Family Focus 10-7-22
10/12/2022
Kris Sauer
October 2022, 2022-23
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"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
October 7, 2022
Dear BA Families:
Happy Homecoming 2022! Congratulations to our Homecoming King Kyle Ernste and his escort Brooke Johnson! Scholars have had a full week of celebrations and special events. Our joint Homecoming Mass was a beautiful reflection of the Catholic schools of Faribault, from singing to instrumentation and our own alumnus, Fr. Mike Skluzacek 1971, as presider. Thank you for partnering with us throughout the week and and reminders to our scholars of appropriate behavior expectations. I hope to see you at our 7pm game tonight, Friday, Oct. 7 at Bruce Smith Field as we cheer on our Cardinals!
CONFERENCES! Fall BA Conferences 6-12th grade are slated for Tuesday, October 18 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. This is an early release day at 1 p.m. These are in-person conferences, our winter conferences will be via Zoom. Be sure to sign up with the teachers that you would like to meet with. We look forward to sharing the progress and areas of growth with you! TO SIGN UP, CLICK HERE.
SPOOKTACULAR CHALLENGE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL: This year we are encouraging our Middle School students to shine at the joint Spooktacular event. Students who participate can earn prizes. I'll be walking the course with them on Oct. 15 - so sign up the entire family to support the Catholic Schools of Faribault!
SOCKTOBER! What is it? It's our SADD organization collecting socks for the homeless through St. Vincent de Paul. Send in new socks this month!
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
UPCOMING EVENTS: Additional events are online.
- Oct 12: Junior Parent Info Night, 7pm, cafeteria - more info in HS section
- Oct 12: Student of the Month, 7:30am, cafeteria
- PSAT for Juniors who signed up for exam
- Oct. 14: Peer Ministry Dress Down $$
- Oct 15: Spooktacular Fun Run; Sign up HERE; more info in middle school section below
- Oct 16: International Club Outing to Fireside Orchard, see info in HS section
- Oct. 16 & 17: Senior Class Retreat
- Oct 18: Early Release @ 1pm, P/T Conferences 1:30-6:30pm
- Oct 19-21: MEA - NO SCHOOL
- Oct 26: NHS Induction @ 10:25 Mass
- Oct 31: Trunk or Treat Dress Down, $1 or bag candy to wear costumes (modest, and no scary masks or plastic weapons, please) proceeds go to Trunk or Treat event
- Oct 31: BA/DMCS Trunk or Treat event, 4-6pm; Register your trunk HERE (parent volunteer hours!), more info below
- Nov 7: BA Open House for prospective students
- Volunteers needed! Sign up here: volleyball games, football games. Find our new Volunteer Connection page HERE.
- Homework Club: Homework Club with Mrs. Kohl is offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 3-4pm in Room 204. All students welcome!
- Attendance: If your scholar is sick or has an appointment, please email attendance@bacards.org by 8am if possible. Thank you!
Prayers for safety and proper etiquette at tonights game and dance.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATES
BA/DMCS Trunk or Treat Oct 31 - Our biggest community event of the year is held Mon Oct 31 from 4-6pm in the BA parking lots. Free hot dogs and trick or treating for the entire Faribault community. Close to 1000 kids (and their family members!) have traditionally joined us to trick or treat from decorated car/truck trunks. Pulling off an event of this size truly takes our whole BA/DMCS community! Candy donations (1000 kids!) are welcome at any time in the BA Front Office. Sign up to be a trunk in this great event HERE. (This event earns parent volunteer hours.)
Positivity Project: Forgiveness (6-8) Grades (9-12): To review the trait of Forgiveness (you forgive those who have done wrong and you accept that people make mistakes) with your scholar, please click on the highlighted grades above (password: P2), where together you can watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.BA Positions available - We are still looking to fill positions on our Board Committees, for our BA Van, and for the BA Fair Stand. Contact President/Principal Mindy Reeder if interested:
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Junior Parent Info Night: Please join us for a Junior Parent Night presentation on Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. We will be covering what to expect for the rest of this year and how best to prepare for senior year. We look forward to seeing you there! (Students are not expected to attend but are more than welcome to attend!)
Class of 2023 Seniors & Parents:
- Senior Parents/Info Night Presentation: Thank you to those of you who attended the Senior Parent Informational Night. Your time was appreciated! Here is a link to the slides and the information and links contained within: Senior Parent Night Slides. If you missed the presentation, here is a link to the recorded presentation: Senior Parent Night Presentation.
