Family Focus 10/30/2020
11/08/2020
Ed Friesen
October 2020, 2020-21
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October 30, 2020
Dear BA Families:
Thank you for your partnership! Watch today’s Q1 video update from Mr. Wollersheim and I at this link.
November begins with All Saints Day, a special day to gather at Mass in praise of all who inspire us. As I look back on the many All Saints’ Day celebrations of my past, my favorite is when students dress as their favorite Saint and share the story of the Saint with others at weekend Masses. Although All Saints' Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church it is also a day of joy, dedicated to the Saints of the Church. As you walk the halls of Bethlehem Academy, Saint pictures and their stories, created by students, invite us to learn more. In addition, images of the Saints that guide BA, St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena, welcome you at our entrance, continually guiding the direction of our school. This Sunday I hope to see you at Mass and invite you to join in conversation with your family in the history of the Saints. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BApiwgFPs10&autoplay=1&list=PL58g24NgWPIzvBk2IQVES_xC4WTm6-CDI
This next week our students in the US Government class will wrap up their Mock Electionand study of the election process and our current candidates. All social studies classes participated in civil discourse and learned about the United States Bishops direction in civic debate. Here is the information shared with students: (Pledge and USCB Debate Guide)
ANNUAL FUND: Did you know that each year Bethlehem Academy invites donors to support us with a gift? The Annual Fund helps to bring in over $200,000 each year. Our goal this year is to raise $250,000. Our Annual Fund provides the foundation necessary to run the school and gives us an opportunity to continue the mission established by our Sinsinawa Dominican founders in 1865. Each gift to our annual fund supports the foundation of our school, providing academic support, expanding new programs and meeting budgetary needs. To date we have raised: $42,737- 17% of goal.
- HELP US REACH OUR MATCH! A donor has stepped up with a $25,000 match by December 31, 2020. If we raise $25,000 between October 1 – December 31st, the donor will double your gift to the Annual Fund! Please help us double the gifts to our school. Click here to read a copy of our recent Annual Fund letter with more information. You can share the link to support us with others at: https://www.bacards.org/page/3044
COVID UPDATE: At this time we have no COVID 19 cases to report at BA. We will continue with in-person learning but are evaluating calendar dates and working with the County and State to ensure that we follow guidelines if cases continue to rise in our area. Please review the updated addendum here.
KUDOS: Congratulations to our Section 1A Swim Champions, senior swimmers, Abby Larson (200 free & 500 free) and Verity Wray-Raabolle (200 backstroke). What a great way to wrap up their year!
Upcoming Events:
- Oct. 31: Trunk & Treat event at the Rice County Fairgrounds (4-6 p.m.)
- Nov. 1: All Saints Day
- Nov 9:No School / Teacher Workday
- Nov 9: Open House for Prospective Gr 6-12 Students - 6-7 p.m. Click here for info; flyer attached
- Nov 10: BA School Store Closes for Christmas Orders; reopens in January. Click here to order.
- Nov. 19: Give to the Max Day - Donate online and share the link-https://www.bacards.org/page/3044
Thank you for your continued partnership! Report cards will be available today for your review online. Thank you to our high school families for joining us for conferences online this Thursday. Have a blessed All Saints Day this Sunday.
Blessings,
Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL-BA UPDATES
10/30 Football/Volleyball Game Access
Girls varsity volleyball take on Waseca tonight @ home; watch the game live on our NFHS network here.
BA vs Medford 7pm tonight @ Bruce Smith Field for the Battle of the Paddle! Watch live right here on our Facebook page; follow Gordy's play-by-play on KDHL AM 920 at https://kdhlradio.com/listen-live/
BA Online School Store Now Available!
***New Items Added*** Be sure to check out the BA school store! New items, including window clings and Under Armour hoodies and fleece pants just added. The store closes November 10 for early December (Christmas!) delivery. Get your order in today. Find the link here.
Open House November 9
We will be hosting an in-person open house Monday, November 9, from 6-8pm for prospective students in grades 6-12. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please encourage friends and neighbors who might be interested in our authentically Catholic, Dominican prep school to sign up on our webpage here. An open house flyer is also attached.
