10-9-26 Focus on Fenwick (1) by Bishop Fenwick High School

ISSUE 6

FOCUS ON

FENWICK

10/9/26

THIS WEEK AT FENWICK

TABLE OF CONTENTS 01

PROGRESS REPORTS

PSAT TESTING DAY AND FRESHMAN RETREAT All the details for each class on October 14

SPOOKY SPIKE Join SAC for a Halloween Themese Volleyball Tournament and Charity Event!

04 04

PSAT TESTING PSAT TESTING SOFTWARE SOFTWARE

06 FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

STUDENT LIFE NOTES HOCO Dance

SCHOOL AND COLLEGE

08 COUNSELING CLASS NOTES

ENCOUNTER XI

ADMISSION OPEN HOUSE

Prayer, reflection, fun, and Encounter with Christ

October 22 and November 10

COLLEGE VISITS

CATHOLIC COLLEGE PATHWAYS

COLLEGE AFFORDABLE

YEARBOOK Upload your pictures and make sure you get your book!

OCTOBER DATES Please note early release on October 21 and 22

Cover Photo: Students from the Class of ‘30 worked on thier public speaking skills by reading to students at St. Mary’s School in Danvers

School Calendar

Lunchtime Payment Athletic Calendar SCHOOL CALENDAR

MyFenwick

Spiritwear Store

Q1 Progress Reports Dear Families, We reached the midpoint of the first quarter

Our teachers are always available after school

earlier this week. While it is always possible

from 2:35-3:00pm Monday-Thursday to help

for you to stay up-to-date on your student’s

students

progress in their classes via MyFenwick, at

support, and many teachers are willing to give

this time, we share formal progress reports

of their time beyond that as well. Students

with you.

should make frequent use of this opportunity.

who

need

additional

academic

Ninth and tenth graders, in particular, are To access the progress report, log in to

encouraged to learn the value of going for

MyFenwick and click on your student’s profile.

extra help on an ongoing basis, not only the

It can be found under Progress > Performance

day before a “big test” or after their grade has

> Report Card > Progress Report Quarter 1.

already dropped.

Please be aware that these are not official

grades; rather they are a snapshot in time of

information on this progress report, you may

where things stand in the gradebook. For

reach out directly to the individual teacher

those who have been underperforming in a

and/or to your student’s school and college

class (i.e. their grade is below a 70), you will

counselor.

you

have

any

questions

about

the

see that teachers have shared thoughtful feedback and helpful directives on how to

We hope that everyone’s classes are off to a

improve the grade before the quarter closes

good start this year, and even where that is

on Wednesday, November 4. Please also note

not the case, we are confident that a pathway

that the grade on the progress report reflects

to ultimate success is still open to every

where things stood earlier this week; the

student willing to put in the work.

number may be slightly different now, but in most cases, the substance of any comment from a teacher still holds.

Take care,

Mr. Canniff PRINCIPAL Ms. Mahoney DEAN OF ACADEMICS

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2026

PSAT AND FRESHMAN RETREAT DAY Wednesday, October 14th is an important and impactful, yet non-traditional school day for Fenwick students. Below is an outline that explains the day’s events.

2027

2030

CLASS OF 2027

CLASS OF 2030

Grade 12 students will have an

developed by our Campus Ministry team to engage students

independent work day! They are

around themes of faith and friendship. The retreat will be led by

encouraged to use their time to

grade 9 teachers and senior student leaders. It will take place in

visit a college or make progress on

the gym and cafeteria. Lunch will be provided. Students will then

their college applications. This is

walk to St. Thomas the Apostle Church (3 Margin Street,

an ideal time to schedule a college

Peabody) for Mass before returning to campus for dismissal. The

tour and information session,

uniform is not required that day. Students may dress in clothing

particularly because the students

that is casual, comfortable, and school-appropriate. Please email

are on campus and the colleges

Ms. Emily Valin at EGV@fenwick.org if you have any questions

are in session. With the early

about the retreat.

admission deadlines fast approaching, this is also an opportune time to complete applications, particularly the Common Application. If you or your student has any questions about the college process, please reach out to their School and College Counselor.

