April 9, 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, April 12
A Day
8:15 AM Start
Tuesday, April 13
B Day
9:15 AM Start
Wednesday, April 14
A Day
8:15 AM Start
Thursday, April 15
B Day
9:15 AM Start
Friday, April 16
Straight 7 Schedule
8:15 AM Start
Upcoming

Saturday, April 10 - High School Placement Test for ALL Incoming Freshmen

April 15 - 18 - Spring Play in the REG

Friday, April 23 - Faculty Inservice, NO SCHOOL

Saturday, April 24 - Outdoor Junior Senior Prom on the Tennis Courts

April 25 - 27 - Senior Retreat

April 26 - May 1 - Academic Excellence Week

Thursday, April 29 - Senior Scholars Ceremony

May 3 - 14 - AP Testing

Thursday, May 19th - All School Mass Honoring the Class of 2021 on the BK You Tube Channel

Thursday, May 27th - Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2021

Friday, May 28th - Commencement Ceremonies for the Class of 2021

*The PATHS Talent Show that was scheduled for April 10th has been canceled due to lack of sign ups.
A Message from Rich and Mike
Dear Bishop Kelly Parents,

Happy Easter! As Catholics we celebrate not just Easter Sunday but rather “Eastertide”, which is the period of 50 days, spanning from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. It is celebrated as a single joyful feast, called the "great Lord's Day". Each Sunday of the season is treated as a Sunday of Easter and this time is one of bringing light, warmth, and hope to us and our world, especially relevant in these challenging times. So, Happy Easter!

In this BK Alive, we will provide an update for you on our planning for 2021/22 school year, ask for your support of the Idaho Senate bill S1045, share some exciting news about a COVID-19 vaccination clinic coming to Bishop Kelly for our students, and give you the latest on the COVID-19 numbers here at Bishop Kelly.
Planning for the 2021 - 2022 School Year
First of all, as stated last week, we are thrilled and very appreciative of the interest in our school and to be able to serve more families. Having a record 950 students registered (returning students and accepted new students), plus a waitlist of 14 students, represents a 9% growth over where we are today in the 2020-21 school year.

However, the challenges of the pandemic this past year on learning, culture, and social/emotional learning, along with this anticipated growth, present some unique challenges we must proactively address. We must integrate and use the learnings from this past year to help inform our 2021-22 future objectives and initiatives, while integrating our 2023 strategic plan. And it is critical we hear from all of our stakeholders (parents, students, and faculty/staff) to gain their feedback and understand what is important to them as we move forward. Thus, next Friday you will be asked to take a survey as to your satisfaction, learnings, and priorities. Please respond when asked and take this survey.

As we plan for the next school year, we wanted to share with you what we are factors and assumptions we are considering in our planning:
  • We will start fall 2021 with vaccine and herd immunity beginning to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
  • Masks and good hygiene will likely remain integral to mitigate virus transmission at the beginning of the school year unless we can get a very high percentage of our students vaccinated.
  • Distancing protocols will be reduced from 6’ to 3’ in classrooms, thus we will be able to increase class sizes from 16:1 to 20:1 (90% of “Normal Size” Classes)
  • We will keep similar 7 period block schedule similar to 2020-2021, but with modifications to address concerns and learnings from this school year
  • We will add 3 additional classrooms in the 100 wing to accommodate the growth and will return the library and Reg (old gym) back to their original purposes.
  • We are bringing back elective offerings that were paused in 2020-2021
  • We will be able to retain all teachers and staff who wish to return and add staff in areas like IT and library services to support student needs. 
  • We understand and are concerned that our current sophomore and freshman classes have not been able to experience our BK Way culture and learn from upper class mentors. We must address that immediately in the new school year as well as welcome and integrate the class of 2025.

Please stay tuned for the survey link next week. We are confident that working together we will be able to support this increase in enrollment and integrate and address the learnings from this past year and come even closer to our vision of “a Catholic community achieving excellence in learning, service and life.”


