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Family Focus 3/26/2021

03/31/2021

Ed Friesen

2020-21, March 2021

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Dear BA Families:

Blessed Holy Week! I do pray that Spring Break brought you joy. I know that some students and families are just completing quarantines due to cases, exposure, or travel. We look forward to having everyone back in-person soon! During this Holy Week, BA students will begin on Wednesday with reconciliation. As we celebrate the Triduum, beginning with Holy Thursday and culminating with Easter Sunday, I am overjoyed to be at BA serving our students, staff and families where we can celebrate the gift of everlasting life through Jesus. May your spirit be exuberant this Easter.

This quarter also begins our end-of-year testing, starting with our 9th and 10th grade students taking the Aspire test (see high school section below for more information on this exam). This test is an all-day test on April 6 for 9th grade and April 8t for 10th grade. We will offer a free breakfast for the 9th and 10th grade students on these days from 7:30-8:00 a.m.

BABS - DENIM & DIAMONDS, April 10, 2021:  Don't forget to order your raffle tickets here, purchase an admissions ticket here, volunteer to help here, consider a donationhere, support this year's Fund-A-Need and plan to attend in-person or online to bid on our fabulous items! Check out our BABS webpage for all the details, including admissions and sponsors to date! A separate email with all of the information and volunteer needs was sent yesterday.

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• March 31: HS & MS Reconciliation
• April 1: Complete enrollment by today for a chance to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card!
• April 2: NO SCHOOL/Good Friday
• April 5: NO SCHOOL/Easter Monday
• April 6:
  • Red Cross Blood Drive @ BA. See info below. 
  • Aspire Test for 9th Grade at BA (Breakfast 7:30-8)
  • Student summer worker deadline. See info below.
• April 8: Aspire Test for 10th Grade at BA (Breakfast 7:30-8)
• April 9: HS Mass
• April 10: BABS Denim & Diamonds, find info here

KUDOS: Proud of our Shop Students who built birdhouses and donated them to River Bend Nature Center and partnered with the Fire Station on a table project this past month AND our High School Student Council & Student Service Club who led a month-long Lenten service project that brought in 100 pounds of toiletries that were donated today to St. Vincent dePaul for families in need. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2021-2022 Enrollment-WIN a $200 Gift Card! Re-enroll and register for classes by April 1 to be eligible for a $200 Amazon Gift Card drawing! Please email Kris Sauer with questions.
• 2021-22 TADS Financial Aid updates: We are still accepting applications for tuition assistance. Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program and apply by April 5 using this link: financial aid app. Please respond to any emails from TADS requesting documents or additional information as we cannot review/assess incomplete applications. Contact Kris Sauer if you need assistance with this process. 

FUNDRAISER UPDATES
BA Annual Fund: THANK YOU-what a blessing! We are at $244,045 - 98% of our goal of $250,000. Gifts to the annual fund can be sent through June 30, 2021 - perhaps we will surpass our goal thanks to prayers and support this year!

COVID UPDATES: At this time, we have 1 additional positive case of school students and/or staff. Any confirmed or exposed school members are quarantined. All interested staff have received the vaccine. We will continue to follow safety protocols including spacing, mask wearing, ventilation and cleaning as well as the 10 day quarantine. We will be evaluating any updates from MDH and the CDC for implementation after Easter.

• Family vaccine connector: If you or anyone in your family is interested in receiving a vaccine, please sign up at the State of MN's Vaccine Connector, a tool that helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Sign up here.  
• COVID Tests recommended: The Minnesota High School League and Health Department is recommending testing for students, especially in sports where they have experienced increases. They are offering free tests and families may receive them at home. Click here to get your free test.
• Free Mental Health Resources available to Families: The Rice County Trauma Project has partnered with Advanced Trauma Consulting to create a short video series addressing grief, loss and pandemic trauma. You'll find the toolkit HERE.

Please continue to pray for Ella Banon, younger sister to one of BA's 8th grade students, Barak Barner. Your prayers and support are asked for by the family. Fiind Ella's GoFundMe page at this link. Ella Strong t-shirts may also be ordered here.  

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

Spring Sports
Practices for spring sports begin on Monday, March 29.  Spring sport activity fees may be paid online or by sending a check to the school office.  The activity fee for baseball, fastpitch softball, golf and track & field is $135 per participant.  The $165 fee for trap shooting may also be paid online or by sending a check to the school office..  

Easter Flower Pick Up March 30-31
Flowers ordered through the BA Activities Association will be available for pickup in BA's Front Lobby Tuesday, March 30 and Wednesday, March 31 from 3:00-6:00pm. 

Student Summer Work Sign Up By April 6
Our summer student work program is back! High School students (grades 9-12 in 2021-22) who apply and qualify for financial aid will have first priority; other interested students are encouraged to apply. Please call the BA office @ 334-3948 or email Barb Johnson with the names of your interested students. Students are guaranteed 2 weeks and will work at both BA and DMCS under the direction of Head Custodian Steve Zabel. Hired students may be asked to work additional weeks. The hourly wage is $8.21 per hour. All student earnings will be credited to their tuition account.  Requests for summer work must be submitted by Tuesday, April 6, 2021.  

Student Council Blood Drive April 6
BA's Student Council is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive at BA on Tuesday, April 6 (Red Day). Interested parents and students should use this link to sign up and then click on Bethlehem Academy on the left. Spots are filling up fast!  If you are 17 years old or older, you are eligible to donate.  If you are 16, you can donate with parent permission. See this page for more information about donating and eligibility requirements. FYI that donors will need a picture ID with you on April 6 (driver’s license, BA student ID). Thank you!

Face masks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA face masks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

GRADE 9/10: ACT ASPIRE TEST INFO
On April 6 (Grade 9) and April 8 (Grade 10) your child will be taking ACT® Aspire® assessments. The valuable data we gain from these assessments allows us to make evidence-based decisions when addressing your child’s strengths, areas for improvement, and growth potential. This can give you an early indication of his or her likely readiness for the future, providing time to address areas where improvement is needed. We will be administering the ACT Aspire Summative assessment to continue charting your child’s progress year-over-year. Measuring academic growth is necessary to keep your child on track for college and career readiness. The test is aligned with the ACT, the most popular college entrance test in the United States.  It will allow us to adjust curriculum and instruction as needed, to help maximize your child’s ACT performance in the coming years. We ask you to encourage your child to do their best and get plenty of sleep the night before. To learn more about the test, visit www.act.org/actaspire.

GRADE 10/11: PSEO Update
PSEO Student Registration: Deadline May 31st, no exceptions. More information about what PSEO is can be found here on the BA website. If your student is interested in PSEO, they must set up an appointment with Ms. Rogers to discuss their options; apply to their selected college’s PSEO program; email Ms. Rogers a completed Notice of Student Registration form and a transcript request, OR meet with Ms. Rogers a second time. If emailed, must be sent before noon on 05/31.

JUNIORS: Upcoming ACT Test Dates
Register here! for the April 17 exam (late signup deadline: March 26) and the June 12 exam (sign up deadline: May 7; late signup deadline: May 21). 

JUNIORS: STRIVE Program Information-First meeting March 31
STRIVE is a select group of seniors that meets 8 times during the school year to help students achieve their goals after graduation. Meetings are online via Zoom and in each session we hear from community members who cover topics like goal setting, budgeting, applying for scholarships, career development and more.  If you are not able to attend the session live, a recorded version will be available for you to watch.  Students who are part of STRIVE and participate in at least 6 meetings will be eligible to apply for STRIVE scholarships. The first meeting is March 31. See attached flyer for more information. 