Grade 9 students will be on campus for regular school hours. A meaningful and enjoyable grade 9 retreat experience has been

Regular School Hours Report directly to homeroom No uniform required; can be casual and comfortable, but must be school-appropriate Lunch will be provided

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The PSAT/NMSQT is in an entirely digital format. Students must bring to school that day their own laptops, on which they will have pre-loaded the proper Bluebook software. Grade 10 and 11 students should go to bluebook.app.collegeboard.org on their testing device to download Bluebook. Please install Bluebook as soon as possible to allow time to address any technical issues. The download page will detect your device type and provide the right file. If you have any problems installing Bluebook, please contact Mr. Flynn at JJF@fenwick.org. It is imperative that the laptop be fully charged. Please note that the software cannot run on a Chromebook. The digital testing platform has a built-in calculator; however, students may bring their own calculator if they wish, as long as it is a College Board approved device. Additional information about acceptable calculators may be found at: satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bringdo/calculator-policy. Cell phones and smartwatches must be off and in a backpack. It is recommended that all electronic devices be left at home. While studying for the test is not required, students may want to familiarize themselves with the test. Students have access for review after they upload the Bluebook software. It is recommended that students get a good night’s rest before the test and that they eat a good breakfast. They may bring a snack to eat during the break. School uniform is required for all students taking the test. The Peabody bus will run at its usual time that day. Students should expect to be testing for two hours, not including a ten-minute break between modules. Students testing with pre-approved accommodations should expect to be testing for three hours, not including breaks. Grade 10 students arriving at school earlier than their appointed test time, or grade 11 students who have to remain on campus after their test has ended, are only able to work in the Learning Commons, which will be a space for silent work. If you have any questions, please reach out to the School and College Counseling Office.

2028

CLASS OF 2028 Grade 11 students will arrive at school promptly at the usual time of 7:45am and report directly to homeroom. Students will spend the morning taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which will conclude by 11:00am when they will be dismissed. This test includes a Reading and Writing section as well as a Math Section. It serves as important preparation for the SAT. Scores will not be reported to colleges, though students who perform exceedingly well may qualify for scholarship opportunities and national academic recognitions. Counselors may use the score to create an appropriate list of colleges to which the student might apply. See below for additional test-day information. Arrive at 7:45 a.m.; report directly to homeroom Dismissal at 11:00 a.m. In uniform Fully charged Laptop with Bluebook Software preloaded

2029

CLASS OF 2029 Grade 10 students will arrive at school promptly at 11:15am and report directly to homeroom. They will spend the early afternoon taking the PSAT which will conclude by 2:30pm when they will be dismissed. **Any sophomore testing with approved accommodations through our academic support center will take their test starting at 7:45am.** This test includes a Reading and Writing Section as well as a Math Section. It serves as early practice for the SAT, and scores will not be reported to colleges. Results serve as a check-in on student progress to pinpoint areas for continued development. Your counselor is an excellent resource in interpreting the scores. See below for additional test-day information. Arrive at 11:15 a.m.; report directly to homeroom Dismissal at 2:30 p.m. In uniform Fully charged Laptop with Bluebook Software preloaded

GET READY FOR THE PSAT ON TUESDAY -DOWNLOAD BLUEBOOK The PSAT will be administered digitally, so every student must have the College Board Bluebook app downloaded and be able to sign in before test day. Please take a few minutes this weekend to complete these steps before the PSAT: 1. Download Bluebook Mac computer: https://bluebook.app.collegeboard.org/ iPad/iPhone: Download Bluebook from the Apple App Store 2. Check Ahead of Time Please to make sure Bluebook is installed and that your student can successfully sign in before test day. Taking care of this ahead of time will help ensure a smooth and stress-free testing experience. *If you are unable to download bluebook it is most likely because your computer is not running the most up to date version: for Apple you’ll need macOS 15 and for Microsoft you’ll need at least Windows 11 version 24H2* 3. When opening the app, you should see the page below. If not, please come to the School and College Counseling Department.

4. If you haven’t, create a shortcut for the Blue Book app on your desktop.

Thank you for helping your students prepare! School and College Counseling Department

FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

The Catholic Schools Office has asked Catholic schools and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston to share information with families about a new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program that will take effect in January 2027 and could provide additional educational resources for K–12 students in Massachusetts. The program would allow individual taxpayers to contribute up to $1,700 to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) and receive a federal income tax credit. SGOs would then use those contributions to help eligible students with qualified educational expenses. Eligible public and private school students could benefit, with assistance potentially available for tutoring, afterschool care, transportation, books, technology, specialized educational services, and other qualified expenses. For eligible students attending Catholic schools, funds could also be used for tuition assistance. Student eligibility is based in part on family income, with the federal program setting the threshold at less than 300% of an area's median income. The Catholic Schools Foundation estimates that this could include approximately 85–90% of Massachusetts households, although individual scholarship organizations would establish additional eligibility and award requirements. For students in Massachusetts to receive scholarships through Massachusetts-based organizations, the Commonwealth must choose to participate in the federal program and identify qualifying Scholarship Granting Organizations. If Massachusetts participates, organizations such as the Catholic Schools Foundation could seek approval to participate and potentially expand the assistance available to eligible Catholic school students and families. Fenwick is sharing this information so our families understand the program, its potential impact on students throughout Massachusetts, and the position the Catholic Schools Office is advocating. The links below will bring you to informational websites, including the IRS, the NCEA, and the Catholic Schools Foundation. https://www.irs.gov/government-entities/federal-state-local-governments/federal-scholarship-tax-credit-fstc https://www.csfboston.org/support-our-work/tax-benefits-charitable-giving/federal-scholarship-tax-credit https://www.ncea.org/NCEA/How_We_Serve/News/Press_Releases/A-new-tax-credit-helps-kids-at-Catholic-andpublic-schools.-Why-aren-t-more-states-opting-in-.aspx?WebsiteKey=60819b28-9432-4c46-a76a-a2e20ac11cfd

Student Life Notes

Homecoming Dance! Come join the fun at our biggest dance of the year on Saturday, October 17, in Crusader Square from 7-10 p.m. for our rescheduled HOCO semi-formal! Tickets will begin again on Tuesday, October 13, through Friday, October 16 at all three lunches. Please bring $20.00 cash or a check made out to Bishop Fenwick High School. We will sell tickets at all three lunches.

FENWICK SCHOOL & COLLEGE COUNSELING

School & College Counseling by Class Year

Looking Ahead

SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS

Wednesday, October 14, is PSAT Testing Day at Fenwick. Please make sure that you are ready for the test by downloading the Bluebook app on your laptop. Full details on testing Day and Bluebook can be found in this newsletter. If you have any aditional questions, please reach out to your School and College Counselor!

SENIORS

Please schedule a meeting to meet with your school counselor to discuss your plans for next year. Seniors with a college application deadline in October or November must turn in a Transcript Request form asap. Here are a few important things to take care of: Standardized Testing Be sure to check the standardized testing requirements for each of your colleges. If you still need to take the SAT, either for the first time or again, you can register through Collegboard.org When registering, enter the Bishop Fenwick High School code: 221723 Fall SAT Dates: November 7 – Registration deadline: October 23 December 5 – Registration deadline: November 20 If you are planning to take the ACT, register through ACTstudent.org When registering, enter the Bishop Fenwick High School code: 221723 Fall ACT Dates: December 12 – Registration deadline: November 6

Create your Common App account at commonapp.org Please note that counselors will be helping students with this process. When creating your account, be sure to use a personal email address. Your College Application To-Do Listuse the handout distributed on 9/10/26 in the Fenwick Connect Meeting Update your résumé/activity list and provide a copy to your counselor. If you have not already done so, complete the Student Questionnaire Part 2 and return it to your counselor. Follow up with your teachers regarding your letters of recommendation and be sure to let them know your earliest college application deadline. Schedule an appointment to meet with your counselor. Provide a copy of your application essay to your counselor for review.

The Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) is an applicantcompleted list of courses and corresponding grades that replaces the high school transcripts used by the Office of Admissions during the application review process. Please check to see if your college requires you to complete this step as part of the application process. Ssar.selfreportedtranscript.com

Important Dates Financial Aid Program October 28 at 6:30 p.m. Parents and seniors are encouraged to attend.

