February 23, 2023

Grades 9-11 Scheduling for 2023-2024

All students have had their individual scheduling appointment with their counselor and should have brought home forms for parent signatures.  Signed scheduling forms are due back this week.

Juniors MyACT Account Setup

Counselors are visiting junior Government classes this week to help students set up their myACT account before the in-school ACT taking place 2/28.  With the shortened schedule today, students may still have some information to complete in their accounts at home.  They will have a handout with step by step instructions and should complete it by March 2nd.

January 11, 2023

College Credit Plus Meetings

Students and their parents interested in participating in College Credit Plus in 2023-2024 should plan to attend the College Credit Plus Information meeting on January 26, 2023 at 7:00 pm via zoom.  Ms. Creighton will email a zoom link prior to the meeting.  You will learn about the benefits and risks of participating in College Credit Plus, in addition to what courses Bishop Watterson will offer for the 2023-24 school year.  Please also read over the information on the College Credit Plus section of the Bishop Watterson website.

Additional meeting opportunity: February 8, 2023, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm.  There will be presenters from several Central Ohio colleges and universities, including Columbus State Community College, Franklin University, Kenyon College, Otterbein University, and The Ohio State University. There is no registration required. You may join using the Zoom link and passcode below:

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91765854795?pwd=WXF6Wm9na2pWZlZsM0hsOW1hYlo0dz09

Passcode: 839925

Counselor Classroom Visits

11th-12th grade counselors are presenting about interpreting PSAT results and preparing for the ACT in junior government classes this week.

9th-10th grade counselors are presenting a career exploration lesson in language classes this week.

Cookies with Counselors postponed

2nd semester Cookies with Counselors has been postponed from today until later in the spring.  We will announce the rescheduled date soon.

Scheduling

2023-2024 course scheduling for current students will be taking place soon.  

Jan 23-27: Counselors present scheduling information in Theology classes

Jan 30-Feb 3: Counselors meet individually with freshmen to schedule their sophomore courses

Feb 6-10: Counselors meet individually with juniors to schedule their senior courses

Feb 13-16: Counselors meet individually with sophomores to schedule their junior courses.

Students will be recommended for their core class levels by their current subject teachers (for example, their current English teacher will make the recommendation for next year’s English level).  If your child has questions about their placements, they should talk with their teachers.

November 9, 2022

Tuition Scholarship: Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is offering a $1000 scholarship to be used towards this year’s tuition.  Students must be a practicing Catholic with church and community involvement and a 2.5 or higher GPA. For more information and to apply, visit https://ohiocharityfoundation.org/scholarships/. Application deadline is November 25.

Counselor Classroom Visits

11th-12th grade counselors are presenting in senior theology classrooms this week on scholarships and financial aid.

9th-10th grade counselors are presenting in freshman science classes on academic skills.

Junior ACT Prep

We emailed juniors with information about the November ACT Review we are offering.

The reason we are offering the ACT prep course in November is so students can use the holiday break to work on the 20 hours of homework they will receive during the prep session to prepare for the State ACT February 28. Don’t delay, sign up today!

ACT Review with Dr. Lynn Dailey

Saturday, November 12 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Dominican Hall. This is the same prep course we offered last school year. We have gotten wonderful reviews from students that participated, and their parents, saying it is highly recommended and well worth the money.  Click here for a flyer about this course.

October 12, 2022

Seniors: Transcript Request Deadline

Students who have a November 1 college application deadline must have their transcript requests and teacher recommendation requests (if needed) submitted in Naviance by October 17.  Students must also have their counselor recommendation survey and resume completed in order for transcripts to be sent.  See your counselor if you need help with any of those items.

Counselor Classroom Visits

11th-12th grade counselors are presenting in senior theology classrooms this week on stress management in the college application process.

9th-10th grade counselors are presenting in sophomore English classrooms this week on self-discovery; who am I and where am I going?

September 28, 2022

College Fair

Columbus Suburban College Fair: Sunday, October 9,  1:00-3:30 pm at Otterbein University.  Over 150 colleges will be in attendance.  Bishop Watterson is a sponsor.  Please wear Watterson gear to the fair.  

This is your chance to meet face to face with college admissions representatives, the same representatives that will be reading your application. 

 Register for the fair and get your barcode 

1. Go to www.strivefair.com
2. Fill out a short registration form to get your barcode
3. Scan your barcode with colleges during the fair to receive more information 

See Ms. Creighton’s email for the flyer with parking information

Academic Support

As we approach the middle of first quarter, counselors will be reaching out to students in the next few weeks who are struggling in classes to offer support and help connect them with resources available.  If your child needs help in a class, they should contact their teacher and ask to arrange time to work together for assistance.

September 21, 2022

Counselor Classroom Visits

This week, the 11-12 counselors will be visiting junior classrooms to do college planning activities.  The 9-10 counselors will be visiting freshman classes to do a career lesson.  The 9-10 counselors will also be doing small group check-ins with freshmen during study hall.

Financial Aid Meeting

The senior financial aid meeting for parents and students will be Monday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m.  Ms. Creighton will send an email with the Zoom link as the date approaches.

Academic Support

As we approach the middle of first quarter, counselors will be reaching out to students in the next few weeks who are struggling in classes to offer support and help connect them with resources available.  If your child needs help in a class, they should contact their teacher and ask to arrange time to work together for assistance.

