March 12, 2021
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, March 15
B Day
9:15 AM Start
Tuesday, March 16
A Day
8:15 AM Start
Wednesday,March 17
B Day
9:15 AM Start
Thursday, March 18
A Day
8:15 AM Start
Friday, March 19
Mass Day/B Day (also Senior Out to Lunch)
9:15 AM Start
Upcoming

Wednesday, March 17 - One Day One Knight Annual Day of Giving

Friday, March 19 - All School Mass on the BK YouTube Channel, Senior Out to Lunch

March 22 - 26 - Spring Break!

Friday, April 2 - Good Friday, No School

Monday, April 5 - Easter Monday, No School

Friday, April 9 - All School Mass on the BK YouTube Channel

April 10, 2021 - PATHS Talent Show @ 7:00 PM in the Reg
A Message from Rich and Mike
Dear Bishop Kelly Parents,

In this BK Alive, we will share some exciting news about projects that will be happening this summer here at BK, update you on enrollment for 2021-22, share our instructional plans for after Spring Break/Easter breaks, speak to the BK Way value of Honor as we begin spring sports, and give you the latest on the COVID-19 numbers here at Bishop Kelly.
Exciting Summer Projects at BK
Thanks to our incredibly generous community and our hard working BK team and our partners, we have three exciting new changes coming to our campus this summer. These projects were unanimously approved by our Board of Governance this past Monday. They are:
  • The new Ysursa Field Guest Services Building/Lachiondo Family Plaza project - this $1.7 million project will transform our main outdoor gathering space and our football/track/graduation venue. Thanks to the support of our community and the efforts of Tommy Steiner and our development team plus our volunteers, this project is 91% funded, with the goal to be fully funded by May with the help of our community. The photos above give you a feel for what this will look like. Construction will begin next month and be completed by the end of August in time for our first home football game and our Welcome Back BBQ! Thanks to our partners ESI Construction and erstad Architects for their work on this last BK2020 Vision project.

  • We also gained approval for two summer projects inside the school - build out a new counselor services area in 400 Hall to enhance the services for students in a central and easier to access location and add three new classrooms in 100 Hall to help with the growth in enrollment we are experiencing. Thanks to Chad Blue, Joe Fehringer, Mike Caldwell, Tommy Steiner, and our counseling team for their work with BK Building Committee chair, Tim LaMott, CM and erstad Architects on these projects!

2021 - 2022 School Year Registration
Thanks to all of you for your response to our call to action over the past several weeks to register your current students and enrol your new students. We are currently in an enviable position relative to many Catholic high schools around the country with application well ahead of prior years and a likely 8% growth in enrollment over this year as we graduate a class of 166 and welcome a freshman class of 240 students, similar to the past three years. We are pleased and grateful that so many current and new families wish to send their children to Bishop Kelly. Here is where we currently stand:
  • 944 students are currently registered (returning students and applied/accepted new students). This is an 8% growth over where we are today in the 2020-21 school year at 870 students enrolled and is by far a record number for us at the registration deadline, with almost 200 more students than last year at this time. We are working through what this means in terms of capacity, wait lists, faculty/staff needed, financials, etc., but it is truly exciting to have so much interest in our school and to be able to serve more families. For new students, letters of acceptance or other status will be mailed before spring break. 

  • Almost 98% of current freshmen, sophomores and juniors are registered/re enrolled for the 2021-22 school year. This is almost 6 percentage points more than prior years, speaking to the experience that you, our parents, and your students have had this year. 

