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Family Focus 10/6/23

10/10/2023

Kris Sauer

October 2023, 2023-24

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"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)

October 6, 2023

Here is a look at our schedule for next week:


REMINDERS: BA scholars should not be arriving before 7:30 a.m. unless they have a meeting. If you do need to drop off your scholar earlier, please let the office know and tell your child that they should report to the cafeteria prior to 7:30 a.m. Email: attendance@bacards.org

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.

• Oct. 6: Homecoming!
  • 7:00 pm Football game vs Kenyon-Wanamingo, Cardinal Family Youth Night
  • Post-Game-HS Students: High School Student Homecoming Dance (see info in HS section below) 
  • Post-Game: Parent/Alumni Social @ Corks & Pints/10,000 Drops. First 100 adults get at $1 off their beverage of choice. Join us!
• Oct. 11: Student of the Month celebrated in the gym @ 7:30 am
• Oct. 14: Spooktacular! Register HERE; Pledge form, prize & shoe drive information HERE. 
• Oct. 17: 1pm dismissal (regular Faribault 3pm bus schedule) parent/teacher conferences from 2-6:30pm, sign up here to meet with your scholar's teachers
• Oct. 18-20: NO SCHOOL, MEA Break 

BA JOB OPENINGS: Have a flexible schedule? Consider driving our student van in the morning (6:50-7:50) and/or in the afternoons after fall sports finish. We are also in need of a part-time kitchen assistant. Email ksauer@bacards.org if interested.

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• The BA Annual Fund drive goal is: $255,000. Each gift supports our scholars and staff directly. Please consider a gift or call to set up a meeting at 507-334-3948. To date we have already received $56,269-THANK YOU! Donate online at: Annual Fund
• SAVE THE DATE! On November 3rd at 1 p.m. we will host the Bethlehem Academy Sponsorship Transition Ceremony for Dominican Veritas Ministries - Parents invited! Guest speaker: former BA Principal Sr. Kathleen Theis, OP.

Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL BA UPDATE

Oct. 14 Spooktacular & Shoe Drive: Join the fun! Register for the Spooktacular Race for Catholic education HERE. Raise $125/family and get in on the Squishmallow and BA sweatshirt drawings. Top fundraising family wins a Halloween yard inflatable! All proceeds benefit BA & help us keep costs down. Click HERE for the pledge sheet with more information. New this year - old tennis shoe drive for St. Vincent de Paul (+ coupon)-turn in your gently used shoes in the BA office. Click HERE for more info.

Trunk or Treat Oct 31: Volunteer trunks needed for the BA/DMCS community-wide Trunk or Treat event Tuesday, October 31 from 4-6pm in the BA/DMCS parking lots. This is a parent and student service hour event. Sign up to host a trunk HERE. 

Tastefully Simple Wolf Ridge 8th Grade Fundraiser:  From Oct. 9-Nov. 6, 8th graders are hosting a Tastefully Simple fundraiser to raise money for their February Wolf Ridge trip. Place an order with one of our 8th graders or order online directly at this link and 100% of all profits go to this trip! Contact Kris Shuda for questions about the fundraiser; Julie Smisek for Qs about the trip. 

Rome Pilgrimage June 2024: It's not too late to sign up for the 2024 Pilgrimage to Rome! Highlights of the trip will include St. Peter’s Basilica Mass and tour, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, San Francesco - 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. Trip is open to current high school students and adults.  Please contact Ms. Caryn Coller for more details or student permission slip. Click HERE for our travel company information.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Homecoming Dance, Oct. 6: The Homecoming Dance follows the football game at BA.  Approximate start time is 9:30pm and will end at midnight. Students in grades 9-12 may attend the dance. Cost of the dance is $5 or a package of socks. BA students may bring 1 guest who does not attend BA. That guest needs to be 9^th grade or older. This form must be completed for any guest attending the dance. The form is also available in the office and must be turned in by Thursday, October 5. Guest must arrive with the BA student who signed them up for the dance. Note: If students ask to leave the dance early, we will ask to talk to a parent to let them know your student is leaving the dance.