Volunteer Opportunities
- BABS Committee-We are looking forward to another fantastic BABS event April 10, 2021! BABS (BA Boosters & Supporters) is our biggest fundraising and social event of the year and key to successfully moving BA forward. To make this event a success, we need your help. If you are interested in serving on the BABS Planning Committee, please contact Mrs. Reeder at mreeder@bacards.org. Thank you!
- Family Service Rochester, a non-profit agency that helps seniors with different needs, is seeking volunteers to help senior homeowners in Faribault with fall clean-up. This would include raking, picking up sticks, cleaning out garden beds, etc. Please contact Jennell Loeffler at 507-287-2010 ext. 1082 or jloeffler@familyservicerochester.org if interested.
- Tutors-Do you have time during the school day? Do you have a math or language arts degree and could support high school students? We are looking for volunteer tutors in several subjects to support our high school students during study hall. You can meet with them virtually during their study hall. Call to learn more: 507.334.3948.
REMINDERS:
- Masks-Please remind your student(s) of the importance of bringing a mask with them to school every day. They should have extras in their backpack, their locker, and their car. While we have extras available, we have been going through them faster than anticipated. Thank you!
- Donations of masks and hand sanitizer welcome!
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
St. Catherine’s University: Weekly Virtual Info Sessions
Junior/Senior girls: the Counseling Center at St. Catherine's University in St Paul is offering weekly virtual group information sessions on Mondays from 3:30-4:00pm. If you are interested in joining, email Anne Moe at admoe674@stkate.edu for a zoom link or with more specific questions as you explore your college options.
DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH UPDATES
- Middle School Edge/High School Youth Group
Middle School EDGE & High School Youth Group is open to all BA families. This is another great opportunity for your students to gather with others that want to grow in their faith and to enhance what they are learning in the classroom. Registration is required for both. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/faith-formation for more information.
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Family Focus 10/23/2020
11/08/2020
Ed Friesen
October 2020, 2020-21
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October 23, 2020
Dear BA Families:
Celebrating our scholars is a part of our mission in the BA Family! God has a plan for each person and as we celebrate their strengths, they become more aware of who God is calling them to be. Homecoming celebrated our seniors, in fall sports, and on our Royal Court. Many of our senior athletes have been recognized in their sport and we’ve shared this online. Congratulations to all of our seniors and special congratulations to our Homecoming King, J. J. Malecha, escorted by Ashley Rost.
This week we also held our first “Student of the Month” recognition. Students gathered to hear what teachers see as their strengths, exhibiting through the Dominican pillars of: Prayer, Study, Community and Service. We are proud of each honoree and invite you to enjoy our video sharing this event with you. Congratulations: Austin Ahlman, Payton Bice, Maci Bongers, Declan Chappuis, Jared Davila, Destinee Fregoso, Malia Hunt, Brooke Johnson, Riley Kangas, Lucas Klokonos, Zachary McCabe, Isabella Pankonin, Jason Shuda and Monica Wilder.
National Honor Society Inductees: Congratulations to the following juniors and seniors, inducted into the National Honor Society following the conclusion of this morning’s high school Mass following the characteristics of Character, Leadership, Scholarship, Service and Citizenship: Isaac Caron, Avery Han, Madelyn Bauer, Camryn Belmont, Emily Casper, Ellie Cohen, Matthew Croke, Andrew Donahue, Madelyn Gersemehl, Mercedes Huerta, Abby Kugler, Molly Lund, Livia Schulz, Sophia Smith, Aiden Tobin.
US GOVERNMENT STUDIES: Mr. Tom Madden extends learning during election times for our scholars. Here is an update of what students in his classes will be experiencing this election year.
Mr. Madden: “With the election coming up on November 3rd we at Bethlehem Academy are educating our students about the electoral process. In the ‘Citizenship and Government’ course students will learn about political parties and the electoral process. As part of this unit, they will be researching candidates running for federal office and creating campaign posters. The posters will help educate their fellow students about the candidates and some of their major beliefs/plans. In conjunction with the Office of Minnesota Secretary of State, Steve Simon, the school will hold a Mock Election in which students will cast ballots for the President, Senate and the House of Representatives.
