Honesty, Caring, Responsibility, Respect, & Marshmallows

Starting middle school can be a challenge.

“Friendships change, cliques start forming, and that sense of independence is evident,” said Laurie Murphy, sixth-grade advisor and St. Joseph Middle School social studies teacher.

This transition is why our BCACS sixth-graders attend a weeklong camp near the start of the school year. No mom and dad, no homework or tests – just their classmates, the great outdoors, and the opportunity to grow closer together.

"Camp is a wonderful experience,” said Tina Sprague, St. Joseph Middle School science teacher. “It allows the students time away from their parents and pushes them out of their comfort zones. It is a great team-building experience for the class."

The entire sixth grade went to Sherman Lake YMCA Camp from October 9-13th this year.

Beforehand, camp counselors met with our middle school staff to better understand the kids and the goals the staff had for them.

One of the camp’s counselors was a familiar face – BCACS Alum Nick Reincke, Class of 2012.

Sixth Grade with Nick Reincke, Class of 2012.

“I explained to the class that he had attended our schools and that I had had him in class,” Mrs. Murphy said. “I thought it was great he was there.”

This year, the middle school staff wanted to emphasize HCRR, which stands for Honesty, Caring, Responsibility, and Respect. Students embraced these concepts through a series of outdoor activities that included low rope and high rope obstacle courses, swimming, rock-wall climbing, archery, crafts, a giant swing and, of course, campfires.

 

The middle school staff, who took turns being on site that week, was impressed with their growth.

“I saw students who are not typically buddies supporting one another with positive words and actions,” said Molly Williamson, St. Joseph Middle School math teacher. Crossing social boundaries can be uncomfortable for middle school students, and it was inspiring to see them rise to the challenge.”

They impressed their camp counselors, too. The boys’ cabin counselor even nominated them for the HCRR Award. He wrote, “You, as a whole, have been the most respectful, fun, and HCRR cabin I have ever had. In my eyes, you are all HCRR leaders.”

The most rewarding part was how that unity carried over into the classroom after camp ended.

“It was affirming to witness a shift in mindset in the classroom the week following camp,” Mrs. Williamson said. “I found students to be more supportive and patient with one another and far less critical.”

“After camp, I notice that they ‘know’ each other better through skills and team building, and are happier and more confident when they are in the classroom,” Mrs. Murphy said. “Camp is a bonding experience that extends into the classroom and beyond.”

"I will never cut down my friends"

When celebrated Battle Creek artist Richard Schlatter came to St. Joseph Elementary last Thursday, it wasn’t as the ArtPrize 2017’s grand prize winner, but as a storyteller.

“One of my ministries is visiting elementary schools, reading my book to second-grade classes, and then giving each student a signed copy of my book,” Mr. Schlatter said in his ArtPrize biography. “It is one of my ways of giving back to the community.”

One of the schools he reached out to after winning ArtPrize was St. Joseph.

“He actually contacted my mother in law to see if the second-grade class at St Joseph would be interested,” Aimee Downey, preschool teacher, said.

They were.

Mr. Schlatter read “The Old Man and the Tree” to Barbie Carrier’s second-grade class – a book he wrote and illustrated.

The story begins with a young man planting a tree in his yard. Over the years, the tree becomes a friend. He takes care of it and the tree offers him shade. Eventually, the man grows tired of pulling seeds out of his gutters and raking his yard, so he decides to cut the tree down.

“He can't bring himself to do it because he thinks of the tree as a friend, so he hires someone to do it,” Mrs. Carrier said. “He is very sad afterward.”

The old man finds a maple seed on the ground, which he plants and cares for, hoping someone will enjoy the new tree as much as he did his old friend.

The story is not a work of fiction. It was Mr. Schlatter’s own experience, which he shaped into a story for his granddaughter.

“One of the students loved that the story he wrote was based on him and was a true story,” Mrs. Carrier said.

Mr. Schlatter shared the artistic process of creating the book with the children.

“He showed them his original sketches and then the sketches after he had colored them with colored pencils,” Mrs. Carrier said. “[The students] loved being able to see both the before and after. I feel like it gave some of [our students] inspiration.”