College Visit Info
University of St Thomas Info Session March 31
Join the Virtual Info Session (30 minutes) on March 31st with an admissions counselor who will cover academics, campus life, the admissions process, and basics of financial aid!  

Signature College Night: A Virtual Event!

Virtual College Night Event Week of April 19
BA Students have been invited to a Virtual college night event! With the ongoing challenges of holding in-person College Fairs, the school/college counseling staff from Catholic high schools in the metro area have teamed up to deliver exciting programming for students and families the week of April 19, 2021. These events will include live, virtual sessions with admission representatives from a variety of colleges and universities with a different theme each night. Sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. with recordings available later. Registration for these events is free, yet necessary to secure a spot, due to limited capacity. See attached flyer to learn more!

SENIORS: Open Campus
Open campus for seniors in good standing begins today and is offered every  Friday through April 30. Daily open campus begins Monday, May 3rd. Seniors may only leave campus during a scheduled lunch or study hall. Signed parent permission is required and students must sign in and out in the front office. 

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

Guatemala Mission Trip Info Night April 19
Interested high school students and their parents should plan to attend this introductory session held April 19 at 6pm in the St. Faustina Commons. See attached flyer for more information. Email Anna at ablessing@divinemercy.cc with questions.
 

ATTACHMENTS
* 2021-22 Rotary Strive Program
* High School Mission Retreat Flyer
* Signature College Nights

Family Focus 3/12/2021

03/26/2021

Ed Friesen

March 2021, 2020-21

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Dear BA Families:

Happy Spring Break! I do pray that your family finds time to refresh and renew in body, mind and spirit this Lent and over our Spring Break. I know that our staff looks forward to this time. Over the last two weeks additional stress was added for both our staff and scholars due to new COVID cases, expanded quarantining and added online learning students. Thank you for shifting with us this Friday as we adapted to these changes in order to finish our 3rd quarter positively. I'm praying that when we return, we are all healthy and refreshed for our final quarter of the school year! Please see updates below for online learning changes. 

BABS - DENIM & DIAMONDS, April 10, 2021: Your packets were mailed! Don't forget to order your raffle tickets here, consider a donation here, and plan to attend in-person or online to bid on all of our auction items. Check out our "BABS" webpage for all the details, including admissions and sponsors to date! . 

We are also looking for these items for our auction:

• Gas outdoor fireplace
• Wine, beer and/or your favorite mixers
• Gift Cards
• Vacation homes/destinations
• Sports or golfing outings
• Experiences... 

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• March 15-19: NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK
• March 23: Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day - send a card!
• March 24: High School Stations of the Cross
• March 31: HS & MS Reconciliation
• April 1: Enroll by today for $200 Amazon Gift Card drawing
• April 2: NO SCHOOL/Good Friday
• April 5: NO SCHOOL/Easter Monday
• April 5: Student Summer Worker deadline
• April 6: Red Cross Blood Drive @ BA
• April 10: BABS Denim & Diamonds, find info here

KUDOS: 

• Proud of MS Student - Owen Dotterweich for competing this week in the Regional Spelling Bee and representing BA!
• Congratulations to our students of the month! What an honor to hear how dedicated they are each month to one or more of the Dominican pillars of: Prayer, Study, Community and Service. Find the ceremony on our Facebook page here.  
• Congratulations to senior Verity Wray-Raabolle! She was selected as a National Merit Finalist, one of only a few in the nation. We are proud of her dedication to excellence at BA! See the presentation here, and watch for a Facebook post honoring Verity's accomplishment after spring break. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2021-2022 Enrollment-WIN a $200 Gift Card! Re-enroll and register for classes by April 1 to be eligible for a $200 Amazon Gift Card drawing! Please email Kris Sauer with questions.
• Class Registration: BA is expanding course offerings!  Students need to register by MARCH 12 to ensure class options for next year. Some classes have size limits.
• 2021-22 TADS Financial Aid applications still open. We are still accepting applications for tuition assistance. Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program and apply via TADS by April 1 using this link: financial aid app. Applications received after this date will be put on a deferred list.

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• BA Annual Fund: THANK YOU-what a blessing! We are at $242,238 - 97% of our goal of $250,000. Gifts to the annual fund can be sent through June 30, 2021 - perhaps we will surpass our goal thanks to prayers and support this year!

COVID UPDATES: At this time, we have 3 additional positive cases of school students and/or staff. Any confirmed or exposed school members are quarantined. All interested staff have received the vaccine. We will continue to follow safety protocols including spacing, mask wearing, ventilation and cleaning. Plans for BA moving forward:

• Online Learners: As we hopefully return to a more normal fourth quarter, please know that online learning is reserved for students quarantining and students with medical/health concerns. If you elected for online learning all year, you are able to continue although we do encourage you to return to in person class. All other reasons for online learning are no longer accepted including: online learning for athletes, vacations, and sick days. This was never the intent of online learning and has resulted in extra stress and academic concerns for both teachers and scholars.
• Spring Break Plans: If you are traveling over spring break, please follow the CDC guidelines. Upon return, if your student or anyone in your family is experiencing symptoms, we would ask that you quarantine. As a precaution, you may choose to quarantine for the first three days following spring break to ensure that you do not have symptoms. Please email with any travel-related distance learning requests. 
• Family vaccine connector: If you or anyone in your family is interested in receiving a vaccine, please sign up at the State of MN's Vaccine Connector, a tool that helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Fill out the form to sign up here.  
• COVID Tests recommended: The Minnesota High School League and Health Department is recommending testing for students, especially in sports where they have experienced increases. This is free and families may receive them at home. Click here to get your free test.
• Free Mental Health Resources available to Families: The Rice County Trauma Project has partnered with Advanced Trauma Consulting to create a short video series addressing grief, loss and pandemic trauma. You'll find the toolkit HERE.

Please pray for Ella Banon, younger sister to one of BA's 8th grade students, Barak Barner. Your prayers and support are asked for by the family; find Ella's GoFundMe page at this link. Ella Strong t-shirts may also be ordered here.  

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

Spring Break Volunteers Needed
Maintenance has 65 bags of salt that need to be moved to the boiler room and the Mother Samuel Building over spring break. If interested and able to help, please contact Steve Zabel. Service hours provided. Day/time flexible.  

Friday Morning Student-led Rosary
Campus Ministry is leading the rosary every Friday during Lent. Please meet in Ms. Shimota's classroom Friday mornings at 7:40am. Rosaries and prayer sheets will be provided. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend! 

Spring Break SCRIP Note
Scrip orders will NOT be processed the week of March 15 - March 19 due to Spring Break.  Please plan your order for next week accordingly.  If you have any questions please contact Peggy Johnson at pjohnson@dmcs.cc

Student Summer Work Sign Up By April 5
Our summer student work program is back! High School students (grades 9-12 in 2021-22) who apply and qualify for financial aid will have first priority; other interested students are encouraged to apply. Please call the BA office @ 334-3948 or email Barb Johnson @ bjohnson@bacards.org with the names of your interested students. Students are guaranteed 2 weeks and will work at both BA and DMCS under the direction of Head Custodian Steve Zabel. Hired students may be asked to work additional weeks. The hourly wage is $8.21 per hour. All student earnings will be credited to their tuition account.  Requests for summer work must be submitted by Monday, April 5, 2021.  

