Weekly Update
June 17, 2020   
From the Office of the President

To the Brave Community,

I hope you all are finding some good ways to enjoy this first week of summer. Late last week, we received official guidance from the Washington Office for Public Instruction (OSPI - governing body for public and private schools) to plan for in-person instruction starting this fall with the new school year. This was very welcome news as we are all eager to be back on campus learning and building community together in person.  

This OSPI Planning Guide  makes it very clear that while our goal is to return to in-person instruction in the fall, reopening will require essential changes to our traditional school activities. The OSPI Planning Guide also requires us to plan for alternative learning scenarios including digital distance learning, should we receive direction from public health officials that our campus must be closed.  

With this official guidance now in place, we are putting our full efforts and resources into the following reopening plan:

Goal: Priority Plan A - In-person instruction for all students with essential changes for physical distancing and health and safety measures outlined in further detail below.  

Alternate Scenario B - Hybrid learning model of in-person and Digital Distance Learning (DDL) on a rotational basis for students.

Alternate Scenario C - Digital Distance Learning 2.0 for all students - an updated and improved version of our DDL program based on feedback and experiences from the spring of 2020.

Essential measures for reopening in-person in the fall as directed by OSPI and the state Department of Health (DOH) include:
  1. Face Mask/Face Coverings will be required for all staff and students. Students may use cloth face coverings or face shields; we highly recommend you procure the option that works best for your family soon, and have your student test and practice using a face covering. Specific guidance in this area can be found on page 20 of the OSPI Planning Guide.
  2. Health Screening at Entry will be a daily requirement for staff and students. This will include a temperature check and questions pertaining to symptoms and potential exposures to Covid-19. While we will continue to map out the logistics more specifically this summer, we anticipate that this process will likely involve assigning students specific entry doors and time windows for arrival. Specific guidance in this area can be found on page 17 of the OSPI Planning Guide.
  3. Physical Distancing - the OSPI guidelines outline that we "practice physical distancing (six feet) with each group of students as much as possible."  Physical distancing will include increasing the space between desks, altering the flow of students in the hallways, and changing or canceling large gatherings like assemblies and school-wide events. Specific guidance in this area can be found on page 18 of the OSPI Planning Guide.
Along with these three essential measures for reopening face to face, we must all make a 100% commitment to maintaining personal hygiene (regular hand washing/sanitizing) and monitoring our health for symptoms and potential exposure to Covid-19. We must all commit to staying home with any sign of illness or potential exposure in order to help keep our community safe and healthy.

To prepare for reopening, our facilities team has already launched into a deep clean of our classrooms and all spaces in the building. We have secured and will be installing over one hundred hand sanitizer units - placing them in every classroom, at entrances and exits to the building and bathrooms, and through the common areas of our building. We are also refining enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols in accordance with public health guidelines. We will continue to update you on plans and new protocols regarding our facility.  

Our cafeteria/kitchen team has started the process of developing plans to offer food service as we reopen. We will share more about this plan as we work out the logistics of what we can offer in accordance with the guidelines from OSPI and DOH - found on page 19 of the Planning Guide .

Many of our students utilize our BBHS bus transportation program for travel to and from school. Our reopening plan includes maintaining our bus transportation service in keeping with the guidance provided on page 20 of the OSPI Planning Guide . We have initiated the sign up process for bus transportation and you can access the information through our website .

The guidance from OSPI released last week did not address extracurricular activities such as athletics. We will communicate with you as we receive guidance from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) or other governing bodies regarding participating in sports and other extracurricular activities.  

Recognizing there are many details to work out and questions that may be on your mind regarding our reopening plans, we are providing this form to send in your questions or comments. We will monitor your questions and comments and assess the best way to respond - whether through direct communication or a wider FAQ for the community.  

We anticipate updating you on the further refinement of these plans next week and please also anticipate receiving additional updates in July and August as well.  

Thank you for your patience, flexibility and assistance as we work together toward this plan to reopen in the fall.

