BK Alive
News and Information for BK Families
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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.
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**Next Week**
Monday 9/13 - Periods 1-4
8:30 AM Start, 3:00 PM Release
Tuesday 9/14 - Periods 5-7
9:00 AM Start, 2:45 - 3:15 PM Office Hours
Wednesday 9/15 - Straight 7 Schedule
8:30 AM Start, 3:05 PM Release
Thursday 9/16 - Periods 1-3
9:00 AM Start, 2:45 - 3:15 PM Office Hours
Friday 9/17 - Periods 4-7
8:30 AM Start, 3:00 PM Release
Important Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, September 22nd - Freshman Parent Night in the Reg at 6:30 PM
Thursday, September 23rd - All School Mass
September 27th - October 2nd - Homecoming Week
Wednesday, September 29th - Guest Passes for non BK students attending the Homecoming Dance due - students, if you want to bring a guest from another school, don't wait until the last minute!
Friday, October 1st - Faculty/Staff In Service, NO SCHOOL
Friday, October 1st - Alumknight and Friends "Homecoming" Golf Scramble at Quail Hollow Golf Course
Saturday, October 2nd - Homecoming Dance
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A Note from Rich and Mike |
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Dear BK Families,
This letter will be brief as you are likely tired of hearing from us this week. But we felt it was important we say thank you for your understanding and respect for the difficult decision we made this week around requiring masks.
We have received an overwhelming number of emails thanking us for this decision, several of them from nurses and doctors on the front lines working in our area hospitals and ICUs. If we were to summarize what they said to us, this email said it best: “From a frontline RN - I thank you from the bottom of my heart”. We have also received a few emails expressing concerns and offering differing points of view, but they have been respectful. We appreciate all the engagement and caring shown for our students and our community, whether or not you agreed with our decision.
In talking to a lot of kids today during the lunch hour, they all understood why we did this (keep them in person at school) and they were doing a great job (for the most part) wearing their masks properly. Thank you for supporting our decision with your children and for encouraging your children to wear masks when outside of school, especially indoors, or in crowded spaces outdoors. As we mentioned yesterday, please also discourage sleepovers, movie nights, car pools, etc. on weekends for the next few weeks since that is where the spread among kids is happening.
Please know you have our commitment to assess our metrics every two weeks and determine what, if any, changes we should make to our mask policy and other risk mitigation strategies going forward. We will also be addressing in the next few days if any of our policies and plans around indoor sports, Homecoming, and spectators at games should be modified. We will send out information on any changes by Wednesday of next week.
Finally, thank you once again for your understanding, kindness, civility, and respect shown in your emails and conversations we have had the past few days around yesterday’s decision. Let’s continue to work together to safely navigate our way through this period of high transmission in our region and to keep our kids on campus learning in a face to face model. Safely.
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Mike Caldwell
Principal
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Reflections from Father Vance |
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I wrote a version of these reflections a year ago. As a matter of fact, I have written a version of these reflections many times in the last 20 years. But I seem to need to revisit these reflections every year close to the anniversary of 9/11/01. On that terrible morning, I was blithely preparing for a day of teaching English and coaching tennis at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma Washington. That year, I had just celebrated my 3rd anniversary of Priestly Ordination. I was young, energetic and committed. Today, 20 years later, I’m not so young any more, and my energy and commitment is more focussed. Today, I see even more clearly how important it is to never give up on believing that God has a message for us, even in the midst of the darkest and most challenging moments of human experience. That is what I feel called to focus on today.
In the days after the 9/11 attacks, my Sister, who is a Forensic Anthropologist for the State Police in Oregon, was part of a Federal Task Force (DMORT, the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) that went to Ground Zero. Their job was to help pick through the rubble and separate the organic material from the non-organic. In essence, they were looking for the human remains in the midst of all that concrete, steel, paper, wiring and other debris. During her work, my Sister met and became friends with the NYPD Officer who was in charge of Ground Zero as a crime scene, and in my conversations with my Sister, she shared that this Police Officer had a son who was terminally ill with cancer. All the way across the country, from New York City to Tacoma, Washington, I felt the need to respond to this person I had never met, and yet I knew from two important sources -- the news of the great tragedy that had occurred, and the connection with my Sister. So, I said our all-school Mass that month for the son of this NYPD Officer. Through my Sister, I found out that he was thrilled and deeply moved that someone so far away would do something so kind for him and his family in a time of such need. To me, it was the very least I could do for one of the heroes of that tragic and violent time.
