Weekly Update
January 27, 2021
From the President
Dear BBHS Families,

Congratulations on reaching this milestone of completing the first semester of a year unlike any of us imagined. I know it has required a ton of hard work, flexibility, patience and personal sacrifice.  

As stated in our Reopening Plan, we have been tracking public health data and the core metrics continue to support our return to in-person, hybrid learning on Monday, February 1. Our reopening plans have been reviewed by King County Public Health and we will be working very closely with them as our focus now becomes limiting any COVID-19 transmission at BBHS. All our health and safety measures and our community’s full commitment to following them is essential to successfully transition to our in-person learning experience.  

All parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to participate in our “Shift to Hybrid Learning - Parent Webinar” tonight from 7-8 p.m. Advance registration is required. We will review our hybrid, in-person learning plans and the required health and safety protocols. Thank you for your partnership and for your patience as we prepare to launch another new mode of learning for this spring semester.  

Blessings,

Tony DeSapio
President
adesapio@bishopblanchet.org
From the Dean's Office
HEALTHSHIELD REGISTRATION
All students and families must participate in Bishop Blanchet’s health screening protocols which requires a parent or guardian to attest to their student’s health daily via HealthShield. Students will not be permitted on campus or allowed to participate in any school sponsored activity without a verified and current health screening. If you have not registered your student, click here to learn more about the registration process. If you have any questions, please email Chris Bilanko, Dean of Students. 

BISHOP BLANCHET PRIVATE BUS TRANSPORTATION
Students planning to ride the Bishop Blanchet bus in the morning must present a valid HealthShield verification to the bus driver prior to boarding the bus. Students without a valid HealthShield verification will not be allowed on the bus. If you have any questions, email Chris Bilanko, Dean of Students.

HEALTHSHIELD AND TRAVEL ADVISORY
Bishop Blanchet is adding additional language to our HealthShield verification process. Our third attestation question now includes language regarding out of state travel. As a reminder, students who travel out of state will be required to quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to in-person learning and in-person school sponsored activities. This is in accordance with Governor Inslee’s travel advisory issued November 13, 2020. Please continue to complete the HealthShield verification on behalf of your student/s. If you have questions, please email the Dean’s Office.

REQUIRED REPORTING OF POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19
If a student or member of their household tests positive for COVID-19, families must notify the Dean’s Office by contacting Dean of Students Chris Bilanko, and follow the BBHS COVID-19 Community Protocols prior to returning to campus or participating in any school sponsored activity. This information will remain confidential and allow the school to initiate its communication protocols. Any student who does not follow BBHS COVID-19 Community Protocols will face disciplinary consequences and may be prohibited from participating in on-campus learning and extracurricular activities. In the event of a positive case in our student body, faculty or staff, Bishop Blanchet will communicate to the entire community and work directly with families if their student is impacted.

Chris Bilanko
Dean of Students
cbilanko@bishopblanchet.org
Lunch Service Update
LUNCH SERVICE ON GREEN DAYS - BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1
Beginning Monday, February 1, the BBHS Cafeteria Team will provide box lunches for purchase on Green Days. The box lunch will include a sandwich or entree salad, chips, and dessert for $6.00. Students must bring their own water bottle or beverage each day.
 
We have refined the process communicated previously. Please click here to pre-order lunch for February 1 and 4. The link will be published each week in this Weekly Update, and it will also be available on the dining page of our website. The deadline to pre-order lunch (for the following week) will be Thursdays at 12 p.m.
 
Lunches will be charged to the student's RevTrak Food Service account. If you anticipate purchasing lunches, please ensure funds are available on the account. Families can access their Food Service account (or create a new one) by clicking the RevTrak icon on the BBHS website Parents tab.

Katy Mathews
Director of Food Service
kmathews@bishopblanchet.org
From the Counseling Department
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS IN HYBRID LEARNING
The BBHS Counseling Department is here to support students during this time. Counselors will be on campus but due to space constraints we will continue to meet with students virtually. Students should continue to contact their counselor via email to set up a Zoom meeting.

SCHOLARSHIP OFFER LETTERS
Some of our seniors are receiving admission decision letters from colleges. Please email a copy of any scholarship letter received to Ms. Moehring in the Counseling Center, so we can recognize your senior's achievement in the end of the year programming. Please send copies of all award offers, whether or not your senior plans to attend the college.