God Bless and Go Braves,

Tony DeSapio
President
adesapio@bishopblanchet.org

From the Activities Office

FRESHMAN VIRTUAL ORIENTATION 
Calling all incoming freshmen! Join us for a virtual new student event on Thursday, June 18. The Zoom session at 7:00 p.m. will provide our new Braves the opportunity to meet with their orientation group and connect with their student mentor. In addition to leading some fun activities, mentors will also set up students with their school email and introduce them to Google Classroom, which will enable us to stay connected and keep students informed about summer activities and the Freshman Welcome in August.

All sessions will take place via Zoom on Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. To find the link and password for this event, please look up your student's Community Period (CP) class here, then find the corresponding Zoom link for their CP here. 

FRESHMAN STUDENT AND PARENT SURVEYS
If your student has not yet completed the freshman survey sent last month, please click here to do so. Class of 2024 parents, please click here to complete the parent survey.

FINAL DATE FOR YEARBOOK, LOCKER & SUPPLIES PICK UP & DROP OFF
For those who did not come last week to drop off and pick up your BBHS items, we have a final opportunity on Wednesday,  June 24 , from 12:00-3:00 p.m. Remaining items not claimed by June 24 will be stored until we return to school in the fall. 
  • Please enter the parking lot off of 82nd, then drive around to the back off the gym to the Commons delivery driveway, and exit onto Wallingford Ave. 
  • Students and families must remain in their cars at all times.
  • All students automatically receive a yearbook, no special order is required. 
  • Lost & found items will be available as well.
  • If you are returning any items (athletic uniforms or gear, choir gowns or stoles, library books, robotics kits), please be sure to have them bagged and labeled with your student's name and grade.
Chuck Bocian
Vice Principal of Student Activities
cbocian@bishopblanchet.org

From the Office of Diversity and International Student Services

BRAVE CONVERSATIONS: TEENS AND RACE WITH CHRISTIAN PAIGE
Last fall, the BBHS Parent Association and the Multicultural Affairs Council (MAC) hosted poet, speaker and educator Christian  Paige for a workshop about raising more awareness around diversity, race, culture and inclusion. These topics remain more relevant than ever, and we encourage families to continue having these important discussions. For a refresher on the workshop or for those who could not attend, please click here to watch last November's Brave Conversations: Teens and Race with Christian Paige.

Janah Valenzuela
Director of Diversity and International Student Services
jvalenzuela@bishopblanchet.org

From the Academic Office

JUNE MAILING: REPORT CARDS AND 2020-21 STUDENT SCHEDULES
All current and incoming students will receive a comprehensive mailing at the end of June, which will include second semester 2019-20 report cards (current students), 2020-21 student schedules, and other important information.  Designated times will be available in August to request schedule changes. 

TEXTBOOK BUYBACK
The Bishop Blanchet online  bookstore is open for textbook buyback. Here's how it works:
    1. Log into your account and request a buyback quote.
    2. Return your books - shipping is FREE.
    3. Get paid by PayPal or check. 
Please email BNC Services Customer Contact Center, or call 800-325-3252  if you have any questions.

PURCHASING TEXTBOOKS/EBOOKS FOR 2020-21
BBHS students and families are responsible for purchasing required textbooks/ebooks. The 2020-21 booklist will be published  July 1  on  our online bookstore . Families can choose to purchase textbooks there or through other sources.

1:1 DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, Bishop Blanchet will require all students in all grades to have a laptop; an iPad will no longer be an acceptable device. Due to the unprecedented shift in remote learning we experienced this spring, this requirement is necessary to most effectively support future student learning. Please click here for device specification guidelines. Email questions to our Director of Technology, Laura Meaux. Please email our Director of Finance, Tom Ramsey, if you have any financial concerns about providing a laptop for your student. 

