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Please see below for our March newsletter as well as important information about Classical Education and also a review of our Uniform Code. Classical education is a means of leading students toward intellectual, moral, and civic virtue. A Catholic school in Grand Rapids, MI, has successfully turned its school around by implementing a classical education. Here at Bishop Kelley, we are in the very beginning stages of exploring and instituting a Catholic education. Stay tuned for updates as we work toward the best possible education for your students. Concerning our Uniform Code, now that the weather is fluctuating, we need to ensure your students continue to meet our standards. We realize that students are attracted to the latest fashions and hair styles but following them is a distraction from their studies. Please review the uniform code (at the end of this post but also in our Student Policy Book) with your students. Lent and the Catholic Church
(Compiled from Hallow.com) “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return” -- Genesis 3:19 In the early Church, public penance for people who sinned included wearing ashes and sackcloth. This long tradition of recognizing ourselves as sinners seeking renewal with God ultimately transformed into what we now know as Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. This year Ash Wednesday is on March 2, 2022. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation but it is a universal tradition to receive ashes on one’s forehead on Ash Wednesday to begin the 40-day Lenten season, which ends with the Holy Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, which precede Easter Sunday). The ashes symbolize our mortality and are a physical reminder that our bodies will decay but our souls live on in eternity. We also recall Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert at the start of His ministry. The ashes are made by burning leftover palms from Palm Sunday of 2021. To receive the ashes, we process forward to the altar in Church, where the priest applies the ashes to our foreheads, tracing a Cross. He may say one of two phrases while he does so: “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” Or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” While receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is not obligatory, most Catholics are obliged to fast and abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday. In addition, they are obliged to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent. Fasting is a sign of repentance and helps us embody our spiritual hunger for Christ, who also fasted in the desert for 40 days. The rules of fasting applies to Catholics from age 18 to 59 on Ash Wednesday and allows one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. There are exemptions and formal dispensations available for special circumstances and physical needs. The obligation to abstain from meat applies to those 14 and older. In addition to fasting and abstinence, Catholics also focus on prayers – especially praying the Stations of the Cross and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary – and almsgiving (giving donations to charity, often from the money saved by giving up treats). These practices are intended to help us grow closer to Jesus Christ by imitating His sacrificial love for us. By giving up television, shopping, treats etc., we make room in our hearts thus enabling us to listen for His voice. Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday and the Catholic Church
From https://www.catholic.org/lent/mardigras.php Mardi Gras is strongly associated with wild bacchanalia and debauchery, but the original intent of the holiday and how it's kept by the faithful is much different. Fat Tuesday, as it is known in English, is a long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church and it marks the last day of ordinary time before the start of Lent, a time of fasting and repentance. While the parties in Europe, South America, and parts of the United States have gained the most attention in popular culture, they seriously misrepresent and outright eclipse the Catholic intent of the holiday. According to historians, the celebration of Mardi Gras has its roots in the pagan Roman celebration of Lupercalia. This was a February holiday and it honored the Roman god of fertility. It involved feasting, drinking, and carnal behavior. However, with the rise of the Church in ancient Rome, Christian teaching and morals took root, but there always remained a strong need to blend ancient Roman traditional practices with the growing Christian faith. The blending of tradition with new religious beliefs was a common practice in the ancient world and it helped people to transition away from paganism. In fact, there are a number of ancient Roman traditions that persevere in the Roman Catholic Church to this day, where they continue to guide the faithful. As Catholic Christianity spread throughout Europe during the first millennium, different cultures celebrated the last day before Lent in their own ways, adapting the practices to suit their cultures. In