Bishop McNamara High School
To Think with Christ
STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK
2014-2015
6800 Marlboro Pike
Forestville, MD 20747
(301) 735-8401
Fax (301) 735-0934
http://www.bmhs.org
***This Handbook does not represent an express or implied
contract. The school reserves the right to amend this handbook
at any time. Notice of any changes will be provided to
Parents***
Fall 2014
Dear Bishop McNamara High School Students,
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year. Whether you are a brand new
freshman, a transfer student from another school or one of our returning
“veterans,” we know that there are rewarding friendships, creative
scheduling that allows you to experience a varied and challenging
curriculum and unlimited personal growth opportunities waiting for you
within this outstanding school community. Whether you are performing in
our four million dollar fine arts center, competing on our state of the art
artificial turf field, or enjoying the over $8 million worth of new additions
and facility renovations, it is all here for you. You will be delighted and
challenged by the tools and resources at your disposal. New age technology
and age old faith and values will be your companions on your journey to
academic and personal achievement.
Our school administration, faculty, staff, coaches and counselors are
pleased to begin your school year by presenting you with this “carry along”
personal agenda and official school handbook. Your Agenda Book includes
a daily assignment section, a planning and resource guide, and much of the
information that you will need to make your way efficiently and
confidently through the school year. We urge you to use your Agenda
Book daily and refer to it often for clarification and explanation of school
policies and procedures.
The road to success is not the belief that it can always be attained, but the
belief that it is always worth pursuing. You and your teachers, counselors,
and coaches make an unbeatable team. It is up to you to begin this year by
distinguishing yourself in your classrooms, in the halls and on the playing
fields as a woman or man of faith, commitment and positive energy. You
have chosen Bishop McNamara and Bishop McNamara has chosen you.
Together we will create a partnership, trust and friendship of mutual
respect that can and will change your life. Welcome to the 2013-2014
school year. Be bold in your visions and daring in your dreams. Be open to
the unlimited possibilities of each new day. It is all up to you. This is your
moment in time. Make each day count.
God Bless You,
Marco J. Clark
President/CEO
The Mission of Bishop McNamara High School
Bishop McNamara High School, a college preparatory school in the Holy
Cross tradition, exists to educate and to form young men and women in the
Catholic faith. The school challenges its students to think with Christ: a
thought animated by the Gospel, manifested in service, and informed by
academic excellence.
A Holy Cross School
 Educates in the Faith by instilling a life mission consistent with
Gospel values
 Celebrates the sanctity and dignity of life
 Cultivates the mind, body and spirit
 Values diversity as a strength and humility as a virtue
 Nurtures a spirit of community
 Inspires life-long learning, personal growth and faith development
Bishop McNamara High School Alma Mater
Hail to thee, our McNamara:
True Maroon and Gold.
What we have in McNamara,
Never will grow old.
Brotherhood and sisterhood in Christian unity,
Mustangs once, we'll always be.
We sing our love to thee.
Hail to thee, our McNamara:
Faith and strength through thee
What we share in McNamara
Keeps us family.
Education, celebration, life’s great dignity
Alma Mater, strong and free,
We stand and honor thee.
Maroon and Gold Fight Song
Maroon & Gold go charging through,
Fight on you Mustangs brave and true.
We conquer all, we never fall,
We always fight for one and all.
For victory we'll raise our cry,
Our spirits strong will never die.
Go marching on to VICTORY,
For McNamara High!
BISHOP McNAMARA STUDENT MORAL CODE
1. Respect yourself.
2. Be courteous.
3. Respect teachers.
4. Respect students.
5. Be kind.
6. Be honest.
7. Be helpful.
8. Be prayerful.
9. Use civil language.
10. Live like Jesus Christ.
BISHOP McNAMARA HONOR CODE




I will tell the truth.
I will do my own work, without unauthorized assistance.
I will not take what is not mine.
I will abide by the Code and the directions of the
Administration and Honor Council concerning the Code.
The Oath
I have chosen to act honorably, not because someone is watching,
but because I value my character and our community of trust.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BMHS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AND STAFF…….............................1
SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY………………………...………...…...…………1
THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR SCHOOLS OF THE
CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS MOREAU PROVINCE……....1-2
SEC. I: ACADEMICS - GENERAL POLICIES/PROCEDURES…….2-16
Admission Policy……….…………………………………...…..2-3
Course Offerings………….……….…………………………..…..3
Honors and Advanced Placement Courses………………………..3
Graduation Requirements……….…………………….………......3
Holy Cross Service Program….....……………………………...3-4
Grading Procedures……..………………………………………4-5
Progress Reports…………………………………………....……..5
Withdrawal from a Course…………………………………...........5
Grading System………………………………….……………...5-7
Honors/Recognition…………………………………………….....7
Semester and Final Exams……………………………...…….…...7
Summer School Policy………………………………………….7-8
Academic Probation………………………………………….…8-9
Dismissal Policy for Academic Deficiency……………………….9
Bishop McNamara High School Honor Code…………...………..9
Honor Council………………………………………………....9-12
Honors Passes………………………………………………...11-12
Senior Privilege………………………………………………12-13
National Honor Society………………………………………13-15
Guidance Department……………………………………...…15-16
Transcripts of Academic Records………………………………..16
SEC. II: CO-CURRICULAR OFFERINGS…………………………..16-20
Athletics.…………………………………….……..………....16-17
Activities/Student Council……………..……..………………17-18
Field Trips………..…………………………………..…….…18-19
Fundraising Events
…………………………………………19
Outside Activities/Events at Other Schools…….………………..19
School Dances………………………………………………..19-20
SEC. III: DISCIPLINARY POLICY AND PROCEDURES/
CODE OF CONDUCT…….....................................................20-35
Deans of Students……………………………..….…………..20-21
Statement of Disciplinary Policy………………………….….21-22
The Bishop McNamara Student Moral Code……………….........22
Respectful Behavior……………………………………….....22-23
Disciplinary Process………………………….………………23-31
Discipline Board…….……………………………….23-26
Detention..……………………………………..…….26-28
Infractions for Issuing Detentions……………………….28
Infractions for Issuing Saturday Detentions ………........28
Infractions for Issuing Suspensions or Expulsion…...28-29
Disciplinary Warning……………………………......29-30
Disciplinary Probation……………………….……….…30
Strict Disciplinary Probation…………………..………..30
Forfeiture of Scholarships/Financial Aid……………......30
Review of Disciplinary Status……………………….30-31
Suspension.……………………..…….…………............31
Expulsion...……………………..………………..…..31-32
Non-discrimination and Harassment………..……………………32
Hazing……………………………………………………..……..32
Bullying…………………………………………….………...32-34
Smoking, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs………………………….…34
Telephone/Cell Phone Calls……………………………………..34
Eating and Drinking………………...…………..…………….….35
Gum Chewing……………………………………..………….….35
SEC. IV: ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS……..35-40
Absences…………………………..………..…………...……35-36
Perfect Attendance……………………………………………….36
Make-Up of Work Missed Because of Absence…………..…..…37
Make-Up Work for Absence Due to School Related Activity…..37
Extended Absence for School Approved/Sponsored Activity.37-38
Extended Absence for Non-School Sponsored Activity…………38
College Fair/College Visit…………………………...….……….38
Tardiness..………………………..……………….…………..38-39
Excessive Absences……………………………….……………..39
Early Dismissal………………………………….……..…….39-40
Request for Early Dismissal Privileges………………………….40
Truancy…………………..………………………………………40
SEC. V: HEALTH POLICIES……………………………...………...40-41
Sickness During the Day…………………………..…………40-41
Emergency Information………………… …….………………...41
Prescription/Nonprescription Medication….……………..……...41
Student Pregnancy……………………………………..………...41
SEC. VI: ATTIRE/DRESS CODE………………..………………….41-45
Men's Dress Code………………….…………………………….42
Men’s Optional Dress Code……….…………………………….42
Women's Dress Code…………………………………………42-43
Women’s Optional Dress Code………………………………….43
Seniors’ Optional Dress Code..………………………………….43
General Dress Regulations…………………………………...43-45
Field Trip Dress Regulations…………………………………….45
Casual Dress Days…………………………………..…………...45
SEC. VII: SPECIFIC CAMPUS AREAS
REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES…………………….45-53
Campus……………………………………..………………45-46
Before School…………………………………………..………...46
Start of School……………………………………………………46
After School……….……………………………………..…..46-47
After-School Study Hall Program………..…………………. 47-48
Cafeteria…………………………………………………….……48
Elevators…………………………………………………...…….48
Halls and Stair Landings…………………………………………48
Library…………………………………..……………………48-49
Library Pass Policy……………………..………………………..49
Lockers and Locks………………………...……………………..49
Searches………………………………………………………….49
Lost and Found…………...…………………………………..49-50
Study Areas/Study Hall.…………………………………….........50
Traffic, Motor Vehicle and Parking Lot Restrictions………...50-52
Student and Vehicle Entrance and Exit………………....50
Parking/Parking Lot………………………………….50-52
Automobile Security Stickers………………………..52-53
SEC. VIII: GENERAL CAMPUS REGULATIONS
AND PROCEDURES……………..……………………....…53-57
Communicating with School Personnel………………..…….…..53
Computer Use/Technology…………………………...………….53
Emergency Preparedness………………….………………….53-54
Fire Alarm System…………………………….……….………...54
ID Cards…………..………………………….…….…….............54
Married Students……..…………………………………………..54
Pass System…………..…………………………………………..55
Personal Property……..………………………………………….55
Signs Posted in School………….………………………………..56
Visitors……………………………………………...………........56
Weather Related Closings……………………………..……..56-57
Weather Related Closings During Exams…………….………….57
SEC. IX: FINANCIAL/SERVICE OBLIGATIONS….……………..57-60
2014-2015 Fees……………………………………….………….57
Tuition Discounts for Siblings…………………………….….57-58
Archdiocesan Employee Tuition Benefit…………...……………58
Delinquency in Financial Obligations…………………...…...58-59
Checks…………………………………………………..………..59
Credit/Debit Cards……………………………………………….59
Refund Policy………………………………………..….………..60
Textbook Policy………………………………………………….60
Parent Service Hours………………………………...…………...60
of self-worth and accomplishment.
The school also seeks to instill a
sense of responsibility for one’s
actions and for the well-being of
the local and global community.
Students learn this responsibility
through a range of evolving
curricular, co-curricular, and
institutional programs. The school
serves those within our community
without prejudice, accepting all
persons as they have been created
in God’s infinite goodness.
BISHOP McNAMARA
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
President/CEO:
Marco J. Clark `85
Principal:
Robert W. Van der Waag, Ph.D.
Assistant Principal/Dean of
Students:
Reginald J. Brady
Dean of Students:
LaSandra M. Hayes
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH
SCHOOL
The school provides a strong,
challenging and diverse curriculum
that allows each student to achieve
success commensurate with ability
and effort. The school helps the
student develop the power to
reason independently and think
creatively. Included in this
program are co-curricular activities
which are provided to cultivate a
student’s interests and skills.
Bishop McNamara High School, a
college preparatory school in the
Holy Cross tradition, exists to
educate and to form young men
and women in and through the
Catholic faith. Through spiritual
and academic guidance and service
to others, the school provides an
opportunity to participate in the
practice of the Catholic faith in an
atmosphere supportive of religious
values. This faith message is
taught not in isolation but is
integrated with learning and living
by relating the Gospel message to
content areas, by the living
example of faculty and staff, by
partnership with families, and by
service to the outside community.
Ultimately, the school challenges
its students to think with Christ - a
thought animated by the Gospel,
manifested in service and informed
by academic excellence.
SPONSORSHIP AND MISSION
STATEMENT
FOR SCHOOLS OF THE
CONGREGATION OF HOLY
CROSS
MOREAU PROVINCE
By welcoming students from
diverse backgrounds, the school
exposes its students to a variety of
traditions beyond their own,
instilling a respect for the cultures
and values of others. Bishop
McNamara is committed to
developing in all students a sense
SPONSORSHIP:
Bishop McNamara High School is
sponsored by the Congregation of
Holy Cross Moreau Province,
1
whose earliest educational
establishment in the United States
is the University of Notre Dame,
South Bend, Indiana. A talented
teaching faculty, administration
and support staff of laypersons
operate Bishop McNamara High
School.
we serve. We spur those whom
we serve to challenge prejudice as
well as unjust networks of power
and privilege.
Holy Cross sponsored schools
exist to promote the legacy and
vision of Father Moreau by
developing leaders among the
People of God for the good of
Church and society.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Congregation of Holy Cross
has established schools, as a
continuation of the legacy of the
Blessed Father Basil Anthony
Moreau, to cultivate minds and
hearts and to serve the needs of the
Church and the world.
SECTION I: ACADEMICS
GENERAL POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES
ADMISSION POLICY
Students who qualify academically
and who indicate that they will be
successful at McNamara are
admitted into the school. Entrance
test scores, grade reports, teacher
recommendations and space
availability are considered in
accepting students.
Educational institutions sponsored
by the Moreau Province of the
Congregation of Holy Cross are
entrusted with the stewardship of
the vision of Father Moreau.
These institutions, their boards and
faculty, employ their resources in
partnership with students, parents,
guardians, and other members of
the wider community.
Transfer students are automatically
placed on General Probation upon
acceptance.
As effective educators, we assist
others to view all reality through
the eyes of faith. Holy Cross
schools offer educational programs
to a diverse group of students
fostering the gifts of those with
whom and for whom we work.
We teach the Catholic faith; we
encourage the pursuit of academic
excellence; we nurture a
commitment to integral growth by
focusing on Christian values and
the intellectual, creative, social,
and physical development of those
For all incoming students, all
previous school transcripts must be
received prior to the start of the
school year. It is the student's
family's responsibility to ensure
transcripts are sent to Bishop
McNamara High School. No
student will be permitted to begin
attending classes if his/her
transcript has not been received.
The school participates in the
Archdiocesan tuition assistance
2
program and also offers other
scholarships funded by the school,
Parents’ Club, and the
Archdiocese. Eligibility is based
upon need and scholarship.
Mathematics
4 credits
PE and Health
1.5 credits
Science
3 credits
Social Studies
4 credits
Fine Arts
1 credit
Information Technology 1 credit
Electives
1.5 credits
Total 26 credits
COURSE OFFERINGS
To meet the diverse interests,
background, and talents of
students, Bishop McNamara High
School provides diverse course
offerings designed to individualize
the learning experience and, at the
same time, meet requirements for
college admission or other types of
professional preparation. A
student’s participation in an
academic program is determined
by the background, ability,
interest, and maturity of the
student and the academic
department’s recommendation.
Completion of Christian service
hours as explained in the Holy
Cross Service Program is a
requirement for graduation from
Bishop McNamara High School.
Students are required to earn one
Christian service credit for each
year they attend the school. The
credit is awarded when the year’s
service requirement has been
fulfilled.
Seniors who fail any course
required to fulfill graduation
requirements during their senior
year will not be permitted to
participate in graduation
ceremonies and will not receive a
diploma until the failed course is
completed successfully.
HONORS AND ADVANCED
PLACEMENT COURSES
Bishop McNamara High School
offers a wide variety of honors and
Advanced Placement courses.
Qualifications for enrollment in
these courses are determined by
each academic department. Bishop
McNamara’s Advanced Placement
program is administered by the
Academic Dean.
HOLY CROSS SERVICE
PROGRAM
The Holy Cross Service Program
of Christian Service at Bishop
McNamara High School is
developed by the Campus Minister
for Outreach and the School
Administration.
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
Theology
English
4 credits
4 credits
2 credits
All students are required to
complete the Holy Cross Service
Program (with a specific focus and
specific number of hours for each
Modern and Classical Lang.
(2 consecutive years of the same language)
3
grade level) during each year that
they are enrolled. This is a
credited requirement for
graduation. Students will receive
one credit for each year they
complete the service hour
requirement. Students may not
pass into the next grade without
completing the service
requirement.
will be reviewed by the Campus
Minister for Outreach. Students
should take the Christian Service
Contract with them when
volunteering and obtain the
supervisor’s signature on the
contract as verification of service.
Fully completed contracts must be
submitted to the Campus Ministry
Office in order to receive credit.
These contracts must be submitted
by the deadline established for
each grade level in order to meet
the requirement. A reflection
paper based on the service
experience is also required of all
students.
Students who have not completed
their service requirement by the
designated date each year will not
receive credit until they have
completed the Holy Cross Summer
Service program (a fee must be
paid for participation in the
program). Students who do not
complete the Holy Cross Summer
Service program will not be
allowed to return to Bishop
McNamara in the fall since they
did not earn the required credit.
Seniors may not graduate without
meeting the service hour
requirement.
Students may not miss school in
order to complete any of their
service hours.
Detailed descriptions of the Holy
Cross Service Program will be
distributed annually by the
Campus Ministry Office.
GRADING PROCEDURES
Students who enter Bishop
McNamara as transfer students are
required to complete the service
requirement only for those years in
which they are enrolled at Bishop
McNamara.
Grade reports for each student are
issued to the parents four times a
year, or once every nine weeks.
The purpose of the report is to alert
the parents and present them a
clear picture of their child’s
achievement in his/her academic
studies. It is to be understood that
the quarter grade is an evaluation
of the student’s work to the time
the grade was recorded and should
be used as an index of
achievement. During each quarter
period, the teacher (through
testing, evaluation of assigned
Service opportunities must be
approved by the Campus Minister
for Outreach. A list of approved
service sites is available from the
Campus Ministry office or through
the school’s website. Any service
opportunities that are not preapproved must be submitted via
the Approval Request Form and
4
work, and where necessary,
personal interview) arrives at an
evaluation concerning the
achievement of each student.
WITHDRAWAL FROM A
COURSE
Withdrawal from a course should
occur only when absolutely
necessary. In the rare case when a
student needs to withdraw from a
course, the policy will be as
follows:
Withdrawals within one week of
Quarter 2 Report Card
Distribution:
 The course and grade will
not appear on the student’s
report card
 The course and grade are
removed from the
student’s permanent
record.
Withdrawals at any other time:
 The student’s report card
will reflect a “W” for
“Withdraw”.
 The student’s permanent
record will reflect a “W”
for “Withdraw”.
If parents are unable to pick-up
report cards when they are
scheduled for distribution, they
must send a signed note to the
school to allow the student to pick
up the report card the next school
day.
PROGRESS REPORTS
If a student is performing at a
below-average level (C- or below)
at mid-quarter, it is required that
teachers notify parents.
Notification takes place midway
through a grading quarter. The
progress report serves to warn the
student when he/she is not
performing to the satisfaction of
the teacher.
Parents should not interpret an
unsatisfactory progress report as a
prerequisite to a failing or
unsatisfactory grade; a student
may justifiably fail a course
without previous notification to
parents. For example, a student
may fail a course because a major
assignment was not completed by
the end of the quarter, even though
his/her other work was
satisfactory.
GRADING SYSTEM
Grading systems, regardless of
their many drawbacks, are the only
practical way teachers and
administrators have found to
effectively evaluate the progress of
a student in school. Grades in a
course are given to reflect the
achievement of a student in that
course during each quarter of the
school year.
Parents may view student progress
through the Parent Portal
accessible through the Bishop
McNamara High School website.
The semester grade for a course is
the two quarter grades and the
examination averaged together;
5
exams count no less than 10% or
more than 20% of each semester
grade. The final grade for a fullyear course is the two semester
grades, averaged together.
average in quality. It indicates that
the student’s scholarship is
accurate and complete, meeting all
the requirements of the instructor
in an above average manner.
THE GRADE OF “C”
The numerical equivalents for our
letter grades are as follows. These
numbers are not percentages, but
merely a “translation” of our letter
grades to a numerical system.
This grade indicates average work,
using the scale of poor, average,
better than average, and excellent,
which corresponds closely to the
qualitative interpretations of our
system. “C” is the minimum
college-caliber grade. If a
student’s work consistently merits
“C’s” or below throughout the four
years, the student may have
difficulty receiving a college
recommendation or acceptance.
GRADE CONVERSIONS
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
College Prep Honors AP
= 100- 93
4.0
4.5
5.0
= 92- 91
3.67
4.17 4.67
= 90- 88
3.33
3.83 4.33
= 87- 85
3.0
3.5
4.0
= 84- 82
2.67
3.17 3.67
= 81-79
2.33
2.83 3.33
= 78-75
2.0
2.5
3.0
= 74-70
1.67
2.17 2.67
= 69- 65
1.0
1.0
1.0
= 64
0.0
0.0
0.0
THE GRADE OF “D”
This is a barely-passing grade.
Ultimately, the purpose of the “D”
in our grading system is to provide
the school with a buffer between
achievement and total failure. The
grade of “D” means that the
student’s work is below average in
quality. The grade indicates that
the student’s work unsatisfactorily
met minimum requirements. In all
cases, a final course grade of “D”
carries with it a recommendation
that the student attend summer
school; in certain courses, students
with a final grade of “D” will be
required to attend summer school.
and below
THE GRADE OF “A”
This is the best grade that any
work can receive. The “A” is a
high honors grade; work that
receives it is rated as excellent in
the subject area, showing
independence, initiative,
resourcefulness, and content that
exceeds the assigned requirements.
THE GRADE OF “B”
THE GRADE OF “F”
The “B” is an honors grade and
means the student’s work is above
This is a failing grade. It is
definitive in that there is no lower
6

grade that a student can receive
and a final “F” obliges the student
to attend summer school in order
to redeem the lost credit. The
grade of “F” remains on a
student’s permanent record even if
the course is made up in summer
school. The grade of “F” signifies
that the student’s work has not met
the minimum criteria for passing
the course; often this is the result
of the student’s failure to make the
necessary effort.
Summa cum Laude: Students
who have a quarter average
above 3.900 and above.
All honors designations assume a
load of at least six classes.
Students may not have an
incomplete. Students who are
found to have violated the Honor
Code during a quarter will not be
eligible for honors designation that
quarter.
SEMESTER AND FINAL
EXAMS
THE GRADE OF “I”
An incomplete grade on a report
card is assigned to students who
are unable to complete required
course work because of excused
absence(s) at the end of the
grading quarter. The grade is
revised when the work is
completed.
Semester and final examinations
are given to all students. All
exams are cumulative in nature
and are designed to last at least one
hour and no more than one and
one-half hours. Exams count no
less than 10% or more than 20% of
each semester grade.
HONORS/RECOGNITION
Students must take exams during
their scheduled times. Any
changes must be approved by the
Academic Dean at least two weeks
prior to the start of exams. Written
requests from a parent or guardian
should start this process.
Bishop McNamara High School
seeks to honor each quarter those
students who have completed their
course work with honors. We
identify four levels of honors,
whose qualifications are as
follows:
 Dean’s List: Students who
have a quarter average
between 3.250 and 3.499.
 Cum Laude: Students who
have a quarter average above
3.500 to 3.749.
 Magna cum Laude: Students
who have a quarter average
above 3.750 to 3.899.
SUMMER SCHOOL POLICY
A student who fails a course
during the regular school year is
required to attend summer school
to make up and receive credit for
the failed course. Summer school
grades do not affect or alter a
student’s grade point average.
However, summer school grades
are included in the student’s
7
permanent record. Students must
attend the Bishop McNamara
summer school unless the required
course is not offered at Bishop
McNamara in the summer; in
which case, the student may attend
an accredited summer school
program approved by the
Principal. Students may take a
select number of courses during
summer school for credit. These
courses must be approved by the
Principal and do affect a student’s
grade point average. Special
directions for implementing
summer school procedures are
published at the end of the school
year.
four weeks until progress report
grades are submitted. After this
period has passed, the student will
then be eligible for a review to be
removed from Academic
Probation. In order to be
reviewed, the student must request
the review from his/her counselor.
If the student shows significant
improvement during this grading
period, he/she may be removed
from Academic Probation and be
allowed to return to his/her desired
co-curricular activities as long as
his/her grades remain constant.
Should the student’s grades drop
any time after the review, he/she
can still be placed back on
Academic Probation for the
remainder of the quarter. If at the
time of review the student is not
making satisfactory progress
and/or receives any grade of F on
his/her progress report, the student
will be ineligible to return to the
activity for another four weeks
until the report card is issued and
the student has or has not come off
of Academic Probation.
In addition, students receiving a
“D” in specified math or foreign
language courses must attend
summer school in order to progress
to the next level.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
A student whose grade point
average in all classes drops below
a 2.0 or who earns two failing
grades is placed on Academic
Probation. Academic Probation is
designed to offer the student
assistance in the areas of tutoring,
aligning additional study halls,
and/or placing the student in a
monitored after-school remedial
program to improve academic
performance.
Academic Probation is reviewed
on a quarterly basis and is based
on the previous quarter’s
performance. The final yearly
grade point average is used to
determine those students placed on
Academic Probation at the start of
each new school year. Students on
Academic Probation at the end of
the school year are strongly
encouraged to attend summer
school. Although summer school
grades DO NOT affect the yearly
GPA, success in summer school
A student placed on Academic
Probation is ineligible to
participate in school-related cocurricular activities for a period of
8
may qualify a student to be
removed from Academic Probation
and thus placed on a provisional
playing status if that student
participates in a co-curricular
sport. These students will be
reviewed at progress report time
and any failing grades on the
progress report will lead to
ineligibility with regard to sports.
DISMISSAL POLICY FOR
ACADEMIC DEFICIENCY
Upon review of the academic
progress of the student by the
Principal, dismissal may occur at
the end of the school year.
Freshmen, Sophomores, and
Juniors on Academic Probation
will be reviewed at the end of the
year and if no significant progress
is noted, the student may be
dismissed. Students who finish the
year with three or more failing
grades may not return to Bishop
McNamara in the fall.
Students will be ineligible to
participate in co-curricular
activities on the first day grades
become finalized by the registrar.
Information will be forwarded to
the appropriate directors and the
information will be disseminated
to coaches and advisors asking
them to suspend the participation
of such students beginning that
day. Fall sports eligibility will
begin on the first day of school.
BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH
SCHOOL HONOR CODE
 I will tell the truth.
 I will do my own work, without
unauthorized assistance.
 I will not take what is not mine.
 I will abide by the Code and the
directions of the Administration
and Honor Council concerning
the Code.
**Seniors will be placed on
Academic Probation if they have
any failing grades in a core course
(required for graduation) at the end
of the first semester.
The Oath
I have chosen to act honorably, not
because someone is watching, but
because I value my character and
our community of trust.
Beginning in the 2015-2016
school year, Academic Probation
will change to the following
standard: A student whose
grade point average in all classes
falls below 2.3 and who earns
any failing grades will be placed
on Academic Probation.
Students will also be strongly
encouraged to attend summer
school to remediate any grade
below a C-.
THE HONOR COUNCIL
Violations of the Honor Code will
be referred to the Honor Council.
9
From the Honor Council Charter:
b. A student may accuse him
or herself, admitting a
dishonorable action. The
student should submit a
statement to a Dean of
Students.
2. Immediately upon receiving an
accusation, the Honor Council
faculty moderator summons
the accused and gives him/her
an opportunity to give a
statement detailing the accused
person’s account of the event.
3. If necessary, the
administration can solicit
witness statements.
4. A meeting of the Honor
Council is convened, at which:
a. The Council reviews all
statements and evidence,
the accused presents his or
her side of the story and
the Council may ask
questions of the accused or
seek additional evidence
through the Honor Council
faculty moderator. After
the accused is excused, the
Honor Council deliberates
and makes a
recommendation, in
writing, to the Deans of
Students. If the Honor
Council cannot decide on
one unanimous
recommendation, the
differing parties will each
present their
recommendations, in
writing, to the Deans of
Students. All
recommendations of the
Honor Council are
confidential.
The Honor Council will be
composed of eleven members:
three each from the sophomore,
junior and senior classes, and two
freshmen. The freshmen will be
appointed at the beginning of the
second semester. All
representatives will be elected by
the student body and approved by
the administration. The
administration will appoint the
Chair of the Council from among
the elected junior representatives.
The council will elect their own
Secretary.
All Honor Council members will
take an oath pledging that they will
uphold the highest standards of
honor at the school and will
maintain the confidentiality and
reasoned decision-making
expected of the Honor Council.
Students who break the oath or
have attendance problems on the
Honor Council will be dismissed
from the Council.
Procedures
If evidence emerges that a student
has committed an Honor Code
violation, the following will occur:
1. The faculty accuser notifies a
Dean of Students in writing,
presenting all evidence, and
notifies the parents/guardians
of the accused.
a. Notification should take
place as soon as possible
but no later than one week
after the accuser discovers
the possible occurrence of
a dishonorable action.
10
b. At this point, the Honor
Council’s involvement in
the matter ends.
c. The faculty moderator of
the Honor Council will be
present during the reading
of the evidence and the
hearing of the accused but
will only participate in the
proceedings in the event of
an emergency. The
faculty moderator will
absence him or herself
from the Council’s
deliberations but will be
available nearby for
consultation.
d. In extreme cases where an
Honor Council member
finds that objectivity is
impossible and
participation in the hearing
will make the case
difficult for the rest of the
Honor Council to evaluate,
a member may recuse him
or herself. A member
must obtain the faculty
moderator’s approval for a
recusal.
e. If the need arises, the
accuser may be asked to
appear before the Honor
Council to clarify his/her
testimony if such is
unclear. The accuser may
also ask to be present to
clarify his/her written
testimony.
of an event, the Honor Council
will strive to gain a clear and
accurate picture of what happened.
If a student has admitted
wrongdoing, this first goal is moot.
The second goal, present and of
highest priority at every Honor
Council meeting, is to come up
with a plan that will help all
members of the McNamara
community involved in an incident
rebuild trust that has been
damaged, either through suspicion
or a dishonorable act. Punishing
offenders is not the goal of the
Council; ensuring we are a
community of people who can
trust each other is.
Consequences
The Honor Council will
recommend and the Deans of
Students will implement
consequences that are in keeping
with the disciplinary structure of
the school, aligned with the Holy
Cross charism, and dedicated to
preserving a community of trust at
the school.
The Honor Council will take the
following guidelines into account
when determining the
consequences.
1. A first offence of the Honor
Code places a student on
Honor Code Probation for a
period of one year. If a student
has no additional Honor Code
violations, he/she may be
removed from Honor Code
Probation.
2. Consequences for a second
offense will in general be more
Goals
There are two goals of any Honor
Council meeting. In the event that
there are discrepancies in accounts
11
3.
4.
5.
6.
severe than for a first offense
and may result in a failing
quarter grade. The student
will also be placed on Strict
Honor Code Probation.
If a student commits a third
offense, there is a presumption
that the student will be
expelled. That presumption is
rebuttable; the Honor Council
can take extenuating factors
into consideration when
making their
recommendations.
Consequences should reflect
the student’s grade level, the
seriousness of the offense, and
the presence or absence of
remorse.
All recommendations from the
Honor Council to the Dean of
Students will remain strictly
confidential.
The Honor Council is a
recommending body. The
ultimate determination of
consequences rests with the
Deans of Students and the
school administration.
Decisions of Honor Council
regarding the guilt or
innocence of a student are
final and may not be appealed.
Parents/guardians, the
student(s) and the accuser are
always notified in writing of
the results of a case.
