Summer Information '24-'25

Dear Parents and Guardians:

It’s SUMMER TIME! While you and your family are enjoying much-needed quality time, mornings with no alarm clocks, and maybe even some time on vacation, we at Bishop Shanahan are gearing up for the 2024—2025 school year. The information on this webpage will provide useful and necessary details as you, too, plan for the new school year.

While summer can be the best time of the year to spend with family and friends and forget about school for a while, I ask you to encourage your student to complete the summer reading and other assignments required for their courses. On this webpage, you will find the reading list and information about the corresponding assessments. 

I encourage you to join your student in reading and discussing our selection for “One Book, One School” this year, Refugee by Alan Gratz. The book will provide the foundation for meaningful learning experiences across the curriculum throughout the school year, so it is imperative that your student returns to school prepared to actively engage with its content and themes in multiple subject areas.

With each new school year comes new opportunities for growth and participation. Please make note of the many possibilities listed on this webpage for students to be involved in the life of the Bishop Shanahan community. I strongly encourage all students to participate in our school community by becoming involved in a variety of activities such as clubs, sports, band, or chorus.

Important dates and details relative to these activities are contained on this webpage.

I am excited to continue to serve the Bishop Shanahan community in the upcoming school year! Like you, I want our students to thrive in all aspects of their lives, and I am committed to helping them succeed. If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to reach out via telephone or email. My prayer is that this summer will provide your family with safe travels and an abundance of joy, laughter, and love.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert W. Moran, Ed.D.
Principal

Dear Bishop Shanahan parents, guardians and students, 

Welcome to Summer 2024! It is an exciting time of year full of sunshine, summer jobs, and many fun activities. I hope that you will find some time for the three r’s of summer: relax, rejuvenate and read. Spend quality time with family members, friends, and other loved ones, making real memories and being sure to take a break from all of the screens!

As we have said time and time again, learning never stops - even during the summer months. All students will participate in the summer reading program. I encourage all family members to read our selection for “One Book, One School” this year: Refugee.  This book engages the reader through the eyes of young refugees fleeing three international crises during three different time periods. The connections are impactful even though the stories occur years apart. The stories are engaging and will provide the foundation for meaningful learning experiences across the curriculum, so it is imperative that your student returns to school having completed the reading.  Additionally, each grade level has other required summer reading to complete. New this year, there will only be one summer reading test; the other two assessments are projects. Please reference the relevant sections on this webpage for more information.

New this year, all incoming Freshmen are encouraged to register for the AVLI summer math program. Math is very much a "use it or lose it" skill and sometimes we all need to refresh, practice, and polish our skills before moving on to the next challenge. This course is designed to review key topics and skills to help set students up for success in Algebra I and Geometry for the coming year. 

Our panel of math teachers have identified three areas of pre-algebra skills that all students would benefit from reviewing. 

• Integers & Rational Numbers

• Irrational Numbers & Radicals

• Algebraic Equations & Inequalities

This asynchronous summer course combines video lessons, practice exercises, and assignments that are designed to help students review and master skills essential for success in Algebra I and Geometry.

There are a total of nine assignments to be completed and a suggested schedule is included in the course to help students stay on track. Technical and math related support is also available through email. The cost of the program is $41.30 and registration can be completed by clicking here.

The work of rostering students for classes for the 2024-2025  academic year continues. The master schedule is built and finalized during the months of June and July. Students and families will receive rosters via email in mid to late August. The students have had ample time to complete Course Selection requests. These requests will be used in creating the final rosters. It is important that all students have alternates picked if their first request does not fit into the final rosters.  Any course selection or rostering questions should be directed to rostering@shanahan.org. The Academic Affairs Office cannot make level changes without the approval of the department chair and teacher. Please if requesting level changes, direct those questions to the rostering email but also copy the department chair. Once rosters are sent out, any student who requests a roster change where they received the courses they selected during the course selection process will be charged a $30 fee for that roster change.

If you have any questions over the summer about your student’s academic plan, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at tdellicompagni@shanahan.org.

Have a blessed summer!

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Teresa Dellicompagni
Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs

Happy Summer! After a school year filled with many exciting events and activities, I hope that you and your family can slow down, relax, and enjoy these summer days. Before we know it, we will be ready for a new school year. This letter contains some important information for you to review as you look ahead to 2024-2025 at Bishop Shanahan.

