September 14, 2018
BK Alive
Weekly News and Information from Bishop Kelly
BK Alive is emailed each week on Friday with information for BK Parents. We hope that you will read this important information, as it is our primary method of communication with our families.

If you would like to put an announcement in BK Alive, please email communications@bk.org by noon on Thursdays for the next day's newsletter.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program, and Bishop Kelly High School is pleased that four of our students are among those named. 

Bishop Kelly’s National Merit Semifinalists are:
Bryce Colleran
Bryce Colleran moved to Bishop Kelly as a freshman and described the move as a big-but-good change. Now a senior who plans to major in Chemical Engineering, Bryce is a member of National Honor Society and Bishop Kelly’s golf team. He also participates in BK’s competitive speech and debate team where he qualified for state speech as a sophomore and was a national qualifier in debate during his junior year. Bryce enjoys kayaking and whitewater rafting when he’s not busy studying or competing. 

Brett Flerchinger
Brett Flerchinger is a senior planning to study statistics in college. He participates in National Honor Society and runs with the Bishop Kelly’s cross country team. As a junior Brett was one of the top 20 finishers at the cross country state championships, and the boys’ team was named academic state champion. Brett actively participates in Boy Scouts where he has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  
Anna Murrin
Anna Murrin is the oldest of four girls. Prior to BK she attended Sacred Heart Catholic School. Her passions include family, basketball, and faith. Anna Plans on entering the medical profession after high school.
Jordan Ngo
Jordan has been at Bishop Kelly High School for three years and in that time he has made many new friends and been active in sports and clubs.. Last year Jordan played on the BK tennis team and was involved in starting a competitive VEX robotics team at BK. Jordan and his friends were defeated at the Idaho state VEX Robotics competition last year, but this year they are determined to make it farther than before. After graduating from Bishop Kelly Jordan plans to study Biomedical Engineering and possibly pursue medical school.

Congratulations to these students, we are very proud to call them Knights!
Upcoming Dates
  • Friday September 14th - Home Football Game and Free Family Tailgate at BK! Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a delicious Double R Ranch burger before the game against Emmett.

  • Friday, September 21st - Bishop Kelly Alumknight and Friends Golf Scramble at Quail Hollow Golf Course. The tournament is SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who registered, this will be a fun day on the course.

  • Monday September 24 - Homecoming Week begins!


  • Wednesday September 26th - Powder Puff Football at BK starting at 6:00 p.m.

  • Friday September 28th - Homecoming Football Game vs. Caldwell. Join us at 5:30 p.m. for the Free Family Tailgate before the game!

  • Saturday September 29th - Homecoming Dance in the Carley Center at BK from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

  • Friday October 5th - Faculty Retreat, NO SCHOOL

  • Monday October 8th - BKPA Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

  • Friday October 17th - 9:15 a.m. All School Mass Honoring Grandparents

  • Friday October 19th - School Picture Retakes

  • Wednesday October 24th - Sophomore and Junior PSAT, Freshman Retreat (Last names A-K*), Senior Tux and Drape Portraits at BK, Parent & Teacher Conferences 2:00 - 5:30 p.m.
*Freshmen with last names L-Z do not have required attendance at school on this day.

  • Thursday October 25th - Freshman Retreat (Last names L-Z), 2:20 Dismissal, Parent & Teacher Conferences 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.
*Freshmen with last names A-K do not have required attendance at school on this day.

  • Friday, October 26th - No School
Knights of the Week!
Bishop Kelly is recognizing students a little differently this year than we have in the past. Beginning this week we will be recognizing Knights of the Week!

Faculty and Staff can nominate any student they have witnessed demonstrating the BK Way attributes of Faith, Safe and Caring Place, Academic Excellence, Activities, Honor, Generosity, Community, and Partnership. Bishop Kelly Students can nominate Faculty and Staff who they feel demonstrate these qualities.

Congratulations to this week's Knights of the Week!
Katie Callanan
Katie Callanan - Safe and Caring Place

Katie is confident in who she is and with her confidence, looks out for the underdog. On more than one occasion, Katie has been seen looking out for and caring for others that are having a hard time or just need a friend. Katie is a great example of someone that has solid character and is kind to others. Katie makes BK a great place to go to school.
Michael Draper
Michael Draper - Generosity

Michael is new to BK, but has already shown himself to be consistently kind and generous. He comes early to first period to help take down chairs and shares with other students.
Ty Kistler
Ty Kistler - Academic Excellence

Despite being new to our school, Ty has put forth his all. He is already a great example of what it means to be a Knight.
Kate Ryan - Community

Kate is always willing to share her experiences with the class, and encourages others to open up to our class. She makes everyone feel comfortable in class, and is always willing to help out in any way.
Dr. Anthony Paz - Faith, and Safe and Caring Place
--Dr. Paz demonstrates his knowledge of the Bible and of the Bible's teachings. He passes this knowledge onto his students and makes it fun to learn about God and the Bible.

