UPDATED Aquila-Sept. 2024 by bcchs.org

The Eagle Bunch

What’s Inside

A Letter From the President

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Leticia Nielsen President

Reflection: Christ is present when we gather in His name. This means we must love Him and our neighbor as well. God is not present when the spirit of love is missing and our wills are opposed to His. Please pray that Jesus makes us a holy community and helps us to grow in love for Him and one another during this upcoming school year. We have been very busy this summer in getting our school building and facilities ready for our students and staff. Our school has many new changes and we are so grateful for the new staff members that are joining us for the 2024-25 school year. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support as we shape our community for the future. We are truly blessed and so grateful for all of the blessings that we have received so we can provide an excellent Catholic education for our students and assist their parents in this formation. We are so grateful for all of the families that send their students to BCCHS and excited to announce our theme for the 2024-25 fiscal year is: Honoring the past, empowering our future through faithful legacy of education and stewardship. Due to the commitment of our Diocesan community, stewardship has allowed many students and their families to attend BCCHS over the years. We are working to teach our students the meaning of stewardship so they can become true Disciples of Christ. Please continue to support our school so our legacy of a BCCHS education can be here for many years to come. We are looking forward to our alumni activities during homecoming week and hope that you mark this special October weekend on your calendars now. A special welcome to our reunion classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2014. We are looking forward to seeing many BC Alums at BCCHS and your reunion activities. Please read this special edition to become acquainted with our 19 new staff members. We began this school year with an enrollment of 1148 students and looking forward to working with all of our staff, students, and families this year. Take time to pray together as a family, and remember our school community and staff in your daily prayers.

May God bless all of you this school year!

Welcome to Bishop Carroll

John Andra Social Studies

Ellie Bixenman Religion

Michael Blasi Science

Fr. Hayden Charles Chaplain

Gregorie Derieg Business

Johnathan Dravis Social Studies

Maryn Falk Musical Accompanist

Polly Giebler English

Andrea Harrison Bookkeeper

Michael Hilliard Math

Erin Hohl Campus Ministry

Dan Dester Principal

New to our 2024-2025 School Year

Keaton McCracken Administration

Emma Oberley FACS

Daniel Samsel Instrumental Music

Christopher Snyder English Sr. Julian Marie Swantek Science

Kari Vang Math

Kate Meyer Student Advocate

A Note from the Principal

Bishop Carroll Community,

I have been truly humbled by the warm welcome I’ve received from the students, parents, and staff at Bishop Carroll. There are so many wonderful things happening here, but I want to take a moment to highlight a few that make me proud to be an Eagle.

The sense of community at Bishop Carroll is remarkable, and the student leadership is both outstanding and faith-driven. I’ve seen these students pour their time and energy into making this school year a success. During our teacher in-service days, students volunteered to attend adoration and pray for our faculty, filling every time slot. It’s inspiring to see their commitment to keeping faith at the center of our community time, even when it would be easy to focus only on fun.

Our staff is equally amazing. Each day begins with faculty prayer in the chapel, lifting up our students in prayer. There have been days when the chapel is so full, it’s standing room only.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the parents for your incredibly warm welcome.

Yours in Christ,

Dan Dester Principal Bishop Carroll Catholic High School

Dan Dester Principal

Celebrating Community

“Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). These words that Jesus speaks in the Book of Revelation are always striking to me. There is something thrilling about what is new. This is the thrill and excitement that I feel as we begin a new school year, and as I begin as Chaplain of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School.

I graduated from Bishop Carroll in 2013, so it is surreal for me to walk the halls and to teach the Christian Vocations course that Fr. Ben Sawyer taught me 12 years ago. I was ordained a priest in 2020 and spent the previous four years at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in north Wichita. These were the best four years of my life, and I am very grateful for the time at St. Pat’s, but when Bishop Kemme asked if I would take on a new assignment, I was thrilled by the possibility of something new: being called by the Lord to a new work, to new relationships, to new challenges, and to new joys.

