, February 10<br />

Golf—Men’s Monday, February 10<br />

Lacrosse—Men’s and Women’s Monday, February 10<br />

Softball Monday, February 10<br />

Swimming—Men’s and Women’s Monday, February 10<br />

Tennis—Men’s Monday, February 10<br />

Track—Men’s and Women’s Monday, February 10<br />

Volleyball—Men’s Monday, February 10<br />

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PRE-SEASON ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR<br />

Beginning in the fall, some sports conduct preseason weight training and conditioning workouts and<br />

what is called Open Gym (for basketball), Open Field (for baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball,<br />

rugby), and Open Track. These pre-season activities are non-mandatory. Announcements regarding dates<br />

and times of this information will be made to the students at school and distributed to families who have<br />

completed the O’Dowd athletics “Register to Play” process for their student. Have questions? Please<br />

contact the varsity head coach.<br />

SPORTS CAMPS—O’DOWD SUMMER ACADEMY<br />

Whether your student is new to a sport or just wants to work on their skills, our Summer Academy<br />

Sports Camps supports sixth-, seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students. For ninth-graders, we offer<br />

women’s volleyball and strength and conditioning. Take a look at the fun and motivating sport specific<br />

camps that our talented and experienced coaching staff have created at bishopodowd.org/summer/<br />

athletics.php.<br />

Have questions? Please contact Hillary Kigar, Assistant Athletic Director at hkigar@bishopodowd.org or<br />

(510) 577-9100 EXT. 119.<br />

SUMMER OPEN ACTIVITIES WORKOUTS<br />

Summer “open” activities are offered available for enrolled O’Dowd students only. If your student is interested<br />

in summer open activities, please complete the O’Dowd athletics “Register to Play” online registration<br />

process at bishopodowd.org/athletic_registration/.<br />

By registering, your student will appear on the varsity head coach’s sign-up and distribution list for receiving<br />

specific summer open activities information. These summer activities are non-mandatory. A $50<br />

fee is required for participation in any summer open activities offered. This participation fee will cover<br />

insurance, facilities usage and maintenance, and staffing. If a student is involved in multiple summer<br />

activities, only one $50 payment is required.<br />

Past Summer Open Activities:<br />

Open Field—Soccer<br />

Open Field—Lacrosse<br />

Open Field—Football<br />

Open Gym—Basketball<br />

Open Track—Track and Field<br />

Weight Training and Conditioning—Football<br />

Weight Training and Conditioning—Basketball<br />

Varsity Summer League—Basketball<br />

Junior Varsity Summer League—Basketball<br />

QUESTIONS REGARDING PLAYING SPORTS AT O’DOWD?<br />

Please contact Associate Athletic Director, Carlos Arriaga, at carriaga@bishopodowd.org.<br />

For registration questions or tech help, please contact the Family ID support line at (888) 800-5583,<br />

or Head Athletic Trainer Joanne Kinyon, jkinyon@bishopodowd.org.<br />

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BOOKS<br />

ONLINE BOOKSTORE OPENS JULY 11, <strong>2019</strong><br />

BISHOPODOWD.BKSTR.COM<br />

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS<br />

WHEN AND HOW WILL WE FIND OUT WHAT TEXTBOOKS ARE REQUIRED?<br />

Your child’s schedule will be included in the summer information packet emailed the second week in July.<br />

The book list will be posted on the Book Program page of the O’Dowd website in mid-late June.<br />

HOW DO WE BUY TEXTBOOKS?<br />

You may also receive a mailing from our online bookstore, Follett Virtual Bookstores, with information<br />

on how to create an account online and how to order books.<br />

HOW MUCH WILL THE TEXTBOOKS COST?<br />

This depends on the courses, but you can expect the total cost for the year to be around $400.<br />

This price is greatly reduced because of our use of eBooks for several courses. We understand that<br />

textbooks are an expensive cost for our families to bear. That is one of the reasons why we have chosen<br />

Follett Virtual Bookstores to be our exclusive textbook vendor. Follett is able to offer families several<br />

cost-saving choices when buying textbooks, including used books and textbook rentals, which can save<br />

families up to 50% off their total book cost.<br />

CAN I GET A REGULAR TEXTBOOK INSTEAD OF THE E-BOOK?<br />

You may purchase a regular textbook from Follett Virtual Bookstore if you choose.<br />

HOW WILL MY CHILD GET THEIR EBOOKS?<br />

If the e-book is a pdf, your child will receive the eBook during Tech Check. If the e-book is an online<br />

e-book, your child will receive the login information during class.<br />

CAN WE BUY TEXTBOOKS SOMEWHERE ELSE?<br />

Yes, but you will find the prices from Follett Virtual Bookstore to be competitive. If you do choose to<br />

purchase textbooks from another vendor, please make sure to use the correct ISBN number given for each<br />

textbook on our published book list or through the Follett Virtual Bookstore.<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

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E-books provided to students at no cost to families:<br />

• HMH Algebra 1: California Common Core, 2015<br />

• HMH Algebra 2: California Common Core, 2015<br />

• Geometry: Common Core 2012<br />

• Biology, 2010<br />

• Environmental Science: Your World, Your Turn, 2011<br />

• Living By Chemistry, 2015<br />

• American Nation, 2005<br />

• Discovering French Nouveau (Level 3), 2007<br />

9TH GRADE COURSE BOOKS<br />

English—All English courses require students purchase books (novels) in new and unmarked condition,<br />

so that they may highlight and annotate in their books. The Pocket Style Manual will be used through all<br />

four years and should not be rented from any book retailer.<br />

Math—Bishop O’Dowd High School provides eBooks for many of the math books. Only purchase or<br />

rent the Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry books if you would like a hard copy. Students will get their<br />

login info for these eBooks during class.<br />

Religion—All 9th-grade students will need to purchase or rent hard copies of these textbooks. The Holy<br />

Bible is used through all four years and should not be rented from any book retailer.<br />

Science—The 9th-grade Science course, “Science and the Environment,” requires three books. These<br />

three books are provided to students in online format, similar to the math e-books. Students will receive<br />

their login info for these e-books during class and should only purchase or rent these texts if they would<br />

like a hard copy.<br />

Social Studies—The 9th grade Social Studies course, “Advanced World History” does not require textbooks.<br />

This class uses a curriculum that consists of online and free electronic resources and materials.<br />

World Language—For Spanish, French and Mandarin, it is highly recommended that families use our<br />

online bookstore to ensure accurate book purchases.<br />

Spanish: The Spanish textbook is used for three years in Spanish 1, 2, and 3.<br />

French: The French textbook and workbook is required.<br />

Mandarin: The Mandarin textbook is optional, but both the simplified workbook and the character<br />

workbook are required.<br />

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FOLLETT ONLINE BOOKSTORE<br />

bishopodowdbkstr.com<br />

Bishop O’Dowd High School has selected Follett Virtual Bookstores as its preferred class material<br />

provider. To ensure that each student has the right books at the right time, we have worked closely with<br />

Follett to source and stock the exact edition of each book to be used in the coming school year. As the<br />

operator of our online bookstore, Follett provides access to an array of purchasing options including new,<br />

used rental and digital class materials. Below is more information about Follett’s money-saving text rental<br />

program and free shipping as well as commonly asked questions.<br />

RENTAL<br />

With text rental, instead of purchasing a book, you simply pay to use the book for the duration of the<br />

term and return it back to Follett when the class ends. Book rentals are convenient and often save up to<br />

50% of the price to purchase a book new.<br />

HIGHLIGHTING AND NOTE-TAKING EXPECTED<br />

Normal highlighting and note-taking are perfectly acceptable. We expect a student to use the rented<br />

book just as they would if they owned it. What’s prohibited? Any excessive markings that would render<br />

the book unusable for the next customer.<br />

CONVERT-TO-PURCHASE OPTION<br />

If for any reason you would like to keep a rented book, you can simply convert the rental to purchase<br />

when you begin to receive return reminder emails.<br />

HASSLE-FREE, NO-COST RENTAL RETURN<br />

Returning is easy. No need to worry about remembering to return rental books. Follett will send a series<br />

of reminder emails at the end of the term to help you remember to return rented textbooks. Each email<br />

will contain a link to print a pre-paid mailing label. Just package the book(s), apply the label and drop it<br />

in the mail. Follett also accepts rental returns at book buyback events.<br />

FREE SHIPPING!<br />

Free ground shipping is available for all orders placed within the first three weeks of the bookstore<br />

launch. The booklist is expected to be available in early July.<br />

SIGN UP TODAY<br />

We encourage you to join the bookstore email list to receive direct notifications from Follett about when<br />

books become available and other reminders. Sign up at bishopodowdbkstr.com/email.<br />

A Resource Guide for New Families<br />

31


FOLLETT VIRTUAL BOOKSTORE<br />

bishopodowdbkstr.com<br />

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS<br />

Q: Why should I purchase my books from Follett?<br />

A: O’Dowd chose Follett as its official online bookstore. Follett works with us to stock the exact number<br />

of books we need each year. Additionally, with Follett you can choose to purchase new or money-saving<br />

used books, or to rent books.<br />

Q: Where do I get my books?<br />

A: To order your textbooks and other course materials, visit the virtual bookstore at<br />

bishopodowdbkstr.com.<br />

Q: What if I don’t have internet access?<br />

A: You can place your order by phone with Follett Customer Service at (877) 827-2665 or fax your order<br />

to (800) 621-4187.<br />

Q: When will the booklist be available?<br />

A: Early July. The exact date will be available later in the year. To receive notification and other reminders,<br />

sign up for the bookstore mailing list at bishopodowdbkstr.com/email. Remember to order early enough<br />

to receive books prior to the start of school.<br />

Q: What purchasing options are available?<br />

A: Follett offers a number of purchasing options including new, used, rental and digital books. Note that<br />

rental and digital editions are not available for all titles. These options will be listed where available.<br />

Q: How are the books shipped?<br />

A: All orders are shipped via FedEx to your home or other provided address.<br />

Q: Does Follett accept returns?<br />

A: Follett accepts returns on books purchased or rented through the website 30 days from your order date<br />

or 30 days from the start of classes, whichever is later.<br />

Q: What payment methods are accepted?<br />

A: We accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Check, FlexPay or Money Order.<br />

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<strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd


DRAGON<br />

PRIDE


Printed on 100% recycled FSC Certified<br />

Acid Free paper using non-toxic inks.<br />

Bishop O’Dowd High School<br />

A Catholic College Preparatory School | 9500 Stearns Ave., Oakland, CA 94605<br />

Finding God<br />

in All Things<br />

Accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association<br />

and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

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