**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/

What an amazing afternoon today hearing from Catholic youth motivational speaker, Brian Greenfield! If you are free, we encourage you to listen to him speak at tonight's 6pm Unite & Ignite event at Divine Mercy Catholic Church. 

Head of School Search Update from the Board: As we continue to accept applications for the Head of School position, the Search Committee is excited to be starting to talk with viable candidates. We kindly ask that you keep our search in your daily prayers as we work towards selecting the ideal candidate for this critical role. If any questions arise, you can reach out via employment@bacards.org. Thank you!
-Beth Dienst, Board Chair and Erin Langenfeld, Head of Search Committee

GRANDPARENTS DAY Tuesday, November 26: Please invite grandparents/special adults in your student's life to join us in the BA gymnasium on Tuesday, November 26 at 1:00 pm for a special afternoon, including photos with grandchildren, a prayer service, games, tours, and refreshments. Find the Grandparents Day invite HERE. 

Christmas Cash Raffle: Please help us promote our Holiday Raffle! Share with family and friends and purchase a raffle ticket if you can for a chance to win holiday cash! This raffle helps us meet our budget and is a great way to support BA. Click HERE for a direct link to the form. (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! 

Staffing Update: Please keep our middle school choir director, Mary Clare Melero, and her family in your prayers. Last week Mrs. Melero learned that she is expecting twins early summer 2025 and will likely need to finish her time at BA early in the second semester. We are actively looking for a long-term sub for the choir position (send us any leads!) and are also working on alternate plans for middle school choir should we not find one. More details to follow. 

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

• December 9: 10:30 Mass @ DMCC, Immaculate Conception 
• December 12: SADD Ugly Sweater $ Dress Down Day
• December 15: Christmas Concert, BA gym, 6pm
• December 16: Knowledge Bowl Meet; last day to purchase holiday raffle tickets
• December 17: Holiday Raffle drawing
• December 18: Prom coffee house/bake sale
• December 20: No Faribault busing, 10:30 Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass @ BA
• December 23-January 3: Christmas Break
• January 6: 1st day of Semester 2

Finally, the BA Annual Fund has a $50,000 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!

As we approach this holiday break, we wish you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving spent with friends and family.

In gratitude, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

BA Job Openings: Please remember to spread the word about our Head of School search! Find the job posting on our website HERE; share broadly to your LinkedIn network (post is HERE). We are also looking for a nighttime custodian and a long-term substitute middle school choir director. Find job postings HERE. Thank you!

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE
U.S. Naval Academy Visit Monday, Nov 25: We’re excited to announce that J.J. Malecha, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman and BA 2021 grad, will be visiting BA on Monday, November 25th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to talk about college and career opportunities at the United States Naval Academy. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Naval Academy, hear firsthand experiences, and get insights into military education and career pathway options. Contact Mr. Bienias for more information.

Prom Heggie's Pizza Sales: Members of the junior class are taking orders for Heggie's pizzas through Friday, December 6. Contact Nettie Battles to connect with a junior student to place your order and support Prom 2025!

Seniors! Scholarship Information:

• Minnesota Colleges Scholarship Listings: From Mr. Bienias: Here's also a link for office of education MN scholarship list to have parents be aware of https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/spages/scholarshipsall.cfm
• Schulze College Scholarship: The Schulze Family Foundation Board of Trustees has renewed the Schulze College Scholarship for a twelfth year.  The portal to accept applications will open on January 6, 2025. A completed application must include the financial aid notification of award (NOA) and be submitted by April 1, 2025. Click HERE for more 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/

We hope you are enjoying the long weekend. Faculty spent today (Friday) in professional development, discussing curriculum, state standards and cross-curricular options;  artificial intelligence in the classroom; and preparations for the remainder of the semester. 

An exciting opportunity this week for our students to hear from nationally recognized Catholic youth motivational speaker, Brian Greenfield. Mr. Greenfield is a regular presenter at the Steubenville Catholic youth conferences and spoke at the National Eucharistic Congress last summer, motivating teens to embrace and grow in their faith. Find his bio HERE. Our special Friday assembly will include a time for adoration and benediction, and so we will not have a separate Mass this week. (Students may be in regular dress code Friday.) Concurrently, our 6th and 7th graders will be separately engaged with faith-based and personal growth presentations and activities. 