We strongly believe that we need to prepare our students to be active citizens in our democracy. We want them to leave our doors knowing the importance of voting and how their voices matter. In the previous midterm elections of 2018, Minnesota led the nation with a youth (ages 18-29) turnout rate of 43.7%. While this number is low, it shows the impact young men and women can have in an election.”
COVID UPDATE: At this time we have no COVID 19 cases reported. We will continue with in-person learning but as our County rises in COVID 19 cases, we will also ensure that students are prepared should we need to move to Hybrid. We will keep families alerted to any changes in our learning format and adjustments that may be needed to any of our models as we move throughout the year. In addition, we’ve updated the “Parent & Student COVID Addendum” over our MEA workshop to clarify specific areas, add the new decision tree model, and update any changes from MDH that are pertinent to Catholic schools. Please review the updated addendum here.
Upcoming Events:
- October 27: Picture Retake Day
- October 29:
- DRESS DOWN DAY! Bring a $1 or Candy for our “Trunk or Treat” event and you can dress down! (See dress code info below)
- PSAT test for Juniors @ BA 8am-12pm
- HS Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences (Sign up here)
- October 31: Trunk or Treat at the Fairgrounds, 4-6pm; register your trunk here.
Thank you for your continued prayers and partnership! Please reach out if you have any concerns or questions.
Blessings,
Mindy Reeder, President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org
ALL-BA UPDATES
MS & 9th Grade Speaker David Rinaldi: Living Your Faith!
David Rinaldi, NET Ministries Program Director, spoke to our middle school and 9th grade students today on Living Your Faith!: So many teens perceive faith formation as just another subject like math or history. They see it as just a bunch of stuff they're forced to learn but that has no relevance to their life. In this presentation, David shows that our faith isn't about a bunch of facts and figures--it's about a relationship with a Father who loves them more than they'll ever realize! David encourages and equips young people to place God at the center of their lives and challenges them to share His love with others. At NET Ministries, David trains and equips missionaries to bring the Gospel to nearly 100,000 people a year. He holds a Master's Degree in Theology from Ave Maria University and has 20 years of ministry experience with youth and young adults. He has given over 1000 presentations to a variety of audiences and has never been run out of town. David's presentations are grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church and are based on the Bible, the Catechism, and the writings of the saints. Please ask your students about this amazing speaker!
BA Robotics Club Starts Oct 26
After a delayed start, the Vex Robotics Club is ready to get started! The first meeting for BA students will be held Monday, Oct 26, 3-5pm in the BA library. High School Robotics will only meet on Mondays this year; no school, no robotics and no fees this year. Interested students should bring a signed copy of the attached form to the first meeting.
FFA Oct 26 Meeting & Fruit/Butter Braid Sales
The next FFA meeting is Monday, October 26th at 3:00pm in the greenhouse. Officers will be nominated for elections. FFA members are selling Fruit/Butter Braid Sales through Nov 6. All profits will go into the FFA fund which covers the cost for contest fees, state, and hopefully next year’s national convention. Email Ms. Story for more information.
Picture Retake Day Oct 27
For those that were missing for school pictures, a photo order form is attached. For those requesting a retake, please bring in the original photos. We will replace their initial order. Please indicate on the returning order what they didn’t like about the initial photos so that can be corrected on the retakes.
Trunk or Treat Dollar/Candy Dress Down Day Oct 29
Student Service Club is hosting a Dress Down Day Thursday October 29. For a dollar or a bag of candy, students may dress down for the day. Hats, leggings (worn with a long top/skirt/dress), sweats or athletic pants are allowed. NO athletic shorts and NO COSTUMES, please. All attire must be neat, clean, modest and free of offensive logos. All proceeds go to our community drive through Trunk or Treat event from 4-6pm Saturday, October 31 at the Rice County Fairgrounds.
Socktober through Oct 31
Student Service Club is hosting Socktober through October 31. Please consider donating new socks for any age; there will be a box at the side door of BA, and a decorated box at DMCC. All socks will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul.
BA Online School Store Now Available!
We are pleased to announce that we have created an online school store selling BA spiritwear. Find the link here. Orders will be taken online through Tuesday, Nov 10, with delivery expected the first week in December. Choose door-to-door delivery (fees apply) or local delivery to BA (free). These items make great Christmas gifts. Check it out today!