--Dr. Paz is the greatest. He is one of the nicest teachers I have had at this school and he really cares about us. He shows a lot of effort put forth to make everyone feel accepted and in a safe and caring place

--Dr. Paz is supportive of me for not only class but for my sports. Always telling me good luck for my games. Also he goes out of his way to say hi and smile at me when I see him in the hallways.

--Dr. Paz is a hard worker who is accepting of everyone's beliefs. He is open to new ideas and helps his students be open to new ideas as well.

--He is a hardworking and patient teacher. He is able to teach well to a class of crazy juniors in a class at the end of the day.

Just in Time Information for This Week
Dear BK Parents,

This week’s edition of “Just In TIme” focuses on academic support. We want to make sure you, as parents, know where to go for information on how to best access academic support for your child and who to contact for help if needed. 


The first step in seeking help as a student should always be to touch base with the classroom teacher. Teachers are always willing to find time to meet with a student individually about an assignment or talk about ways to best study for a test. If your child finds it difficult to talk to a teacher face-to-face, a good first step is to have them email their teacher. As a parent, you can encourage your children to advocate for themselves by asking questions (in person or through email) and seeking clarification directly from their teachers.



The Study Center is a new addition to Bishop Kelly this year. This room is an extension of the library and provides students a quiet place to study. The Study Center is open before and after school, during break and during both lunches. All students are welcome to stop by for some help with an assignment or just for a comfy place to study.  Ms. Kurdy and Mrs. Kelly are always willing to lend a helping hand!

The Silent Study Room / Testing Center is also a new room at Bishop Kelly. This room is located between the Library and the Study Center and is also available to ALL students. Students can use this space when they want a silent place to study or read. The room is also used for all make-up tests, which will be coordinated through Mrs. Parker in the Library or Ms. Kurdy in the Study Center. 

The Library is a great place for students to study before and after school. Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Ward are there to help students with any questions regarding resources, technology, Schoology, school databases and a variety of other topics. 

Office hours have changed this year and are now 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Teachers are available in their classrooms during this time and will be happy to meet with students to answer questions or provide extra help. Students should be encouraged to take advantage of this time.


What can I do as a parent to help my child academically?

Step 1: Organize
For many students staying organized is the biggest stumbling block.
  • Tip #1: Make a checklist of things by the door at home your child needs to take to and bring home from school every day. Put this list in your student's backpack too.
  • Tip #2: Sit down and review your child’s organization strategies they are currently using. Check the organization of their notebooks. Develop a system together that works for them.

Step 2: Time Management
Many students underestimate or procrastinate the amount of time it takes to complete assignments, projects and homework. Developing the skills to block out productive time takes consistent practice.
  • Tip #1:  Track assignments on a monthly calendar. Work backward from the due date of larger assignments and break them into nightly tasks.
  • Tip #2:  Help your child record how much time she spends on homework each week so she can figure out how to divide this time into manageable chunks.
  • Tip #3:  Together, designate a time for nightly homework and help your child stick to this schedule.
  • Tip #4: If evenings aren’t enough, help your child find other times for schoolwork, such as early mornings, study halls or weekends.

Step 3: Prioritization
Sometimes teenagers fall behind in school and fail to hand in assignments because they simply don’t know where to begin. Prioritizing tasks is a skill your child will need throughout life, so it’s never too soon to get started.
  • Tip #1:  Ask your child to write down all the things they need to do, including non-school-related activities.
  • Tip #2:  Ask them to label each task from 1 to 3, with 1 being most important.
  • Tip #3:  Ask about each task, so that you understand your child’s priorities. If they label all their social activities as 1, then you know where their attention is focused.
  • Tip #4:  Help your child change some of the labels to better prioritize for academic success. Then suggest they rewrite the list so all the 1s are at the top.
  • Tip #5:  Check in frequently to see how the list is evolving and how your child is prioritizing new tasks.

Step 4: Concentration
Whether your child is practicing her second-grade spelling words or studying for a trigonometry test, it’s important that she works on schoolwork in an area with limited distractions and interruptions.
  • Tip #1:  Turn off access to email and games when your child works on the computer. Declare the phone and TV off-limits during homework time.                          
  • Tip #2:  Help your child concentrate during homework time by separating them from their siblings or social environments.