The School Calendar can be found in the “Parents” and the “Quicklinks” sections of the school website. This calendar is the most up-to-date resource to find out what is happening throughout the 2024-2025 school year. We do not print the calendar, but you can download and print a copy from the school website. 

The Bishop Shanahan Website (shanahan.org) is a great resource for you to find information about current and upcoming Shanahan events. Stay informed over the summer with the latest Shanahan news here. 

The Student Life section of the school website gives information about our many clubs and school activities. All students are encouraged to get involved in our clubs, sports, bands, choirs, and activities throughout the school year. These are wonderful opportunities for students to meet friends, develop their gifts and talents, grow in leadership skills, and feel part of the Bishop Shanahan community. Information about joining clubs will be shared in the first few weeks of school through the morning announcements and on the display board in the cafeteria.

The Arts Department has announced that the school musical this year will be Matilda.  Information about musical auditions can be found on the Arts section of this webpage. Tickets for the school musical will go on sale in the fall through the online link that will be posted on the school website.

As we move closer to the beginning of the school year, we look forward to welcoming the Class of 2028 during our S.O.A.R. days at the end of August and our Freshman Welcome Night on August 28. The first days of school for Freshmen are September 4 and 5, for Sophomores on September 5, and for Juniors and Seniors on September 6. All grades will report on September 9. Yearbook pictures will be taken on the first days of school. Information about yearbook sales will be posted to the school website in the fall.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sister.marianne@shanahan.org. 

Enjoy your summer break and know that we are looking forward to an exciting new school year! May God bless you and your family throughout these summer months.

Sincerely, 

Sister Marianne Therese Lallone, IHM
Assistant Principal for Student Affairs

Dear Friends in Christ:

Greetings!  I hope that this letter finds you well and enjoying the many blessings of the summer months. After arriving in June, I have been spending my days acclimating to Bishop Shanahan High School. I feel grateful to join this school where we challenge our students and all in our community to be socially responsive, ethical and accepting Christian people, who embrace a commitment to serving others as a result of their formation as "People of God; People for Others."

Jesus Christ and His Church are at the very heart of the Bishop Shanahan High School community. We fulfill the mission of BSHS by providing students with many opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ in Word, Sacrament, and activities - all designed to nourish their relationship with the Lord.

As a Catholic-Christian community, Bishop Shanahan High School is a source through which each member may deepen his or her personal relationship with God. By engaging the Spiritual Life at Bishop Shanahan, young people talk about their faith openly and practice it with enthusiasm alongside their classmates, peer leaders, faculty, and staff.

I encourage you to live by these same Christian ideals during the summer break. These days offer a wonderful opportunity for each of us to refresh our minds and bodies. Vacation with family and friends, reading a good book, daily exercise, and other similar activities provide the nourishment and rest that we require after an arduous academic year. Remember well to be equally attentive to the needs of the soul. Jesus has a plan for you and me this summer to encounter us and to renew us with his grace. He wants us to help him realize that plan by praying every day, attending Mass on Sunday, and receiving the Sacraments.

As we journey through this summer and into the new academic year, may we be guided in the path of life; always with the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Francis Xavier as our intercessors. I eagerly anticipate the privilege of meeting all of you in September!

God Bless You,
Fr. Louis J. Monica
School Minister

Dear Shanahan Families,

Greetings from the Office for Student Services! We hope you are having a relaxing summer. This letter is to pass along some updates and reminders regarding dress code, attendance, immunizations, and other important policies.  

The dress code is, and has always been, an integral part of Catholic education and will continue to be strictly enforced; this will include regular uniform inspections. The greatest number of dress code infractions result from untucked shirts, missing belts and IDs, sock and skort length, and incorrect shoes. Please note the updated requirements for skort length:  All female students must wear a regulation skort at a modest length of no more than 3 inches above the knee. Be advised that this rule will be strictly enforced. Please also note an updated policy regarding water bottles; the proliferation of large metal tumblers has caused safety hazards (spilled water on floors) and classroom disruptions (loud metal clanking). The updated water bottle policy is: students are permitted to carry transparent plastic water bottles that are no larger than 24 oz. Please review all of  these items with your child and refer to the BSHS Handbook for details.  

Please remember that parking is a privilege. Students are expected to follow the appropriate traffic laws and have their Shanahan parking decal displayed on their vehicle. Any student who violates traffic laws, does not have a BSHS parking decal displayed, or who parks in an unauthorized space, faces disciplinary action.  

