Family Focus, 5/26/23
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
May 26, 2023
Dear BA Families:
A Cardinal send off to our Seniors! We gathered to recognize scholars from all grades, but especially our seniors, for our 2022-23 BA Awards Day Ceremony. What an honor for our staff to recognize your scholars. Each year brings growth for scholars in all four pillars of: prayer, study, community and service. After the ceremony, staff gathers with seniors for our traditional brunch. This intimate event is our final send-off with our seniors, before commencement. Senior parents - thank you! Thank you for giving your scholar the gift of Catholic education and for partnering with us throughout this journey!
EARLY RELEASE DAYS & DRESS CODE: Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday, May 29. School resumes on Tuesday, May 30th and our last day is Wednesday, May 31st. Our last two days we will release at 1 p.m. Lunch is provided. See the dress code notes, below.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ATHLETES! Our girls' softball brought home the Sub-Section Title with a phenomenal 10-0 victory! Come and cheer them on this next Tuesday, May 30. BA participants in Coop FHS sports are also shining at regional events. Watch the news for all of the updates and progress of our athletes.
STAFFING UPDATES FOR 2023-24:
- New Staff/Positions for 2023-24:
- Brent Zabel as Middle School Dean/Advanced Science Course Teacher.
- Kallie Donahue Battles - 9th and 10th grade science and MS theology.
- Jolene Beske is joining our staff to teach business courses.
- Katy Ashley will be teaching some social studies courses as she begins her teacher training.
- Welcome to our new office team: Nikki Dut as our office secretary and Lori Bittenbender as the office assistant, see write ups, below.
- Please welcome Jon Rysdam, our new Lunch Program Supervisor. His introduction coming soon.
- The BA Annual Fund drive is at $233,900+ with a goal of $265,000 for this academic year! Gifts accepted through June 30, 2023.
- BA Cardinal Club Raffle ticket order forms have been mailed! Get yours early to win!
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day - no school
- Tuesday, May 30: 1pm dismissal, lunch served
- Wednesday, May 31: 1pm dismissal, lunch served - last day of school! *Students may come out of dress code, but dress for the weather and review the "not allowed" list for out-of-dress code days.
- BA Summer events: See below for great ways to support BA and earn service hours for parents and students!
It has been an honor for our staff and faculty to serve your family and your scholar. May summer be a blessing to you and your family, and may God keep you safe in your travels. Until next fall - Fly Cardinals!
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATE
Introducing New BA Staff:
Nikki Dut, Office Secretary: I am honored to be a part of such a brilliant team. I’m a mother of six and have taken in two additional children as well. I love cooking, planning events and fundraising for organizations. I also enjoy reading and learning, walks and outdoors. I am currently completing my bachelor’s degree as well. I look forward to remembering each and everyone’s name and face when I begin at BA!
Lori Bittenbender, Office Assistant: I am looking forward to serving the BA community while working in the front office. Our family has lived in Faribault for the last 5 years. We have an 8th grade daughter at BA and our son will join the Cardinal family as a 6th grader next school year. Our oldest daughter will be a junior at Shattuck St. Mary's where my husband is a teacher. For the past 17 years, I have owned my own business as a public relations freelancer but have also been involved in education field for many years as a reading tutor as well as working and living on boarding school campuses.
23-24 Tuition Agreements: parents with enrolled students for 2023-24 should have received an email with their tuition agreement. Please review your agreement and payment plan. If you need to change the payment schedule of your agreement, please contact Kris Sauer at ksauer@bacards.org or 507-334-3948, x206. If you believe you require additional financial assistance, please complete the form found here.
Order your 2022-2023 BA Yearbook! Click HERE to order online or use the form found here and return to the front office with your payment. Orders due May 31. Contact Mr. Zabel at bzabel@bacards.org with questions.
Save the date for BA summer events! See below for several parent and student summer service opportunities. All are great ways to support BA! See our Events page HERE; more information to follow via parent email.
- Heritage Days Parade, June 17: be on the BA/DMCS float! Student and parent sign up at this link.
- Cardinal Cafe at the Rice County Fair, July 19-25: work the fair stand and get your hours in early! Find the sign up HERE.
- SMART Ride, July 27-29: Bicycle single or multiple days for BA
- Cardinal Golf Classic, Aug 4 at the Faribault Golf Club: Committee members needed - will earn parent hours! Contact Kris at ksauer@bacards.org
Summer Band: High school (gr 8-12) summer band camp late July, early August; high school percussion tryouts due by July 25; band lessons for all grades starting after July 4th. Click HERE for Mr. Lorence's letter with all the details.