Face masks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA face masks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

Junior & Senior Parents: After Prom Meeting March 23
Prom 2021 is on and all junior and senior parents are invited to an After Prom brainstorming session Tuesday, March 23^rd at 6:30pm in the BA Cafeteria. Many hands make light work. Let's make Prom a memorable event in 2021! See parent email sent March 12 or contact Debbie Korman at 507-339-8059 with questions. 

FREE ACT/SAT Practice Test & Prep Online
The weekend of March 20 and 21 the Princeton Review is offering a Free Practice ACT and Free Practice SAT, and Scores Back Strategy Session for MN students. They are offering a free practice ACT, SAT, and review session. If your student cannot attend the specific date and time next weekend sign up and your student will have 3 months to take a practice test.

PSEO/CIS/AP Meeting Video Links
If you missed the PSEO/CIS/AP Meeting hosted by Ms Rogers March 4th, find a recording here and on the BA Website in the Counselor's Corner. This video covers each of these pathways for students to earn college credits before graduation! Contact Ms. Rogers with any questions. 

SENIORS: Open Campus
Open campus for seniors in good standing will begin on Fridays starting Friday, March 26 through Friday, April 30. Daily open campus will begin Monday, May 3rd. Seniors may only leave campus during a scheduled lunch or study hall. Parent permission is required and students must sign in and out in the front office. Permission forms must be turned in to the Front Office. 

SENIORS: College Scholarship Opportunities
There are several national and local scholarships available with deadlines in March, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship, Tri-Lakes Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, Faribo 4 Kids Thomas Laughlin Scholarship, Allina Health Orthopedics Sports Medicine Scholarship, and the Steele-Waseca Electric Coop College Scholarship. Have your students check the Scholarships section of Naviance (find video here; find Naviance information on our web page here) or email Ms. Rogers to find out more. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

SCRIP Note:  Scrip orders will NOT be processed the week of March 15 - March 19 due to Spring Break.  Please plan your order for next week accordingly.  If you have any questions please contact Peggy Johnson at pjohnson@dmcs.cc

DMCC Youth Ministry Events

High School Spring Break Mission Night, March 17, 6-9pm
Since we aren't able to physically go on a mission trip to Guatemala, we are bringing a little bit a Guatemala right here! Movie night, discussion, prayer and guest speakers. We will also talk about plan for future mission trips. Open to anyone in 8th grade on up. No registration required. Held in the Youth Room of the IC Basement.

More information and programs on the Divine Mercy Catholic Church High School Youth Ministry page at https://www.divinemercy.cc/high-school

COMMUNITY UPDATES
Faribault Youth Baseball Traveling League Sign Up 
Youth baseball traveling leagues are forming now! Practices begin early April. Registration open to March 15. Register at faribaultbaseball.com or email faribaultbaseball@gmail.com with questions.

Family Focus 3/05/2021

03/26/2021

Ed Friesen

March 2021, 2020-21

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Dear BA Families:
Blessed March and Lent! During this week of Lent with students back in school for 5 days, we reflected on prayer, service, and fasting. My challenge to our students was to speak positively as much as possible, leaving swear words out of their vocabulary. Theology students placed large banners of Saints representing all backgrounds around the school. We gathered for the Rosary and Mass this morning and our staff continues to reflect on "A Lenten Journey with Jesus Christ and St. Thomas Aquinas" during this season of Lent. 

CELEBRATING VOCATIONS: Join me next week in honoring our sisters as part of National Catholic Sisters Week as well as our Priests. On Tuesday, March 9, we invite you to send a message, share a gift card, or just thank those that serve us at BA through their vocation.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONFERENCES! We love connecting with our parents to celebrate the progress and areas for growth of each BA scholar. Thank you for partnering with us along this educational journey.

BABS - DENIM & DIAMONDS, April 10, 2021: We are presently looking for amazing donations and sponsors for our Silent and Live Auction - please fill out the online form here to donate. Event tickets will be limited this year and Silent & Live Auction bidding will be both in person and online! We need your help to add to some of our baskets and auction items, please consider donating:

• Gas outdoor fireplace
• Wine, beer and/or your favorite mixers
• Gift Cards
• Vacation homes/destinations
• Sports or golfing outings
• Experiences... 

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• March 8-12: Full in-person (no WIN Wednesday)
• Homework Club: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 3-4 p.m.
• March 9: Celebrate our Sisters and our Priests with thanks!
• March 10: Prom Dress Down Day ($1; $2 for hats or leggings)
• March 11: Student of the Month, 7:30am
• March 12: Final course selection due in PowerSchool
• March 12: HS Mass / MS WIN - LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER
• March 12: Last day of Toiletry Drive; 6th grade spring football sign up and Senior Open Campus forms deadline (see below for more info)
• March 15-19: NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2021-2022 Enrollment-WIN a $200 Gift Card! Re-enroll and register for classes by April 1 to be eligible for a $200 Amazon Gift Card drawing! Please email Kris Sauer with questions.
• Class Registration: BA is expanding course offerings!  Students need to register by MARCH 12 to ensure class options for next year. Some classes have size limits.
• 2021-22 TADS Financial Aid applications still open. We are still accepting applications for tuition assistance. Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program and apply via TADS ASAP using this link: financial aid app. 

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• BA Annual Fund: Our goal is to raise $250,000 by June 30, 2021. As of March 4th we are at $231,478 - 92% of our goal. WE CHALLENGE ALL DONORS TO SHARE THEIR ANNUAL FUND GIFT - WE LOVE BA! 

COVID UPDATES: At this time, we have no additional positive cases of school students and/or staff although some sports teams have had exposure. Any exposed school members are quarantined. All interested staff have received the vaccine and Rice County numbers are very low. We will continue to follow safety protocols including spacing, mask wearing, ventilation and cleaning. Plans for BA moving forward:

• Online Learners: You will be able to come to school prior or after school for support as well as WIN time on Friday mornings. We would love to have you come back to in-person learning as this last week of the quarter is critical. Please notify the office (507-334-3948) if you are able to join us in person.
• Spring Break Plans: If you are traveling over spring break, please be aware there is no quarantine requirement at this time for travel within the United States (If traveling internationally, see the CDC guidelines.) If upon return your student or anyone in your family is experiencing symptoms, we would ask that you quarantine. As a precaution, you may choose to distance learn for the first three days following spring break to ensure that you do not have symptoms. Please email me with any travel-related distance learning requests. 
• Family vaccine connector: If you or anyone in your family is interested in receiving a vaccine, please sign up at the State of MN's Vaccine Connector, a tool that helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Fill out the form to sign up: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/ 

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

Student Summer Work Sign Up By April 5
Our summer student work program is back! High School students (grades 9-12 in 2021-22) who apply and qualify for financial aid will have first priority; other interested students are encouraged to apply. Please call the BA office @ 334-3948 or email Barb Johnson @ bjohnson@bacards.org with the names of your interested students. Students are guaranteed 2 weeks and will work at both BA and DMCS under the direction of Head Custodian Steve Zabel. Hired students may be asked to work additional weeks. The hourly wage is $8.21 per hour. All student earnings will be credited to their tuition account.  Requests for summer work must be submitted by Monday, April 5, 2021. 

Face masks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA face masks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

SENIORS: Open Campus
Open campus for seniors in good standing will begin on Fridays starting Friday, March 26 through Friday, April 30. Daily open campus will begin Monday, May 3rd. Seniors may only leave campus during a scheduled lunch or study hall. Parent permission is required and students must sign in and out in the front office. Seniors were given open campus permission forms in homeroom today. A signed parent permission form must be turned in to the BA Front Office by Friday, March 12 in order for seniors to participate.

