Happy New Year! Our prayer is that your Christmas break was restful and rejuvenating, filled with moments of prayer, grace, and peace.

We are excited to welcome your sons and daughters back to campus Monday for the start of the second semester! Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you on your student's personal, spiritual, and educational journey. 

Some updates: Delighted to share that we will have Choir Director Mary Clare Melero with us on campus through March; we continue to work on long-term sub options for her position. In other staffing, we are still seeking an evening custodian. Please send potential candidates to Business Manager Lisa Moon. Thank you!

The week ahead: 

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar

• January 13-17: NWEA MAP testing, Middle School
• January 14: Spelling Bee @ DMCS
• January 15: Student of the Month, 7:30am, BA gym
• January 15: Post Prom Dining Night Out @ Crooked Pint, 5-9pm
• January 16: Youth Night at Boys Basketball Game
• January 17: 10:30am Mass @ BA
• January 20: NO SCHOOL, MLK Day
• January 21-24: SnoBall Week
• January 25: SnoBall Dance, HS only, 8pm Grand March
• January 25: SnoBash Post Prom event, 9-11pm, Faribault Golf Club (see flyer below)
• January 26: Bishop Kenney Mass & Reception, 10am DMCC
• January 27-31: Catholic Schools Week
• February 1: BA-hosted Mass, 4pm, Divine Mercy Catholic Church
• February 2: Admissions Open House, 11am-1pm

Fundraising updates:
We exceeded our target of selling 400 Holiday Raffle tickets. Thank you to everyone who participated and help us achieve this fundraising goal!

Annual Fund: We successfully met the year-end $50,000 Annual Fund match! To date we’ve raised $180,000 of the $260,000 Annual Fund goal. Thank you to all who have donated! Please give to the Annual Fund if you can, but more importantly, share with family and friends who wish to support and invest in Catholic education. Each gift directly supports our students and staff, providing needed funds not covered by student tuition and fees, and is critical to maintaining our 160-year tradition of high standards of personal, spiritual, and academic excellence. Donate online at: Annual Fund. THANK YOU!

Prayers for healing, health, and happiness in the new year!

With gratitude, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

Spread the word! All prospective students and youth basketball players are invited to join us for FREE family admission at the girls basketball game January 10 and the boys game January 16. Families should sign up at   https://forms.gle/fxeMD6Dui5jKnbpXA

COMMUNITY NEWS
 

Former BA Choir Director Emily Cicha is offering lessons. See info below.

Calendars:

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

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

Merry Christmas!

As we begin the Christmas break, may your holiday season be blessed with the gifts of faith, family, and friendship. As we approach 2025, know that we are so thankful for your partnership and support. 

In the midst of the season's hustle and bustle, we pray you find time for moments of solitude, grace, and peace.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar

• December 23-January 3: Christmas Break
• January 6: 1st day of Semester 2
• January 8: Prom $ Dress Down Day
• January 10: Mass 10:30am @ BA, Youth Night at Girls Basketball Game
• January 14: BA/DMCS Spelling Bee
• January 15: Student of the Month, 7:30am, BA gym
• January 16: Youth Night at Boys Basketball Game

In gratitude, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

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

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

**Head of School Search Update from the Board** 
We were fortunate to have two candidates interview with us for the Head of School position on Tuesday. They both were very impressed with our school in many ways! It's always neat to hear from outsiders when they too see what a wonderful school we have. While we continue to accept resumes, the Search Committee is working through further steps and discernment with the candidates that visited BA. We look forward to sharing another update after Christmas break. Continue to keep us in your prayers. 
-Erin Langenfeld, Search Committee Head and Beth Dienst, Board of Director Chair
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It's hard to believe, but the first semester is winding down! We've been blessed to partner with you in the education of your sons and daughters. Please remind your students to continue to work hard this next week, turning in assignments and preparing for finals (high school). 

Our annual Christmas concert is this Sunday! Please be sure to join us at 6pm in the BA gym for this festive event. Students and staff have been hard at work preparing what is sure to be a wonderful concert. FCTV will tape the performance; watch our Facebook page for a link to the concert recording.

Reminders for Friday, December 20: no Faribault busing (public schools are closed), BA will dismiss at 1pm. 

As the weather gets colder, a reminder that we follow Faribault Public Schools (FPS) for weather-related school delays and cancelations. BA will send emails and text messages to parents, students, and staff as soon as FPS makes the announcement as well as post on our website and Facebook page. Find more information in our Parent/Student Handbook. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar

• December 23-January 3: Christmas Break
• January 6: 1st day of Semester 2
• January 8: Prom $ Dress Down Day
• January 10: Mass 10:30am @ BA, Youth Night at Girls Basketball Game
• January 14: BA/DMCS Spelling Bee
• January 15: Student of the Month, 7:30am, BA gym
• January 16: Youth Night at Boys Basketball Game

Holiday Raffle: Earn Parent Volunteer Hours! Get your raffle tickets for a chance to win Christmas cash!! Sell or buy four (4) Holiday Raffle tickets and earn one parent volunteer hour! If you get others to purchase raffle tickets, ask them to put your family name on the order form. BA parents can choose a tuition credit or cash payout option if they are one of our lucky three winners. Forms are available in the BA office or online HERE and must be received by Monday, December 16. Thank you for your support!

This Advent season we are keeping all of our BA families in our prayers and ask that you do the same. 

In gratitude, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

Our lost and found pile is growing! Please ask your son or daughter to check for missing items prior to the break. Anything still here December 23rd will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you!

Grandparents Day 2024: It was wonderful to celebrate with our grandparents prior to the Thanksgiving holiday! A reminder that you can find pictures of your sons and daughters with their grandparents at this link. Click HERE for the 2024 Grandparents Day video prepared by seniors Noah C and Anna C.  

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

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