Bethlehem Catholic High School’s motto, “Purpose, Passion, Pride,” has not changed, despite the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic poses to the 2020-21 school year. As usual, the school kicked off the year with the New Family Barbecue Aug. 23, and Peer Listeners guided new students through their first day Aug. 31. In September and October, new students also had the ability to attend club meetings, including those of Key Club, Scholastic Scrimmage, and Mock Trial. Students could attend either in person or virtually using links from Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

The fall seasons for sports were delayed a few weeks, but many of Becahi’s teams attained admirable records and honors. The girls’ tennis team finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, and the team placed second in District XI. Two Becahi juniors, Emilia Lieb and Brooke Sodl, were named to the EPC Second Team for field hockey, and the Becahi football team ended with a 3-3 record in the regular season and reached district semifinals.

A few sports teams’ seasons are still ongoing, including the girls’ volleyball team and the ice hockey team composed of students from Bethlehem Catholic and Allentown Central Catholic. The volleyball team is undefeated, with a 17-0 record and played in the 3A state finals last Saturday, Nov. 21, at Cumberland Valley High School, while the ice hockey team currently has a record of 2-1 and shows promise to reach playoffs.

Bethlehem Catholic’s arts department has also decided, quite literally, “the show must go on.” The theater group’s fall play, “Clue,” which features sophomore Eoin Egbert as Wadsworth, would ordinarily be open to viewers in Becahi’s auditorium, but that would not be feasible this year due to social distancing guidelines. Rather than cancel the show altogether, directors Sean Hartman and Diana Tice decided to display it “movie-style”: they filmed the play at former Bethlehem Catholic Theater director Alice Freeh’s home, which she generously offered to the organization so that the house’s rooms could be a set with the rooms one would normally find in a round of the board game Clue, and the production will be available for streaming online from Dec. 5 to Jan. 1. Tickets will be on sale on Becahi’s website.

As junior Louise Matthews, cast as Mrs. White, described the new procedure, “Beca is making the most out of the situation by creating a memorable theater experience while keeping everyone safe.”

The musical section of the arts department will continue with its Christmas concert innovatively as well. Student musicians are working either collaboratively or independently to record pieces of their own, which were compiled to show to the students’ families Dec. 19.

The campus ministry has ensured that the faith and service lives of Becahi students are strong in this unprecedented time. Students continue to celebrate Mass as a community, although the groups in which they attend are substantially smaller so as to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Less than a quarter of Becahi students celebrate Mass in person on a given day. Students who are virtual for the day are provided with a Zoom link so that they too can share in the celebration. Additionally, student council held a food drive from Nov. 9 to 20 to collect items for New Bethany Ministries so that students could perform an act of service for members of their community who are in need.

To learn more about campus activities, coronavirus adjustments, and Becahi’s mission, visit https://becahi.org.