MID-YEAR REPORTS
Senior parents, per our policy, BBHS will submit Common Application Mid-Year Reports and 7th Semester Transcripts to all schools that received an initial transcript, unless the student expressly declines this service prior to the end of the first semester. 7th Semester transcripts will also be added to the NCAA portal for those students who have registered. These will be submitted in early February, once the first semester grades are finalized.

COLLEGE KICKOFF NIGHT FOR JUNIORS AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
DATE CORRECTION
Juniors and their parents/guardians are invited to join the BBHS counselors and a variety of college presenters on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Students will also receive an email with details and registration information a few weeks prior to the event.

Stephen Russell
Counseling Department Chair
srussell@bishopblanchet.org
Social and Emotional Health
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL
As we gear up for the return to school there are a few things families can do to help prepare students for the transition. Take a look at these tips for setting your student up for a successful Hybrid experience at BBHS. 

Kaitlyn Overman
Social Emotional Counselor
koverman@bishopblanchet.org
From the Activities Office
PARENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
We have heard from many parents and guardians that you are interested in helping as we transition to Hybrid learning for the second semester. Here is your chance! We need assistance in the mornings, on campus, to help with the check in process for students entering the building. Please review the job description and sign up on the SignUp Genius if you are able to assist. We are most grateful for any shifts you can cover.

BBHS YOUTUBE: PLEASE FOLLOW!
Have you subscribed yet? We need 1000 subscribers to our BBHS YouTube channel in order to use this platform to livestream events. Please click HERE and give us a follow. Please also share this link with your students, and ask them to subscribe as well. Follow @bishopblanchet on all our social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

STUDENT LOCKER UPDATE
Students will not be issued lockers this year. If a student has an essential need, they may request a locker by completing this form by Friday, February 5 at 3 p.m. The administration will review the request, and only issue a locker if an alternative way to support the student cannot be determined.

DRIVERS ED - THIRD VIRTUAL SESSION
Shield Driving Academy offers a series of classes each year for Bishop Blanchet students. The third session will be held virtually, February 9-March 24, with classes on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 4-6 p.m. (except holidays). Click here to register your student for this upcoming session.

Note: A minimum of 10 students is required to hold each session.

Chuck Bocian
Vice Principal of Student Activities
cbocian@bishopblanchet.org
From the Athletic Department
TRAVEL ADVISORY RETURN TO PLAY PLAN
Student athletes who have traveled or are planning to travel out of the state or country after November 13 must complete this form to establish a quarantine/return to play plan. 

METRO LEAGUE SEASON UPDATE
For the 2020-2021 athletic seasons, the Metro League has created two divisions (North and South) for all sports except football, based on the location of the school. Teams will only play divisional opponents for their season. Football divisions will be determined in the coming weeks. The schools that are in each division are as follows:
 
North Division: Ballard, Bishop Blanchet, Ingraham, Lakeside, Lincoln, Nathan Hale, Roosevelt, and Seattle Prep
 
South Division: Chief Sealth, Cleveland, Eastside Catholic, Franklin, Garfield, Holy Names, O’Dea, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle

Sean Gaskill
Athletic Director
sgaskill@bishopblanchet.org
From the Development Office
2021 BRAVE VENTURE PROCUREMENT DEADLINES
The procurement deadline has been extended to Monday, February 1, 2021 - Procurement Form 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 - All donated items must be turned into BBHS main office
Other ways you can give:
 Make a cash donation (all cash donations are tax-deductible)  
 Become a sponsor
Amazon gift registry; your purchase will be shipped directly to BBHS in your
name. You do not need to submit a procurement form.

50/50 CASH RAFFLE
Win up to $5,000! Only 100 will be sold at $100 each. The Washington State Gambling Commission does not allow us to sell raffle tickets over the phone or through the mail. You can purchase the tickets in person in the BBHS Quad on the following days:
Saturday, January 30 - 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Friday, February 5 - 8-9 a.m.
Tuesday, February 9 - 8-9 a.m.
Thursday, February 11 - 8-9 a.m.
Wednesday, February 17 - 8-9 a.m.
Click here to reserve your raffle ticket(s). If none of these dates work for you, we will come to you!

The Auction is Only 45 Days Away – Mark Your Calendar!
Virtual Live Auction
Saturday, March 13, 2021
6:30 p.m. Pre-Show
7:00 p.m. Live Auction

Online Silent Auction
Wednesday, March 10 at 8:00 a.m. – Saturday, March 13 at 9:00 p.m.

Please email Sheryl Welch with any questions.

