Admissions

New Student Page

Welcome new Cardinals and families!
It is our goal that this page is your first stop for any and all questions you may have about the exciting journey you are about to embark on at Bishop Diego! 


List of 12 items.

  • Enrollment Instructions

    Deadline: March 31, 2023
    After this date, your child’s spot and tuition rate cannot be guaranteed. 

    The SchoolAdmin online portal you used to submit the admissions application will now be used to complete the Enrollment Checklist and to enroll your student at Bishop Diego. If you have never logged into the SchoolAdmin portal, please see the email sent on March 3rd with your family’s portal authentication link. If you did not receive the email or cannot locate it, please reach out to Alexis Garcia at alexisgarcia@bishopdiego.org or 806-967-1266, ext. 114.

    You will need to complete these steps for each student in your family enrolling at Bishop Diego:

    1. Read and sign the tuition contract and pay the Tuition Deposit (or first installment) 
     
    • On page two of the contract you will choose how you would like to pay the tuition deposit of $1,000. For families choosing to pay in installments, these will be billed through SchoolAdmin on the 5th of the month and the deposit is due in full by June 30, 2023.
    • On page three of the Contract, you will be able to view your child’s tuition rate for 2023-24. Any scholarships, tuition subsidies, or merit awards will be reflected on this page. As a reminder, 529 Plans can now be used for private high school education. For more information on Bishop Diego's tuition structure or how tuition subsidies are determined, please see the Affording Bishop page on our website, under the Admissions tab.
    • On page three, you will also be able to select how you would like to pay your tuition. *Families who receive a personalized tuition subsidy MUST select the 12 month payment option.
    • The $625 Digital Experience Fee (which includes the iPad and online texts & materials) will be divided across your payments.
    2. Set up billing within SchoolAdmin
     
    • Each family must create a SchoolAdmin Billing account and supply a method of payment, regardless of the tuition payment plan. 
    • Payments will not be accepted at Bishop Diego's office. 
    • This account will be used for any balance due for the tuition deposit and any miscellaneous fees throughout the school year (ex: field trips, NHS fees, senior fees, etc.).
    3. Complete the Student Emergency Form

    Enrollment is considered complete when the financial contract and Tuition Deposit (or first installment) have been submitted online and when the SchoolAdmin account has been set up with payment information. 

    On April 3rd, the 9th Grade Course Planning Form will be added to the School Admin portal. You will receive an email notification that it is available and ready to be completed.

    In August, you will be prompted to log back into the SchoolAdmin portal and complete the Acceptance of Student-Parent Handbook and Authorized & Acceptable Use Policy forms.

  • Course Planning & Counseling Department Information

    The Bishop Diego Counseling and Student Services Department is excited to work with your family in the school year ahead. We are proud that our team provides specialized services to all students in Grades 9-12. We encourage you to reach out with any questions or requests for support.

    By April 3rd, you will receive an email from our counseling department with course recommendations. At that time, you will also be notified that a Course Selection Form has been added to SchoolAdmin portal. The selection form is where you can read about elective options, rank your student's choices, and sign up for a meeting with our academic counselor.
     
    Academic Counselor
    Ms. M. Jean Anderson, M.Ed.
    janderson@bishopdiego.org
    805-967-1266 x 120

    College Counselor
    Mrs. Rya Carpenter, MS, PPS
    rcarpenter@bishopdiego.org
    805-967-1266

    Personal Counselor
    Mr. Aaron Eggman, MA
    (805) 967-1266 ext. 121 

    Director of Resource Services
    Dr. June Szabo-Kifer, PhD
    jszabo@bishopdiego.org
    805-967-1266 x 201

  • Athletics Information

    WELCOME TO CARDINAL ATHLETICS!
     
    Athletic Department Philosophy
    The Athletic Department is characterized by strong Catholic, core-values on which the School is founded. BDHS recognizes the importance of athletic activities providing students with important opportunities for a total education. All students are encouraged to participate in one or more of our athletic programs, regardless of their experience or skill level. Approximately 80% of our student body participates in at least one sport throughout their four years at BDHS.

