Back-to-School Hub 2025

Letter from the President/CEO

First Day of School 2024 with Dr. John Barnhardt

Dear McNamara Students,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! This year promises to be one filled with powerful learning, memorable experiences, and for our seniors, the last step before taking your McNamara education into the wider world!

Each year, you have the opportunity to fully apply yourself to your academic studies and immerse yourself in the rich student life offerings. Whether you join a new club, try out for a new sport, or sign up for a new class, only you can decide to grow. For our freshmen, growth is what our community is all about! Commit today to attain a higher GPA than last year, foster new friendships, and to better serve your school community.

Though it may not feel like it, your time here at Bishop McNamara is limited. In short order, you will be crossing the altar with a diploma in hand, never able to go back and “do better.” These four years are the only four years you have to successfully master the academic scholarship needed to pursue challenging and fulfilling college and career options. If you commit, every day, to serving yourself, each other, and our magnificent God in amazing ways, there is nothing you can’t do with your McNamara experience.

As a Holy Cross family, it is also important to remember our Four Pillars. We strive to be family, to build respect, to educate our minds and hearts, and to always bring hope. When we focus on these efforts, there is nothing we cannot accomplish together.

Thank you for being a part of our family. The future has never looked brighter!

With gratitude,

Dr. John Barnhardt

President/CEO

Back-to-School Checklist

First day of school - Monday, August 25, 2025 - Classes begin promptly at 8:15 AM

Athletics Info

Calendars - School, Maroon & Gold Days, Athletics

The School Calendars are available for viewing and printing at Calendars. This includes the BMHS School Calendar, the Maroon and Gold Days Calendar, and the Athletics Calendar.

Follow the instructions for adding the school calendar feed to your calendars.

Every week, Mrs. Carter reviews the dates in the week ahead in the Weekly Update emailed to your email address of record. Check Maccess to be sure we have the correct email address.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center provides a comprehensive, developmental program that meets the personal, social, emotional, academic, college, and career development needs of each individual student. Our professional counselors provide support in a warm, inviting, and safe environment where students are always welcome and important.

For more information, go to Counseling Center.

Courses/Course Catalog

Enrollment Dates, Events & Deadlines

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: MARCH 14, 2025
Transfer Student Event: August 14, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
12th Grade Senior Kick-Off: August 18, 2025
10th/11th Grade Orientation & Picture Day: August 19, 2025
Class of 2029 9th Grade Experience & Picture Day: August 20, 2025
Class of 2029 9th Grade Experience: August 21, 2025
Class of 2029 Freshman Experience, Parent University: August 22, 2025
First Day of Classes: August 25, 2025

Check the School Calendar for all event dates and times.

Enrollment To Do List

☐ Check Email Frequently

☐ Set Up Your Payment Plan

Tuition payments will be made through FACTS. For those who are setting up FACTS accounts to select a payment plan, you will need to have a unique code to set up your account. If you did not receive this code, check your spam folder to ensure the email did not get directed to that folder. If you still do not see the email or have any questions, please contact Ms. Christianne Testamark at christianne.testamark@bmhs.org.

☐ Fill Out T-Shirt Size Form (Incoming 9th Graders and Transfers)

☐ Complete and Submit Health Forms

You will receive an email from the school nurse in May with regards to health documents that will need to be uploaded. Please look for the Magnus / Health Documents email at that time. Health documents must be dated after June 1 and will be due August 1.
Please keep in mind the following: if your student chooses to play a fall sport, BMHS needs the medical documents prior to their participation.

☐ Summer Assignments

☐ Syllabi and Class Supply Lists

Faculty and Staff Contacts

Freshman Orientation Info

Freshman Experience (FEX) & Parent University: Below are the dates for our Freshman Experience and Parent University. Please read the email sent out from Amanda.Saunders@bmhs.org for more details about these events and to fill out the dietary form.