HONORS PASSES
Honors passes will be distributed
to students chosen by the
Administration for this privilege.
The criteria for receiving an
honors pass will be announced by
the Administration at the
beginning of the school year. If a
person receives an honors pass,
he/she is not obligated to go to
his/her scheduled study hall. The
student may use the library or
other areas designated by the
Administration to study quietly.
An Honors Pass does not allow a
student to wander about the school
during unscheduled periods.
Students with honors passes during
periods 5 or 6 must go to lunch
during the designated time, and
may not remain in the cafeteria for
more than one lunch period. A
student with an honors pass may
report to his/her assigned study
hall.
SENIOR PRIVILEGE
Members of the senior class are
eligible for this privilege. The
student may use the Senior
Lounge, library, or other areas
designated by the Administration
to study quietly. Senior privilege
does not allow a student to wander
about the school during
unscheduled periods. Students
with Senior Privilege during
periods 5 or 6 must go to lunch
during the designated time, and
may not remain in the cafeteria for
more than one lunch period. A
student with Senior Privilege may
More detailed information can be
found in the Charter of the Honor
Council.
12
report to his/her assigned study
hall.
1. Membership in the National
Honor Society is open to all
qualified juniors and seniors.
Transfer students may not
qualify for membership until
they have been at the school a
minimum of one full semester.
2. The academic requirement of
the Bishop McNamara Chapter
of the National Honor Society
is a minimum average of B+ or
above. Students meeting the
scholastic criteria are then
eligible for consideration on the
basis of service, leadership, and
character.
3. Students who are scholastically
eligible will be notified and told
that for further consideration
for selection to the National
Honor Society, they may
complete the Student Activity
Information Form and write the
requested essays. Students
supplying this information
should understand that review
of the information submitted
does not guarantee selection.
4. All faculty members will be
invited to make comments on
National Honor Society
candidates. However, the
actual selection of new
members will be made by a
faculty council comprised of
five (5) faculty members
appointed by the principal. The
Academic Dean is the chair of
the committee.
5. The Student Activity Forms and
any other verifiable information
will be reviewed by the faculty
council. Candidates receiving a
majority vote of the faculty
Students who have received an
Honors Pass or Senior Privilege
are expected to conduct themselves
properly both when using their
pass or privilege and at other
times. Students should expect that
a single incident of misbehavior
during a free period could result in
the revocation of an honors pass
or Senior Privilege. Passes or
Privileges may be revoked at the
discretion of the Administration.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
The National Honor Society was
founded in 1921 in an effort to
create an organization that would
recognize and encourage academic
excellence as well as develop other
characteristics considered essential
to citizens of democracy. These
ideals of scholarship, leadership,
character, and service are as
relevant in today’s society as they
were in 1921.
Membership in the National Honor
Society is both an honor and
responsibility. Parents and
students must understand that no
student has a right to be selected
for membership in the National
Honor Society.
The following procedures for the
selection of members in the
National Honor Society are in
compliance with the national
Constitution of the National Honor
Society.
13
 Is thoroughly dependable in any
responsibility accepted
 Is willing to uphold scholarship
and maintain a loyal school
attitude
council are selected for
membership.
6. Students chosen for
membership by the faculty
council will receive letters
notifying them of their
selection.
SERVICE
The student who serves:
 Volunteers and provides
dependable and well organized
assistance, is gladly available,
and is willing to sacrifice to
offer assistance
 Works well with others and is
willing to take on difficult or
inconspicuous responsibilities
 Cheerfully and enthusiastically
renders any requested service to
the school
 Is willing to represent the class
or school in inter-class and
inter-scholastic competition
 Participates in some outside
activity: Girl Scouts; Boy
Scouts; church groups;
volunteer services for the
elderly, poor, or disadvantaged
 Does committee and staff work
without complaint
 Shows courtesy by assisting
visitors, teachers, and students
The following guidelines found in
the National Honor Society
Handbook will help candidates and
members of the faculty council in
the definition of leadership,
service, and character.
LEADERSHIP
The student who exercises
leadership:
 Is resourceful in proposing new
problems, applying principles,
and making suggestions
 Demonstrates initiative in
promoting school activities
 Exercises influence on peers in
upholding school ideas
 Contributes ideas that improve
the civic life of the school
 Is able to delegate
responsibilities
 Exemplifies positive attitudes
 Inspires positive behavior in
others
 Demonstrates academic
initiative
 Successfully holds school
offices or positions of
responsibility, conducts
business effectively, and
efficiently, demonstrates
reliability and dependability
 Is a leader in the classroom, at
work, and in school or
community activities
CHARACTER
The student of character:
 Takes criticism willingly and
accepts recommendations
graciously
 Consistently exemplifies
desirable qualities of behavior
(cheerfulness, friendliness,
poise, stability)
 Upholds principles of morality
and ethics
14
 Cooperates by complying with
school regulations concerning
property, programs, office,
halls, etc.
 Demonstrates the highest
standards of honesty and
reliability
 Regularly shows courtesy,
concern, and respect for others
 Observes instructions and rules,
is punctual and faithful both
inside and outside the
classroom
 Has powers of concentration,
self-discipline, and sustained
attention as shown by
perseverance and application to
studies
 Manifests truthfulness in
acknowledging obedience to
rules, avoiding cheating in
written work, and showing
unwillingness to profit by the
mistakes of others
 Actively helps rid the school of
bad influences or environment.
letters from the Discipline Office.
Hopefully, after talks with his/her
counselor on a private basis, the
student will make the necessary
improvement in the area of
academics or behavior.
Oftentimes, students experience
difficulty in their relationship
within the family circle or with
classmates. This may be a
temporary source of anxiety or
discouragement. The counselors
invite students to discuss their
personal conflicts and concerns in
an atmosphere of mutual trust and
confidentiality.
The College Guidance Counselor
is assigned to the senior class to
help the members to implement
their educational/career goals.
Visitations by college
representatives and military
personnel are made to the school
throughout the year. A
computerized system, dealing with
colleges, careers, and financial aid,
is available in the College
Guidance Office. The Preliminary
Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is
administered by this department.
Also, applications for the
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT),
the American College Test (ACT),
and the Financial Aid Form
(FAFSA) are available in the
College Guidance Office.
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
The purpose of the Guidance
Department is to help students
make adjustments to school life,
encourage them to be successful in
the areas of study and good
citizenship, assist them in their
educational/career plans, and help
them in their spiritual and personal
growth.
A counselor is assigned to each
grade level. The counselor
reviews the report cards each
quarter, as well as the progress
reports. He/she also reviews
The Guidance Department issues
and validates work permits for
those students who seek
employment in Maryland during
the school year.
15
official transcript be sent to a
student.
2. UNOFFICIAL: These
transcripts do not bear the
official seal and can be sent
directly to the student.
Counselors are in school each day
and are available. They have a
wealth of experience and
educational background. They are
able to assist and help. Students
are also encouraged to seek them
out on their own initiative.
Attendance at scheduled
appointments is not optional.
A fee is charged for each
transcript. Payment must
accompany the request.
No request will be honored if any
previous fee or tuition is
outstanding.
Guidance Department Policies:
1. A student wishing to see a
counselor gets a “Request for
Counselor Appointment” form
from the Guidance Office or
his/her teacher. The student
should drop off the request
form to the receptionist in
guidance.
2. Upon receipt of a guidance
pass, the student checks in with
the guidance receptionist at the
time indicated on the pass.
3. Students are not to be in
guidance when they are
scheduled for a class, except in
emergencies.
4. A student leaving guidance
must get a pass from the
counselor.
5. An Honors Pass or Senior
Privilege does not admit a
student to guidance.
SECTION II: COCURRICULAR
OFFERINGS/STUDENT
PROGRAMS
The Director of Student Life is
responsible for coordinating cocurricular activities. All school
activities except WCAC-scheduled
athletic competitions and Campus
Ministry Events are planned
through this office. Moderators of
all school clubs and organizations
must see the Director of Student
Life for approval, scheduling, and
assistance with all aspects of event
planning.
ATHLETICS
The Athletic program consists of
interscholastic sports in most areas
of competition for both boys and
girls including football, basketball,
volleyball, soccer, track and cross
country, baseball, softball, tennis,
golf, lacrosse, swimming,
wrestling, and cheerleading (both
on varsity and junior varsity
levels). Freshmen may participate
TRANSCRIPTS OF
ACADEMIC RECORDS
There are two types of transcripts:
1. OFFICIAL: these transcripts
are sent directly to a college or
employer. In no case will an
16
on both levels or on the Freshman
level. The school is a member of
the Washington Catholic Athletic
Conference.
Bishop McNamara High School or
its coaches.
When away at a school athletic
event, the student/athlete must
remember that he/she represents
the school and must act
accordingly. Any breach of
conduct will be reported to a Dean
of Students and will be dealt with
through the normal disciplinary
process.
Students may not participate in an
interscholastic sport activity if they
are absent on the day of the
activity. Any student who arrives
to school after 11:30 a.m. on the
day of an interscholastic sport
activity may not participate in the
activity.
Spectators should always show an
appreciation for the hard work it
takes to be an athlete or coach.
Good sportsmanship should be
demonstrated by cheering for the
teams. Opposing teams or
officials should never be “booed”
or embarrassed by inappropriate
comments, gestures, or signs.
Students on Academic Probation
may not participate in athletic
competitions nor are they
permitted to practice with the
team.
All students are expected to
conduct themselves in an
exemplary manner at all school
activities. Athletics make up a
substantial part of the activities
program at Bishop McNamara.
Athletes and spectators at athletic
events bear exceptional
responsibility because they not
only represent themselves; they
represent their teams, families, and
school. The school is judged by
their behavior. When Bishop
McNamara wins an athletic
competition, the opponent should
be congratulated for a job well
done. When on the losing side, the
opponents are to be congratulated
for their success. Opponents are to
be treated as Bishop McNamara
athletes and spectators would want
to be treated. Poor sportsmanship
of any kind will not be tolerated by
Outside of school, students and all
members of the Bishop McNamara
school community are judged both
as individuals and as
representatives of Bishop
McNamara High School.
Embarrassing, immature or illegal
actions do not reflect the standards
that the school teaches and
upholds.
ACTIVITIES/STUDENT
COUNCIL
An average of over fifty clubs and
organizations provide
opportunities for students to
participate in a wide variety of cocurricular activities at McNamara.
Programs including the Band,
Orchestra, Choir, International
17
Thespian Society, Fellowship of
Christian Athletes, Black Cultural
Alliance, F.A.C.E. (Filipino
Americans for Cultural
Enlightenment), Foreign Language
and other Cultural Clubs,
Publications, Campus Ministry
Clubs, It’s Academic Team,
National Honor Society and other
valuable organizations initiate the
student into rewarding aspects of
school life beyond the classroom.
atmosphere and witness among the
student body.
Rules – The Council is in charge
of the bylaws of the Council and
amendments to the constitution.
School Regulations – The Council
assists in the enforcement of
school policies among the student
body.
Public Relations – The Council
assists in publicizing and
promoting school functions.
The leadership of the Student
Council of Bishop McNamara is
comprised of the elected officers
of the Council and the elected
officers of each class. Twelve
Cabinet Members are selected by
each class. The Cabinet Members
are expected to attend Student
Council meetings.
Assemblies – The Council assists
with various assemblies
throughout the school year.
Elections – The Council manages
all student elections.
Communications – The Council
acts as a conduit for the
communication of ideas emanating
from the student population to the
administration and faculty.
Elections for Student Council and
class officers take place in the
spring of each year. In order to
run for office, each candidate must
meet the following criteria:
 Be pre-registered for the
upcoming school year
 Have at least a C average and
not be on academic probation.
 Be in good disciplinary
standing and not on probation
or strict disciplinary probation.
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are school-sponsored
functions and are regulated by the
general code of conduct. Field
Trip Dress code (see SECTION
VI: ATTIRE/DRESS CODE,
FIELD TRIP DRESS CODE
REGULATIONS) will apply for
field trips. When on a school field
trip, the student must remember
he/she represents the school and
must act accordingly. Any breach
of conduct will be reported to a
Dean of Students and will be dealt
The Student Council of Bishop
McNamara is active in the
following areas:
Christian Action – The Council
assists in upholding a Christian
18
with through the normal
disciplinary process. A Field Trip
Form and Release must be
completed in order for students to
attend a field trip. NOTE: Only
current Bishop McNamara
students are permitted to go on
field trips or other schoolsponsored trips. Students whose
tuition is not up-to-date will not be
allowed to attend overnight field
trips.
school where he/she will be
accountable as if the behavior took
place at the student’s home school.
SCHOOL DANCES
There are three major student
social events during the school
year:
Back-to-school Dance
Date: Late September
Attire: Casual Dress
FUNDRAISING EVENTS
Homecoming Dance
Date: Homecoming Saturday
Attire: Semi-Formal
All fundraising events are
conducted according to the
policies explained in the booklet
entitled Bishop McNamara High
School Fundraising Goals,
Policies, and Procedures. This
publication is available to parents,
faculty, coaches, and club
moderators. Copies may be
obtained from the office of the
Director of Development.
Prom
Date: Mid-May
Attire: Formal
To ensure our students enjoy
themselves in a safe and
wholesome environment, the
following rules are in effect for all
Bishop McNamara High School
sponsored dances:
OUTSIDE
ACTIVITIES/EVENTS AT
OTHER SCHOOLS
1. All dances are from 8 p.m. to
11 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
2. Doors close at 9:00 p.m. There
is no admittance after this time.
Students who leave the building
during the dance will not be
readmitted.
3. All tickets are sold in advance;
there are no refunds.
4. Dances are open to Bishop
McNamara students and guests
only. Students may bring one
guest who must submit a
completed Dance Guest
Permission Form at least 4 days
Students are reminded to act as
ladies and gentlemen at all
activities away from the Bishop
McNamara campus.
Because of our common values,
our shared heritage, and our
educational missions, the Catholic
High Schools of the Archdiocese
of Washington have agreed that
any negative behavior at any
school venue or event shall be
reported to the student’s home
19
in advance of the dance. All
those attending must have
picture I.D.
5. Former students who wish to
attend as guests must be
approved by a Dean of Students
ahead of time.
6. All students are expected to
dress appropriately and with a
sense of modesty. Students
whose clothing styles are
inappropriate or deemed to be
too bare or immodest will not
be allowed to attend the dance.
The final decision is made by
the administrator or faculty
member on duty.
7. All dancing should be in good
taste. No sexually suggestive
or “freak” style dancing is
permitted. Students whose
dancing is deemed
inappropriate will be asked to
change their dancing style.
Students whose style of dance
continues to be in conflict with
school standards may be asked
to leave the dance.
In all things, students and their
guests are expected to behave with
deportment reflective of the
Bishop McNamara community.
Dress Definitions:
Casual: Follow the guidelines
under Casual Dress Days (see
SECTION VI: ATTIRE/DRESS
CODE, CASUAL DRESS DAYS).
Semi-formal: Suits or sport coats
with dress slacks, shirts and ties,
dress shoes are required for men.
Women must wear dresses (length
no shorter than 3” above the floor
when the student is kneeling) or
dress slacks and dress shoes.
Formal: Suits and tuxedos for men
and formal dresses for women.
SECTION III: DISCIPLINARY
POLICY AND PROCEDURES/
CODE OF CONDUCT
DEANS OF STUDENTS
The Deans of Students are
responsible for maintaining
discipline and order in the school
as well as overseeing the general
conduct of the students. With the
approval of the Principal and the
advice of the Discipline Board and
the faculty, they establish general
school disciplinary policies and
procedures. The Deans of
Students also supervise attendance
and disciplinary records; interview
students and parents when a
student is in disciplinary or
attendance difficulty; and sit as
Chairs of the Discipline Board.