Juniors! PSAT Exam: A reminder that 11th graders need to let Mr. Uphus know by Monday, Oct. 9 if they will take the free PSAT exam on Oct. 26. Click HERE for more information on the exam and the related National Merit Scholarship Program.

Juniors! MN House Page Program: applications due Nov 23. Go to our scholarship page HERE for more information. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES 
MS Halloween Dance Oct 27, 7-9pm: The Junior Class Prom Committee is hosting a Halloween dance for MS students. Cost is $10/student, permission slip & payment due Oct 23. Parent chaperones needed! Sign up HERE. 

ATHLETICS UPDATES
Registration for Winter Cooperative Sports through Faribault Public Schools is now open.  This includes Dance, Hockey, Wrestling, Gymnastics and Boys Swimming.  Registration is to be done through Faribault's Infinite Campus Portal.  Click here for an InfiniteCampus portal account application form.  Or, contact portalhelp@faribault.k12.mn.us for assistance in setting up an account.
*Dance season begins October 23.  Students participating in dance must be registered by October 20.  Those dance participants that are in the choreography group need be registered by Monday, October 9.

Boys Basketball Assistant Coach Opening:  Bethlehem Academy has an opening for an assistant boys basketball coach.  Interested individuals may contact Ed Friesen (efriesen@bacards.org or 507-334-3948 x205) for more information and to apply.


DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES


Click HERE for LifeLine Registration.













































Order your Christmas decor online at www.divinemercy.cc/youth by October 25.

 

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 9/29/23

10/04/2023

Kris Sauer

September 2023, 2023-24

Leave a comment

"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)

September 29, 2023
An update from the BA Board:
The BA Board has met several times this week to discuss the leadership transition at Bethlehem Academy.

At this time, the Board’s immediate priority is to recruit and hire an interim leader as soon as possible to lead us through this school year. Concurrently, we are also evaluating BA’s leadership needs to determine the best leadership structure for the 2024-2025 school year, with the goal of having this in place for recruitment of that position in early 2024.

We will continue to provide updates on this process. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated not only through this transition but daily for the students as they become our next generation of Christian leaders. Veritas!
Sincerely,
Cory Caron, Board of Directors Chairperson, cory.caron@yahoo.com

HOMECOMING REMINDERS: Homecoming week is full of traditions and events. Administration has reminded scholars that for all events, we are to be safe and appropriate, following CARDS. Please encourage this at home as well for any unsanctioned events. We want this to be fun week for all. Please Note: We discourage middle school students from doing any out-of-school activities. They are invited to dress up and join us for all of the events at school this week as well as the game on Friday. See below for more details on the week.

Here is a look at our schedule for next week:


REMINDERS: BA scholars should not be arriving before 7:30 a.m. unless they have a meeting. If you do need to drop off your scholar earlier, please let the office know and tell your child that they should report to the cafeteria prior to 7:30 a.m. Email: attendance@bacards.org

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.

• Sept. 29: Paradise Center for the Arts Student Exhibit Reception, 5-7pm: Opening reception for BA student artwork featured in the PCA's Corey Lyn Creger Art Gallery. 
• Oct. 2-6: HOMECOMING WEEK! See below for themed dress down days & more information
• Oct. 5: Knowledge Bowl meeting, 7:45am, open to all Gr 7-12 students, email Dave Wollin with questions.
• Oct. 6: **No Parking in the BA Main Lot**2pm early dismissal** Parents are welcome to join us for the following Homecoming events: 
  • 12:00 pm Pep Fest: Welcome, Skits, Coaches speak, Co-op Team Recognition
  • 1:00 pm Homecoming King Coronation 
  • 1:30 pm Parade 
  • 7:00 pm Football game vs Kenyon-Wanamingo, Cardinal Family Youth Night
  • Post-Game-HS Students: High School Student Homecoming Dance (see info in HS section below) 
  • Post-Game: Parent/Alumni Social @ Corks & Pints/10,000 Drops. First 100 adults get at $1 off their beverage of choice. Join us!
• Oct. 11: Student of the Month celebrated in the gym
• Oct. 14: Spooktacular! Register HERE; Pledge form, prize & shoe drive information HERE. 
• Oct. 17: 1pm dismissal, parent/teacher conferences from 2-6:30pm, watch for a sign up coming soon
• Oct. 18-20: NO SCHOOL, MEA Break 

