January 14, 2021
BK Alive
News and Information for BK Families
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NEXT WEEK AT A GLANCE

Monday 1/17- Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

Tuesday 1/18 - Straight 7, Late Start
9:00 AM Start, 3:00 PM Release

Wednesday 1/19 - Straight 7
8:30 AM Start, 3:05 PM Release

Thursday 1/20 - Periods 1-3
9:00 AM Start, 2:45 - 3:15 PM Office Hours

Friday 1/21- Periods 4-7
8:30 AM Start, 3:00 PM Release


Important Upcoming Dates

Monday, January 17th - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

Wednesday, January 19th - Parent Book Club, Part 3 - 7PM - 8PM in the Fraser Library

Sunday, January 23rd - PASTA FESTA!

Wednesday, January 26th - Sophomore Parent Night in the Fraser Library at 6:30 PM

Monday, January 31st - Virtual Information Knight for Prospective BK Students and their Families at 6:30 PM on the BK YouTube Channel.

Thursday, February 10th - All School Mass at 10:30 AM in the Carley Center
A Note from Rich and Mike
Dear BK Community,

We hope the first week of the spring semester has gone well for your family. It has been great to see so many students and BK staff back in the building and to welcome nine new students and their families.

In this BK Alive, we will share an update following our COVID-19 assessment meeting this week, plus discuss the upcoming Pasta Festa and New Student Information Knight. 

COVID-19 at BK
It has been a busy week for our nurse, attendance office, and our COVID-19 assessment team. Here is an overview of the internal metrics and external metrics we watch to determine what we should do as a school to stay in person, keep our students and faculty/staff safe and healthy, and mitigate community spread:
  • BK Internal Metrics
  • Positive cases among students and faculty/staff - we have had 28 student positive cases and three staff (non-faculty) positive cases in the first week back from Christmas break. All seem to be from exposure over the break. 14 students are still awaiting test results, 19 students are out in isolation with 9 having returned to school under our new CDC/CDH isolation protocols.
  • Attendance - good week overall so far with 94.5% for first four days. Absences will be higher today with the long weekend with 150 students out on Friday (15%). This includes our Wrestling team out Friday, lots of traveling to club sports tournaments and college visits. This is on top of kids out sick with COVID and other illnesses (colds, flu, etc.)
  • Faculty/Staff Out - currently four staff/admin and two teachers are out and not feeling well. One positive case confirmed to-date from that group. Some are awaiting test results. We have not had any issues having a teacher in every classroom.
  • External metrics:
  • COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions are increasing slowly with larger increases expected in the next week or two. Staffing challenges due to illness are forcing clinic closures, reduced hours, and stressing hospitals already full with other non-COVID cases.
  • Positivity rates have more than doubled in Ada County from 9% to nearly 20% this past week - and are still climbing 
  • Community spread in Ada County has risen from around 140 cases/100,000 to 368 cases 100,000 this past week.

Bottom line, it is imperative we continue with required masking indoors at BK for the coming week. We are pleased that we have not had any faculty to-date test positive and only two staff members, but that could change as you read this. Thanks for all you are doing to stay safe and healthy. However, as we are seeing, this Omicron variant is very difficult to avoid. We will reassess next Thursday as to what we do for the following week, but we are likely to continue with requiring masks until this variant starts to decrease in our school and region. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the new Covid Protocols below in this newsletter as there have been some significant changes in the last few weeks.
Upcoming Events
Pasta Festa
As you will read below, we have decided to move forward with Pasta Festa. It will take place on Sunday, January 23rd from 4PM-7PM here at Bishop Kelly High School in “The REG”. We encourage you to come enjoy great food while breaking bread and building community with family & friends!  
 
We have learned much as a school over the past year and a half about how to implement COVID mitigation protocols. As a result, we have successfully navigated in-person school since fall of 2020. We plan to use what we have learned to make this community building event as safe as possible for our families and guests who choose to come. Specifically, we are requiring that all guests be properly masked while indoors at Bishop Kelly, unless they are seated at a table eating. Seating in the Reg will be spaced to allow for physical distancing between family groups. Our air filtration system will be operating during the event, and we are limiting the number of people who can be served at one time.  
 
It is our hope that our community members will assess their risk before purchasing tickets or volunteering at Pasta Festa. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of illness should not attend.


New Student Information Knight
We do not believe it is wise, however, to bring around 1,000 people together on campus at one time for our New Student Information Knight on January 31st. Thus, we have made the decision, based on the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, that New Student Information Knight will be a virtual event on Monday, January 31st. We will be broadcasting live from BK starting at 6:30 pm that evening. It will still be a fun and informative evening for families who are considering Bishop Kelly for the 2022-2023 school year. We invite you to watch the event from the comfort of your home rather than coming to Bishop Kelly. You can find details below on how to register and attend.