The Deans of Students fulfill an
Music is “D.J.” style unless
otherwise indicated and the school
reserves the right to restrict the
level of sound. Music is chosen
for diversity and appeal to a broad
student body.
Students need to be picked up
within a half an hour after the
dance ends. Failure to do so may
result in the students not being
allowed to attend future dances or
events.
20
integral role in creating a positive
and productive learning
environment.
for behavior or language that is in
any way derogatory or demeaning
of any individual or group.
A Dean is usually available to
meet with students individually to
counsel those regarding matters of
discipline. The Deans work
closely with parents, counselors,
and faculty members to address
particular individual concerns.
Education cannot take place in an
undisciplined environment.
Quality education depends on the
ability to maintain effective
learning conditions in the
classroom. Successful and
continued maintenance of these
classroom conditions is dependent
upon good judgment and
compassion by teachers,
understanding and leadership by
administrators, and support of
parent(s)/guardian(s), and students.
Good order and discipline are best
thought of as being positive, not
negative; of helping a student to
adjust, rather than a punishment;
of turning unacceptable conduct
into acceptable conduct. Order
and discipline are largely a matter
of morale, of classroom
atmosphere, and of positive
interpersonal relationships. As a
working definition, discipline is a
process designed to teach, model,
and reinforce the responsible
behaviors that are necessary to
ensure a safe and productive
learning environment by changing
unacceptable behavior to
acceptable behavior. The
Disciplinary Policies of Bishop
McNamara High School are
directed at promoting selfdiscipline and are aimed at
creating a safe, productive, and
pleasant learning environment.
Although the Bishop McNamara
High School has no responsibility
in the supervision of private or
STATEMENT OF
DISCIPLINARY POLICY
The purpose of the disciplinary
system at Bishop McNamara High
School is to foster a sense of selfrespect, respect for others, and
respect for others’ property. Each
person at Bishop McNamara—
students, teachers, counselors,
parents, and administrators—has
an obligation to uphold the highest
standards of conduct and respect at
all times. All of us have to follow
rules and regulations established
by those to whom we must be
responsible.
Bishop McNamara High School,
as a Catholic Christian school, is
dedicated to educating human
beings to develop sound values
toward themselves and others,
toward society and the institutions
which serve society, and toward
God. We believe that discipline is
rooted in respect for others and
expresses the Christian spirit.
Consistent with our Catholic
teaching, there is no tolerance at
Bishop McNamara High School
21
non-school activities, it reserves
the right to take disciplinary action
when the consequences of a
student’s private or off-campus
behavior (including comments or
actions taken on personal websites,
blogs, or other electronic
communications) materially and
substantially impacts the Bishop
McNamara community and/or
disrupts the educational process
for any of its students.
at all times. The dignity of each
person is recognized by allowing
that person to be in the halls,
classrooms, or anywhere on
campus without being intentionally
bumped, pushed, or touched in any
way by another person. As an
issue of respect, a policy of
“Hands off”, in all situations, will
be enforced. This includes
hugging, hand holding, or any
other physical displays of
affection.
The Disciplinary Policy is
provided for informational
purposes only. The school
reserves the right to impose more
or less discipline than would
otherwise we called for under the
Disciplinary Policy depending on
the circumstances, specific
behavior, and the student’s
disciplinary record.
Maintaining structure and order in
a school community carries with it
a level of responsibility of all
involved and ranges from
maintaining a productive personal
environment to assuring a safe
school environment. Nonexhaustive examples of this
follow.
Behaviors that are intended to
cause another individual physical
or mental harm are unacceptable at
Bishop McNamara and, in many
cases, are illegal.
THE BISHOP MCNAMARA
STUDENT MORAL CODE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Respect Yourself
Be Courteous
Respect Teachers
Respect Students
Be Kind
Be Honest
Be Helpful
Be Prayerful
Use Civil Language
Live like Jesus Christ
Examples are:
 Arson
 False fire alarms
 Weapons (possession or use of)
 Theft
 Fighting – assault or battery of
any kind
 Intimidation/extortion/threats
 Gross disrespect
 Defiance toward teacher/faculty
 Alcohol/drugs (possession, sale,
or use of)
 Sexual harassment of any kind
RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR
All members of the Bishop
McNamara community, students,
administration, faculty, and staff,
deserve to be treated with respect
22
 Hazing
 Explosive devices (possession
or use of)
 Inciting others to violence
 Shakedown and/or strong arm
 Vandalism and/or destruction of
property
and are in violation of the Bishop
McNamara Student Moral Code.
Examples are:
 Failing to follow the request of
a teacher
 Talking out
 Horseplay
 Being out of seat without
permission
 Showing disrespect/defiance
 Improper use of equipment
 Honor Code violation
Behaviors that occur inside and
outside of the classroom that are
not intended to cause physical
harm to another individual, but do
negatively affect an orderly
environment.
Behaviors that occur in the
classroom and affect only the
misbehaving student have a
negative impact on the student’s
academic performance.
Examples are:
 Disruptive behaviors in the
hallway/cafeteria/school
activity
 Disruptive behaviors before or
after school
 Absence/ skipping/ tardiness/
truancy
 Being in the hallway/locker
room/parking lot without a pass
 Any card playing, dice games
or gambling
 Inappropriate use of a motor
vehicle
 Solicitation (selling
unauthorized items at school)
 Inappropriate literature
 Filing false emergency reports
 Destruction or defacement of
property
 Tobacco (possession or use of)
 Inappropriate display of
affection
Examples are:
 Not having proper equipment
and materials
 Sleeping
 Being off task
 Failing to turn in
homework/failing to complete
assignments
 Failing to dress for P.E.
DISCIPLINARY PROCESS
DISCIPLINE BOARD
The Discipline Board exists as a
part of the educational process at
Bishop McNamara, assisting the
Deans of Students in formulating
and carrying out disciplinary
policies of the school. The
Discipline Board is composed of a
group of selected faculty members
from various areas of school life
Behaviors that occur in the
classroom and interfere with the
learning of others are unacceptable
23
including teachers, counselors,
members of the athletic
department, members of the
administration, and the Deans of
Students who serves as the Chair.
The Discipline Board exists to
serve primarily three functions: (1)
As a fact-finding body assisting
the Deans of Students in
determining the scope and context
of a student’s involvement in
disciplinary matters of a more
serious nature; (2) As an end-ofyear review board regarding a
student’s disciplinary status in the
school and suggesting conditions
for his/her return as deemed
appropriate for the common good
of the school population; (3) As an
advisory board in reviewing
general school disciplinary policies
and practices.
right to attendance at the meeting
and the meeting will be held with
the student as scheduled. Parents
who are unable to attend a Board
meeting and desire to be present
must contact the Deans of Students
48 hours prior to the meeting to
request a different meeting
time/date. Attorneys are not
permitted to attend Disciplinary
Board meetings. When a student
appears before the Board, the
Board will hear the student’s
account and question the student
regarding the incident(s) being
discussed. Parents/guardians may
also present relevant information
and, if permitted by the Chair, ask
questions of Discipline Board
members. At the time of the
appearance, Board members may
make individual recommendations
to the student regarding his/her
behavior. Following the student’s
appearance, the Board evaluates its
findings and recommends a course
of action that it feels will best meet
the needs of both the individual
and the school community. The
Board’s recommendations are
designed to help solve problems of
inappropriate behavior and may
call for assistance from parents,
teachers, counselors, etc. The
Board also recommends what it
believes are proper consequences
for the unacceptable behavior that
has necessitated the student’s
appearance before the Discipline
Board. The Dean of Students will
present the recommendation
offered by the Discipline Board to
the Principal. The Dean of
Students and Principal will
As a fact-finding body, the Deans
of Students may convene a
meeting of the Discipline Board at
the Deans’ discretion to review a
student’s case or cases. A student
may be automatically directed to
appear before the Board when
there appears to be no progress
being made in the area of
discipline or when a single
violation of the code of conduct is
serious enough to make an
appearance necessary. In all
instances, the Deans of Students
notify the student and his/her
parents of the scheduled
appearance. Parents/guardians are
given the option to attend the
Board meeting; however, the
absence of a parent at a Board
meeting is seen as waiving the
24
collaboratively determine the final
course of action and may, but need
not, accept the recommendations
of the Board. The final course of
action may include, but is not
limited to, a series of detentions,
Saturday detentions, Disciplinary
Warning, Disciplinary Probation,
Suspension, or Expulsion. Parents
will be notified of this decision by
the Deans of Students within three
(3) school/working days after the
Board appearance. Written
correspondence of the decision
will also follow all Board
appearances.
notify the parent of the final
decision, in writing, within
five (5) school/working days.
The President’s decision is
final.
At the end of each school year, the
Discipline Board, with
consultation from the faculty and
the administration, will review the
disciplinary records of all students,
concentrating specifically on those
students who have numerous
disciplinary infractions, who have
been suspended, who are currently
on Disciplinary Warning,
Disciplinary Probation, or Strict
Disciplinary Probation, or who
have appeared before the Board
during the school year. Specific
consideration is given to recent
behavior. The Board will
determine any necessary
disciplinary action to be taken in
preparation for the next school
year. If little or no progress is
noted in the area of discipline, a
student may not be invited to
return to Bishop McNamara the
next year. Students given the
option to return may be required to
meet with a member of the
administration to discuss the terms
and conditions of his/her return for
the next year. Returning students
should expect, at the very least,
that their behavior must improve if
they are to remain at the school.
Other students, as a condition for
returning, will be placed on either
Disciplinary Probation or Strict
Disciplinary Probation at the start
of the next school year. In such
cases parent(s) and students will be
If a parent feels that the student
has been unjustly treated, the
parent may appeal the Discipline
decision through the following
process:
1. Within five (5) school/working
days after the receipt of the
decision, the parent must
submit in writing to the
Principal the reasons on which
the appeal is based.
2. The Principal, in consultation
with the Deans of Students,
will make a decision regarding
the appeal and will notify the
parent, in writing, within five
(5) school/working days.
3. If the parent remains
dissatisfied with the
Principal’s decision, he/she
may forward his/her appeal to
the President of the school
following the guidelines in #1
above.
4. Following a review of the
appeal, the President will
25
notified by mail of the Board’s
decision.
to cause disturbances in class will
be required to report before the
Discipline Board. Classroom
disturbances such as continuous
talking, disrespect, offensive
language, etc., will not be
tolerated.
DETENTION
Teachers will be expected to set
clear rules in the classroom, to
warn students who forget to follow
those rules, to talk to individual
students about meeting
expectations, and, if appropriate, to
call parents about continuing
problems.
When a student receives a
detention from a teacher, the
teacher will give the yellow copy
of the detention to the student and
send the white copy to the Deans
of Students. The detention slip
will have three dates: the date of
the infraction, the date on which
the student received the yellow
copy, and the date on which the
parents were contacted, if
necessary. The student must keep
his/her yellow copy of the
detention slip to present to the
detention prefect at the time the
detention is served. Failure to
present the detention slip may
result in further disciplinary action.
Faculty and Staff will issue a
detention for routine infractions of
school rules - such as tardiness to
class, dress code violations, being
at a locker at the wrong time, etc.
They will also issue a school
detention for problems in classes
or study halls--for example, talking
out of turn, not paying attention in
class, failing to follow directions-in those cases where earlier
attempts to correct misbehavior
have been unsuccessful.
Detention is held every Monday
through Thursday at the end of the
school day, for 60 minutes, from
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Students
serving a detention must arrive
prior to the 3:15 p.m. bell. All
school rules, including the dress
code, are in effect during the
detention hour. Students are
required to sit upright and silently
with their desks cleared. Students
who do not comply with detention
regulations will be asked to leave
and must return on another day to
serve the detention. Detention
rooms are announced each day.
More serious classroom or study
hall infractions such as persistent
disturbance, defiance or disrespect,
offensive language, fighting,
truancy, or throwing objects are to
be reported promptly to a Dean of
Students. In some instances the
teacher will be asked to provide a
written description of the problems
and this report will become a part
of the student’s disciplinary file.
The Deans of Students will
determine the appropriate
sanction(s) for these more serious
infractions and will inform parents
promptly. Students who continue
26
Saturday Detention – Certain
infractions warrant the response of
a Saturday Detention. Faculty and
staff will issue a Saturday
detention for infractions which are
more serious in nature. Students
will be charged a $20.00 fee to be
paid in cash on the day of the
detention. The Deans of Students
will post a list of those students
who have a Saturday Detention.
Parents and students will also be
notified directly by a Dean of
Students. All detentions must be
served on the date assigned.
determined by the Deans of
Students.
Parents are notified by a Dean of
Students of a student’s detentions.
All students are notified prior to
final exams of outstanding
detention obligations. Students
must contact a Dean of Students to
make arrangements to serve
outstanding detentions.
INFRACTIONS FOR ISSUING
DETENTIONS

A detention must be served on the
day it is received or the following
day. Any student who fails to
serve a detention within this time
period will be assigned a Saturday
Detention. Saturday Detentions
will be two hours in length lasting
from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Students who fail to attend their
assigned Saturday Detention will
receive a mandatory three-day
suspension. School detentions
take priority over any other
activities that might be scheduled
for a student after school.
The detention prefect has the
absolute authority to determine
whether a detention has been
properly served. If a violation of
detention rules occurs, the prefect
has the authority to indicate on the
detention slip that the student has
not served properly. If this occurs,
it is a serious breach of the
school’s conduct code and the
student will be subject to further
disciplinary sanctions as
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27
Being on the school’s parking
lot, in the corridors, at lockers
or any other location in the
building at unauthorized times
Any card playing, dice games
or gambling; possession of
playing cards, dice, trading
cards (e.g. baseball, football,
basketball)
Use of a CD player, mp3
player, iPod, or electronic
game except in the cafeteria
before 7:30 a.m. or after 3:30
p.m.
Dress code violations
Eating or drinking outside the
cafeteria or other after school
designated areas. (Water is the
exception.)
Excessive noise anywhere in
the building
Failure to check in at the
attendance office when
arriving late to school
Failure to have an ID card
Failure to submit an absentee
note
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




Illegally parked motor vehicles
(including parking in a space
assigned to another vehicle)
Inappropriate display of
affection
Leaving the gym or locker
room before the period ends
Leaving trash in the cafeteria
Loitering in any area of the
school building or anywhere
on school grounds
Possession of glass containers
Running in the corridors
Tardiness to class or study hall
Uncovered book
Violation of the “Hands-Off”
policy
Repeated behavior that may
have a detrimental effect on a
student’s performance
Any other infraction, not
specifically listed, that violates
the rule of common sense and
proper school decorum

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





INFRACTIONS FOR ISSUING
SUSPENSIONS OR
EXPULSION
INFRACTIONS FOR ISSUING
SATURDAY DETENTIONS






Lying or misrepresentation of
any sort
Misbehavior on the bus
Misconduct during
fire/emergency drills
Misuse or illegal possession of
school forms (passes,
detention, etc.)
Talking or disruptive behavior
in a class or study hall
Tardiness for school more than
10 times
Throwing of any object
Truancy (one period)
Unauthorized use of an
elevator
Use and/or possession of a cell
phone on campus, without
permission, except in
specifically designated places
at specifically designated
times.

Causing a disturbance during
class, study hall or in the halls.
Excessive noise anywhere
inside or outside the building
Disregard of another’s rights
Failure to report to a teacher
for a private detention
Forgery of any kind
Honor code violation
Leaving and returning to
campus after school. (Unless
parental permission has been
granted in writing.)


