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Weekly Update
September 2, 2020
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Dear Brave Families,
As you enjoy these last few days of summer, I am filled with excitement about launching the new school year. Earlier today I shared a message with the families of our newest Braves, the Class of 2024, outlining action items for the start of the year. This information is key to a great beginning to 2020-21 for all BBHS students and families.
Start-of-Year Action Items
- Ensure your student has a distraction-free dedicated workspace
- Remind your student to check email daily
- Read the Wednesday Weekly Updates for school news and important updates
- Register for HealthShield for daily health attestation and save BBHS HealthShield as a contact in your phone for easy daily access (Instructions)
- Log into Skyward and verify/update contact info in the Family Info section. Note: In Skyward, you can find your student's schedule, access online grades, and daily announcements.
- For student absences, email attendance@bishopblanchet.org
- Access our website to find contact information for our counselors and faculty/staff, and to bookmark our official school calendar and bell schedules
- Access student textbooks through MBS Direct. Note: Have student's schedule on hand (textbook list)
- For sports, complete Medical History/Physical Form and upload to FamilyID and register for specific sports on FamilyID (Medical History/Physical Form and Family ID)
- Purchase a TI-84 graphing calculator (for all math classes)
- Connect on social media by joining the class of 2024 Facebook Parent group and follow @bishopblanchet on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Check out club offerings, and encourage students to email staff leader if interested (BBHS clubs)
- Contact with Parent Association, PALS (Performing Arts) or Booster Club (Athletics) if interested in volunteering
- Order BBHS spirit wear (BBHS Sideline Store) and/or spirit bags (spirit bag order form - 3 orders only per year)
- Order school pictures here
- Students create a NobleHour account for submitting service hours. Note: students received an email with directions and webpage for more info (Service Information)
- When students return to school building:
- Create a food service account and add funds
- If needed, complete and submit Administration of Medication Form
Our teachers are working hard to provide the best learning experience in their classrooms, with an early emphasis on building relationships. Additionally, we are building out our co-curricular offerings, so be on the lookout for more announcements from campus ministry, athletics, performing arts, clubs and activities. Please encourage your students to participate!
Lastly, if your student is struggling with remote learning and needs assistance or guidance navigating the online learning environment, we encourage them to reach out to their teacher or school counselor. Students who need any help with technology are encouraged to reach out to studenttechsupport@bishopblanchet.org. These needs may include difficulty accessing internet services at home, trouble accessing Skyward, video conference assistance and other software issues that may arise. All administrative offices and student support personnel are available to support parents and students during this time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sam Procopio
Principal
sprocopio@bishopblanchet.org
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BISHOP BLANCHET HANDBOOK
For detailed information regarding school policies and procedures, please access the 2020-21 Bishop Blanchet Handbook here. The addendum to the handbook addresses expectations in both remote and hybrid learning environments.
Attendance will be taken during each class, and in order to be marked present, students are expected to be actively online and engaged throughout the entire class period. All attendance policies and expectations established in the Bishop Blanchet Handbook apply to the remote learning environment. If your student is absent, please email the Attendance Office prior to the beginning of each school day.
STUDENT IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION
Please contact your health care provider to ensure your student is in compliance with the state laws related to immunizations that went into effect prior to the 2019-2020 school year. The Dean's Office will communicate with families if their student is missing any immunization information. Please email Associate Dean of Students Lynn Augustavo with any questions.
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From the Activities Office
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STUDENT ORIENTATION WRAP-UP
It was wonderful to see so many of our new and returning students during the on campus portion of Student Orientation. If your student was unable to attend on their designated class day, a photo retake day will be scheduled in October. If your student did not receive a mask in their back-to-school bag on Tuesday, please click here. STUDENT LIFE ACTIVITIES
Students will meet during the Student Life portion of CP for a variety of class activities next Wednesday, September 9. They will learn more about how to use NobleHour to record service hours and will participate in grade-level activities.
DRIVERS ED - FALL VIRTUAL SESSION
Shield Driving Academy offers three sets of classes each year for BBHS students only. The fall session will be held virtually, from September 15 to October 21 with classes on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (except holidays). Click here to register your student for the fall session.