Final Thoughts
These continue to be tricky times to navigate. Please know we are doing our best to balance the multitude of factors that go into our decisions with the primary goal to ensure we have in person learning every day this semester. We do not want to close school or revert for even one day to remote learning. Period. We believe masks have kept the spread of COVID-19 from occurring in our school and the new isolation and quarantine policies are minimizing the amount of school days any student or faculty/staff member is out and at the same time minimizing the spread in our school.

Let us continue to partner together - students, parents, faculty and staff - to make this semester a success for all stakeholders! Thank you for all you do for our school!
God Bless!
Rich Raimondi
President
Mike Caldwell
Principal

Recap of New Covid Protocols at BK
The CDC has changed guidelines for isolation (when you test positive) and quarantine (when you have been exposed) based on the data for COVID-19 and, in particular, the Omicron variant. These changes are welcome and will help us keep kids in school and faculty/staff on campus. Please review these protocols which are in effect now at BK.

  • Isolation policy - First, let’s define isolation. This separates people with a positive test for COVID-19 from people who do not have the virus. Here is the new isolation policy we have adopted per CDC/CDH recommendations:
  • We will move from 10 day isolation to 5 Day isolation. Students or staff can return to school on the 6th day as long as they remain asymptomatic, are fever free, or have improving mild symptoms. They must, however, maintain wearing a face covering through day 10 while indoors at all times - in the classrooms, hallways, and in sports.
  • Before they can return to class on the 6th day, they must be checked by the BK school nurse.
  • Individuals who are having moderate to severe symptoms or fever beyond Day 5, or those who are immunocompromised, and/or those that are unable to wear masks should isolate for a full 10 days following infection and may not return to school until Day 11.
In order to medically waive an absence for COVID, a positive test result must be submitted to the school via email, photo, or FAX.

  • Quarantine Policy - Quarantine refers to the practice of separating individuals who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 to determine whether they develop symptoms or test positive for the disease. Quarantine also reduces the risk of transmission if an individual is later found to have COVID-19. Here is our new quarantine policy:
  • All students or staff, regardless of vaccination status, may remain in school but must wear a mask indoors in public for 10 days following exposure, regardless if BK is requiring masks or just encouraging.
  • They should be watching for symptoms and, if they do develop symptoms and/or receive a positive test result, they must follow isolation guidance.
  • Masks must be worn indoors at all times for the entire 10 days - in the classrooms, hallways, and in sports. (See below for sports specific guidance.)

BK is no longer medically waiving absences for close contacts.

  • Awaiting Laboratory Test Results - Students who are waiting for test results through a laboratory can have their absences medically waived even if the result is negative. Documentation must be submitted to BK verifying the test date and results, and absences will only be waived for the days when the student was waiting for and received their results.

  • New Guidance for Athletic/Activity Participants
  • If a student athlete/participant tests positive for COVID - the athlete participant may return to school and activities on Day 6, as long as they remain asymptomatic, are fever free for 24 hours, or have improving mild symptoms.
  • Athletes/Participants who have tested positive for COVID must wear a mask upon return to school and activities AT ALL TIMES (including during competition) up and through Day 10.
  • The only exception to this is if the athlete has a negative test result from a test taken between day 6 and day 10.
  • Rapid tests can be taken in the BK School Nurse's office
  • BK will supply ONE rapid test as soon as our supply arrives (this could take a few weeks). Alternately, athletes/participants can bring a rapid test in from home, and take the test in front of the school nurse.
  • Team Close Contacts
  • Close Contacts will have to mask up for 10 days from the last contact of the positive test. 
  • Close Contacts may take their mask off during the game (when actively competing) or during intense physical exertion (this includes practice).
  • If a Close Contact starts to display symptoms, immediately isolate and get tested. If the close contact tests positive, follow the Isolation Guidance above.
Host Family Needed for BK Student
Looking for a host family for a junior boy from China. This is his third year at BK. He would like to exercise and do activities with the family. Host fee is $800 or more upon discussion.   
 
For questions or more detailed information, please contact Ying Donegan @(208) 853-8542 or ying@7eie.com.
Virtual Information Knight for Prospective BK Students and their Families
We have made the decision, based on the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, that New Student Information Knight will be a virtual event on Monday, January 31st. We will be broadcasting live from BK starting at 6;30 pm that evening. It will still be a fun and informative evening for families who are considering Bishop Kelly for the 2022-2023 school year. We invite you to watch the event from the comfort of your home rather than coming to Bishop Kelly.

If you have an incoming freshman or a student who wishes to transfer, please plan to join us! And if you know of a family who is considering BK for next fall, please encourage them to attend New Student Information Knight!

We would ask that you register via the link below for this evening. Please know we are still scheduling personal tours and shadow days for prospective students.


