Weekly Update
April 14, 2021
From the President
Dear BBHS Families,

I pray you all have had a restful and blessed Easter break, and that you’re enjoying this beautiful spring weather! I am writing to update you on the schedule for our return to campus next week.  

We will resume in-person learning next week on Monday, April 19, remaining in the 50% Hybrid model. The schedule next week is as follows:

Monday, April 19: Green Day - L-Z Cohort - 50% Hybrid
Tuesday, April 20: Gold Day - L-Z Cohort - 50% Hybrid
Wednesday, April 21: Remote Flex Day
Thursday, April 22: Green Day - A-K Cohort - 50% Hybrid
Friday, April 23: Gold Day - A-K Cohort - 50% Hybrid

We are strongly considering the potential of a shift to offering 100% in-person starting the week of April 26. We will spend the rest of this week assessing our preparedness and continue to closely track the trend in community COVID transmission.  

While the positive case counts for King County were rising toward the 200 per 100,000 resident threshold, this trend has been changing in recent days. We will continue to track these trends and plan to communicate next week to confirm whether we make the shift to offering 100% in-person learning as soon as April 26.  

We remain excited and hopeful for what the remaining weeks of the year can bring! Thank you for your flexibility and patience as we try to assess the best path forward for our community.  

Blessings,

Tony DeSapio
President
From the Dean's Office
OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Bishop Blanchet has adopted CDC guidelines for all out of state travel. Those returning from out of state have two quarantine options:
  1. Forgo a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 10 days upon returning from out of state travel. After day 10, eligible to return to in-person learning and in-person activities.
  2. Get tested 5 days after out of state travel and stay home/self quarantine for the full 7 days, even with a negative test. 
  • Those who decide to return after 7 days are required to submit their negative COVID-19 test result to the Dean’s Office prior to returning to in-person learning and in-person activities. 
 
Families traveling out of state are required to complete this form. School personnel will communicate a return date for in-person learning and in-person activities. We feel it is important to reiterate that public health guidance is to avoid non-essential travel. This protocol has been developed to address the occurrence of essential travel. If you have any questions, please contact 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 Chris Bilanko, Dean of Students, 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. 

PARKING AND DROP OFF/PICK UP REMINDERS
For everyone's safety, please follow this map and the instructions below for drop off and pick up in the BBHS parking lot. If you have any questions, please email BBHS Security Officer Marilu Byrne. 
  • Your student’s daily HealthShield screening must be completed before you enter the parking lot. They should be ready to exit the vehicle ASAP.
  • Morning drop off and afternoon pick up take place in the fire lane on the south end of the parking lot, nearest the library and social studies wing.
  • Please pull forward and as far to the right as possible, allowing room for cars to exit the parking lot. Once your student is in the vehicle, move left to exit, so other vehicles can pull forward.
  • All parking spots have been assigned to faculty, staff and students. Please do not use these spaces for drop-off.
  • The drop off procedure is not student-driver friendly. As excited as your student driver is to drive to school with you, it is a disruption to the flow of traffic. Switching drivers during drop off is dangerous and causes delays for everyone.

Chris Bilanko
Dean of Students
From the Academic Office
PROGRESS REPORTS
Mid-semester Progress Reports will be posted in Skyward by 2 p.m. on Friday, April 16. You can view your student's Progress Report in the Portfolio section of Skyward.

Nicole McCoy
Vice Principal of Academics
From the Food Services Department
PREORDER LUNCH SERVICE FOR GREEN DAYS
The BBHS Cafeteria Team is providing box lunches for purchase on Green Days. The box lunch includes a sandwich or entree salad, chips, and dessert for $6.00. Students must bring their own water bottle or beverage each day.

Please click here to preorder lunch for Monday, April 19 and/or Thursday, April 22 The deadline to pre-lunch for next week is tomorrow, Thursday, April 15 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
From the Activities Office
SENIOR CLASS CABINET: RUBY ROOM DRESS DRIVE
Are you cleaning out your closets this Spring? Do you have a formal dress that’s been worn once and needs a good home? Look no further! The BBHS Senior Cabinet is collecting gently-worn dresses and men's formal wear to donate to The Ruby Room, a local nonprofit organization providing formal attire at no charge to teens in financial need, enabling them to participate in future milestone events such as Quinceañeras, dances, and prom. Donations will be accepted in the Norcliffe Student Commons through Friday, April 30. Thank you for your support!

