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Family Focus 1-21-22

01/24/2022

Kris Sauer

2021-22, January 2022

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"But Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him,"
Jeremiah 17:7 (Bible verse of the year chosen by Peer Ministry)

January 21, 2022

Dear BA Families:

Our BA scholars are back on track during this short but cold week! We gathered for Mass and Adoration as part of the national "9 Days for Life" which continues through to next Thursday. Our Peer & Campus Ministry students are collecting baby items or donations for Pregnancy Options. Please support us in prayers or a donation as we support life. You are also encouraged to join Minnesotan's on Saturday with the Parish at the Minnesota March for Life. (Email to confirm attendence)

CONGRATULATIONS TO SNOBALL CANDIDATES: This next week we kick of our Snoball Week activities! A fun winter tradition at BA, congratulations to our Court: Madelyn Bauer, Ellie Cohen, Mercedes Huerta, Molly Lund, and Jennifer Robert.  Here's a look at the schedule:

• Monday-Jan. 24: White Day (Full in-person learning) - PJ day
• Tuesday-Jan. 25: Red Day (Full in-person learning) - Beach day
• Wednesday-Jan. 26: WIN Learning Day- No regular classes but all students needing to make up assignments or tests or receive additional support should schedule time to come in and meet with teachers. Teachers will also be scheduling time with students
• Thursday-Jan. 27: White Day (Full in-person learning) - Jersey Day
• Friday-Jan. 28: Red Day (Full in-person learning) - Class Color Day: 6^th grade-red; 7^th grade-yellow; 8^th grade-green; 9^th grade-purple; 10^th grade-orange; 11^th grade-pink; 12^th grade-blue (1 p.m. Prayer Service & Snoball Court Activities)

BA REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2022-23: Announcing new CIS classes with Marquette University and extended courses through Catholic Virtual. More details to follow. Sign up early and apply for financial aid to ensure the most financial aid opportunities for your scholar. Our school is growing; early registration is encouraged!

COVID Updates: MASKS REQUIRED through Jan. 29. This week BA had five scholars with positive COVID cases and 10 students in quarantine. Since the start of the school year we have had 55 COVID positive student cases and 9 staff test positive. Visit our COVID webpage for all the updated information. Find COVID testing sites HERE; one free at-home testing box available for each BA student. Stop in the front office.

• BABS-April 9: Our BIGGEST event of the year,  Bethlehem Academy Backers and Supporters (BABS). This is great night out in support of BA! Food featuring local restaurants, games, entertainment and a live and silent auction are part of the evening. Our Fund-A-Need goal this year is to raise $75,000 for an additional BA student vehicle. Please plan to attend! Volunteers and auction items also needed! See ideas on our webpage from group events, to auction items (BABS link). Contact Teresa, our new Development & Marketing Assistant at tlebens@bacards.org to help. 
• Divine Mercy Build Project - United for Our Future: Please prayerfully consider a gift. The stronger DMCS is, the stronger BA will be! Click HERE to learn more. To date they are over $6 million!
• Annual Fund: To date we have raised: $242,800. We are over 98% of the way to our goal of $255,000! If you haven't given, yet, please consider a gift through June 2022: Donate Online (click)  
• Hyvee Easy Fundraising Idea: Need a reusable bag? When you purchase one at Hyvee they donate back to BA! Be sure to indicate us on your purchase! 

KUDOS: To our scholars, families and staff during this recent increase in COVID cases. Thank you for your flexibility, your support, and your care.

• Jan 24-28, SnoBall Week: See above for dress down theme days.
• Jan 28: Campus Ministry Pregnancy Options drive deadline
• Jan 28: Youth Basketball/Future Cardinal Night @ boys basketball game; sign up HERE. 
• Jan 29: SnoBall (Gr 9-12 semi-formal girl-ask-boy dance) + Post-Prom SnoBash event; see more info in high school section below.
• Jan 30: Catholic Schools Week, BA Mass @ DMCC, 10am
• Jan 31: Enrollment & Financial Aid Registration Assistance Night @ BA, 4:30-6:30pm
• Jan 30-Feb 6: Catholic Schools Week, week-long food drive + other activities-see below for details
• Feb 3: Student of the Month, 7:30am, Cafeteria
• Feb 7: Post-Prom Dining Night Out @ Taco John's
• Feb 13: Winter Open House; pre-register HERE
• Find our event school calendar on our website HERE 