  • Special thanks to BK Director of Admissions, Kelly Shockey, for these results in very unusual and challenging times - no true Information Knight, no shadows, lots of tours, first time use of Infinite Campus, etc. Also, shout outs go to Joe Wilsey and John McGrew in our IT group, Chrissy Beckner, our Registrar, Lori Biggs in the Business Office, the front office team of Rosemarie Berhan and Stephanie Ossman, and our Vice Principals, Stephany Herrera and Cheryl Hutchinson, for their help in making this all come together. Finally, thanks to you, our parents, for your trust and confidence in our school and our team.
School Instructional Plans After Spring Break and Easter Weekend
Due to the significant downward trend in COVID cases, along with the vaccination of the vast majority of our staff members, we will NOT require that students quarantine after Spring Break or Easter Weekend unless there are likely exposures from travel, etc. The school will carry on as normal, with in-person learning, and not adopt a FLEX or Hybrid model. However, if you know that your student was around a positive case or is feeling ill at all, we do expect your student to stay home and quarantine. Documentation will be required to excuse absences as Covid absences. As always, please monitor for symptoms after any travel.
BK Way Value of Honor
As we begin spring sports this week, we want to remind us all of and reinforce the BK Way value of Honor. We define Honor as: “Each member of the BK community is accountable to high standards of moral and ethical behavior in the classroom, hallways, at BK events, on the playing field and in the stands.” In particular, we wish to emphasize the importance of good sportsmanship, not using profane or vulgar language, not criticizing officials or coaches, cheering good plays and supporting our students-athletes. We are a Catholic Christian school and when we play our sport or cheer from the stands, we represent our school and the values we hold dearly and are all accountable for. We must make certain that our behavior and actions match what we proclaim in the BK Way, even when our opponents might not be exhibiting the same values. We must set the example. Finally, please know behavior inconsistent with our values by any member of our community will not be tolerated. Thank you for your support.
COVID-19 Update
Here is our update for this week on the COVID-19 numbers for Bishop Kelly. We have had no students and no faculty/staff members test positive since last Friday’s BK Alive update and only two total in the first two weeks of March. We currently have only 3 students and zero faculty/staff members out in quarantine or isolation. 

We’ve seen a slight trend in poor mask wearing habits at school where masks are drifting below the nose, and we need your help in reinforcement. Please encourage your child to stay vigilant and double down on the three W’s. We need to be patient and practice basic precautions: wear face coverings, wash hands and watch your distance. Spring is coming, vaccinations are beginning to have their desired effect and we must stay focused on the community goal of vanquishing this public health threat.
Final Thoughts
Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring Covid-19 as a global pandemic and tomorrow, Saturday, March 13th, marks the one year anniversary of Idaho’s first identified COVID-19-positive patient.

One year ago, on Friday March 13th, 2020 we left school for the weekend on a Friday afternoon, just like today, expecting to be in school on the following Monday. Little did we all know that everything was about to change in a really big way. We left school on that Friday and we had to wait 179 days until we were all in school together again, nearly a half year later. Tens of thousands of schools are still waiting for that opportunity.

We’ve learned that we cannot take anything for granted. In the last 365 days, so much has changed. Among many other things, the way people work and the way people go to school has all changed and some of those things may have changed forever

This pandemic has shined a light on inequality and how something like a virus which is inherently non-discriminatory, can have such drastically unequal impacts on different people and communities. Take education for example. Our students were in school all this week, with classmates they could see and talk to, in small class sizes with dedicated, in person teachers that care deeply and are thankful that their students are in class with them. Millions of students all across our country didn't have those same opportunities this week or haven't had them in the last year.

While there have been many, many challenges with the global pandemic like illness, death growing mental health crisis, and a disparity of impact and opportunities, there have also been many hidden blessings, most of them centering around gratitude.

Through this, we’ve become more grateful for essential workers, more grateful for our families and friends, more grateful for our health, more grateful for nature and being outside, more grateful for our education and more grateful for simply taking a breath of fresh air without the barrier of a mask.

As leaders of the school, we continue to be incredibly grateful to our students, faculty and staff, and you, our parents. Together we have enabled our school to be open safely for in person learning for all but one of the first 26 weeks of the school year. 

This virus has impacted so many people, families and health care workers. As we discussed last week, let us answer the call to prayer for those affected.

God of all grace and providence, You are our shepherd who walks with us through every valley. 
Be with us today as we reflect on the one year of the pandemic in our country. 
Be comfort for those who grieve. Be strength for those about to falter. 
Be love for those in division. Be eternal rest for those who have died. 
Help us to be grateful for the gifts that we have been given and for all those that have sacrificed to make those blessings possible. 
Help us trust you, follow you and love you for your goodness today and always. Amen

Have a nice weekend and God bless,
Rich Raimondi
President
Mike Caldwell
Principal
Reflections from Father Vance
One of the many things I love about ministering as Chaplain here at BK is the consistency with which we give all in our community the truth that we humans consist of Mind, Body and Spirit. A Catholic school like ours should address each of these elements, not only in the lives of its students, but in the lives of all in the community -- staff, parents, alums, benefactors, friends. Each of the three elements that make us up have an effect and a relationship with each of the other elements, and part of the journey of both human integration as well as spiritual maturity has to do with the honest and probing examination we do about these elements and their relationship with each other in helping fulfill our lives.
On Tuesday, March 2, I had my left hip replaced. I had the other one done about 10 years ago, and so I am familiar with the experience of both the surgery as well as the recovery process. So, a focus of my attention has been the “Body” -- the pain I have experienced over the last two years, the struggle of having the surgery scheduled and rescheduled three separate times, and now the sometimes-too-slow-for-my-patience process of healing and recovery. But that doesn’t mean that the other two parts of me (Mind and Spirit) have not been affected by my Body’s experience, either. In the couple weeks that I have been away from school, I have found it necessary to keep my mind active by engaging with students in what they are studying in my classes, and I have found it equally necessary to devote much of my healing time to prayer and spiritual communion with God as Lent continues to move toward Easter.
The generosity of this BK family has overwhelmed me. For these two weeks since my surgery, colleagues have been bringing dinner for the three Jesuits each night. And I know that I am the subject of many prayers for healing and recuperation from students, fellow staff, and families. I couldn’t be more grateful! The meals have nourished my (and the other two Jesuits in the house, Fr. Manh and Kyle) bodies, and the prayers have lifted my spirit, and convinced my mind that I am precisely where God wants me to be, and that I am fulfilling BOTH God’s will as well as my own deepest desire by being the Chaplain of our beloved school!
I share all of this with you today because I want to encourage you to reflect on the relationship between your Mind, your Body and your Spirit. Here are some questions that might assist you with this reflection:
  • Even though your body has been cooped up during this winter of isolation, now that there is a promise of Spring in the air, can you venture out into the healing rays of the sun to make yourself feel better?
  • Even though there might be aches, pains or even illness in your body, can you still identify gratitude to God for the blessings of family and friends to walk with you and support you?
  • Do you (or will you) make any space in your life to nourish your mind? Specifically, do you read things that expand your horizons, challenge some of your perceptions, or teach you something you might not have learned yet?
  • Are you making just a little time for prayer this Lent? Are you seeking to prepare your Spirit for the celebration of Easter?
It is normal and natural to be stressed, confused and uncertain as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc in our world and in our lives. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t strategies and practices we could adopt to help us with all the uncertainty. The reminder of the truth that we are composed of Mind, Body and Spirit can help us reflect on which part might need particular attention at any given moment in our lives. Is God’s call to you to focus your attention on one of these areas, perhaps one that you have been neglecting in the recent past? Or, are you called to focus on the relationship between and among them, so that you can better appreciate the beautiful complexity that God has created in you, in His image and likeness? As this challenging but beautiful season of Lent continues, where we are called to deny some of the needs of the Body in order to highlight the Spirit, may we grow in appreciation and gratitude for the creativity of God, and may we say with the Psalmist: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)
Student Spotlight on Salt and Light Radio
Tune into 1140 AM Salt and Light Radio on Monday, 3/15 at 7:00 AM to hear Bishop Kelly Junior, Nicole Graefe speaking about Knights for Life at BK.
Join the BK Rosary Group on Remind
Text @bkros to 81010 to get updates on when student led rosaries will be held in the chapel.
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!
Emily Diehl
Safe and Caring
Emily is the student I can always rely on to welcome others and help care for them. I know that if a student is struggling when they walk into my room, and Emily is here, she will instantly help make them feel better. She is an amazing girl, and I am so blessed to have taught her!
Francesca Shepherd
Academic Excellence
Francesca always comes to class ready to participate, she is a great member who is kind to everyone in class and makes sure everyone feels included. She always has great input into class conversations and discussions. She shows the BK way each day!!
Thomas Lodge
Joseph Behrend
Jacob Holm
Community/Faith/Academic Excellence

Thomas, Joseph, and Jacob are a team of young men who work together to hold each other to the highest academic standards. They led class prayer efficiently and with grace and joy. They work together on assignments and enthusiastically participate in class discussions. Jacob, Joe, and Thomas elevate our class to a community.