There are a lot of new faces at Bishop Carroll this year, and this can be intimidating, for us who are new, and for the students, faculty, and staff who have been here. Change brings with it excitement, but also, at times, fear and trepidation. Through all of the mixed emotions that come with a new beginning, we are invited to listen to the voice of Jesus: “Behold, I make all things new.”

He is here, present among us, breathing His Holy Spirit upon us to continue His work of creation and redemption. We can move forward, meeting each day with peace and joy in our hearts, because we know that He is with us, and we trust in His work that continues to unfold among us, in our hearts as individuals and in the Bishop Carroll community as a whole.

Please pray for all of us at Bishop Carroll as we begin a new school year! May this year be filled with grace as we continue to rejoice in all of the new things that the Lord Jesus accomplishes in us and through us throughout our time together.

In the Heart of Jesus,

Fr. Hayden Charles Chaplain

In Memoriam

June 13, 2024 to August 31, 2024

Alderson, John Patrick

Amburg, Doug Van

Applegate, Laura Jean

Beat, Alvin Louis

Beat, Judith

Beckemeyer, Patricia Raye

Breeden, Kenneth W.

Criswell, Larry L.

DeLeon, Anthony Alan

Dewalt, Broch Xavier

Dodd, Frances

Erickson, Jess C.

Eskew, Billie L.

Eubanks, Mary (Hancock)

Francis, Marilyn Marie

Girrens, Arlene

Gleissner, Dr. Stephen Gregory

Gorges, Catherine Rose

Heimerman, William

Henderson, Edwin Thomas “Tom”

Horsch, Elizabeth “Betty” J.

Jerome, James M.

Jerome, Thomas (Tom) G.

Johnson, Don

Kline, Scott

Koehler, John

McKee, Naomi L.

Metzen, Agnes B.

Metzen, Donald P.

Miller, Phyllis L.

Minson, Steve

Monroe, Betty

Neville, Greg

Parker, Nila F.

Pineda, Georgia

Ramirez, Sandra Kay

Reichenberger, David “Dave”

Rosenhamer, Melvadine “Dean”

Sauber, Brian

Schmeidler, William “Bill”

Scott, Carole Jean

Seiler, John Joseph

Smith, Leon Joseph

Stallbaumer, Andrew Richard

Strecker, Patricia (Pat) Day

Trueblood, Eddie “Ed” W.

Walker, Phyllis Howes

Webb, Darrel Max

Weed, Doris Ann

Werner, Dorothy Jean

Wiegand, Dale

Winter, Duane

Wolgast, William Arthur

Wondra, Rosemary “Rose”

Wright, Michael A. Zoglman, ElRoy

Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”.

John 11:25

Carole Jean Scott ‘77

Dr. Stephen Gleissner ‘80

John Koehler ‘85

Congratulations to Ethan and Grace (Leonard) Carr. ‘18. Ethan and Grace tied the knot June 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Grace teaches Religion at Bishop Carroll.

The Jaax’s welcome baby Moira to the family born April 2024. Chris teaches Social Studies at Bishop Carroll.

Here’s to Dillon and Ashley (Arnold) Kovar. Ashley and Dillon were married June 2024. Ashley teaches Math at Bishop Carroll.

Michael and Brooke (Frisch) Krug tied the knot June 2024, at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Brooke teaches Religion at Bishop Carroll.

Congratulations to grandparents Michelle and Michael Hilliard on the birth of their second grandchild. Cooper was born August 2024. Michael teaches Math at Bishop Carroll.

Bo and Ashley (Krier) Richardson ‘14 are first time parents to Evelyn Jo, born May 2024. Ashley teaches Math at Bishop Carroll.

Congratulations to grandparents Jeff and Janelle Geist on the birth of their first grandchild. Tatum was born August 2024. Janelle teaches Math at Bishop Carroll.

Congratulations to grandparent Michael Blasi on the birth of his grandson. Carson was born August 2024. Michael teaches Science at Bishop Carroll.

We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to Casey Lager, a distinguished graduate of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Class of 2005, for being recognized as a top young professional by the Wichita Business Journal. This prestigious accolade not only highlights Casey’s exceptional achievements but also embodies the spirit of excellence that our school community strives to nurture in all of our students.