France, the holiday became particularly popular as people feasted on foods that would be given up during the forty days of Lent. Meats, eggs, and milk were finished off in one day, giving the holiday its French title of 'Mardi Gras' which means Fat Tuesday… …In Louisiana, Mardi Gras in an official state holiday. In other parts of the world, the holiday became a season unto itself each branded with unique cultural practices. For example, Venice, Italy is famous for the masked balls that take place on Mardi Gras and the days before… Still, the original intent of Mardi Gras has always been to indulge, within the context of Catholic morality and reason, the last day before the start of the Lenten season. Here, it is appropriate to mention that while Lent is a season of self-sacrifice and repentance, it is not meant to be a period of self-punishment or extreme hardship. Bishop Kelley Catholic Schools News for week ending February 18, 2022
School Closings: A reminder that if weather conditions warrant, please watch local media, your email and your text messages for updates. If Lapeer Community Schools remain closed, so does Bishop Kelley. We highly recommend using the Remind and Class Dojo apps to get the latest updates from the school and your students’ teachers. Please remember that if school closes, whether for a full- or partial-day, all afterschool programs, including Title 1 math and reading; Latchkey; special programs etc. are cancelled. Of course, if you have a question, please call us at 810-664-5011. Hot Lunch: Lenten Hot Lunches: On Ash Wednesday (a day of fast and abstinence from meat), we will serve Sonic grilled cheese sandwiches and fries instead of the burger meal for the same price. Likewise, on Fridays in Lent, we will only serve cheese pizza from Mancino’s without the pepperoni alternative. Tuesday: Tacos Jamay tacos ($3 each) Wednesday: Sonic Kids’ Meal (grilled cheese, fries, juice) ($1.99 each). Thursday: McDonald’s 4-piece chicken nuggets ($2 each). Friday: Mancino’s cheese pizza ($2.50 per slice). Please place your orders by Monday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. via the FACTS portal. Lent Begins Wednesday, March 2: To begin this holy season, students will be attending Mass on Wednesday as usual and receiving ashes on their foreheads as a sign of penance. Within their classrooms, students will be focusing on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the three traditional Lenten practices to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ by imitating his Sacrifice on the Cross. We do this by giving up treats, television, shopping etc. in order to grow closer to the One who loves us and gave up His life out of love for us. Preschool Vision and Hearing Testing: The Lapeer County Health Department will conduct vision and hearing testing for preschoolers on February 28 starting at 9 a.m. Do you have videography skills? We are hoping to create videos that highlight the people and programs at Bishop Kelley and Immaculate Conception Church. If you have experience in creating professional quality videos, please contact us at 810-664-5011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Gideon Wells on Feb. 27; Noah Lajewski on Feb. 28; and Jaxon Wells on March 5. Introducing Your Bishop Kelley Teaching Staff for 2022: Bernadette Barron (Principal) · Education Specialist Degree in Administration, including Elementary and Secondary Education, Central Office, and Superintendent, Oakland University · Master of Arts, Counseling (K-12), Oakland University · Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Secondary Education, majoring in Special Education and minoring in English and Social Studies, Western Michigan University Claudia Mann (Preschool; also Spanish (via Oxford Virtual)) · Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Madonna University · Associate Degree, Liberal Arts, Oakland Community College Brittany LaBombard (Kindergarten and First Grade) · Bachelor of Science, Business Management, University of Mary · Additional Coursework, Ave Maria University · Certification (interim), Teachers of Tomorrow Katherine Tietz (Second and Third Grade) · Bachelor of Science, Business Management, University of Mary · Certification (interim), Teachers of Tomorrow Qitao Ji (Smith) (Fourth and Fifth Grade) · Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education, Oakland University · Bachelor of Art, majoring in English Language & Literature with a minor in Japanese Language, Wuhan University, China · English Classroom teacher, Lead teacher (Middle Schools & High Schools) Wuhan, China · Chinese Language & Culture teacher, public schools, Michigan · Michigan Teacher Certification Kevin Quain (Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade) · Master’s Degree, Applied Linguistics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland · English Teaching Assistant (Middle School and High School), northern Italy · Bachelor of the Arts, Classical Civilization, Wayne State University Honors College Carly Kreiner (Music/Technology via Oxford Virtual) · Bachelor of Science, Grand Valley State University School Closings:
As you know, we closed today, Thursday, Feb. 17 at 11:20 a.m. for weather concerns, following Lapeer Community Schools’ lead. We expect we will also be closed tomorrow Friday, Feb. 18 for the same reason, but please watch local media, your email and your text messages for updates. If Lapeer Community Schools remains closed, so does Bishop Kelley. We had already planned to be closed Monday, Feb. 21, for Presidents’ Day. See you Tuesday, Feb. 22. Please remember that if school closes, whether for a full- or partial-day, all afterschool programs, including Title 1 math and reading; Latchkey; special programs etc. are cancelled. Of course, if you have a question, please call us at 810-664-5011. Hot Lunch: In cases like these, in which the school closes unexpectedly, those students who have ordered hot lunch will automatically have their orders rolled over into the following week. In such cases, please do not place another order via FACTS or you will get and pay for two orders. (Rolling over orders into subsequent weeks is part of the reason we have the same lunch schedule from week to week): Tuesdays: Tacos Jamay tacos ($3 each) Wednesdays: Sonic Kids’ Meal (burger, fries, juice) ($1.99 each). Thursdays: McDonald’s 4-piece chicken nuggets ($2 each) Fridays: Mancino’s pizza ($2.50 per slice). Please place your orders by Tuesday, Feb. 22 by 10 a.m. via the FACTS portal. A note about Lenten Hot Lunches: On Ash Wednesday (a day of fast and abstinence from meat), we will serve Sonic grilled cheese sandwiches and fries instead of the burger meal for the same price. Likewise, on Fridays in Lent, we will only serve cheese pizza from Mancino’s without the pepperoni alternative. Preschool Vision and Hearing Testing: The Lapeer County Health Department will conduct vision and hearing testing for preschoolers on Feb. 24 and on February 28 starting at 9 a.m. Do you have videography skills? We are hoping to create videos that highlight the people and programs at Bishop Kelley and Immaculate Conception Church. If you have experience in creating professional quality videos, please contact us at 810-664-5011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Gideon Wells on Feb. 27 and Noah Lajewski on Feb. 28. NEXT WEEK’S HOT LUNCH MENU:
Tuesday, Feb. 14: Taco (Taco Jamay) ($3.00) Wednesday, Feb. 15: Burger/fry/juice (Sonic) ($1.99) Thursday, Feb. 16: 4-piece Chicken Nuggets (McDonald’s) ($2.00) Friday, Feb. 17: Pizza (Mancino’s) ($2.50) Please order your students’ lunches by Monday, 11 a.m. using your family’s FACTS Portal. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Secretary Laura Brestovansky at 810-664-5011. Note: Ash Wednesday will be Wednesday, March 1. On that day, instead of the Sonic kids’ meals, we will offer Sonic grilled cheese sandwiches (with fried and juice for $1.99 total as usual) as Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat. For the same reason, during Lent, pizza from Mancino’s will have cheese only. SNACKS: Please ensure that your students’ mid-morning snack is nutritious, simple, and non-messy in order to minimize spills and damage from crumbs, food coloring etc. Time spent cleaning up after snack time is time taken away from instruction. February 14 and St. Valentine’s Day: Monday, Feb. 14 is known as St. Valentine’s Day. Here at Bishop Kelley, we will be maintaining the focus on who St. Valentine was and also on the other saints of the day, Sts. Cyril and Methodius. At their teachers’ discretion, students may exchange valentine cards within their classroom and perhaps bring a small treat for the regular snack time. However, we will not be hosting St. Valentine parties per se. TUITION ASSISTANCE: Tuition assistance is available to offset the K-12 tuition expenses for children of Catholic families who both reside within the Archdiocese of Detroit AND whose children attend Catholic schools located within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Detroit. For more information, please visit: https://www.detroitcatholicschools.org/tuition-assistance-scholarships. SECOND QUARTER REPORT CARDS COMING HOME TODAY: We apologize for the delay in issuing report cards for the Second Quarter that ended on January 21. This year, the Archdiocese of Detroit instituted a new format and has been revising it, resulting in technical issues. Thank you for your patience as we adjust to this new system. FIRST CONFESSION: Please pray for our students who will be making their first Sacrament of Reconciliation will be administered on Saturday, Feb. 12 in Immaculate Conception Church starting at 10 a.m. Congratulations to those taking this important step in their faith journey. NO SCHOOL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022: In honor of Presidents’ Day, there will be no school on Feb. 21. Enjoy your day off. PRESCHOOL VISION AND HEARING TESTING: The Lapeer County Health Department will conduct vision and hearing testing for preschoolers on Feb. 24 and on February 28 starting at 9 a.m. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Gideon Wells on Feb. 27 and Noah Lajewski on Feb. 28. St. Valentine and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Celebrated on February 14th (from https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/049) St Valentine Two early Christian martyrs called Valentine are listed on this day in the Roman Martyrology. One was a Roman priest, who died for his faith on the Flaminian Way under Claudius. The other was a bishop of Terni who was killed in Rome. Some historians believe they are the same person. There is no evidence to link the tradition of sending Valentine cards with the saint - but according to legend, St Valentine sent a farewell message to his jailer's daughter the day before he was executed, signed 'from your Valentine'. Some believe the custom grew out of an ancient idea that birds are supposed to begin their courtship on this day. Others point to the fact that the old Roman Lupercalia festival (in honor of the god of fertility, Lupercus) was held around the middle of February. The idea of sending cards and love letters on February 14 is at least as old as Chaucer and was mentioned in the 15th century Paston family letters. There are no churches in England dedicated to St Valentine, but churches in Ireland and Scotland have links with the saint. In 1836, some relics that were exhumed from the catacombs of Saint Hippolytus on the Via Tiburtina, then near Rome, were identified with Saint Valentine. These relics were placed in a casket, donated by Pope Gregory XVI, and transported to the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin. The parish has special St Valentine's Masses and a blessing of rings ceremony. The Franciscan church of Blessed John Duns Scotus in Glasgow is also said to have relics of St Valentine. Valentine is the patron of engaged couples, happy marriages, beekeepers, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses. Saints Cyril and Methodius These early Christian 'Apostles of the Slavs' were brothers from Thessaloniki. It seems that although their father Leo was a higher ranking Byzantine soldier, their mother Maria was a Slav and hence all their seven children spoke Greek as well as some Slavic dialect. Constantine, called The Philosopher, was a brilliant student at Constantinople and became a priest and a professor at the university there as well as a librarian at the basilica. He was very fond of St Gregory of Nazianzus, The Theologian, and he also spoke Arabic and Hebrew. He discovered the relics of Pope St Clement on his mission to the Khazars. Methodius, who was born Michael, was first a provincial governor before joining a monastery on the Bithynian Olympus. He may have been an abbot there too. In 863, upon an invitation by prince Rastislav, both brothers arrived to Nitra (in current Slovakia) in order to evangelize the Great Moravian Empire (which comprised at certain times of parts of the current Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine). In order to do this, they created a unique script called Glagolitic (a pre-cursor to the Cyrillic) which had the capacity to capture the unusual Slavic sounds. Using this script, they translated the Scriptures, some liturgical books and legal documents. Eventually, Constantine became a monk there, taking the name Cyril. He died in Rome in 869 and was buried in the Basilica of St Clement. Methodius died in 885The brothers were declared co-patrons of Europe with St Benedict of Nursia in 1980. The Macedonian brothers are also patrons of unity and ecumenism. NEXT WEEK’S HOT LUNCH MENU: Tuesday, Feb. 1: Taco (Taco Jamay) ($3.00) Wednesday, Feb. 2: Burger/fry/juice (Sonic) ($1.99) Thursday, Feb. 3: 4-piece Chicken Nuggets (McDonald’s) ($2.00) Friday, Feb. 4: Pizza (Mancino’s) ($2.50) Please order your students’ lunches by Monday, 11 a.m. using your family’s FACTS Portal. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Secretary Laura Brestovansky at 810-664-5011. L.E.A.F. DEPOSIT DAY First- and Second-Graders: Remember to bring your deposits on Feb. 4. Thank you, ELGA Credit Union. TUITION ASSISTANCE: Tuition assistance is available to offset the K-12 tuition expenses for children of Catholic families who both reside within the Archdiocese of Detroit AND whose children attend Catholic schools located within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Detroit. For more information, please visit: https://www.detroitcatholicschools.org/tuition-assistance-scholarships. SECOND QUARTER REPORT CARDS: There is a slight delay in issuing report cards for the Second Quarter that ended on January 21. This year, the Archdiocese of Detroit instituted a new format and has been revising it. Unfortunately, the newest version we are required to use is incomplete. We are hopeful that report cards may be available on Monday, Jan. 31. Thank you for your patience as we adjust to this new system. FIRST CONFESSION RETREAT: All those preparing for their First Reconciliation (aka First Confession) must attend the First Confession Retreat, Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10 to 12:30 a.m. in the Bishop Kelley Community Room. The actual Sacrament of Reconciliation will be administered on Saturday, Feb. 12 in Immaculate Conception Church starting at 10 a.m. Congratulations to those taking this important step in their faith journey. STAR TESTING: This nationally accredited testing program continues through February 11. Please be sure your students are well rested so they can do their best. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Our teachers are planning engaging activities to observe Catholic Schools Week which takes place Jan. 30-Feb. 5. See below for a recap of each day’s activities. PRESCHOOL VISION AND HEARING TESTING: The Lapeer County Health Department will conduct vision and hearing testing for preschoolers on Feb. 24 and on February 28 starting at 9 a.m. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Sofia Mann and Alexandra Thompson on Feb. 1; Gideon Well on Feb. 27; and Noah Lajewski on Feb. 28. Celebrating Catholic Schools Week at Bishop Kelley Catholic School As you probably know, the last week of January is observed as Celebrating Catholic Schools week across the U.S. This year, Celebrate Catholic Schools Week will be Sunday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Feb. 5. Each day has a particular theme and here are the ways the staff and students of Bishop Kelley plan to emphasize them. Sunday: Celebrating Your Parish Please attend Mass with your family. Students are invited to draw a picture of our beautiful Immaculate Conception Church. We may include their artwork in our BKCS yearbook. Monday: Celebrating Your Community Service to others is important. To show our concerns for the less fortunate, we will conduct a food drive. Please bring in canned goods and other nonperishable food and/or hygiene items to school for distribution via the Immaculate Conception Food Pantry. Tuesday: Celebrating Your Students Each of our students come from a unique background and cultural heritage. If you wish, bring a dish to pass from your cultural cuisine. Or write a brief paragraph about your culture and ancestry to share with your class. Wednesday: Celebrate Your Nation To honor our nation, we will take part in our daily flag raising before heading off to our weekly school Mass. In the classroom, we will offer prayers for our nation, its leaders, and its people. Thursday: Celebrating Your Vocation Everyone has a vocation – the role that God has planned for him or her. Whether you think your vocation is to be a priest, a religious sister, a parent, a doctor, a firefighter or whatever you believe God is calling you to be, you may dress up in that role. (Note: if you are not dressing as your vocation, please wear your usual BKCS uniform.) Friday: Celebrating Faculty, Staff, and Volunteers Please say some special prayers to show your appreciation and concern for the hardworking people of Bishop Kelley Catholic School. They pray continuously for you. Saturday: Celebrating Your Family Take some time today (and this weekend) with your family. Your parents, your siblings, your grandparents and other relatives are gifts from God. Our Bishop Kelley Catholic School staff thank you for all you do for us throughout the year. Your prayers and generous support make Catholic education possible here in Lapeer County. May God reward you. NEXT WEEK’S HOT LUNCH MENU:
Tuesday, January 25: Taco (Taco Jamay) ($3.00) Wednesday, Jan. 26: Burger/fry/juice (Sonic) ($1.99) Thursday, Jan. 27: 4-piece Chicken Nuggets (McDonald’s) ($2.00) Friday, Jan. 28: Pizza (Mancino’s) ($2.50) Now that we’ve gotten through the first week of our hot lunch program, please continue to order your students’ lunches by Monday, 11 a.m. using your family’s FACTS Portal. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Secretary Laura Brestovansky at 810-664-5011. The instructions for ordering hot lunch are at the bottom of this post END OF SECOND QUARTER: Can you believe we are halfway through the school year already? Today is the end of the Second Quarter. Report cards will be issued Friday, January 28. FIRST CONFESSION RETREAT: All those preparing for their First Reconciliation (aka First Confession) must attend the First Confession Retreat, Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10 to 12:30 a.m. in the Bishop Kelley Community Room. The actual Sacrament of Reconciliation will be administered on Saturday, Feb. 12 in Immaculate Conception Church. STAR TESTING: This nationally accredited testing program continues through February 11. Please be sure your students are well rested so they can do their best. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Our teachers are planning engaging activities to observe Catholic Schools Week which takes place Jan. 30-Feb. 5. Be sure to ask your students what they are learning. STAFFING CHANGES: We are pleased to announced that Kevin Quain is joining our staff as Middle School Teacher, effective Monday, Jan. 24. We also thank Mrs. Hein and appreciate her work with our students and staff. May God grant her the best of His blessings as she leaves BKCS. PRESCHOOL VISION AND HEARING TESTING: The Lapeer County Health Department will conduct vision and hearing testing for preschoolers on Feb. 24 and on February 28 starting at 9 a.m. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Grace Langridge, Jan. 27; and Sofia Mann and Alexandra Thompson on Feb. 1. HOW TO ORDER LUNCH THROUGH FACTS SIS FAMILY PORTAL
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