S1045 - Advanced Opportunities Legislation
We have an immediate opportunity to influence our state government on an important issue that we have discussed in the past BK Alives and impacts students and families at Bishop Kelly High School. Advanced Opportunities Bill S1045 has been passed by the Senate and is now in the House awaiting a vote. Here is the Statement of Purpose for this bill:

“The Idaho State Department of Education website states that “Advanced Opportunities allow for students to individualize their high school learning plan to get a jump start on their future.” This bill creates a separate version of the Advanced Opportunities program so that Idaho students who attend private schools have the same chance to “jump start” their futures. However, the program created by this bill is narrower than the existing Advanced Opportunities program. The amount per student is limited to $750 for their four years of high school. The funds could be spent on dual-credit courses, AP and IB exams, CLEP tests and fees for industry certifications. And the overall cost would be subject to appropriation by the legislature. When the money runs out, no more funds would be available that year”.

If we can help get this bill passed in the House, it would provide access to as much as $750 for each of our students who enroll in concurrent credit classes during high school. This would help offset the significant amount of dollars spent by BK families each year on concurrent credit tuition.

You can utilize this form letter to send to your Representative. The vote is coming up soon (it's pending the third and final reading), so please act today. We have confidence that the bill will make it through the process, but at this point we would like to avoid any delays. Hearing from constituents should be enough to convince Rep. Moyle to proceed with a House floor vote. From there, we will need to make sure that Gov. Little hears from people close to him. We will keep you posted if we need your assistance in contacting House members or Governor Little.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at BK!
We have very exciting news to share - Saint Alphonsus will be bringing their mobile vaccination clinic to Bishop Kelly on Friday, April 30th, so that all BK students 16 years or older can conveniently get their COVID-19 vaccine. 

We will need you to complete this form and return it to our school nurse, Mary Lou Cunningham, by April 26th should you wish to have your child vaccinated here at BK on April 30th. 

We strongly encourage you and your family to be vaccinated. It has proven to be safe, reliable and highly effective against the current variant and the emerging UK variant which will likely soon be the dominant variant present in the US and Idaho. And the UK variant is more highly transmissible and impacts younger adults (like you, our parents) more than the current strain. We can beat this virus and return to normal times if we all do our part.
COVID-19 Update
Here is our update for this week on the COVID-19 numbers for Bishop Kelly. We had one student test positive this week and we currently have only 10 students in quarantine. 

We would ask once again that you encourage (and model) proper mask wearing for your sons and daughters. We understand we are all tired of wearing masks and our students have gotten a bit too relaxed this spring. But it is still our school policy that all students, faculty/staff, and guests on campus must wear masks - whether they are immune or not. While vaccinations have increased daily, cases and hospitalizations are rising in our area and more of the patients are younger likely due to the presence of the previously mentioned UK variant. We must cover both the mouth and nose and wear our masks at all times indoors and when 6’ cannot be maintained outdoors.
Final Thoughts
We look forward to hearing from you via our annual survey that will be released next week. Our partnership with you will enable us to work together to meet and exceed your expectations.

Happy Easter!
 
God bless,
Rich Raimondi
President
Mike Caldwell
Principal

Reflection from Father Vance
The Scripture readings that are always chosen by the Church for the Masses during these first days of Easter are some of my favorites for the whole year. As an example, for the next few weeks we will hear about the birth of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles, and we will follow them as they go from cowering in an upper room to boldly proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus, and paying for that ministry with their lives. In the Gospels, however, we linger for days with the stories of that first Easter 2000 years ago, and what it must have been like to have grief and mourning turn abruptly to impossible joy at seeing the Resurrected Jesus.
A hallmark of these Resurrection appearances is that those to whom the Lord appears do not recognize him at first. Mary Magdalene mistakes him for the Gardener of the Cemetery where the body of Jesus was entombed. The Disciples on the road to Emmaus believe that a stranger is walking with them, until this stranger blesses and breaks bread for them. The Disciples in the upper room think they are seeing a ghost and are absolutely terrified, until Jesus proclaims peace to them and shows them His wounds, and even eats a piece of fish in their presence.
Did Jesus look different in his Resurrected form? Why else would those who loved Him so deeply during His life not recognize Him after the Easter miracle? There are probably many answers to this question, but the one that strikes me this year is simply that the people didn’t see what they weren’t looking for. Each of them had lost hope with the Crucifixion of Jesus, and even though he told them clearly that he would rise from death, they weren’t looking for that around them. All they saw was death, all their broken-ness would allow them to look for was death, and consequently, at first they didn’t recognize the author of life standing right in front of them.
I wonder how many of us struggle with the safe grief and mourning that only lets us see hopelessness and despair around us. There is, to be sure, so much death around us -- a pandemic that has taken so many lives, war, violence and famine in the world, racial tension and violence, political turmoil, and so much more. We may have broken relationships, health challenges, spiritual and emotional darkness, and many other issues in life with which we contend. In all of these ways, we are not so different from the original believers in Jesus, who had their hopes and dreams dashed with His crucifixion and death.
If we are like them in our shared challenges, may we be like them in our Easter conversion, as well! May we encounter the Risen Christ, right in the midst of our grief, our challenges and our fears. And may we recognize the Risen Christ because we are practiced at looking for life, and not only for death. This is a primary role of the Church, to unite us in a community that supports, challenges and affirms us in seeking life. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was not merely a one-time-only occurrence. It happens again at every Mass, it happens in every heart that yearns for and seeks life, even in the midst of a culture of death. For a believer, Easter is a daily occurrence that makes all the difference in every day, every moment of our lives. Let’s help one another look for and recognize the Resurrected author of life! Happy Easter Season, BK!
Senior Retreat - April 25 - 27
Register by Wednesday, April 14th
BK is offering a Senior Retreat for the Class of 2021 at the Trinity Pines Retreat Center in Cascade!