New Staff: Excited to announce two new staff members who will be joining us next week. Ms. Lynn Kochevar has been hired as the new Middle School Counselor. She has extensive experience in the Lakeville School District and is excited to be on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also added to the Cardinal team is Ms. Theresa Kucera - a 1985 BA grad - who has joined the kitchen staff. Welcome to both!

Campus Ministry is hosting a week-long food drive for St. Vincent de Paul. Students should bring donations to their homeroom. The homeroom with the most donated food will earn a pizza party. Please donate as you are able.

GRANDPARENTS DAY Tuesday, November 26: Please invite grandparents/special adults in your student's life to join us in the BA gymnasium on November 26 at 1:00 pm for a prayer service, games, photos, tours and refreshments. Find the Grandparents Day invite HERE. 

BA School Store: Looking for some great BA-themed Christmas gifts? We've just opened a BA school store with lots of new items. Click HERE to check it out. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov 19. Items delivered to BA in time for the holidays. Go, Cardinals! 
 

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

• November 26: Grandparent's Day, 1pm, click HERE for invite
• November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break / No School
• December 3: Penance Fair, 12-2:30pm
• December 4: Student of the Month, 7:30am; 11^th Grade Youth Frontiers Retreat @ Senior Center
• December 5: NHS Christmas dress down day
• December 6: 10:30 am Mass @ BA
• December 7: Post-Prom DNO @ El Tequila 4-8pm
• December 15: Christmas Concert, BA gym, 6pm

FUNDRAISER UPDATES:

Host Family Needed! Permanent placement fell through (too many cats!) and our BA 8th grader is in need of a permanent placement. Please consider hosting! Stipend plus BA tuition credit and other incentives available. Contact Cheryl Da Silva for more information: 617-710-5700; cdasilva@pse-edu.org.

JO Volleyball Meeting Nov 18: All grade 4-11 girls volleyball players interested in playing JO volleyball are invited to attend a registration meeting Nov 18, 7pm in the BA cafeteria. Players can register at this link; find the meeting flyer with more information on the program HERE. 

BA Job Openings: Please remember to spread the word about our Head of School search! Find the job posting on our website HERE; share broadly to your LinkedIn network (post is HERE) of share today's post on our Facebook page. We are also looking for a part-time (Tuesday/Thursday) kitchen assistant and a nighttime custodian. Find job postings HERE. Thank you!

Girls and Boys Basketball Registration: Registration for girls and boys basketball is now open. The link to register may be found on bacardinals.com under the More menu. The activity fee for participating in basketball is $140 per player. The fee may be paid online under the More menu, by check or by having the fee added to your tuition account. Student participants must also have a valid sports physical clearance on file with the school’s activities office in order to participate. Sports physicals are good for 3 years from the date of the exam. Sports physical clearance forms are available under the More menu on the bacardinals.com website.

Boys Basketball begins practicing on November 18.

Registration for Winter Co-operative Sports through Faribault Public Schools is now open. This includes Dance, Hockey, Wrestling, Gymnastics and Boys Swimming. 

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE

U.S. Naval Academy Visit: We’re excited to announce that J.J. Malecha, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman and BA 2021 grad, will be visiting BA on Monday, November 25th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to talk about college and career opportunities at the United States Naval Academy. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Naval Academy, hear firsthand experiences, and get insights into military education and career pathway options. Contact Mr. Bienias for more information.

Seniors! Scholarship Information:

• Minnesota Colleges Scholarship Listings: From Mr. Bienias: Here's also a link for office of education MN scholarship list to have parents be aware of https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/spages/scholarshipsall.cfm
• Schulze College Scholarship: The Schulze Family Foundation Board of Trustees has renewed the Schulze College Scholarship for a twelfth year.  The portal to accept applications will open on January 6, 2025. A completed application must include the financial aid notification of award (NOA) and be submitted by April 1, 2025. Click HERE for more 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/