BK Staff of the Week

Mrs. Yazmin Carney
Safe and Caring Place
  • I nominate Señora Carney as she always makes the class interactive and enjoyable. She challenges us everyday and finds the perfect way to blend education and entertainment. I always feel welcome when I see her in or outside of class. 
  • Senora makes the class really fun to learn spanish and easy to talk to.
  • She is a wonderful teacher who creates a very kind and nurturing environment that makes it easy and enjoyable to learn. 
  • Senora makes our class an easy place to be and a comfortable place, she listens to us and genuinely cares about us. She makes our class fun and educational. She cares about her students.
  • Senora loves us, she makes Spanish so fun and I understand Spanish so much better because of her.  
  • Mrs. Carney makes the class enjoyable and yet educational. She's always in a good mood and makes others feel welcome.
  • Senora Carney is a very fun teacher and makes learning Spanish easy and fun. She is awesome!!!
  • She always makes sure that everyone is as safe as they can be while providing an excellent education.

One Day One Knight
The beautiful eyes of our students are smiling! March 17 is a special day to celebrate Bishop Kelly!! We call it One Day One Knight, and it's about the power of community. Click HERE to learn more!

Graduation Announcements Pick Up
Herff Jones will be on campus Tuesday, March 16th during lunch for order pick-up.
PATHS Talent Show- Saturday April 10th @ 7:00 pm
We searching for talented students and asking them to participate in our Annual Talent Show. If you can sing, dance, skate, juggle, magic tricks, voice impersonations, card tricks, trampoline acrobatics, you name it, you qualify. To register your talent, click on this registration link and sign up by March 25th. If you have any questions please contact BK Students Marilyn Perez at Mperez@my.bk.org, Olivia D'Souza at Odsouza@my.bk.org or Mr. Caldwell at MCaldwell@bk.org.

PATHS is a club at Bishop Kelly with a mission to give underprivileged students the resources to learn, participate, and enjoy school in order to stay on the path to success.
BK Tennis Roundup
BK Tennis kicked off its 2021 campaign yesterday against Emmett. Varsity hosted the Huskies and notched wins on both the Boys and Girls sides in front of an impressive early-season audience. The JV team traveled to Emmett and also picked up an opening win. Thanks to all who came out to support your Tennis Knights. On to Timberline today!
BK Bracket Challenge
Hi BK Parents, 
We have a new event at BK this Spring -- the BK Bracket Challenge! BK students, teachers, and staff will have our own pool around the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. All entry fees and donations will be sent to charities that retire medical debt for the needy.  

Medical debt can be crushing for Idaho families. Did you know that 1 out of every 4 families in Idaho is in collections for medical debt? That is a tough situation, and it’s likely getting worse due to COVID. But our BK community can help! Through programs like the St. Luke’s Foundation and RIP Medical Debt (a national organization), for every $1 we donate, we can retire up to $100 in medical debt relief for families in Idaho and across the U.S.

Parents, will you please join with us? Please consider doing 2 things:  
Encourage your BK student to join the BK Bracket Challenge! There is a $5 fee per entry that will be collected at school next week (March 15-18). Sponsor your BK students as they pick the winners. There are $100, $50, and $25 Amazon gift card prizes for those who come out on top. 

Please consider giving a donation to this effort to retire medical debt for the most needy. Your generous donation of $10, $20, $50 or even $100 could really help some families out! Donating is easy...please go to bk.org/donate. Write in “BK Bracket Challenge” when asked where to send your gift.

During these strange COVID times, the BK Bracket Challenge can be a fun event to unite our BK community and to help others. If you have questions, please contact me at jhorton@my.bk.org. Thank you for your support!

Jack Horton
Class of 2022
NEW Job Openings at Bishop Kelly
Full-time Physics/ AP Physics Teacher
Full-time Counselor
Full-time Theology Teacher
Part-time French Teacher
Bus Route Driver
Activities Bus Driver
Substitute Teachers
Substitute Kitchen Assistant


Bishop Kelly Foundation Scholarship for Rising Seniors
The Redinger Family Scholarship" is a financial award available through the Bishop Kelly Foundation to a rising senior for a $750 scholarship to be used toward BK tuition.

