Family Focus 8/30/24
09/06/2024
Kris Sauer
August 2024, 2024-25
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August 30, 2024
Dear Parent/Guardians:
What a great first week! We rolled out the red carpet Tuesday to welcome everyone back to campus to begin the week and ended this morning celebrating a wonderful Mass together. Thank you to Campus Ministry and our high school students for working together to set up and take down chairs so we could gather and prayer in a more reverent environment. It is so wonderful to have new and returning Cardinals back in the building! Tonight our BA Cardinal football team will open their season on the road at Winona Cotter. Go, Cardinals!
Staffing updates: We are excited to announce that Paul Brown, with years of experience in construction, will join our maintenance team next Tuesday. Regretfully, due to unforeseen circumstances, Lindsay Bjorkquist will not be working at BA as a middle school counselor this school year. We are collaborating with Phoenix School Consulting not only to fill the MS Counselor position, but to provide coverage until that happens. In the interim, students should work with School Counselor Nathan Bienias as needed. Finally, we are looking for a part-time kitchen staff assistant (Mondays & Tuesdays), as Sarah Babcock has decided to shift to substituting in the kitchen as needed. And, we are still looking for someone to help direct our spring play! Click HERE to find information on our website about these openings.
Parents, one last thing: your daughters are lovely and dressed so nicely, especially for our first Mass of the school year. Mrs. Sauer shared this with all the girls before Mass, and we ask you to remind them of this as well: do please wear skirts/dresses that are long enough to be mid-thigh and, if wearing shirts or dresses with scooped, rounded or squared necklines, that those necklines be modest, preferably near their collar bone. Thank you!
The week ahead:
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar
- September 11: All-school Student Service Day, more details to come
- September 13: 1st United Bank Jr Board of Directors applications due (juniors and seniors)
- September 17: Dig Pink/Tackle Cancer pink dress down day fundraiser; Dig Pink events at home VB games
- September 20: Tackle Cancer event @ home football game
- September 21: Spirit Fest at Divine Mercy Catholic Church - see below for volunteer link
- September 22-23: Senior class retreat
- September 23-27: Homecoming Week: Wrangle the Wildcats!
REMINDER: NO SCHOOL Monday, September 2 for Labor Day.
May you have a restful and blessed long weekend!
In partnership,
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen
Interim Co-Heads of School
ALL BA UPDATES
2023-2024 Yearbooks are in and were distributed to students this past week. Extra copies are available for purchase ($79.46). Contact Mrs. Kallie Battles to get your copy!
Homework Club starts next week and is available Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays from 3-4pm in Mrs. Kohl's 2nd floor library classroom. No need to sign up, students are invited to join her when they need to.
Parent Volunteer Opportunities: Divine Mercy Catholic Church is hosting their annual Spirit Fest event Saturday, September. BA parents who volunteer at this event can earn up to 5 BA parent service hours. Click HERE for the link to sign up. Volleyball & Football Home Games: Help needed to take tickets and work concessions at our fall home football and volleyball games. Find the game sign ups in POINT at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/. Click HERE for more information on our parent volunteer program. Find directions on how to self-report your hours HERE.
2024-2025 Parent Ambassadors: We are looking for a Grade 7 and Grade 10 parent representatives to serve as a liaison for each class with both the school and prospective families. Serving in this capacity fulfills the parent service hour requirement for the year. Find more information on the POINT BA page; click here for parent volunteer program information; contact Kris with questions.
2024-2025 Back-to-School web page: Click HERE for all your back to school resources!
Bethlehem Academy and the other members of the Gopher Conference have adopted GoFan as our digital ticketing platform. Get the GoFan app on your mobile device or visit the website https://gofan.co/app/school/MN19536 to buy your tickets in advance. Volleyball and football passes are available as well.
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Moms in Prayer Group: Enrich your prayer life - all moms are invited to join this fabulous group Tuesdays at 1:45pm at BA in Sr Theresa's office in the basement level (stop in the front office for directions.) |
High School Updates
Juniors and Seniors! 1st United Bank Junior Board of Director Applications for this year are now available. Click HERE for a copy. All applications must be in by September 13th.
DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATE
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 Click HERE to sign up for confirmation. |
 Register HERE for Edge! |
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Lawn Mowing Job: Mary Ann, a BA neighbor on Willow Street, is looking for a BA student or adult to mow her lawn. Mower available on site, $20/time. Contact her at 507-334-3000 if interested.
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/
Family Focus Aug 23, 2024
08/29/2024
Kris Sauer
August 2024, 2024-25
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August 23, 2024
Dear Parent/Guardians:
WELCOME BACK to BA's 160th year of providing an outstanding Catholic education based on our Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community, and service. Go, Cardinals!!
