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Family Focus 3/15/2024

03/17/2024 author

Kris Sauer category

March 2024, 2023-24

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Dear BA Students and Families,

As you most likely know by now, I have needed to take a medical leave from my position as Acting Principal of our school. You might remember that I started the year consulting for the school, after retiring last spring. When the Principal position came open, early in the school year, and it became apparent a quick replacement might not be found, I stepped into the interim role, believing I could finish the school year. Unfortunately, my health has deteriorated, and I have been advised to step away. My symptoms are not life threatening, but could be if left unattended. I apologize to each of you, that I was not able to finish the year.

While I already said good-bye to the BA community last spring, when I announced my retirement, I wanted to thank all of you, one more time.

When I came to BA, just under six years ago, my goal was to serve this Catholic community. It has been an honor to serve this school that was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa so many years ago. I have nothing but respect for the parents and community members who are committed to the school and its students. Above the entrance to the school is the phrase, “The miracle is here.” It is you, the parents and supporters of the school that make that miracle happen every day. Thank you! Finally, I will so very much miss my interaction with the students of our school. They have truly been a blessing in my life the past several years. You will all remain in my prayers.

I want to thank you for your kindness and support over the years. I will be watching BA and the places it goes moving forward. I wish all of you my very best always.

May the peace of the Lord be with each of you.

John Wollersheim

Students & staff wore purple today in a show of support for and to thank Mr. Wollersheim, a proud and die-hard St. Thomas grad!

From BA Leadership:
Happy St. Patrick's Day weekend! As we approach the final week before spring break (March 25-April 1; school resumes Tuesday, April 2), we encourage you to keep Mr. Wollersheim in your prayers. Please reach out to Mr. Friesen for high school issues, to Mr. Zabel for middle school issues, to Mrs. Sauer for administrative issues, and to Mr. Uphus for counseling, class registration or career/college issues. Not sure who to send something to? Email all of us at leadership@bacards.org and we will respond. We are committed to the mission of this school, and to partnering with you in providing a faith-based education for your scholar. Thank you for your grace and patience as we finish out the year and please continue to pray for a successful Head of School search!

Earlier today, we sent update on high school class registration and our college course policies. Click here for a copy of that email. A reminder that high school registration forms are due to Mr. Uphus by Friday, March 22.

Unfortunately, we haven't been able to go live yet with the PowerSchool Enrollment yet. We have one piece to the system that we’re still testing. We hope to go be able to send re-enrollment links very soon.

Did you send in an item for your student's homeroom silent auction basket? It's not too late to contribute! Send your item or $10 donation in to the BA front office. Click HERE to see the theme for each homeroom; please send this in by Friday, March 15.

We hope you'll get a chance to attend the DMCS Scholarship Gala tomorrow (Saturday, March 16); if not, please consider bidding on their silent auction items (click HERE) - all proceeds support students in need of scholarship support at DMCS.

BABS Raffle and Event Tickets: Our Ruby Anniversary Gala is going to be a GREAT event in support of BA! Get in on the raffles for cash, gift cards, and a tuition voucher; find the form to purchase raffle tickets HERE. Get your friends together and join us for the Gala April 13! Tickets are going fast as we plan to celebrate our 2024 Court of Honor nominees Dave & Jeanne Campbell and Carol Hafemeyer '77 for their long dedication and contributions to Bethlehem Academy. Click HERE to reserve your tickets by March 30; HERE for more event information.

Here is a look at our schedule for next week:

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar

March 25-April 1: HAPPY SPRING BREAK/HAPPY EASTER!
April 2: School resumes
- Red Cross Blood Drive at BA;
- Deadline to apply for the BA summer work program (see below)
April 3: 8:30am BA & DMCS Mass, BA gym
April 4: Senior service cord applications due to Mr. Uphus
April 5: Intercultural Club $ Dress Down Day
April 10: Campus Ministry $ Dress Down Day
April 11: 1pm WIN Schedule, Student of the Month @ 7:30am
April 12: Grad pics, senior yearbook survey due
April 13: BABS - the 40th Anniversary Gala
Apri 15: Deadline to apply for tuition assistance via TADS

Prayers for John, for our Head of School search, and for our students, our families, and those that are sick and/or struggling during this Lenten season.