28
Truancy for an entire day
(automatic suspension)
Selling, possession of, or being
under the influence of drugs
and/or alcohol on school
property or while engaged in a
school-sponsored event is a
violation of state law and
school policy. The school
reserves the right to require
drug testing of any student
Stealing or found in possession
of another’s property without
permission

Any student arrested for the
violation of any local, state, or
federal law
Any student engaging in any
sexual activity on campus or at
any school related activity
including field trips, athletic
events, dances, etc.

Other infractions that may result in
suspension or expulsion:







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








Bullying another person
Damage to school property.
Any student guilty of
damaging school property will
be held financially responsible
for the damage.
Dangerous use of a motor
vehicle
Defacing school property
(writing on desks, walls, etc.)
Defiance of any faculty or
staff member
Disrespect to a faculty or staff
member
Failure to return a signed
Handbook signature form
Fighting
Filing a false emergency report
Hazing
Honor Code violation (more
than one [1] offense)
Leaving campus without
permission during the school
day
Non-compliance with the
Technology Department’s
Technology Use Policy
Possession or use of a
dangerous weapon
Profanity/obscene or indecent
language/signs


Public conduct that is
detrimental to the reputation of
the school
Selling or trading of
collectors’ cards, CD’s,
DVD’s, etc.
Sexual or other harassment
Threatening another student or
teacher
Smoking on campus
Truancy (one period)
Unauthorized use of an
elevator (2nd offense)
Continued infractions while on
probation
Any other offense that is not
specifically listed that is
considered by the Deans of
Students to be serious enough
to warrant Suspension or
Expulsion
The Principal and the Deans of
Students reserve the right to
suspend or expel a student without
convening a meeting of the
Discipline Board.
Profanity or the use of indecent
language is not tolerated at Bishop
McNamara High School. A
student heard using profane or
obscene language anywhere on
school property or as a participant
in a Bishop McNamara sponsored
activity off school property may
receive a one-day suspension for
the offense.
DISCIPLINARY WARNING
A Disciplinary Warning Letter is
the least serious punishment a
29
student who has appeared before
the Discipline Board may receive.
A Disciplinary Warning Letter
indicates to the student and to
his/her parents that repeated
inappropriate behavior will not be
tolerated. Receipt of additional
detentions will result in
Disciplinary Probation and/or
Suspension.
STRICT DISCIPLINARY
PROBATION
Strict Disciplinary Probation is a
more serious form of Disciplinary
Probation in which a student is
given one last opportunity to
display his/her ability to comply
with the school’s expectations for
student behavior. A student on
Strict Disciplinary Probation is
generally given a specific amount
of time, usually one quarter, in
which he/she must prove his/her
ability to remain free from
detentions or any other
disciplinary infractions. Failure to
present this proof is cause for
immediate expulsion. All students
placed on Strict Disciplinary
Probation will be reviewed
quarterly.
DISCIPLINARY PROBATION
If a student’s behavior results in
additional detentions following the
receipt of a Disciplinary Warning
Letter, or if a serious infraction of
the rules is committed (particularly
an infraction that involves a show
of disrespect toward a teacher,
administrator, or staff member),
that student will be placed on
Disciplinary Probation. When a
student is placed on Disciplinary
Probation, a letter of explanation is
sent to the parents. The letter to
the parents must be signed by the
parents and returned to school
where it is placed in the student’s
file. The signature page of the
letter is kept so that all parties
involved have clear expectations
of the consequences of further
disciplinary action. The Deans of
Students have the authority to
decide whether or not a student on
Disciplinary Probation may
participate in co-curricular
activities.
FORFEITURE OF
SCHOLARSHIPS/FINANCIAL
AID
Being on Disciplinary Probation or
Strict Disciplinary Probation may
result in the forfeiture of
scholarships/financial aid awarded
by Bishop McNamara High
School.
REVIEW OF
DISCIPLINARY STATUS
Students who have received
Disciplinary Warning Letters or
who are on Disciplinary Probation
may have their Disciplinary Files
reviewed at the end of each
quarter. Students who have shown
significant improvement in their
A student may be placed on
Disciplinary Probation if he/she
accumulates an excessive number
of absences or tardies.
30
behavior may then be removed
from Warning or Probationary
status. Students and their parent(s)
will receive notification of any
such action taken by the Deans of
Students.
only people who have the authority
to suspend a student. A
suspension automatically puts a
student on Disciplinary Probation.
The Principal and the Deans of
Students reserve the right to
suspend a student without
convening a meeting of the
Discipline Board.
SUSPENSION
Suspension is a very serious
measure and indicates that a
student has either committed a
serious infraction of the rules, or
he/she has not acknowledged the
warning that Disciplinary
Probation has provided. Parents
will receive immediate notification
when a student has been
suspended. The length of
suspension is determined by the
Deans of Students or the Principal.
A student will not be allowed on
school premises or allowed to
participate in athletic or cocurricular activities during the time
that he/she is suspended. A
student who is suspended may not
be allowed to make up homework
or quizzes. However, he/she will
be allowed to make up tests. The
student should be prepared to take
any tests upon his/her return to
school. It is the responsibility of
the student to arrange for the
make-up. A suspended student
must be absent from school a
minimum of one (1) day. In some
cases the Deans of Students may
allow a student to return to school
after one (1) day’s absence if
his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) has
met with the Dean to discuss the
student’s behavior. The Principal
and the Deans of Students are the
Classroom Suspension: Repeated
offenses that continually disrupt a
productive classroom environment
may result in the student being
suspended or permanently
removed from a single class. In
such cases, students may not be
permitted to make up academic
work.
EXPULSION
Expulsion means a permanent
separation from the school
community. It is the severest of
the disciplinary measures and will
be applied either for repeated
offenses of the code of conduct or
for a major breach of the code of
conduct. The Principal and the
Deans of Students are the only
people who have the authority to
expel a student. When notified of
an expulsion, a student is
immediately separated from the
school community. If the
expulsion is appealed, the student
remains separated from the school
community during the appeal
process. A student who has been
expelled may not return to the
school campus or attend any
school-sponsored activities unless
conducting official business and/or
31
having called the school for
permission. The Principal and
Deans of Students reserve the right
to expel a student without
convening a meeting of the
Discipline Board.
HAZING
Hazing of any kind is strictly
prohibited at Bishop McNamara
High School. Hazing is described
by law as any conduct or method
of initiation into any student
organization, whether on public or
private property, which willfully or
recklessly endangers the physical
or mental health of any student or
other person. Such conduct shall
include any treatment or forced
activity which is likely to
adversely affect the physical health
or safety of any such student or
other person, or which subjects
such student or other person to
extreme mental stress.
NON-DISCRIMINATION AND
HARASSMENT
Bishop McNamara High School
does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, gender, national
origin, religion, age, disability or
handicap, or any other protected
classification in its education
program. Sexual or other
harassment is therefore a violation
of school policy.
Harassment means verbal or
physical conduct that denigrates or
shows hostility toward an
individual because of his or her
race, color, gender, national origin,
religion, age, disability or
handicap, or any other protected
classification, that creates hostile
environment or unreasonably
interferes with an individual’s
educational opportunities or
performance.
A person in violation of this policy
is guilty of a misdemeanor and on
conviction may be subject to
imprisonment not exceeding 6
months or a fine not exceeding
$500.00 or both.
Sexual harassment includes
“unwanted and unwelcome
behavior of a sexual nature which
interferes with a student’s life, i.e.,
right to learn, study, work,
achieve, or participate in school
activities in a comfortable
supportive atmosphere.”
Allegations must be reported to the
Principal who will review the
matter.
Bishop McNamara High School is
committed to a safe and orderly
educational environment for all
students, free from harassment,
intimidation or bullying.
The implied or expressed consent
of a student to hazing is not a
defense.
BULLYING
“Bullying” means systematically
and chronically inflicting physical
hurt or psychological distress on
one or more students or
employees. It is further defined as:
32
unwanted purposeful written,
verbal, nonverbal, or physical
behavior, including but not limited
to any threatening, insulting, or
dehumanizing gesture, by an adult
or student, that has the potential to
create an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive educational environment
or cause long term damage; cause
discomfort or humiliation; or
unreasonably interfere with the
individual’s school performance or
participation, is carried out
repeatedly and is often
characterized by an imbalance of
power.
messages, social websites (e.g.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Tumblir, etc.), chat rooms,
“sexting”, instant messaging, or
video voyeurism.
Since bystander support of
harassment or bullying can support
these behaviors, Bishop
McNamara prohibits both active
and passive support for acts of
harassment or bullying. The staff
should encourage students to
support students who walk away
from these acts when they see
them, constructively attempt to
stop them, and report them to the
Dean of Students or the Principal.
Bullying may involve, but is not
limited to:
Bishop McNamara High School,
will not tolerate any form of
bullying or cyber-bullying, nor
will we tolerate retaliation against
any person who reports bullying,
provides information during an
investigation of bullying, or
witnesses or has reliable
information about bullying.
1. Unwanted teasing
2. Threatening
3. Intimidating
4. Stalking
5. Cyber-stalking
6. Cyber-bullying
7. Physical violence
8. Theft
9. Sexual, religious, or racial
harassment
10. Public humiliation
11. Destruction of school or
personal property
12. Social exclusion, including
incitement and/or coercion
13. Rumor or spreading of
falsehoods
1. Bullying and cyber-bullying
are prohibited on school grounds
and at school-sponsored events,
activities, functions, and programs
and trips. Bullying and cyberbullying, are not tolerated through
use of technology or an electronic
device owned, leased, or used by
the School.
2. In addition, bullying and cyberbullying are prohibited at a
location, activity, function, or
program that is not school-related
or through the use of technology or
an electronic device that is not
“Cyber-bullying” is defined as
the willful and repeated
harassment and intimidation of a
person through the use of digital
technologies, including, but not
limited to, email, blogs, text
33
owned, leased, or used by the
school, if the bullying creates a
hostile environment at school for a
targeted student; infringes on the
rights of a targeted student at
school; or in the estimation of the
School materially and substantially
disrupts the educational process or
the orderly operation of the
School.
to use a cell phone other than in
the designated areas and at the
designated times, he/she must ask
permission of a school
administrator/teacher or report to a
Dean’s office. Cell phones may
never be used in bathrooms and
classrooms. The penalty for
unauthorized use of a cell phone
on campus is a Saturday
detention. Students who violate
cell phone policies may have
their cell phones confiscated and
returned to a parent after forty
eight (48) hours.
SMOKING, ALCOHOL, AND
ILLEGAL DRUGS
Smoking, alcohol, and illegal
drugs are prohibited on the school
campus and at all schoolsponsored activities off campus.
In the event of an emergency or
unscheduled early dismissal, all
students will be given an
opportunity to use their cell phones
to make calls.
The school reserves the right to
require drug testing of any student.
TELEPHONE/CELL PHONE
CALLS
Parents are asked to refrain
from placing cell phone calls to
students during the day except to
leave voice-mail messages that
may be accessed after the school
day has ended. Students are not
permitted to have cell phones
with them during the school day.
Students should not be excused
from study halls or classrooms to
make telephone calls. Telephones
in the Main Office are unavailable
to students except for rare
exceptions made by the Main
Office staff. Students’ phone calls
will be limited to three (3)
minutes.
Parents are asked to refrain
from calling the school to
request that messages be
delivered to students except in
cases of extreme emergency. The
Office staff cannot be expected to
deliver non-essential messages.
Information such as after school
pick-up times should be clarified
between parents and students
before the student arrives at school
in the morning.
Students may not display or use
a cell phone for any reason, i.e.,
phone calls, text messages, or
photographs, during school
operation. Cell phones must be
turned off and stored in
students’ lockers from 8:00 a.m.
until 2:50 pm. If a student
believes it is absolutely necessary
34
a total of ten (10) times excused
and/or unexcused. Five (5)
absences are the limit for a
semester course. When a student
exceeds these limits, a grade of
“I”, or incomplete may be issued
by the teacher. An “I” grade may
be considered for change by the
Principal should the parent submit
acceptable documentation, i.e.,
doctor’s note, notice of family
emergency. Once approved by the
Principal, the grade earned by the
student will be issued. In order for
a student to be eligible to be
reviewed for a grade change due to
absence, that student must not
have any unexcused absences
during the year and must be
presently receiving a passing grade
in the course for which the “I”
grade was assigned. When a
student is absent on the day of a
major quiz, test, or assignment, the
Principal reserves the right to
request additional documentation
to validate the reason for the
absence. Every effort must be
made on the student’s part to turn
in assignments according to the
established deadlines, even in the
event of an absence.
EATING AND DRINKING
Eating and drinking are prohibited
outside of the cafeteria during
school hours. This policy excludes
water unless it is prohibited by
specific classroom rules. After
school, students may have food
and drinks in the cafeteria, the
hallway outside of the cafeteria
and in the area just beyond the
back entrance to the school by the
cafeteria on the main building side
of the driveway. Students are
expected to throw trash and drink
containers in the trash receptacles
provided.
Occasionally, the administration
may grant permission for
students/teachers to have food in
classrooms.
Glass containers are never allowed
on school property.
GUM CHEWING
GUM CHEWING IS NOT
ALLOWED ON CAMPUS AT
ANY TIME!
SECTION IV: ATTENDANCE
POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS
Parents will be notified when the
level of five (5) absences has been
reached. Parents will be notified
by a Dean of Students when the
student reaches his/her tenth day of
absence. Students who accrue ten
(10) absences will be placed on
Disciplinary Probation.
ABSENCES
Because attendance at school is
necessary for most students to
achieve academically, Bishop
McNamara High School has set a
maximum number of days which
can be missed. A student may not
be absent from a course more than
Absences will be considered
excused for the following reasons:
35
illness of the student, death in the
immediate family, quarantine,
court summons, or school
sanctioned off campus activity.
After five (5) days of absences in a
semester, a doctor’s note may be
required if any further absences in
that semester are to be excused. If
a doctor’s note is not submitted,
subsequent absences will be
considered unexcused and the
student will not be allowed to
make up work missed. Only the
Principal and the Deans of
Students can make exceptions to
these policies. A student may
make up work missed during an
excused absence. If a student
misses school for another reason
the absence will be unexcused and
the student may not be allowed to
make up missed work. Should a
student’s absence take place
without his/her parent’s
knowledge, the student will be
considered truant. In that case
he/she will be suspended and may
not be allowed to make up the
work missed. Early Dismissals
from school will be counted as
absences: leaving before 11:30
a.m. will be counted as a full day
absence; leaving after 11:30 a.m.
and before 1:30 p.m. will be
considered a half-day absence.
Students who are absent during the
school day will not be allowed to
participate in co-curricular
activities on the day of their
absence. This applies to clubs,
organizations, and sports activities,
whether practices or games.
Parents/Guardians must call the
school prior to 10:00 a.m. on the
day of the absence to inform the
school of the reason for the
absence. A note explaining the
reason for the absence must be
sent in on the day the student
returns to school. These
procedures must be followed so
that the school can determine
whether the absence will be
considered excused or unexcused.
Notes from parents/guardians must
be worded in such a way as to
request that the school excuse the
student’s absence. Only Bishop
McNamara High School, not a
parent/guardian, may excuse an
absence. Failure to notify the
school, either by telephone call or
note, may lead to the absence
being considered truancy.
Bishop McNamara does not
recognize or condone a “senior
skip day”. Absence for this reason
is considered unexcused and is
dealt with as truancy.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
A student with perfect attendance
has not been absent from or tardy
to school the entire school year for
any reason. Excused absences for
medical reasons or college visits
will be counted against perfect
attendance. Any unusual
circumstances will be reviewed by
the Principal and the Deans of
Students.
36
student has notified the teacher in
advance, the student remains
responsible for any work missed
during that class time. If a student
will be missing a quiz or test,
arrangements must be made in
advance to schedule a time to
make up the missed quiz/test.
MAKE–UP OF WORK MISSED
BECAUSE OF ABSENCE
Students are responsible to
complete all work that was missed
during their absence; such as class
work, assignments, tests and
quizzes. Therefore, students are
expected to contact their teachers
prior to or upon returning to
school, either in person or by way
of email. Individual teacher
syllabi clarify policies for each
course and students should be
familiar with those expectations.
Teachers are not responsible to
seek out students to inform them
of the work they need to complete.
When a student arrives at school
prior to leaving on a field trip,
he/she is expected to turn in work
due on that day to all his/her
teachers.
EXTENDED ABSENCE FOR
SCHOOL
APPROVED/SPONSORED
ACTIVITIES
Bishop McNamara High School is
not responsible for make-up of
work missed related to a student's
absence due to financial
delinquency.
A student who plans to participate
in a school-approved/sponsored
co-curricular activity that will
require his/her absence from
classes for two (2) or more
consecutive days, must secure
signatures from his/her teachers
granting permission for him/her to
miss class. If a teacher does not
feel that the student should miss
class and refuses to sign, the
student will not be allowed to
participate in the activity. A
Request for Extended Absence,
available from the Main Office,
will be used for this purpose.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR MAKING UP CLASS
WORK FOR ABSENCE DUE TO
SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITY
AT LEAST ONE DAY IN
ADVANCE of a day or class
period in which a student will be
absent due to his/her participation
in a school related event, i.e.,
athletic early dismissals, field
trips, retreats, etc. the student
MUST inform the teacher that
he/she will be absent from class.
If the student fails to notify the
teacher, the teacher may consider
the absence an unexcused one and
may not allow the student to make
up any missed work. Once the
Students may present a completed
Request for Extended Absence to
the Attendance Office prior to any
absence for a school
approved/sponsored activity. The
presentation of this completed
form may result in the student
37
being marked present for the time
missed. Students must limit
extended absences for schoolsponsored activities to no more
than 5 days per semester.
time. If a student must visit a
college during regular school time,
parents must inform the school
immediately when the visit will
take place and follow up with a
letter requesting permission for
absence prior to the college visit.
The visit will be counted as an
excused absence. Students are
limited to 3 days of excused
absences for college visits.
EXTENDED ABSENCE FOR
NON-SCHOOL SPONSORED
ACTIVITIES
Parents (not students) must request
permission for an extended
absence (excused or unexcused)
for non-school sponsored
activities, in writing, at least one
week in advance (for both regular
school days and exam days) to the
attendance office. A Request for
Extended Absence must be filled
out and returned to the attendance
office with the signatures of
approval of each of the student’s
teachers. The completed form will
then be submitted to the principal
for his approval. STUDENTS
WILL NOT BE EXCUSED
FROM CLASSES OR GIVEN
EXAMS EARLY UNTIL THE
EXTENDED ABSENCE HAS
RECEIVED THE PRINCIPAL’S
APPROVAL.
TARDINESS
Tardiness is defined as arriving
after the designated time for school
or for class. Students who are
tardy to class must serve a
detention for each instance of
tardiness. A Dean of Students is
the final arbiter of whether
tardiness to school will be
considered excused or unexcused.
Tardiness to class: Any student
who is not seated when the bell
rings to mark the beginning of the
class period will be considered late
to that class. A student who
arrives late to class must present a
tardy slip to that teacher upon
arrival if the tardiness is to be
excused. This means that a student
who knows he/she will not be on
time has the responsibility of
obtaining a tardy slip from the
teacher, counselor, or
administrator with whom he/she
has been talking. The student
should obtain this tardy slip before
proceeding to his/her next class.
Teachers will issue late detentions
when students arrive late for class
and have no valid tardy slip. A
COLLEGE FAIR/COLLEGE
VISIT
College fairs are held during the
evenings on school days and
during the day on weekends.
Students are encouraged to attend
these sessions so that time from
school will not be missed.
Students will not be allowed an
excused absence for college fair
attendance during regular school
38
student may not come to the office
staff for a tardy slip unless he/she
had been detained on office
business.
A student is tardy if he/she is not
present in his/her first period class
when the 8:00 bell rings. On the
sixth (6) unexcused tardy, the
student will be assessed a tardy fee
of $10.00. On the eleventh (11)
unexcused tardy, the student will
be assessed a tardy fee of $15.00
and will receive a call from the
Dean of Students. On the
sixteenth (16) unexcused tardy, the
student will serve a Saturday
Detention which carries a $20.00
fee. In addition, any student who
accrues sixteen unexcused tardies
will be removed from all extracurricular activities.
Tardiness to school: When the
bell starts to ring at 8:00 a.m., a
student must be seated in the
classroom and ready for the period
to begin. This means that the
student must already have visited
his/her locker to drop off his/her
jacket or coat and to pick up the
books he/she will need for
morning classes.
All students arriving late to school
after the start of school bell MUST
report to the Attendance Office for
a tardy slip regardless of whether it
is a class change time or the
student has study hall or lunch. A
tardy slip must be obtained from
the Attendance Office in order for
a student to be admitted to the
building or allowed to attend any
class. If the Attendance Office is
closed, students should report to
the Main Office for a tardy slip.
Generally, traffic is not considered
a legitimate excuse for tardiness.
It is the student’s and parent’s
responsibility to ensure that
sufficient time is allowed for
traffic issues.
EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
A student will be placed on
Disciplinary Probation if he/she
accumulates ten (10) absences in a
school year.
If a student arrives after 10:00
a.m., his/her late arrival will be
considered a half-day absence
from school. If he/she arrives after
11:30 a.m., it will be considered a
full-day absence, and the student
will not be eligible to participate in
any co-curricular activities that
day.
EARLY DISMISSAL
All early dismissal requests must
be made in writing by means of a
note from a parent or guardian
presented to the Attendance Office
before the start of the day of the
early dismissal. Early dismissal
may not be requested by phone.
Only early dismissals requests for
medical or dental appointments or
Tardiness to school will not be
excused except when
circumstances are extraordinary as
determined by a Dean of Students.
39
for emergencies will be honored.
Early dismissals will be counted as
absences: leaving school before
11:30 a.m. will count as a full day
absence; leaving after 11:30 a.m.
and before 1:30 p.m. will be
considered a half-day absence.
These absences will apply toward
the ten (10) day absence
maximum.
approval for early dismissal are not
permitted to loiter around the
school building or campus.
Students remaining on campus 10
minutes after early dismissal may
have their early dismissal privilege
revoked.
TRUANCY
After arriving on Bishop
McNamara’s campus, no student is
allowed to leave school property
during the school day unless
he/she has received an early
dismissal. Being absent from
school, class, or supervised study
without authorization is defined as
truancy. Truancy for an entire day
will result in Suspension and a
parent conference. On the first
unauthorized absence from class or
supervised study, the student will
receive a Saturday detention and
the parents will be notified
immediately. Subsequent
unauthorized absences from class
or supervised study will result in
further disciplinary action.
Students who have received early
dismissals and are returning to
school after appointments must
check into the Attendance Office
for a pass.
REQUEST FOR EARLY
DISMISSAL PRIVILEGES
The normal school day begins at
8:00 a.m. and ends with dismissal
at 2:58 p.m. Juniors and seniors
who have an overall C+ average
may request dismissal after their
regular classes have ended if they
are scheduled for study hall(s) at
the end of the day. This early
dismissal may occur only if the
student’s parent(s) have authorized
this privilege and can provide
transportation for the student at the
time of his/her dismissal. A
Request for Early Dismissal
Privileges form can be obtained in
the Main Office at the school.
SECTION V: HEALTH
POLICIES
SICKNESS DURING THE DAY
Any student becoming ill during
the school day should request a
pass from his/her teacher or prefect
and then report directly to the
Attendance Office. Students will
not be admitted to the Office
without a pass. The Office
personnel will notify a parent if the
student is too ill to remain in
Students will not be approved for
early dismissal if they have a
scheduled class or if they do not
have transportation away from the
school. Students remaining on
school property must report to a
study hall. Students who have
40
school. Students may not call a
parent to request a dismissal for
illness; the Office personnel are
responsible for obtaining parental
permission for an illness dismissal.
A student cannot leave school
property unless the Office staff has
made proper arrangements with
his/her parent(s) or guardian(s).
The school reserves the right to
require that a parent or guardian
pick up a sick student. Any student
who fails to follow these
procedures and who leaves school
without permission will be
considered truant.
school day, he/she must have a
Physician’s Medication
Authorization form on file in the
Main Office. The form can be
found at www.bmhs.org. The
medication should be kept in the
Main Office and will be dispensed
by the Medication Technician as
prescribed by the doctor.
STUDENT PREGNANCY
Bishop McNamara High School
respects and values all life,
especially that of the unborn. A
student who becomes pregnant
will be treated with dignity and
compassion as she deals with the
very stressful life event. A referral
to the student’s counselor should
be made as soon as possible so an
adult trained to help the student
can provide the necessary support
and counsel. In addition to the
emotional and practical support for
the student, the school will also
facilitate the continuing education
of the student including the
completion of course work and
achieving of a high school
diploma.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
An Emergency Information form
will be sent home the first week of
the school year. A student may
not be allowed to attend classes if
his/her emergency form is not
completed and returned on the due
date. In case a student is ill or
needs to leave early, he/she will
only be released to the person
designated on the Emergency
Information form. Emergency
information should be updated
whenever changes occur by
contacting the Main Office of the
school at 301-735-8401, ext. 132.
SECTION VI: ATTIRE/DRESS
CODE
The two official uniform suppliers
for BMHS are:
PRESCRIPTION/
NONPRESCRIPTION
MEDICATIONS
Flynn & O’Hara, Lanham, MD
1-800-441-4122
Students are asked not to bring any
sort of medication to school. If it
is absolutely necessary for a
student to take a prescription or
non-prescription drug during the
The Carousel, Waldorf, MD
301-843-8884 or 301-645-4660
41
MEN’S OPTIONAL DRESS
CODE
DRESS CODE
MEN’S DRESS CODE
1. The maroon sleeveless sweater
vest, long sleeve V-neck
sweater, or cardigan sweater
with a school logo (available
at the Mustang Shop) may be
worn with the school blazer
during the second and third
quarters or as an optional
accessory during the first and
fourth quarters.
1. White or blue Oxford cloth
button down dress shirt (long
or short sleeves with Cross and
Anchor embroidery) with
school tie. No “blousing” of
shirts will be allowed. Shirts
must be completely tucked
into pants. Shirt sleeves may
not be rolled. The tie may not
extend below the student’s
waist or be excessively short.
2. Khaki dress pleated slacks
with Bishop McNamara
monogram. (Uniform
companies will not order
slacks more than one size
larger than the student’s
current measurement).
3. Navy blue blazer with the
Bishop McNamara patch on
the front chest pocket.*
4. Students must wear brown or
tan boat style shoes such as the
Sperry Top-Sider A/O 2 Eye
(Sahara) or Eastland Solstice
(tan) with navy blue, black or
brown socks. All shoelaces
must be worn laced and tied.
All shoes must be non-scuff.
Athletic shoes of any type may
not be worn.
5. Buckled belts (plain leather,
black or brown with
conservative buckles).
WOMEN’S DRESS CODE
1. White Oxford cloth shirt (long
or short sleeves with Cross and
Anchor embroidery). No
“blousing” of shirts will be
allowed. Shirts must be
completely tucked into skirt or
slacks. Shirt sleeves may not
be rolled.
2. Students in the Classes of
2014-2015 must wear the
khaki pleated slacks with a
Bishop McNamara monogram,
Khaki kilt, or Khaki skort.
(The hemline of a kneeling
student’s skirt should measure
no more than three [3] inches
above the ground). Students
in the Class of 2016-2017
must wear the khaki slacks
or the khaki skort (the khaki
kilt is not an option).
3. Maroon school blazer with the
Bishop McNamara patch on
the front chest pocket.*
4. Maroon knee socks or tights
(plain, opaque maroon, black,
or maroon acrylic cable-knit)
purchased from an official
*Mandatory only during the
second and third quarters for 9th11th graders.
42
uniform supplier. No ankle
socks are allowed. White
socks may not be worn at any
time.
5. Students must wear brown or
tan boat style shoes such as the
Sperry Top-Sider A/O 2 Eye
(Sahara) or Eastland Solstice
(tan). No multi-toned shoes,
moccasins or mules are
allowed. Athletic shoes of any
type may not be worn.
6. Students must wear buckled
belts (plain leather, black or
brown with conservative
buckles) with the khaki pleated
slacks.
polo shirt to be worn in place of
the blazer, shirt/blouse and tie.
The shirt, with a Bishop
McNamara/senior class logo may
be worn year round by both male
and female students. Polo shirts
must be completely tucked into
skirt or pants. Shirt sleeves may
not be rolled. Eligible senior
students have the option of
purchasing a pre-selected cardigan
sweater/sweatshirt to been worn
over their polo shirt or oxford shirt
(available at the Mustang Shop).
*Mandatory only during the
second and third quarters for 9th11th graders.
No exemptions from the dress
code will be allowed, unless
student provides a doctor’s note
indicating a medical need for
departing from the dress code.
Only a Dean of Students can
approve such an exemption. A
Dean of Students and the Principal
have the authority to amend the
dress code for the entire student
body if the weather conditions
make changes necessary.
GENERAL DRESS
REGULATIONS
WOMEN’S OPTIONAL DRESS
CODE
1. The maroon sleeveless sweater
vest, long sleeve V-neck
sweater, or cardigan with a
Bishop McNamara logo
(available at the Mustang
Shop) may be worn with the
school blazer during the
second and third quarters or
without the blazer, during the
first and fourth quarters.
2. White oxford cloth shirt (long
or short sleeves) with Cross
and Anchor embroidery.
A Dean of Students makes the
final decision on questions about
the dress code. However, several
common sense requirements apply
during the school day:
1. While on campus, students
should be in complete uniform
unless participating in an
extracurricular activity.
2. High top shoes or boots are
unacceptable. Shoes must be
kept tied at all times.
SENIORS’ OPTIONAL DRESS
CODE
Eligible senior students have the
option of purchasing a pre-selected
43
3. Hair must be kept wellgroomed and at a reasonable
length. For both male and
female students only basic hair
ornaments, such as simple
barrettes and small dark rubber
bands, may be worn. Shells,
beads, butterfly clips, similar
ornaments or scarves are not
consistent with the Bishop
McNamara dress code and are
not permitted. Mohawks or
faux hawks are not permitted.
4. Sunglasses may not be worn in
the building.
5. No headgear is allowed in the
building. Only hats may be
worn outdoors on school
grounds. Other head
coverings, such as bandannas,
skullcaps, and scarves, are not
allowed.
6. Boots and outdoor
garments/jackets are to be left
in the student’s locker and
may not be worn or carried.
7. For both male and female
students only small post
earrings are the only earrings
allowed. Hoop and/or dangling
earrings are not acceptable.
Earrings should be silver, gold,
or a single pearl.
8. Trousers and skirts are to be
worn appropriately, at the
waist. The waistbands of
skirts may not be rolled. Pant
legs should not be cuffed or
rolled.
9. All shirts and blouses are to be
worn tucked into trousers or
skirts. Women’s blouses must
be worn with no more than one
button unbuttoned at the neck.
10. Colored T-shirts or T-shirts
with designs or writing that
can be seen under the
regulation school uniform may
not be worn.
11. Excessive jewelry or
accessories are inappropriate.
12. Sweaters may not be worn tied
around students’ waists.
13. Frayed and/or torn uniform
items (trousers, skirts,
sweaters, shirts, etc.) are
unacceptable and must be
mended or replaced.