Step 5: Motivation
Most teenage students say they want to do well in school, yet many still fail to complete the level of work necessary to succeed to their academic potential. The reason is often motivation. Tapping into your child’s interests is a great way to get them geared to do well in school.
  • Tip #1:  Link your child’s interests to academics. If they are passionate about music, give them books about musicians and show how music and foreign languages are connected.
  • Tip #2:  Give your child control and choices. With guidance, let them determine their study hours, organizing system or school project topics.
  • Tip #3: Encourage your child to share their expertise. Regularly ask them about what they’re learning in school.
  • Tip #4:  Congratulate, encourage and celebrate all their successes. Often what holds teenagers back from trying is the fear of failure or the memory of a time they didn’t do well. You can help break this cycle by celebrating your child’s successes, no matter how small, and by giving them opportunities to succeed academically.

If you have any questions that have not been answered in this email, please feel free to reach out to individual teachers or your child’s counselor for more support. 
Thank you!



Jennifer Kurdy
Student Support Director
Bishop Kelly High School
Mr. Crump's 75th D-Day Anniversary Tour






Are you interested in touring Europe over Spring Break? Join Mr. Crump and Mr. Grant on a tour of Europe next March. Amsterdam, Dunkirk, Omaha Beach, St. Malo, Mount St. Michel, and London. Reserve your spot now! Contact Mr. Crump for details. lcrump@bk.org
Family Link and Schoology
Grades are posted every two weeks on the Schoolmaster Family Link Portal. Use the log-in information below to access grades and posted assignments.

Family Link will show 2 grades. The letter grade that appears next to the class under current progress is the Eligibility Progress posting. It is a "snap shot" on a given day. In order to access the most RECENT grade, click on REPORT.

The first official Academic Eligibility check for students participating in BK Activities is on September 14, 2018.

Students and Teachers are all using Schoology. (Schoology has replaced Blackboard.) Students are encouraged to share their log on information with their parents.
How to Check Your Student's Grades on Schoolmaster
Go to www.bk.org and scroll to the very bottom of the page. Select the "Schoolmaster" icon which will take you to the Family Link Portal.

Login with your Parent access:

Username: firstname.lastname (this is the name of the parent used at registration)
Password: bkknight5 (if you are a returning parent, use the password you used previously.)

New Parents - you will be prompted to create a unique password at your first login.
Returning Parents - use the Forgot Password option if you need to reset your password.

Once you are logged in, all grades are under "Current Progress" and "Report"
School Photos
If you would like a re-take for your student, please SIGN UP ON THIS FORM . He or she will need to bring the original picture packet to turn in to Parker Portraits on October 19th.

If you have any questions or problems with your order, please direct those to Parker Portraits at 208-345-0807
Senior Tux and Drape Photos
All seniors are asked to submit a tux/drape photo to BK for the yearbook. You may have this taken by an outside photographer of your choice, or use Parker Portraits who will be at BK on Wednesday, October 24th.

If you are using your own photographer, please make sure he or she follows the required specifications, which can be found by clicking here . You will need to email the photo to Mrs. Bainbridge at dbainbridge@bk.org. Photos should be submitted in color.

If you would like to sign up to have your student take his or her photo through Parker Portraits at BK, please fill out THIS FORM . This is a free service, and you are not obligated to purchase the photo. Parker Portraits will deliver a proof sheet to your student and you can choose a pose for the yearbook. If you don't like either photo, feel free to have your photo taken by an outside photographer.

Please note that this is not a regular school day, so your son/daughter will be scheduled a time slot to come in for his/her photo. Time slots will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Photos are scheduled for 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

All Tux/Drape photos must be submitted by November 30th!
Teton Science School
Teton Science School is a life-changing outdoor educational experience that takes place Presidents Day weekend in the Teton Mountains of Jackson, Wyoming. Students get the chance to engage all of their abilities and interests as they explore the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Spaces are limited. Contact Mr. Horras at chorras@bk.org if you are interested.

News From the BK Activities Department
Mr. Shanahan's Activities Round-Up for September 10 - 15

GIRLS SOCCER
Sept 11 varsity beat Columbia 3-0
Sept 11 JV beat Columbia 6-0
Sept 13 varsity beat Emmett 9-0
Sept 13 JV beat Emmett 9-0

BOYS SOCCER
Sept 11 varsity beat Columbia 2-0
Sept 11 JV beat Columbia 5-2
Sept 13 varsity tied Emmett 0-0
Sept 13 JV beat Emmett 4-0

CROSS COUNTRY
Sept 11 Steven Thompson Centipede Meet Results @ Les Boise Park
Boys varsity were team champions, placing 4 runners in top 10
Girls varsity team finished 2nd, placing 3 runners in top 10
JV girls team finished 3rd
JV boys team finished 6th