Blessings, The BA Leadership Team
Ed Friesen, Brent Zabel, Kris Sauer, Stephen Uphus
Click on individual names to contact a member of the Leadership Team or email the entire team at leadership@bacards.org

ALL BA UPDATES

Tuition Assistance: families concerned about affording a BA education are encouraged to complete a TADS financial aid application by April 15 to be considered for BA scholarships and grants. Apply at www.mytads.com. High school students entering grades 9-12 next fall are eligible to apply for our Summer work program. Participants earn tuition credit for 2024-2025. Email lmoon@bacards.org by Tuesday, April 2 if interested. Click HERE for more information.

Tax Information in FACTS: Looking for tuition information for your 2023 tax return? Click HERE for a step-by-step guide to finding that information in FACTS. Contact Kris or Lisa if you need further assistance.

Spring Sports Registration Now Open!

Registration for the 2024 Spring Sports Season is now open. Bethlehem Academy sponsors its own girls fastpitch softball program. Girls in grades 6-12 may participate. High school practices for girls softball may start March 11. Middle school practices will begin during the week of March 18. Participants must complete the online registration form, have a valid sports physical clearance on file at the school and pay the $140 participation fee. Bethlehem Academy has cooperative programs with Faribault Public Schools for Baseball, Boys Track & Field, Girls Track & Field, Boys Golf, Girls Golf and Boys Tennis. Please visit faribaultathletics.com for more information and to go to the Faribault Falcons registration page. Payment of activity fees is done online through the Faribault Public Schools InfiniteCampus portal. Please click here for an Infinite Campus account request form. High school programs will begin practices the week of March 11; middle school programs will begin the week of April 8. (Note boys tennis is only available to grades 7-12.) Please contact Shawn Behrens in the Faribault Activities Office (sbehrens@faribault.k12.mn.us or 507-333-6210) with questions. For middle school sports questions, contact Brent Hawkins (bhawkins@faribault.k12.mn.us or 507-333-6351). Note: Select the activity fee for your child's age (not team level)

American Red Cross Blood Drive
The Bethlehem Academy is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, April 2. The blood drive will run from 8am to 2pm. There is always a need for blood. Donating blood is one way we can serve our community and make a difference! Sign up to donate at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=Bethlehem Academy

Students aged 16 and older may donate blood.
Learn more about Student Donation here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/info-for-student-donors.html

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Seniors!

Service Cord Applications Due April 4: Service cord forms and information can be found HERE; contact Mr. Uphus with questions.
Grad pictures, yearbook survey due April 12: Upload graduation photos HERE; click HERE to fill out the senior yearbook survey to submit your post-graduation plans.
College Scholarship Info: Many local scholarships have April deadlines! Go to our scholarship page HERE for continuously updated local and national college scholarship offerings.
Josten's Orders Still Open: Josten's has confirmed that senior parents can still order graduation items. Click HERE to place your order.

DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES

Purchase tickets, make a donation, and bid on silent auction items at
www.dmcsgala.com.

Register for the Eucharistic Congress here: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/4cb0329e-b079-490f-a808-16c9d3c1d5b6

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

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

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

Family Focus 3/8/24

03/14/2024 author

Kris Sauer category

March 2024, 2023-24

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We have news to share. Late this week, Acting Principal John Wollersheim informed BA Board Chair Cory Caron that he unfortunately needs to take a medical leave of absence, effective immediately. A plan for school leadership through the end of the year will be shared early next week. Please keep John in your prayers.

Thank you to the many parents who attended the BA college level opportunities presentation on Wednesday evening. Our courses and our staff follow our mission “to empower our students to achieve personal, spiritual, and academic excellence.” We remain committed to providing academic opportunities for our students that follow this mission. A more detailed follow up to parent input will be provided next week.

BABS Homeroom basket items due Friday, March 15: The homeroom baskets were a big hit at last year's BABS fundraising event! Thank you for supporting these projects again this year. Homeroom basket donations - either an item or a $10 contribution - may be dropped off in the BA front office. Click HERE to see the theme for each homeroom; please send this in by Friday, March 15.