Nicole McCoy 
Vice Principal of Academics
nmccoy@bishopblanchet.org

From the Athletic Department

SUMMER SPORTS ACTIVITIES & COMMUNICATION 
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person summer sports activities through Bishop Blanchet (training, workouts, practices, etc.) have been cancelled until further guidance is issued from the Department of Health and the Governor's Office. The BBHS Athletic Department is preparing to provide a safe environment once in-person activities are authorized to resume, by educating coaches and securing necessary supplies. Meantime, coaches would like to communicate alternate summer activity plans to all student-athletes. Please complete this form for each student-athlete who may be interested in participating in an alternate summer activity. Email  Mr. Gaskill with questions.

FALL SPORTS INFORMATION 
Please continue to check the Bishop Blanchet Athletic  page for information and updates regarding Fall sports, including times and locations for tryouts and practices. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is waiting on advice from the Department of Health and the Governor's Office to make summer and fall guidelines. We will communicate updates as soon they are available. Football is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 19 and the other Fall sports begin on Monday, August 24. 

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Bishop Blanchet High School is currently seeking applicants for the following positions: Head Girls Swim Coach, Head Boys Swim Coach, Head Boys Varsity Basketball Coach and Head Girls Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach. Please click  AppliTrack and WIAA for details.  If you know someone who would be a great fit, please encourage him or her to apply. Go Braves!

Sean Gaskill
Athletic Director
sgaskill@bishopblanchet.org

From the Counseling Center

NOTE FOR JUNIORS AND FAMILIES
Juniors and their parents/guardians received an email from their counselor with reminders about things to do this summer to be ready for senior year.

TESTING UPDATES
We understand the process of navigating changes to the SAT and ACT testing schedule has been extremely frustrating, particularly College Board's registration process recently. Juniors who have not been able to register for a test for any reason should reach out to their counselor. We will keep Juniors and their families updated as we learn more heading into the summer, but please keep current on the evolving information from  SAT and ACT.

SAT AND ACT TEST PREP
There are several different organizations that offer test prep for both the SAT and ACT. Here are a few:
  • Mazor Test Prep offers classes and tutoring for SAT and ACT. Use the code "BBHS" and receive a $100 discount.
  • Test prep sessions (tentative this summer) are also offered through the UW Women's Center.
  • ACT Academy provides students with personalized study plans to prepare for the ACT.
COUNSELING SUMMER HOURS
Please note that counselors are out of the office during summer break and may only respond to emails sporadically. Counseling office hours for the last week of August will be communicated in the first Weekly Update in August.

Stephen Russell
Head School Counselor
srussell@bishopblanchet.org

From the English Department

SUMMER READING REQUIREMENTS
Books invite us to widen our perspectives, and l iterature often reflects our complex and challenging world. Reading about the struggles fellow humans endure helps cultivate and solidify values such as compassion. Perhaps that compassion then translates to action, and allows us to see each other with love, to acknowledge our shared humanity despite our differences and to serve those most in need. 

All BBHS students are required to select one to two books (depending on their English course next year) from the 2020 Summer Reading  List. In the fall, students  will  be asked to write about the book(s) they've selected.  Happy reading!

Rachel McGovern
English Department Chair
rmcgovern@bishopblanchet.org

From the Dean's Office

2020-21 ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION FORM
This  form gives permission to specific BBHS faculty and staff members to administer medication to students. BBHS cannot distribute medication, neither over-the-counter nor prescription, to students unless this form is on file. Please fill out, sign and return this form to the Dean's Office. If you have any questions, please  email the Dean's Office.

STUDENT IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION
In 2019, the personal/philosophical exemption was removed for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Please contact your health care provider to ensure that your student is in compliance for all immunizations prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

Chris Bilanko
Dean of Students
cbilanko@bishopblanchet.org

Farewell

RETIRING TEACHERS
Congratulations to our colleagues celebrating the transition to retirement: Margaret Newcomb, Lou Ella McGaughey, Sean Richarz, Mary Anne Riedeman and Dixie Strunk. You've inspired countless students over your combined 165 years of service to Bishop Blanchet. We also send our best to departing faculty and staff members Tina Hogan, Cody Hopkins and Kathy Kondratyuk. You all will be missed!






Job Opportunities

Please visit our  website   to view open positions and for details on how to apply.


Follow us @bishopblanchet