Family Focus 9/16/22
09/23/2022
Ed Friesen
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 16, 2022
Dear BA Families:
It's Divine Mercy Catholic Church Spirit Fest and the groundbreaking for the new education center tomorrow! I hope you can join me at Divine Mercy Church on Saturday evening as we raise funds for the parish and break ground for the Divine Mercy Catholic School-expanding all we offer as the Catholic Schools of Faribault! It's a full evening of entertainment, food, and fellowship. The BA Band will play a few numbers around 5:15pm and the Groundbreaking is at 5:45pm. Did you know that each year the parish supports BA with a substantional monthly gift? In addition, the parish priests visit with our scholars, talk to classes and assist with Masses. What a joy to celebrate together and support one another - and don't forget the fireworks at dusk. See you there!
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
UPCOMING EVENTS: Additional events are online.
- Sept 17: Spirit Fest at Divine Mercy Catholic Church; Volunteers Needed! Sign up HERE
- Sept 17: DMCS new school groundbreaking @ SpiritFest, 5:45pm at Divine Mercy Catholic Church
- Sept 18: Tackle Cancer Gear order deadline. Order HERE.
- Sept 21: Middle School New Family Night (6
:30pm), BA Library - Sept 23: Tackle Cancer Dress Down Day ($1, sweatpants ok; $2 to wear leggings, hats)
- Sept 23: Opening Student Art Reception at the Paradise Center for the Arts, 5-7pm. Exhibit runs in the Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery until Nov 12.
- Sep 22-23 and 26-27: Middle School MAP testing. See MS Section for more information.
- Sept 24: Tackle Cancer events at the home football game, 1pm
- Sept 27: Picture Day! More details to follow
- Sep 29: WIN Day
- Oct 5: Close Up meeting, 7pm, Mr. Wollin's room, DC rep will be here
- Oct 7: Homecoming-see below for the week's dress down themes
- Oct 12: Student of the Month, 7:30am
- Oct 18: Early Release @ 1pm, P/T Conferences 1:30-6:30pm.
- Oct 19-21: MEA - No School
- Home & School: Please send in your Home & School Dues to the office! ($30) you can also Venmo using the QR code to the left.
- Volunteers needed at games! Sign up here: volleyball games, football games.
- Encourage students to sign up for activities! Robotics registration can be found HERE or picked up in the office. SADD & Campus Ministry held their first meeting, but there is still time to join! Scholars can also travel to New York and D.C. through Close Up, plan to attend the 7pm Oct 5 meeting if interested. Contact Mr. Wollin with questions. FFA is also holding sign up meetings, 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!
Please continue to pray for our scholars and our staff as we begin this new year together.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATES
Homecoming Week Dress Down Themes:
- 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
- Thurs 10/6: College Day
- Fri 10/7: Show Your CARDINAL Spirit
- 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.
2021-2022 Yearbooks have arrived! Extra yearbooks are available for purchase. Cost is $70; write checks out to Bethlehem Academy, with "2021-22 yearbook" in the notes. Contact Mr. Brent Zabel with questions.
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 September 30; books will be donated to the AAUW book sale after that date.
PowerSchool and Schoology: Following PowerSchool's purchase of Schoology, we transitioned from PowerSchool Classroom Learning to Schoology for a learning management system last school year. The PowerSchool Classroom website is in the process of being decommissioned and will go offline in a couple of months. We are in the process of updating how parent data is stored in PowerSchool. That process will be completed soon. When completed we will be providing you with information about parent accounts for both the PowerSchool web portal and the Schoology website. Mobile apps are also available for PowerSchool and Schoology. PowerSchool will be the primary site to see grades and attendance information. Schoology will be the site to view what is currently happening in the classroom (assignments, lesson plans, notes, instructional videos, etc.)
Positivity Project: Being Present and Other People Matter – Mindset (6-8) Grades (9-12): To practice and encourage the character strength of mindset (being present/other people matter) 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.
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).
BA's middle school (MS) teachers are hosting an informational middle school new family meeting on Sept. 21 at 6:30pm. While the target audience is new families, the meeting is open to all and will share how MS partners with MS teachers and families and create a home and school connection.