ALL BA UPDATES

SPRING TRAP TEAM Registration deadline Jan 24: We have room for more people on the Spring Trap Team! Interested students need to contact Coach Rost by email and let him know so he can invite you through the league. Start dates and spring team fees still to be determined. Students need to be signed up by Monday, January 24. You MUST contact Coach Rost so he can give you the code to sign up. Email: todd@adventurespecialties.com

Catch the Bus to the MCCL March for Life this Saturday, Jan 22! On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court's disastrous Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions eliminated laws protecting unborn children nationwide. Each year, pro-life Minnesotans mark the anniversary of Roe and Doe with the MCCL March for Life. There will be a free coach bus to take for the March for Life tomorrow, Jan 22. It will arrive in Faribault around 8:45am at the Speedway gas station, 2519 Lyndale Ave. The bus will leave the parking lot at 9am sharp. You will be dropped off at the Cathedral for the prayer service and then you can either walk or ride down to the Capitol. The bus will arrive back in Faribault around 2:45pm. If you are interested in going or have questions, please contact Kay Keller at 507-330-4559 theporklady@hotmail.com

Mental Health Resources: We know that at this time we are seeing an increase in the mental health needs of our scholars. Here is a link to Rice County resources. 

January 28 Youth Basketball Night: Youth basketball teams, prospective Cardinals, DMCS families all invited to join us! Sign up HERE.  

Home Basketball Game Help Needed:  Many volunteers are needed to help at home basketball games this winter.  Please consider sharing your time and talent in support of our student activities!

• Girls' Games Signup
• Boys Games Signup

Online School Store @ Star Sports & Apparel! BA has opened at school store at Star Sports and Apparel. Orders are filled as they are placed, so purchase your BA gear any time! Click HERE to for all the great options!

HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION

Jan 29 SnoBall Dance Info: The January 29 SnoBall is a girl-ask-boy (Sadie Hawkins) semi-formal dance for students in grades 9-12. Tickets are on sale during high school lunches ($30/couple, $15/single) Friday, Monday and Tuesday (Jan 21, 24, and 25) and in the front office on Wednesday, January 26 during our no-class WIN day. Typically, the girls purchase a tie for their date that matches their dress. The girls arrange for a bouquet and boutonniere with a local florist that the boy picks up and pays for the day of the dance. Boys wear a dress shirt (most choose black), tie and nice pants; girls wear semi-formal dresses. Couples usually go out to dinner with a group of friends prior to the Grand March. Parents and guests gather in the gym at 8:00pm for the Grand March, where participating couples are introduced and the SnoBall Queen is crowned. As per current activities/athletics policy, spectators/visitors will be asked to wear a mask, but student participants will not. Usually, the Mother-Son/Father-Daughter dance follows coronation, then parents and guests depart and the dance begins. The dance ends at midnight.

SnoBash, Jan 29: Junior parents are hosting SnoBash at the Elks Lodge in Faribault Saturday, Jan 29, from 9-11:30pm. To purchase advance tickets, please place payment in an envelope ($20/ticket) and drop in the designated basket in the BA office.  On the envelope, please identify the number of tickets, names and an email address for confirmation.  The post prom committee will collect from the office, send confirmations, and have a list of pre-paid individuals at the door the night of SnoBash.

Info for Seniors
College Scholarships:

• Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) Students of Integrity Scholarship. BBB will award scholarships to high school seniors graduating in 2021-2022 school year, who personify all the best aspects of high character in their personal choices and actions. Recipients are selected primarily based on a written essay. The call for entries are open now and until the deadline of February 16, 2022, at 4pm. 

• Faribo 4 Kids is again offering the Thomas Laughlin Scholarship. THREE $1,500 scholarships will be given again this year for students attending any form of higher education.  Find the 2022 scholarship application HERE. Applications must be postmarked by March 18, 2022.

