From the Principal
February 26, 2024
Greenscreen practice
Broadcasting students work with the green screen to plan their news show.
Middle school broadcasting
Students work on editing their first broadcast before posting on YouTube.
Kindergarten's Diaper Tower
The students collected over 6,000 diapers for Bottoms Up.
Planning for 2024-2025
As we have passed the midway point of the third quarter, we are involved in a lot of planning for the future of Bishop Flaget School. We are working on next year's budget, inputting EdChoice and Jon Peterson Scholarship renewals and requests, determining curriculum changes, looking at staffing for next year, enrolling new students, and planning for the high school.
- BUDGETING: In regards to the budget, we are establishing a budget that will allow us to pay our staff a just salary and enable us to continue to provide our students with the best teachers around. We are blessed to have a great staff who knows the value of a Catholic education and understands the needs of our students and our school. Many of our staff members have given up opportunities for much higher pay and public school benefits to be here to guide your children as they grow in faith and knowledge. We appreciate their vocation and their sacrifice, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do all that we can to provide a fair and just wage for them. Because of this, you will see a $1000 increase in the per pupil cost this year. We are working to bring our staff members' salaries to at least 75% of the public school salaries. This will be a gradual process, but we are studying ways that we can do this without placing the hardship on our school families or our parish.
- SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS: It is incredibly important that you read all communications coming from the school. Mrs. Fahnestock and I have been somewhat frustrated by the number of phone calls and emails we get regarding things that have been communicated through her Weekly Wednesday, regular emails, and my newsletters. We have tried to streamline things so that you aren't overwhelmed by emails, flyers, and papers home, but we are finding the more that we communicate, the less it seems to get through. If you have ideas, please let us know. If you are not receiving Weekly Wednesday, From the Principal, or other emails from the school, please check your spam folders and make sure all emails are going to the Inbox. We will also continue to post them on FACTS in the family portal where you can refer to them if you delete something and then need it later.
- TUITION ASSISTANCE: Please apply for FACTS tuition assistance. Last year, there was an additional $33,000 available that could have been awarded to families to help with tuition. However, we cannot award it if you do not apply, and this year, you must apply by 3/15 in order to receive any funds from the SGO (Emmaus Road Scholarship Granting Organization).
- EDCHOICE: Complete your EdChoice renewals and new applications as soon as possible. This helps us with billing as we will have to bill you on 7/1/24 for the upcoming school year. The scholarships are supposed to be awarded monthly, but if yours has not been awarded, you will be responsible for those initial payments.
- ANNUAL FUND: We are working with Our Sunday Visitor again this year to run our annual fund. Please consider how you can give to this fund which helps with the operation of our school. Money from our annual fund is directed primarily to teacher salaries, but some may be used to help fund capital improvements as situations may arise. This fundraising effort will be separate from our capital campaign for the new high school.
High School Update
Tidbits about Our Planned Expansion
The cost is about $12 million for the expansion and renovations to existing building. This will include:
- 20,000 sq. ft. new construction (which will extend the building through the existing teacher parking lot to the property line and turn back toward the softball diamond)
- Six new classrooms
- High school makerspace
- High school "commons" area
- Media Center
- New Chapel that will seat 80-100 people on second floor
- New restrooms on both floors
- Sprinkler system for entire building
- Building updates
- New restrooms on the second floor in the existing building/updates to current restrooms
- Elevator
- Updated middle school makerspace
- Classroom renovations
- New music/bandroom
- Controlled entry through new offices (in current chapel area)
- Improved teacher workrooms and lounges
- New driveways and parking lots/paving existing gravel lot
EdChoice Re-Enrollment/Applications Now Open
Remember: Every student in Ohio is eligible for at least $650
The window for EdChoice enrollment begins on February 1st for the 2024-2025 school year. Please make sure that you complete the process as soon as possible so that your scholarship will be awarded prior to the start of the school year. To reapply, you need the renewal application for each student and proof of address (utility bill). Please contact Mrs. Fahnestock if you have any questions.
Return the application form and proof of address to the school office. You can also scan and send them to tfahnestock@cdeducation.org. You do not need to complete the income verification this year unless you would like it to be re-evaluated.
Tuition Assistance Opportunity - Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund
Please make sure that you apply for tuition assistance through FACTS to help pay for tuition which may not be covered by EdChoice or Jon Peterson scholarships. This year, the deadline is firm, and you must apply by 3/15/2024 in order to be eligible for any assistance.
You can apply directly through the Family Portal through FACTS.
If you are the parent of a new student who does not yet have a FACTS account, you can apply through www.factstuitionaid.com.
Preschool and PreK students are not eligible for Emmaus Road Scholarship Funds. However, we do have the Early Childhood Education grant available to families whose incomes fall below 200% of the poverty level. Please contact Mrs. Corcoran to apply (lcorcora@cdeducation.org).
School Transportation Survey for 2024-2025
We are preparing to send our school calendar to the local school districts to request transportation for Bishop Flaget students for the next school year. Currently, Chillicothe City, Zane Trace, and Southeastern bus our students. Huntington, Adena, Paint Valley, and Unioto provide payment in lieu of transportation. Schools must be within a 30 minute route to Bishop Flaget to be required to provide busing or provide payment in lieu of. Payment in lieu of is only provided when the school does not provide a bus.
Please complete the survey by March 8th, so that we can share information with the districts about the need for busing for our students.