VOLLEYBALL
Sept 11
Varsity beat Vallivue 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22
JV beat Vallivue 25-22, 21-25, 15-10
Soph beat Vallivue (will get scores)
Sept 13
Varsity beat Nampa 25-12, 25-19, 25-21
JV beat Nampa 23-25, 25-18, 15-8
Soph beat Nampa 25-17, 25-14

FOOTBALL
September 13 Freshman beat Emmett 33-0
September 13 JV beat Emmett 56-12
Sept 15 Varsity at home v Emmett

SWIMMING
Swimmers were off this week and will resume competition 9/22 at Gem State Invitational at the Nampa Rec Center beginning at 9:15am
Co-Ed Volleyball Intramural League

BK is starting a co-ed intramural volleball program for students. No tryouts, no signups, no cost! Just for fun. Let your student know and print this UPDATED flier for more info.
Order Your Yearbook Through October 12th
Now is the time to order your yearbook at the lowest price possible of $68.00.

Order yearbooks online at jostensyearbooks.com or call 1-877-767-5217.
From the Nurse's Office - Flu Vaccines
Dear parents,
Flu season is approaching. In cooperation with the State Vaccines for Children Program, I will have the 2018 injectable flu vaccine available for the students of Bishop Kelly. CLICK HERE for the vaccine Information Sheet and Consent Form. Please read through the material and fill out the consent form COMPLETELY, if you want your student to receive the vaccine. There is no cost for this service. If you have any questions, please contact me at BK.

MaryLou Cunningham, RN, NBCSN, MHS
529 College Savings
As of 2018, you can now use funds to pay for K-12 tuition!

What is a “529 Plan”?
Named for Section 529 of the U.S. tax code, a 529 Plan is a tax-advantaged investment plan operated by a state to encourage saving for education expenses. As there is risk when investing in a 529 account, we encourage you to talk to a financial advisor.

What are the qualifying education expenses?
Following the passage of 2017’s Tax Cut and Jobs Act, funds in a 529 plan may not only be used for college expenses at a qualifying college, but they now also may be used for up to $10,000 in tuition only at a K-12 private or religious school per year per student.

If you have not done so, we encourage you to review the details of the Ideal Idaho 529 Plan. There may be some great benefits for your family. Check out their website for more details: https://www.idsaves.org .
New All-Girl Scout Troop for ages 11-17 at the Cathedral of the Rockies
All girls ages 11 to 17 who want outdoor adventure and a chance to earn the Eagle Scout rank are invited to attend a BSA Troop 100 Open House at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Cathedral of the Rockies, 717 N. 11th St., Boise. 

BSA Troop 100 has been at the Cathedral since 1914. We enjoy:

* Adventure and friendship
* Backpacking trips in Idaho, Utah, New Mexico and California
* Rafting on the Salmon River
* Canoeing

The new all-girl troop will partner closely with the boys' troop to maximize life changing adventures...the fun begins Feb. 1, 2019!

For more information, please contact  boisetroop100@gmail.com . We look forward to seeing you at our open house on Oct. 1!

Mark Your Calendar:
The Idaho Catholic Women's Conference
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Saint Mark's Parish

Bishop Kelly Students are invited to attend a Panel Discussion & College Fair
Monday, September 24
from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Boise High School

This is a free public event. Registration begins at 6:00 p.m., panel begins at 6:30 p.m. Students can register online in advance or when they arrive at Boise High.
Volunteer Corner
Wanted: Winner's Choice Gala Auction Items

Thank you to everyone who has donated an auction item, Golden Ticket, volunteered, or already RSVP'd to the gala on November 10.

"Hollywood Knights" is going to be a great evening for BK! If you are still thinking about donating an auction item, we would be thrilled...new and different auction items keep the event dynamic and fun for the guests....please let us know ASAP so we can correctly inventory and plan. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and you are what makes this evening such a success for BK.

Contact Rita Franklin at rfranklin@bk.org for more information or to provide an item.
Important Links
Our website at www.bk.org is a wealth of information for parents and students alike!

Much of the information that parents and students need regularly can be found in three areas:
  1. Under the Student Life header on the BK.org home page
  2. In the Parents and Current Students Tabs located in the middle of the BK.org home page
  3. Logins for BK email accounts, Schoolmaster, and Schoology can be found at the bottom of every page on BK.org

Check out some of the cool tools that are just a few clicks away:








Important Attendance Procedures for Parents
We realize that not everyone will accomplish perfect attendance. Please be sure to review our attendance procedures in those cases when you child will be absent from school.

Contact BK
  • Front Office: 375-6010
  • Attendance Office: 377-9928
  • 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