College/FAFSA Resources: The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is offering a series of webinars from Feb 5-March 1 to help you learn more about the FAFSA (financial aid), how to compare offers from schools (once your child has applied), scholarships and how to navigate the system of paying for any level of education after high school. To register any of the webinars using Zoom, visit https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdu6hrjIqG4mCsdrn5Tv. Visit https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/ for information about each of Minnesota’s financial aid programs. Questions can be directed to the state’s financial aid hotline: (651) 642-0567.

MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION

Aim Higher Foundation K-8 Scholarships: Every year, students at Bethlehem Academy (Faribault, MN) receive tuition assistance scholarships from the Aim Higher Foundation. We would like to thank the many donors and friends who help make our great school accessible to all families! Learn more HERE. Apply via the TADS financial aid application HERE and click on Financial Aid Assessment.

Family Focus 1-14-22

01/20/2022

Kris Sauer

2021-22, January 2022

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"But Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him,"
Jeremiah 17:7 (Bible verse of the year chosen by Peer Ministry)

January 14, 2022

Dear BA Families:

Special Prayers for the long weekend (No school Monday and Tuesday)! Please join me in prayers for students, staff, families and our community as we continue to battle illness and absences in school and work due to COVID. Thank you for your partnership throughout this time period. At this point, we do not anticipate moving to online learning next week as most of our scholars who are out on quarantine will return on January 19. See the COVID update below and on our website, updated weekly.

9 Days for Life: This next week we are praying with thousands of Catholics across the country as part of the bishops' pro-life novena, 9 Days for Life: Wednesday, January 19 - Thursday, January 27, 2022. After Mass on Wednesday, January 19 we will have special prayers and exposition. All students will have time in Adoration and families are encouraged to join us in the Adoration Chapel.

CONGRATULATIONS! Our BA & DMCS Robotics team and Spelling Bee participants shined this past week. What a joy to see their excitement and efforts as they pursue excellence in their academics - the pillar of study. Special congratulations to our Robotics Teams that will be going on to compete at State. Two of our Spelling Bee participants will compete at Regionals in Rochester as well, congratulations to Owen Dotterweich '27 and Megan Cina '27.

Tuition approved and registration out for 2022-23: Please review the separate letter and email sent regarding tuition, registration and financial aid and scholarships. Reach out with any question! Our school is growing; early registration and scholarship applications encouraged.

COVID Updates: MASKS REQUIRED due to the high rates in our County and State and increased numbers in the BA community. We will re-evaluate this next week, but know that numbers are not decreasing in our community or at BA at this time. This week BA had nine scholars with positive COVID cases and 16 students in quarantine. Since the start of the school year we have had 50 COVID positive student cases and 9 staff test positive. Visit our COVID webpage for all the updated information. Find COVID testing sites HERE; one free at-home testing box available for each BA student. Stop in the front office to pick one up. 

Quarantine update with approval from MDE & the Archdiocese:

• COVID Positive - Isolate for 5 days, return with a negative test on the 6th day. Must wear a mask for 5 additional days (school may be requiring masks regardless.) Without test may return after 7 days on the 8th day.
• COVID in household - Quarantine for 5 days, return with a negative test on the 6th day. Must wear a mask for 5 additional days (school may be requiring masks regardless.) *Typically in the same household we have found most of the family does get COVID so it is best to quarantine the family.
• The Minnesota State High School League still requires 10 days before participating in athletics.

• BABS: Our BIGGEST event of the year,  Bethlehem Academy Backers and Supporters (BABS) event is Saturday, April 9. This is great night out in support of BA! Food, games, and a live and silent auction are part of the fun. Our Fund-A-Need goal this year is to raise $75,000 for an additional BA student van. Please plan to attend! Volunteers and auction items also needed. Contact Teresa, our new Development & Marketing Assistant at tlebens@bacards.org
• Divine Mercy Build Project - United for Our Future: Please prayerfully consider a gift. The stronger DMCS is, the stronger BA will be! Click HERE to learn more. To date they are over $6 million!
• Annual Fund: To date we have raised: $242,800. We are over 98% of the way to our goal of $255,000! If you haven't given, yet, please consider a gift through June 2022: Donate Online (click)  

KUDOS: To our basketball coaches and athletes, as well as our coop athletes. Your dedication to your sport and hard work is admirable and I love watching your energy on the court and as you compete. KEEP IT UP!