BABS Tickets: Our Ruby Anniversary Gala is going to be a GREAT event in support of BA and its longstanding mission of providing academic excellence in a Catholic community. Tickets are going fast as we plan to celebrate our 2024 Court of Honor nominees Dave & Jeanne Campbell and Carol Hafemeyer '77 for their long dedication and contributions to Bethlehem Academy. Click HERE to reserve your tickets by March 30; HERE for more event information.

Students entering grades 9-12 next fall are eligible to apply for our Summer work program. A separate parent email was sent with more information today and can also be found on our website. Applications for the merit-based Hoban Scholarship for high school students will be released next week.

Here is a look at our schedule for next week:

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar

March 11: Senior open campus forms due to the front office
March 19: 7th Grade Retreat, BA gym
March 22: Regular 2:55pm release day; high school class registrations due
March 25-April 1: HAPPY SPRING BREAK/HAPPY EASTER!
April 2: Red Cross Blood Drive at BA
April 4: Intercultural Club $ Dress Down Day
April 10: Campus Ministry $ Dress Down Day
April 11: 1pm WIN Schedule, Student of the Month @ 7:30am
April 13: BABS - the 40th Anniversary Gala

Football Meeting March 12: There will be an informational meeting for all grade 8-11 students interested in playing football next fall on Tuesday, March 12^th in the BA cafeteria at 3 PM. The meeting will be about 15 minutes. This meeting is for all students who are interested in playing football next fall. Everyone is encouraged to attend, whether you are a seasoned player, it has been a few years since you played, or if you have never played, everyone is invited to attend, get more information, and join the team.

Spring Sports Registration Now Open!

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Drivers Training @ BA: Classes start Monday, March 11, with sessions held in G9 from 3:15-6:30pm. Contact Denise at deniseruegercmt@yahoo.com with questions.

Open Campus for Seniors-Forms Due Monday, March 11: Senior open campus permission slips are due Monday, March 11. Eligible seniors will have open campus privileges on Fridays beginning March 15 through the end of April, at which point daily open campus begins. Find the open campus policy and required form HERE.

Seniors: Josten's Orders Still Open: Josten's has confirmed that senior parents can still order graduation items. Click HERE to place your order.

Seniors: Service Cord Info: Service cord forms and information can be found HERE; contact Mr. Uphus with questions.

Seniors: College Scholarship Info: Go to our scholarship page HERE for continuously updated local and national college scholarship offerings. Several local scholarships have early April deadlines!

DIVINE MERCY CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES

Order order tickets and make donations this year at www.dmcsgala.com.

Register for the Eucharistic Congress here: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/4cb0329e-b079-490f-a808-16c9d3c1d5b6

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Health Community Initiative Topic for March: Talk to your teens about the risks associated with vaping.

Discuss how vaping can serve as an entry point to nicotine use, not an exit strategy. Although e-cigarettes* were created to help people with a nicotine addiction quit regular cigarettes, the FDA has NOT approved them as a quit smoking aid. In fact, among current e-cigarette users ages 18-24, 40% had never been cigarette smokers. E-cigarettes can lead to nicotine addiction just as regular cigarettes can. Vape fluid contains heavy metals like lead, tin, and nickel, and other substances that can harm the body and lungs.

*Vapes and e-cigarettes are the same thing, essentially. A vape is a type of e-cigarette in which the fluid containing nicotine is vaporized while being inhaled.

For more ways to talk with youth about how vaping nicotine compares to smoking cigarettes, visit bhthechange.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Electronic-Cigarettes-Infographic.pdf For resources on supporting your child in quitting vaping, visit mn.mylifemyquit.org/index

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

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

Family Focus 3/1/24

03/07/2024 author

Kris Sauer category

March 2024, 2023-24

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"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (Campus Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2023-2024)

March 1, 2024

Dear BA Parents/Guardians:

Good luck to our student-athletes in state tournament competition this weekend: Elliot Daschner & Declan Chappuis in the 200M freestyle swim relay and Elliott Viland wrestling at 189lbs! Fourteen high school students have their artwork on display at the Cory Lyn Creger Art Gallery at the Paradise Center for the Arts - the opening reception is tonight from 5-7pm. Be sure to stop by and check it out! Our "Winter" Band/Choir Concert is this Sunday, March 3rd at 7pm in the gym - please join us for a wonderful night of music.

