BMHS and LRHS Alumni Newsletter

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, Bishop McNamara High School welcomed home distinguished alumnus Thomas Burgess '75 who spoke to students in Matthew Buckley's '98 and Angelina Diehlmann's LR '85 Robotics and Foundations of Engineering classes and Keith Veney's '92 Millionaires Club.

Mr. Burgess' presentations focused on his successful career as a global supply chain director for Northrop Grumman and the lessons he has gathered while here at Bishop McNamara and beyond applying his skills in athletics, business, and engineering. Mr. Burgess, an inductee this year into Bishop McNamara's Athletics Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance as a student-athlete in football and basketball, talked positively about the many ways that the School prepared him for future success in life and his career in STEM related industries. Mr. Burgess was also recently inducted into the BMHS Hall of Fame for his athletic prowess.

Click here for more details and stories from his visit - we were so glad to have you back on campus, Thomas!

Calling the BMHS Classes
of 2016 and 2017

Did you get your yearbook? Do you need a replacement yearbook? We have them here!

We have multiple copies for the class of 2016 and 2017 yearbooks. Contact Director for Mission Advancement Dr. Rob Van der Waag or Dean of Students Brian Brower for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 23

3-Point Basketball Contest

BMHS Fine Arts and Athletic Center Gym ● 4 p.m.

November 23

Alumni Basketball Game

BMHS Main Gym ● 6 p.m.

December 20

Alumni Christmas Party

BMHS ● 6-10 p.m.

April 6, 2019

Military Appreciation Game

PG Sports Park ● 1 p.m.

Help us #StepUpOurGame!

The #StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign gives Bishop McNamara alumni, families, and fans a chance to directly impact all our athletics programs by raising funds for a weight room, locker rooms, and other needs for Bishop McNamara Athletics.

Every gift made to the #StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign contributes to the formation and development of Bishop McNamara student-athletes through providing them with the best facilities and equipment necessary for athletics success.

#StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign provides several special recognition opportunities for generous supporters of BMHS Athletics including the main gymnasium, perhaps the most used space on campus, as well as our locker rooms and weight room to benefit coaches and student-athletes today and better recruit those for years to come. Please see below these special recognition opportunities possible through the #StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign!

Click here to learn more and to help us meet our fundraising goal for the #StepUpOurGame Campaign!

3-Point Basketball Shootout Contest

Try your luck and show us your skills for our 3-Point Black Friday Shootout!

Come to the BMHS Fine Arts and Athletic Center Gym on Nov. 23 - the contest starts at 4 p.m., the doors open at 3 p.m., no experience needed and all ages are welcome! The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize!

Contact Coach Keith Veney '92 or Coach Frank Oliver for more information.

Alumni Basketball Game

After our 3-Point Black Friday Shootout Contest on Nov. 23, feel free to join us in the Main Gym at 6 p.m. for the alumni basketball game!

The Alumni Men's Basketball Team will take on our Boys' Varsity Team. You don't want to miss out!

Join us for our Military Appreciation Game!

We know it's a ways away, but we have an official date for our Military Appreciation Baseball Game this spring!

Join us on April 6, 2019 at PG Sports Park at 1 p.m. to support and celebrate United States military veterans and active duty military personnel. Bishop McNamara will take on Gonzaga, so help us cheer the Mustangs on to victory!

Admission is free and concessions are complimentary for all military personnel.

BMHS/LRHS Class of 1992 Fifth Quarter!

Calling all class of 1992 BMHS/LRHS graduates! Join us on Nov. 30 for a 5th quarter celebration after the Boys' Varsity Basketball game against Gonzaga! The Varsity game starts at 7:30 p.m., but Junior Varsity and Freshman will also have games that day! Junior Varsity starts at 5:45 p.m., while the Freshman game begins at 4 p.m. in the Main Gym.

More details to come - keep an eye on our social media pages for details!

BMHS Class of 2009 Reunion

Calling all graduates from Bishop McNamara High School class of 2009 - it's almost time for your 10-year reunion!

The planning process has begun, and your classmates created a short survey to get some information in order to best reach and accommodate everyone in your class.

Click here to access the survey. If you have any questions, please click here to email the 2009 Class email address.

BMHS/LRHS Class of 1969 Reunion

The Bishop McNamara and La Reine Cass of 1969 50th Reunion planning is underway!

Please contact Charlene Cornu Shaw LR '69 or join the Facebook Group for more information.

BMHS & LRHS Reunion Plans

Bishop McNamara is reaching out to the following Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School classes to help organize their upcoming reunions:

Bishop McNamara & La Reine High Schools: '73, '78, and '83

Bishop McNamara High School: '93, '03 and '13

If you or any of your classmates have questions, need help or are interested in forming a reunion committee, please contact the Advancement Office.

BMHS and LRHS class of 1969, we would love to help you plan your 50th reunion! Please contact Dr. Rob Van der Waag for details and for more information!

Join our Alumni Association!

Interested in joining our Alumni Association? Want to get involved with on-campus events and alumni reunions? There are some great perks that come from being involved with our BMHS/LRHS Alumni Association - Contact our Alumni Association President Marlo Ford LR '87 to learn more!

Legacy of La Reine

Innovation lies at the crossroads of fields, disciplines and cultures. At Bishop McNamara, we are developing tomorrow's innovators today by committing to provide cutting-edge spaces and facilities that foster collaborative learning and a hands-on approach to the study of science and technology.

The centerpiece of our vision for the future is the establishment of the La Reine Science & Innovation Center at Bishop McNamara High School. This planned state-of-the-art facility will enable us to expand beyond traditional science offerings, build on highly-successful programs already in existence, and create new spaces for exploration, creativity and discovery.

For more information about the La Reine Science & Innovation Center, please contact Director of Development Sandy Mammano.

Click here to learn more about contributing to the #LaReineLivingLegacy.

Jason Reynolds '00

On Oct. 27, 2018, BMHS faculty and staff met former student and New York Times best-selling author Jason Reynolds '00 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the opening night performance of his work Long Way Down.

Jason's New York Times best-selling book comes to the stage in a compelling and timely production. Told entirely in free-form poetry, Long Way Down captures the potent minute when the main character Will contemplates retaliation.

Click here for the full article.

Jasmine Spears '13

On May 18, Jasmine Spears '13 graduated from Georgetown University's one-year accelerated program with a Master of Science degree in biotechnology. She was awarded the DMV Hoyas Biomedical Academic Scholarship upon admission. During her spring semester, she was an intern at Georgetown's Roepe Laboratory, which focuses on malaria research.

Jasmine was awarded a Certificate of Excellence - Internship and a Certificate of Excellence - Entrepreneurship at the commencement award ceremony. Jasmine is now working for a start-up biotechnology company, NextCure, Inc., as a Biomanufacturing Associate working on the development and production of biologics for various cancers. Congratulations on your graduation and for being recognized for all your hard work, Jasmine!

Bridget Graner '14

We recently heard from Bridget Graner '14 - she has received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from The University of Alabama! Congratulations Bridget!

Help us save Holy Family School! Unless the school raises $200,000 by Feb. 15, 2019, they will have to close next year.

Holy Family Catholic School, located in Hillcrest Heights, Md., is a private Catholic school, educating children from grades pre-K through 8. This year they celebrated 61 years of education. Recently, however, times have been tough. In years past, Holy Family was able to rely on the generous support of the parish and the assistance of a community of religious sisters. But the loss of their sisters several years ago as well as changes in the church community have prevented the parish from contributing the kind of support it once did.

Click here for Holy Family School's GoFundMe page - please consider supporting this incredible school and Catholic education! So many BMHS alumni attended Holy Family, and we would love to see its legacy continue.

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 Bishop McNamara High School celebrated four student-athletes and their official commitments to the colleges and universities of their choice.

Aniya Bell '19 – Fairleigh Dickinson, Girls' Basketball

Jakia Brown-Turner '19 – North Carolina State, Girls' Basketball

Aliyah Matharu '19 – Mississipi State University, Girls' Basketball

Mekhi Long '19 – Rhode Island University, Boys' Basketball

On Feb. 6, 2019, BMHS will celebrate National Signing Day for many more of our student-athletes as they announce their commitments to the colleges and universities of their choice. Keep an eye out for more information!

Christy Bartholomew Celebrates New Baby

Congratulations to faculty member Ms. Christy Bartholomew - on Oct. 20 at 6:36 p.m. she celebrated the birth of her daughter, Reina Lyric Quinn! Reina is 7 lbs. 11 oz. and is very happy and healthy.

DC Youth Mayor J'TA Freeman '19 to receive Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore (PCMDC-B) Council Peacemaker of the Year Award

J'TA Freeman '19 was recently featured in the Catholic Standard as a result of her election as a District of Columbia Youth Mayor. This summer J'TA participated in the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute, which culminates with an election for positions that are designed to be a replica of the D.C. government. Students had to get 75 signatures in order to run for Youth Mayor, which Freeman said pushed her to go out of her comfort zone to speak to strangers and explain to them about her stance on various issues.

Click here for more details!

BMHS Presents: The Pirates of Penzance

This year's Fall Musical is Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance.

Set sail with this classic comedy, a hopeful farce that follows young Frederic, an orphan who has mistakenly been apprenticed to an ineffectual but raucous band of pirates. He disavows the pirates' way of life and falls for the beautiful Mabel. Frederic's melodious tones win over the heart of Major-General Stanley's songbird daughter, Mabel, but when the Pirate King discovers that General Stanley has lied about being an orphan to keep the pirates from stealing all of his belongings and carrying off his bevy of beautiful daughters, an "ingenious paradox" may prevent the budding romance and lead to the death of "The very model of a modern Major-General."

Click here to buy your tickets today! This is the last weekend to see the show, you don't want to miss out!

BMHS Counseling Center Joins the MCC Caring Schools Network

The Counseling Center at Bishop McNamara High School is honored to join the MCC Caring Schools Network!

Building strong school culture is one primary component of work in social-emotional learning ("SEL"), along with supporting and building adult capacities, supporting high quality relationships between students and adults in the school, and using evidence-based skill-building strategies in the classroom and around the school.

Click here for the full feature.

Jakia Brown Turner '19 featured on ESPN.com '12 high school stars who belong on your radar'

Women's Basketball player Jakia Brown-Turner '19 was ranked among ESPN.com's "12 high school stars who belong on your radar" along with teammate Aliyah Matharu '19, making up one of the "most dynamic duos in the country".

Click here for the full story.

6-Sunday Winter Softball Clinic Registration now open!

Don't miss the opportunity to attend the Bishop McNamara High School 6-Sunday 2019 Winter Softball Clinic starting January 6 and running until February 10, 2019 here on the School Campus.

If you are interested in preparing for the next level in your softball skills, this is a great place to start. The clinic is open to Middle School and High School Girls. Instruction is provided by the Bishop McNamara High School Softball Coaching Staff.

Click here for dates and additional information - and to submit your registration today!

BMHS Cheerleaders Win Multiple Awards at Universal Cheerleading Association Cheer Camp

Congratulations to our Bishop McNamara Cheerleaders who were presented with the prestigious UCA Traditions Award on August 10, 2018 for outstanding School Spirit and Demonstration of school traditions. Additionally Alexia Lee '22, Riyan Bowden '21, Lyris Brown '20, Kiersten Stokes '19, Tyler Muniz '19, and Sierra Sweeney '19 won the coveted ALL America Team honor. After competing for the All-American title over other nominees they were bestowed this top honor along with some of the best cheerleading athletes in the Region (Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania).

Click here to read the full article. Congratulations girls!

Bishop McNamara High School currently has the following job openings:

Human Resources Intern

Enrichment Zone Facilitator

Francis William Cook, father of Jay Haigler III '78 and father-in-law of Vanessa Haigler LR '77, passed away on Oct. 27, 2018.

Mack McCreary, grandfather of Shannon McCreary '18, passed away Oct. 11, 2018.

Carmella Nicolosi Harris, mother of current BMHS Board Member Ken Harris '82, passed away Oct. 23, 2018.

Mary Ellen Shunk LR '65, sister of Christopher Shunk '69, passed away Oct. 22, 2018.

Linda Norris Simons, sister of BMHS staff member Patricia Norris Garber, passed away Sept. 30, 2018.

Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Memorial Garden

Our Memorial Garden, named in honor of student Terrell Edelen '14, is complete and will give our community the opportunity to honor other deceased loved ones, family, friends and/or teachers. For more information on how to purchase bricks or benches in the Memorial Garden, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement. Take time to come by for a visit to reminisce, or even just for quiet reflection.

QUICKLINKS

Make a Donation

Faith. Family. Future! Campaign

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Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com.

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support BMHS every time you shop, at no additional cost to you. Amazon will donate a portion of your eligible purchase price total to BMHS.

Bernardine Sisters on Facebook

Bishop McNamara and La Reine alumni are invited to like the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Facebook Page.

Get the latest news on the Sisters from La Reine and see what incredible pictures and events they have posted.

The retired Brothers of the Holy Cross and Bernardine Sisters would love to hear from you. To contact them, use the information listed below. Thanks!

For the Brothers:
St. Joseph's Center
495 Maple Lane
Valatie, New York 12184

For the Sisters:
Sacred Heart Convent
460 St. Bernardine Street
Reading, Pennsylvania 19607-1737