• Jan. 16: Morristown Prom Pancake Breakfast @ American Legion, 8:30am-12:30pm
• Jan 17-18: NO SCHOOL, MLK & Teacher Workshop Day 
• Jan 19: Campus Ministry Dress Down Day, proceeds to Pregnancy Options
• Jan 24-28, SnoBall Week: See below for dress down theme days
• Jan 28: Youth Basketball/Future Cardinal Night @ boys basketball game; sign up HERE. 
• Jan 29: SnoBall (Gr 9-12 semi-formal girl-ask-boy dance) + Post-Prom SnoBash event; see more info in high school section below.
• Jan 30: Catholic Schools Week, BA Mass @ DMCC, 10am
• Jan 31: Enrollment & Financial Aid Registration Assistance Night @ BA, 4:30-6:30pm
• Jan 30-Feb 6: Catholic Schools Week, week-long food drive + other activities to be announced
• Feb 3: Student of the Month, 7:30am, Cafeteria
• Feb 7: Post-Prom Dining Night Out @ Taco John's
• Feb 13: Winter Open House; pre-register HERE
• Find our event school calendar on our website HERE 

ALL BA UPDATES

Campus Ministry Pregnancy Options Drive Jan 19-21: Students in Campus Ministry are collecting diapers, wipes, bottles and blankets for Pregnancy Options next week. Find donation boxes by the front office and in Ms. Shimota's room. They are also hosting a Pregnancy Options Dress Down Day ($1 dress down, $2 hats or leggings) on Friday, Jan 21.

SnoBall Week Dress Down Days, Jan 24-28: The Senior Class has chosen the following dress down themes for SnoBall Week: Mon, Jan 24-Pajama Day; Tues, Jan 25-Beach Day; Wed, Jan 26-Dress Your Best (Mass) Day; Thurs, Jan 27-Jersey Day; Fri, Jan 28, Color Day: Gr 6-red; Gr 7-yellow; Gr 8-green; Gr 9-purple; Gr 10-orange; Gr 11-pink; Gr 12-blue. We will have SnoBall Court assembly Fri, Jan 28 starting at 1pm. See HS section below for SnoBall Dance information.

2022-2023 Re-enrollment & Financial Aid: Re-enrollment emails for returning 2022-23 scholars have been sent via FACTS. Find full instruction for setting up your Family Portal HERE.  Financial aid applications are now available for 2022-2023. Apply via TADS at this link & click on Financial Aid Assessment to get started. Application deadline is February 22 to be considered for all available scholarships. 

Enrollment and Financial Aid Registration Assistance Night Jan 31: Having trouble logging in to FACTS? Need help filling out your enrollment or TADS financial aid form? We are here to help! Bring your passwords and financial documents to BA Monday, January 30 from 4:30-6:30pm. We will have staff on hand in the front lobby to work with you. 

Host Family Needed! We are seeking a host family for Yerim, 7th gr Catholic girl from South Korea, who wishes to join us at BA this school year. Stipends provided, tuition/fees/expenses paid by the family. Contact Kris Sauer or Haewon at KoAm (720-339-7710 and/or by email at administrator@koameduall.org) if interested.

Mental Health Resources: We know that at this time we are seeing an increase in the mental health needs of our scholars. Here is a link to Rice County resources. 

Online School Store @ Star Sports & Apparel! BA has opened at school store at Star Sports and Apparel. Orders are filled as they are placed, so purchase your BA gear any time! Click HERE to for all the great options!
\

January 28 Youth Basketball Night: Youth basketball teams, prospective Cardinals, DMCS families all invited to join us! Sign up HERE.  

Home Basketball Game Help Needed:  Many volunteers are needed to help at home basketball games this winter.  Please consider sharing your time and talent in support of our student activities!