The Office for Student Services also oversees the students’ health services, including the Nurse’s Office and Guidance Office. All students who are entering 11th grade or are new students in Pennsylvania in any grade must have a copy of a physical on file in the Health Room. If your child has had a PIAA physical, please make a copy of it for the Health Room; the nurses do not have access to the Athletic Department records. Those students who did not turn in a copy of their physical prior to their Junior year must do so before their Senior year.  

The Emergency Medical Card will be mailed home with the student rosters. Please have the completed card returned to school on their first day. The Nurse’s Office is unable to treat students for whom we do not have a card on file.  

Pennsylvania has a state law that mandates specific immunizations. Students who do not have all the state mandated immunizations will not be permitted to attend school. This is a state law which impacts all public and private schools and must be adhered to by all Archdiocesan schools. Please note, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia does not accept religious exemptions from immunizations. Please refer to shanahan.org for details.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact studentservices@shanahan.org.

Sincerely,
The Office for Student Services

New this year, all incoming Freshmen are encouraged to register for the AVLI summer math program. Math is very much a "use it or lose it" skill and sometimes we all need to refresh, practice, and polish our skills before moving on to the next challenge. This course is designed to review key topics and skills to help set students up for success in Algebra I and Geometry for the coming year. 

Our panel of math teachers have identified three areas of pre-algebra skills that all students would benefit from reviewing. 

• Integers & Rational Numbers

• Irrational Numbers & Radicals

• Algebraic Equations & Inequalities

This asynchronous summer course combines video lessons, practice exercises, and assignments that are designed to help students review and master skills essential for success in Algebra I and Geometry.

There are a total of nine assignments to be completed and a suggested schedule is included in the course to help students stay on track. Technical and math related support is also available through email. The cost of the program is $41.30 and registration can be completed by clicking here.

Click Here for 9th Grade Reading List & Projects

Click here for 9th grade rubric

Please send questions to summerreading@shanahan.org.

Click here for 10th grade reading list & projects

click here for 10th grade rubric

Please send questions to summerreading@shanahan.org.

click here for 11th grade reading list & projects

click here for 11th grade rubric

Please send questions to summerreading@shanahan.org.

click here for 12th grade reading list & projects

click here for 12th grade rubric

Please send questions to summerreading@shanahan.org.

FALL SPORTS REGISTRATION and PIAA FORMS

• Registration for Fall Sports OPENS JUNE 1, 2024. 

• PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER UNTIL YOU HAVE A COMPLETED PIAA SECTION 6 PHYSICIAN FORM CERTIFIED 5/1/24 OR LATER

• Fall sports include Boys and Girls Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Boys and Girls Soccer, Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball, Boys Rugby 7's (Club), and Fall Cheer.

• Registration is through ArbiterSports (formerly FamilyID) ....please follow this link to register starting June 1st  for all Fall sports:  FamilyID Sports Registration  Any technical questions with registration please contact ArbiterSports at support@arbitersports.com or 1.800.311.4060

• For the 2024 Fall Season, Registration will open on June 1st and tryouts will begin on Monday,  8/12.  Football Heat Acclimation and Golf begin the week of 8/5.

• FALL SPORTS REGISTRATION IS DUE BY JULY 26th ONLINE ONLY!

• Parents/Athletes: Print Out Section 6 of the PIAA CIPPE form ( PIAA CIPPE form available here) and provide it to your Authorized Medical Examiner (if they don't have an electronic version).  Forms must be completed and certified after May 1, 2024. Forms dated prior to May 1, 2024 will not be valid and registration will not be complete.

• Please contact the coach for specific team information.  Email contacts are located on the Athletics page on our website.

FALL TRYOUT DATES

• July 26:  Final Day for Fall Sports Registration 
   

• Football Heat Acclimation: Monday, Aug. 5 | 4 - 8 PM @ Stadium/Turf Field
   

• Football Tryouts/Practice: Monday, Aug. 12 | 3 - 5 PM @ Stadium/Turf Field; 5 - 6 PM Break (no one leaves the campus); 6 - 8 PM @ Stadium/Turf Field
   
• Golf Tryouts: 

