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:

1. Develop and Strengthen a Strong BK Community and Culture
2. Enrich the BK Faith and Catholic Identity
3. 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