FREE 6th Grade Gopher Basketball League
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.
DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL
Click Here to volunteer for Spirit Fest Sept 17
Family Focus, 9/9/22
09/13/2022
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 9, 2022
Dear BA Families:
The Cardinals gathered by classes today to serve the Faribault Community through various service projects! Each year we encourage our scholars to follow CARDS - Character, Accountability, Respect, Decision-Making and Service. What a joy to see all of the scholars supporting our community today.
A special thank you to all of our families as you partner with your scholar these first two weeks of the school year. I know adjusting back to the school year schedule can have challenges and I thank you for reaching out with questions. For our new families, please mark your calendars as Middle School will be inviting new families in on Sept. 21st to meet teachers and learn more about Middle School at BA.
HOT LUNCH: Contact Julie Trnka for a WordWare keycode to set up your online account. Find the MN Free/Reduced Lunch Program annual form HERE; Fill out this FORM if you have a scholar with special dietary needs.
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
- Sept 13: PSAT (Gr 11) test registration deadline, see below
- Sept 17: Spirit Fest at Divine Mercy Catholic Church; Volunteers Needed! Sign up HERE
- Sept 18: Tackle Cancer Gear order deadline. Order HERE.
- Sept 21: Middle School New Family Night (6:30pm)
- Sept 23: Tackle Cancer Dress Down Day ($1, sweatpants ok; $2 to wear leggings, hats)
- Sept 23: Opening Student Art Reception at the Paradise Center for the Arts, 5-7pm. Exhibit runs in the Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery until Nov. 12.
- Sept 24: Tackle Cancer events at the home football game, 1pm
- Sept 27: Picture Day! More details to follow
- Oct 7: Homecoming
- Oct 18: Early Release, Conferences 1-6 p.m.
- Oct 19 & 20: MEA - No School
- Home & School: Please send in your Home & School Dues to the office! ($30) you can also Venmo this at:
- Volunteers needed at games! Sign up here: volleyball games, football games.
- Encourage students to sign up for activities! Robotics registration can be found HERE or picked up in the office. SADD & Campus Ministry held their first meeting, but there is still time to join! Scholars can also travel to New York and D.C. through Close Up, contact Mr. Wollin if interested. FFA is also holding sign up meetings, talk with Mr. Johnson to join.
- Attendance: If your scholar is sick or has an appointment, please email attendance@bacards.org by 8am if possible. Thank you!
I hope you can join our mother's prayer group, information below, to begin prayers for your scholar and our teachers this school year. Please share any special prayer requests with this group as they meet weekly.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATES
Positivity Project: Open-Mindedness: This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Open-Mindedness. Open-mindedness means you like to consider new ideas and try new things. You examine things from all sides and don’t jump to conclusions. To practice and encourage the character strength of open-mindedness with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Grade 11: PSAT Registration due Sept 13: BA is offering the PSAT test for 11th grade students only on Oct 12. To take the exam-the ONLY qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program-sign up in the front office by Tuesday, September 13. Cost is $18. Contact Ms. Roessler with questions.
Homework Club: Homework Club with Mrs. Kohl is offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 3-4pm in Room 204. All students welcome!
2021-2022 Yearbooks - have arrived! Extra yearbooks are available for purchase. Cost is $70, write checks out to Bethlehem Academy, with "2021-22 yearbook" in the notes. Contact Mr. Brent Zabel with questions.
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.
PowerSchool and Schoology: Following PowerSchool's purchase of Schoology, we transitioned from PowerSchool Classroom Learning to Schoology for a learning management system last school year. The PowerSchool Classroom website is in the process of being decommissioned and will go offline in a couple of months. We are in the process of updating how parent data is stored in PowerSchool. That process will be completed soon. When completed we will be providing you with information about parent accounts for both the PowerSchool web portal and the Schoology website. Mobile apps are also available for PowerSchool and Schoology. PowerSchool will be the primary site to see grades and attendance information. Schoology will be the site to view what is currently happening in the classroom (assignments, lesson plans, notes, instructional videos, etc.)