- College Application Fee Waiver: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are are waiving their application fee for the ENTIRE MONTH of October. For more information, please check out the following: https://www.minnstate.edu/MinnStateWk/
SAT Testing: Find SAT college test dates and registration deadlines (Oct 7 for the Nov 5 test) HERE.
International Club Field Trip Oct 16: Join us! The International Club works to connect our international exchange students with our BA host country students. Our first event of the year is at Fireside Orchard in Northfield. On Sun, Oct 16 we will meet in the BA parking lot at 11:30am. Students will carpool and return by 2:30pm. Admission is free, but students will need to bring their own money for lunch or other treats. We will receive a guided tour of the facilities, do an apple tasting, play yard games, have lunch, and have fun! Permission slips (click HERE) are due by Friday, Oct 7. Contact Ms. Tondryk with questions.
CLOSE UP TRIP 2023: Open to students in grades 9-12, the trip will be March 26-April 2, 2023, and include Washington, DC and New York City. Trip cost is $2970 and includes travel, food, hotels, tickets to events, and many other extras. Contact Dave Wollin with questions or visit the Project Close Up website.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
Oct 15 Spooktacular Middle School Challenge: Middle school scholars are invited to join the October 15 BA/DMCS Halloween-themed Spooktacular Fun Run for Catholic education! Walk, run or participate virtually and get pledges to be eligible for prize drawings! On race day, enjoy candy stops on the route, prizes for best costumes & race winners. All participants get a free t-shirts; participating BA middle school students are eligible for weekly gift card drawings and entry into two prize drawings (have 2 race participants, entered into drawing for a squishmallow! AND if participant fees + pledges = $125, entered into drawing for 4 tickets to the MN Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular). Click HERE for the information sheet and pledge form. Register to run/walk in the Oct 15 event HERE. Register or turn in pledges by next Wed (Oct 6) for the first weekly drawing!
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Free Eye Exam/Glasses Program: Shopko has a program entitled Kids In Focus which provides eye examinations and glasses for children (ages 5 – 17) who need them but do not have eye care insurance. Find out more by clicking here: Kids in Focus | Eye Care for Children in Need | Shopko Optical. A new Shopko Optical has opened in Faribault and the Faribault Lions Club has agreed to partner with them. If your scholar needs this service, please reach out to Mrs. Reeder or Mrs. White, our school nurse, will work with the Lions Club to provide a voucher for the examination and see that their visual needs are met.
Family Focus 9/30/22
10/06/2022
Kris Sauer
2022-23, September 2022
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"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
September 30, 2022
Dear BA Families:
Welcome October! With the chill in the air, it is no surprise that we are turning the calendar to October and our BA Homecoming Week! Please join us for our 7pm game Friday, Oct. 7 at Bruce Smith Field as we cheer on our Cardinals!
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.
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
UPCOMING EVENTS: Additional events are online.
- Oct 3-7: Homecoming Week - "Flatten the Falcons"! See below for more information.
- Oct 7: Early release at 2pm following the Homecoming Parade
- Oct 5: Close Up meeting, 7pm, Mr. Wollin's room, DC rep will be here. See high school section for more information.
- Oct 12: Student of the Month, 7:30am, cafeteria
- Oct 15: Spooktacular Fun Run; Sign up HERE; more info in middle school section below below
- Oct 16: International Club Outing to Fireside Orchard, see info below in HS section
- Oct. 16 & 17: Senior Class Retreat
- Oct 18: Early Release @ 1pm, P/T Conferences 1:30-6:30pm
- Oct 19-21: MEA - NO SCHOOL
- Oct 31: Trunk or Treat Dress Down, $1 or bag candy to wear costumes (modest, and no scary masks or plastic weapons, please) proceeds go to Trunk or Treat event
- Oct 31: BA/DMCS Trunk or Treat event, 4-6pm; Register your trunk HERE (parent volunteer hours!), more info below
- Volunteers needed! Sign up here: volleyball games, football games. Find our new Volunteer Connection page HERE.
- Homework Club: Homework Club with Mrs. Kohl is offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 3-4pm in Room 204. All students welcome!
- Attendance: If your scholar is sick or has an appointment, please email attendance@bacards.org by 8am if possible. Thank you!
Join me in prayers for peace and the mental and physical health of scholars as well as our new staff and students.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATES
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"Flatten the Falcons!" Homecoming Week (Oct 3-7) Info: Planned by the Senior Class, each day of Homecoming Week features a different dress down theme along with related fun activities. A pep fest is held Friday noon in Van Orsow Auditorium followed by coronation at 1pm. All are invited to attend (reserved seating for Court family members). (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 begins around 1:30pm Friday following the noon pep fest. Note that students are dismissed after the parade concludes, usually around 2pm. Faribault buses run on a normal dismissal schedule. The parade will run through downtown as it did prior to COVID. The Homecoming dance follows the Homecoming football game and is a mixer (not an “ask” dance) open to high school students, grades 9-12 only. Non-BA students may attend the Homecoming mixer if registered in the main office prior to the event.
- Mon 10/3: Color Day. Gr 6: white; Gr 7: purple; Gr 8: yellow; Gr 9: red; Gr 10: orange; Gr 11: green; Gr 12: blue; Faculty/staff: pink
- Tues 10/4: Twin Day (pair with peers to wear identical costumes)
- Wed 10/5: Mass Attire; 8:30am joint BA-DMCS Mass & Buddy Day
- Thurs 10/6: College Day / Youth Volleyball Night @ home VB game
- Fri 10/7: Show Your CARDINAL Spirit; noon pep fest, 1pm coronation, 1:30pm parade (Click HERE for a parade map.)
- Fri 10/7: Homecoming football game, 7pm; Future Cardinal/Youth Night @ game; Homecoming Dance to follow the game in the BA gym until midnight, cost: $5 or pack of socks
BA/DMCS Trunk or Treat Oct 31 - Our biggest community event of the year is held Mon Oct 31 from 4-6pm in the BA parking lots. Free hot dogs and trick or treating for the entire Faribault community. Close to 1000 kids (and their family members!) have traditionally joined us to trick or treat from decorated car/truck trunks. Pulling off an event of this size truly takes our whole BA/DMCS community! Candy donations (1000 kids!) are welcome at any time in the BA Front Office. Sign up to be a trunk in this great event HERE. (This event earns parent volunteer hours.)
Positivity Project: Forgiveness (6-8) Grades (9-12): To review the trait of Forgiveness (you forgive those who have done wrong and you accept that people make mistakes) with your scholar, please click on the highlighted grades above (password: P2), where together you can watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.BA Positions available - We are currently looking to fill the following positions. Contact President/Principal Mindy Reeder if interested:
- BOD Finance Committee: Volunteer position advises the BA Board of Directors on financial policies and the annual budget. Meets monthly; BA family service hours awarded.
- BOD Advancement Committee: Volunteer position advises the BA Board of Directors on fundraising efforts. Meets monthly; BA family service hours awarded.
- BA 2nd Van Driver: Morning and afternoon scholar transportation while school is in session. Paid position, anticipated late winter start date. Class III drivers training provided.
- BA Fair Booth 2nd Family: Seeking a 2nd family to assist with operating the BA Cardinal Cafe during the Rice County Fair the 3rd week of July. Tuition stipend provided.
Class of 2023 Seniors & Parents:
- Senior Parents/Info Night Presentation: Thank you to those of you who attended the Senior Parent Informational Night. Your time was appreciated! Here is a link to the slides and the information and links contained within: Senior Parent Night Slides. If you missed the presentation, here is a link to the recorded presentation: Senior Parent Night Presentation.
- College Application Fee Waiver: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are are waiving their application fee for the ENTIRE MONTH of October. For more information, please check out the following: https://www.minnstate.edu/MinnStateWk/
SAT Testing: Find SAT college test dates and registration deadlines (Oct 7 for the Nov 5 test) HERE.
International Club Field Trip Oct 16: Join us! The International Club works to connect our international exchange students with our BA host country students. Our first event of the year is at Fireside Orchard in Northfield. On Sun, Oct 16 we will meet in the BA parking lot at 11:30am. Students will carpool and return by 2:30pm. Admission is free, but students will need to bring their own money for lunch or other treats. We will receive a guided tour of the facilities, do an apple tasting, play yard games, have lunch, and have fun! Permission slips (click HERE) are due by Friday, Oct 7.