Chuck Bocian
Vice Principal of Student Activities
From the Athletic Department
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY GRADE CHECK
The next Athletic Eligibility Grade Check will be on Friday, April 16. In order to be eligible to participate in athletics, a student can not be failing more than one class, and must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

BOYS GOLF TEAM EARNS METRO TITLE
Congratulations to the Boys Golf Team for winning the Metro Championship with a team score of 320! The tournament was held at Jackson Park Golf Course. The team consisted of Ben Van Hollebeke ‘21, Connor Stockamp ‘21, Joe O’Connor ‘21, Andrew Cerqui ‘21, Evan Martin ‘21, and John Kealy ‘21. Special congratulations to Ben Van Hollebeke, who finished 7th overall. Way to go, Braves! 
SEASON 2 ATHLETIC REGISTRATIONS
All athletes participating in a Season 2 sport must register through FamilyID. Registration links are below. Bishop Blanchet will accept physicals dated within the last two years for the 2020-2021 school year. Note: physicals cannot expire during a season an athlete is participating in. If a physical is set to expire before or during a season, the athlete must have a new one before they can try-out or participate in the remainder of that season. 
 
All athletes will need to submit an updated 2021 Medical History Form for the 2020-21 school year. Click here for Physical and Medical History Forms. 

Season 2 sports begin Monday, April 19.
Season 2 Winter Sports Registration: Basketball, Boys Swim and Dive, and Wrestling
Season 2 Spring Sports Registration: Baseball, Boys Soccer, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis and Track and Field

SEASON 2 TRYOUT/PRACTICE/GAME SCHEDULES
Tryout and practice information has been posted to the BBHS calendar. Click the specific calendar event to access more detailed information.

Participation reminders:
  • All student athletes and coaches must come to practice with a completed Health Shield attestation.
  • All players and coaches must wear a mask at all times.
  • Spectators are not allowed at practices.

For sport-specific questions, please click the links below to email the head coach:
Baseball: Mike Finnegan
Softball: Lisa Olsen
Boys Basketball: Tyler McClenahan
Girls Basketball: John Augustavo
Tennis: Kerry Loveland 
Track and Field: Tim Frost
Boys Soccer: Jose Sialer
Boy Lacrosse: Dejon Hush 
Girls Lacrosse: Tony Olney
Wrestling: Greg Eagle 

SEASON 2 DUAL PARTICIPATION 
For Season 2, Bishop Blanchet will allow Senior athletes only to try out and participate in two sports. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors will only be allowed to try out and participate in one sport. 

Senior athletes will need to communicate to their sport-specific coaches and develop a plan to manage the requirements below:
  • A student athlete may participate in one contact sport and one non-contact sport, or two non-contact sports. 
  • Contact Sports: Basketball, Soccer, Wrestling, Lacrosse
  • Non-Contact Sports: Baseball, Softball, Swim/Dive, Tennis, and Track and Field
  • The minimum practice requirements for each sport must continue to be met prior to competing in a contest. 
  • Student athletes will be allowed to practice or compete during a maximum of 18 hours per week combined for both sports. 
  • Student athletes will be allowed to compete in a maximum of 4 competitions per week combined for both sports (excluding culminating events).
  • A student athlete cannot participate in two sports that traditionally take place in the same season (see below):
  • Winter Sports: Basketball, Wrestling, and Boys Swim/Dive
  • Spring Sports: Baseball, Boys Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Lacrosse, Track and Field

Sean Gaskill
Athletic Director
From the Office of Diversity and International Programs
MAC VIRTUAL COOK-IN NIGHT: APRIL 30
The Multicultural Affairs Council (MAC) invites you to join BBHS student leaders from the Latinx Student Union, Diversity Club, and Legacy Council for a night of culinary exploration and conversation! Mark your calendar for Friday, April 30 from 5-6:15 p.m.

