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Weekly Update
September 30, 2020
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Dear BBHS Families,
This past Sunday evening, I enjoyed seeing some of our families and students in the quad for their scheduled visit to our Grotto during the Come Holy Spirit Prayer Service. It was so nice to have time on campus to pray while also following all the safety protocols we have in place.
Starting this week, we are also welcoming more students on campus for after school athletics and activities. Once again, for any of these activities, we are following strict safety protocols. Our commitment as a school is to provide activities only when we can meet safety guidelines - and to closely monitor the compliance of our students and all involved.
We continue to monitor the key public health data that guides the school reopening framework. I encourage you to continue to track this information as well. The average number of positive cases per 100,000 residents over a 14 day period in our county decreased from 54.9 on September 12 to 50.7 on September 19. We anticipate this public health tracker will be updated with the most recent data later today.
As I shared in my message last week, during the first two weeks of October, we will continue to assess data trends, reviewing and refining our reopening plan with the Leadership Team, Faculty/Staff, Board of Directors and the Archdiocese. If the data supports the continued movement toward an in-person, hybrid reopening, we will announce the specific date at that time.
Working toward the transition to a hybrid, in-person learning environment, we are seeking to hire Instructional Assistants to support additional classroom and school supervision needs. I want to encourage our families to spread the word and consider this opportunity to help us prepare for a safe and effective return when it is time to do so.
And, as always, I ask everyone in our community to do their part in following all health and safety guidelines so we can continue to see data trending in the right direction.
Blessings,
Tony DeSapio President adesapio@bishopblanchet.org
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OCTOBER 8 AND 9 SHIFT TO ASYNCHRONOUS
The school is working hard to meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff and is trying to be responsive and adaptable, particularly during this time of remote instruction. The feedback the school has received from students, families and teachers about Digital Distance Learning has been overwhelmingly positive. Teachers report amazing attendance, attitude, attentiveness and effort from students. Students and families describe excellent instruction from a caring and dedicated group of educators.
In an attempt to give a brief break from the pace of the school year and amount of daily screen time, the school has made a slight schedule change for next week.
Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9 will shift to asynchronous Green and Gold days, respectively, and teachers will post an activity by 8 a.m. each day. Sports and clubs are still permitted to happen on these days at the discretion of the coach or moderator.
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NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS
Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the U.S. are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise, placing among the top of more than 1.5 million students who took the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Congratulations to our five BBHS Commended Students from the Class of 2021!
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Wyatt Adams |
Anais Martin |
Michael Martin |
Mason McVey |
Eliza Wells |
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PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress Reports will be posted by the end of the school day on Friday, October 9. To view your student's progress report, please select the Portfolio Tab in Skyward.
Progress reports for the first semester will be available to view by the end of the school day on October 9, November 13 and December 17.
Nicole McCoy
Vice Principal of Academics
nmccoy@bishopblanchet.org
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Registration is now open for Advanced Placement testing. All students enrolled in an AP course must register for the AP Test for each course by October 1, and take the exam at the conclusion of the course. Click here for more detailed instructions on registering and paying for AP Tests.
Financial aid is available with specific requirements. To inquire about qualifying for a reduced AP Test fee, please email Ms. Reinhardt. Nick Moffitt
AP Test Coordinator
nmoffitt@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Admissions Department
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CALLING ALL FUTURE BRAVES!
If you have friends, family or neighbors with middle schoolers - we invite you to share with them some of the upcoming opportunities for them to get to know more about BBHS.
OPEN HOUSE WEBINAR WITH LIVE Q&A - OCTOBER 21
Please register here to tune in to our virtual Open House webinar featuring panels with BBHS administrators, students and parents and opportunities for live Q&A.
BRAVE ACCESS PROGRAM FOR 6-7-8TH GRADERS
Be in the know! Click here to become part of the Brave Access Program, get free swag, stay informed on BBHS news and join our mailing list.
8TH GRADE HOTSPOT Bookmark this page as your hub for prospective student information! Watch Brave Ambassador videos, read student testimonials and get the latest BBHS admissions information.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2021-22 ARE OPEN!
Applications for 2021-22 are open - apply to Bishop Blanchet today! Please note, BBHS will not offer, nor require, the High School Placement Test (HSPT) for this admissions season, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
We will continue to identify opportunities to engage with middle school families, including virtual tours and other avenues, as COVID-19 continues to impact in-person events. Please encourage any prospective families who have questions to connect with our Admissions Team.
Michael Pierce
Director of Admissions
mpierce@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Counseling Center
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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.
- Junior Parent/Guardian Information Night - October 6 at 7:00 p.m.