JUNIORS: April 17 ACT Sign Up Deadline is March 12
A reminder that the deadline to sign up for the April 17 ACT exam is Friday, March 12. Students can register for the test here. Contact Ms. Rogers with any questions. 

Cannon River Driving School
Cannon River Driving School will conduct a driver's education class at BA after spring break.   This class meets 10 times for 3 hours to meet the 30 hour requirement for classroom instruction.  Classes will meet 3pm to 6pm March 22-26 and March 29-April 1 and 8:30am-11:30am on April 2.  See attachments below fo registration form.

SENIORS: College Scholarship Opportunities
There are several national and local scholarships available with deadlines in March, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship, Tri-Lakes Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, Faribo 4 Kids Thomas Laughlin Scholarship, Allina Health Orthopedics Sports Medicine Scholarship, and the Steele-Waseca Electric Coop College Scholarship. Have your students check the Scholarships section of Naviance (find video here; find Naviance information on our web page here) or email Ms. Rogers to find out more. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

Spring Football for Grade 6: Sign up by March 12
Spring football is back and a team is being formed for students in grades 4-6. See attached flyer for more information and email Kevin Dokkestul at kevin.dokkestul@gmail.com by Friday, March 12 if interested.  

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

SCRIP Note:  Scrip orders will NOT be processed the week of March 15 - March 19 due to Spring Break.  Please plan your order for next week accordingly.  If you have any questions please contact Peggy Johnson at pjohnson@dmcs.cc

DMCC Youth Ministry Events
High School Prolife Apologetics Night March 10, 7:15-8:30pm 
Held in the DMCS Gym, high schoolers are invited to join Emily Albrecht from Equal Rights Institute to learn more about Prolife Apologetics. 

High School Spring Break Mission Night, March 17, 6-9pm
Since we aren't able to physically go on a mission trip to Guatemala, we are bringing a little bit a Guatemala right here! Movie night, discussion, prayer and guest speakers. We will also talk about plan for future mission trips. Open to anyone in 8th grade on up. No registration required. Held in the Youth Room of the IC Basement.

More information and programs on the Divine Mercy Catholic Church High School Youth Ministry page at https://www.divinemercy.cc/high-school

ATTACHMENTS
Cannon River Drivers Ed Classroom Course
Spring Football League for Grades 4-6

Family Focus 2/26/21

03/26/2021

Ed Friesen

February 2021, 2020-21

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Dear BA Families:

Happy FFA Week! FFA Members celebrated with donuts for staff, guessing games with prizes and special daily announcements. It's exciting to see this program develop. Congratulations to all club members. We look forward to "Baby Animal Day" in May!

CONCERT TONIGHT! With all safety protocols in place including "instrument masks" BA will gather tonight to hear our young musicians led by our music directors, Scot Gardner and Cassie Kratt. Please join us online to hear our talented musicians - click here for the link to our YouTube channel. 

COVID UPDATES: At this time, we have two new positive cases of school students and/or staff. These people, and any exposed school members, are currently quarantined. Most return on Monday. All interested staff have received the vaccine and Rice County numbers are very low. We will continue to follow safety protocols including spacing, mask wearing, ventilation and cleaning. Plans for BA moving forward:

• March 1: BA returns to a full 5 day week
• Students: Please bring cold lunches through Thursday, March 4. Hot lunch resumes Friday, March 5.
• Online Learners: You will be able to come to school prior or after school for support as well as WIN time on Friday mornings. We would love to have you come back to in-person learning for these last two critical weeks of the quarter. Please notify the office if you are able to join us in person.
• Spring Break Plans: If you are traveling over spring break, please be aware there is no quarantine requirement at this time for travel within the United States (If traveling internationally, see the CDC guidelines.) If upon return your student or anyone in your family is experiencing symptoms, we would ask that you quarantine. As a precaution, you may choose to distance learn for the first three days following spring break to ensure that you do not have symptoms. Please email me with any travel-related distance learning requests. 
• Family vaccine connector: If you or anyone in your family is interested in receiving a vaccine, please sign up at the State of MN's Vaccine Connector, a tool that helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Fill out the form to sign up: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/ 

BABS - DENIM & DIAMONDS, April 10, 2021: We are presently looking for amazing donations and sponsors for our Silent and Live Auction - please fill out the online form here to donate. Event tickets will be limited this year and Silent & Live Auction bidding will be both in person and online! We need your help to add to some of our baskets and auction items, please consider donating:

• Gas outdoor fireplace
• Wine, beer and/or your favorite mixers
• Gift Cards
• Vacation homes/destinations
• Sports or golfing outings
• Experiences... 

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• Feb 28, 11am-2pm: BA Open House
• March 1-5: Return to full in-person (no WIN Wednesday)
• March 3: HS Class Registration forms due. See attached for more information.
• March 4: Parent/Teacher Conferences. Sign up here. Sign up will close March 3 at 8 p.m. Zoom links will be provided. Mr. Madden's conferences will be held March 9 from 4:30-8:00pm. Sign up to meet with Mr. Madden here.
• March 4: PSEO/AP/CIS Info Night, 6:30pm
• March 5: MS Mass/HS WIN
• March 8-12: Full in-person (no WIN Wednesday)
• March 11: Student of the Month, 7:30am
• March 11: Final course selection due in PowerSchool
• March 12: HS Mass / MS WIN - LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER
• March 15-19: NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2021-2022 Enrollment-WIN a $200 Gift Card! Re-enroll and register for classes by March 15 to be eligible for a $200 Amazon Gift Card drawing! Please email Kris Sauer with questions.
• Class Registration: BA is expanding course offerings.  Students need to register before SPRING BREAK to ensure class options for next year. Some classes have size limits.
• 2021-22 TADS Financial Aid applications still open. Although the deadline to apply for Archdiocesan scholarships has passed, we are still accepting applications for tuition assistance. Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program and apply via TADS using this link: financial aid app. 

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• BA Annual Fund: Our goal is to raise $250,000 by June 30, 2021. As of February 18 we are at $228,993 - 92% of our goal. WE CHALLENGE ALL DONORS TO SHARE THEIR ANNUAL FUND GIFT BY FEB. 28 - WE LOVE BA! We need only an additional $23,857 to reach our goal.

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

Face masks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA face masks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

Cannon River Driving School
Cannon River Driving School will conduct a driver's education class at BA after spring break.   This class meets 10 times for 3 hours to meet the 30 hour requirement for classroom instruction.  Classes will meet 3pm to 6pm March 22-26 and March 29-April 1 and 8:30am-11:30am on April 2.  See attachments below fo registration form.

PSEO/CIS/AP Virtual Info Session March 4, 6:30pm 
Guidance Counselor Tori Rogers is hosting a virtual PSEO, CIS, and AP information session for parents of current 10th and 11th grade students from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. This event is intended to address questions about PSEO, CIS, and AP courses, and next steps as your students enter their final two years of high school. General information on each of these programs can be found here on the Counselor's Corner page on the BA website. See attached flyer for info. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Rogers.

SENIORS: Open Campus
Open campus for seniors in good standing will begin following spring break with Fridays only. Full open campus will begin in May. Seniors may only leave campus during a scheduled lunch or study hall. Parent permission is required and students must sign in and out in the front office. Students will be given open campus permission forms in homeroom Friday, March 5.