Sometimes, it feels like the only thing that unites us is our sadness, our struggles to find meaning, and our tragedies. I tell students all the time that they are certainly free to pray for a life without sadness, loss or grief, but that doesn’t seem to be a prayer that God answers. Struggles come with life, and so it doesn’t make much sense to ask God to remove them. What does make sense to me is to ask God to help us see Him even in the midst of the tragedies, and to hear what He might want to say to us. Perhaps, since we cannot escape the inevitable grief of loss and tragedy in life, the lesson is that we are stronger together than we are alone. And perhaps this could be a lesson in the middle of our present struggles. Just list them -- an ongoing global pandemic that has fractured us into angry groups (especially where schools are concerned), natural disasters, understanding a 20 year war our nation has just ended, and so many other problems and challenges both common and unique. And as a school, we now find ourselves in a position to need to make a decision we KNOW will be controversial and possibly divisive.
Can we still care for each other in this crazy world? Can we still extend a little Christian charity and patience to one another, and presume that, even if we don’t agree with each other, we are each still trying our best for ourselves, our families and our world? Can we realize that God is in the middle even of our mourning, our struggle and yes, even our tragedies? This is what the Crucifix cries out to me each time I let myself really see it. God himself entered into human life and experience -- not merely the happy or the easy parts of it, but ALL of it. In fact, it is most important to realize that Jesus came, as he himself said, not for the healthy but for the sick. In other words, God especially entered into the struggles of human life -- the violence, tragedy and suffering -- in order to sanctify it and assure us that we are never alone when we suffer. To me, this seems to be what I need most to hear on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and in all of the places in life where we hurt, fight, grieve and suffer. I know this is a hard lesson, but I know I need to learn it over and over again. May God be close to our suffering, dark and violent world, and may Jesus Christ be our constant companion here in the BK community.
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Beginning in October, we will be offering weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday that school is in session. It is our hope to provide students with the opportunity to encounter Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and to cover our faculty, staff and families of Bishop Kelly in prayer each week.
In order to do this, we need at least 21 adorers willing to commit to one hour of prayer EACH WEEK between the hours of 8:15 am-3pm every Wednesday. We are hoping to have at least 3-4 committed adorers per hour to ensure that there is always someone present with our beloved Lord.
If you would like to sign up for one of the 21+ spots, please fill out this form. If you have any questions, please contact Lorissa Horn at LHorn@BK.org.
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Freshman Parent Night will be held Wednesday 09/22 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Reg. Information will be presented by the BK counseling department on a variety of different topics. If you are unable to make it, a video of all the information presented will be sent out prior to the meeting. We hope the see you there!
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School Photos and Ordering a Yearbook |
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School Photos
Student pictures from Registration Day were distributed this past week through your child's English teacher. If you did NOT pre-order, your student should have received a student key that you can enter on the Parker Portraits website to order their photos.
Retakes
Portrait retakes will be on Thursday, October 14th from 8:00-9:00 a.m. If you would like to have your child's picture taken again, please sign up on THIS FORM.
Also, you'll need to bring in the original picture packet on that day. Additionally, if your student missed Registration Day or enrolled after that day, please sign up to have their picture taken on the same form.
This is the only retake day that will be offered!
Senior Yearbook Photos
If you would like to have your senior's tux/drape picture taken on campus on Wednesday, October 13th, please sign up on THIS FORM by October 1st. Students will be notified of their time slot for their photo after sign ups.
Parker Portraits does provide the tux and the drape. It is recommended that gentlemen wear a plain white t-shirt under the tux shirt, but it not required. Ladies should wear a longer cami/tank top so the straps can be pulled down under the drape. Simple, nice jewelry can also be worn.
Seniors should give this specification sheet to their photographer if they are submitting their own Tux and Drape Photo.