We are excited to welcome all our students back to campus on Monday. Orientation starts at 9am in the gym - homeroom lists will be posted in Alumni Hall outside the gym. Note that no lunch will be served, our orientation ends at 11:30 a.m. High school students new to BA (if you were at BA for middle school, there is no need to attend) should plan to stay until 1pm for an additional orientation. Our official first full day of school is Tuesday, August 27. Faribault busing will be operating. First bell rings at 8:00 a.m., students must be in homeroom/1st hour classes when the tardy bell rings at 8:05 a.m. School dismisses at 2:55 p.m.
Thank you to all our new and returning parents who joined us this past Wednesday for our Parent Open House. It was great to meet all of you! This was a required meeting for all new middle school families. Please reach out to Brent Zabel if you were not able to attend. New middle school parents please note: there is no mandatory parent technology meeting on August 26. We apologize for any miscommunication on this.
We need a host family for a Korean 8th grade girl! See below for more information. If you haven't already returned the lunch and health forms included in your back to school mailing, please send them in with your son or daughter on Monday. You can also find these same forms on our website's back to school page (click here).
The week ahead:
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar
- August 24: DMCS Ribbon Cutting Ceremony following 4pm Mass with Archbishop Hebda, DMCS open house to follow until 8pm.
- August 26 (9am-11:30 a.m.) Student Orientation
- Seniors - arrive at 8:30 a.m. to pick your parking spot
- All grade 6-12 students - arrive by 9 a.m. and meet in the gym. Homeroom lists posted.
- New High School Students - 11:30a.m.-1p.m. Stay for lunch and to receive your laptop.
- August 27: First Day of School! Tardy bell rings at 8:05 a.m.
- September 2: No School, Labor Day Holiday
- September 7: Football home opener and parent night
BA JOB OPENINGS: Email if interested to: lmoon@bacards.org
- Part-time Theatre Director
- Substitute Teachers & Kitchen Assistants
Please reach out with questions. Blessings on your week ahead!
In partnership,
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen
Interim Co-Heads of School
ALL BA UPDATES
Host Family Needed! We need a host family for a new 8th grade girl from Korea. Word just received today! Please consider opening your home to this student. Monthly stipend and exchange program support provided; BA offers a tuition and parent volunteer hour credit as well as an annual home game athletic pass. Contact Kris if interested.
Volleyball & Football Home Game Volunteers Needed: Help needed to take tickets and work concessions at our fall home football and volleyball games. Find the game sign ups in POINT at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/. Click HERE for more information on our parent volunteer program.
2024-2025 Parent Ambassadors: We are looking for a Grade 7 and Grade 10 parent representatives to serve as a liaison for each class with both the school and prospective families. Serving in this capacity fulfills the parent service hour requirement for the year. Find more information on the POINT BA page; click here for parent volunteer program information; contact Kris with questions.
2024-2025 Back-to-School web page: Click HERE for all your back to school resources!
Bethlehem Academy and the other members of the Gopher Conference have adopted GoFan as our digital ticketing platform. Get the GoFan app on your mobile device or visit the website https://gofan.co/app/school/MN19536 to buy your tickets in advance. Volleyball and football passes are available as well.
Fall Sports Registration
The fall sports season starts Monday! To register for football (grades 7-12) or volleyball (grades 6-12), please visit bacardinals.com and go to the More menu for registration form and activity fee payment. The $140 activity fee may be paid online, by check or adding it to your EduTrak payment account. Participants must also have a valid sports physical on file. Sport physicals are good for 3 years from the date of examination. Typically, students have sports physicals for 7th grade and 10th grade (or 6th grade, 9th grade and 12th grade).
Please visit https://faribaultathletics.com/ for information on available cooperative sports (soccer, girls swimming, girls tennis, cross country running).
Returning Students Grades 9-12 Laptops: Returning students in grades 9-12 may sign up to check out their laptops in advance of Tuesday's first day of classes. Note: some laptops are still at Apple's repair depot and may not be available for advance pickup.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0948A9AD2F4-50897773-laptop
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Moms in Prayer Group: Enrich your prayer life - all moms are invited to join this fabulous group Tuesdays at 1:45pm at BA in Sr Theresa's office in the basement level (stop in the front office for directions.) |
DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATE
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https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/
Family Focus 8/17/24
08/23/2024
Kris Sauer
August 2024, 2024-25
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August 17, 2024
Dear Parent/Guardians:
We are excited for the start of the school year! We welcome teachers to campus for workshops Monday - see below for new staff announcements. Our Parent Open House night is Wednesday, August 21 from 5:30-7pm. We are excited to welcome all our parents for this informational open house. Students are welcome to join you, but please note that they have their own orientation Monday, August 26 from 9-11:30am. FYI that a light meal will be provided (we know many of you will be coming straight from work); at least one parent of our new 6th graders and our new 7th and 8th graders must attend this event - please email Mr. Brent Zabel (bzabel@bacards.org) if a conflict prevents you from joining us.