Game Tickets Now Available Online: BA athletic event tickets are now available for purchase online! Click HERE to order season passes or individual game tickets or download the Hometown Fan app. Cash sales at the door still available.
HS Close Up DC/NY Trip: Any student in grades 9-12 who is interested in Project Close Up, please see Mr Wollin or email him. Close Up is a program that allows students to travel to Washington, DC, and take part in tours and discussions that teach young people about our American governmental system. Our trip this year will also include a weekend in New York sightseeing.The trip will be over spring break 2023.
Moms in Prayer - As we live in a world filled with uncertainty, isn’t it comforting to know that God created you for such a time as this? Now is our time to RISE UP BOLD, rebuild, & reconnect like never before! To stand in the gap for our children & their schools through prayer. Please join us Tuesdays at 8am in the Adoration Chapel. Email Lori Bittenbender with questions.
Gently Used Football Gear Needed: The Bethlehem Academy youth football program for grades 4/5/6 are in need of gently used football equipment. If you have gear sitting around that your kids have outgrown consider donating it to the program! Equipment needed in youth and adult sizes: white football helmets, shoulder pads, black football pants, pads and cleats. Please drop off any donations at Bethlehem Academy or text Angel at 507-210-4691 for pick up.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
Middle School Newsletter: Please click HERE for the September 2022 Middle School Newsletter.
FREE 6th Grade Gopher Basketball League
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.
Middle School New Family Info Meeting Sept 21
BA's middle school (MS) teachers are hosting an informational middle school new family meeting on Sept. 21 at 6:30pm. While the target audience is new families, the meeting is open to all and will share how MS partners with MS teachers and families and create a home and school connection. More information to follow.
Youth Adoration Hour, 3-4pm Mondays. Register HERE.
Click Here to volunteer for Spirit Fest Sept 17
Family Focus 9/2/22
09/06/2022
Kris Sauer
2022-23
Leave a comment
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)
September 2, 2022
Dear BA Families:
What a wonderful first week of school! From orientation day, to classroom mixers, introductions, Mass and our first House event, our scholars and staff connected for a great start to the new year. We also understand that transitioning back to school for some of our scholars can be difficult. Please reach out if your scholar needs any extra support during this first month of school! I invite all families to pray for teachers, students and staff as our school year begins.
ACTIVITIES: Many BA activities are also beginning, from athletics to school organizations. I encourage your scholar to join an activity. Sign up information is at school, or will be sent home over the next month including: Knowledge Bowl, Robotics, Close Up Trip to DC/New York, SADD, Peer Ministry, FFA and Theater Club. Getting involved helps connect our scholars to others and develops their interests and gifts. We also look forward to seeing you at upcoming school athletic events or at coop sport competitions - Go Cardinals!
HOME & SCHOOL/VOLUNTEERING: Congratulations to Debbie Kangas for winning the Home & School drawing at the Back-to-School Picnic. All BA Families are a part of Home & School. Your dues help to support student and staff appreciation events throughout the year. Please send your check into the office to pay your dues. In addition, all families are asked to volunteer at BA events. Please sign up to take tickets or work concessions at BA athletic events this fall: click here for volleyball games, here for football games. If you plan to go on field trips and events at school, we also need you to complete your Virtus training at Virtus.org. Thanks for your support!
HOT LUNCH: Hot lunch is optional for students. As the COVID-funded free lunch program has ended, please be sure you have money in your family's lunch account. Contact Julie Trnka for a WordWare keycode to set up your online account. Find the MN Free/Reduced Lunch Program annual form HERE; Fill out this FORM if you have a scholar with special dietary needs.
DRESS CODE: Scholars showcased their BA spirit at Mass this week, thank you! We still have some BA polos for sale in the front office ($10 each) and expect our new shirts, which were back-ordered, to be here before the end of the month for all scholars. Just a reminder, scholars may also wear a plain red, black, or white polo or a white button-down shirt for Mass days. Click HERE for the updated dress code.
PARKING: A reminder that all parking spots in our main lot have been allocated to staff, seniors and juniors. Please use the visitor spots when visiting during the school day.