BA JOB OPENINGS: Have a flexible schedule? Consider driving our student van in the morning (6:50-7:50) and/or in the afternoons after fall sports finish. We are also in need of a part-time kitchen assistant and a gambling program manager. 
Email mreeder@bacards.org if interested.

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• The BA Annual Fund drive goal is: $255,000. Each gift supports our scholars and staff directly. Please consider a gift or call to set up a meeting at 507-334-3948. To date we have already received $56,269-THANK YOU! Donate online at: Annual Fund
• SAVE THE DATE! On November 3rd at 1 p.m. we will host the Bethlehem Academy Sponsorship Transition Ceremony for Dominican Veritas Ministries - Parents invited! Guest speaker: former BA Principal Sr. Kathleen Theis, OP.

Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL BA UPDATE

Homecoming 2023 Themed Dress Down Days

• Mon., Oct 2: Color Day 6^th grade: red; 7^th grade: black; 8^th grade: white; 9^th grade: green; 10^th grade: blue; 11^th grade: purple; 12^th grade: pink
• Tues., Oct 3: Gray Out + Anything But a Backpack
• Wed., Oct 4: Mass Attire; 8:30 Mass w/DMCS
• Thurs., Oct 5: Teacher/Student Role Reversal Day
• Fri., Oct 6: Cardinal Spirit Wear 

Homecoming Parade, Friday, October 6, 1:30pm: join us for the homecoming parade! Click HERE for the parade route. 

Parent Volunteers Needed! There are many parent service hour opportunities in the month of October. Click here for all the options. Thank you for sharing your time and talent in support of BA!

Welcome New Staff!
Nurse Michele Germscheid: My husband Steve and I live in New Prague. We have 4 children: Zach, Claire, Simon, and Michael, and 1 grandbaby, Leah, who is almost 8 months old. I grew up in New Prague and attended St.Wenceslaus Catholic School through 8th grade. I am excited to meet everybody, and hope for a school year somewhere between happy and healthy!

Spring Play Director, William McIntyre: Will is a 2019 BA alum who is thrilled to be back at BA to direct the spring play! Will graduated from St. Olaf May 2023 with a degree in Theater, Sociology, and Anthropology. He participated in many productions at St. Olaf, on top of participating in multiple choirs, including the St. Olaf Choir. Stay tuned to hear what the spring show will be! 

Oct. 14 Spooktacular & Shoe Drive: Join the fun! Register for the Spooktacular Fun Run for Catholic education HERE. Raise $125/family and get in on the Squishmallow and BA sweatshirt drawings. Top fundraising family wins a Halloween yard inflatable! Click HERE for the pledge sheet with more information. New this year - old tennis shoe drive for St. Vincent de Paul (+ coupon)-turn in your gently used shoes in the BA office. Click HERE for more info.

Trunk or Treat Oct 31: Volunteer trunks needed for the BA/DMCS community-wide Trunk or Treat event Tuesday, October 31 from 4-6pm in the BA/DMCS parking lots. This is a parent and student service hour event. Sign up to host a trunk HERE. 

Home and School: Reminder to please pay your $30 Home and School dues! Scan the QR code at left to pay via Venmo or send a check in to the BA front office. Thank you!

Rome Pilgrimage June 2024: It's not too late to sign up for the 2024 Pilgrimage to Rome! Highlights of the trip will include St. Peter’s Basilica Mass and tour, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, San Francesco - 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. Trip is open to current high school students and adults.  Please contact Ms. Caryn Coller for more details or student permission slip. Click HERE for our travel company information.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
National Honor Society Applications Due Oct. 2: Forms available in the BA front office. All eligible juniors and seniors who are not already NHS members were sent an email inviting them to apply.