Wednesday, 8/20: 8:00 AM-2:45 PM - FEX Day One (students only) & Picture Day
Thursday, 8/21: 8:00 AM-2:45 PM - FEX Day Two (students only) & Picture Day
Friday, 8/22: 8:00 AM-2:00 PM - FEX Day Three (students and parents) & Parent University
- Student Orientation: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Parent University: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Freshman Family Cookout (parents & students): 12:00 - 2:45 PM

Maccess

MACCESS is Bishop McNamara's digital platform, providing students, parents, and faculty access to information about a student's educational progress in one convenient online location, with one login. Effective communication with families has long been an important part of the BMHS experience, and today, more than ever, with Maccess, families have access to that information. This can include class schedules, assignments, attendance, learning milestones, health reports, report cards, school forms, and grades. Resource boards provide information on dates & deadlines, available scholarship funds, school documents, student and parent service hours, counseling updates, transportation options, etc.

♦ Once your Maccess Account has been set up, follow the instructions below:

To log in, go to the menu in the upper right corner of any page on the website.

Go to the Maccess dropdown and select Student or Parents.

You will be taken to the login page. If you remember your username and password, enter it on this page. If you do not remember your login credentials or if this is your first time logging in, click on Forgot login or First time logging in.

Parents, once you are in the Maccess portal, please take a moment to check your contact information inside Maccess, located in the upper right-hand corner of the page in the drop-down under your name. Select Profile. Some profiles are missing important phone numbers needed in an emergency, and it only takes you a minute to check. Our Principal sends important information and dates each week via email. We must have your correct email address listed in your profile by each parent/guardian who wishes to receive these updates. Alert Messages and Emergency Notifications are sent via phone. Please make sure your phone numbers are correct.

You can send and receive messages directly inside Maccess. To make sure you don’t miss anything sent to you this way by a teacher or counselor, it would benefit you to review your notification settings:

Click your name in the upper right-hand corner.
Click Settings.
Click Notifications on the left.
Select how you would like to receive notifications for Messages sent through Maccess. You can turn on Email or Text notifications if you prefer. (If you do not check either box, you will continue to see message notifications appear inside Maccess, in the upper right corner of the page.)

For technical support, the best place to start is to email MaccessHelp@bmhs.org.

Magnus & Student Health Services

All student medical information is stored in MAGNUS, our HIPAA-compliant electronic medical record system. To access MAGNUS, you will need to log into Maccess first and then go to the Resources tab. Select the MAGNUS tile to log in.

Medical Paperwork for ‘25 - ’26 school year: If you have not already, please review and update your student’s medical paperwork in Magnus for the upcoming school year. We are required to have a current physical, administered after June 1, 2025, on file for ALL students per WCAC and school policy.

Physicals were due by August 1, 2025; student-athletes will not be able to participate in August practices or attend classes without an updated physical on file. Have a question? Check the list of FAQs.Contact Dr. Jessica Nash, Director of Student Health Services with any additional questions.

Parent Service Hours

Parent Page

SAGE Dining

School Supplies

Supply List

We do not provide a specific list of necessary items for students. Teachers will share welcome letters and syllabi in the first week of school, and any special supplies they require will be shared there. Note: We have a 1-to-1 technology policy, and students must provide their own devices. Laptops and Chromebooks are acceptable devices; cell phones are not acceptable electronic devices for use in the classroom. Below are suggestions for basic supplies every student needs to be ready for the first week of school:

Backpack/bookbag - Students are not required to have a clear bookbag
#2 Pencils
Pens: Red, Blue, Black
Highlighters
Pocket Folders
Three-Subject Spiral Notebooks or 3-Ring Binders
Sticky Notes
College Ruled Loose Leaf 3-Hole Paper
Tabbed Dividers

Student Handbook

Student Service Hours

Student Service Hours Requirement:

Students were able to begin earning service hours for the 2025-2026 academic year on June 9th. Check out this flyer for reminders and more information. Families of the class of 2029 can read this letter to learn more. Email Ms. Sherony with questions. Due dates and requirements for the 2025-2026 academic year are below:

Class of 2029: 15 Hours due on March 17, 2026
Class of 2028: 20 Hours due on March 24, 2026
Class of 2027: 25 Hours due on March 31, 2026
Class of 2026: 30 Hours due on April 14, 2026

Summer Assignments

Technology, Bring Your Own Device

Technology Recommendations for 24-25 School Year - Please review these guidelines:

Students use a Chromebook (2017 or later), Macbook (2017 or later), or a PC with Windows 10 or 11. We do not recommend students use iPads or Android tablets.
Students cannot use cell phones as their technology devices for classroom instruction
All devices use up to date anti-virus protection and anti-malware protection and avoid VPNs.
Students lock their devices with a personal password that they do not share with other students.
Students charge computers at home each night.
Students regularly update their device hardware and software on a monthly basis.

For more information, go to Technology at McNamara.

Transportation

Metrorail and Metrobus

Please contact WMATA for exact routes, times, and fees. Possible routes may take you to the Suitland Metro Station where you take the K12 Bus, or the Addison Road Metro Station where you may take the J12 Bus to the stop across from the school. Routes and stops may change from time to time so contact the WMATA for the latest information.

Bishop McNamara High School provides contact information for transportation options to and from school each day. For more information, contact Tracy Fennell at tracy.fennell@bmhs.org.

Carpool Service

Bishop McNamara High School is excited to announce our partnership with CarpooltoSchool, the online carpool service that's fast, easy, and secure. For more information and registration, go to CarpoolToSchool.

Private Bus Transportation

All Seasons Transportation, 240-417-6381, allseasonsbus2@yahoo.com
Always Serving Others, 301-802-9427, rbfchurchinfo@gmail.com
Capital Area Transportation, 301-437-1031, CATEShaythe@gmail.com
EliteXCURSIONS, 202-329-3939, info@elitexcursion.com
JMM Transportation, 301-906-0147, jmm.distributors21@gmail.com
KCE Student Transportation, 301-661-3588
Student Shuttle Transportation, 240-736-7276, thestudentshuttledmv@gmail.com

For all location, directions, transportation, and Campus information, go to Our Campus.

Tuition, Fees, Payments

Uniforms and Dress Code

Details regarding the correct Bishop McNamara High School Uniform are contained in the Student Handbook available in the Maccess Parent Portal under Resources:

Dress Code 2025-2025

Acceptable BMHS Men's & Women's Shoes

Uniforms can be purchased through:

Flynn O'Hara Uniforms
Lands' End Uniforms
The Mustang Shop and Bookstore (for select items only)
Used Uniform Sale - details announced in the Sunday Updates from our Principal, Mrs. Dian Carter

Flynn O'Hara and Lands' End Uniforms carry most uniform items.

The Mustang Shop carries a few items for your convenience, such as PE uniforms, socks, ties, and sweaters.

Used Uniform sales are conducted throughout the year. Watch for announcements of days and times.

Flynn O'Hara Uniforms (click name for website)

Lanham Crossing Center
8807 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706
(240) 764-4545

Lands' End Uniforms - (click name for website)

Online: Lands' End; School number is 900202276.

NOTE: BOTH FLYNN O'HARA AND LANDS' END RUN SPECIALS Throughout the year. PLEASE CHECK THEIR WEBSITES FOR DETAILS.

Weekly Updates from the Principal

Don't miss a single one of Mrs. Carter's updates - emailed to the parents each Sunday & sometimes reminders mid-week - with calendar events and changes, links, registration details, deadlines, & all information for upcoming events! It is a must read for all our BMHS community!

Log into Maccess, under your name select Profile. Be sure to update all information for your Maccess account including email and phone number. Contact MaccessHelp@bmhs.org if you are not receiving your emails weekly.

MORE ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENTS...

ENGLISH FINE ARTS HEALTH & PE MATHEMATICS LANGUAGES SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES

TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING THEOLOGY ATHLETICS CAMPUS MINISTRY CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS