July At Bishop Ireton

Dear Bishop Ireton parents, families and friends!

I hope your summer has been renewing and relaxing! We are gearing up for the opening = of our 45^th anniversary year, one that will be filled with the exciteme= nt and challenges unique to the BI experience as the many items in this issue. As you know, our school never really closes and the summer has seen a beehive of activity here at Ireton.

First of all, at a time when many—even most—of the other private high schools in our area are experiencing enrollment declines and economic conditions are extraordinarily challenging, we will open with enrollment at= an all-time high of just over 830!! Last year, our opening enrollment was 797. There is a waiting list of applicants for all four grades. This is an outstanding achievement by our entire community and is a testament to the quality of our school and, especially, to the extraordinar= ily strong ‘Cardinal Spirit' characterized by Salesian welcoming hospital= ity, mutual support and commitment to excellence our students, parents, alumni a= nd staff have built over almost half a century. Congratulations to all!

Secondly, our new and greatly improved webpage will launch by the time school starts. More than a ‘new look’ the software powering this very sophisticated digital engine wi= ll enable us to communicate more effectively and efficiently with everyone in = the Ireton family including ‘pushing’ customized information to stu= dents and parents based on their individual needs and interests.

Thirdly, we have forged a new partnership with nationally acclaimed Positive Coaching Alliance to bring their renowned program of “transforming youth sport= s so sports can transform youth” to our school. This superb program connects the d= ots between the Catholic, Salesian goals and principles at the core of who we a= re and the unique challenges and opportunities athletic completion presents in living them. The program incl= udes presentations to student athletes, coaches AND parents with specific, vital roles clearly articulated for each group! Stay tuned for more information f= rom Athletic Director Bill Simmons about the program.

Enjoy the fast waning days of summer vacation; I look forward to seeing you soon!=

Live Jesus!

Tim Hamer

Principal

LOOKING AHEAD&n= bsp; = ;

Pickup unsold items from PTO Sale – August 3 from 5 to 7:30 pm

= ; Senior Portrait Make Up Day at BI – August 12 and 13

Brass & Percussion Camp Concert – August 21=

Incoming Freshmen report for first day of school – August 31

Sophomores report for first day of school – September 1

Juniors report for first day of school – September 2<= /span>

Seniors repo= rt for first day of school – September 3

All students= at school – September 4 from 8 am to 12:09 pm

First Varsity Football Game vs. Archbishop Carroll, Fannon Field, 4 pm – September 4

Back to Scho= ol Pool Party – September 4 from 8 to 11 pm

= PTO Meeting, Music Boosters Meeting – September 9 =

Back-to-School Night for Parents – September 10

= The Bishop's Cup, a golf tournament between BI and Bishop O'Connell – September 14

= Mark Fracasso Rememb= rance Day, plus dedication of bench in courtyard ̵= 1; September 27

<= /o:p>

Hall of Fame Banquet – October 2

Homecoming Weekend and Reunion for Classes of '69, '74, '79, '84, '89, '94, '99 and '04 – October 3

&n= bsp; Homecoming Mass for the community – October 4

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&n= bsp; Bishop Ireton Open House – October 25

Wind Ensemble & Nusikverein Heustreu – November 1

= BI School Gala & Auction "Just Another Day in Paradise” – November 7

Fall Play – November 13, 14, 15 and 20, 21

Parent-Teacher Conferences – November 2= 0, 23

Christmas Concert – December 12

= Mardi Gras – February 2, 2010=

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pick Up Your Unsold Books TODAY

Check the unsold book = list on the BI website from the PTO Used Book & Uniform Sale. This evening (Monday, August 3, from 5 to 7:30 pm) all books and uniforms that d= id NOT sell on Saturday are available for pickup from the cafeteria. Any unsold items not picked up this evening will become property of t= he PTO as per the consignment agreement on the master list. The PTO does not have the space nor the manpower to extend this return. You may= make arrangements for a friend to pick up your items. Your original master list from the spring drop off will be available to ensure all books = are returned. Each person will be responsible for looking through the books and uniforms to find their unsold items.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU from the PTO = Used Book & Uniform Sale Committee

Many thanks to all the wonderful parents who volunteered their time and talent to help with the annual PTO-sponsored book sale. From accepting items in the spring to selling items last Saturday and moving piles of books from here to there, we couldn't have done it without you! Many thanks also to school administration= who developed book lists, arranged rooms and= set up tables, and ensured computer IT support. — The PTO Used Book & Uniform Sale Committee

Annual Virginia Tax Holiday This Weekend

Make your school shopping list and check it twice before heading out this weekend for Virginia's back-to-school sales tax holiday which begins on Friday, Au= g. 7, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 9., 2009. Many s= chool supplies costing $20 or less each and clothing items and footwear costing $= 100 or less each will be exempt from Virginia= ’s 5% sales tax. Read the full story in the Arlington Catholic Herald, "Tax br= eak for Virginia shoppers" 7/29/09.

String Quartet is Looking for One More Violinist
Advanced violinists interested in taking String Quartet as a course this ye= ar should contact Dr. Eyles to schedule an audition. The quartet needs one more violinist.

BI Brass and Percussion Camp Starts Today
The camp starts Monday, August 3rd and meets for three weeks, 1-3:30 pm each weekday. The fee is $400 and there is still the possibility to attend= if you contact Dr. Eyles right away. For more info go to www.bishopireton.org, see the left side of the homepage, click on “Brass and Percussion Camp.”

SMILE - Seniors Portrait Make Up Day

If your senior has not yet had their senior portrait taken, please make arrangements for one on August 12 or 13 at Bishop Ireton. Lifetouch already mailed reminder postcards. If your senior cannot make these dates, they must contact Lifetouch directly at 1-800-445-1189 to schedule a senior portrait for the School Yearbook. =

Varsity Books Website

Please go to the Varsity Books website to order any books required for classes this fall.

From the Treasurer’s Office: Guidelines for Check Writing

The 2009-10 school year is about to begin with you having a number of opportuni= ties to write checks payable to Bishop= Ireton High School. Please help use to give credit whe= re credit is due. We often recei= ve checks without the student’s name or an indication of its purpose. Please write the student’s <= /span>full name ~ not just the student’s first name.= The last name is very important, especially when the student’s last name is different from the parent’s/guardian= ’s last name. The purpose of the= check in the memo section (e.g. Yearbook, T-shirt, Transcript, Lunch, Football Practice Gear, Soccer Fundraiser, AP Exam, Graduation Fee, Annual Appeal, Auction Tickets, etc.) enables us to route the check to the appropriate per= son in the department, club or activity in charge of maintaining the records. Please do not combine payment for several activities in the same check. There is a $25 processing fee for returned checks.

If you have not finalized your tuition payment for the school year, you nee= d to do so immediately. As = you know, your first monthly tuition payment was due in May or payment in full = was due by June 1. Please contact Helen White, Financial Administrator, at 703-212-5186 or whiteh@bishopireton.org with questions or concerns.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU from the PTO = Used Book & Uniform Sale Committee

The Bishop's Cup, A Golf Tournament between BI and O'Connell

Sign up for a great day of golf with alumni and friends at the Mount Vernon Country Club on Monday, September 14 at 11 am. It is a Ryder Cup outing with two man teams. The = cost is $125 per player. The event includes lunch, golf, cart, shirt, prac= tice range, sodas, and snacks. Call Terry Rainey at 703-212-5182 or e= mail raineyt@bishopireton.org with questions. Click here to sign up.

New Order for Counselor Assignments=

Please note that the Guidance Office has reassigned the alphabet distribution= in order to even out the number of students that each Counselor has so that they can better serve the BI community. The new alphabet distribution is:=

· &= nbsp; M= rs. Pat Armstrong – Last names from A to G

· &= nbsp; M= s. Erin O'Leary – Last names from H to N

· &= nbsp; M= rs. Marie MacKenzie – Last names from O to Z<= o:p>

French Exchange Program

There are two openings for the Paris trip this fall with the Bishop Ireton French Exchange Program (November 19-29). Any intere= sted students ~ you do not need to be studying French ~ are welco= me to join the group. A $100 check is required to hold the reservation. If interested, please contact Mrs. Halbert by August 12th.

Chaperones Still Needed for the Pool Party=

To celebrate the first week of school, all students are invited to the Back-to-School Pool Party on Friday, September 4th from 8 to= 11 pm at the Annandale Swim & Tennis Club. A flier was included in the Summer Mailing with details. At this time, we are ask= ing for parent chaperones. Please contact Mrs. Fannon to help.

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Gold Medal Volleyball Camp

Pictured about are players from the Bishop Ireton Girl's Volleyball program who came together last month to work on improving their game and to prepare for the upcoming season. The girls worked hard, playing seven hours a day. With a program dominated by such committed and dedicated players, the volleyball program will continue to bring pride to Bishop Ireton High School. -- Kathy Gutmann, coach<= /o:p>

Call for Football Support&nb= sp;
Coach Verducci and the Bishop Ireton football t= eams (varsity and JV) are looking for a few students who are interested in supporting the program as managers, videographers, and statisticians. = The team needs enthusiastic students who would like to take a leading role in managing team support, filming scrimmages and games, and compiling statistics. This is a great opportunity to develop film and editing skills, interfacing with a national website (MAXPREPS), and serving your sc= hool while earning a varsity letter. Please E-mail Coach Verducci at AJVerducci@comcast.net for more info!

Cardinal Sports News

Below are news articles from the athletic department website. Also, be sure to check the athletic department website = for times and dates of fall sports tryouts. For example, soccer begi= ns August 7th!

Ireton rowers claim U-16 title with Thompson

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Babiec, Morgan win national championship

Juniors Sarah Morgan and Olivia Babiec, members of BI c= rew, won the Junior B (U-16) Woman's 8+ event at the US Rowi= ng Club National Championships at the rowing course at Oak Ridge, TN on July 19= th, 2009. They rowed for Thompson Boat Center of Washington, D.C. T= he Washingtonians' won a very close race over 2000m course with the Thompson's boat prevailing by just 0.46 seconds in snaring the title.
The girls will be racing again at the 127th R= oyal Canadian Henley Regatta at St. Catherine's, Ontario, on August 4-9th. Other girls competing were Sara Woodruff, Reagan Miller, Meredith Ramey, all for Thompson's and Lily Ramey = for the Old Dominion Boat Club of Alexandria, VA. Boys competing for Old Domini= on Boat Club were Thaddeus Babiec, Garrett Hulfish and Patrick Walsh. See the full = ;story and photos on the = Cardinal Sports News website!

Ireton's Krause the next Bob Costas?=

Sophomore voice of the Cardinals and Aces

(article in the Alexandria Times, July 9, 2009 edition, written by Austin Danforth)

And Now, On the Microphone

You know that voice you hear on the loudspeaker at Alexandria Aces home games? = Calm, smooth and richly baritone?
Sounds like a pro, right?
Well, that voice belongs to 14-year-old Matt Krause, the soon-to-be 15-year= -old Bishop Ireton sophomore who was calling collegiate summer league baseball g= ames before he took his first high school speech class. It’s all par= t of the road to the top for Krause, who decided at an early age that his professional future probably had more prospects off the field than on it. See the full story and photos on the = Cardinal Sports News = website!

11-0 Cardinals perfect in Hoop Magic circuit, success at team camp

Cardinals blow away <= span style=3D'color:black'>Osbourne P= ark for unblemished summer league season

Ireton's Cardinals finished an impressive summer campaign going 11-0 in the Hoop Mag= ic League, capturing the tournament championship with a doubleheader win Sunday with a 3:30 pm semifinal win then bouncing back at 5:30 for a title game against <= span style=3D'color:black'>Osbourne P= ark. They interrupted their march to Hoop Magic ti= tle last week long enough to venture to Albright College in Pennsylvania for the Eastern Invitational Team camp Thursday and Friday. See the full story and photos on the = Cardinal Sports News website!

Downpour leaves rare pool of water on Fannon Field, only temporarily

See the full story and photos on the = = Cardinal Sports News website!

Ireton/SMA swimmers Reunion 2009

Nearly 50 gather to recall old glories

They gathered last fall for the first time since the mid-90's to honor Tim Carrington's induction into the Bishop Ireton Hall of Fame. "Why don't= we have another swim team reunion?" Coach Harry Sobers recalls Paul Skelly suggesting to the group. "I will host it.= " And over a beer and lunch in Georgetown the idea took sprout. Fast= forward to June 2009. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, dozens of swimmers from the 1970's and 1980's, the "glory days" some might = say, began to gather and cautiously look around. See the full story and photos on the = Cardinal Sports News = website!

Database Updates
Please send contact information updates (new home address, new phone numbers, etc.) to Mrs. Pearson at pearson@bishopireton<= /span> or call 703-751-7606.=

THOUGHT FROM ST. FRANCIS De SALES: Do an act of kindness with respect... and do it no= w, for the present is all you have.