Navigating O'Dowd 2019
Navigating O’Dowd A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR NEW FAMILIES | CLASS OF 2023
- Page 2 and 3: WELCOME
- Page 4 and 5: FAQ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY F
- Page 6 and 7: When is frosh orientation and why d
- Page 8 and 9: 7. GETTING INVOLVED How can I get i
- Page 10 and 11: 10. KEY CONTACTS Academics: Admissi
- Page 12 and 13: PARENT COMMUNICATION STAYING ON TOP
- Page 14 and 15: Parent Initiated Communication with
- Page 16 and 17: SERVICE LEARNING FRESHMEN SERVICE L
- Page 18 and 19: COUNSELING AT O’DOWD WHAT TO EXPE
- Page 20 and 21: STUDENT DRESS CODE PHILOSOPHY The f
- Page 22 and 23: “SHOP TO GIVE” AND SUPPORT OUR
- Page 24 and 25: LAPTOP GUIDE FOR NEW STUDENTS CHOOS
- Page 26 and 27: HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT O’DOWD WHA
- Page 28 and 29: ATHLETICS PLAYING SPORTS AT O’DOW
- Page 30 and 31: PRE-SEASON ACTIVITIES DURING THE SC
- Page 32 and 33: E-books provided to students at no
- Page 34 and 35: FOLLETT VIRTUAL BOOKSTORE bishopodo
- Page 36: Printed on 100% recycled FSC Certif
<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 />
3
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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<strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd
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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<strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd
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 />
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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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<strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd
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 />
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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 />
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“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 />
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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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<strong>Navigating</strong> O’Dowd
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 />
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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