Monthly Archives : April 2025

The weeks are getting busier as we approach the final month of school! Graduation is just 4 weeks away, with the end of the school year a week later. Please encourage your sons and daughters to continue working hard as the end of the semester nears. Notices will be sent home next week to students in danger of failing a class. Please check Schoology and encourage your students to seek help from our faculty (they are available 30 minutes before and after school) if needed. 

Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet re-enrolled, please do so as soon as possible. Award letters were mailed today to students who are enrolled. Tuition contracts should be sent next week. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. Thank you for your partnership!

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Prom is next weekend, and SADD is hosting week of safe driving awareness activities for our high school students. Good luck to our students competing at the State History Day competition on Sunday, and our FFA students competing at the State Convention Monday and Tuesday!

Finally, we held Pope Francis in our prayers this week and said a decade of the rosary for him at the end of Mass today. Please keep him, and the Cardinals choosing his successor, in your prayers as he is laid to rest tomorrow. 

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

RESERVE YOUR YEARBOOK! ORDER BY MON APRIL 28: Time is running out to purchase the 2024-2025 Bethlehem Academy yearbook. Reserve yours by midnight, Monday, April 28, to guarantee your student a copy and to save the memories of this special year. This is the final call before we submit our order for printing. A payment plan is available at checkout when you order on https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A04015000 or stop by the school office with your payment and completed order form to pay by cash or check.

• Golf Tournament Committee: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277566
• 160th Anniversary Committee:  https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277131
• Looking for some parent volunteers to tailor some BA tablecloths. This is a parent service hour opportunity! Contact Teresa if interested.  

JULY 16-20: Volunteer sign up coming soon!	Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. Registration opening soon.  Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event! Sign up HERE.	Save the date - all are welcome to join us for this great celebration! Live Music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well. See below for more information. Click HERE to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard. Thank you!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

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

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

Blossom & Bloom, BABS Gala 25 was a big success last Saturday! We raised almost $150,000 to support the primary mission of BA to provide an excellent college prep education for your sons and daughters. We were thrilled with the results and thank everyone who attended, donated, bid, volunteerd, or otherwise contributed to the success of this event. God is good! 

The week ahead: 

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

May you be blessed as you enter the Holy Triduum.

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

• Golf Tournament Committee: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277566
• 160th Anniversary Committee:  https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277131

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well (transportation). See below for more information and click https://minndependent.quorum.us/campaign/118606/ to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

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

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

Holy Week commences next week, Good Friday and Holy Monday are no school days. May you be blessed as you enter the Holy Triduum.

Blossom & Bloom, BABS Gala 25 is tomorrow! We are so excited to celebrate our school community, our mission, and our 2025 Court of Honor Inductees at tomorrow's event. We look forward to seeing you there! If you didn't get tickets to the Gala, please consider bidding on our online silent auction. We have over 100 amazing items to choose from, including a designated student parking spot, senior VIP commencement parking & seating package, fishing trips, golf outings, professional sports tickets, a Coach cross body purse & wallet, and so much more! Click HERE to check it out - bidding closes at 6:30pm tomorrow, April 12. Thank you for your support!

• Enrollment: Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet registered, please get this completed soon. We are working on contracts for next year and cannot distribute tuition assistance to students who are not enrolled. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention.
• A reminder to families concerned about affording BA: Scholarships and tuition assistance is available. We believe our prep education should be accessible to all families who desire it for their scholars. We offer flexible payment plans and welcome all families to apply for tuition assistance so that we may partner with you to create a plan that works for your family. Although the initial deadline has passed, limited funds remain available. Apply at www.mytads.com. Contact  Kris Sauer with questions.
• Juniors and Seniors: Prom and Post-Prom forms are due Thursday, April 17. See April 4 email from Lynette Battles for more details and all required forms.

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart.

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

Click HERE to bid on the amazing items our silent auction! Bidding closes tomorrow at 6:30pm. Bid high, bid often, bid for BA!

Middle School Lock In April 25:  Middle school student council is hosting a middle school lock on Friday, April 25 from 7 pm to 11 pm at Bethlehem Academy. Cost is $5.00. There will be lots of fun games and activities for the students. Pizza will also be ordered. Permission slips are due Thursday, April 17. Permission slips were sent home but you may also find a copy of the form HERE Parent volunteers are also needed! Shifts are 7-9 PM and 9-11 PM.  Mark the permission form when you are available to chaperone and plan to self-report your hours in POINT.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

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 are grateful for your partnership and honored to be working with you in the spiritual, educational, and personal formation of your sons and daughters. Thank you!