College Scholarship Opportunities
There are several national and local scholarships available with deadlines in March, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship, Tri-Lakes Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, Faribo 4 Kids Thomas Laughlin Scholarship, Allina Health Orthopedics Sports Medicine Scholarship, and the Steele-Waseca Electric Coop College Scholarship. Have your students check the Scholarships section of Naviance (find video here; find Naviance information on our web page here) or email Ms. Rogers to find out more. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

DMCS Annual Catholic United Financial Raffle to Feb 28
Divine Mercy Catholic School students are selling $5 raffle tickets through Feb 28. Order tickets on their website or contact the school at 507-334-7706 if interested. Thank you for your support of our Catholic schools!

DMCC Youth Ministry Events
Acquire the Fire! Saturday, Feb 27, 3:30-8:30pm 
Join us for 4pm Mass with the parish followed by dinner, keynote speaker Joe Roueche, praise and worship, and Adoration. All high school and young adults welcome. Register to attend here. 

Taizé Lenten Prayer Service March 3, 6-7 pm, DMCC
Taizé Prayer is a quiet, simple way of prayer designed for people of all Christian traditions. This meditative candlelit service will include simple chants sung repeatedly, rich silence and prayers of praise and intercession. It's the perfect way to uplift your concerns and calm your soul during the Lent season.

High School Prolife Apologetics Night March 10, 7:15-8:30pm 
Held in the DMCS Gym, high schoolers are invited to join Emily Albrecht from Equal Rights Institute to learn more about Prolife Apologetics. 

High School Spring Break Mission Night, March 17, 6-9pm
Since we aren't able to physically go on a mission trip to Guatemala, we are bringing a little bit a Guatemala right here! Movie night, discussion, prayer and guest speakers. We will also talk about plan for future mission trips. Open to anyone in 8th grade on up. No registration required. Held in the Youth Room of the IC Basement.

More information and programs on the Divine Mercy Catholic Church High School Youth Ministry page at https://www.divinemercy.cc/high-school

ATTACHMENTS
Class Registration 2021-2022 Information
Cannon River Drivers Ed Classroom Course

Family Focus 2/19/21

03/26/2021

Ed Friesen

February 2021, 2020-21

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Dear BA Families:

Our Season of Lent began with a beautiful Ash Wednesday Mass here at BA. Throughout the Lenten Journey, we will be giving students and staff opportunities for prayer, fasting and giving, through service or gifts of support. To kick this off we began today with an out-of-dress-code Friday to help raise funds for personal care items for St. Vincent de Paul. Our Peer Ministry will host the Rosary every Thursday morning beginning at 7:45 a.m. In addition, we will be spending more time in Adoration and prayer and taking time for Stations of the Cross. Our staff will be in a Lenten Book Study and Reconciliation will be hosted after Spring Break for all students.

COVID UPDATES: At this time, we anticipate returning to school for full, five day weeks beginning March 1. Most of our staff have received the vaccine and numbers in our school and in Rice County have dropped. We will continue to follow safety protocols including spacing, mask wearing, ventilation and cleaning. We have not had any additional COVID cases or any need to quarantine students in the last few weeks and will continue to keep you informed. 

BABS - DENIM & DIAMONDS, April 10, 2021: SAVE THE DATE! We are presently looking for amazing donations to our Silent and Live Auction - please fill out the online form here to donate. Event tickets will be limited this year and Silent & Live Auction bidding will be both in person and online! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS & STAFF - WE NEED EVERYONE TO MAKE THIS A HUGE SUCCESS!

CAR SAFETY: We have experience car theft and potential break-ins of cars parked along the street. Please have students be extra careful and be sure to lock up. As part of our BABS Fund-A-Need we will be seeking to add additional outdoor cameras to our campus.

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• Feb 20: FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION DUE BY MIDNIGHT
• Feb 21: Pancake Breakfast / postponed to 2022
• Feb 22: High school class registration begins
• Feb 24: WIN DAY - No regular classes. Students should come in for support or time to work on projects.
  • Easter flower order deadline
  • ACT Science Test Prep Class, 8am-12pm (Gr 11)
  • BA Day @ Taco Johns, 4-8pm
• Feb. 22-26: FFA Week
• Feb. 26: Winter concert. Limited attendance, parents only. Choir & Band teachers shared details. 
• Feb 28, 11am-2pm: BA Open House
• March 1-5: Return to full in-person (no WIN Wednesday)
• March 4: Parent/Teacher Conferences. Sign up here. 
• March 8-12: Full in-person (no WIN Wednesday)
• March 11: Student of the Month, 7:30am
• March 15-19: NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2021-2022 Enrollment: Enrollment is open! You should have received an email from FACTS with instructions on how to set up your account and re-enroll your students for next year. FYI that we have found the reset password email sometimes takes longer to arrive than one would expect. Be patient and/or check your junk folder when first setting up your account. If you have questions about registration, please email Kris Sauer. 
• Class Registration: BA is expanding course offerings for 2021-2022, with 12 new classes and two trips offered. These include:
  • ACT Prep integration into subjects in 11th grade
  • Coding Class, Intro to Engineering
  • Intro to Photography
  • Creative Writing
  • Additional Ag and Shop classes, including Small Gas Engines
  • Theology courses and a trip to the Holy Land
  • Guatemala mission trip
  • High School Student Support Center
• 2021-22 TADS Financial Aid Applications Due Feb 20! Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program and apply via TADS using this link: financial aid app. The initial application deadline is February 20, 2021, at midnight. ***Note: if you have trouble uploading documents, please fill out the application by midnight Saturday. We can help you upload documents next week.*** 

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• BA Annual Fund: Our goal is to raise $250,000 by June 30, 2021. As of February 18 we are at $226,143 - 90% of our goal. WE CHALLENGE ALL DONORS TO SHARE THEIR ANNUAL FUND GIFT BY FEB. 28 - WE LOVE BA! We need only an additional $23,857 to reach our goal.
• DO YOU WANT FLOWERS? Orders are due to the BA front office Feb 24. An order form can be found online here.  The BA Activities Association, the school's booster club, uses the proceeds to support extracurricular activities at BA.  This is their only source of revenue for this school year due to covid restrictions.

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

Parent Volunteers Needed for the BA Activities Association
The BA Activities Association is looking for parents to join our committee! The BAAA works together to raise funds in support of our extra-curricular programs. Support from this group includes: new varsity athletics uniforms on a rotating basis; Wolf Ridge busing; After Prom donation; and 2 Scholarships annually for rising seniors. Funds raised by this committee have also supported: a batting cage & pitching machine, choir sound shells, band instruments, re-finishing the gym floor & installing a new sound system in the gym, and football goalposts at Teepee Tonka. The group also provides donations to teams/clubs/ organizations that work concessions during the year. If you would like to be a part of the committee, please contact Clarice DeGrood at 507-838-8073 or by email at: degrood@kmwb.net. Thank you!

BABS April 10: Save the Date!! / Parent Volunteers Needed
Bethlehem Academy Backers and Supporters (BABS) is BA’s largest annual fundraiser and a fun adult social event where we celebrate BA and raise funds for our beloved school. BABS 2021 will be held the evening of April 10. This “Denim and Diamonds” themed event will feature casino games, a silent & live auction (virtual and onsite) as well as food and drink. All parents, alumni, and friends over 21 years of age are invited! Attendance will be limited. Volunteers as well as live or silent auction items are needed. Contact Mrs. Reeder if you can help this great event.