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Topics will include the counseling program at BBHS, graduation requirements and forecasting for senior year, updated college admissions timeline, PSAT information and planning for SAT & ACT, introduction to Naviance, and tips to help your child succeed.
- High School 101 for Frosh Parents - October 27
Stephen Russell
Counseling Department Chair
srussell@bishopblanchet.org
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SUPPORT DURING LUNCH AND OFFICE HOURS
Students can now self-schedule time with Ms. Overman, BBHS Social Emotional Counselor, during lunch and office hours. If your student could benefit from coping strategies, is having a difficult time or simply wants to talk, please encourage him/her to reach out. Students are welcome to email Ms. Overman directly to schedule outside of these hours as well.
MINDFULNESS TRAINING FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS UW's Forefront Suicide Prevention program is partnering with Space Between to offer a free, three-part virtual mindfulness training series for parents, guardians and caregivers of teens. This training will help families better understand the teenage brain and how to support learning and wellbeing through mindful awareness practices. Sessions take place October 6, November 3, and December 1. Click here to register.
Kaitlyn Overman
BBHS Social Emotional Counselor
koverman@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Activities Office
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Photos are coming! Students who had their photos taken during Orientation will receive their photo packet and ASB/ID card in the mail next week. Even if you did not order photos, you will still receive a proof sheet, so you can purchase photos if you wish to. For those students who did not have their photo taken, or who wish to have it retaken, Retake Day is scheduled for October 28. Details will be sent as the date nears.
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
We are thrilled to offer reimagined ways for students to be more involved with community at BBHS while we are in the remote learning mode. Some of these opportunities will be virtual, and some will involve being able to come to campus (Athletics, Campus Ministry, Performing Arts, Clubs, etc.). Students can learn about these meetings in the Announcements listed in Skyward, Mr. Bocian's Friday emails, each club's Google Classroom and at the Club Fair scheduled during CP on Wednesday, October 7.
Chuck Bocian
Vice Principal of Activities
cbocian@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Office of Campus Ministry
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COME HOLY SPIRIT: A PRAYER EXPERIENCE
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It was such a gift to see so many families who came to Sunday's Come Holy Spirit Prayer Experience in the Grotto. Please click here to watch the prayer service from that evening.
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JOIN US FOR MORNING PRAYER
Did you know that you can join the Bishop Blanchet community for daily reflections, prayers, and meditations? These opportunities for a moment of pause are available on our SoundCloud page.
WASHINGTON WILDFIRE RELIEF FUNDRAISER ENDS OCTOBER 4 Update - we have raised $1,100 to support Washingtonians impacted by the devastating wildfires. Will you join us to support our neighbors in need? A BBHS donor will match all funds raised up to $3,000 - please make your gift today. To donate, click here and mention BBHS in the Description/Special Instructions box, which enables North Central Washington Community Foundation to track our donations for the matching contribution. 100% of funds raised will go to help the victims of the fires. Email Ms. Cypher with any questions.
Rachel Longest
Director of Campus Ministry
rlongest@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Performing Arts Department
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IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - A LIVE RADIO PLAY
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The enthusiasm of the Cast and Crew for It's A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play is off the charts! Crews and Cast met over Zoom as well as in socially-distanced and masked pods and were able to be productive and have a lot of fun.
Our Marketing Minute Video features student crew heads Eleanor Newman and Nonabella Schroeder, who give voice to what they are most excited about in this production! Be sure to mark your calendars for December 4-6. This is going to be virtually the best show ever!
If you want to find out more information about this show and all things DRAMA, join the BBHS Drama Google Classroom with code 4nkp4c2.
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Corey Eriksen
Performing and Fine Arts Department Chair
ceriksen@bishopblanchet.org
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From the Office of Diversity and International Student Services
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VIRTUAL NIGHT FOR PARENTS OF BIPOC STUDENTS
The MAC (Multicultural Affairs Council) will host a Virtual Parent Night for parents of BIPOC students (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) on Thursday, October 29 at 7 p.m. Please save the date, and stay tuned for more details.
MASKING FOR A FRIEND FUNDRAISER A HUGE SUCCESS Thank you to the Bishop Blanchet community for your incredible support of the "Masking for a Friend" fundraiser, benefiting The Mockingbird Society. Through your generosity, BBHS donated $850.00 to support Mockingbird's important work to create and provide racially equitable, healthy environments that develop young people at risk of or experiencing foster care or homelessness.
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BBHS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Bishop Blanchet is currently seeking dynamic candidates with excellent qualifications for employment opportunities, including:
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