  • Tuesday, Aug. 6th | 3pm @ Downingtown Country Club

  • Wednesday, Aug. 7th | 2pm @ Downingtown Country Club

  • Thursday, Aug. 8th | 4pm @ Downingtown Country Club
     

• Field Hockey Tryouts: Monday, Aug. 12 | 6 - 8 PM @ Stadium/Turf Field
   

• Volleyball Tryouts: Monday, Aug. 12 | 12 - 2:15 PM (Freshman and Sophomores only); Monday, Aug. 12 | 2:30 - 7 PM (Varsity Looks)
   

• Boys' Soccer Tryouts: Monday, Aug. 12 | 7 - 10 AM & 4:30 - 6 PM (meet in back Junior Lot)
   

• Girls' Soccer Tryouts: Monday, Aug. 12 |  10 AM - 1 PM @ Stadium/Turf Field
   

• Girls' Tennis: Monday, Aug. 12 | 8 - 10 AM @ Tennis Courts (inclement weather in the AM would cause shift to 4 PM)
   

• Boys' and Girls' Cross Country: Monday, Aug. 12 | 7 - 9 AM @ Stadium Track

Summer Workouts will begin June 17 and continue through August 9 at BSHS. REGISTER at: TitusOnline/BSHS or Download the App "Titus Sports Delaware."

• Log In or Register if you do not have an account.
• Confirm your account through email and complete remainder of your profile
• Under the "Team" tab, select the location "Wilmington"
• Select the training package for your group

*A team rate of $150 includes the entire Summer & Fall Inseason training program

ALL PLAYERS MUST REGISTER & SIGN WAIVERS BEFORE PARTICIPATING.

The TITUS Athletic Performance Training program is designed to build total body power, explosiveness, quickness, improve speed and decrease the chance for athletic injury.

TITUS Sports Training Staff are highly trained and certified. Credentials include certifications from the American Council on Exercise, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, International Sports Science Association, National Association of Speed and Explosion, Functional Movement Screening, National Strength and Conditioning Association, USA Weightlifting and USA Track and Field. 

We look forward to working with you and thank you in advance for your hard work!

-The Titus Team

Click here to view the flyer

MUSIC DEPARTMENT MEETINGS

• Typically 2nd Tuesday of each  month.
• During the summer: July 9th at 7:30pm and August 16th at 7:30 PM

Bishop Shanahan High School's annual fall musical is a renowned performance! Students of all interests are invited to participate and there are many opportunities to get involved. The annual Fall Musical has become a tradition not only to the Bishop Shanahan High School family but to the greater Chester County community as well. It is a project that, unlike any other, provides an opportunity for student athletes, musicians, actors, dancers, artists, club and activity leaders, scholars, and all members of the student body to get involved!

BAND CAMP

• July: 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th from  5-8 PM
• August: 5th through 9th from 3 PM-9PM; and 16th and 23rd from 5-8:30 PM
• Click here to complete the Summer Band Form by July 10th.

​​​​​​CHOIR CAMP

• August 13th - 15th from 10 AM - 1 PM
• Click here to complete the Summer Choir Form by July 10th.

Dear Students and Parents:

In an ongoing commitment to provide students attending Bishop Shanahan High School a well-rounded education, two requirements of the freshman year include a semester course in Art and Music Appreciation, as well as a course in Computer Applications.

In an attempt to recognize the special needs of talented students considering careers in the Art field, we will offer a studio art course entitled “Introduction to Art” as an option to the Art and Music Appreciation Course. This semester-long course will fulfill the Fine Art credit required for graduation. It will also serve as a prerequisite to further course work later in the Art Department.

Since class size is limited, it is necessary for you to express your interest in this class by completing the steps below no later than June 15.

1. If not already selected, sign into SchoolAdmin.
2. Locate the "Fine Arts Preference” form.
3. Select your art choice.
4. Check your email for the follow-up Google Form.

You will be notified if a screening interview process will take place. Admission to this course will be at the discretion of the art teacher. Feel free to contact me at mthompson@shanahan.org if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Mary Ann Thompson
Coordinator of Visual Arts

Dear Parents and Students,

Due to the large number of requests for placement in the Introduction to Art class, students who wish to continue to be considered are asked to submit two pieces of artwork they have created.

The first should be a self portrait in pencil, and the second artwork is the choice of the student. The artwork should be photographed and submitted to Introduction to Art Screening Process at artrecommendation@shanahan.org by June 30.

Thank you,
Mrs. Mary Ann Thompson
Coordinator of Visual Arts

• September 10, 2024: Endowment Fund Golf Outing at French Creek Golf Club. Volunteer opportunities on the day of the event.
   