Summer Math Tutoring:
- Mrs. Lynette Battles will be offering math tutoring this summer for 4th-8th grade students. Cost is $150 for 6 one hour sessions. Please email her at lbattles@bacards.org for more information and availability.
- Mr. David Gilmore is offering math tutoring for $30/hour this summer. Contact him at David_Gilmore@bacards.org
Summer Camps @ BA: Click HERE for information and registration forms for football, basketball, volleyball, robotics camps and summer voice lessons.
DMCC Summer Programs: Great opportunities this summer through the Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth groups, including Totus Tuus. More info and sign up at this link.
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Juniors: Sign up for STRIVE: STRIVE, a Faribault Rotary-sponsored program is taking registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. Sign up to participate HERE.
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 5-19-23
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
May 19, 2023
Dear BA Families:
May God richly bless our Seniors this next week! Please join us at our Baccalaureate Mass on Wednesday, May 24th or for graduation on Friday, May 26 as we recognize our seniors' hard work and accomplishments. I invite you to also join me in continuing to pray for our seniors.
It is with a heavy heart that I share that John Wollersheim, Assistant Principal, will be officially retiring from his position at BA. He will continue to support BA as a consultant next year. We will be celebrating all of our staff who are retiring during our awards ceremony on Friday, May 26 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Please send cards to honor them.
EARLY RELEASE DAYS & DRESS CODE: Just a reminder that students will be released between 11 and 11:30 a.m. after the BA Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 26. No lunch is provided. There is no school on Monday, May 29 and school on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 30th & 31st ,will release at 1 p.m. Lunch is provided the last two days of school. See the dress code notes, below.
KUDOS to our FFA TEAM! Our FFA Team gathered last Saturday for their banquet, to recognize their leaders, and to commemorate their teams and accolades. Our Dairy team even received an additional national award this week - with a plaque now hanging in our ag department classroom. Congratulations to Mr. Johnson and all of his team!
SUPPORT OUR ATHLETES! Join our athletes this next week as they compete at regional and state competitions. Our girls' softball is ranked #1 in our division! Play off games for them are at home on Monday and Tuesday. Coop sports will also have regional and state competitions, go to the BA sports calendar to support our Cardinals!
STAFFING UPDATES FOR 2023-24:
- BA Staff Retiring: Steve Zabel, Julie Trnka, Barb Johnson, John Wollersheim and Tammy Anderson
- BA Teachers Leaving: Father John Powers, Josh Maus and Mark Nuehring
- New Staff for 2023-24: We welcome Brent Zabel as Middle School Dean. He will continue to also teach the upper level science courses. Ms. Kallie Donahue Battles is joining the BA family as our new 9th and 10th grade science instructor and additional courses. Jolene Beske is joining our staff to teach business courses while Katy Ashley will be teaching some social studies courses as she begins her teacher training.
- The BA Annual Fund drive is at $233,900+ with a goal of $265,000 for this academic year! Gifts accepted through June 30, 2023.
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.
- May 18-31: Click here for a printable copy of the finals/senior week schedule
- Wednesday, May 24: Mary Ceremony in gym @ 1pm, assembly schedule; Baccalaureate at DMCC, 7:30pm
- Friday, May 26: Awards Day @ 9:30am, Mass dress code; grades 6-11 dismissed around 11am, no lunch served; Commencement, 7:30pm
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day - no school
- Tuesday, May 30: 1pm dismissal, lunch served
- Wednesday, May 31: 1pm dismissal, lunch served - last day of school! *Students may come out of dress code, but dress for the weather and review the "not allowed" list for out of dress code days.
- BA Summer events: See below for great ways to support BA and earn service hours for parents and students!
Please join me in prayers this spring as we wrap up our school year, praying for our scholars and teachers in the final weeks of the school year with special prayers for our seniors. Special prayers for Ms. Tondryk and Mr. Wollin as they support their family members.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATE
23-24 Tuition Agreements: parents with enrolled students for 2023-24 should have received an email with their tuition agreement. Please review your agreement and payment plan. If you need to change the payment schedule of your agreement, please contact Kris Sauer at ksauer@bacards.org or 507-334-3948, x206. If you believe you require additional financial assistance, please complete the form found here.
Order your 2022-2023 BA Yearbook! Click HERE to order online or use the form found here and return to the front office with your payment. Orders due May 31. Contact Mr. Zabel at bzabel@bacards.org with questions.
Save the date for BA summer events! See below for several parent and student summer service opportunities. All are great ways to support BA! See our Events page HERE; more information to follow via parent email.
- Heritage Days Parade, June 17: be on the BA/DMCS float!