Facemasks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA facemasks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

Wanted: Spring Sports Coaches
We have the following spring sports coaching positions open: Head Baseball, Assistant Baseball, Middle School Baseball, Head Track & Field, Assistant Track & Field (# of assistants to be determined). If you or someone you know is interested please contact Athletic Director Ed Friesen at efriesen@bacards.org.  March 29 is the planned start date for spring sports.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

Juniors Register TODAY (Feb 19) for FREE ACT Science Prep Class 
Mrs. Cathy Guth is offering a FREE ACT science seminar Wed, Feb 24, from 8am-12pm. The session will be held at BA (it's a non-class WIN day). The ACT prep book will be provided. Mrs. Guth will focus on science concepts and skills and test taking and pacing strategies for the ACT test. Students will also take a practice science test. Interested juniors should email Mrs. Rogers by Feb 19 at 3pm if they wish to attend this FREE course.

Current 10th & 11th Grade Students: PSEO for Fall 2021
Students interested in taking PSEO courses at South Central or other colleges and universities must discuss this option with the counselor ASAP as many schools have deadlines as early as the beginning of April. FAQs about PSEO can be found here on the Counselor's Corner page on the BA website. If you have any questions concerning PSEO, please email Ms. Rogers.

SENIORS:

Please update all of your application decisions and information on Naviance as you hear results so that we know your options, plans, and how Ms. Rogers can help assist you with next steps! 

College Scholarship Opportunities
There are several national and local scholarships available with deadlines in March, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship, Tri-Lakes Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, Faribo 4 Kids Thomas Laughlin Scholarship, Allina Health Orthopedics Sports Medicine Scholarship, and the Steele-Waseca Electric Coop College Scholarship. Have your students check the Scholarships section of Naviance (find video here; find Naviance information on our web page here) or email Ms. Rogers to find out more. 

Cannon River Driving School
Cannon River Driving School will conduct a driver's education class at BA after spring break.   This class meets 10 times for 3 hours to meet the 30 hour requirement for classroom instruction.  Classes will meet 3pm to 6pm March 22-26 and March 29-April 1 and 8:30am-11:30am on April 2.  See attachments below fo registration form.

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

AIM Higher K-8 Scholarship
The Aim Higher Scholarship is a $1,000, student-based scholarship awarded to K-8 students from families with demonstrated need. This year's application deadline is February 20, 2021. Application is via the online TADS financial aid form found here. Click here to find more information via the English flyer and the Spanish flyer.

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

DMCS Annual Catholic United Financial Raffle to Feb 28
Divine Mercy Catholic School students are selling $5 raffle tickets through Feb 28. Order tickets on their website or contact the school at 507-334-7706 if interested. Thank you for your support of our Catholic schools!

WOMEN'S LENTEN SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITY
Set a Fire is our “Blessed is She” reflection book for your Lenten journey this year. We believe every woman can fully live her life when she’s guided by the Holy Spirit. Divine Mercy Catholic Church is offering several in-person and online small group options. It is free to participate in the small groups; purchasing the book is strongly encouraged. There is an option on the form to purchase a book through us to save on shipping. Small groups start the week after Ash Wednesday (Feb 17). See the registration form for information on times and locations. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/setafire for more information.

Middle School Edge/High School Youth Group
Middle School EDGE & High School Youth Group is open to all BA families. This is another great opportunity for your students to gather with others that want to grow in their faith and to enhance what they are learning in the classroom. Registration is required for both. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/faith-formation for more information. 

 

ATTACHMENTS
Cannon River Drivers Ed Classroom Course

Family Focus 2/12/2021

03/26/2021

Ed Friesen

February 2021, 2020-21

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Dear BA Families:

I hope you are staying toasty warm! The temps outside have certainly dropped, but inside BA students are snug thanks to our new windows and the various activities from this week. Student Council sold "Valentine Grams" and lunch was a buzz with note writing and delivering of treats. This morning we honored "BA Students of the Month." What a joy to recognize students not only for their academics but for all four Dominican Pillars: Prayer, Study, Community and Service! Our students dove into Black History Month this week by researching Saints and exploring in history. During morning announcements Saints of color were highlighted. On a final note we celebrated our lunch ladies with gifts from our new Home & School officers and BA parents, along with special notes, flowers and a round of applause! BA was a great place for students to thrive this week!

DO YOU WANT FLOWERS? Check out the annual BA Activities Association flower sale to brighten up your home! Orders are due to the BA front office Feb 24. An order form is attached or can be found online here. 

BABS - DENIM & DIAMONDS, April 10, 2021: SAVE THE DATE! We are presently looking for amazing donations to our Silent and Live Auction - please fill out the online form here to donate. Event tickets will be limited this year and Silent & Live Auction bidding will be both in person and online! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS & STAFF - WE NEED EVERYONE TO MAKE THIS A HUGE SUCCESS!

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• Feb. 12 & 15: No School-School in session the remaining 4 days of each week
• Feb. 17: Ash Wednesday-Mass in the gymnasium for all 6-12 students at 8:30 a.m.
• Feb 19: Deadline for 11th graders to sign up for FREE Act Science Prep Class
• Feb 20: FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION DEADLINE
• Feb 21: Pancake Breakfast / postponed to 2022
• Feb 24: WIN DAY - No regular classes. Students should come in for support or time to work on projects.
  • Easter flower order deadline
  • ACT Science Test Prep Class, 8am-12pm (Gr 11)
  • BA Day @ Taco Johns, 4-8pm
• Feb. 22-26: FFA Week
• Feb. 26: Winter concert re-scheduled. Limited attendance, parents only. Choir & Band teachers shared details. 
• Feb 28, 11am-2pm: BA Open House

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2021-2022 Enrollment Update: Enrollment is open! You should have received an email from FACTS (NEW!) this past week with instructions on how to set up your account and re-enroll your students for next year. 
• 2021-22 TADS Financial Aid Applications Due Feb 20! Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program and apply via TADS using this link: financial aid app. The initial application deadline is February 20, 2021.

COVID Update: As of February 11, 2021, we remain at two additional positive cases and no exposure at school. We do have 15 students and 2 staff online learning or needing to quarantine. 

• All Illnesses: Please note, if your child is sick at any time, we do not expect them to join online learning. We want to give them time to recover. Just notify the attendance line.

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• BA Annual Fund: Our goal is to raise $250,000 by June 30, 2021. As of February 5 we are at $223,478 - THIS IS INCREDIBLE and we are 89% of our goal. WE CHALLENGE ALL DONORS TO SHARE THEIR ANNUAL FUND GIFT BY FEB. 28 - WE LOVE BA! We need only an additional $26,522 to reach our goal.

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

BABS April 10: Save the Date!! / Parent Volunteers Needed
Bethlehem Academy Backers and Supporters (BABS) is BA’s largest annual fundraiser and a fun adult social event where we celebrate BA and raise funds for our beloved school. BABS 2021 will be held the evening of April 10. This “Denim and Diamonds” themed event will feature casino games, a silent & live auction (virtual and onsite) as well as food and drink. All parents, alumni, and friends over 21 years of age are invited! Attendance will be limited. Volunteers as well as live or silent auction items are needed. Contact Mrs. Reeder if you can help this great event.