Ordering a Yearbook
Order your student’s yearbook before October 8th for the best price – $68.00. Prices increase throughout the school year, so order now and check it off of your to-do list.
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2021 Winner's Choice Dinner & Auction
Sponsorship Opportunities
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Sponsorship opportunities are now available for our upcoming auction, Knights on the Range! (November 6, 2021 at the Boise Centre on the Grove.) Please consider becoming a sponsor for this year's event while at the same time marketing your business to our 940+ families along with our 600+ auction attendees.
Becoming a Winner's Choice sponsor helps ensure that we have a successful auction and meet our mission to provide funding and support to Bishop Kelly High School with our annual operational and scholarship grant to the school. Remember all proceeds from the auction go directly back to the school which helps keep our tuition rates among some of the lowest in the Northwest. Please reach out to Kim Malvick, the Executive Director of the Bishop Kelly Foundation, to learn more about these various sponsorship levels and benefits of each.
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BK Speech and Debate Team Parents
Remember Wednesday, Sept.15 from 6:30-8:00 PM is our Parent Meeting Night. The meeting will take place on Zoom. Your attendance is crucially important as we launch our 2021-22 season. Expectations, needs, scheduling and the opportunity to have your questions answered will be part of the agenda. Please join us for a chance to meet your coaches and fellow parents. Look to your email next week for the Zoom link.
Bob Goycoolea,
BK Speech and Debate
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International Travel Opportunities for BK Students |
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Scholarship Opportunities:
The Heisman High School Scholarship, presented by Acceptance Insurance, extends the Heisman prestige to our nation’s most esteemed male and female high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field, but in their schools and communities.
Elk Mountain Tents is looking to help out a stellar individual with an appreciation for the great outdoors who captures the adventurous spirit that has come to embody the Elk Mountain Tents brand. If that sounds like you, please apply! Or, if that sounds like someone you know, please share this opportunity with them!
College Visits with BK
To attend, sign up using SCOIR or come to the Counseling Center
College & Career Fairs
Registration for the NACAC Virtual College Fairs are now open!
Virtual College Tours
Student-driven virtual college tours
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Community Service Opportunity |
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Job Opportunity for a BK Student |
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Kumon of Boise-Northwest is searching for a new team member for our growing, dynamic Center!
We strive to be the best after-school learning Center in the Greater Boise Area. Strong student outcomes are expected. Kumon is the largest after-school learning program in the world. Your part would be as an Early Learning Assistant, working with students from 4-6 years old as they learn the basics of numbers/math and reading. This is a great resume-building job or hobby-money job. Kumon is
a known and trusted program, with thousands of locations across the United States. If you are University bound, chances are there would be opportunity for a skilled staff member near your University! Check www.kumon.com for locations.
Must be dedicated to individual students’ learning outcomes and a reliable team member. Must be mature and have a calm demeanor. This program is established and you will be trained in the Kumon method. It is not tutoring. It is a full, tested curriculum. No need for prior education experience.
Skills needed include: understanding the value of a structured program, enjoy working with children, timeliness, strong basic math and reading skills, flexibility, ability to multi-task and balance priorities. Knowledge of the Kumon method of learning is a plus. Wage is $13.00+ depending on experience. Working hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3:30-6:30 pm and a monthly staff meeting.
You would be working one or two shifts per week.
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Upcoming Catholic Community Events |
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Be part of a TV studio audience!
The public is invited to attend live tapings of Dr. Ray Guarendi’s nationally syndicated EWTN television show, “Living Right With Dr. Ray”. The show is aired in 145 different countries and is coming to Boise. Guarendi is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker, parenting expert, and media host. The programs will be taped at Our Lady of the Rosary in Boise and will include special interview guests from Idaho. Tapings are at 5PM & 7PM on Tuesday, September 28, and Wednesday, September 29. Reserve your FREE seat at saltandlightradio.com or call 208-344-4774.
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Our website at www.bk.org is a wealth of information for parents and students alike!
Check out some of the cool tools that are just a few clicks away:
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- 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.
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Bishop Kelly High School | (208) 375-6010 | www.bk.org |
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