14. Uniforms are intended to
appear “uniform”. Customized
and/or personalized uniforms
are not allowed.
15. Jewelry may not be visible on
any pierced body parts except
the ears.
16. All uniform items should be
identified with the student’s
name.
17. General neatness is standard.
Club polo shirts may only be
worn on the LAST day of the
week or other days approved
by the Deans.
The Bishop McNamara High
School Dress Code is conservative.
It is not designed to accommodate
individual tastes or current style
and fashion trends.
Extremes in make-up and hair are
not acceptable. Hair may not be
dyed or painted in bright,
unnatural colors. Make-up
(including fingernail polish)
should be applied neatly and
conservatively. Unnatural makeup colors (green, black, blue, etc.)
are not appropriate.
44
Jewelry must be conservative.
Items not normally worn as
jewelry (safety pins, nails, etc.)
may not be adapted as such.
Studded collars and heavy chains
do not comply with the intent of
the Bishop McNamara dress code.
clothing. Casual Dress Day
guidelines may require specific
clothing styles to be worn on
Casual Dress Days. The following
dress is always considered
inappropriate and is never allowed
on these days: T-shirts with
obscene or questionable designs or
writing, hats, sunglasses, short
shorts, short skirts, Spandex or
tight pants or jeans, torn jeans,
styles with bare midriffs, low
necklines, or any clothing judged
to be immodest. All pants must
be worn with belts or suspenders.
Skirt lengths should comply with
dress code standards.
A Bishop McNamara school
uniform may be worn on Casual
Dress Days.
Tattoos may not be visible when a
student is dressed in the Bishop
McNamara school uniform.
Judgments regarding whether a
student’s appearance is in
compliance with the school’s dress
code are made by the Dean of
Students and the school’s
administration.
FIELD TRIP DRESS
REGULATIONS
Students who are improperly
dressed on Casual Dress Days will
receive detentions and will have to
change into appropriate clothing or
be sent home from school.
School uniforms will be worn for
all field trips.
Students participating in casual,
“outdoor” field trips involving
activities such as canoeing, hiking,
etc. will be expected to wear
appropriate clothing such as Tshirts and jeans. Such dress
exceptions may be requested by
the teacher sponsoring the field
trip.
SECTION VII: SPECIFIC
CAMPUS AREAS
REGULATIONS AND
PROCEDURES
CAMPUS
Improperly dressed students will
not be allowed to participate in
field trips and may lose the right to
a refund for the cost of the trip.
Students are not just students
during class time and in
classrooms. Their responsibility as
learners and their potential for
growth remain active throughout
the day, everywhere on campus
and beyond.
CASUAL DRESS DAYS
A Casual Dress Day is an occasion
to wear appropriate casual
45
Thus students are expected to
behave not only as responsible
young men and women but as
scholars everywhere on campus.
During study halls, students are
expected to pursue their assigned
study or written assignments. In
the halls, locker rooms, offices,
fields, and outdoor areas of
campus, it is understood that
students will be about the business
of obtaining the education they are
here to receive. In the way they
conduct matters such as getting
passes to meet with a teacher for
extra help or with a guidance
counselor, students should remain
aware of the need for their
responsible behavior and the
benefits it provides to both the
school community and themselves.
provided, as needed, for evening
and weekend events.
BEFORE SCHOOL
Students arriving before 7:30 a.m.
must go directly to the cafeteria.
No students should be in the halls,
the concourse, or at their lockers
before 7:30 a.m.
START OF SCHOOL
Each student must be in his/her 1st
block class and seated by the time
the bell rings. Students arriving
after the bell must report to the
Attendance Office for a late pass.
Any student not seated at this time
will be issued a detention. Quiet
conversation is allowed before the
morning announcements begin.
However, students must be silent
and should listen attentively to the
announcements.
Bishop McNamara High School
maintains a closed campus. The
campus is described as Bishop
McNamara’s buildings and
property.
AFTER SCHOOL
Students are reminded that school
rules may be enforced anytime a
student is on the school campus.
When classes end at 2:58 p.m.,
students are expected to exit the
buildings quickly and leave
campus. No students are permitted
to loiter in the halls, lavatories, etc.
or other indoor or outdoor areas of
the campus after their classes have
been dismissed for the day. Any
students remaining on campus
after dismissal must be under the
direct supervision of a member of
the faculty or staff.
An electronic gate secures the
parking lot behind Bishop
McNamara High School when
school is in session. A security
guard is present on campus from
10:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. The
security guard has the authority to
take any action necessary to ensure
safety on campus including the
control of traffic flow on the
parking lot. Additional security is
Parents are encouraged to provide
transportation for students as soon
46
as possible after the school day has
ended.
p.m. This is a flat fee, and will be
charged regardless of the amount
of time the student remains in the
study hall location. Families
planning to use this service on a
regular basis may pre-pay a $500
yearly fee or a $300 semester fee.
Yearly and first semester payments
are due on or before September 5,
2014 for the first semester. Second
semester fees are due by January
15, 2015.
After school, students may not
leave and return to campus unless
a parent/guardian has granted
permission, in writing.
School rules and regulations
remain in effect as long as students
remain on the school campus.
At times when school is not in
session, evenings, weekends,
holidays, etc., no student is
allowed in the school building or
on school property unless under
the direct supervision of a faculty
member or coach.
Students and families making use
of this after school service must
follow these procedures:
1. The study hall location will be
open from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00
p.m. to provide for an AfterSchool Study Hall for students
who are waiting for
transportation home. This
service is provided by the
school at the end of the normal
school day and adult
supervision will be provided.
2. School rules and regulations
will be enforced by the
adult(s) supervising the AfterSchool Study Hall.
3. Students in the After-School
Study Hall may be given
assigned seats and attendance
is recorded. No one may leave
the study hall room without
the permission of the adult
supervisor.
4. All students will be
responsible for the cleanliness
of the area around their
assigned seats.
5. Parents must come into the
school and report to the
AFTER-SCHOOL STUDY HALL
PROGRAM
All students who are picked up
after 3:30 p.m. must wait for their
rides following the procedures for
the After-School Study Hall.
Under no circumstances, may
these students leave campus
between dismissal time at 2:58
p.m. and the time they are picked
up by a parent/guardian to be
transported home.
All students not picked up by 3:30
p.m. and not under the direct
supervision of a coach, club
moderator or teacher are
considered to be under the
supervision of the After-School
Study Hall. These students must
report to the After-School Study
Hall location and will be charged
$5.00 for the day starting at 4:00
47
study hall room to pick up
their child. Students will not
be allowed to stand in the
halls outside the cafeteria or
wait in the rear parking lots
for rides. Students who are
in violation of this rule will
first receive a Saturday
detention, and a phone call
will be made to the student’s
parents. The next violation
will result in a suspension.
ELEVATORS
Bishop McNamara High School
has elevators for students who are
physically unable to use the
school’s stairways. The elevator
in the main building operates by
use of a key, which may be
borrowed from the Main Office.
HALLS AND STAIR LANDINGS
Students are not permitted to
congregate in the halls or on stair
landings.
LIBRARY
Students remaining in the AfterSchool Study Hall after 6:00
p.m. will be assessed an
additional $2.00 per minute until
the student is picked-up.
The right to attend the AfterSchool Study Hall may be revoked
for students who continue to
remain on campus after 5:30 p.m.
The St. Joseph Library Media
Center Staff welcomes every
occasion to offer assistance to our
school community with research,
reference and computer
needs. The Library is open
Monday through Friday from 7:30
a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
CAFETERIA
Each student has the responsibility
for keeping the cafeteria clean.
Tables are to be cleared of papers,
cans, and unused food before
leaving the cafeteria. Beverages
and food spills should be cleaned
up by the person(s) concerned.
Students must remain in the
cafeteria for the entire lunch
period. Students are not to go to
their lockers or into the classroom
wing until the bell sounds for the
end of lunch, nor are they to
congregate at the cafeteria doors
before the bell.
Students may not order carryout
food delivered to the school at any
time or bring glass containers into
the school.
The Librarian is available to assist
students in gaining competency in
Library research skills and assist in
individualized instruction and
learning opportunities. New book
displays are featured to encourage
reading enjoyment for all students.
Book materials circulate for two
week periods and can be renewed
for an additional two weeks or
longer with Librarian’s
permission. Reference materials
do not circulate.
The Library has 24 computer
workstations for student use.
Students are encouraged to use the
48
Library’s computer lab for
searching OPAC, research, class
assignments and special schoolrelated projects.
Teachers frequently reserve class
time to facilitate access to library
and computer resources.
student to whom it is assigned.
Under no circumstances should
lock combinations or lockers be
shared.
The school is not responsible for
the contents in school lockers and
is not responsible for recovering
lost or stolen items.
LIBRARY PASS POLICY
SEARCHES
All students are welcomed and
encouraged to visit the Library,
before, during and after school
hours. Students are not allowed in
the library after the warning bell.
All students are required to have
permission to enter the Library
during school hours. Passes are to
be written in student agenda books
and may be issued by members of
the Library Staff, Study Hall
Prefects, Faculty and Staff. All
students entering the Library must
sign in and show passes to the
Librarian or Friend of the Library
Parent Volunteer.
Lockers are school property and
the school reserves the right to
open and inspect student lockers at
any time.
The school also reserves the right
to search a student’s belongings,
car, or other areas under a
student’s control in order to
enforce school policies, rules and
regulations, and/or to preserve a
safe and orderly learning
environment.
Failure to cooperate with a search
may result in immediate
suspension and/or expulsion.
LOCKERS AND LOCKS
Students are to go to their lockers
only before school, at lunchtime,
and prior to leaving school for the
day. Classes are in session most of
the day and banging lockers is
disturbing to those in the
classrooms. Lockers can and
should be closed quietly.
LOST AND FOUND
Lost and Found items are located
in three different areas, depending
on the article lost.
1. If books or notebooks are left
in the classroom, they may be
kept there a couple of days to
enable the students to come
back for them. After that time,
notebooks should be given to
the bookstore manager in the
bookstore. The bookstore
manager determines the owner
All hall lockers are equipped with
built-in combination locks. It is
the responsibility of the student to
be sure his/her lock is securely
locked at all times. A locker is
intended for use solely by the
49
of the textbooks and posts a
list on the cafeteria message
board as well as the bulletin
board in the concourse. Lost
books and notebooks may be
retrieved from the bookstore
for a fee of $.50.
2. Lost clothing items should be
taken to the Mustang Shop.
After being held for a
minimum of thirty (30) days,
the items will be given to
charity. To ensure the return
of items to their proper
owners, all uniform items
must be identified with the
student’s name.
3. Valuables such as purses,
jewelry, watches, keys, etc.
should be brought immediately
to the Main Office and given
to one of the administrative
assistants.
they have an ample amount of
work to keep themselves busy.
All students not having Senior
Privilege/Honors Passes will be
assigned to supervised study. The
Senior Privilege/Honors Pass does
not mean that the honor student
can go from one place to another at
will. He/she has the choice to go
to a designated place, but once
there he/she must remain for the
time period indicated on his/her
schedule. Passes will be required
by students in supervised study to
go the library. Passes will not be
given out indiscriminately.
TRAFFIC, MOTOR VEHICLE
AND PARKING LOT
RESTRICTIONS
STUDENT AND VEHICLE
ENTRANCE AND EXIT
All Bishop McNamara students are
expected to respect and care for
their own personal belongings as
well as those of others. All found
items should be taken promptly to
the appropriate location.
All vehicles must obey all posted
traffic signs on campus. All
students and their vehicles must
enter the campus from Marlboro
Pike at the front entrance of the
school. All vehicles must exit
through the rear parking lot onto
Whitney Place and continue to
Marlboro Pike. This policy will be
in effect throughout the entire
school year. Please remember to
obey all posted One-Way signs.
STUDY AREAS/STUDY HALL
The library and any supervised
study rooms are designated study
areas. A quiet atmosphere is to be
maintained. Respect for others is
the key principle to follow.
PARKING/PARKING LOT
In supervised study halls, silence is
to be maintained; talking disrupts
others who want to study.
Students should make certain that
Student parking on the Bishop
McNamara campus, Mt. Calvary
parking lot and the Union Building
lot is severely limited; thus all
50
student drivers parking on campus
must purchase and display a valid
Parking Permit/Decal in their
vehicles at all times. The permit is
to be displayed on the front
windshield (or dash) on the
driver’s side. The parking fee is
one hundred dollars ($100.00) for
the school year. In the event the
$100.00 parking fee is invalidated,
the Parking Permit will be
revoked. The Permit will be
reinstated when the invalidation is
corrected. Parking spaces will be
assigned first to carpool drivers,
students driving an exceptionally
long distance and then, on a first
come basis. When applying for a
Parking Permit/Decal, a student
must submit a copy of his/her valid
driver’s license with the
application. Parking
Permits/Decals will not be issued
to students who do not possess a
valid driver’s license. Sophomores
and freshmen may not park
vehicles on the school campus
unless extreme necessity can be
demonstrated.
illegally is subject to being towed
at the owner’s expense.
If a student will be driving
different vehicles to school on
different days, he/she will be
required to purchase only one
permit. However, he/she must
display the permit in the proper
place on the vehicle he/she has
driven that particular day. If a
vehicle will no longer be driven to
school (for example, because it has
been sold), the student must
contact a Dean of Students to
provide information about the new
vehicle to be used. If a Dean of
Students so determines, a new
permit may be issued without
charge.
Should an emergency arise making
it necessary to park a vehicle on
campus without a valid permit, the
student should contact a Dean of
Students as soon as he/she arrives
on campus and be prepared to
provide information about the
make, model, year, color, and
license number of the vehicle.
Students will be assigned a
specific parking space and may
only park in that space. Students
violating a Bishop McNamara
parking regulation will be fined
twenty dollars ($20.00) to be paid
within three (3) days of the
violation. Unpaid fines will lead
to a student’s on-campus parking
privileges being revoked. Any
vehicle parked on the campus and
not displaying a valid Parking
Permit/Decal and/or parked
Vehicles must be parked between
the white lines; no diagonal
parking or taking up two spaces
will be allowed. Students may not
park in the following areas: the
front circle, the lot beside Holy
Cross Hall, or the spaces marked
as reserved for the Cafeteria staff
and Athletic Department. In
addition, cars may not be parked in
the areas marked with yellow
diagonal lines at either end of the
main lot or along the driving lanes
51
where they will interfere with
traffic flow.
not be allowed on the school
property. Parents may obtain these
stickers from the Attendance
Office. Students should not
invite friends or students from
another school to pick them up
in the afternoon unless given
permission by their parents and
approved by the administration.
Bishop McNamara students
found not in compliance with
this request will be subject to
disciplinary action.
Limited parking spaces for Bishop
McNamara students’ vehicles will
be assigned in the Mt. Calvary
parking lot and in the Union
Building parking lot. The school
recommends against parking on
Whitney Place.
During the day no student should
be in any parking lot used for
student vehicles or in any of the
student cars that are parked there.
If a student has an early dismissal
and drives to school, he/she should
get in his/her car and leave
promptly. Students with early
dismissals may not loiter in the
parking lot or in their cars.
The speed limit on school
property is 10mph.
The school reserves the right to
inspect, tow, or impound any
vehicle that is parked on school
property.
Common sense and good judgment
must be exercised by any student
driving to school. Speeding,
spinning of tires or any other
action that endangers persons or
property will not be tolerated.
Students may not pull out to pass
other vehicles in the main
driveway as they enter or exit from
the school grounds; there is to be
only a single lane of traffic moving
in any direction.
Bishop McNamara High School
regrets that it cannot assume
liability for personal possessions
lost or damaged on its property,
including vehicles or items within
vehicles. The school will assist
parents in providing information
and reports to enable them to file
claims with their own insurance
companies.