Our third academic quarter of the year ends next Friday, March 8. We are looking forward to Parent/Teacher Conferences Wednesday, March 6 from 4-7pm to share your students' successes and partner with you on any challenges. To sign up for a time to meet with a teacher, click HERE; middle school parents - see the email sent today for an alternate conference date to meet with core subject teachers.

Head of School Update: Led by the BA Board of Directors, the search for a visionary and dynamic Head of School at Bethlehem Academy is under way. Find the full job prospectus HERE and help us spread the word.

Divine Mercy Property/Mother Samuel Building: With the sale of the Immaculate Conception Church block earlier this month, many have wondered about the future of the Mother Samuel Building, connected to our campus but owned by Divine Mercy Catholic Church. We are pleased to share that we are actively discussing terms to purchase the building from the DMCC for a fall 2024 transition.

BABS 2024 - the Ruby Anniversary Gala: It's time to reserve your tickets for our 40th Anniversary Gala BABS event! Tickets are going fast as we plan to celebrate our 2024 Court of Honor nominees Dave & Jeanne Campbell and Carol Hafemeyer '77 for their long dedication and contributions to Bethlehem Academy. See below for more information and to reserve your tickets by March 30. A reminder: homeroom basket donations are due March 15. Click HERE to see the theme for each homeroom.

Our Annual Fund - with a goal of $255,000 - has brought in $191,215 for faculty salaries and operating expenses not covered by student tuition. Please consider helping us reach our goal with a gift to the Annual Fund this year.

Enrollment/Tuition Assistance: We are close to completing the transition from FACTS to PowerSchool enrollment. Watch for an email with a link to the new enrollment packet in the next week or so. A reminder as well that any family concerned about tuition next year is encouraged to fill out a tuition assistance application at www.mytads.com. The deadline for this process is April 15. Contact Kris to set up an appointment if you need help with the form or scanning/uploading the required documents. Summer work program information will be out in the next week or so; the merit-based Hoban Scholarship application will also be released in the next few weeks. Watch for details.

Here is a look at our schedule for next week:

UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar

March 11: BA/DMCS hosts DMCC soup supper, 6pm
- Senior open campus forms due
March 12: Reconciliation
March 14: SADD $ Dress Down Day
March 15: Senior Open Campus begins
March 16: DMCS Scholarship Gala, get tickets HERE
March 19: 7th Grade Retreat, BA gym
March 22: Regular 2:55pm release day; high school class registrations due

Congratulations: to the students whose History Day projects were selected to move on to the regional competition and to the students selected to participate in next Wednesday's Large Group Band/Choir Contest.

Prayers for our students, our families, and those that are sick and/or struggling during this Lenten season.

Blessings, The BA Leadership Team
John Wollersheim, Ed Friesen, Brent Zabel, Kris Sauer, Stephen Uphus
Click on individual names to contact a member of the Leadership Team or email the entire team at leadership@bacards.org

ALL BA UPDATES

Kleenex Needed! Our classroom supplies of tissues are getting low. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Drivers Training @ BA: This class is confirmed! If you haven't registered, there is still time. Cannon River Driving School will host driver's training at BA the weeks of March 11 and March 18. On-campus classes are Monday-Friday from 3:15-6:30pm. Cost $125/student. Registration closes March 8. Register for class and behind the wheel at this link; register for class only here. Contact Denise at deniseruegercmt@yahoo.com with questions.

Open Campus for Seniors: Too many seniors were absent from homeroom today so seniors will be briefed Monday regarding our open campus policy. Eligible seniors will have open campus privileges on Fridays beginning March 15 through the end of April, at which point daily open campus begins. Parents and students must both sign the form and turn it into the front office no later than Monday, March 11. Find the open campus policy and required form HERE.

Seniors: Service Cord Info: Service cord forms and information can be found HERE; contact Mr. Uphus with questions.