Chuck Bocian
Vice Principal of Activities
cbocian@bishopblanchet.org
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SAVE THE DATE FOR CURRICULUM NIGHT - SEPTEMBER 16
Curriculum Night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m. Parents and guardians will have the opportunity to follow their student's schedule and have a live Zoom meeting with teachers. More information will be emailed Monday, September 14.
Vice Principal of Academics
nmccoy@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Languages Department
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NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM RESULTS
Several BBHS students attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2020 National Spanish Examination. The test was administered in Mr. Gamez's AP Spanish class last spring, and is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Congratulations to the following students:
Wyatt Adams, Gold Medal - 96th percentile
Sarah Hatlen, Gold Medal - 99th percentile
Margarita Hillon, Gold Medal - 99th percentile
Julia Brajcich, Silver Medal
Ulisis Valencia, Silver Medal
Maria Einmo, Bronze Medal
Mason Wrenn, Bronze Medal
Celia Connor, Honorable Mention
Ruth Hagos, Honorable Mention
Frances Hogg, Honorable Mention
Kate Yerkes, Honorable Mention
Languages Department Chair
jwilloughby@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Office of Campus Ministry
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SERVICE PROGRAM
Given the realities of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, significant adjustments have been made to the 2020-2021 BBHS Service Program. Adjusted requirements are as follows:
- Students are expected to complete 12 service hours (reduced from 20)
- Students may serve with a pre-approved nonprofit or propose self-directed service projects. Approval request forms for self-directed projects and nonprofits not on the approved list of service sites are required and can be found on the Campus Ministry page.
- Students may complete up to 5 hours of service to BBHS
Students may serve in any of the four focus areas:
1. Animals and the environment
2. Children (middle school age or younger)
3. The elderly, individuals with physical or intellectual challenges or people (or their family) living with illness, as well as pandemic first responders
4. People experiencing hunger, homelessness or poverty
Manon Cypher
Service Coordinator
mcypher@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Performing Arts Department
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FALL PLAY AUDITIONS AND CREW INTERVIEWS
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The Performing Arts Department will host a virtual welcome event on Thursday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. All students are welcome! Learn more about auditions and crew interviews for our fall play, It's A Wonderful Life, and also how to get involved with clubs like the Improv Team, Cabaret Troupe and Thespian Society. The link for this event and audition and crew interview applications will be posted on the Drama Callboard Google Classroom, code 4nkp4c2. Initial audition tapes are due September 14, with callbacks on September 15 and 16. Crew interviews will also take place on September 16. Break a leg, Braves!
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ART AND WOODWORKING MATERIAL PICK UP
Students taking Basic Art, Drawing, Painting, Pottery & Sculpture, AP Studio Art or Woodworking will need to pick up materials from their teachers on Thursday, September 10 from 4 - 7:00 p.m. Teachers will provide more information in class.
Corey Eriksen
Performing and Fine Arts Department Chair
ceriksen@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Athletic Department
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OPEN PERIOD INTEREST SURVEY
The WIAA created an Open Period for sport-specific coaching and training during Season 1 ( September 28-November 30). As the BBHS Athletic Department develops a plan to engage student athletes, we want to gauge our community's interest in participating in the Open Period with all required protocols in place. To complete the Open Period survey, click here by September 9.
2020-21 SEASONS DATES AND REGISTRATIONS LINKS
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has modified the 2020-21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To register for a sport, please click on the link for the appropriate season below. Registration for ALL seasons is currently open.
Note: All student-athletes who previously registered for the traditional fall season before the changes from WIAA were announced must reregister through using the Season 3 link below.
Please email Laura Fieser or Sean Gaskill with any questions, and check the Bishop Blanchet athletics page and BBHS social media platforms for athletic updates.
SPIRIT BAG ORDER
The next spirit bag order is due Monday, September 28. This will be the only order before Christmas. Please download the Spirit Bag Order Form and submit with payment by mail to the Athletic Department.
