| Apr. 5, 2012
To the Bishop O'Connell community,
The Blitz is a weekly electronic communication from Bishop O'Connell. It provides our community with timely information from the school on a regular basis during the school year. In most cases the Blitz will point you to further details that can be found on our school Web site. Please visit the Web site regularly for the most up-to-date information on school activities and events. Bookmark the site on your browser: www.bishopoconnell.org. If, for some reason,you do not get the Blitz in your mailbox, please visit the Web site at www.bishopoconnell.org/blitz where the Blitz will be posted. To add or change your e-mail address for this Blitz, please send a note to ccarroll@bishopoconnell.org. If you have a problem accessing any of the links below, please cut and paste them into your URL/browser window.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE Thursday, Apr. 5 - Holy Thursday - NO SCHOOL (Superdance collection incentive)
Friday, Apr. 4 - Good Friday - NO SCHOOL - EASTER BREAK
Monday, Apr. 9 - Friday, Apr. 13 - NO SCHOOL - EASTER BREAK
Monday, Apr. 16 - School Resumes
 A Note from Our President - Katy Prebble
On Wednesday, as a school community, we gathered to take part in the Stations of the Cross. We were reminded that Jesus died and rose so that we might have the promise of eternal life. This weekend as we gather in many churches across the DC area, we will celebrate that Easter is a sign of hope and a sign of life. Pope John Paul II wrote in his Easter Message of 2001: “All are offered the gift of the peace of the Risen Christ, who breaks the chains of violence and hatred. Rediscover today with joy and wonder that the world is no longer a slave to the inevitable. This world of ours can change; peace is possible even where for too long there has been fighting and death.” At Bishop O’Connell we encourage all of our students to live the Easter message by being instruments of God’s peace and workers for the kingdom of God. We wishes all of our friends and family a happy and blessed Easter.
 Christian Service
Senior Reminder - Please take advantage of the Easter break to complete your Service final reports. They are due the Wednesday after you return, April 18. The final report includes (1) any remaining Logs, (2) Reflection, and (3) Supervisor's Feedback for indirect/direct service, and (4) if you did advocacy this year, a copy of your letter/email. Note that over your four years here, you are expected to perform advocacy, and for most of you that would be this year. Feel free to email tsensenig@bishopoconnell.org if you have questions.
 Senior Information
Senior Yard Signs - The Athletic Boosters are selling congratulatory yard signs for your senior!
All-Night Grad Party Tickets - ANGP tickets are on sale now. Please don't delay in signing your student up.
Find out more about all of this at www.bishopoconnell.org/seniors.
 The Matchmaker – Apr. 20-22
This spring Bishop O'Connell's theater program presents Thornton Wilder's classic farce, The Matchmaker. Senior Rosemarie O'Connor stars as Dolly Levi and Senior David Gillick as Horace Vandergelder in their spring production. They are supported by seniors Ali Roaquin as Minnie and Lisa Young as Miss Malloy with Juniors Tyler Fritz as Cornelius Hackl and Michael Bonini as Barnaby Tucker. Watch as Dolly expertly sorts out the love affairs of those around her including her own. It promises to be an evening of laughter and love in spring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 20 and Saturday, Apr. 21, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 22. General admission tickets are $10, students and senior citizens are $5. Reserve your seat now by calling the box office at 703-237-1448.
 Grandparents Reception and Play Matinee - Apr. 19
There will be a matinee performance of "The Matchmaker" for a very special group of guests--O'Connell grandparents! Parents, please invite your student's grandparents or special aunt or uncle to join us on Thursday, Apr. 19. The morning begins with a reception in the convent at 9 a.m., followed by the performance by the O'Connell drama department beginning at 10 a.m. Please RSVP by calling Cindy Krech at 703-237-1446 or email Ckrech@bishopoconnell.org.
 Did You Know?
Senior Allison Grasmeder received an Award for Aspirations in Computing from the VA-DC Affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Students run another successful blood drive. On March 29, students and staff came forward in record numbers to donate 85 units of blood through INOVA Blood Donor Services.
Great things are happening every day at Bishop O'Connell, and you don't have to miss any news! Parents can receive an e-mail or SMS update every time a news story is added to the home page. Simply visit the News Archives page at www.bishopoconnell.org/newsarchives, and click on the small orange “Alerts” button on the top right side of the page. To subscribe to sports team updates, click the "Alerts" button on the top of any team page. Also connect with us through our social media channels: subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/oconnellhs; become a fan of Bishop O’Connell High School's official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oconnellhs; and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/oconnellhs.
 Notes from the Athletic Office
Baseball Open House/Cookout - THIS SATURDAY, Apr. 7 - Come out and join the fun and action as the Bishop O'Connell varsity baseball team hosts WCAC opponent St. Mary's Ryken. Prospective players (7th and 8th graders) and their families are invited to arrive at the O'Connell baseball field between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. for some of the pre-game activities. The first pitch will be at 12 noon. A family cookout for all attendees will be held immediately following the game. Tell your friends and neighbors to come learn more about our baseball program! Please RSVP to Coach Hart at 571-238-9447. Congratulations JV Cheerleaders - The JV cheerleaders won the Junior division at the Eastern Cheer Association National Championships. Congratulations!
Summer Sports Camps - Spread the news about the great youth sports camp programs that will take place at Bishop O'Connell this summer! There are soccer, basketball and football camps for kids of all ages and abilities. Be among the first athletes to experience our new turf field! Find out more at www.bishopoconnell.org/sportscamps.
 Senior Class Bedding Plants Fundraiser
The senior class is selling bedding plants and hanging baskets. Orders are being taken through Apr. 16 with pick-up scheduled for May 2. Visit www.bishopoconnell.org/clubspecials for details.
 Marking the 18th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide
This weekend marks the 18th anniversary of the start of the Rwandan genocide. The Rwandan Embassy and the Rwandan community are remembering these events with special programs at Georgetown University and on the Mall this weekend. Find out more at http://www.immaculee.com/index.php?view=article&id=116.
 Adjustments to City Bus Service
Several schedule and some slight route changes for the ART 42, 52, 75 and 77 routes will go into effect on Monday, April 16, 2012. These changes are intended to help the routes run more efficiently and frequently. In our neighborhood, ART 52 (Ballston-Virginia Hospital Center-East Falls Church) will undergo small time adjustments and the schedule will be improved to better coincide with the Yorktown High School bell schedule. ART 52 operates between Ballston-MU and East Falls Church Metro stations, serving Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington. Also see ART 51 for additional trips between Ballston-MU station and Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington. ART 51 and 52 are operated by Arlington County with support from Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington. View these new schedules online at www.arlingtontransit.com.
Please note that this is an outgoing e-mail only. If you need to add or change your e-mail address for this Friday Blitz, please send a note to ccarroll@bishopoconnell.org. If you have questions or concerns about any of the news items above, please contact the individual departments. For a list of faculty and staff e-mails and phone numbers, please visit www.bishopoconnell.org/directory. 
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