    What You Need to do to Participate
    First, all student-athletes who wish to participate in athletics need to complete our athletic clearance. To do this, please go to www.athleticclearance.com, create an account and register your son/daughter. During the registration process, please make sure that you check all sports that your son/daughter will be or is considering participating in.  Completing this process includes providing medical information, insurance information,  and acknowledging our Athletic Forms and Policies. Completion of the athletic clearance account is required prior to participation in Summer Activities. When it asks for your Student ID number, you can simply put your son/daughter’s graduation year. The new school year (2023-2024) should be activated today, 5/1/2023. Please ensure you select the correct year. Click the following link to view a video that walks you through the athletic clearance process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKivobMSmEE

    Included in the athletic clearance process is the requirement to obtain a sports physical and have a sports physical form filled out by an MD or DO. The sports physical is good for one calendar year. This requirement is a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rule for participation and a school requirement. Please make sure that this is taken care of ASAP and the form is uploaded to the Athletic Clearance account. The sports physical form can be found here: https://www.bishopdiego.org/athletics/resources/athletic-clearance 

    BOTH OF THESE (ATHLETIC CLEARANCE AND SPORTS PHYSICAL)
    ARE REQUIRED PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION.

    Sports Interest Survey
    Please take 1-2 minutes to complete the following Sports Interest Survey for next year. 

    This will guarantee that the head coach for the sports you select, will get your contact information so they can communicate summer plans and any other pertinent information about their program. 

    Spirit Packs
    Most of our sports have “spirit packs”, which contain sport specific apparel and gear that will either be required, recommended or just simply offered to be purchased prior to the season. These generally have a two week window where orders can be placed. If the sport that you are interested in playing utilizes a spirit pack, the head coach will send out specific information to you regarding dates and any required or recommended apparel or gear.

    Summer Schedule and Dead Period
    With our graduation date being Friday, June 2nd, our Summer officially begins on Saturday, June 3rd. The EARLIEST that an incoming student can begin participating in practices or workouts with us is when BOTH their current school AND their new school have finished their current school year. So, if you are an incoming freshman this upcoming fall, both your 8th grade school year and our current school year have to be finished before you can begin to attend practices. That said, the earliest date any new student can begin to attend workouts at Bishop is Saturday, June 3rd. 
    Each year, CIF requires that each school take a “Dead Period”, which is a period of 14 consecutive days where the school must shut down all athletic activities, including strength and conditioning. Our Dead Period this summer is from Monday, June 26th through Sunday, July 9th. 

    As for specific sports schedules, you can visit our website to see a schedule for what is already set by our coaches and this will be updated as dates and schedules are finalized. https://www.bishopdiego.org/athletics/inside-athletics/summer-schedules Those coaches will send out information to all families who have expressed interest in a sport as a part of their application specifically, so if you did not mark a sport on your application, please reach out to the head coach directly (contact information below). 

    Fall Sports Parent Meeting
    Another important date to note is Wednesday, August 16th, when we are scheduled to hold our Sports Parents meeting at 6:30 PM in the main gym immediately following our Welcome BBQ. In this meeting we will go over general expectations for our student-athletes, communication, academic and athletic eligibility requirements, etc. Individual Sports teams will hold their own Parents Meetings to go over specifics for their programs based on their practices schedule and will communicate the details to you all individually by sport. 

    Fall Sports Coaches Contact Information
    Head Cheerleading Coach
    Tiffany Rochel - trochel@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Cross Country Coach
    Head Football Coach
    Tom Crawford –tcrawford@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Girls Flag Football Coach
    Head Girls Golf Coach
    MeLinda Matsumoto – mmatsumoto@bishopdiego.org  
    Head Girls Tennis Coach
    Peter Kirkwood – pkirkwood@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Girls Volleyball Coach
    Dillan Bennett – dbennett@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Boys Water Polo Coach
    Hank Peterson – TBD

    Winter Sport Coaches Contact Info
    Head Cheerleading Coach
    Tiffany Rochel - trochel@bishopdiego.org   
    Head Boys Basketball Coach
    James Coronado - jcoronado@bishopdiego.org
    Head Girls Basketball Coach 
    Head Boys Soccer Coach
    Emmanuel Verduzco  - everduzco@bishopdiego.org  
    Head Girls Soccer Coach
    Jose “Pato” Guerrero - jguerrero@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Girls Water Polo Coach
    TBD - askinner@bishopdiego.org              

    Spring Sport Coaches Contact Info
    Head Baseball Coach
    Andrew Mitchell - amitchell@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Boys Golf Coach
    Head Softball Coach
    MeLinda Matsumoto - mmatsumoto@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Girls Beach Volleyball Coach
    Dillan Bennett - dbennett@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Boys Volleyball Coach
    Dillan Bennett - dbennett@bishopdiego.org
    Head Swimming Coach
    Head Boys Tennis Coach
    Peter Kirkwood - pkirkwood@bishopdiego.org 
    Head Track & Field Coach

    Athletic Director
    Aaron Skinner – askinner@bishopdiego.org
    Athletic Trainer

    You can also find the list of head coaches, as well as additional information about our athletic department and offerings on our school website at www.bishopdiego.org/athletics. 

