We hope you are enjoying the long weekend. Faculty spent today (Friday) in professional development, discussing curriculum, state standards and cross-curricular options;  artificial intelligence in the classroom; and preparations for the remainder of the semester. 

An exciting opportunity this week for our students to hear from nationally recognized Catholic youth motivational speaker, Brian Greenfield. Mr. Greenfield is a regular presenter at the Steubenville Catholic youth conferences and spoke at the National Eucharistic Congress last summer, motivating teens to embrace and grow in their faith. Find his bio HERE. Our special Friday assembly will include a time for adoration and benediction, and so we will not have a separate Mass this week. (Students may be in regular dress code Friday.) Concurrently, our 6th and 7th graders will be separately engaged with faith-based and personal growth presentations and activities. 

New Staff: Excited to announce two new staff members who will be joining us next week. Ms. Lynn Kochevar has been hired as the new Middle School Counselor. She has extensive experience in the Lakeville School District and is excited to be on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also added to the Cardinal team is Ms. Theresa Kucera - a 1985 BA grad - who has joined the kitchen staff. Welcome to both!

Campus Ministry is hosting a week-long food drive for St. Vincent de Paul. Students should bring donations to their homeroom. The homeroom with the most donated food will earn a pizza party. Please donate as you are able.

GRANDPARENTS DAY Tuesday, November 26: Please invite grandparents/special adults in your student's life to join us in the BA gymnasium on November 26 at 1:00 pm for a prayer service, games, photos, tours and refreshments. Find the Grandparents Day invite HERE. 

BA School Store: Looking for some great BA-themed Christmas gifts? We've just opened a BA school store with lots of new items. Click HERE to check it out. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov 19. Items delivered to BA in time for the holidays. Go, Cardinals! 
 

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar

• November 26: Grandparent's Day, 1pm, click HERE for invite
• November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break / No School
• December 3: Penance Fair, 12-2:30pm
• December 4: Student of the Month, 7:30am; 11^th Grade Youth Frontiers Retreat @ Senior Center
• December 5: NHS Christmas dress down day
• December 6: 10:30 am Mass @ BA
• December 7: Post-Prom DNO @ El Tequila 4-8pm
• December 15: Christmas Concert, BA gym, 6pm

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

Host Family Needed! Permanent placement fell through (too many cats!) and our BA 8th grader is in need of a permanent placement. Please consider hosting! Stipend plus BA tuition credit and other incentives available. Contact Cheryl Da Silva for more information: 617-710-5700; cdasilva@pse-edu.org.

JO Volleyball Meeting Nov 18: All grade 4-11 girls volleyball players interested in playing JO volleyball are invited to attend a registration meeting Nov 18, 7pm in the BA cafeteria. Players can register at this link; find the meeting flyer with more information on the program HERE. 

BA Job Openings: Please remember to spread the word about our Head of School search! Find the job posting on our website HERE; share broadly to your LinkedIn network (post is HERE) of share today's post on our Facebook page. We are also looking for a part-time (Tuesday/Thursday) kitchen assistant and a nighttime custodian. Find job postings HERE. Thank you!

Girls and Boys Basketball Registration: Registration for girls and boys basketball is now open. The link to register may be found on bacardinals.com under the More menu. The activity fee for participating in basketball is $140 per player. The fee may be paid online under the More menu, by check or by having the fee added to your tuition account. Student participants must also have a valid sports physical clearance on file with the school’s activities office in order to participate. Sports physicals are good for 3 years from the date of the exam. Sports physical clearance forms are available under the More menu on the bacardinals.com website.

Boys Basketball begins practicing on November 18.

Registration for Winter Co-operative Sports through Faribault Public Schools is now open. This includes Dance, Hockey, Wrestling, Gymnastics and Boys Swimming. 

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE

U.S. Naval Academy Visit: We’re excited to announce that J.J. Malecha, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman and BA 2021 grad, will be visiting BA on Monday, November 25th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to talk about college and career opportunities at the United States Naval Academy. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Naval Academy, hear firsthand experiences, and get insights into military education and career pathway options. Contact Mr. Bienias for more information.

Seniors! Scholarship Information:

• Minnesota Colleges Scholarship Listings: From Mr. Bienias: Here's also a link for office of education MN scholarship list to have parents be aware of https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/spages/scholarshipsall.cfm
• Schulze College Scholarship: The Schulze Family Foundation Board of Trustees has renewed the Schulze College Scholarship for a twelfth year.  The portal to accept applications will open on January 6, 2025. A completed application must include the financial aid notification of award (NOA) and be submitted by April 1, 2025. Click HERE for more information. 

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Veterans Day: On Monday we will host a short Veteran’s Day program in the BA gym starting at 8:30 am. All are welcome to join us for this event, which will include remarks from John McDonough, Air Force veteran and past Commander of the Faribault American Legion. The event will also include the presentation of colors by members of the Rice County Central Veterans Association; patriotic performances by the Bethlehem Academy Band and Tom Donlon; and a reading by Kaitlyn Hunt ‘27, the winner of our school-wide poetry contest on veterans and patriotism. Share this invitation with veterans in the community so we may honor them as well.

Girls basketball starts Monday for this short but busy week. A reminder there is NO SCHOOL Friday, November 15. We will be closed for teacher workshops.

This Thursday, Nov 14 is our fall admissions open house! Please spread the good word about BA and invite interested families to join us on campus for student-led tours and informational sessions. Pre-register for the open house at this link; Cardinal visit days have also begun. Prospective students can choose a Cardinal visit day at this link. Contact Kris with any questions!

GRANDPARENTS DAY - Tuesday, Nov. 26: Please extend an invitation to grandparents/special adults in your student's life to join us in the BA gymnasium on November 226at 1:00 pm for a special program, tours and cookies. (Regular 2:55pm release  although some may leave early with grandparents, with your permission, after the program.) 

SPECIAL ADVENT EVENTS: During Advent we have special Masses and our Christmas Concerts. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us!

• December 9: 10:30 am Immaculate Conception Mass at Divine Mercy Catholic Church (there will be NO Friday Mass this week)
• December 15: BA Band & Choir Christmas Concerts, BA gym
• December 20: 10:30 am Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass at BA

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar

• November 18: Boys basketball season opens
• November 18-22: Campus Ministry food drive to benefit St. Vincent de Paul
• November 19: Online School Store Closes. Click HERE to order.
• November 20: Grade 9/10 retreat
• November 21: NHS "Black Out" Dress Down Day
• November 22: Brian Greenfield @ BA, 1pm assembly. Click here for his bio/information. 
• November 26: Grandparent's Day, 1pm 
• November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break / No School

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• The BA Annual Fund goal is: $260,000. Each gift supports our students and staff directly. We are thrilled to announce a $50,000 matching grant - all gifts received through December 1 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to the match. Please consider a gift or call to set up a meeting at 507-334-3948. THANK YOU! Donate online at: Annual Fund
• Alumni Club: Calling all BA alumni! We have launched the Alumni Club to bring alumni together AND raise money for student academic and extracurricular programs like FFA, arts, and athletics. Click HERE for more information or to join. 
• Mother Samuel Building Update: With the construction of the new school and sale of the Divine Mercy School block, we have been working with Divine Mercy Catholic Church and are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with them to purchase the Mother Samuel Building, connected to BA and housing the Adoration Chapel. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (for DMCC) and Dominican Veritas Ministries (for BA) must approve the agreement; both will consider doing so at meetings scheduled for later this month. More details to follow - we excited for the opportunities this has for future BA programs and opportunities!

BA Online School Store Now Open! Looking for some great BA-themed Christmas gifts? We've just opened a BA school store with lots of new items. Click HERE to check it out. Orders must be placed by Nov 19. Items delivered to BA in time for the holidays. Go, Cardinals! 

BA Job Openings: Please remember to spread the word about our Head of School search! Find the job posting on our website HERE; share broadly to your LinkedIn network (post is HERE) of share today's post on our Facebook page. We are also looking for a part-time (Tuesday/Thursday) kitchen assistant and a nighttime custodian. Find job postings HERE. Thank you!

Host Family Needed! Permanent placement fell through (too many cats!) and our BA 8th grader is in need of a permanent placement. Please consider hosting! Stipend plus BA tuition credit and other incentives available. Contact Cheryl Da Silva for more information: 617-710-5700; cdasilva@pse-edu.org.

JO Volleyball Meeting Nov 18: All grade 4-11 girls volleyball players interested in playing JO volleyball are invited to attend a registration meeting Nov 18, 7pm in the BA cafeteria. Players can register at this link; find the meeting flyer with more information on the program HERE. 

Girls and Boys Basketball Registration: Registration for girls and boys basketball is now open. The link to register may be found on bacardinals.com under the More menu. The activity fee for participating in basketball is $140 per player. The fee may be paid online under the More menu, by check or by having the fee added to your tuition account. Student participants must also have a valid sports physical clearance on file with the school’s activities office in order to participate. Sports physicals are good for 3 years from the date of the exam. Sports physical clearance forms are available under the More menu on the bacardinals.com website.

Girls Basketball began practicing on November 11.

Boys Basketball begins practicing on November 18.

Registration for Winter Co-operative Sports through Faribault Public Schools is now open. This includes Dance, Hockey, Wrestling, Gymnastics and Boys Swimming. 

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

It's time to grow the Cardinal family! Our fall admissions open house is in less than two weeks, held on campus November 14 from 5-7pm. Please spread the word and encourage families and prospective students to join us. Pre-register for the open house at this link; Cardinal visit days have also begun. Prospective students can choose a Cardinal visit day at this link. Contact Kris with any questions!

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar

• November 11: 8:30am Veteran's Day Program, BA gym; Girls basketball season opens
• November 13: School photo retake day, 7:30am start
• November 14: Admissions Open House, 5-7pm: please invite friends to check us out!
• November 15: No School / Teacher Workday
• November 18: Boys basketball season opens
• November 18-22: Campus Ministry food drive
• November 20: Grade 9/10 retreat
• November 22: Brian Greenfield @ BA, 1pm assembly. Click here for his bio/information. 
• November 26: Grandparent's Day, 1pm 
• November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break / No School

Kleenex donations requested: Sniffle season is upon us and our kleenex stock is low. Please donate and replenish our school supply if you are able. Thank you!

DMCS/Whooping Cough: Pertussis (whooping cough) has been reported at DMCS and in our community. Please click here to see the announcement from the MN Departmen of Health with more information. 



FFA Fruit Sales: FFA is holding their annual fruit and nut sales. Orders taken through November 8. Contact Mr. Johnson to connect with one of our FFA students to place an order!

Girls and Boys Basketball Registration: Registration for girls and boys basketball is now open. The link to register may be found on bacardinals.com under the More menu. The activity fee for participating in basketball is $140 per player. The fee may be paid online under the More menu, by check or by having the fee added to your tuition account. Student participants must also have a valid sports physical clearance on file with the school’s activities office in order to participate. Sports physicals are good for 3 years from the date of the exam. Sports physical clearance forms are available under the More menu on the bacardinals.com website.

Girls Basketball begins practicing on November 11.

Boys Basketball begins practicing on November 18.

Registration for Winter Co-operative Sports through Faribault Public Schools is now open. This includes Dance, Hockey, Wrestling, Gymnastics and Boys Swimming. 

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/