Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (BMCHS)[1] is a private high school located in northern Pasco County, Florida, United States, not far from Spring Hill, in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. BMCHS is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and also hold memberships in the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) and the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)[2].

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Address
13651 Hays Road Spring Hill , (Pasco County) , Florida 34610 United States
Coordinates	28°21′24″N 82°33′52″W
Information
Type	Private, Roman Catholic
Motto	Domine, dirige nos. "Lord, guide us."
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	St. Charles Borromeo
Founded	2003
Founder	Bishop Robert Nugent Lynch
School code	101850
Principal	Camille Jowanna
Faculty	25
Grades	9 - 12
Gender	Co-educational
Enrollment	320
Student to teacher ratio	13:1
Campus size	88.76 acres
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Athletics	FHSAA 3A
Sports	Soccer, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball
Team name	Hurricanes
Accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Affiliation	Diocese of St. Petersburg
Website	www.bmchs.com

General information

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School was established in 2003. It is named after Charles Borromeo McLaughlin, the first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg. An avid pilot, Bishop McLaughlin would meet the pastoral demands of a large diocese by flying from event to event in order to keep pace with his schedule. This fast-paced ministry affectionately earned him the nickname of "Hurricane Charlie." Therefore, BMCHS is the home of the "Hurricanes." The school's inaugural principal was Jane Moerschbacher, who held the position until she retired in 2007. The school's current principal is Camille Jowanna, who, as a 7th grader, received the Sacrament of Confirmation from the school's namesake, Bishop McLaughlin.[3].

Academics

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School is ranked as the 7th Best Catholic High School in the state of Florida for 2020, as rated by NICHE, with an overall grade of "A."[4] BMCHS is experiencing continued growth and is known for its high academic standards, use of technology in the classroom, sports program and fine arts program. In 2017, BMCHS’s STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art and Math) Club won the Innovations in Catholic Education Technology Integration Award for its work in three dimensional printing of prosthetic hands for children with limited upper limb mobility as a result of birth defect or injury,[5] and was also honored by District Administration magazine as part of its Schools of TechXcellence program for this work.[6][7] BMCHS is also one of the few private high schools in the Tampa Bay area to offer an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program.[8].

Financial aid

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School offers various forms of financial assistance. Diocesan assistance includes the Catholic School Tuition Assistance Grant (C-STAG), Mary C. Forbes Foundation Scholarships and grants from the Catholic Foundation. BMCHS also accepts government-managed scholarships such as Step Up For Students, Gardiner Scholarships, AAA Scholarships and McKay Scholarships. BMCHS also manages several privately funded scholarships.[9]

Athletics

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School's athletic program is a Division 3A participating member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). BMCHS offers participation in competitive sports such as Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, Girls Volleyball, Boys Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Swimming, Track & Field, Cross-Country Running, Tennis and Cheerleading. Many of the coaches at BMCHS have played their sport at the college and professional level. Former professional players include Head Football Coach Ken Stills, who played safety for the University of Wisconsin and professionally with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings[10][11]; Varsity Boys Head Basketball Coach Derrick Sharp, who played point and shooting guard for the University of South Florida and professionally for 18 years with various teams in the Israeli Premier League and EuroLeague[12]; and former Assistant Football Coach Keith Tandy, who played safety for West Virginia University and professionally with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.[13][14] Known as "Thee Beach at Bishop," BMCHS also has one of the largest Beach Volleyball facilities in Florida, including 10 regulation size sand volleyball courts, which was constructed by Varsity Volleyball Coach Doug Chinchar who played volleyball at The Ohio State University.[15][16][17]

Performing arts & activities

Bishop McLaughlin's facilities include an 880 seat state-of-the-art theater known as the Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center (EDPAC).[18] The EDPAC hosts school events (such as plays, musicals, concerts and speaking engagements), and is recognized as being a public entertainment venue by live entertainment ticket sales and distribution companies such as Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment.[18][19] Clubs, societies and activities include Student Government, National Honor Society, Yearbook, STEM Club, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Key Club, Teen Court, Student Ambassadors, Peer Ministry, Show Choir and Drama Club.[20]

Significant dates

January 20, 2000 - Diocese acquired the land for the future home of BMCHS.[21]

May 30, 2002 - Construction of the new BMCHS begins.

August 11, 2003 - BMCHS welcomed its first freshman class.

May 29, 2007 - Commencement was held for the school's first graduating senior class.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School:

• Nate Pearson, A BMCHS varsity baseball player (Class of 2015), Nate Pearson was considered one of the top prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[22][23] Pearson was selected 28th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays,[24][25] and signed his contract with the Blue Jays on June 28, 2017, which included a $2.45 million signing bonus.[26][27]

References

1. "Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Official Website". Retrieved September 14, 2017.
2. "Accreditation". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
3. "Our Staff". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
4. "2020 Best Catholic High Schools in Florida". Retrieved April 19, 2020.
5. "2017 Innovation in Catholic Education "Technology Integration" Finalists". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
6. "District Administration, HP and Intel Name 19 schools of TechXcellence". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
7. "3D Printing: Service to Our Community". Retrieved March 26, 2019.
8. "Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Program". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
9. "BMCHS Hurricanes Q & A". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
10. "NFL Player Profile". Retrieved April 19, 2020.
11. "2020 Varsity Football Message – Head Football Coach Ken Stills Sr". Retrieved April 19, 2020.
12. "Bishop McLaughlin appoints new Head Basketball Coach – 2020 5A Hillsborough County Coach of the Year". Retrieved April 19, 2020.
13. "NFL Player Profile". Retrieved April 21, 2020.
14. Villamarzo, Andy (March 25, 2020). "Ex-Buccaneer Tandy headed back to team". The Suncoast News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
15. Page, Rodney (April 24, 2019). "Dig this: Beach volleyball gains popularity locally (no ocean needed)". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
16. "Sand Volleyball". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
17. "Doug Chinchar". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
18. "Facilities". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
19. "Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
20. "Honor Societies and Clubs". Retrieved April 25, 2020.
21. "Warranty Deed". December 20, 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
22. "MLB.com 2017 Prospect Watch". Major League Baseball.
23. Belinsky, Hudson (April 12, 2017). "Nate Pearson Progressing as Draft Nears". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
24. Chisholm, Gregor (June 13, 2017). "Toronto takes hard-throwing Pearson at 28". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
25. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (June 12, 2017). "Blue Jays select Warmoth, Pearson with first-round draft picks". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
26. "Blue Jays officially sign first-round picks Warmoth, Pearson". Sportsnet. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
27. "2017 Draft: Signing and Bonus Tracker". MLB.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.

External links

Official website