- Cardinal Cafe at the Rice County Fair, July 19-25: work the fair stand and get your hours in early!
- SMART Ride, July 27-29: Bicycle single or multiple days for BA
- Cardinal Golf Classic, Aug 4 at the Faribault Golf Club: Committee members needed! Contact Kris at ksauer@bacards.org
Summer Band: High school (gr 8-12) summer band camp late July, early August; high school percussion tryouts due by July 25; band lessons for all grades starting after July 4th. Click HERE for Mr. Lorence's letter with all the details.
Summer Math Tutoring:
- Mrs. Lynette Battles will be offering math tutoring this summer for 4th-8th grade students. Cost is $150 for 6 one hour sessions. Please email her at lbattles@bacards.org for more information and availability.
- Mr. David Gilmore is offering math tutoring for $30/hour this summer. Contact him at David_Gilmore@bacards.org
Summer Camps @ BA: Click HERE for information and registration forms for football, basketball, volleyball, robotics camps and summer voice lessons.
DMCC Summer Programs: Great opportunities this summer through the Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth groups, including Totus Tuus. More info and sign up at this link.
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Juniors: Sign up for STRIVE: STRIVE, a Faribault Rotary-sponsored program is taking registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. Sign up to participate HERE.
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 5/12/23
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
May 12, 2023
Dear BA Families:
May events continue! This week our musical students shared their talents at the Spring Concert. From strings, to jazz, and a teacher/student published song, music rang out in the auditorium. Thank you for joining us and a special thank you to Emily Cicha and Brad Lorence for preparing their scholars for a wonderful performance.
Additionally this week, our Houses gathered for the last time this year. We made more than 400 sandwiches for the homeless, worked together in each House to complete a scavenger hunt, and listened to speeches from students running for office as well as a special presentation from Air Force 1st Lt. Joe Belina, OHS '16 and Air Force Academy grad. It was a great week to be Cardinal! Special thanks to all of our teachers during this Teacher Appreciation Week, and to our lunch ladies and maintenance teams for the extra work with Houses and our Spring Concert. THANK YOU!
STAFFING UPDATES FOR 2023-24:
- BA Staff Retiring: Steve Zabel, Julie Trnka, Barb Johnson and Tammy Anderson (Please contact me to learn more.)
- BA Teachers Leaving: Father John Powers, Josh Maus and Mark Nuehring
- New Staff for 2023-24: We welcome Brent Zabel as Middle School Dean. He will continue to also teach the upper level science courses. Ms. Kallie Donahue Battles is joining the BA family as our new 9th and 10th grade science instructor and additional courses. Jolene Beske is joining our staff to teach business courses while Katy Ashley will be teaching some social studies courses as she begins her teacher training.
- The BA Annual Fund drive is at $232,200+ with a goal of $265,000 for this academic year! Gifts accepted through June 30, 2023.
- Watch for information on our Cardinal Club Raffle, the Heritage Days parade June 17, the Cardinal Cafe at the Rice County Fair July 19-23, our SMART Ride July 27-29, and Cardinal Golf Classic August 4!
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar.
- May 17: Guatemala Mission Trip application due
- May 18-31: Click here for a printable copy of the finals/senior week schedule
- Wednesday, May 24: Mary Ceremony in gym @ 1pm, special schedule; Baccalaureate at DMCC, 7:30pm
- Friday, May 26: Awards Day @ 9:30am, grades 6-11 dismissed around 11am, no lunch served; Commencement, 7:30pm
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day - no school
- Tuesday, May 30: 1pm dismissal, lunch served
- Wednesday, May 31: 1pm dismissal, lunch served - last day of school!
Please join me in prayers this spring as we wrap up our school year, praying for our scholars and teachers in the final weeks of the school year with special prayers for our seniors.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATE
Order your 2022-2023 BA Yearbook! Click HERE to order online or use the form found here and return to the front office with your payment. Orders due May 31. Contact Mr. Zabel at bzabel@bacards.org with questions.
Summer Math Tutoring: Lynette Battles will be offering math tutoring this summer for 4th-8th grade students. Cost is $150 for 6 one hour sessions. Please email her at lbattles@bacards.org for more information and availability.
Summer Camps @ BA: Click HERE for information and registration forms for football, basketball, volleyball, robotics camps and summer voice lessons.
DMCC Summer Programs: Great opportunities this summer through the Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth groups, including Totus Tuus. More info and sign up at this link.
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Juniors: Sign up for STRIVE: STRIVE, a Faribault Rotary-sponsored program is taking registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. Sign up to participate HERE.
Reminder: High school after school support is available for students in the library Tuesday - Thursday until 3:30.
Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/