• Girls' Games Signup
• Boys Games Signup

HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION

SnoBall Dance Info: The Jan 29 SnoBall is a girl-ask-boy (Sadie Hawkins) semi-formal dance for students in grades 9-12. Typically, the girls purchase a tie for their date that matches their dress. The girls arrange for a bouquet and boutonniere with a local florist that the boy picks up and pays for the day of the dance. Boys wear a dress shirt (most choose black), tie and nice pants; girls wear semi-formal dresses. Couples usually go out to dinner with a group of friends prior to the Grand March. Parents and guests gather in the gym at 8pm for the Grand March, where participating couples are introduced and the SnoBall Queen is crowned. Usually, the Mother-Son/Father-Daughter dance follows coronation, then parents and guests depart and the dance begins.

SnoBash, Jan 29: Junior parents are hosting SnoBash at the Elks Lodge in Faribault Saturday, Jan 29, from 9-11:30pm. To purchase advance tickets, please place payment in an envelope ($20/ticket) and drop in the designated basket in the BA office.  On the envelope, please identify the number of tickets, names and an email address for confirmation.  The post prom committee will collect from the office, send confirmations, and have a list of pre-paid individuals at the door the night of SnoBash.

MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION

Aim Higher Foundation K-8 Scholarships: Every year, students at Bethlehem Academy (Faribault, MN) receive tuition assistance scholarships from the Aim Higher Foundation. We would like to thank the many donors and friends who help make our great school accessible to all families! Learn more HERE. Apply via the TADS financial aid application HERE and click on Financial Aid Assessment.

Family Focus 1-7-2022

01/11/2022

Kris Sauer

January 2022, 2021-22

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"But Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him,"
Jeremiah 17:7 (Bible verse of the year chosen by Peer Ministry)

January 7, 2022

Dear BA Families:

Happy New Year! January is always a busy month for Catholic schools. Many events and activities are already on our schedule. We look forward to our student artwork on display starting today at the Paradise Center for the Arts, the DMCS/BA Spelling Bee next Thursday, a Knowledge Bowl meet, sporting events, author visit, SnoBall and Catholic Schools' Week. Check the calendar below for upcoming events.

Tuition Approved for 2022-23: The Bethlehem Academy Board members aspire to keep tuition low and increase scholarships while ensuring that staff salaries and benefits are improved. Thanks to fundraising efforts and increased enrollment in partnership with all of our school families, alumni, and donors, this next year tuition will only increase by 1%. A detailed letter will be sent out separately next week with specific information and updates.

Parent Programs: Please find links and information for two special parent resources to support you especially during some of the challenges our families have been experiencing. Father Louie will be leading a parent session to help guide you this winter. See below for all the details and to sign up. Through our counseling partnership with Phoenix Counseling, parents also have access to additional resources with a Catholic focus. Please visit their website for videos and resources as part of the "Peace of Mind" for families supported by Catholic Schools' Center of Excellence. (Link to website). 

COVID Updates: MASKS REQUIRED for the next two weeks due to the high rates in our County and State and increased numbers in the BA community. Masks will be required while at school and at Mass through Jan. 21st. We will re-evaluate at the end of these two weeks. This week BA had seven scholars with positive COVID cases and nine students in quarantine. Since the start of the school year we have had 41 COVID positive student cases and 7 staff test positive. Find COVID testing sites HERE; one free at-home testing box available for all BA students. Stop in the front office to pick one up. 

ADDITIONAL MASK DONATIONS NEEDED! Please bring to the front office if you are able to help.