• HS Info Night April 8:  Please join us for a high school parent information session for 8th grade parents Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30pm. We will present information on graduation requirements, courses available for freshmen, common course tracks based on career goals, academic and co-curricular opportunities, and the transition to high school. All are welcome!
• Guatemala 2026 Spring Break Service Trip: Click HERE for the information packet; students must apply by April 10, click HERE for the form. FYI that a BA Rome/Italy mission trip has been moved to June 2027. 
• Enrollment: Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet registered, please get this completed soon. We are working on contracts for next year and cannot distribute tuition assistance to students who are not enrolled. You can contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention.
• Juniors and Seniors: Prom is just around the corner! Tickets go on sale Monday. All forms due Thursday, April 17. See email sent today for more details and all required forms.

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The April 12th BABS Gala - our biggest fundraiser of the year - is  next week! See below for Gala ticket info, raffle ticket options, and parent volunteer opportunities to help with this great event, and watch for the silent auction opening on Wednesday - so many amazing items to bid on! We'll be honoring our teachers, raising money to meet the gap between tuition and expenses, and hosting a special fund-a-need to invest in our Teacher Endowment Fund. Our amazing staff deserves a salary closer to that earned by Faribault public school teachers! Find more information below; click here for the event website.

Finally, please consider contacting Governor Walz and your state senator/representative regarding a proposal to eliminate funding for non-public school students for busing, textbooks, nursing, and counselors. See below our signature for more information and how to help. 

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart.

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

BABS Gala April 12th event: 20 parent volunteer 2-hour shifts still available! BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items  Thank you!

BABS Raffle Tickets! Three great raffle options for BABS 2025 - cash, gift card, and (new!) golden ticket. Click HERE for a form to order your tickets!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

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

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

It was good to be back in the building! Spring certainly does feel like it's here (or, at least it does today...!)

• No Faribault busing Monday, March 31
• Guatemala 2026 Spring Break Service Trip: Click HERE for the information packet; students must apply by April 13, click HERE for the form. FYI that a BA Rome/Italy mission trip has been moved to June 2027. Stay tuned for more details. 
• Enrollment: Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great help with our planning. If you have not yet registered, please get this completed soon. We cannot distribute tuition assistance to students who are not enrolled. You can contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, or have any questions. 

• Shorts may be worn before MEA and following spring break. Shorts must be dress or Bermuda/cargo style shorts, mid-thigh or longer, with sewn hems. No athletic shorts, cut-offs, or biking shorts.
• Flip-flops and sandals may be worn before MEA and following spring break. For safety reasons, appropriate footwear (tennis shoes, closed toe shoes) must be worn in PE and art classes and in the woodshop or science labs. 

• April 8: Gr 9 Pre-ACT Test; Gr 8 HS parent info night, 6:30pm BA gym
• April 9: Campus Ministry $ Dress Down
• April 10: Gr 10 Pre-ACT Test; Student Council Blood Drive 8am-2pm, BA gym
• April 11: Mass @ BA, 10:30am; Campus Ministry Pilgrimage trip
• April 12: BABS Night!
• April 18: No School/Good Friday
• April 21: No School/Easter Monday
• April 22-24: NWEA testing, middle school
• April 23: Intercultural Club $ Dress Down Day; 8^th grade field trip to Bakken Museum
• April 25: Middle School Lock-In
• April 28-May 2: SADD Safe Driving Week
• April 28-29: FFA State Convention
• April 30: Student of the Month, 7:30am; 1pm WIN schedule, HS safe driving assembly

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The April 12th BABS Gala - our biggest fundraiser of the year - is just around the corner! See below for Gala ticket info, raffle ticket options, and parent volunteer opportunities to help with this great event. We'll be honoring our teachers - four former teachers will be inducted into our Court of Honor (Sr. Julie Coyne, OP, Kathy & Mac McClellan, Carolyn Shaffer), raising money to meet the gap between tuition and expenses, and hosting a special fund-a-need to raise money for our Teacher Endowment Fund. Our amazing staff deserves a salary closer to that earned by Faribault public school teachers! Find more information below; click here for the event website.

Prayers for all those dealing with illness, the loss of a family member or close friend, and all those intentions held close to your heart.

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

BABS Gala April 12th event: 20 parent volunteer 2-hour shifts still available! BABS Auction Item Donations: sign up to purchase a gift card for silent auction items  Thank you!

Get your tickets HERE by Monday, March 31 - tickets are selling FAST!

BABS Raffle Tickets! Three great raffle options for BABS 2025 - cash, gift card, and (new!) golden ticket. Click HERE for a form to order your tickets!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

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

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