Please visit https://www.bk.org/faith-life/retreats/ for retreat information and registration.
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!
Beau Zillner
Generosity

Beau collected and brought in a staggering number of coins to donate to the CRS Rice bowl program. He did it early and enthusiastically, which inspired his classmates to donate their change as well. Altogether this class raised $180, largely thanks to Beau's generosity and contagious enthusiasm!
Patrick Monahan
Community

Patrick makes the class a family with his humor and friendliness. He participates often and is always thoughtful and kind. 
Ava Burnett
Community

Ava Burnett is absolutely precious! She lights up a room with her smiling eyes and has a presence of kindness towards both her teachers and peers--a commendable quality! Not only does she build community with her demeanor, but also with her work ethic. She's always the first to get on task and encourages her peers to do the same by setting the example through her actions. I love having her in class and I'm jealous of the teachers who get to have her in the future!

BK Staff of the Week

Mr. Chad Barker
Academic Excellence, Safe and Caring Place

  • He is an absolute beast. Super funny and nice. Always helps you learn the content.
  • He is very nice. He helps me with my homework. He is a very good teacher.
  • He is a great math teacher and makes math fun and also teaches us very well. 
  • Mr. Barker is a good Algebra teacher and deserves a staff of the week award.
  • Mr. Barker helps me exceed in Algebra 1. He always is helping us and he always wants us to be better at math!
  • Mr. Barker is my favorite teacher.


BK Students honored at University of Idaho Art Show
First Place - Streaming Tears of Joy
Peter Behrend
Honorable Mention - Highs and Lows
Molly Connor
The Annual High School Art Exhibition hosted by the University of Idaho Art + Design program thematically connects the artwork of High School students from across the State of Idaho. This year's theme for the Exhibition was "I am Listening."

Several Bishop Kelly Students had their work on display at this year's exhibit, and two Knights earned honors at the show. Peter Behrend received first place, and Molly Connor received an honorable mention.

To see all of the student work, visit the High School Art Exhibition website.

Congratulations to the student artists, our Visual Arts Faculty - Jane Wilson, Dana Hopper-Kelly, and Sarah Eddy, and a big THANK YOU to Joe Wilsey in our IT department who helped with the very difficult digital submission process.
High School Placement Test for ALL Incoming Freshmen - April 10
The High School Placement Test is required for all incoming Freshmen at BK. There are still spots available for the afternoon session from 1:00 - 4:00 PM. Please REGISTER HERE.
Baccalaureate and Graduation Information For Parents of Seniors
Everything you need to know for Baccalaureate and Graduation is on the Bishop Kelly Website. Please visit the Graduation page to learn about Baccalaureate RSVP's, tickets for Graduation, seating, schedules, attire, and more!
Auditions for National Anthem and Alma Mater for Graduation
american_flag.jpg
April 13, 2021
After school by appointment (B day)

April 14, 2021
Open auditions during lunch in the Reg (A day)

Requirements:
  • Must be a BK Senior graduating in May 2021
  • Vocal and/or Instrumental allowed

Questions: See Mrs. Herrera, Mrs. Cooper or Mr. Peters
Senior Parents - we need your student's scholarship info for the Graduation Program!
Please deliver or email ALL scholarship offers ASAP to: Kelly Shockey in the Front Office or kshockey@bk.org.