SERVICE DAY SEPT 9: As we have for the past few years, students will be doing grade-based community service projects during Cardinal hours next Friday, Sept 9. Most of our grades will be doing outdoor yard work. On Wednesday, students will be asked in homeroom if they want a BA bag lunch or will bring their own. Dress code: BA Cardinal t-shirts along with pants and shoes suitable to their project. More details to follow early next week.
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
| Mon, Sept 5 | Tues, Sept 6 - RED | Wed, Sept 7 - WHITE | Thurs, Sept 8 - RED | Fri, Sept 9 - WHITE |
| LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL | NORMAL SCHEDULE | 10:25 MASS Schedule *40 min |
NORMAL SCHEDULE | Service Day! Classes will do service during Cardinal Hours (10:40-1:30) *BA or own bag lunches to take with them. |
UPCOMING EVENTS: Additional events are online.
- Sept 17: Spirit Fest at Divine Mercy Catholic Church; Volunteer HERE
- Sept 21: Middle School New Family Night (6:30pm)
- September 23: Opening Student Art Reception at the Paradise Center for the Arts, 5-7pm. Exhibit runs in the Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery until Nov. 12.
- Oct 7: Homecoming
I hope you can join our mother's prayer group, information below, to begin prayers for your scholar and our teachers this school year. Please share any special prayer requests with this group as they meet weekly.
Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL BA UPDATES
Arrived: 2021-2022 Yearbooks - Returning scholars who ordered yearbooks will receive them soon in homeroom. Extra yearbooks are available for purchase. Contact Mr. Brent Zabel with questions or to purchase; he will be reaching out to Class of 2022 parents and others to arrange pickup at BA as needed.
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.
PowerSchool and Schoology: Following PowerSchool's purchase of Schoology, we transitioned from PowerSchool Classroom Learning to Schoology for a learning management system last school year. The PowerSchool Classroom website is in the process of being decommissioned and will go offline in a couple of months. We are in the process of updating how parent data is stored in PowerSchool. That process will be completed soon. When completed we will be providing you with information about parent accounts for both the PowerSchool web portal and the Schoology website. Mobile apps are also available for PowerSchool and Schoology. PowerSchool will be the primary site to see grades and attendance information. Schoology will be the site to view what is currently happening in the classroom (assignments, lesson plans, notes, instrucitonal videos, etc.)
Game Tickets Now Available Online: BA athletic event tickets are now available for purchase online! Click HERE to order season passes or individual game tickets or download the Hometown Fan app. Cash sales at the door still available.
HS Close Up DC/NY Trip: Any student in grades 9-12 who is interested in Project Close Up, please see Mr Wollin or email him. Close Up is a program that allows students to travel to Washington, DC, and take part in tours and discussions that teach young people about our American governmental system. Our trip this year will also include a weekend in New York sightseeing.The trip will be over spring break 2023.
Moms in Prayer - As we live in a world filled with uncertainty, isn’t it comforting to know that God created you for such a time as this? Now is our time to RISE UP BOLD, rebuild, & reconnect like never before! To stand in the gap for our children & their schools through prayer. Please join us Tuesdays at 8am in the Adoration Chapel. Email Lori Bittenbender with questions.
Gently Used Football Gear Needed: The Bethlehem Academy youth football program for grades 4/5/6 are in need of gently used football equipment. If you have gear sitting around that your kids have outgrown consider donating it to the program! Equipment needed in youth and adult sizes: white football helmets, shoulder pads, black football pants, pads and cleats. Please drop off any donations at Bethlehem Academy or text Angel at 507-210-4691 for pick up.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
FREE 6th Grade Gopher Basketball League
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.
Middle School New Family Info Meeting
BA's middle school (MS) teachers are hosting an informational middle school new family meeting on Sept. 28 at 6:30pm. While the target audience is new families, the meeting is open to all and will share how MS partners with MS teachers and families and create a home and school connection. More information to follow.
We are in desperate need of one more middle school volleyball coach. Be different. Take a chance. Say yes. If you or someone you know has an interest, please contact Ed Friesen (efriesen@bacards.org) or Head Volleyball Coach Chris Bothun.
DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL
Youth Adoration Hour, 3-4pm Mondays. Register HERE.
Click Here to volunteer for Spirit Fest Sept 17
