HIGHLIGHTS OF 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
When Bishop Noll prepared to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a school year filled with several special events, no one could have guessed the challenges that year would bring. Through it all, Warriors proved they have strength in mind, body and soul during what became a historic year for more reasons than one.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Before heading off into the world in June 2021, the class of 2021 received $8.1 million in college scholarship offers, with plans to attend 29 different universities and colleges in 7 states.
Rated an “A” School by the Department of Education and voted best private high school in the Region by Times readers, Bishop Noll boasts an advanced curriculum that includes 10 AP/DC classes and more than a dozen honors courses. Bishop Noll continues its commitment to be the only STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) high school in Northwest Indiana and several classes and clubs met in the new $1.45 million STREAM Lab, opened in 2020.
The STREAM Lab, designed by the Wightman architecture firm, received an Award of Excellence from Learning by Design magazine, selected from more than 55 projects from around the country. The lab includes a learning studio and design lab, with flexible seating allowing students to work collaboratively; a makerspace for more hands-on work and creating prototypes based on original designs; and a prototype studio to build models and use larger equipment to build final products for display.
EXCELLING IN EXTRACURRICULARS
Students could take part in more than 15 extracurriculars including academic teams such as Speech and Science Olympiad and groups like Band, Color Guard, National Honor Society and Art Club. New clubs also formed including the Video Game Club, Workshop Club and Cooking Club.
The Speech Team had continued success, placing third in the IHSFA Class A state competition in March. In addition, two members of the team - Jackie Vazquez and Abigail Kawalec - were named National Speech and Debate Association Academic All-Americans. Less than 2 percent of speakers in the country earn that honor.
The Band overcame COVID-19 obstacles and found a way to safely perform concerts in fall, at Christmas and for Fine Arts Weekend. Using a combination of live streaming, outdoor venues and limited audience sizes, students showcased their musical talents. In addition, they performed at Masses, football games and at the Homecoming pep rally.
Noll’s Drama Department showcased student talents on stage and behind the scenes with productions of “Clue” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” These productions were socially distanced and masked when students were within 6 feet of each other on stage.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
Bishop Noll focused on its mission to educate and grow disciples of Christ. The Campus Ministry program, which facilitates spiritual retreats and all-school Masses, helped students build upon their Catholic faith. Retreats were held virtually and at BNI instead of their typical off-site locations.
Students participated in daily prayer, monthly Masses and each grade was required to take a theology class. The annual Catholic Schools Week took place in February with the Most Rev. Robert J. McClory, bishop of the Diocese of Gary, celebrating Mass with select students and staff in the BNI fieldhouse. The Mass was also live streamed to Bishop Noll students and Diocesan elementary schools who could not attend in the traditional way due to current in-person event guidelines.
During Catholic Schools Week Mass, Bishop Noll announced the school’s new patron saint, Saint Maria Katharine Kasper, foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. She was chosen for her lifetime devotion to others and for her connection to Bishop Noll, as the Poor Handmaids order she founded went on to start Catholic Central High School in 1921 (now known as Bishop Noll Institute.)
Students bid farewell to Father Kevin Scalf, C.PPS., who was BNI chaplain for nine years. Father Kevin has moved back to his hometown of Cincinnati and is closer to family as he continues his desire to work with high school students. He is now a member of the theology department and the school chaplain at Archbishop McNicholas High School in Cincinnati.
Living their lives as true Disciples of Christ, students also completed many service projects throughout the year. In January, Bishop Noll students collected more than 700 jars of peanut butter to help replenish the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana with a staple item. In addition, Noll’s National Honor Society hosted and organized multiple blood drives during the year. The Women’s Empowerment Club began mentoring local middle school girls to help through a variety of issues they were facing. During the virtual meetings, the women leaders from BNI assured the girls they were in a safe space to have conversations and not be judged.
THRIVING IN ATHLETICS
July 2020 marked the start of fall sports workouts at BNI and throughout Indiana. The “opening” was a gradual and phased in return to activity based on IHSAA guidelines that limited activities and group sizes for several weeks. Varsity football returned while girls volleyball player Rose Fuentes recorded her 1500th career assist in the volleyball team’s 3-1 win over Merrillville, making her 2nd in career assists at Noll. In soccer, Jacob Wichlinski’s surpassing of 100 goals during his high school soccer career also broke a school record.
Winter sports began slowly due to rescheduling and a rule prohibiting spectators at events. One winter sports team quietly made small victories - bowling. Although girls basketball had some setbacks, Courtney Blakely broke a school record, scoring more than 2,000 points in her high school basketball career.
Spring athletes worked hard to overcome challenges caused by a lost spring season the previous year due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Although this year presented many challenges, the BNI Athletic Department was fortunate that every team was able to compete with special protocols in place the entire school year. The department took time to prioritize building its social media presence by livestreaming all home games. In true COVID fashion, many teams had to quarantine, game schedules changed weekly and spectator guidelines differed from school to school.
BNI kept channels of communication open with stakeholders to share information quickly and efficiently; and coaches, students and families have done a tremendous job remaining flexible and understanding while all continued to adapt to obstacles presented.
SPECIAL EVENTS BRING FUN TO ALUMNI, STUDENTS
Thanks to the help of generous alumni and friends, Bishop Noll fundraisers helped raise vital dollars for the Annual Fund.
In July 2020, the Advancement Department held its annual golf outing, its first in person event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alumni showed incredible support with more than 100 golfers coming out to Innsbrook Country Club for a day of fun, fundraising and camaraderie.
In October, students celebrated Homecoming with a spirit week and outdoor pep rally, however the traditional Homecoming dance morphed into a movie night to better adhere to COVID protocols. The Homecoming theme was "Starlight" with an homage to the school's 100th birthday celebration. Homecoming T-shirts featured “Catholic Central” in a throwback style. During halftime of the football game, seniors Noah Reid and Karissa Hernandez were crowned Homecoming King and Queen.
The annual Homecoming Tailgate Party for alumni was also canceled.
In lieu of the traditional in-person Big Event, the annual auction and raffle was again reimagined as the Big Reinvent 2, with a virtual auction and online format.
In May, senior prom returned after being canceled the previous year. Seniors, who missed their junior prom, were able to come together at the open air Whiting Park Pavilion with the theme of City Nights. A thunderstorm prevented students from enjoying the skyline views or taking photos along the lake but the night was filled with dancing and photo opps. The prom queen was Olivia Baczkowski and the prom king was Dmitri Lopez.
The last few months of the 2020-21 school year showed exactly what Warriors were made of as they worked to overcome a year of unimaginable obstacles and move on to the next chapter. In the end, they came together to continue learning, praying and supporting each other and their communities.
Originally published in 2020-21 Annual Report. Published online Jan. 10, 2022