Monthly Archives : December 2023
Family Focus 12/15/23
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (Campus Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2023-2024)
December 15, 2023
Dear BA Families:
Please join us this Sunday at 1:30pm for our Christmas concert featuring our middle and high school bands and choirs. It promises to be a joyful afternoon of music! Christmas is indeed in the air - classrooms are festive, special Advent prayers start our days, FFA's fruit orders are in, candy grams have been ordered, and next week Prom is hosting a before-school hot chocolate/treats table Monday through Wednesday.
High school students will have finals Tuesday through Friday, find the schedule below. A reminder that DMCS will have their Christmas concert here at BA Tuesday afternoon, Dec 19, so there will be no parking in our main lot on Tuesday to accommodate their guests.
Home and School is seeking parent volunteers to provide baked goods and drinks for their annual Christmas Luncheon for our faculty and staff. Click here to sign up. Donations can be sent in to school with your student(s) the morning of December 21st and dropped off in the office. Thanks so much!
Board Update on BA Leadership: The Board's Leadership Task Force has been meeting and is making progress on a leadership model as we look to replace Mrs. Reeder in her role as President/Principal. The Board plans to meet mid-January with a goal of posting a job description and starting the hiring process at the end of January/early February.
Financial Update: Have you purchased a cash raffle ticket yet? We are a week away from our drawing on December 21. Get your $25 ticket and help us hit our goal to sell 400 tickets. Our Annual Fund goal is to raise $255,000 for operating expenses not covered by tuition; $147,000 has been donated so far. Consider a year end gift and donate HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.
- Dec. 16: Chad Johnson Post-Prom event, see flyer below
- Dec. 17: Band/Choir Christmas Concert, 1:30pm, BA Gym
- Dec. 18-20: Prom selling hot chocolate, other treats before school
- Dec 19-21: High School Finals, see below for schedule
- Dec. 20: BA-hosted Red Cross Blood Drive, 9am-2pm, at DMCC Sign up HERE
- Dec. 21: 1pm dismissal
- Dec. 21: Crooked Pint Dining Night Out for Post-Prom
- Dec. 22-Jan. 3: Christmas Break
- Jan 4, 2024: 1st day of Semester 2
A host family is still need for a 6th grade student from South Korea. Please contact Kris Sauer if interested.
As we enter the final week of the semester, please encourage your students to stay focused and well rested as they prepare for their finals and semester-end projects.
Blessings, The BA Leadership Team
John Wollersheim, Ed Friesen, Brent Zabel, Kris Sauer, Stephen Uphus
Click on individual names to contact a member of the Leadership Team or email the entire team at leadership@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATE
Lost and Found: The lost and found tables in the cafeteria are full! Claim your items before we break for Christmas. Click HERE to see what is here at school. All items still at BA on December 22 will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you!
Just 100 Tickets to Go! We are in the last week of our Autumn Cash Raffle and need to only sell 100 more tickets to meet our budget for this fundraiser. If you can, please purchase at least ONE $25 ticket. Drawing will be held Dec. 21, with cash prizes of $2023, $1023, and $523 for the lucky winners. Click HERE to order your ticket today!
Update from the Nurse's Office: We have added information on current COVID-19 protocols recommended by the MN Department of Health on our website. Click HERE for the latest information.
Rome Pilgrimage June 7-18, 2024: 10 participants needed or trip will cancel! More high school students or adults are needed for our 2024 Pilgrimage to Rome! Highlights of the trip will include St. Peter’s Basilica mass and tour, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Church of St. Francis, and Michelangelo’s David. Cost for trip is $3,995 which includes airfare, accommodations, transportation in Rome and to Assisi and Florence, as well as most meals. Please contact Ms. Caryn Coller (ccoller@bacards.org) for more details or student permission slip. Find the link to our travel company with more info here: Ciaoromatravel.com.
Yearbook Orders: Multimedia student have been working hard on the 2023-2024 yearbook. If you order by Jan. 26, the price is $69 + tax. Click HERE to order online. Please contact Mrs. Kallie Battles at with questions.
ATHLETICS UPDATES
Parent Volunteers needed for home basketball games:
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Semester 1 High School Finals Schedule
Post-Prom Planning Meeting: Wednesday, January 10, 5:30pm in the BA Cafeteria. All junior class parents encouraged to attend!
Drivers Training @ BA: Cannon River Driving School is hosting driver's training for interested students the weeks of March 11 and March 18, 2024. Classes will run Monday-Friday from 3:15-6:30pm at BA. Cost $125/student. Registration closes March 8; at least 10 student must enroll to run the course at BA. Register for class and behind the wheel at this link; register for class only here. Contact Denise at deniseruegercmt@yahoo.com with questions.
Seniors: College Scholarship Info: Go to our scholarship page HERE for updated local and national college scholarship offerings.
Register for the Eucharistic Congress here: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/4cb0329e-b079-490f-a808-16c9d3c1d5b6
COMMUNITY NEWS
Faribault Soccer Summer Programs: Registration is now open for summer soccer leagues and camp opportunities through Shattuck-St. Mary's. Click here for more information in both English and Spanish.
Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/
Family Focus 12-8-23
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (Campus Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2023-2024)
December 10, 2023
Dear BA Families:
We gathered Friday at Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Wednesday the Intercultural Club distributed Dutch Speculaas cookies to students to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas; next week we continue our Advent preparations for the birth of Jesus with reconciliation. It is such a joy to have the opportunity to live out our faith in these ways as a school community!
Financial Update: Have you purchased a cash raffle ticket yet? We are 2 weeks away from our drawing on December 21. Get your $25 ticket and help us hit our goal to sell 400 tickets. Our Annual Fund goal is to raise $255,000 for operating expenses not covered by tuition. Consider a year end gift and donate HERE.
Host Family Needed for January 2024: We have a 6th grade South Korean boy who wants to join us for the 2nd semester (January 2024). His English is very strong, he loves basketball but is allergic to cats. Please consider opening your home to this student! Monthly stipend and tuition credit provided. Contact Kris for information and details.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.
- Dec. 9: Mission Trip Movie Night, DMCS gym, 6:30pm, see info below
- Dec. 12: Reconciliation, special schedule
- Dec. 13: SADD's Ugly Christmas Sweater $$ Dress Down
- Dec. 15: Rome Trip Candy Gram orders due
- Dec. 15: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, 10:30am
- Dec. 16: Chad Johnson Post-Prom event, see flyer below
- Dec. 17: Band/Choir Christmas Concert, 1:30pm, BA Gym
- Dec. 20: BA-hosted Red Cross Blood Drive, 9am-2pm, at DMCC Sign up HERE
- Dec 19-21: High School Finals, see below for schedule
- Dec. 21: 1pm dismissal -
- Dec. 21: Crooked Pint Dining Night Out for Post-Prom
- Dec. 22-Jan. 3: Christmas Break
- Jan 4, 2024: 1st day of Semester 2
- Middle School: 3-4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Room 204 with Mrs. Kohl
- High School: 3-3:30pm Monday and Wednesday, Room 105 with Ms. Ashley
Finally, we say goodbye today to Tammy Donahue, who has served on our lunch team for the past seven years. Our thanks and best wishes to Tammy - she will be missed!
Blessings, The BA Leadership Team
John Wollersheim, Ed Friesen, Brent Zabel, Kris Sauer, Stephen Uphus
ALL BA UPDATE
Parent Help Needed! We are currently in the last 3 weeks of our Autumn Cash Raffle. Our budget is to raise $10,000 through this fundraiser. Please help us reach our goal and purchase at least ONE $25 ticket. Drawing to be held Dec. 21, with cash prizes of $2023, $1023, and $523 for the lucky winners. Click HERE to order your ticket today!
Help Sell Raffle Tickets! Parent and student volunteers are needed after all DMCC Masses this month and at the Dec 16 Chad Johnson event to sell raffle tickets. This is a parent and student service hour opportunity. Sign up HERE.
Rome Pilgrimage June 7-18, 2024: 10 participants needed or trip will cancel! More high school students or adults are needed for our 2024 Pilgrimage to Rome! Highlights of the trip will include St. Peter’s Basilica mass and tour, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Church of St. Francis, and Michelangelo’s David. Cost for trip is $3,995 which includes airfare, accommodations, transportation in Rome and to Assisi and Florence, as well as most meals. Please contact Ms. Caryn Coller (ccoller@bacards.org) for more details or student permission slip. Find the link to our travel company with more info here: Ciaoromatravel.com.
Yearbook Orders: Multimedia student have been working hard on the 2023-2024 yearbook. If you order by Jan. 26, the price is $69 + tax. Click HERE to order online. Please contact Mrs. Kallie Battles at with questions.
ATHLETICS UPDATES
Parent Volunteers needed for home basketball games:
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Semester 1 High School Finals Schedule
Post-Prom Planning Meeting: Wednesday, January 10, 5:30pm in the BA Cafeteria. All junior class parents encouraged to attend!
Drivers Training @ BA: Cannon River Driving School is hosting driver's training for interested students the weeks of March 11 and March 18, 2024. Classes will run Monday-Friday from 3:15-6:30pm at BA. Cost $125/student. Registration closes March 8; at least 10 student must enroll to run the course at BA. Register for class and behind the wheel at this link; register for class only here. Contact Denise at deniseruegercmt@yahoo.com with questions.
Seniors: College Scholarship Info: Go to our scholarship page HERE for updated local and national college scholarship offerings.
DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES
Register for the Eucharistic Congress here: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/4cb0329e-b079-490f-a808-16c9d3c1d5b6
COMMUNITY NEWS
Faribault Soccer Summer Programs: Registration is now open for summer soccer leagues and camp opportunities through Shattuck-St. Mary's. Click here for more information in both English and Spanish.
Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/
Family Focus 12/1/23
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (Campus Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2023-2024)
December 1, 2023
Dear BA Families:
This Sunday begins the Advent season and with it, the opportunity to center our thoughts on hope. As Fr. Mike Schmitz says in this video, advent "is a season of devout and joyful preparation for the coming of Jesus." At BA, we have added Advent wreaths to our classrooms and hallways, and the manger is set up in our lobby as we await the birth of Jesus. Special morning prayers, reconciliation, and special Masses to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe are among the ways we will prepare for the season.
Thank you to all our grandparents who joined us November 21! The gym was packed with joyful faces and students and grandparents joined in a prayer service, special activities, and tours of the school. We are indeed blessed!
Fundraising update: We are 3 weeks away from our Autumn Cash Raffle drawing. We are halfway to our goal of raising $10,000 through this fundraiser. Get your $25 ticket today and help us reach $10k by Dec. 21!! Our Annual Fund goal is to raise $255,000 for the general operations of the school, with $137,849 received so far. Consider a year end gift and donate HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.
- Dec. 2: DMCC HS Youth Group devotions & movie night, 6-10pm (see flyer below)
- Dec. 4: Grade 11 retreat
- Dec. 5: NHS $ Dress Down Day
- DMCC Advent Penance Fair, 3-6:30pm (see below)
- Dec. 6: BABS planning meeting, 4pm
- 8th grade parent Wolf Ridge mtg, 6pm, Rm 207
- Dec. 7: 1pm WIN Schedule
- Student of the Month, 7:30am, BA Gym
- Dec. 7: Prom dining night out at Godfather's, 4-7pm
- Dec. 8: Immaculate Conception Mass, 10:30am (parish collection)
- Dec. 9: Mission Trip Movie Night, DMCS gym, 6:30pm
- Dec. 12: Reconciliation, special schedule
- Dec. 15: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, 10:30am
- Dec. 17: Band/Choir Christmas Concert, 1:30pm, BA Gym
- Dec. 20: BA-hosted Red Cross Blood Drive, 9am-2pm, at DMCC Sign up HERE
- Dec. 21: 1pm dismissal
- Dec. 22-Jan. 3: Christmas Break
- Jan 4, 2024: 1st day of Semester 2
- Middle School: 3-4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Room 204 with Mrs. Kohl
- High School: 3-3:30pm Monday and Wednesday, Room 105 with Ms. Ashley
Finally, we are looking for a new kitchen assistant, Mon-Fri, 7:30am-1:30pm. Contact John Wollersheim or Kris Sauer with questions, find the position description HERE.
Blessings, The BA Leadership Team
John Wollersheim, Ed Friesen, Brent Zabel, Kris Sauer, Stephen Uphus
ALL BA UPDATE
Parent Help Needed! We are currently in the last 3 weeks of our Autumn Cash Raffle. Our budget is to raise $10,000 through this fundraiser. Please help us reach our goal and purchase at least ONE $25 ticket. Drawing to be held Dec. 21, with cash prizes of $2023, $1023, and $523 for the lucky winners. Click HERE to order your ticket today!
Help Sell Raffle Tickets! Parent and student volunteers are needed after all DMCC Masses this month and at the Dec 16 Chad Johnson event to sell raffle tickets. This is a parent and student service hour opportunity. Sign up HERE.
Yearbook Orders: Multimedia student have been working hard on the 2023-2024 yearbook. If you order by 1/26/24, the price is $69 + tax. Click HERE to order online. Please contact Mrs. Kallie Battles at with questions.
ATHLETICS UPDATES
Parent Volunteers needed for home basketball games:Basketball Team Apparel:
- Boys Basketball Team Store: https://jpwilder.myshopify.com/collections/ba-cardinals-boys-basketball - Store closes Sunday Night!
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Drivers Training @ BA: Cannon River Driving School is hosting driver's training for interested students the weeks of March 11 and March 18, 2024. Classes will run Monday-Friday from 3:15-6:30pm at BA. Cost $125/student. Registration closes March 8; at least 10 student must enroll to run the course at BA. Registration information coming soon.
Seniors: College Scholarship Info: Go to our scholarship page HERE for updated local and national college scholarship offerings.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
8th Grade Wolf Ridge Parent Meeting: Wednesday, December 6, 6pm in Room 207-208 - Julie Smisek's classrooms. Contact Julie with questions.
DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES
Register for the Eucharistic Congress here: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/4cb0329e-b079-490f-a808-16c9d3c1d5b6
Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/