August 26, 2025

Welcome back to a brand-new year!

Tuesday Folder Portal Announcements: This year our school system will continue with the PAPERLESS “Tuesday Folder.” The Tuesday Folder is bimonthly (every other Tuesday). You will receive a link to check the contents of all the items that would have been sent home in paper form. This link contains important communications from the school, including a newsletter like this. Please read all information in a timely manner as much of it may be time sensitive. Please be aware of what needs to be sent back.
Occasionally, students will bring home items that need a signature or that need to be returned to the office. (report cards, field trip permission forms, etc.) Each item will need to be returned by the next day, Wednesday, with any necessary correspondence.
Access the Tuesday Folder by the following ways:
• Download the BMCS App from your App Store.
• Visit the www.bishopmac.com home page, on the menu under Grade 6-8 Kankakee is a clickable link to the Kankakee Tuesday Folder Portal

If there is anything we can do or questions we can answer, please don’t hesitate to contact our main office!

Main Office: (815) 933-7758
 (Principal) Mrs. Bess: kbess@bmcss.org
(Office Administrator) Mrs. O’Brien: nobrien@bmcss.org

Important Information

New Phone Policy: Cellphones, smart watches, and earbuds/headphones are prohibited in junior high classrooms and must be stored in lockers with locks. During school hours, phones should be turned off. Parents should contact their child via the main office. This policy will be enforced strictly, and students may face disciplinary action for violations.

New Drop off Procedure: Junior high students can be dropped off at 7:00 am at the new entrance on the Southwest side of the school, accessible from Entrance Avenue. They will walk up the sidewalk to enter the building. For added safety, the door by the Advancement Office will remain locked in the morning. Students are required to wait in the cafeteria until 7:50 AM, when they will be released to their classrooms. After 8:00 students will need to be checked in at the main office.

Mini-Schedule Night: Wednesday, September 3rd, 5:30-7:30 at the Kankakee site

Jr High Dance: Back to school dance for all jr high students September 6th! Kankakee site café 6:30 -8:30pm! Dancing, popcorn, candy, and water available. $5 per student, cash only, ticket purchased at the door.

iReady Testing: The week after Labor Day, we will be taking the iReady Diagnostic Test # 1 in grades 6, 7, and 8 during their reading and math classes. Please look at the schedule below:
Tuesday, September 2, Wednesday, September 3, Thursday, September 4, and Friday, September 5 in their Math and Reading classes.

Extended care: Extended care at the Bradley site will begin the week of August 25. Any junior high student who needs extended care should wait by the cafeteria after school and will be bused to the Bradley site. Parents will need to pick up their child directly from the Bradley site.

Family Faith Formation – Once again Mrs. Amy Bovie will be offering Family Faith Formation sessions to all interested families at the Bourbonnais and Bradley Sites.  Two sessions will be offered each month – one at the Bradley Site and one at the Bourbonnais Site.  Families wishing to attend, are welcome at either session.  You will find a flyer in today’s Tuesday Folder with dates and topics for this year’s meetings.

Progressive Raffle – First Drawing Coming Soon! Mark your calendars! The first Progressive Raffle drawing will be held on Friday, October 3rd during Friday Night Lights, with a grand prize of $25,000!
o   Make sure to turn in your sold tickets to your site’s main office as soon as possible.
o   Need more tickets? Fill out the Progressive Raffle Request Form in the Tuesday Folder portal or email Meghan Elliott at melliott@bmcss.org.

Daily Announcements: There will be daily announcements posted on our website at:  www.bishopmac.com/studentlife/announcements

Item Drop-offs: Parents needing to drop off something during the day, please make sure to drop off at the Main Office. Please make sure the item is marked with your student's name.

Late Students: The Junior High doors are locked at 8:01 from 2:59. Please use the main doors on Brookmont Blvd. for any student arriving late or leaving early during the school day.

Leaving Early: Any student leaving early during the day for an appointment, etc. please call the main office in the morning. We will give your student a pass to get out of class. They will then come to the main office to sign out. Students need to be retrieved at the main doors on Brookmont Blvd..

Spirit Wear Day: Each Friday we will have a Spirit Wear Day. Your student may wear uniform bottoms with any style Bishop McNamara Catholic School shirt.

Spirit Chain and Magnets: Get yourself the hottest trend in super fan gear!  As a fundraiser working with Blue Otter Printables, McNamara will be selling McNamara themed turnover chains and large magnets.  All orders can be placed through this google form and payments can be delivered to the main office at the Kankakee Site through cash or check.  Orders will be submitted for processing after payments are received.  All funds raised will go toward enhancing the game night experience with giveaways and surprises at various sporting events for students and fans of all ages!
Order here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSPKLRoeOcNWQ0xoCKj5EPQ2wbTtF6sJD6Ep0dEjBaupQ0eg/viewform

🎉 Get Your Volunteer Hours Early – Join the Auction Committee! 🎉
We're gearing up for our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we need your help to make it a huge success! The Annual Auction is happening on Saturday, November 8, and we’re looking for enthusiastic parents to join our committee. Whether you love decorating, organizing, shopping, or putting together class baskets, there’s a place for you on our team. It’s a fun way to get involved, meet other parents, and support our school community.
Interested? Contact Peggy Mayer at pmayer@bmcss.org to join the fun!
Let’s make this year’s auction unforgettable!

Attention Families! Protecting God’s Children Seminars: All parent ambassadors/volunteers are required to complete a VIRTUS/Protecting God’s Children course before assisting the school.  If you are a new parent or have not completed the course please see the information below
In order to volunteer in any capacity, i.e., classroom parties, lunch duty, parent work day etc. the Diocese requires certification. Please see the following steps for completion:

Step 1: Go to www.virtusonline.org to create an account.
Step 2: Accept and Acknowledge understanding of the Policy and Standards.
Step 3: Take the Protecting God’s Children online course through Virtus.org
Step 4: Give consent for the Name-Based Background Check through Virtus.org
Step 5: Fill out the Parent Volunteer Application

STAY CONNECTED

Like us on Facebook:
Bishop McNamara Junior High Group (our site)
Bishop McNamara Catholic School (all school)
Twitter: @BishopMcNamara
Instagram: @bishopmcnamara
Website: www.bishopmac.com

Important Dates

August 25: Extended Day Services Begin Bradley Site
August 26: JH Mass 8:50 AM School Chapel
September 1: No School - Labor Day
September 2-5: I-Ready Diagnostic Test Grades 6th-8th
September 3: MiniSchedule Night Grades 6th - 12th (More details to come)
September 6: JH Dance 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm * Hosted by Mac Pac
September 11 : Gratitude Drive-Thru
September 15–19: Homecoming Week

Find your Tuesday Folder attachments and additional documents at the button below: