October 30, 2020
BK Alive
Weekly News and Information for BK Families
THIS NEWSLETTER CONTAINS A LOT OF INFORMATION, AND THE LENGTH OF THE NEWSLETTER CAUSES IT TO BE TRUNCATED.

LOOK FOR THE BLUE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL THAT SAYS "VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE" TO EXPAND THE EMAIL, OR CLICK HERE TO SEE ARCHIVED COMMUNICATIONS FROM BK.
Next Week at a Glance
Monday, November 2nd - B Day
9:15 AM start
Tuesday, November 3rd - A Day
8:15 AM start
Wednesday, November 4th - B Day
9:15 AM start
Thursday, November 5th - A Day
8:15 AM start,
Friday, November 6th - B Day
9:15 AM start
Upcoming:
  • Friday, October 30th - BK Foundation Winner's Choice Online Auction Open
  • Friday October 30th - BK Theatre Arts Fall Play at 7:00 PM in the Reg.
  • Saturday, October 31st - BK Theatre Arts Fall Play at 7:00 PM in the Reg
  • Sunday, November 1st - All Saints Day
  • Sunday, November 1st - BK Theatre Arts Fall Play at 2:00 PM in the Reg
  • Monday, November 2nd - All Souls Day
  • Tuesday November 3rd & Wednesday November 4th - School Picture Day
  • Saturday, November 7th - Winner's Choice Dinner and Auction VIrtual Gala
In order for us to gather accurate attendance, please make sure you are providing documentation if your student is out for a COVID-19 related reason.

COVID-19 Absences (marked CO) are for students who test positive, and/or are quarantined for COVID-19 as a close contact.

If your students has tested for COVID-19:

If the test is positive - please provide documentation so that we can mark the absences as a COVID-19 (CO) Absence/Exempt Absence.

If the test is negative - please provide documentation so that we can mark the absences as a Doctor DR) Excused/Exempt Absence.
A Message from Rich and Mike
Dear BK Parents,

Our 11th week of the 2020-21 school year has gone well. It has been great to have most all students back on campus after two weeks of modified schedules. The lunch and homeroom changes have reduced congestion and seem to be working well. Our return to school protocols are in place and remote learning overall has been more effective, with some questions about being marked absent. Please know we will provide grace in the number of absences for those who choose to keep their children home while in the red category, plus our Board of Governance will be reviewing an addendum to our attendance policy this coming month. In the meantime, please email the Attendance Office by 9:30 AM if your student is going to be absent for any reason. And reference the Attendance Page on BK.org for more information about how we record COVID-19 related absences.

It is very important that we have your feedback on how things are going for your students and your families after 11 weeks of school. We last surveyed you, our parents, after the first two weeks of school and it is time to gauge again how you are feeling about things here at BK. We will be asking you how the educational experience has been for your students and how you are feeling about the safety of your students, our faculty/staff and our community. We also want your questions, priorities, concerns, ideas and suggestions as they are incredibly valuable. Please click on this link to take the First 11 weeks Survey. It should only take 5-6 minutes and will help us greatly to continue to improve our instructional and operational plans. The survey will remain open through Wednesday, November 4th.

Finally, we always want to update you weekly in BK Alive on the COVID-19 numbers for Bishop Kelly. We had one student test positive this week, necessitating some students be placed in quarantine. At the same time, many students and all staff members have returned from quarantine or other illnesses this past week. As we complete 11 weeks of school, in total we have had 11 cases with no known transmission within our school. 

While we are proud of these numbers, we must stay vigilant in our 3 W’s and avoid social gatherings because, as you have undoubtedly read in the media, the coronavirus numbers are continuing to rise in Ada County. The average daily cases over the past two weeks per 100,000 people have grown from 22.45 to 27.41 this past Monday. While we know some of you are concerned about having kids in school, our experience these past 11 weeks and the advice of most health professionals is that kids are safest in school when strong protocols are in place and adhered to. In fact, this New York Times article speaks to research that is emerging that there is little evidence that school reopenings are fueling the spread of the coronavirus, especially when there are strong safety plans in place, like we have here at BK..

Thank you once again for all you have done in partnership with us to make the first 11 weeks of school so successful in most every way. We wish you a Happy Halloween weekend (see Fr. Vance’s column below) and look forward to hearing your feedback via the First 11 Weeks Survey.
 
God bless,
Rich Raimondi
President
Mike Caldwell
Principal
Father Vance's Reflection
I have some wonderful childhood memories of Halloween. As a youngster in Billings, Montana, I was fortunate to live in a neighborhood with lots of kids my age, and so I remember trick-or-treating as a whole mess of fun. Later, after my family moved to Missoula and I outgrew that part of Halloween, I used to decorate our house’s entryway, then dress up in costume (usually a vampire, my personal favorite) to answer the door for the trick-or-treaters. My mother (my sweet mother!) made it a goal of her life to frighten each one of her three children within an inch of their lives. She “got” both me and my Sister, but she never “got” my Brother, a fact that, to this day, makes him think he is the smartest of the three of us. When I was studying Theology and preparing for Priestly Ordination 25 years ago in Boston, one of my goals was to visit Salem, sight of the infamous “Witch Trials,” and I also led an outing of my Jesuit Community to “Spooky World” in Litchfield, New Hampshire. I have always loved that Halloween is associated with the Fall colors, the cooler temperatures, and the scary movies that have entertained me for as long as I can remember.
Not things you were expecting to read about in the life of a Priest, is it? Over the past few weeks, I have gotten a number of questions from both students and parents about whether we can reconcile a participation in the celebration of Halloween with our Christian and Catholic faith. This is a particularly poignant question for me, because as many of you know, I am also a trained and working Exorcist for our Diocese. Some of my colleagues in this ministry counsel people to have nothing whatsoever to do with Halloween, but I am of a different opinion. The word “Halloween” is a shortening of “All Hallows Eve,” which traditionally refers to the night before “All Hallows Day,” “Hallowmass,” or “Allhallowtide.” Notice the root in all of these words? To “hallow” something is to honor that thing as holy! Specifically, those who are “hallowed” are the Saints of our Christian faith, those holy women and men who have lived lives of such heroic virtue that the Church declares them to be Saints. So, in this understanding, Halloween is the night before (traditionally called a “vigil”) the Catholic celebration of All Saints Day on November 1, followed closely by the celebration of All Souls Day on November 2. Finally, November is the traditional month in our Catholic Church where we dedicate ourselves to praying for our beloved deceased, those who have gone before us and await us in Heaven. I, for one, dearly love that there is a Christian message so deeply embedded in a secular ritual of ghosts and goblins, witches and werewolves!
So how in the world, you may ask, did we get from these undeniably Christian foundations of Halloween to the fright-fest and candy gorging that it has become today? The answer to that is a complicated history, and must be saved for another time. But as with many other cultural traditions, it has to do with the mixing of Christianity with other beliefs as it spread throughout the world, and of course with the promise of wealth and riches for those who can entice us to buy more sweets, turkeys and trimmings, and Christmas presents for one another as the holiday season begins with a bang. But for us here at BK, we must always look for the power and the depth of the Catholic message, even as hidden and obscured as it is by the society and the culture that surrounds us. On Monday, November 2, I will celebrate a Mass in love and remembrance of the parents of Faculty, Staff and Administrators who have passed away in the last year. In doing this together, we honor the MOST ancient of our traditions: that God IS love, that He created us in His divine image and likeness for love of Him and of one another, and that He will one day call each one of us to Himself for eternity.
With the ongoing pandemic, hopefully there will be fewer trick-or-treaters this year. But if I had my way, there would be many more people who could appreciate the deeply Christian roots of some of the things we all presume are merely secular, and give thanks to God for never abandoning His people, even when we sometimes forget about Him. No matter how your family chooses to either celebrate or not celebrate Halloween, may God bless you that night, and in the coming days, as we surround ourselves with what the Letter to the Hebrews (12:1) calls the “great cloud of witnesses” who encourage and strengthen us to complete the life of faith to which we are all called. 

A happy and blessed Halloween to all of our families!

Father Vance

Enjoy this video that our Campus Ministers made for our
Mass Honoring our Grandparents yesterday!
Knights of the Week
Each week Bishop Kelly faculty and staff nominate students, and students nominate faculty and staff, who have demonstrated the BK Way attributes of Faith, Safe and Caring Place, Academic Excellence, Activities, Honor, Generosity, Community, and Partnership.

Congratulations to this week's Knights of the Week!

Colby Weikert
Honor
Colby is an unbelievable kind person who puts others before himself. Colby is a strong leader, and is always positive. 

Madelyn Madarieta
Academic Excellence
She does a great job in class keeping everyone on task. She always goes above and beyond in the work she does, and does it with a smile on her face. She is always willing to help her different table partners, and makes sure everyone is comfortable in our classroom. She is a fantastic student who truly cares about everyone. 
She is an incredible student that works very hard in AP. She is polite to all of her classmates and enthusiastically participates in class discussion.

Luke Legaretta
Community
He is polite and kind, holding doors for the class during mask breaks. Luke also makes sure that no one is left out during partner or group activities. Luke works hard in class and is a natural leader and example to those around him.

Jenny Barajas Mercado
Academic Excellence
Jenny pushes herself and always does her best! Her effort is incredible. 
BK Staff of the Week

Jane Wilson
Safe and Caring Place
  • Mrs. Wilson is very respectful and supportive of various skill levels and abilities and never makes you feel inadequate. 
  • Mrs. Wilson is always very proud of us and oftentimes supports us more than we support ourselves when it comes to our artistic abilities. She’s always very positive and encouraging.
  • Mrs. Wilson is a super fun teacher that helps us out and does a really great job of teaching us new skills.
A Note from the Nurse
Cold and flu season is upon us...If you have not already done so, please consider having your student receive a flu vaccine. I have plenty of vaccine, both nasal and injectable doses available for administration here at school. There is no cost, and the process is easy. Simply fill out THIS CONSENT FORM and send it back to school with your student (to be turned in to the front office), or via email to mcunningham@bk.org. I will call your student down to my office, administer the vaccine, and log the vaccine into the state system. If you have any questions please contact me here at BK.

Best Regards,

MaryLou Cunningham, RN, BSN, NBCSN, MHS
Coordinator, Saint Alphonsus School Health Program
(208) 375-6010
BK Activities This Week
  • Girls Soccer brought home the Consolation Trophy at State!
  • Boys Soccer had a fantastic undefeated regular season and won one of their three matches at State!
  • District Swim results from Tuesday have not yet been announced.
  • Unofficial results from State Cross Country - BK Boys, 5th Place; BK girls, 6th Place
  • Individual Girls XC Results: Anna Ranieri (9th), Molly Fuller (32nd), Eva Heffner (37th), Maggie Avey (47th), Molly Connor (55th), Naomi Foster (66th), Justice Walker (69th)
  • Individual Boys XC Results: Tyler Meseros (12th), Daniel Russell (18th),Tyler Stoker (26th), Austin Clough (41st), Charlie Goss (53rd), Max Fuller (86th), Louis Grant (101st)


Tonight:
  • Playoff varsity football Oct 30th @ BK 7pm 

We will communicate with parents and fans about who can attend athletic events in person. This information is changing weekly.

For those who cannot attend in person, all of our Home competitions that take place in the Carley Athletic Center and on Nick Ysursa Field, can be viewed LIVE on the NFHS Network. The cost to subscribe is $10.99 per month, or $69.99 for the entire year.
Varsity Football games are also being broadcast on Salt and LIght Catholic Radio, (1140 AM or 102.3 FM)

Start of Winter Sports Delayed Two Weeks 
The Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) announced today its plan to delay the start of winter sports for high schools in 5A and 4A divisions for two weeks. Bishop Kelly, as a member of the SIC, supports this plan. 
“Our goal is to ensure our student athletes can practice and play in controlled safe environments during this time of extensive community spread of COVID in our communities,” said SIC President Wendy Johnson. “We want our athletes to have a season.” 
Citing concerns about an increase in the spread of COVID in their communities and the return to Stage 3 in the Gov. Brad Little’s Reopening Plan, the SIC plans to start winter sports on this schedule:
  • Girls Basketball begin practice Nov. 16 and competition Nov. 30  
  • Boys Basketball begin practice Nov. 30 and competition Dec. 11  
  • Boys & Girls Wrestling begin practice Nov. 30 and competition Dec. 11  
Activities for student athletes in the time before the start of practices will vary based on guidance from the members’ respective health districts -- Southwest District Health Department and Central District Health Department -- as well as Gov. Brad Little’s Reopening Plan. 
Under the plan:
  • Student athletes in Ada County SIC schools Boise, Kuna, West Ada, and Bishop Kelly will pause with no activities from Nov. 1-15. 
  • Student athletes in Canyon County and Gem County SIC schools -- Caldwell, Middleton, Nampa, Vallivue and Emmett will participate in individual conditioning activities under the supervision of school staff also referred to as “open gym” or “open mats.” 
  • All activities and practices will follow the safety protocols used for fall sports. 
SIC members strongly encourage their student athletes to avoid private group practices to ensure they remain healthy, are able to play, and do not contribute to the spread of COVID. 
Conference members will begin working on schedules noting that the number of competitions and matches likely will vary as they did with fall sports depending on the health of its teams. 

Bishop Kelly Theatre Arts Presents
a Socially Distanced Live Comedy
In order to maintain physical distancing in our theater, only 50 tickets will be sold for each performance. Click on the links below to purchase tickets.



Strong Families, Strong Students
Idaho families are facing many challenges as they are forced to rapidly adapt to changing circumstances in their children’s education because of COVID-19. Through the Strong Families, Strong Students program Idaho families are provided access to grant funds to help with their students learning.

Strong Families, Strong Students Is a grant program funded by Idaho’s Coronavirus Relief Funds, which provides Idaho students access to grant dollars that can be used to purchase educational goods and services that their families decide their students need.

Who can apply? If you are a parent or guardian of an Idaho public, private, parochial, student(s) in grades K12— impacted by a COVID-19-related full or partial Idaho school closure or the parent or guardian of a home schooled student who experienced a COVID-19-related employment disruption— you can apply for these funds.

Eligible Families can:
  • Receive a credit for $1,500 per child or up to $3,500 per family.
  • Purchase computers and technology, pay for internet access, instructional materials, fees for courses, tutoring services and educational services and therapies through approved vendors available through the on-line marketplace.
  • Seek reimbursement for eligible education expenses paid for between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020.
  • Once the account is created, monies are deposited into a digital wallet and available to be spent through the current school year.
  • When you apply please have evidence of your child’s, or children’s, public or private school enrollment and a copy of your 2019 tax return.
  • If you home school, please have a proof of residence available when you apply.

ACT FAST!
Enrollment will be open from October 21, 2020 to December 8, 2020. Awards will be issued first on economic need and then on a first come first serve basis. All dollars must be allocated to families no later than December 31, 2020. However, families have until June 30 to spend their money once it is in their digital wallet.


If you are having trouble with the application process, call 1-844-649-2921

BK Parents can print off their own unofficial transcript (that meets the requirements for the Strong Families, Strong Students application) on Infinite Campus.

2020 Winner's Choice Update
Item #21: Peekapoo Puppy
Item #2: Two Pedego Electric Bikes
Item #1: Middle Fork of Salmon River Guided Whitewater Trip for Two
The Online Auction is LIVE NOW!
Couples Ticket Meal Pick Up Instructions:
Your meals, wine and virtual party box to enjoy during the event will be available for pick up at the BK cafeteria Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6 from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Virtual Table and Knights Table Meal Delivery:
If you purchased a Table of 10 or Knight’s Table your dinner and wine will be delivered Saturday, November 7 between 3:45-5 p.m.

Yearbooks and Student Photos
Parker Portraits is rescheduled and will be on campus to take student photos on Tuesday, November 3rd and Wednesday, November 4th. Pictures for sophomores, juniors, and seniors (just for ID card purposes--this is NOT the tux/drape photo) will be taken in your student's theology and government class. If you would like to order photos, the process is entirely online this year.

  • Go to www.parkerportraitsonline.com
  • Leave STUDENT KEY blank
  • Click on Job/Event for the drop down menu
  • Select Bishop Kelly Fall 2020 & Click Open
  • Enter Subject Details (Student)
  • Enter Contact Details & Click Submit
  • Choose your package
PICTURE RETAKES
If your student took pictures on Registration Day (freshmen and new students) and you would like a retake, please make sure to fill out THIS FORM and bring your previous picture packet in on that day. This form is only for retakes!
College and Career Center
NCACA Virtual College Fair:
This fall you will have the opportunity to connect with more than 600 colleges and universities at the NACAC virtual college fair.