Homecoming Dance, Oct. 6: The Homecoming Dance follows the football game at BA.  Approximate start time is 9:30pm and will end at midnight. Students in grades 9-12 may attend the dance. Cost of the dance is $5 or a package of socks. BA students may bring 1 guest who does not attend BA. That guest needs to be 9^th grade or older. This form must be completed for any guest attending the dance. The form is also available in the office and must be turned in by Thursday, October 5. Guest must arrive with the BA student who signed them up for the dance. Note: If students ask to leave the dance early, we will ask to talk to a parent to let them know your student is leaving the dance.

Juniors! PSAT Exam: A reminder that 11th graders need to let Mr. Uphus know by Monday, Oct. 9 if they will take the free PSAT exam on Oct. 26. Click HERE for more information on the exam and the related National Merit Scholarship Program.

Juniors! MN House Page Program: applications due Nov 23. Go to our scholarship page HERE for more information. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES 
MS Halloween Dance Oct 27, 7-9pm: The Junior Class Prom Committee is hosting a Halloween dance for MS students. Cost is $10/student, permission slip & payment due Oct 23. Parent chaperones needed! Sign up HERE. 

DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES







LifeLine Registration at www.divinemercy.cc/youth.




Order your Christmas decor online at www.divinemercy.cc/youth

 

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 9/22/23

09/26/2023

Kris Sauer

September 2023, 2023-24

Leave a comment

"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)

September 22, 2023

A Message from the BA Board Chair:
Dear Bethlehem Academy Community,

Thank you for your continued support of our great Catholic school! 

I want to provide a quick update on transition planning following Mindy’s announcement that her last day will be October 13. The board and faculty/staff met and have started the foundational open discussions for an interim coverage plan, as well as what is required for future leadership structure for long term success. The board will be meeting again next week and will continue to provide updates through this process. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated not only through this transition but daily for the students as they become our next generation of Christian leaders. Veritas! 

Sincerely,
Cory Caron, Board of Directors Chairperson, cory.caron@yahoo.com

President/Principal Message:
Dear BA Families: 
Completion of our first month of school! This is a great opportunity to check in with your scholar on their progress in each class as we are midway through this first quarter. 

Please welcome Gina Yetzer to our school family. Gina is our new Office Administrative Assistant - stop in and introduce yourself!
Hello, I’m Gina Yeltzer and am very happy to be at BA and back working in a Christian environment! My husband, Joe, is Chief Deputy for the county and we have three children: Gabrielle (20, studying at Eckard College), Isaac (17, senior at FHS) and Eddie (15, sophomore at FHS). We are an active family who loves to be outdoors on the beach or skiing in the mountains. I appreciate your patience as I learn all my new duties and look forward to the year ahead.

Here is a look at our schedule for next week:

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.

• Sept. 25: National Food Service Day - Thank our lunch team!
• Sept 25-28: Middle School MAP testing-be sure students have fully charged laptops every day this week!
• Sept. 26: Rome Trip Dress Down $$1 sweats; $2 leggings
  • Homecoming t-shirt orders due by 1pm. 
• Sept. 27: Guatemala Trip Bake Sale before and after school; items range from $1-4.
• Sept. 28: School picture day! Photo order forms sent home today (9/22), extra copies available in the front office.
• Sept. 29: 7th Grade field trip to River Bend Nature Center
  • No PM Faribault busing; Faribault public schools will dismiss and buses will run at 1pm due to the Faribault homecoming parade. BA will be in session regular hours that day; the BA van will run at our normal dismissal time. 
  • Paradise Center for the Arts Student Exhibit Reception, 5-7pm: Opening reception for BA student artwork featured in the PCA's Corey Lyn Creger Art Gallery. 
• Oct. 2-6: HOMECOMING WEEK! See below for themed dress down days & more information
• Oct 6: Parent/Alumni Social @ Corks & Pints following the football game. First 100 adults get at $1 off their beverage of choice. Join us!