Facemasks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA facemasks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

Wanted: Spring Sports Coaches
We have the following spring sports coaching positions open: Head Baseball, Assistant Baseball, Middle School Baseball, Head Track & Field, Assistant Track & Field (# of assistants to be determined). If you or someone you know is interested please contact Athletic Director Ed Friesen at efriesen@bacards.org.  March 29 is the planned start date for spring sports.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

Juniors Register by Feb 19 for FREE ACT Science Prep Class Feb 24
Mrs. Cathy Guth is offering a FREE ACT science seminar Wed, Feb 24, from 8am-12pm. The session will be held at BA (it's a non-class WIN day). The ACT prep book will be provided. Mrs. Guth will focus on science concepts and skills and test taking and pacing strategies for the ACT test. Students will also take a practice science test. Interested juniors should email Mrs. Rogers by Feb 19 at 3pm if they wish to attend this FREE course.

Virtual Drivers Training Sessions this Spring
Cannon River Driving School is offering 3 virtual classroom drivers training sessions this spring. Sessions start Feb 22, March 15, and April 5. See attached flyer for more information and to sign up. 

Current 10th & 11th Grade Students: PSEO for Fall 2021
Students interested in taking PSEO courses at South Central or other colleges and universities must discuss this option with the counselor before February 22. Please note that many schools have deadlines as early as the beginning of April. FAQs about PSEO can be found here on the Counselor's Corner page on the BA website. If you have any questions concerning PSEO, please email Ms. Rogers.

SENIORS:

Please update all of your application decisions and information on Naviance as you hear results so that we know your options, plans, and how Ms. Rogers can help assist you with next steps! 

College Scholarship Opportunities
There are several national and local scholarships available with deadlines in March, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship, Tri-Lakes Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, Faribo 4 Kids Thomas Laughlin Scholarship, Allina Health Orthopedics Sports Medicine Scholarship, and the Steele-Waseca Electric Coop College Scholarship. Have your students check the Scholarships section of Naviance (find video here; find Naviance information on our web page here) or email Ms. Rogers to find out more. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

AIM Higher K-8 Scholarship
The Aim Higher Scholarship is a $1,000, student-based scholarship awarded to K-8 students from families with demonstrated need. This year's application deadline is February 20, 2021. Application is via the online TADS financial aid form found here. Click here to find more information via the English flyer and the Spanish flyer.

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)
Earn credit by using Scrip. It's easy! Just use Scrip gift cards for your everyday purchases instead of paying with cash, check or credit card! TRIP Statements will be sent to BA families next week. If you have any questions please contact Peggy Johnson at pjohnson@dmc.cc or (507) 334-7706 ext:  2204. 

DMCS Annual Catholic United Financial Raffle to Feb 28
Divine Mercy Catholic School students are selling $5 raffle tickets through Feb 28. Order tickets on their website or contact the school at 507-334-7706 if interested. Thank you for your support of our Catholic schools!

Synod at Home: 2021 Series for Lent Feb 18-March 18
The Synod at Home series takes helpful videos, tip and tools for growing in faith and pairs them with family- friendly activities. Register online. See attached flyer for more information.

WOMEN'S LENTEN SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITY
Set a Fire is our “Blessed is She” reflection book for your Lenten journey this year. We believe every woman can fully live her life when she’s guided by the Holy Spirit. Divine Mercy Catholic Church is offering several in-person and online small group options. It is free to participate in the small groups; purchasing the book is strongly encouraged. There is an option on the form to purchase a book through us to save on shipping. Small groups start the week after Ash Wednesday (Feb 17). See the registration form for information on times and locations. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/setafire for more information.

Middle School Edge/High School Youth Group
Middle School EDGE & High School Youth Group is open to all BA families. This is another great opportunity for your students to gather with others that want to grow in their faith and to enhance what they are learning in the classroom. Registration is required for both. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/faith-formation for more information. 

COMMUNITY UPDATES

JO Volleyball, Gr 4-11 Sign Up
The Faribault Reds Volleyball Program is currently in the process of developing a plan for a JO Volleyball Season. All girls in grades 4-11 interested in participating are welcome! We do not have dates set at this time, but would be looking at mid-late February or early March for a start-up. Many play dates (especially for high school level athletes) would take place on Sundays as Saturdays may currently be used by winter sports teams for make-up games as needed. Please fill out the Google form at this link for each player in your household that would be interested in playing. Please email Chris Bothun at bothunchristine@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

 

ATTACHMENTS

*Easter Plant Fundraiser Order Form
*Cannon River Driving School Registration Form
*Synod 2021: At Home Series for Lent

Family Focus 2/5/2021

03/05/2021

Kris Sauer

2020-21, February 2021

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Dear BA Families:

Happy Catholic Schools' Week (CSW) 2021! This week began with Mass and continued as our scholars celebrated, supported causes, and shared talents as well as time with DMCS buddies during our CSW activities. During the dark winter months and accumulating snow, this week always lifts spirits! Congratulations to our 2021 SnoBall Queen, Abby Larson, who we crowned in a special ceremony Friday afternoon. A special thank you to our parents, our staff, and our students for their help in creating such a special week! Watch videos of our Talent Show and Coronation events on BA’s YouTube channel. 

THANK YOU! The BA Home & School Association says farewell to two amazing parents who gave countless hours to the school over the last few years as Home & School officers. A HUGE THANK YOU to Jane Hillesheim and Michelle Jasinski for supporting students and staff with gifts, meals, and special recognition. We are forever grateful! A special welcome to new parent team, Chandra Wray-Raabolle and Susan McCabe as they step into their new role as officers. They will be reaching out with an email to gain more parent support in the months ahead!

DO YOU WANT FLOWERS? Check out the annual BA Activities Association flower sale to brighten up your home! Please help reach out to your extended families, co-workers, friends and neighbors to see if they are interested purchasing a little spring “pick me up” to help brighten their day this upcoming Easter. Orders are due to the BA front office Feb 24. An order form is attached or can be found online here. 

BABS - Our pace for BABS is beginning to pick up and we are looking for amazing donations for our Silent and Live Auction. If you are willing to make a donation or have insight into a fantastic connection, please email us at or . THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS!

Schedule for the upcoming three weeks: 

• Feb. 8-11: NWEA Map Testing for Middle School & Black History Month focus
• Feb. 11: Kitchen Staff appreciation day! Send a note of appreciate to our team! Student of the Month ceremony-7:30am
• Feb. 12 & 15: No School; school in session the remaining 4 days of each week
• Feb. 17: Ash Wednesday
• Feb 20: FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION DEADLINE
• Feb 21: Pancake Breakfast / postponed to 2022
• Feb 24: Easter flower order deadline
• Feb. 22-26: FFA Week
• Feb. 25: Winter concert re-scheduled. Limited attendance, watch for information and an online publication.
• Feb 28, 11am-2pm: BA Open House

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• CELEBRATING KITCHEN STAFF-Feb. 11: Join us in thanking our kitchen staff on this day with a note, a gift card, an email, or a special treat!
• 2021-2022 Enrollment Update: Enrollment is open! Most of you should have receive an email from FACTS this past week with instructions on how to set up your account and re-enroll your students for next year. 
• 2021-22 FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS OPEN! Be sure to take advantage of our needs-based scholarship program; apply at this link: financial aid app. The initial application deadline is February 20, 2021.

COVID Update: As of February 5, 2021, we remain at two additional positive cases and no exposure at school. We do have 10 students choosing distance learning full time and one student quarantining. 

• All Illnesses: Please note, if your child is sick at any time, we do not expect them to join online learning. We want to give them time to recover. Just notify the attendance line.