Our back to school mailing was sent to families Monday - be sure to return the lunch and health forms included. You can also find these same resources on our website's back to school page (click here). High school students were sent their schedules yesterday - reach out to Mr. Friesen or Mr. Bienias with questions. Tuition contracts must be completed by August 23rd or laptops and school schedules will be held.
Staffing Update: We are very excited to announce the hiring of Mary Clare Stroh Melero, BA Class of 2012, as our new choir teacher! See introduction below. Click here for more information on all our new staff members: Nathan Bienias and Lindsay Bjorkquist, school counselors; Tom Nardi, Middle School Theology Teacher; and Grant Yackley, Assistant AD/Assistant Dean/Technology Integrationist.
Mary Clare Stroh Melero ‘12, Choir: As an alum who cherished her time in band and choir, I could not be more excited to come back to Bethlehem Academy to work in the music department as a choir teacher! After graduating from BA in 2012, I spent several years as a missionary sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with young people across the United States. After my time as a missionary, I pursued opportunities to grow into a professional musician. Only by the grace of God I found success. Through His gifts of worship leading and songwriting I have been able to learn so much. In 2018 I married my husband, Ryan Melero, and convinced him to move from California to the promised land: Faribault, MN! Over the last 6 years we have had 4 children (Ryan Jr. 5, Mateo 5, Mary Christina 4, Natalia Joy 3) and started a local business - Melero & Sons Autoglass. I have continued writing and worship leading. Somewhere along the way I started giving both private music lessons and group lessons to the point where in 2022 I was able to open a studio space here in downtown Faribault where I give lessons and record music with individuals. I am THRILLED to bring my passion of bringing the gospel to young people and teaching music together. I look forward to spending time and sharing my joy for Jesus and music with your students at our beloved Catholic school!
UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-2025 BA School Calendar
- August 19: Fall middle school sports open - click HERE for BA and co-op sports registration information
- August 21: Parent open house, 5:30-7:00pm - meet teachers and staff, visit classrooms, tour BA - plan to join us! Students welcome but not required as they have their own orientation August 26.
- August 24: DMCS Ribbon Cutting Ceremony following 4pm Mass with Archbishop Hebda, DMCS open house to follow until 8pm.
- August 26 (9am-11:30 a.m.) Student Orientation
- Seniors - arrive by 8:30 a.m. to pick your parking spot
- All grade 6-12 students - arrive by 9 a.m. and meet in the gym
- New High School Students - 11:30a.m.-1p.m. Stay to eat pizza and receive your laptop.
- August 27: First Day of School! Tardy bell rings at 8:05 a.m.
- September 2: No School, Labor Day Holiday
BA JOB OPENINGS: Email if interested to: lmoon@bacards.org
- Part-time Theatre Director
- Substitute Teachers & Kitchen Assistants
Please reach out with questions. Blessings on your week ahead!
In partnership,
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen
Interim Co-Heads of School
ALL BA UPDATES
Summer Read: Every grade has a summer reading assignment. Click HERE to find the reading guides.
2024-2025 Parent Ambassadors: We are looking for grade-level parent representatives to serve as a liaison for each class with both the school and prospective families. Serving in this capacity fulfills the parent service hour requirement for the year. Find more information on the POINT BA page; click here for parent volunteer program information; contact Kris with questions.
2024-2025 Back-to-School web page: Click HERE for all your back to school resources!
The fall sports season starts Monday! To register for football (grades 7-12) or volleyball (grades 6-12), please visit bacardinals.com and go to the More menu for registration form and activity fee payment. The $140 activity fee may be paid online, by check or adding it to your EduTrak payment account. Participants must also have a valid sports physical on file. Sport physicals are good for 3 years from the date of examination. Typically, students have sports physicals for 7th grade and 10th grade (or 6th grade, 9th grade and 12th grade).
Please visit https://faribaultathletics.com/ for information on available cooperative sports (soccer, girls swimming, girls tennis, cross country running).
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Moms in Prayer Group: Enrich your prayer life - all moms are invited to join this fabulous group Tuesdays at 1:45pm at BA in Sr Theresa's office in the basement level (stop in the front office for directions.) |
DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATE
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Ruth's House 20th Anniversary-Student Volunteers Needed: Sign up by August 17 to volunteer at the Aug 23rd 20th anniversary event. Ruth's House is looking for student volunteers to help with parking, the welcome booth, our donor appreciation event, kid games and activities, and clean-up. There are various shifts lasting two hours or under and are always scheduled with another individual. Click HERE to sign up. |
Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/
Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/