Thanks to the generosity of Marilyn and Ralph Calladine, friends of Mr. Schlatter and our BCACS, each child received a copy of the book, personally signed by Mr. Schlatter, who had the children make a vow.

“I will never cut down my friends.”

“Our second-grade students were so fortunate to learn about the writing and illustrating process first-hand from Mr. Schlatter,” Cathy Erskine, BCACS enrollment director said. “The positive message his book conveyed about friendship and caring for one another is especially meaningful.”

The voices of Homecoming 2017

Today’s BCACS Blog takes a first-person look at Homecoming Week 2017.

Forget the dress code
Spirit Week was a little like Halloween. Each class was given a decade. Each day was given a theme for which the students dressed according to their decade’s interpretation. Friday, however, was set aside for Spirit Day. The more the red, the better!

“I enjoyed Spirit Day on Friday because I got to see everyone’s school spirit – all the red and all the decorations for the halls.”
~McKenzee Kositzke, freshman

Back in Black?
The students showed up for class on the Monday of Spirit Week only to see most of their teachers had taken up the habit – the religious habit.

“The theme on Monday was school uniform and when we were thinking about what we would wear as teachers right away both Mrs. Janke and myself said – ‘Nuns!’”
~Kyra Rabbitt, director of student services, freshmen class advisor

Lip Sync Battle
The Lip Sync Battle was a 2017 Homecoming premier and it was a hit. Each fall sports team prepared a lip sync routine to perform in front of the school. The staff determined the winner using a rubric of originality, dance moves and “lip-sync-ability”. The cross-country team took the top spot with their joyful interpretation of “His Banner over Me is Love.”

“I think it was a lot of fun for everybody in the school even the teachers. I think [the cross-country team] won because we just went out and enjoyed ourselves and didn’t worry about embarrassing ourselves.”
~Ben Rutherford, sophomore

Macho Volleyball
St. Philip and volleyball excellence go hand-in-hand. We know our Lady Tigers can handle themselves on the court, but during Homecoming Week, it’s the boys’ turn. Macho Volleyball returned and this year’s competition was fierce.

"It was an awesome display of school spirit. Everyone was engaged and cheering on their classmates and it carried on to the Pink Game Thursday night."
~Vicky Groat, St. Philip High School principal

Pink Game
Thursday of Spirit Week had a special meaning as the volleyball team played its annual Pink Game, which raises money for Borgess’ Tree of Love. This year was personal as two volleyball alums are battling breast cancer. Both served as honorary coaches as our Lady Tigers defeated cross-town rival Climax-Scotts.

“It was an amazing experience. It made us “play for a purpose” and encouraged us to fight harder. The words of motivation that Kelly and Megan said to us, we took to heart and fought back harder. It was great to be a part of something so special and moving. 
~Kirstin Finnila, senior

Decking the Halls
Each class decorated a school hallway on Friday in their “decade”. Over the weekend, alumni and teachers voted for the best one. This year’s winner was the sophomore class, whose 1950’s hallway included a white and black checkered floor and a jukebox.

“I think the sophomores won because we have more to bring to the table in terms of creativity and we work really well as a team.”
~Adam Sprague, sophomore

Bonfire Night
The Friday night bonfire is a school-wide party at Walsh Field. The junior girls squared off against the senior girls in the annual powder puff game, each class squared off against each other in a tug-of-war, the Homecoming Court took a run down the field, and the night finished with a fabulously large bonfire.

“I really enjoyed hanging out with all my friends and watching my grade play in powder puff. It was really entertaining and enjoyable to watch.”
~Joey Janoski, junior

The Spirit Cup Champions
"We are the best class ever.” ~Uriel Gaona, senior
Homecoming Week activities are just about fun, they’re about points. Each class earns points for the competitions they win, resulting in one overall champion. This year, the seniors walked away with the coveted “Spirit Cup”.

"The seniors are really excited about winning the spirit cup during Homecoming week. We were excited to end our last Homecoming together with a bang!"
~Madison Haywood, senior class president

The Homecoming Parade
Wearing their smart uniforms, plumed hats, and black shoes, the St. Philip Marching Band led the high school down VanBuren Street to the C.W. Post Field in style during annual Homecoming Parade.