    If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! GO CARDINALS! 

    Aaron Skinner (class of 2008)
    Athletic Director
    805-967-1266 ext. 107
    Bishop Diego HS

  • Textbooks & Supplies

    All student textbooks will be loaded onto the Bishop issued iPad which students will receive in August. There are a number of miscellaneous items that families may need to purchase for students depending on the courses in which they are enrolled.

    English
    A variety of paperback novels will need to be purchased. It’s very important that students all have the same editions. Please be sure to purchase the edition with the ISBN listed on the Materials to Purchase Page.

    Materials to Purchase

    Literature & Composition I is the regular college prep 9th grade English class. Honors English is to the right of that.
     
    Math
    A graphing calculator is required for Algebra BC and all higher level math classes. The recommended model is the TI-84 Plus CE. While the cost for this model is approximately $100, it will be used for all four years of high school and possibly into college. 

    Art
    Students enrolled in one of our art courses pay a fee for expendable supplies & sketchbooks they use to create their artwork. Students keep any remaining supplies at the end of the school year. 

    Color & Design: $35 art supply fee 
     
    Ceramics: $35 supply fee
     
    Adv Art/Context & Application: $30
     
    AP Studio Art: $40

    Miscellaneous Supplies
    At the beginning of the year, students will receive more information from individual teachers about preferences for notebooks, binders, etc.  Generally speaking, students use less of these materials now that the majority of their assignments are completed on the iPad, however, they will likely still need a few items.

  • Mandatory Summer Assignments - 10th, 11th, 12th grades

    Required for students entering the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and some AP classes. Please see the Summer Assignments page on the website under Academics.

  • How can I help my child prepare for freshman year?

    If you are wondering how to make sure your child is ready for freshman year, below are a few suggested ideas & activities. These are completely optional, but will help your child prepare for 9th grade. 

    If you have a child entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, please view the mandatory work students must complete on the Summer Assignments page of the website, under Academics.

    Reading 
    Recommended (not required) reading assignment for freshmen linked here. 

    Most importantly, students should read literature of their choice daily over summer. 

    Math
    Our math department recommends these series of videos and practice problems from Khan Academy to help students reinforce foundational skills and prepare for the math class in which they will be enrolled. 

    Algebra AB or BC: Pre-algebra | Khan Academy
     
    Writing 
    This is an overview of the writing program used at Bishop. It is a good idea for incoming freshmen to familiarize themselves with it before the start of the year. Once they’ve looked it over, they can choose a few topics and practice!

    Novels
    If students would like to preview novels that will be read, titles for English 9 often include Of Mice & Men, In the Time of Butterflies, and Romeo & Juliet. English 9 Honors titles often include Great Expectations, Romeo & Juliet, Night, and Of Mice & Men.

  • Communication & Portals

    Newsletter
    Weekly newsletters come out on Sundays and will be posted on Parent Square by Ms. Meghan Cowan. You can also find them on our website under “News & Events” on the top menu bar, here. These are important to read in a timely manner as they include information about the week ahead. 
     
    Parent Square
    Beginning in 2023-24, the majority of school-wide communication will come via Parent Square, including weekly newsletters and other information. New parents will be added by the first week of July. *IMPORTANT NOTE - If you already have an existing Parent Square account with another school or organization, the system will not send you a notification or invitation when you are added to Bishop Diego. Instead you will be prompted to combine accounts the next time you log into Parent Square.

    Please note, all communication with individual teachers will still take place via email, not Parent Square. 

    Finalsite (formerly SchoolAdmin)
    Finalsite is the online platform used for enrollment and billing. All families created a Finalsite account when applying for admission to Bishop. Parents will need to log back in each year to process re-enrollment, complete forms, and set up billing.

    BD Classroom/CANVAS: The portal for student assignments, grades, teachers and more. Students should check BD Classroom at least once a day to see homework & due dates, check assignments are received, & see grades.
    - During orientation in August, new students will be given password information and learn how to access BD Classroom.
    - A week before Back to School Night, parents will receive an email with codes and instructions to access their child’s BD Classroom account.
    - A special help session will be available for parents the night of Back to School.
    - You can view a BD Classroom tutorial from a couple of years ago here.
    - A link for the Parent BD Classroom Portal can be found here.

    BDTV
    This is a 7 minute broadcast 4 days a week during which current students receive news, announcements, and other important information. New episodes are posted on Bishop’s website daily.

  • Dress Code & Bishop Apparel

    Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook for specifics about the dress code. 

