Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School

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Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Hudson, Florida. The school falls under the diocesan jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. Its mailing address is in Spring Hill.

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School

Motto	Value yesterday, celebrate today, and envision tomorrow.
Established	2003
Type	Private co-educational secondary
Affiliation	Catholic, Christian Brothers
Founder	Jane Moerschbacher
Faculty	48
Students	257
Grades	9 - 12
Location	Spring Hill, Florida, USA
Accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Colors	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Hurricanes
Website	BMCHS Home Page

Contents 1 School Information 2 Mission Statement 3 Technology 3.1 Academic Awareness 3.2 Laptop Controversy 3.3 Computer Use Policy 4 Dramatics 4.1 Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center (EDPAC) 5 External links 6 Notes and references

[edit] School Information

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (otherwise known as "BMCHS" or simply "Bishop") was established in 2003, the first new Catholic high school in the Diocese in over forty years. The school was named after the first bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Charles Borromeo McLaughlin. Since the Bishop was nicknamed “Hurricane Charlie,” BMCHS is the home of the “Hurricanes;" their mascot is "Hurricane Charlie." The school's first principal, Jane Moerschbacher, held the position until she retired in 2007, following the graduation of BMCHS's inaugural class. Jane Moerschbacher was succeeded by Sarah Regan, formerly the principal of Academy of the Holy Names (an all girls school in Tampa, FL).^[1] She holds this post to this day.

[edit] Mission Statement

The school maintains very specific goals regarding the reasons for its existence. These goals are manifested in its mission statement:

To form a Christian community that lives the Gospel values, that fosters the spiritual, academic, intellectual, social, emotional and physical development of all its members; and that delivers to the world a message of peace and justice.

[edit] Technology

Every student in attendance is issued a school laptop that is used in most classes daily. The school is equipped with a wireless network, with an 802.11 wireless router in every classroom so as to ensure a speedy and reliable connection. In addition to the students, teachers and other administrators also have laptops.^[2] Electronic assignments are issued over either the school's network via the "Classrooms Folder" or via Edline. ^[3] The "Classrooms Folder" is a network folder in which each teacher has a personal subfolder in which they can post their assignment documents. All students have access to this folder from the school's network. Edline, however, is a large system in which school events, assignments, and club/sport related activities are posted.^[4] Edline is a much more complex system, as it does everything the "Classrooms Folder" does, such as offering access to calendars and other types of data entries.

In June of 2004, ten laptops were stolen from the school, never to be recovered. ^[5]

[edit] Academic Awareness

Bishop McLaughlin uses Pearson Education's PowerSchool software, an electronic grading program in which all grades are posted and subsequently calculated as per a teacher's specific grading system. The software allows for students and their parents to keep constantly updated on grades, as well as a calculated grade point average, as grades can be updated at any time by teachers. Parents also have the option to receive an email from the software every week giving them updated progress reports on their child's grades in every class.

[edit] Laptop Controversy

As of the founding of BMCHS, laptops have been utilized in the classes ^[6] at BMCHS, to both praise and criticism. Those in favor of the laptops cite the growing electronic use in the world, and the added bonus of immediate assignment submission via webmail. Critics cite the continued abuse of the internet by students; the distractions provided by the various games and add ons, as well as the overdependence on the laptops which can cause difficulties when the internet is inaccessible, or the laptop itself breaks.^[7]

[edit] Computer Use Policy

The official BMCHS policy on laptops is that they are to be used for schoolwork and homework only. Almost all proxies and games are blocked, and every move of a student is instantly accessible by the IT department. Students are also charged up to $250 for laptop injury, and if they are caught misusing the laptop, can have it taken from their possession for up to a week, and administrative detentions can be given as needed for repeat offenders. As of the class of 2010, the students are also allowed to keep their laptops upon graduation. ^{[8] [9]}

[edit] Dramatics

The school has only recently began producing full-scale productions in of 2006, under the direction of the drama teacher, Douglas Hollander, although in the light of recent downsizing, his contract was not renewed. They have produced and performed Harvey, Noises Off^[10], and Blithe Spirit^[11]. They recently produced Cinderella, the school's first ever musical performance. Additionally, the BMCHS Drama Club participates regularly in the Florida International Thespian Society's competitions. It should be noted that they have never reached the state level, an annual goal of theirs.

[edit] Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center (EDPAC)

The EDPAC is the five million dollar theater facility located at BMCHS. ^[12] It boats an extensive catwalk, a professional soundboard, expert lighting, including new smartlights recently installed, and 880 seats. School plays are held there, as well as chapel.

[edit] External links

• School Website
• Edline Homepage
• Powerschool

[edit] Notes and references