BA JOB OPENINGS: Have a flexible schedule? Consider driving our student van in the morning (6:50-7:50) and/or in the afternoons after fall sports finish. We are also in need of a part-time kitchen assistant and a gambling program manager. Email mreeder@bacards.org if interested.

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

• The BA Annual Fund drive goal is: $255,000. Each gift supports our scholars and staff directly. Please consider a gift or call to set up a meeting at 507-334-3948. To date we have already received $49,212-THANK YOU! Donate online at: Annual Fund
• SAVE THE DATE! On November 3rd at 1 p.m. we will host the Bethlehem Academy Sponsorship Transition Ceremony for Dominican Veritas Ministries - Parents invited! Guest speaker: former BA Principal Sr. Kathleen Theis, OP.
• Nov. 5: New - Founder's Day 50 Fundraiser!  Details to come!

Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org

ALL BA UPDATE

Homecoming 2023 Themed Dress Down Days

• Mon., Oct 2: Color Day 6^th grade: red; 7^th grade: black; 8^th grade: white; 9^th grade: green; 10^th grade: blue; 11^th grade: purple; 12^th grade: pink
• Tues., Oct 3: Gray Out + Anything but a Backpack
• Wed., Oct 4: Mass Attire
• Thurs., Oct 5: Teacher/Student Role Reversal Day
• Fri., Oct 6: Cardinal Spirit Wear

Homecoming Week 2023: Theme - Knock out the Knights 2.0! T-shirt orders due Tues, Sept 26. Week features daily themed dress down days (see above). Wednesday is the DMCS & BA Mass at 8:30, followed by student buddy activities. A pep fest is held Friday noon in Van Orsow Auditorium followed by Homecoming King coronation at 1:00pm. All are invited to attend. (Note that by longstanding tradition, BA crowns a Homecoming King but not a Homecoming Queen. Instead, seniors elect a SnoBall Queen at the winter SnoBall.) The Homecoming parade typically begins around 1:30pm Friday following the pep fest. Note that students are dismissed after the parade concludes, usually around 2:00pm. (Faribault buses run on a normal dismissal schedule.) The Homecoming dance follows the Homecoming football game and is a mixer (not an “ask” dance) open to all high school students. Non-BA high school students may attend the homecoming mixer if registered in the main office prior to the event. This year, BA will host a parent/alumni social at Corks and Pints Friday night following the football game. First 100 people through the door get $1 off a drink of their choice!

Spooktacular & Shoe Drive: Join the fun! Register for the Oct 14 Spooktacular Fun Run for Catholic education HERE. Watch for details on fabulous participant prizes. New this year - old tennis shoe drive for St. Vincent de Paul (+ coupon.) Click HERE for more info.

Trunk or Treat Oct 31: Volunteer trunks needed for the BA/DMCS community-wide Trunk or Treat event Tuesday, October 31 from 4-6pm in the BA/DMCS parking lots. This is a parent and student service hour event. Sign up to host a trunk HERE. 

Home and School: Reminder to please pay your $30 Home and School dues! Scan the QR code at left to pay via Venmo or send a check in to the BA front office. Thank you!

Rome Pilgrimage June 2024: It's not too late to sign up for the 2024 Pilgrimage to Rome! Highlights of the trip will include St. Peter’s Basilica Mass and tour, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, San Francesco - 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. Trip is open to current high school students and adults.  Please contact Ms. Caryn Coller for more details or student permission slip. Click HERE for our travel company information.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES

National Honor Society Applications Due Oct 2: Forms available in the BA front office. All eligible juniors and seniors who are not already NHS members were sent an email inviting them to apply.

DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES

































Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center in Prior Lake, MN
is offering a Family Retreat, Oct 20-22, 2023, titled:
God is Near: Knowing God-with-Us.

• Arrive Friday between 4:00-7:00 p.m. Depart Sunday by 12:30. Suggested offering: $50 deposit per family; $190 per adult; $50 for kids; children five/under free. 

Register by clicking the button below or call 952.447.2182 (Tues-Fri 9:00-4:00).

 

 

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

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