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/

**BOD Head of School Update** Thank you for your continued prayers and patience as we work through the Head of School search process. We continue to evaluate candidates and have invited two candidates for an on-site visit next Tuesday, December 10. They will each be touring BA, visiting classrooms, and meeting with faculty, staff, student leaders, and the search committee. Please reach out to us at employment@bacards.org with any questions. -Beth Dienst, Board Chair and Erin Langenfeld, Head of Search Committee
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We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please ask your students to keep working hard these last two weeks of the semester, and to seek help from our teachers and counselors as needed. We are here to support, encourage, and help your son or daughter achieve!

Mass Schedule Updates: Mass next week will be on Monday, December 9, 10:30am at Divine Mercy Catholic Church for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We will not have Mass on Friday, December 13. The final Mass of the semester will be on Friday, December 20, at 8:30am (note new time) at BA. We will celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe at the December 20 Mass.

HS Finals and December 20 Early Release: High school students will have Period 1-3 Red finals on Wednesday, December 18 and Period 1-3 White finals on Thursday, December 19. Cardinal A-D finals will be held on Friday, December 20, following Mass. We will have a 1pm dismissal on December 20 for all students. Please note that there is NO Faribault busing on Dec 20 as Faribault schools are not in session. 

It was wonderful to celebrate with our grandparents last week! Find pictures of your sons and daughters with their grandparents at this link. 

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. Our goal is to sell 200 tickets by December 16! Forms are available in the BA office or online HERE. (Unfortunately, state law prohibits us from accepting credit card or Venmo-type payments. Check or cash are the only payment options.) Ho, ho, ho and thank you for your support! 

The week ahead: 

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

• December 15: Christmas Concert, BA gym, 6pm
• December 16: Knowledge Bowl Meet; last day to purchase BA holiday raffle tickets
• December 17: BA Holiday Raffle drawing
• December 18: Prom coffee house/bake sale, HS finals Pd 1-3 Red
• December 19: HS finals Pd 1-3 White
• December 20: No Faribault busing, 8:30 Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass @ BA, HS Cardinal hour finals, 1pm dismissal
• December 23-January 3: Christmas Break
• January 6: 1st day of Semester 2

Finally, we've raised $33,368 toward the $50,000 Annual Fund match gift!! All donations to the Annual Fund through December 31 will be doubled thanks to this amazing show of support for our school! Please give to the Annual Fund if you can, but more importantly, share this news with family and friends who wish to support and invest in Catholic education. Each gift directly supports our students and staff 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!

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

BA Job Openings: We are looking for a nighttime custodian and long-term MS Choir substitute teacher!  Find the job postings HERE. Thank you!

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

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