UPDATES ON FUNDRAISERS: 

• BA BASH Raffle 2021: Congratulations to our winners! 1st prize - Jon & Selena Hager; 2nd prize - Conrad & Ardyce Bahe; 3rd prize - Mark Duchene. Thank you to all participants - we raised $12,000!
• Divine Mercy Build Project - United for Our Future: Please prayerfully consider a gift. The stronger DMCS is, the stronger BA will be! Click HERE to learn more. To date they are over $6 million!
• Annual Fund: To date we have raised: $216,300. We are over 87% of the way to our goal of $255,000. THANK YOU FOR TRIPLING YOUR DONATION! If you haven't given, yet, please consider a gift through June 2022: Donate Online (click)  

KUDOS: To student artists Grace Kelzer, Karlie DeGrood, Reagan Kangas, Gabriella Banks, Kacie Hofius, Summer Heselton, Vincent Vollbrecht, Zachary Velishek, Mallorie Pavek, Jonathon Vold, Camryn Belmont, Fernando Reyes, Brooklyn Becker, and Lucy Cunningham, whose artworks go on display today at the Corey Lyn Creger art gallery at the Paradise Center for the Arts.

• Jan 7: Paradise Center for the Arts student gallery opening reception, 5-7pm
• Jan 7: Youth Basketball/Future Cardinal night @ girls game
• Jan 11: Dining Night Out @ Godfather's for Prom
• Jan. 13 - 8:30 a.m.: Spelling Bee in BA Gym
• Jan 14: Knowledge Bowl Contest
• Jan. 16: Morristown Prom Pancake Breakfast
• Jan 17-18: NO SCHOOL, MLK & Teacher Workshop Day 
• Jan 28: Youth Basketball/Future Cardinal Night @ boys basketball game; sign up HERE. 
• Jan 29: SnoBall (Gr 9-12 semi-formal girl-ask-boy dance, see more info in high school section below)
• Jan 30-Feb 6: Catholic Schools Week
• Feb 13: Winter Open House; pre-register HERE
• Find our event school calendar on our website HERE 

ALL BA UPDATES

FACTS Parent Portal Set Up:  If you haven't logged in to FACTS recently, a reminder that you will have to "set up" your FACTS Family Portal to access your accounts. Username is your full email address; previously set up password should work. Find full instructions HERE.

2022-2023 Re-enrollment & Financial Aid: 2022-2023 re-enrollment for returning students will open next week via FACTS. Watch your email for further information. Financial aid applications are now available for 2022-2023. Apply via TADS at this link & click on Financial Aid Assessment to get started. Application deadline is February 22 to be considered for all available scholarships. 

Host Family Needed! We are seeking a host family for Yerim, 7th gr Catholic girl from South Korea, who wishes to join us at BA this school year. Stipends provided, tuition/fees/expenses paid by the family. Contact Kris Sauer or Haewon at KoAm (720-339-7710 and/or by email at administrator@koameduall.org) if interested.

Mental Health Resources: We know that at this time we are seeing an increase in the mental health needs of our scholars. Here is a link to Rice County resources. 

Online School Store @ Star Sports & Apparel! BA has opened at school store at Star Sports and Apparel. Orders are filled as they are placed, so purchase your BA gear any time! Click HERE to for all the great options!

January Youth Basketball Nights: Youth basketball teams, prospective Cardinals, DMCS families all invited to join us! Sign up HERE.  





Home Basketball Game Help Needed:  Many volunteers are needed to help at home basketball games this winter.  Please consider sharing your time and talent in support of our student activities!

• Girls' Games Signup
• Boys Games Signup

HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION

SnoBall Dance Info: The Jan 29 SnoBall is a girl-ask-boy (Sadie Hawkins) semi-formal dance for students in grades 9-12. Typically, the girls purchase a tie for their date that matches their dress. The girls arrange for a bouquet and boutonniere with a local florist that the boy picks up and pays for the day of the dance. Boys wear a dress shirt (many choose black), tie and nice pants; girls wear semi-formal dresses. Couples usually go out to dinner with a group of friends prior to the Grand March. Parents and guests gather in the gym at 8pm for the Grand March, where participating couples are introduced and the SnoBall Queen is crowned. Usually, the Mother-Son/Father-Daughter dance follows coronation, then parents and guests depart and the dance begins.

MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION

Aim Higher Foundation K-8 Scholarships: Every year, students at Bethlehem Academy (Faribault, MN) receive tuition assistance scholarships from the Aim Higher Foundation. We would like to thank the many donors and friends who help make our great school accessible to all families! Learn more HERE. Apply via the TADS financial aid application HERE and click on Financial Aid Assessment.