College Rep Visits

Over 100 college representatives will be visiting Watterson this fall to meet with our juniors and seniors.  This is a great opportunity for students to learn about various colleges and make a connection with our admissions representatives.  Students can view the list of upcoming visits in their Naviance account by clicking on “colleges” – “college visits” and then click the “register now” button to sign up for any that they would like to attend.  The deadline to sign up is 3:00 Thursday the week before the visit.

September 14, 2022

Counselor Classroom Visits
This week, the counselors are visiting sophomore classrooms on 9/06 and 9/08 with an introduction lesson focusing on goal setting and a self assessment.

Junior College Planning Night
The junior college planning night for parents and students will be Monday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m.  Look for the email from Ms. Creighton with the Zoom link to attend.

Financial Aid Meeting
The senior financial aid meeting for parents and students will be Monday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m.  Ms. Creighton will send an email with the Zoom link as the date approaches.

College Rep Visits
Over 100 college representatives will be visiting Watterson this fall to meet with our juniors and seniors.  This is a great opportunity for students to learn about various colleges and make a connection with our admissions representatives.  Students can view the list of upcoming visits in their Naviance account by clicking on “colleges” – “college visits” and then click the “register now” button to sign up for any that they would like to attend.  The deadline to sign up is 3:00 Thursday the week before the visit.

September 7, 2022

Counselor Classroom Visits
This week, the counselors are visiting sophomore classrooms on 9/06 and 9/08 with an introduction lesson focusing on goal setting and a self assessment.
Last week, counselors were in senior classrooms on 8/30 and 9/01 assisting students with college applications and connecting students’ common applications to their naviance accounts and in freshman classrooms on 9/01 and 9/02 with an introduction lesson focusing on services, goal setting, and a learning and productivity assessment

Wellness Wednesday
Today, weather permitting, is our first Wellness Wednesday of the year.  The first Wednesday of each month, students are welcome to participate in wellness activities such as journaling, coloring, meditation, relaxation, and more with the counselors during their study hall.

College Rep Visits
Over 100 college representatives will be visiting Watterson this fall to meet with our juniors and seniors.  This is a great opportunity for students to learn about various colleges and make a connection with our admissions representatives.  Students can view the list of upcoming visits in their Naviance account by clicking on “colleges” – “college visits” and then click the “register now” button to sign up for any that they would like to attend.  The deadline to sign up is 3:00 Thursday the week before the visit.

August 31, 2022

Schedule Changes
Schedule changes are open this week.
Electives may be changed to another elective offered the same period or study hall period and honors/AP may be changed to CPI.
Core classes will not be rearranged for elective requests.
Changes are not made for teacher, period, or lunch preference.
Students must see their counselor by Thursday to pick up a schedule change form.  Signed forms must be turned in with the $10 course change fee by 3:00 on Friday, Sept 2.

Cookies With Counselors
This afternoon parents and guardians are welcome to attend Cookies with Counselors from 2:30-3:30 in Dominican Hall. We hope that you can come pop in, enjoy some refreshments and get to know the counseling department. We look forward to seeing you! 

Counselor Classroom Visits
Counselors  will be in senior classrooms on 8/30 and 9/01 assisting students with college applications and connecting students’ common applications to their naviance accounts.
Counselors will be in freshman classrooms on 9/01 and 9/02 with an introduction lesson focusing on services, goal setting, and a learning and productivity assessment.

August 17, 2022

Schedules Available in Schoology

Student schedules are available.  Please note this information about schedule changes:

• No schedule change requests will be accepted before August 29th unless there is an error (missing or incorrect class) on your schedule.  If there is an error on your schedule, please email your counselor.
• Alternate choices may have been put in place of first choice electives if there was a scheduling conflict – those are not scheduling errors.  
• Students must follow their schedule as is through the first 3 days of school, and then will be able to request schedule changes from August 29-Sept 2.  At that time, electives may be changed to another elective offered the same period or study hall period and honors may be changed to CPI.  
• Core classes will not be rearranged for elective requests.  
• Changes are not made for teacher, period, or lunch preference. 
• Students who were notified last week regarding physics and astronomy may request a change in their science course by contacting their counselor.

August 3, 2022

Counseling Office Hours

The counselors return from summer break on August 15th and will follow the main office hours of 9:00-1:00.

New Counseling Department Structure
We have changed the counseling department structure for 2022-23.  Counselors will be assigned to students by grade level and last name; students will have one counselor in grades 9-10 and another counselor in grades 11-12.  We believe that this will allow us to focus more thoroughly on the needs of students at each grade level and are excited about the opportunity that this will provide for more targeted programming.

Grades 9-10
A-K Mrs. Sponseller jsponseller@cdeducation.org
L-Z Mrs. Zirkle mrs.zirkle@bwhs.org (Mrs. Zirkle is on maternity leave until August 15th; if you need anything before that date please contact Mrs. Sponseller)

Grades 11-12
A-H Ms. Gazdik sgazdik@bwhs.org (Ms. Gazdik will start on August 15th; if you need anything before that date please contact Mrs. Kirby)
I-O Ms. Creighton ms.creighton@bwhs.org
P-Z Mrs. Kirby mrs.kirby@bwhs.org

Dominican Program Director and Counselor
Casey Teeters cteeters@cdeducation.org

Director of College Counseling
Ms. Creighton ms.creighton@bwhs.org

Wellness Counselors
Mr. Johnson mr.johnson@bwhs.org
Ms. Vogel ms.vogel@bwhs.org

2022-2023 Schedules
Schedules will be released in mid-August.  Once they are released, no changes will be made before August 29th unless there is an error in the student’s schedule.  A notification with more information will be sent when schedules are ready.