CLOSE UP TRIP 2023: For students in grades 9-12 interested in the Project Close Up trip, there will be a meeting Oct 5 @ 7pm in Mr. Wollin's room (G9). The Project Close Up rep from Washington, DC, will be at the meeting to answer questions. Details include: Trip will be March 26-April 2, 2023. Trip cost is $2970 and includes travel, food, hotels, tickets to events, and many other extras. The trip includes group studies of current events and government operations, visits to Congress (while in session) and our Congressmen, tour of the Capitol, and the sites of Washington, DC, and New York City including the DC monuments, a Broadway play, trip to the top of Rockefeller Center, 911 memorial & Brooklyn Bridge visit, etc. Contact Dave Wollin with questions or visit the Project Close Up website.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
Oct 15 Spooktacular Middle School Challenge: Middle school scholars are invited to join the October 15 BA/DMCS Halloween-themed Spooktacular Fun Run for Catholic education! Walk, run or participate virtually and get pledges to be eligible for prize drawings! On race day, enjoy candy stops on the route, prizes for best costumes & race winners. All participants get a free t-shirts; participating BA middle school students are eligible for weekly gift card drawings and entry into two prize drawings (have 2 race participants, entered into drawing for a squishmallow! AND if participant fees + pledges = $125, entered into drawing for 4 tickets to the MN Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular). Click HERE for the information sheet and pledge form. Register to run/walk in the Oct 15 event HERE. Register or turn in pledges by next Wed (Oct 6) for the first weekly drawing!
FREE 6th Grade Gopher Basketball League: Enroll by Sep 30: All 6th graders interested in playing basketball are encouraged to sign up for the free Gopher League. Find more information on BA basketball and gopher league options HERE. New Gopher League registration deadline: Sept 30.
Family Focus 9/23/22
09/29/2022
Kris Sauer
September 2022, 2022-23
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"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
September 23, 2022
Dear BA Families:
Tackle Cancer! Thanks to our BA football team players for hosting the Tackle Cancer dress down today. Tomorrow please join us at our 1pm game where the team will be raising additional dollars for cancer research. Cancer has touched many of our lives and the research and support continues to be needed. THANK YOU! Just as a a reminder, on special themed dress down days, students are to come in the theme attire or wear normal dress code. Please remind your scholars as Homecoming themed days are noted below for the week of October 3.
MASS POLO SHIRTS: The High School Mass polo shirts purchased by BA have arrived. Unfortunately, the middle school shirts are still back-ordered. We will pass out the high school shirts this next week during homeroom. We do hope to have the middle school shirts within the next few weeks.
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
UPCOMING EVENTS: Additional events are online.
- Sep 26: Extended New Family Survey deadline, add'l 6th and new 9th grade families input needed. Click HERE to complete. Thank you!
- Sep 26-27: Middle School MAP testing. See middle school section for more information.
- Sept 27: Picture Day! Click HERE for the order form.
- Sep 28: Senior Year Parent/Senior Meeting, 7pm Cafeteria
- Sep 29: WIN Day
- Sep 30: NO AFTERNOON FARIBAULT BUSING. Faribault Public School students are being dismissed at 1pm this day for FHS homecoming.
- Oct 3-7: Homecoming Week! See below for more information.
- Oct 5: Close Up meeting, 7pm, Mr. Wollin's room, DC rep will be here. See high school section for more information.
- Oct 12: Student of the Month, 7:30am
- Oct 15: Spooktacular Fun Run; Sign up HERE; more info to follow
- Oct 18: Early Release @ 1pm, P/T Conferences 1:30-6:30pm
- Oct 19-21: MEA - No School
- Oct 31: BA/DMCS Trunk or Treat event, 4-6pm
- Volunteers needed! Sign up here: volleyball games, football games. Find our new Volunteer Connection page HERE.
- Encourage students to sign up for activities! Robotics registration can be found HERE or in the office. Scholars can still join SADD & Campus Ministry! The Close Up trip meeting is 7pm Oct 5 meeting (see high school section for more info). FFA is also holding sign up meetings, including for a FFA Trap Team, talk with Mr. Johnson to join.
- Homework Club: Homework Club with Mrs. Kohl is offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 3-4pm in Room 204. All students welcome!
- Attendance: If your scholar is sick or has an appointment, please email attendance@bacards.org by 8am if possible. Thank you!
Join me in prayers for peace and the mental and physical health of scholars.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATES
Homecoming Week (Oct 3-7) Info: Planned by the Senior Class, each day of Homecoming Week features a different dress down theme along with related fun activities. A pep fest is held Friday noon in Van Orsow Auditorium followed by coronation at 1pm. All are invited to attend (reserved seating for Court family members). [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 begins around 1:30pm Friday following the noon pep fest. Note that students are dismissed after the parade concludes, usually around 2pm. Faribault buses run on a normal dismissal schedule. The parade will run through downtown as it did prior to COVID. The Homecoming dance follows the Homecoming football game and is a mixer (not an “ask” dance) open to high school students, grades 9-12 only. Non-BA students may attend the Homecoming mixer if registered in the main office prior to the event.
- Mon 10/3: Color Day. Gr 6: white; Gr 7: purple; Gr 8: yellow; Gr 9: red; Gr 10: orange; Gr 11: green; Gr 12: blue; Faculty/staff: pink
- Tues 10/4: Twin Day (pair with peers to wear identical costumes)
- Wed 10/5: Mass Attire; 8:30am joint BA-DMCS Mass & Buddy Day
- Thurs 10/6: College Day / Youth Volleyball Night @ home VB game
- Fri 10/7: Show Your CARDINAL Spirit; noon pep fest, 1pm coronation, 1:30pm parade (Click HERE for a parade map.)
- Fri 10/7: Homecoming football game, 7pm; Future Cardinal/Youth Night @ game; Homecoming Dance to follow the game in the BA gym
BA Positions available - We are currently looking to fill the following positions. Contact President/Principal Mindy Reeder if interested:
- BOD Finance Committee: Volunteer position advises the BA Board of Directors on financial policies and the annual budget. Meets monthly; BA family service hours awarded.
- BOD Advancement Committee: Volunteer position advises the BA Board of Directors on fundraising efforts. Meets monthly; BA family service hours awarded.
- BA 2nd Van Driver: Morning and afternoon scholar transportation while school is in session. Paid position, anticipated late winter start date. Class III drivers training provided.
- BA Fair Booth 2nd Family: Seeking a 2nd family to assist with operating the BA Cardinal Cafe during the Rice County Fair the 3rd week of July. Tuition stipend provided.
Free BA Library Books! We’ve cleaned out the BA library and have boxes of books available for free! Parents and students are invited to stop in from 7:30-8:00am or 3-3:30pm to take what they want from the boxes located next to the vending machines by the east gym entrance. Please stop by before Friday, September 30; books will be donated to the AAUW book sale after that date.
Positivity Project: Perspective (6-8) Grades (9-12): To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective (you appreciate when people see things in different ways.) with your scholar, please click on the highlighted grades above (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Class of 2023 Seniors & Parents:
1. You are invited to a Senior Parent Meeting on Wednesday, September 28, at 7 p.m. in the BA Cafeteria. This important night will cover what to expect for the last year of high school. We hope to see you there!
2. An important note about October - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are are waiving their application fee for the ENTIRE MONTH of October. For more information, please check out the following: https://www.minnstate.edu/MinnStateWk/
CLOSE UP TRIP 2023: For students in grades 9-12 interested in the Project Close Up trip, there will be a meeting Oct 5 @ 7pm in Mr. Wollin's room (G9). The Project Close Up rep from Washington, DC, will be at the meeting to answer questions. Details include: Trip will be March 26-April 2, 2023. Trip cost is $2970 and includes travel, food, hotels, tickets to events, and many other extras. The trip includes group studies of current events and government operations, visits to Congress (while in session) and our Congressmen, tour of the Capitol, and the sites of Washington, DC, and New York City including the DC monuments, a Broadway play, trip to the top of Rockefeller Center, 911 memorial & Brooklyn Bridge visit, etc. Contact Dave Wollin with questions or visit the Project Close Up website.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
MAP Growth Testing – For students currently in grades 6, 7 and 8 : By dynamically adjusting to each student’s test responses, MAP Growth Exams create a personalized assessment experience that accurately measures individual student performance in the areas of English, Math, Language and science (grade 6 science in the fall and grade 8 science in the spring). Middle School students are automatically registered for these tests which are paid for by the school. Testing dates for students, which typically take a couple hours each scheduled day, are: Thurs Sep 22, Fri Sep 23, Mon Sep 26, and Tues Sep 27 (6th Science only).
All 6th graders interested in playing basketball are encouraged to sign up for the free Gopher League. Find more information on BA basketball and gopher league options HERE. New Gopher League registration deadline: Sept 30.