This includes offers from schools you are not attending.
Spring in the BK Library!
The occasional warm day is gradually thawing our cold tired hearts, and we're jumping into spring excitement and organization! Scroll through this newsletter for a recommended brainstorm app, and a new database highlight video, and (of course) several resources to help build your to-read list.
College Knight for Parents of Current Juniors
Monday, April 12th
6:30 PM in the Reg
Junior parents please join the counseling department for this important parent meeting! We will be covering the college application process, college visits, SCOIR, testing and more.

Bishop Kelly High School requires masks and physical distancing in the school building. Thank y ou for your cooperation!

Educational Travel Opportunities for BK Students
Battlefields of Europe Spring Break 2022 Trip
Is traveling to Europe with Mr. Crump and Mr. Grant on your bucket list? Now is your chance! Mr. Crump's Band of Brothers class is coming back in 2021-22 and with it another trip to Europe. See Amsterdam and Paris as well as several notable World War I and II sites like Verdun, Bastogne, and Omaha Beach with history teachers Mr. Crump (BK) and Mr. Grant (St. Joes). The tour is open to the first twenty-five students and families who want this unique experience. We are in planning stages, with more details to come. Send an email to Mr. Crump to get your name on the preliminary list. 
Peru Spring Break 2022 Trip
We will be traveling to Lima, Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and Lake Titicaca. If visiting Machu Picchu is on your bucket list we are taking parents also. This trip is available for all current freshmen and sophomores. If you are interested please stop by my room 113 or any Spanish teacher to get a recommendation form. You will need two recommendations from two different teachers.

If you have any questions, please contact me at mperea@bk.org.
Japan Spring Break 2022 Trip
We will be traveling to Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. The tour includes a full-time tour guide, travel on the Shinkansen (bullet train), breakfast and dinner, and private transportation within the cities. All current Freshmen-Juniors that are interested are welcome to join [parents are also welcome but the price is different]. The trip price is $3700.00. For questions or more information, please see Mr. Harris in room 313 or email bharris@bk.org.
BK Activities Roundup
Speech and Debate
Back in action after the Spring Break, your Knights captured the District 3 Speech Sweepstakes with a tremendous team effort. Sixteen Knights qualified to next weekend's IHSAA State Speech Championships. Leading the way were six individual district champions ; Justice Walker (Informative Speaking), John Mulhern (Radio Broadcasting), Gia Codina (Dramatic Interp), Josh Mitra (Extemporaneous), Peyton Jungert (Communication Analysis), and Jude Balderson (Humorous Interp). Other Knights contributing with outstanding performances as double-qualifiers (going to State in two different events) include Maggie Avey, Sarah Clevenger, Bridget McDonagh, and Andrew Severance. Rounding out the team representing BK at State are Abi Severance, Sarah East, Alexia Flores, Rin Komma, Christian Laity, and Gabe Lamey. A very special congratulations goes out to senior Aidan Scanlan whose stong career performances and exceptional academic record earned him the rarely achieved status as an NSDA Academic All-American. Our eternal thanks once more to our wonderful parent supporters and judges, you make it possible. On to State, GO KNIGHTS!

Volunteer Opportunity for an Interested Parent
Looking for an interested parent who will have students at BK for several years to come to take over the Trophy Digital Archive ongoing project. All teams and their trophies have been photographed and preserved in a google slide presentation. This person will work closely with the Activities Director to facilitate engraving trophies, organizing the display cases, photographing engraved trophies and maintaining the digital archive. If interested, please contact either the Activities Director or Kate Aravich at (208) 871-2018.
NEW Job Openings at Bishop Kelly
Full-time Physics/ AP Physics Teacher
Full Time English Teacher
Full-time Counselor
Full-time Computer Science Teacher
Full-time Theology Teacher
Part-time French Teacher
Bus Route Driver
Activities Bus Driver
Substitute Teachers
Substitute Kitchen Assistant


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.

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 Virtual Rosary Invitation


You are invited to join the Bishop Kelly Community (alumnae, parents, alum parents, grandparents and others) to the Virtual Rosary on May 7th beginning at 9 am (MST). Special intentions can be shared. Rosary will last between 30-40 minutes. Please register at the link above so that we can send you a Zoom link.

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