• September 20, 2024: Designer Bag BINGO. Volunteer opportunities on the day of the event.
   
• October 3, 2024: Give Back Thursday, a digital day of giving. Volunteers are needed to share our social media posts!
   
• October 2024: NestFEST Spring Auction planning begins. Contact events@shanahan.org to learn more and join a committee.
   
• October 19, 2024: Leadership Giving Events (for donors of $1,000+)
   
• November 11, 2024: Eagle Classic Golf Outing at the Downingtown Country Club. Volunteer opportunities on the day of the event.
   
• November 13, 2024: Scholarship Benefactor Breakfast in the BSHS Media Center
   
• December 7, 2024: Christmas Craft Show. Volunteer opportunities on the day of the event.
   
• January 2025: NestFEST Auction Planning. Contact events@shanahan.org to learn more and join a committee.
   
• February 1, 2025: Athletics Beef & Beer. 
   
• March 4, 2025: President's Society Reception (for donors of $1,000+)
   
• Spring 2025: NestFEST Spring Auction TBD. Contact events@shanahan.org to learn more and join a committee.
   
• May/June, 2025: Class of 2025 Gifts of Gratitude, an online/graduation program. Volunteers are needed to share our social media posts!

• Save the date for the FlynnO'Hara Shanahan sale on Wednesday, June 19th from 12:00 - 5:30 PM. Use the buttons below to find your uniform and to sign up for the shopping event!
   

• Please note the updated requirements for skort length:  All female students must wear a regulation skort at a modest length of no more than 3 inches above the knee. Be advised that this rule will be strictly enforced. 

SHOPPING EVENT SIGN UP     FIND YOUR UNIFORM

New or Used Chromebook Must Meet the Following Requirements before the Activation Event:

The Classes of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 are required to have a Chromebook, which meet or exceed our minimal specifications, for the start of the academic year. Returning students need to review these requirements at the beginning of each new school year to be sure their Chromebooks still meet these requirements, with particular attention to the Google Auto Update Policy.

Please review the information below before choosing a Chromebook. You may also email our Technology Coordinator, Mr. Bryan Kamtsios, at bkamtsios@shanahan.org.

Minimum Chromebook Requirements:

• Screen Size: Minimum of 11 inches  

• Memory: Minimum of 4 GB

• Hard Drive Size: Minimum of 16 GB

• Wireless connectivity: 802.11ac

 *Although a warranty is not required, it is highly recommended. Students will use their Chromebooks daily and BSHS will not repair or attempt to fix student Chromebooks.

Used Chromebooks Requirements

If your Chromebook is used or you plan on using the same Chromebook you used last year, please make sure that the Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date does not expire during the upcoming school year. If a device reaches its Auto Update Expiration date, it will not be permitted on the school network; a new Chromebook would be required. You can read more here: Google Auto Update Policy.

Chromebook Options

Option 1
If you already own a Google Chromebook from your previous school, you can continue to use it at BSHS, so long as it meets the minimal requirements, specifically the Used Chromebook Requirements (see above). Chromebooks will need to be added to the Shanahan domain during the Chromebook activation event that will be scheduled for late August. The link for the scheduling portal will be available on Shanahan.org and emailed to families once dates are finalized.

Option 2
If you are purchasing a Chromebook on your own, it must meet the minimal requirements. Chromebooks will need to be added to the Shanahan domain during the Chromebook activation event that will be scheduled for late August. The link for the scheduling portal will be available on Shanahan.org and emailed to families once dates are finalized.​

• Chrome Operating System with active Auto Update Policy that will not expire through your student's graduation year. Please see Google Auto Update Policy.

• Chromebook must have a functioning camera/microphone and be able to hold a charge for the full school day (at least 7 hours).

For the Class of 2028 and Students Transferring In:

Bishop Shanahan High School students are required to use a Google Chromebook.* Please see the details above.

For incoming Freshmen and students transferring to BSHS, you will need to bring your Chromebook to your scheduled S.O.A.R. session to have it enrolled; it will be ready for you to take home at the end of your session. If you will be bringing a brand new Chromebook, please leave it in the box. 

The 2024 - 2025 tuition is:

• 1 Student     $10,200
• 3 Students   $6,800
• 4 Students   $5,100

The school fee for all students in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is $1,700 per student. Students participating in athletics and select activities are billed an athletic/activity fee separately.

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