We’re looking forward to working with you throughout your senior year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your counselor with questions or to schedule a meeting. Please check your email as this is how counselors reach out to you. We’re here to help!

COLLEGE VISITS THE WEEK OF 10/12/26

Date

Time

College

Tue Oct 13th, 2026

08:00AM - 08:30AM

American International College

Tue Oct 13th, 2026

08:45AM - 09:15AM

Tulane University

Tue Oct 13th, 2026

10:00AM - 10:30AM

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Tue Oct 13th, 2026

01:00PM - 01:30PM

Clemson University

Tue Oct 13th, 2026

01:45PM - 02:15PM

Clark University

Thu Oct 15th, 2026

01:00PM - 01:30PM

Salem State University

Fri Oct 16th, 2026

08:00AM - 08:30AM

Rollins College

Fri Oct 16th, 2026

10:00AM - 10:30AM

Gordon College

College Visits Counselors reviewed the process for college visits with seniors at the start of the year. In addition to be listed above, upcoming visits are listed in Scoir, included in the morning announcements, and posted outside the Counseling Office. If you would like to attend a college visit, please sign up in the Counseling Office and get a pass with from Mrs. Langer. You must have your pass signed by the teacher whose class you will miss. This must be done prior to the day of the visit.

EDUCATION FOR LIFE: CATHOLIC COLLEGE PATHWAYS Your Fenwick Education Can Open Even More Doors Fenwick’s Catholic College Pathways initiative connects students with special opportunities at Catholic colleges and universities that recognize the academic preparation, character, service, and valuescentered education that define the Fenwick experience. As this program grows, Fenwick will continue to develop partnerships that can provide our students with clearer admissions pathways, scholarship opportunities, and meaningful connections to colleges where faith, learning, leadership, and community remain central to the student experience. To see the full information and requirements for these programs, please visit https://fenwick.org/school-and-college-counseling/catholic-college-pathways-program/

Emmanuel College Saints Catholic Connection Guarantee Through the Saints Catholic Connection Guarantee, qualifying Fenwick students can receive guaranteed admission to Emmanuel College along with a merit scholarship of at least $100,000, distributed evenly over four years. The program reflects the shared commitment of Emmanuel College and its partner Catholic high schools to providing students with a strong Catholic education and a clear pathway to continue that experience in the heart of Boston.

Saint Anselm College College Admission Agreement Saint Anselm College, located in Manchester, NH, and grounded in the shared tradition of Catholic education, offers qualified Fenwick students a direct pathway to study at one of New England’s leading Catholic liberal arts institutions. Through this agreement, qualifying Fenwick students will receive guaranteed admission to St. Anselm’s, as well as $6,000 per year in the Catholic High School Grant; a minimum of a $27,000 merit scholarship per year; and needbased financial aid may also be awarded for eligible students

Saint Michael’s College Saints Catholic Connection Guarantee Saint Michael’s College in Vermont offers a scholarship specifically for students graduating from Catholic high schools. Recipients of the Don Dion ’76 Catholic School Scholarship receive $10,000 annually toward tuition, in addition to other scholarships for which they may qualify. The scholarship is renewable for four years, providing a total award of $40,000.

College Affordable is a nonprofit organization that helps families reduce the cost of college, minimize debt, and increase higher education choices.

TOGETHER WITH BISHOP FENWICK HIGH SCHOOL Starting in the fall of 2026, Bishop Fenwick High School families have free access to College Affordable resources to help reduce the costs of college. Partnering with the Guidance Counselors and the experts from College Affordable, this special program provides high impact tools and support to help families navigate the process and minimize the costs of college.

FREE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES College Affordable services are provided at no cost to Bishop Fenwick students and their families. Families complete a brief intake form to access webinars & recordings, resource guides, and one-onone support through virtual meetings, email, phone, and text.

TESTIMONIAL “The collegeprocess is very daunting. College Affordable took a lot of the stress and pressure of navigating that process away. They were incredibly supportive from beginning to end and I don’t know if we would’ve gotten through it as gracefully without their help and support.” - Parent ‘25