AUTOMOBILE SECURITY
STICKERS
Failure to comply with the
school’s vehicle regulations will
lead to loss of parking privileges
on campus.
All cars parked on Bishop
McNamara property during the
school day or arriving at the school
at dismissal time must display a
Bishop McNamara Security
Sticker permanently affixed to the
car windshield or bumper on the
driver’s side of the vehicle. This
Cars not displaying the proper
automobile security stickers which
allow entry onto the property to
drop off and pick up students will
52
sticker is different from and should
not be confused with a Parking
Permit/ Decal. Security guards
will be posted at the parking lot
entrance and exit and will not
permit cars without valid stickers
on school property. Families may
request the stickers needed for cars
that will be arriving at the school
at dismissal time by completing
the Application for Automobile
Security Stickers.
Department of Bishop McNamara
High School. Students may not
use school computers until the
Technology Use Agreement is
signed by the student and a
parent/guardian. Students and
parents are advised that student use
of the Internet is monitored by the
school: students found to be in
violation of the Technology Use
Policy will be subject to serious
disciplinary action.
SECTION VIII: GENERAL
CAMPUS REGULATIONS
AND PROCEDURES
EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS
Hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes, floods, blizzards, fire,
and explosions are all threats to be
reckoned with throughout Prince
George’s County. All school
personnel and students should be
prepared to take appropriate action
in the event of an imminent or
actual disaster. Bishop McNamara
High School will implement the
following plan if such action is
necessary:
1. If possible, an announcement
will be made over the public
address system by the
principal explaining the
present emergency. If the
public address system is not
functional, the administrative
team will deliver information
to classroom teachers.
2. The Principal will instruct
faculty and staff members to
follow the instructions of the
PLANNING GUIDELINES
FOR SPECIFIC HAZARDS
(Chapter 3) issued by the State
of Maryland, “Emergency
COMMUNICATING WITH
SCHOOL PERSONNEL
To communicate with school
administrators or request a
telephone call from a faculty
member or guidance counselor,
parents may call the main school
number at 301-735-8401 and
follow the voice mail prompts.
Administrators, teachers, and
guidance counselors may also be
reached via e-mail. Unannounced
visits by parents or guardians to
meet with school personnel are not
acceptable. Scheduled
appointments should be made. An
e-mail directory appears on our
website, www.bmhs.org.
COMPUTER
USE/TECHNOLOGY
Student use of school computers
must be in accordance with the
Technology Use Policy as
established by the Technology
53
Preparedness Planning Guide
for Maryland Schools.” Each
faculty and staff member will
have this plan. This plan
should be kept in all offices
and classrooms.
3. If the emergency involves the
entire Prince George’s County
area, parents should listen to
the radio and television
stations for information. If the
emergency involves the
immediate school community,
the school will attempt to
notify parents.
ID CARDS
Each student will be issued an ID
card provided the student has
submitted the required signatures
on the Technology Use
Agreement. Students are required
to carry their ID card with them at
all times, and they must produce
the ID card upon request by any
faculty or staff member. Failure to
have an ID card when requested
may result in a detention. If a
student loses his/her ID card,
he/she must immediately report
this to the office and arrangements
will be made to replace it. A fee
of $5.00 will be charged for
replacement ID cards.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Students who observe a fire in the
building must report this to the
Main Office immediately and have
the fire alarm sounded.
ID cards are required for
admittance to a variety of schoolsponsored activities and must be
presented to the Librarian in order
to check out any Library materials
or to use a computer.
During an actual fire or a fire drill,
students are expected to remain
quiet and orderly. No talking is
permitted during a fire drill.
MARRIED STUDENTS
Pulling a fire alarm is a serious
violation of safety regulations and
endangers the lives of others. Any
student caught pulling a false fire
alarm will be immediately
expelled. Likewise, any student
caught setting a fire in the school
will be immediately expelled.
Married students may be allowed
to continue at Bishop McNamara.
A conference must be held with
the principal. All information will
be kept confidential. The student
must report to the business
manager to up-date records (make
financial arrangements for the
distribution of student’s records).
Students are also reminded that
turning in a false alarm is a crime
and that the person is liable for
prosecution.
54
to make certain that the locker is
properly closed and locked. Items
that are being carried to class
should not be left unattended even
for a short time. Further, students
are requested not to bring valuable
items with them to school, or if
they must, to exercise great care
with them. Students are
discouraged from bringing CD
players, MP3 players, electronic
games, trading cards, etc. into the
school building. For the protection
and identification of belongings, it
is crucial that the student have
his/her name written on
possessions; this labeling applies
especially to school uniforms,
books, jackets, gym clothing, and
book bags. Respect for the
property of other students is also
essential. Items that have been
found are to be taken to the
cafeteria, where their owners may
claim them from the Lost and
Found. If a student accidentally
leaves his/her locker open, another
student should close it for him/her.
However, nothing is to be removed
from another student’s locker. The
school will consider unauthorized
possession of another student’s
property to be a form of theft; such
illegal possession will be dealt
with severely.
PASS SYSTEM
No student is to be outside his/her
designated area during any of the
class periods unless he/she has a
valid pass signed by a teacher or
prefect. If a person needs to use a
lavatory during a class period or a
study hall, he/she must carry with
him/her a valid pass signed by the
teacher in charge of his/her area.
Study areas for Senior
Privilege/Honors Pass students are
clearly designated and they need
not obtain a study hall pass.
However, an Honors Pass student
must carry his/her Honors Pass. If
a student desires to see a teacher
for extra help or for some other
valid reason during a study hall,
the student must obtain a pass
from the teacher beforehand (the
day before or the morning before)
and present the pass to the study
hall prefect who will then sign the
pass and record the name of the
student who is leaving. The
student will then use the signed
pass to go to the specified location.
No student is to be in the corridors
during a period without a valid
pass; this also applies to Senior
Privilege/Honor Pass students.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Security for personal property
remains primarily the
responsibility of the student. The
school cannot take responsibility
for a student’s personal
belongings. A student’s locker is a
secure place of storage for most
items if the student always checks
If property has been stolen, the
student should report the theft as
soon as possible to a Dean of
Students. Students caught stealing
will be expelled.
55
McNamara unannounced with the
intention of speaking with
students. In the event of an
emergency, family members
should contact the school by phone
prior to their arrival.
SIGNS POSTED IN SCHOOL
Written approval from the Director
of Student Life must be obtained
before posting any signs. The
Director of Student Life will sign
or stamp the poster(s) prior to their
being displayed in the building and
will provide the tape to be used in
posting them. SIGNS AND
POSTERS SHOULD BE
ATTACHED TO TILE OR
GLASS SURFACES ONLY—
NOT TO PAINTED SURFACES.
Signs and posters must be removed
within 24 hours of the completion
of the activities to which they
refer.
Occasionally, items or gifts are
brought or delivered to McNamara
for members of the school
community. In all cases, school
personnel in the Main Office will
oversee the process of ensuring
that these items are given to the
intended recipients. Security
concerns and respect for the
normal school routine prohibit
deliveries that disrupt the school
day.
VISITORS
WEATHER RELATED
CLOSINGS
Visitors arriving at Bishop
McNamara High School during
school hours should report directly
to the main office to pick-up a
visitor’s pass. All alumni, guests,
or visitors to the school must
check in to explain the purpose of
their visit and to obtain permission
before entering other areas of the
school or classrooms. Those
visitors who are approved must
follow school regulations. Those
persons who are denied permission
but remain, or who do not comply
with school regulations, will be
dealt with as trespassers.
In the event of inclement weather,
Bishop McNamara generally
follows the schedule for Prince
George's County public schools in
regard to the cancellation, late
opening and early dismissal of
students. Families should,
however, access local media, the
school website or call the school to
check for special information
regarding Bishop McNamara High
School in the event that the school
schedule differs from the decision
made by Prince George’s County.
An evaluation of weather
conditions by the Bishop
McNamara High School
administration will determine
whether or not after
school/evening events will take
Recruitment visits are limited to 8th
grade students.
Friends and family members are
not permitted to arrive at
56
place in the event of an early
dismissal.
SECTION IX:
FINANCIAL/SERVICE
OBLIGATIONS
Announcements for county schools
will be made on local radio and
television stations. If possible,
they will be posted on the school’s
website at www.bmhs.org
2014-2015 FEES
Tuition:
$13,250.00
Book Rental Fee:
$350.00
Technology Fee:
$100.00
Graduation Fee (Seniors): $200.00
Monthly payments must be made
through the FACTS Tuition
Management Company.
WEATHER RELATED
CLOSINGS DURING EXAMS
If there is a delayed opening or
school closing on an exam day,
McNamara will adapt its exam
schedule to accommodate the
change. If school opens one or two
hours late, students and teachers
should report to school
accordingly. Exams will begin
one or two hours later than
originally scheduled, and dismissal
will be at a later time also.
Annual tuition may be discounted
$250 if the tuition and book fee are
paid in full on or before July 1,
2014. Semester payments may be
discounted $50 if the payment is
received on or before July 1, 2014
and on or before January 15, 2015.
Only those families whose final
obligation following the awarding
of financial aid and grants exceeds
half of the tuition and fees for the
school year are eligible for the
$250 discount. Tuition and fees for
the 2015-2016 school year will be
announced in the spring of 2015 in
McNews.
Exams will occur as follows:
1 HOUR DELAY:
1st exam - 9:00 - 10:30
2nd exam - 10:45 - 12:15
2 HOUR DELAY:
1st exam - 10:00 - 11:30
2nd exam - 11:45 - 1:15
TUITION DISCOUNTS
FOR SIBLINGS
The Sibling Discount Policy at
Bishop McNamara is designed to
provide assistance to families who
have two or more siblings
concurrently enrolled in Bishop
McNamara High School. Siblings
are defined as brothers and sisters
residing in the same family home,
and whose tuition is paid from the
same family source.
If school is canceled, the exams
scheduled on the day that was
missed will be given on the first
day that school reopens.
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Sibling discounts are not in effect
when one of the students is a full
Moreau scholar. Full tuition is
expected for the second student.
Additional siblings from the same
family will be accorded a tuition
discount.
Please note the following formula
which is used when assessing
sibling discount rates:
Two-student family: younger
student pays full tuition; older
student receives $500.00 discount.
Families who have more than two
siblings concurrently enrolled at
Bishop McNamara High School
may contact the President’s Office
for additional consideration.
Archdiocese of Washington.
However, benefit applications
must be submitted to the school
each year. This benefit is not
automatically renewed without
ongoing employment verification.
Employee tuition benefits must be
applied for by July 1 of each
enrollment year.
ARCHDIOCESAN EMPLOYEE
TUITION BENEFIT
A student may be prohibited from
attending class if his/her tuition
account is more than 30 days in
arrears. Any absences incurred
because of financial obligations
are considered unexcused
absences. Should a student miss
five consecutive days of class due
to financial delinquency, he/she
will be removed from the
school's enrollment rolls and the
withdrawal process will be
initiated. Neither report cards nor
records will be released until all
financial obligations are fulfilled.
DELIQUENCY IN
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Students may not begin first
semester classes unless all prior
year financial obligations are
satisfied and July and August
tuition and fees are paid.
Bishop McNamara High School is
one of the few high schools that
choose to participate. The
guidelines for eligibility for the
Archdiocesan Employee Tuition
Benefit Program are that a
parent/guardian who is an
employee of an Archdiocesan
school, agency, or office and who
has been employed two or more
years full-time may request from
their employer a tuition benefit
employment verification form.
This form is signed by the
employer (principal, pastor, etc.)
and then sent to Bishop McNamara
High School. The Bishop
McNamara High School total
employee benefit is $150.00 per
student per school year for as long
as the parent remains in full-time
employment within the
It is the policy of the school to
withhold distribution of the report
cards of students whose
tuition/fees are not up-to-date.
Students with outstanding financial
obligations to Bishop McNamara
will not be permitted to take final
examinations. Students may not
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take more than 2 exams per day.
After a grace period of five
working days (from the date of the
last normally scheduled exam) the
student will receive a failing grade
for any exam not completed.
Neither report cards, grade
transcripts, diplomas nor any other
official school records will be
released until these obligations are
met.
All checks for any Bishop
McNamara High School sponsored
activity must be written payable to:
Bishop McNamara High School.
No checks should be written
payable to a teacher, moderator,
coach, or company.
No personal checks will be
accepted after April 30.
Payments made after April 30
must be in certified funds (cash,
cashier’s check, money order or
credit card: VISA or MasterCard,
Discover or American Express).
A fee of $35.00 will be charged for
all checks returned to Bishop
McNamara as uncollectable.
Returned checks will not be redeposited.
The school reserves the right to
revoke the 2015-2016 registration
of a student whose tuition account
is not current. The school is not
obligated to hold spaces for the
upcoming school year for students
whose financial obligations have
not been satisfied.
CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS
CHECKS
Bishop McNamara High School
accepts Visa, MasterCard,
American Express and Discover.
Student credit/debit card purchases
may be verified by a
parent/guardian prior to
processing.
Students will not be allowed to
participate in the following
activities if tuition is not up-todate: overnight field trips and
graduation ceremonies. Students
may also be precluded from
participating in athletics or other
co-curricular activities.
Effective September 1, 2014
(except for donations, application
fees and registration fees), the
school will charge a 2.5% service
fee on all credit card transactions
and a 1% service fee for all debit
card transactions. Banks and
credit card companies assess
processing fees for all transactions.
This expense is paid from the
school’s tuition revenue and
therefore reduces the tuition
dollars available for academic
programs and services. This
service fee will help to offset the
processing fee.
Payment must be in cash or by
cashier’s check or money order if
requesting records (report cards,
transcripts) on the day of payment.
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be charged for serviceable books
that have been damaged.
REFUND POLICY
Application and registration fees
are non-refundable. Tuition, book
rental, technology and graduation
fees for the full academic year are
non-refundable (with the exception
of a documented military transfer)
after July 15, 2014. Families must
notify the school in writing of a
student’s withdrawal by close of
business on July 15, 2014. After
this date, no portion of the fees
paid or outstanding will be
refunded or cancelled in the event
of the student’s absence or
withdrawal.
Book covers are the responsibility
of the student. Book covers must
be in good taste. Students are not
to apply contact paper covers, and,
if tape is used on covers, it should
not come in contact with the book.
PARENT SERVICE HOURS
All families are required to
perform 10 hours of volunteer
service to Bishop McNamara High
School. Parent service hours for
the school year begin on May 1st
and end on April 30th. The ten
hours of service must be
completed by April 30th or the
parent/guardian will be required to
pay a $30 fee for each service hour
not completed. This is considered
a financial obligation to the school.
Service hours do not carry over
from one year to the next.
Volunteers at Bishop McNamara
High School are not provided
Workers’ Compensation benefits
for injuries they may incur while
performing services for the school.
TEXTBOOK POLICY
Every student pays a book rental
fee. Students requiring a second
set of books may be required to
pay an additional rental fee.
The school is not responsible for
books lost or stolen. Missing
textbooks should be reported
immediately to a Dean of Students.
Students retrieving lost textbooks
from the bookstore will be charged
a re-shelving fee.
Questions concerning the Parent
Service Hours Program should be
directed to the Service Hour
Coordinator, Mrs. Alice Case, at
301-735-8401 (x122) or
alice.case@bmhs.org.
All textbooks must be covered and
kept in the best possible condition.
Nothing is to be written in or on
any textbooks except the student’s
name in the appropriate place
inside the front cover. Textbooks
which are badly damaged or
disfigured by graffiti, or otherwise
rendered unserviceable will not be
accepted for return and must be
paid for by the student. Fines will
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