Open House November 9
We will be hosting an in-person open house Monday, November 9, from 6-8pm for prospective students in grades 6-12. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please encourage anyone interested in our authentically Catholic, Dominican prep school to sign up on our webpage here.
Volunteer Opportunities
- BABS Committee-We are looking forward to another fantastic BABS event April 10, 2021! BABS (BA Boosters & Supporters) is our biggest fundraising and social event of the year and key to successfully moving BA forward. To make this event a success, we need your help. If you are interested in serving on the BABS Planning Committee, please contact Mrs. Reeder at mreeder@bacards.org. Thank you!
- Family Service Rochester, a non-profit agency that helps seniors with different needs, is seeking volunteers to help senior homeowners in Faribault with fall clean-up. This would include raking, picking up sticks, cleaning out garden beds, etc. Please contact Jennell Loeffler at 507-287-2010 ext. 1082 or jloeffler@familyservicerochester.org if interested.
- Tutors-Do you have time during the school day? Do you have a math or language arts degree and could support high school students? We are looking for volunteer tutors in several subjects to support our high school students during study hall. You can meet with them virtually during their study hall. Call to learn more: 507.334.3948.
REMINDERS:
- Masks-Please remind your student(s) of the importance of bringing a mask with them to school every day. They should have extras in their backpack, their locker, and their car. While we have extras available, we have been going through them faster than anticipated. Thank you!
- Donations of masks and hand sanitizer welcome!
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Juniors: PSAT Testing Oct 29
Reminder: Juniors who signed up last spring will be taking the PSAT exam Thursday, October 29 from 8am until noon at BA. Registered students received an email this week from their school counselor, Ms. Rogers, with test instructions. ***We have 3 extra tests for this October date. Contact Ms. Rogers ASAP if your student is interested.*** If your student did not sign up for the October PSAT, the CollegeBoard just added a new January testing date. We will begin taking registration for the January PSAT when we have more information in early November. Please reach out to Ms. Rogers (trogers@bacards.org) with any questions.
HS P/T Conferences
High School Parent/Teacher conferences will be held Thursday, October 29th via individual Zoom meetings. Core high school teachers have 5-minute blocks from 4-7:30pm; specialist teachers are available to meet with parents from 4-5:30pm. Please note that Ms. Ricker, our Choir Director, will not be available to meet October 29. If an individual conference is needed, she will be available after November 3rd. Please contact her at cricker@bacards.org if you wish to set up a time to meet. Please sign up for a time to meet with your child’s teachers and discuss their progress HERE.
Class of 2021: Coca-Cola Scholarship due October 31
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program, the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the country, is now accepting applications from current high school seniors to become Coca-Cola Scholars and receive one of 150 college scholarships worth $20,000. Click here for information on how to apply.
St. Catherine’s University: Weekly Virtual Info Sessions
Junior/Senior girls: the Counseling Center at St. Catherine's University in St Paul is offering weekly virtual group information sessions on Mondays from 3:30-4:00pm. If you are interested in joining, email Anne Moe at admoe674@stkate.edu for a zoom link or with more specific questions as you explore your college options.
Class of 2021 - Early Action Deadline Nov 1!
Seniors! Early action deadlines for most colleges starts on November 1! Remember to request your transcripts and letters of recommendation through Naviance. Check out the Naviance how-to videos on matching the Common App, requesting letters of recommendation, adding colleges and requesting transcripts, and exploring colleges at this link. If you have any questions, please email and/or stop by Ms. Roger’s office.
DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH UPDATES
- David Rinaldi Parent Presentation - Friday Night - Don’t miss it!
We want to encourage you to make this a date night for you and your spouse! Hear from David Rinaldi as he talks about Christ-centered parenting in today's crazy world and how you remain united as husband and wife. Following Dave's talk there will be refreshments and time for you to talk as a couple. Our evening will end with Adoration and priests will be available for confession. Free to attend, RSVP required here.
- Middle School Edge/High School Youth Group
Middle School EDGE & High School Youth Group is open to all BA families. This is another great opportunity for your students to gather with others that want to grow in their faith and to enhance what they are learning in the classroom. Registration is required for both. Visit www.divinemercy.cc/faith-formation for more information.
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