Community Time at BK
Community Time at BK
Dear Parents,
Developing Community and a stronger sense of belonging for students will be one of our highest priorities in 2021-2022. Based on our experience from this past year and coupled with what we’ve heard in recent surveys from students, faculty, staff and parents, the circumstances that were associated with responding to Covid-19 has taken a toll on our community. From students not being able to attend all games, dances, and large group gatherings, having to wear masks all year, and with the constant focus on social distancing, it was a difficult year for community and relationship building. We are looking forward to a new year and a new focus on Community and ensuring that everyone feels a strong sense of belonging.
One of our key initiatives for the new school year is to successfully implement “Community Time”, which will occur twice a week, prior to lunch for 45 minutes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Community time has three main objectives:
- Develop and Strengthen a Strong BK Community and Culture
- Enrich the BK Faith and Catholic Identity
- Create Space and Time for Students Social, Emotional and Physical Well Being
In addition to using community time for monthly all school Masses and quarterly all school assemblies, small communities will be formed based on student interests. We will then focus community time on activities associated with those common interests. Students will be given a long list of interest areas that they will choose from (see sample list below). At the beginning of the school year, students will choose their top 5 areas of interest from the list provided and then each quarter, students (across all classes) will be assigned to a different community group. This community group will meet twice a week with a focus on developing relationships through common interest and activities. While each of these communities will have an adult mentor, the community activities will be driven and led primarily by students and guided by the adult mentor.
Draft List of Community Interests
Animal Lovers- Horses, Dogs, Cats
Art
Backyard Games- Spikeball, Cornhole, Frisbee
Bible Study
Board Games
Books/Reading
Business/
Entrepreneurship
Card Games
Chess
Computers/
Computer Science
Cooking
Crafting
Creative Writing/Poetry
Cycling/Mountain Biking
Dance/Just Dance
E-sports
Environmental/ Sustainability/Climate
Film/Movies
Foreign Language
History
Human Rights/Diversity and Inclusion
Improv/Acting
Intramural Sports- Basketball, Volleyball, Softball
Investing/Finance
Math
Outdoors- Fishing
Outdoors- Hiking/ Backpacking
Outdoors- Hunting
Photography
Politics/Government
Pottery
Puzzles and Problem Solving
Quiet/ Meditation
Quiz Bowl
Robotics
Rodeo
Running/Fitness
School Spirit/Pep
Science/STEM
Singing/Choir
Speech/Debate
Stretching/Yoga
Student Leadership
Video Games
Volunteer/Service