Questions? Contact our Admissions Director, Kelly Shockey, at (208) 375-6010 or kshockey@bk.org
Junior Retreat - February 3-5
2022 Junior Retreat:
February 3-5, 2022
Trinity Pines Retreat Center, Cascade

  • Cost: $95 to be added to your BK account – there are scholarships available. See Mrs. Horn for more info.
  • Transportation: Bus will leave BK at 3:30 PM on Thursday, February 3rd and return to BK at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 5th
  • Meals: Provided
  • What to Bring: warm, comfortable clothes for the retreat as well as outer gear and shoes appropriate for outdoor activities. Jeans without holes are permitted. Participants will also need a sleeping bag, pillow, towel and toiletries, and a notebook or journal. See the printable retreat flier for a full packing list. 
  • Lodging: Students will be sleeping in dorm-like lodging. (Separate dorms for boys and girls.) Dorms have twin beds, and bathrooms with showers.
  • Cell Phones: There is no cell reception at the camp. Students will be asked to either leave phones at home, or have them turned off for the entire retreat. We will give parents land line phone numbers in case of emergency.
  • Registration due by Friday, January 21st.
Pasta Festa!
The Bishop Kelly Parent Ambassadors Presents:

PASTA FESTA
Sunday, January 23
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Bishop Kelly High School in “The REG”

Enjoy a delicious Italian Dinner prepared by BK’s talented parents!

MENU INCLUDES:
Antipasto- Marinated artichokes, kalamata olives, various cured meats & cheeses

Main course- Bolognese – Meat sauce over Cavatappi * Pesto Alfredo over Cheese Ravioli
Vegetable Marinara over Spaghetti * Garlic Bread * Caesar Salad

Admission at the Door
$50 for Families (up to 6 people)
$10 for Adults
$8 for Students (ages 11-18) & Seniors (age 65+)
$6 for Children (ages 6-10)
Free for Children 5 and Under!

Soft drinks, beer, wine, and dessert available for purchase!

Dinner can be ordered to go!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! This is a fun event for couples to volunteer together, and for students to gain service hours.


LAST CHANCE to order a Senior Ad in the Yearbook
This is a reminder for parents of Class of 2022 seniors. The final deadline for submitting senior yearbook recognition ads is coming up very soon, this Tuesday, January 18th. Don't miss out on this once-in-a lifetime opportunity. For more information or to submit, please visit TheYearbookCompany.
New Date for Prom - April 2nd
In order to avoid a conflict with the State Speech and Debate Tournament, we are moving BK Prom to Saturday, April 2nd.

The plan is to have Prom on the Lachiondo Family Plaza, with an indoor backup in case of weather.
NEW - Parent Book Club at BK!
Who Gets In and Why - by Jeffrey Selingo
Join the BK Counseling Department for a 3 part parent book club discussing New York Times best-selling author, Jeffrey Selingo’s Who Gets In And Why 

Jan. 19 7pm-8pm Library
 Part Three Spring: Decision Season 

For questions email Julie Klover, College and Career Counselor 
Foundation News
Greetings, from the Bishop Kelly Foundation! Just over two months ago, the Foundation held their annual Winner’s Choice Dinner and Auction, Knight’s on the Range. We are proud to share that our BK community of supporters achieved record-breaking success. Together we raised over $824,000 in net profit for this year’s auction! $284,000 of these funds will directly support our students through the gift of scholarships, and the remainder contributes towards key operating expenses of our beloved Bishop Kelly High School. 

Torry McAlvain, President of the Bishop Kelly Foundation, wishes to share the following:

"On behalf of the Bishop Kelly Foundation Board, let me offer a special thank you to all the donors, volunteers, sponsors and participants of this year’s Winner’s Choice Auction. The auction returning to a live event after two years was truly a night to remember in many ways. Your generosity and enthusiastic support will allow the Foundation to continue to support Bishop Kelly High School, and keep up with its robust growth in student enrollment. You continue to set the standard of generosity in our community, for which we are extremely grateful! Thank you and God Bless you all for your generous support! 

~Torry McAlvain, President, Bishop Kelly Foundation 
College and Career

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 

Catholic Community Events
For more information contact Stephany Herrera or Lorissa Horn at Bishop Kelly.
Registration is now open!
The Idaho Catholic Men’s Conference will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at St. Paul's in Nampa and online. The conference theme is "Chosen For Such A Time As This" and will feature dynamic national speakers including Fr. Don Calloway, Deacon Adam Curtis, and Matt Harte. Bishop Peter Christensen will be celebrating the opening Mass. The early bird registration fee is just $49 before January 16 and online is $29. For all the details and to register go to www.IdahoCatholicMen.org or call 208-484-0898.

Employment Opportunities
The Bishop Kelly Board of Governance is now accepting applications for the position of President at Bishop Kelly High School. 


Additionally, Bishop Kelly is currently taking applications for the following positions for the 2021-2022 academic school year.

Kitchen Assistant
Activities Bus Driver
Substitute Teacher

For more information and to apply, please visit the Employment Page on BK.org.
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.