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• BA Annual Fund: Our goal is to raise $250,000 by June 30, 2021. As of February 5 we are at $222,628 - THIS IS INCREDIBLE and we are 89% of our goal. WE CHALLENGE ALL DONORS TO SHARE THEIR ANNUAL FUND GIFT BY FEB. 28 - WE LOVE BA! We need only an additional $27,372 to reach our goal.
• CHRISTMAS LUNCH ANGEL FUND: To date we have raised $1940 to support families in need at BA. THANK YOU!

KUDOS: To all BA students for their special time and joy shared with their DMCS buddies!

GO CARDINALS! Our basketball games are hot as well as our students in coop sports - way to go BA athletes!

Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL-BA UPDATES

Student Service Club Pregnancy Options Collection to Feb 11
BA's Student Service Club is collecting items to to be donated to Pregnancy Options. Items needed include: diapers (size 4, 5, 6), baby wipes & hygiene items, post-it notes, paper products (facial tissues, toilet paper), and cleaning supplies (wipes, bathroom cleaner). Please  place donated items in the crib outside Mrs. Kriechbaum's room by Thurs, Feb 11.  

Sick students and distance learning
If your student is sick, please email the attendance line or call 507-334-3948. Please do not email your student’s teachers. We do NOT expect sick students to join classes online. They should stay home and check PowerSchool for missing assignments once they are well. A student will NOT transition to formal distance learning at BA unless an extended illness or quarantine warrants this transition. Contact Mrs. Reeder for online learning concerns/requests. Find full information on our sick/covid/distance learning policies here. 

BABS April 10: Save the Date!! / Parent Volunteers Needed
Bethlehem Academy Backers and Supporters (BABS) is BA’s largest annual fundraiser and a fun adult social event where we celebrate BA and raise funds for our beloved school. BABS 2021 will be held the evening of April 10. This “Denim and Diamonds” themed event will feature casino games, a silent & live auction (virtual and onsite) as well as food and drink. All parents, alumni, and friends over 21 years of age are invited! Attendance will be limited. Volunteers as well as live or silent auction items are needed. Contact Mrs. Reeder if you can help this great event.

Shadow Days & Tours
Does your student have a friend interested in BA? Invite them to join them for a shadow day or for a personal family tour. Sign up to shadow here; sign up for a family tour (offered Mon-Fri from 3-6pm) here. Applications are now open for 2021-2022! Find more information on our admission page.

Facemasks and BA Car Clings Available for Sale
We are now selling BA facemasks and car clings in the BA Front Office! Click here for more information. Send in payment (cash or check made out to BA) with your order to Tammy in the front office or email Tammy with any questions. 

Wanted: Spring Sports Coaches
We have the following spring sports coaching positions open: Head Baseball, Assistant Baseball, Middle School Baseball, Head Track & Field, Assistant Track & Field (# of assistants to be determined). If you or someone you know is interested please contact Athletic Director Ed Friesen at efriesen@bacards.org.  March 29 is the planned start date for spring sports.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

Juniors: FREE ACT Science Prep Class Feb 24
Mrs. Cathy Guth is offering a FREE ACT science seminar Wed, Feb 24, from 8am-12pm. The session will be held at BA (it's a non-class WIN day). The ACT prep book will be provided. Mrs. Guth will focus on science concepts and skills and test taking and pacing strategies for the ACT test. Students will also take a practice science test. Interested juniors should email Mrs. Rogers by Feb 19 at 3pm if they wish to attend this FREE course.

Virtual Drivers Training Sessions this Spring
Cannon River Driving School is offering 3 virtual classroom drivers training sessions this spring. Sessions start Feb 22, March 15, and April 5. See attached flyer for more information and to sign up. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of So MN Seeking 10th Grade Volunteer
The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is seeking a 10th grade male student to be a BIG to a student at DMCS. This is a wonderful volunteer program that makes such a difference in the lives of participants! Contact Ms. Rogers if interested in being a Big or want to learn more about the program. 

Current 10th & 11th Grade Students: PSEO for Fall 2021
Students interested in taking PSEO courses at South Central or other colleges and universities must discuss this option with the counselor before February 22. Please note that many schools have deadlines as early as the beginning of April. FAQs about PSEO can be found here on the Counselor's Corner page on the BA website. If you have any questions concerning PSEO, please email Ms. Rogers.

SENIORS:

Senior Girls: Local P.E.O. Scholarship
Faribault's P.E.O. chapter offers an up to $1000 scholarship to local senior girls planning to pursue a college education. The scholarship form and essay prompts are due April 2.

College Scholarship Opportunities
There are several national and local scholarships available with deadlines in March, including the Schulze Family Foundation Scholarship, Tri-Lakes Sportsman’s Club Scholarship, Faribo 4 Kids Thomas Laughlin Scholarship, Allina Health Orthopedics Sports Medicine Scholarship, and the Steele-Waseca Electric Coop College Scholarship. Have your students check the Scholarships section of Naviance (find video here; find Naviance information on our web page here) or email Ms. Rogers to find out more. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

Aim Higher Scholarship Giveaway
In honor of Catholic Schools Week, the Aim Higher Foundation is giving away two $1000 scholarships to K-8 students attending Archdiocesan Catholic schools in 2021-2022. Register here by midnight Saturday, Feb 6 to enter your name in the drawing!

AIM Higher K-8 Scholarship
The Aim Higher Scholarship is a $1,000, student-based scholarship awarded to K-8 students from families with demonstrated need. This year's application deadline is February 20, 2021. Application is via the online TADS financial aid form found here. Click here to find more information via the English flyer and the Spanish flyer.

MS Positivity Project
In our religion classes MS scholars will be looking for the characteristic of perseverance within themselves and in their classmates. Perseverance, a quality we want all of our students to strive toward, is our current focus. Please continue to have discussions at home on these topics.

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH (DMCC) & SCHOOL (DMCS) UPDATES

DMCS Annual Catholic United Financial Raffle to Feb 28
Divine Mercy Catholic School students are selling $5 raffle tickets through Feb 28. Order tickets on their website or contact the school at 507-334-7706 if interested. Thank you for your support of our Catholic schools!

WOMEN'S LENTEN SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITY
Set a Fire is our “Blessed is She” reflection book for your Lenten journey this year. We believe every woman can fully live her life when she’s guided by the Holy Spirit. Divine Mercy Catholic Church is offering several in-person and online small group options. It is free to participate in the small groups; purchasing the book is strongly encouraged. There is an option on the form to purchase a book through us to save on shipping. Small groups start the week after Ash Wednesday (Feb 17). See the registration form for information on times and locations. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/setafire for more information.

Middle School Edge/High School Youth Group
Middle School EDGE & High School Youth Group is open to all BA families. This is another great opportunity for your students to gather with others that want to grow in their faith and to enhance what they are learning in the classroom. Registration is required for both. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/faith-formation for more information. 

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Faribault Soccer Association Summer Registration
Registration for the Faribault Soccer Association summer program is now open. The deadline to register for Traveling Soccer is February 6th. The players age is their age on December 31, 2021. Register online here; more information on the website here. 

JO Volleyball, Gr 4-11 Sign Up
The Faribault Reds Volleyball Program is currently in the process of developing a plan for a JO Volleyball Season. All girls in grades 4-11 interested in participating are welcome! We do not have dates set at this time, but would be looking at mid-late February or early March for a start-up. Many play dates (especially for high school level athletes) would take place on Sundays as Saturdays may currently be used by winter sports teams for make-up games as needed. Please fill out the Google form at this link for each player in your household that would be interested in playing. Please email Chris Bothun at bothunchristine@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

 

ATTACHMENTS

*Easter Plant Fundraiser Order Form
*Cannon River Driving School Registration Form