MR. PIERCE HITS A HOLE-IN-ONE
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Congratulations to our very own Director of Admissions, Mr. Pierce, who hit his first hole-in-one on the 120yd, 4th hole, at Heron Links (Willows Run Short 9). Way to go, Mr. Pierce!
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VIRTUAL BRAVE 5K
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Join the BBHS Cross Country teams for the 10th Annual Brave 5K - our first time holding this event virtually! Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to run or walk 5K (3.1 miles) between Friday,
September 11 and Sunday,
September 13, and enter your time here by 12:00 p.m. on Monday,
September 14. This year's Brave 5K will be held in loving memory of Bishop Blanchet's cross country/track mom and St. John School teacher/coach Marcey Flood.
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Sean Gaskill
Athletic Director
sgaskill@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Counseling Center
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SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS
To request a schedule change for the 2020-21 school year, please read and follow all instructions below:
- The student must complete the Schedule Change Request Form by Friday, September 4.
- Requests must be complete and include a compelling reason for the change request. Please ensure you have reviewed the request with your student.
- Note: many students received an alternate elective. Please know that every effort was made to provide first choice classes. It is very likely that these first choice electives were not available once the student's core classes were scheduled.
2020-21 BBHS COUNSELING STAFF
Student Last Names
| Counselor | Email Address | | A-E | Meghan MacIntyre | mmacintyre@bishopblanchet.org
| | F-La | Erin Camden | ecamden@bishopblanchet.org | | Le-Ri | Stephen Russell | srussell@bishopblanchet.org | | Ro-Z | Heather Rabe | hrabe@bishopblanchet.org | | International Students | Janah Valenzuela | jvalenzuela@bishopblanchet.org | | Social/Emotional Health | Kaitlyn Overman | koverman@bishopblanchet.org |
READY-SET-GO! FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Counselors will meet with Seniors via Zoom on Wednesday, September 9 to review the college application process, including critical steps and deadlines. Counselors
will begin meeting individually with Seniors to go over their individual plans for completing their applications during the week of September 16. More information about the one-on-one meetings will be emailed to students.
COUNSELING WEBINARS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Please note the dates for the upcoming Parent/Guardian webinars with the BBHS Counseling Team, focused on important information and events for students in each grade level. Parents/guardians of each specific grade will receive an email with additional information as each event nears.
- College Planning Night for Senior Parents - September 15
- Topics will include an overview of the college admissions process, SAT and ACT, important dates, and deadlines.
- Junior Parent Information Night - October 6
- High School 101 for Frosh Parents - October 27
- Sophomore Parent Information Night - November 17
Stephen Russell
Counseling Department Chair
srussell@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Office of Diversity and International Student Services
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
BBHS welcomes three new international students, and five returning students, to our program this fall! Our new students, Harry Hang '22 (Vietnam), Ryan Tsai '23 (Taiwan) and Ryder Tsai '24 (Taiwan) came to campus this week for a socially distanced International Pre-Orientation with a few of our seasoned international student mentors.
Please pray for all of our international students this year as we gather for remote learning from all corners of the world. This semester, our international students will be Zooming in from Seattle, Canada and China. We are so proud of our international students and excited for a great year together!
Left to right: International Mentor Tony Huang '21 (China), Ryan Tsai '23 (Taiwan), Harry Hang '22 (Vietnam), International Mentor Cindy Hou '21 (China), Ryder Tsai '24 (Taiwan), International Program Director Ms. Valenzuela.
FOCUS ON SOLIDARITY
The BBHS Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Team hosted a workshop at last week's Faculty and Staff orientation. We engaged in activities and discussions surrounding the BBHS DEI Framework, best practices for supporting students of color and an overview of DEI resources and programs for the year. We look forward to a great year of learning together as we focus on our theme of solidarity.
Janah Valenzuela Director of Diversity and International Student Services jvalenzuela@bishopblanchet.org
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PARENT/GUARDIAN WEBINARS
I f you were unable to participate in our Parent/Guardian webinars focused on Fall 2020 Digital Distance Learning and the Health and Safety Program, please click the links below to watch the recordings. To access the slide presentation, click here.
New & Transfer Parent/Guardian Webinar
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