This free, virtual event is open to ALL BBHS families. Please register by Monday, April 26. We hope you can join us for this delicious event!

Janah Valenzuela
Director of Diversity and International Student Services
From the Campus Ministry Office
SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR RETREATS
On Wednesday, April 28, sophomores and juniors are invited to participate in an on-campus retreat with their class. Students will get to spend time with their classmates having discussions, doing fun activities, and reflecting on what it means to be kind and brave. The half-day retreats will take place from 8:35 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Please use this form to register your student.
 
SERVICE HOURS DEADLINE - MAY 3
As a reminder, students are expected to complete 12 hours of service and log the hours on NobleHour no later than Monday, May 3. Service hours may be completed with an approved non profit organization or through independent, self-directed service projects. Please see the service website for more information. Please email Ms. Cypher with any questions.

Rachel Longest
Director of Campus Ministry
From the Counseling Office
JUNIORS: COLLEGE CONFERENCES
Please encourage your junior to check their email and sign up for their college conference. Counselors continue to add dates to their signups. Parents and guardians are also invited to these meetings; please speak with your junior about signing up for a time that works for your family. We recommend signing up for a day/time when your junior is remote-learning from home. Meetings will take place March-May 2021 via Zoom.

The goal of the meeting is to discuss the student's plan for their college search and application process, regardless of where they may be along this journey. Please be ready to discuss some of these topics:
  • possible majors or career interest areas
  • priorities for your college search (locations, majors, cost, size, etc.)
  • standardized testing plans and results
  • potential list of colleges
  • using Naviance in the college search process
  • one or two possibilities for teacher recommendations

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR JUNIORS
  • Naviance
  • College Board Big Future
  • Paying for College: SmartTrack
  • BBHS Counseling Page (for College Kickoff Night recordings, etc.)
  • Keep up-to-date on college test administrations:
  • College Board (SAT and Advanced Placement)
  • ACT

SENIORS: SCHOLARSHIP OFFER LETTERS
As your senior receives scholarship offers for college, please email a copy of every scholarship offer letter 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. Scholarship award letters received after Monday, April 26 will not be included in the end of year programming.

Stephen Russell
Head School Counselor
From the Performing and Fine Arts Department
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING
The Spring Musical, Some Enchanted Evening, is just around the corner. Over Easter Break, the cast and crew took over the school to bring our feature length movie-musical to life! Some Enchanted Evening will stream over Memorial Day weekend, Friday-Sunday, May 28-30. The virtual box office will go live soon!
STUDENT ART: AP ART AND DESIGN
Painting students used three specific (and one free-choice) color schemes to recreate a common everyday object four different times in the style of the greatest Pop Artist of all time, Andy Warhol.

Left to right, top to bottom are Sophie Christensen '24, Sage Vasko '24, Paige Cox '24, Nina Park '23, Neela Kamath '23, Natalie Blume '23, Lucy Twardus '24, Jaden Mansfield '21, and Emily Schwartz '21.

Corey Eriksen
Performing & Fine Arts Department Chair
Summer Camp Registration
STUDY SKILLS CAMP SESSIONS
Registration is now open for our in-person Study Skills Camp for rising 9th graders and middle school students. The camp sessions run August 16-20, and space is limited. Students will develop skills in time management, organization, goal setting, self-advocacy, stress control, problem solving, social belonging, and more. There are 2-day and 3-day camp options, and a middle school camp for grades 5-8.

We are fully committed to student and employee safety and following public health guidelines. Cancellations due to COVID-19 will be fully refunded. Click here for more information and to register.
 
Nick Padrnos
Brave Summer Coordinator
Job Opportunities
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The Bishop Blanchet Admissions Department is seeking qualified candidates for our Admissions Associate position. The job description and application may be found here. Please email questions to Michael Pierce, Director of Admissions, or call 206-527-7741.

Bishop Blanchet committed to attracting and retaining outstanding individuals to reflect the racial, cultural and gender diversity of our student population. We actively seek candidates of different backgrounds who are devoted to engaging and inspiring a high-achieving and well-rounded student population to be leaders, in and out of the classroom. Please refer to our Careers page for current openings.