This scholarship was established by Jim and Vickie Redinger, long-time supporters of Bishop Kelly and parents of BK alums Mike, '03 and Tom, '05. Jim and Vickie wish to honor a student whose interests align with those areas that their sons found of particular value while they were at BK as well as later in their lives.

The recipient will be selected by the Redinger family after submitting an application that meets a specific list of criteria, including academics, athletics, with preference given to students who have exhibited leadership and STEM activities. (Please see the linked application form for full selection criteria.) To apply, complete THIS APPLICATION FORM by Friday, April 2nd and submit it in a sealed envelope to the front office. Please clearly label the envelope "Bishop Kelly Foundation, attention Kim Malvick". You may also save it as a pdf and email it to kmalvick@bk.org by the deadline.

Host Family Needed for BK International Student
We have a BK Junior who is an International Student and needs a host family. This student is in his second year at BK. His living situation was disrupted by COVID, and he is in a temporary home without any other BK Students in it. As a result, it is really hard for him to find transportation to and from BK. We need to find him a permanent spot, preferably in a home with other BK students.

Host families receive a $700 per month stipend (possibly more upon discussion.)

Alternately, this student needs to find a carpool to BK from the area near Cynthia Mann Elementary School.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Ying Donegan at (208) 853-8542 or ying@7eie.com.
College and Career Center
Virtual College Visits at BK
Coming Soon!

College and Career Fairs

NCACA Virtual College Fairs
Here's your chance to hear firsthand from those-in-the-know at hundreds of colleges and universities nearby, across the country, and around the world.
More than 500 colleges and universities will be online to talk with high school juniors and seniors on each of these days. Each virtual fair is a free, one-day event. Attend as many as you'd like. Families invited, too.

Tuesday, Mar. 16: 4-8 p.m. ET - Performing & Visual Arts
Sunday, Mar. 21: 1-7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Apr. 10: 3-7 p.m. ET - Western US
Tuesday, Apr. 20: 3-7 p.m. ET - Southeastern US
Sunday, May 2: 1-7 p.m. ET


Scholarships
For scholarship information see Current Scholarships on the BK website.

If you have questions contact Ms. Klover at jklover@bk.org
Community Events
Parents in Prayer Lenten Virtual Rosary Invitation

Have you made a Lenten promise to learn to pray the Rosary or pray it more often? Then please join us. Please register in advance so we can email a ZOOM link to you.  


You are invited to join the Bishop Kelly Community (alumnae, parents, alum parents, grandparents and others) to the Virtual Rosary on April 2nd beginning at 9 am (MST). Special intentions can be shared. Rosary will last between 30-40 minutes.

Thank you for your interest in wanting to connect in prayer as a community during Lent.  For more information please contact BK Parent Julia Grant or BK Campus Minister Lorissa Horn.
St. Joseph Virtual Retreat

During this year of St. Joseph, souls are permitted a plenary indulgence for participating in a spiritual retreat that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. Salt & Light Radio has collected a series of meditations on St. Joseph from Diocesan priests and deacons to create a virtual retreat. This do-it-yourself retreat is available for FREE. Bless others by inviting your prayer groups or apostolates to come together to watch this special retreat. You can find the retreat guide and videos at saltandlightradio.com starting on March 19th. St. Joseph, pray for us!
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)

(Size Small SOLD OUT)
#256
BK Unisex Hooded Sweatshirt Drk. Gray
$36.00

(XL and 2 XL SOLD OUT)
#255
BK Unisex Hooded Sweatshirt Lt. Gray
$45.00

(2XL SOLD OUT)
#141
Unisex Long Sleeved T-Shirt
$20
#822
BK Cap, Velcro Back
One Size Fits All
$22.00
#253
Black Crewneck Sweatshirt (No hoodie)
S, M, L, XL 
$30.00
How to Order

*Order deadline: EVERY MONDAY      
*Order Pickup: EVERY FOLLOWING THURSDAY 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.  

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