“My favorite part of parade marching is seeing the reaction of small kiddos who become so fascinated and excited when they see the band marching and playing. Not only does it make my heart happy but it also helps recruitment because many of these excited kids become future marching band members.”
~Laura Bandlow, marching band director, and band teacher

The King & Queen of 2017
The Homecoming Court took their ride down Van Buren street in the annual Homecoming parade and walked onto the field with their parents at halftime. It's the moment we've all been waiting for – the 2017 Homecoming Queen and King are Lili Robinson and Kenny Wojcik.

“I strive to be friends with everyone in our school and relate to them and this proved to me that it worked. I feel a lot closer to my classmates and students throughout the school.”
~Lili Robinson, senior

Time to "reunion"
It is a tradition for the St. Philip Alumni to come home and “reunion” together at the school. This year was extra-special as it marked St. Philip High School Centennial. Over 150 alumni came from all over the country to celebrate together.

“It was great to see alumni of all ages, parents of alumni, and community members reminiscing about St Philip High School, the nuns, and teachers who have taught there over the years.”
~Louanne McIntyre, BCACS Foundation director

"These kids are my vitamins"

St. Joseph preschool teacher Kelly Francisco considers BCACS a family. Her father worked there, she graduated from there, her husband graduated from there, and her children now attend there. But it took breast cancer to reveal the depth of her school family.

“I wouldn’t say [having cancer] is a blessing, but it has definitely shown me why I send my kids here,” Mrs. Francisco said.

When Mrs. Francisco received her diagnosis, she knew she wanted to keep teaching. Her fellow teachers and classroom aides helped her make a plan. Together, they told staff, parents, and students.

“I explained to my students that Miss Kelly has a boo-boo inside of her and I have to take it out,” Mrs. Francisco said. “The kids were really good about it.”

The kids weren’t the only ones.

“Teachers from all over, parents from this year and the past started bringing these gifts – anything they thought I would need for recovery,” Mrs. Francisco said.

Retired teacher Penna Maichele made a “Hope” quilt. Every BCACS student, teacher, and administrator signed a board with the words “I am not fighting alone”. St. Joseph staff members Jeanine Winkler and Don Shafer collected student well wishes in a book. Fr. Chris Ankley gave her a special blessing.

Teacher’s aide Riki Albert made pink “wish” bracelets for students and their moms. Ms. Albert and preschool teacher Aimee Downey created a photo collage of the children’s hands in prayer, all wearing this bracelet. The caption read, “God is watching over you. We know because we asked him to.”

St. Philip principal Vicky Groat asked Mrs. Francisco, a former St. Philip volleyball player, to be an honorary coach at the team’s annual “Pink Game”, which raises money for Borgess’ Tree of Life.

“That’s the thing about our schools if something happens to any of the people in our family the whole community comes out and helps,” Mrs. Groat said.

On the day of her mastectomy, administrative assistant Lee Papke organized a rosary before school with Mrs. Francisco. All the staff was there, wearing pink.

“I was supposed to take six weeks off [for the mastectomy], but I took two.” Mrs. Francisco said. “The reason I took two is this is my second family – these kids are my vitamins. They help me get through every day and so does the staff.”

Mrs. Francisco’s prognosis is good and she plans to work through her remaining treatments. Parents and teachers continue to overwhelm her with support and encouragement.

“The outpouring of love and affection I’ve gotten has made going through this a lot easier,” Mrs. Francisco said. “This is why I send my kids to St. Joseph. It’s not just a school – we’re a family.”

Want to join the fight against breast cancer?

October 5th is the St. Philip Volleyball Team's annual "Pink Game" to raise money for Borgess Tree of Love, which offers free mammograms to underinsured women. The JV game starts at 5:30, with the Varsity game to follow. Former team members and current breast cancer fighters Kelly Francisco and Meghan (Downey) Darlington will be honorary coaches. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a prize raffle, a serving contest for free pizza, "pink" treats at the concession stand, and "TIGERS ROAR against Cancer" T-shirts available for purchase. Direct donations can be made for the Tree of Love on site.