Sunday, Nov. 8 from 2 - 10 p.m. ET

Each virtual fair is a free, one-day event. Attend as often as you like. Parents invited, too. Sign up at virtualcollegefairs.org


Virtual College Visits at BK:
The College and Career center will be hosting virtual college visits during lunches on A and B days as well as during office hours on B days. Have your Junior or Senior log into SCOIR to RSVP and to see all upcoming events.

Mon Nov 2nd 12:15PM - 12:50PM Northwestern University
Mon Nov 2nd 2:30PM - 3:05PM DigiPen Institute of Technology
Tue Nov 3rd 11:15AM - 11:50AM Montana State University
Wed Nov 4th, 12:15PM - 12:50PM DePaul University
Wed Nov 4, 2:30PM - 3:05PM Fordham University
Thu Nov 5th, 11:15AM - 11:50AM Salve Regina University
Fri Nov 6, 12:15PM - 12:50PM Cornish College of the Arts

To attend a virtual college visit log into your SCOIR account or come to room 406.
Click here for a complete list of upcoming college visits


If you have questions contact Ms. Klover at jklover@bk.org
We Need Your Pictures!
The yearbook staff is working on pages for the yearbook, and we need your photos!

Please send in any photos that you have of your student participating or completing his/her Senior Service Project, Senior Float, Quarantine Pets, Purchases and/or Activities, and any pictures from summer trips and/or activities. Be sure to label them or put in the email body some sort of explanation. Photos can be shared with us on our Instagram page at @bkyrbook or via email to knightpix@bk.org
Online Ordering from the BK Spirit Store!
In order to maintain safe distancing AND be available for all your Spirit Wear needs, the Bishop Kelly Spirit Store will be offering online ordering for Fall Semester. A selection of items will be available each month, and you can order via email!

Please note, the actual BK Spirit Store will NOT be open during the lunch hour for additional items, and the Front Office staff will not have access to the store.

We're all getting really good at shopping online, right?
#146
Ladies Short Sleeved BK Strong T-Shirt
$15.00

#147
Mens Short Sleeved BK Strong T-Shirt
$15.00
(Not pictured, Same Design)
#256
BK Unisex Hooded Sweatshirt Drk. Gray
$36.00
#255
BK Unisex Hooded Sweatshirt Lt. Gray
$45.00
#141
Unisex Long Sleeved T-Shirt
$20

#822
BK Cap, Velcro Back
One Size Fits All
$22.00
How to Order

*Order deadline: EVERY MONDAY      
*Order Pickup: EVERY FOLLOWING THURSDAY ONLY,
1/2 Hour Before School for PREPAID Orders only. You will be emailed a confirmation.

Email bkspiritstore@gmail.com and must include:
  • Your Name
  • Contact Phone Number
  • Item # listed above
  • Size of Item (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
  • Price

Method of Payment Before Pickup: Venmo @BK-ParentsAssociation, or Credit Card. These are the only payment options at this time.

NOTE: If you are paying by Credit Card, you will be contacted via the "Contact Phone Number" listed in your email at confirmation between 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Tuesday.

ONLY PREPAID ORDERS via the email process listed above will be accepted at this time. The Front Office Staff does NOT have order information.

THANK YOU for your cooperation as BK Spirit Store volunteers try to keep BK Spirit Store items available for our community.  

Job Openings at Bishop Kelly
Bus Route Driver
Activities Bus Driver
Substitute Teachers
Substitute Kitchen Assistant
Full-time Janitorial/Maintenance Worker

Important Links
Contact BK
  • Front Office: 375-6010
  • Fax: 375-3626
  • Business Office Manager: 947-1209
  • BK Development Office: 947-1325
  • BK Foundation Office: 323-4789

To add, remove, or change your email address, or to remove your name from our regular mailing lists, please contact Chrissy at cbeckner@bk.org.
Bishop Kelly High School | (208) 375-6010 | www.bk.org