Mary Beard
Development Director
mbeard@bishopblanchet.org
From the Business Office
BBHS PRIVATE BUS SERVICE TO RESUME FEBRUARY 1
With the transition to in-person learning, BBHS will resume offering private bus service before and after school starting on Monday, February 1. Buses will run every school day to and from Magnolia/Queen Anne, West Seattle, South Seattle, and the Eastside.

Before boarding the school bus, students will be required to present a HealthShield green check mark attestation before entry. The driver will maintain a seating chart. Passengers will be as physically distanced as possible, and students will be required to wear masks at all times.

The morning school buses arrive on campus at approximately 8 a.m., even on late start days. The afternoon school buses depart campus 30 minutes after school ends, even on early dismissal days. Please click here for registration, schedules and route information.

Tom Ramsey
Director of Finance
tramsey@bishopblanchet.org
From the Parent Association
VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS AND HAPPY HOUR FOR BBHS PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Ready to celebrate the New Year, have some fun with our BBHS community, and raise some funds for the school at the same time?

The Parent Association invites you to join us and Chef James of CozyMeal for a fun, interactive online cooking class just for BBHS parents and guardians. We’ll learn to make pillowy authentic Italian gnocchi and a San Marzano comfort sauce. Delizioso!

What: BBHS Community Cooking Class, with optional Zoom Happy (half) Hour
When: Tomorrow, Thursday, January 28 at 6 p.m.

The cost is $29 (per device) and the class starts promptly at 6 p.m. Once you are signed up, get the list of ingredients to pickup beforehand or click the “order ingredients online” link to have them delivered by your favorite online grocer.

YES! Sign me up for the cooking class! (Register by Wednesday, January 27)

Prior to getting our hands dirty, we will gather virtually in hosted small groups for a Zoom Happy (half) Hour! Grab a glass of wine or your favorite cocktail/mocktail and join in for a pre-lesson toast from 5:30-6 p.m. This is separate from the cooking class so if you want to join, sign up via the google form below, and we will send you a Zoom link.

YES! Sign me up for happy hour! (Sign up by Thursday, January 28 at noon)

Your participation also helps the BBHS Parent Association raise funds. If 50+ parents register for the class, we earn 20% back!

Jen Bergman and Sherri Johnson
Co-Chairs, BBHS Parent Association
From the Performing and Fine Arts Department
ADVANCED THEATRE CLASSES
Congratulations to the students in Advanced Theatre Production and Advanced Acting. This year’s One-Act festival was a great success! If you didn’t get to see them during opening weekend, two of them are still available to watch here.

In addition to producing the one-act plays, our students have also been working on a Theatre Fair project. Just like the classic science fair project, students have chosen their own research topic that is of interest to them and have put what they learned together in a website for all to see. All of this research was self promoted, it's pretty amazing what they learned on their own! You can see the Theatre Fair project, with a link to all the student sites here.

SPRING MUSICAL - PREMIERE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
The production is underway and cast and crew are hard at work to prepare a filmed version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic revue Some Enchanted Evening, shot on location on the Bishop Blanchet campus. Some Enchanted Evening features dazzling and iconic numbers from beloved musicals like South Pacific, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music and more. Cast and Crew are busy at work and the enthusiasm is high as this production is set right here, on our beautiful campus. Check out our Marketing Minute Video and hear how Nonabella Schroeder '21 captures this energy.
STUDENT ART
Pottery & Sculpture students created Rattle Balls out of high-fire ceramic clay, painted with acrylics. Pieces are by (top to bottom, left to right): Zayad Hyder '22, Lila Kopp '24, Bryce Munson '23, Emerson Ludwick '24, Barrett Efta '23, Lulu Zinsmeyer '24, Claire Ziemer '24, and Olivia Freeman '21.
Corey Eriksen
Performing and Fine Arts Department Chair
ceriksen@bishopblanchet.org
Career Opportunities
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Bishop Blanchet High School is hiring a PE Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. For more information, please visit the BBHS website.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIVERSITY CAREER FAIR
Bishop Blanchet High School will be attending the 2nd Annual Pacific Northwest regional Independent School Diversity Career Fair on Saturday, February 6, 2021. This virtual career fair is offered through the collaborative effort of 18 regional schools. People of color who are interested in working at independent schools are invited to attend.

Attendees of the career fair will hear from diversity practitioners about working in independent schools and learn about current career opportunities in teaching and staff positions. Click here to register and find learn more about the sessions and career fair booths. Registration is free of charge.