    Bishop Apparel
    • Cardinal Club sells a variety of clothing at various school and sporting events. Clothing will be sold at Back to School BBQ and home football games. Parents can also request to buy items via contacting our parent apparel rep, Julie Castignola at apparel@bishopdiego.org. *Subject to her availability.*   
    • Order from an outside supplier, linked here. Some parents have reported in the past that clothing sizes run large from this site.
    • Spirit Packs - These are sport specific sets of practice gear and apparel sold specifically for individual teams. Please keep an eye out for information from your child's coach about these as the window for ordering is often brief.

  • Parent Volunteer Hours

    • 25 parent volunteer hours in service to Bishop Diego are required per family annually.
    • Opportunities to earn volunteer hours will usually be communicated through the Parent Square platform. Please see the Communication & Portals tab for more information about the Parent Square platform.
    • Valued at $20/hour. Families will be billed for unfulfilled hours at the end of the school year.
    • Hours may also be earned by purchasing items needed for various events & activities. One service hour may be earned for each $20 spent. A receipt will be needed to receive credit for these hours. *Note the mandatory Cardinal Event tickets in the fall and spring auction contribution valued at $100 do not count toward these hours.*
    • All parent volunteer hours should be logged by parents themselves on Parent Square.

  • Student Community Service Hours

    • A minimum of 25 community service hours are required to be completed by students each year, for a total of 100 or more by graduation. 
    • Of the 100 hours, a maximum of 25% can be completed via Bishop Diego sponsored activities and opportunities. The remaining 75% (or more) must be completed through outside non-profit organizations.
    • Forms for submission of student community service hours are available outside Ms. Carr’s office or on the Forms page of the website.
    • Completed forms should be submitted to Ms. Carr. *Tip from past parents - keep a copy of student’s form for college application/scholarship process.

  • FAQs - schedules, lunch, etc.

    School Hours: 8:20 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. (Except Thursdays when dismissal is 1:30 p.m.)

    Schedule
    M/T/F - all 7 classes, 47 minutes each
    W/Th - Bishop PLUS days, block schedule, 75 mins each
                 W - Periods 1, 2, 3, 4
                 Th - Periods 5, 6, 7

    On a handful of weeks throughout the year due to special events or circumstances, the “Bishop Plus” schedule will not take place (i.e., no block periods on Wednesday & Thursday, no early dismissal on Thursday). These weeks will be denoted on the school calendar as “No Bishop Plus” weeks.

    Teacher Office Hours
    Everyday, except Moday, from 7:45-8:15 a.m. teachers are available in their classrooms for students to ask for additional help. Teachers are also available during Cardinal Time on Wednesday & Thursdays, from 11:10-11:40 a.m. Students needing additional help should reach out to their teacher to schedule an appointment.

    Snacks & Lunch
    Students may bring their own food from home or purchase meals and snacks on campus. The Cardinal Cafe, operated by Locally Grown Kids, is open before school through the end of lunch, including during morning breaks. Students can purchase food at the cafe with card, Apple pay, or cash.

    If dropping off a lunch for your student during the school day, you can drop it off on the red cart in the front office. It gets wheeled out for students during lunchtime. *It is a seniors-only privilege to order lunch online via DoorDash or UberEats. 

    Dress Code
    Please see the parent-student handbook on our website for specifics about the dress code. On Mass days, approximately once a month, more professional dress is required. See handbook for details.

    Attendance
    To report your child absent, please send an email to attendance@bishopdiego.org or call the school office at 805-967-1266. *Email is preferred.*

    Important Contact
    Ms. Meghan Cowan, our front desk receptionist, is your first point of contact for any questions that may arise. She also keeps track of parent service hours. 805-967-1266, mcowan@bishopdiego.org



  • Important Dates

    A link to the full school calendar and a list of important dates for the 2022-23 school year can be found here. 

    2023-24 Dates
    A detailed list of important dates will be out soon. In the meantime, mark your calendars for...

    Back to School BBQ
    Wednesday, August 16, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
    Join us for an informal BBQ to welcome the beginning of the 2023-24 school year! Followed by the Sports Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

    New Student Orientation
    Monday & Tuesday, August 21 & 22, 2023, approximately 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
    Fun-filled and informative days for all new students to Bishop! 

    First Day of School
    Wednesday, August 23, 2023

    Back to School Night
    Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Bishop Garcia Diego High School

4000 La Colina Rd
Santa Barbara, California, 93110

Phone: (805) 967-1266
Fax: (805) 964-3178
© Bishop Garcia Diego High School. All Rights Reserved