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Family Focus 3-11-22

03/14/2022

Kris Sauer

March 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)

March 11, 2022

Dear BA Families:

Thank you for joining us for conferences. We were happy to greet you face-to-face this spring and partner with you in your scholar's achievements and goals. Please reach out with any additional information or questions. We look forward to your feedback on conferences and other important BA programs as we plan for next year. Watch for a survey next week!

LENT & SISTERS: This week we celebrated National Sister's Week for those serving in vocations. Scholars honored our two Sinsinawa Dominican sisters with special cards and a gift from Home & School. We invite you to join us in our Lenten activities: Mass at Immaculate Conception Church each Wednesday at 10:30am, Friday mornings Stations of the Cross at 10:35am. Also, take our Lenten "Kindness Challenge!" (Kindness)

BABS is just around the corner-April 9! Donate, attend, and/or volunteer! Each grade level this year has also picked a theme that you can donate toward: 6-Movie; 7-Camping; 8-Sports; 9-Gardening; 10- Bonfire; 11-Movie; 12-BBQ/Grill. Send in donations toward these themes marked for the grade level. Check out the volunteer needs on our "Sign Up Genius" and connect with us to reserve your tickets to BABS, you won't want to miss our celebration! (Ticket Link)

GRANDPARENT'S DAY RESCHEDULED: Please invite your scholar's grandparents to our rescheduled event on Thursday, April 14, starting at 1pm.

BA REGISTRATION FOR 2022-23 CONTINUES:  Enrollment is a two step process. 1) FACTS-this is where you re-enroll your scholar for next year and set up your payment plan-this can be adjusted later. 2) TADS-Apply for tuition assistance, if needed - MORE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Apply HERE by April 15. Award letters and tuition agreements are sent in May to enrolled students. Reach out to Kris Sauer with questions.

BABS-April 9: Raffle tickets now available and donations and Baskets Needed! Order raffle tickets HERE. See ideas for donations on our webpage from group events to auction items (BABS link). Contact Teresa, our new Development & Marketing Assistant to donate your time, talent, or treasure.

COVID Updates: This week BA had no positive COVID cases and no one in quarantine. Since the start of the school year we have had 61 COVID positive student cases and 9 staff. 

KUDOS: To our Robotics Teams and special congratulations to our MS Team. They will compete at the Vex IQ World Championship in Dallas this May! Special thanks to Cassie Kratt and congratulations to our high school choir for their performance this week at contest! We wish senior, Kacie Hofius the best in her spring skating show this Saturday.

• March 14: Softball, track & field season opener
• March 15: STRIVE meeting for Juniors at 1 p.m.; Spring sports meeting, 6:30pm
• March 18: Senior open campus forms due, see below
• March 21: Golf, baseball season opener
• March 21-25: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
• March 28: BA students serve at the DMCC Lenten Soup Supper
• March 29: HS Choir solo and ensemble contest
• April 4: Summer Student Worker deadline
• April 5: BA Blood Drive in the BA gym; Gr 9 Pre-ACT test
• April 10: Gr 10 Pre-ACT test
• April 9: BABS
• April 12: Gr 6-7 retreat, BA gym
• April 14: Grandparents Day, 1pm!
• Click HERE for the 2022-2023 BA School Calendar
• Find our event school calendar on our website HERE 

ALL BA UPDATES

Positivity Project Home Activities: To help extend the learning to your students' homes, we encourage you to share these P2 for Families resources with your students' families. The password is: P2- 6-8 | 9-12

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. 

PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM: Phoenix Counseling, with a Catholic focus, is our counseling association and is available to BA parents. 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). 

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

PreACT – For students in grades 9 and 10: The ACT is the most common college entrance exam in Minnesota and the United States. It is commonly taken by students in spring of their Junior year and/or fall of their Senior year. The PreACT is designed to prepare students for taking the ACT. It is a standards-based assessment which monitors progress toward college and career readiness. Students are automatically registered for these tests, which are paid for by the school. Grade 9 students will take this test Tuesday, April 5; Grade 10 on Thursday April 7. To learn more about the PreACT exam, click HERE.

BA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Evening School Maintenance position open: Hours 3-11pm during the school year, 6:30am-3 p.m. in the summer. Deadline to apply: March 18, 2022. Click HERE for the full job description. 

JOB/COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Faribault Youth Baseball Summer League Registration: Registration from Feb 1-March 15 for the 2022 summer metro baseball traveling league ages 10u-15u.  Go to faribaultbaseball.com for more info and to register. 

CODING CAMP: During the exciting 3-week summer camp, students build really impressive AI products that people can use! AI Camp is founded by Stanford Ph.Ds, and have taught thousands of students about AI! No coding experience is needed. About 70% of our applicants are awarded with a scholarship. To apply, click here: https://www.ai-camp.org/summer-camp-scholarship. This amazing opportunity is first-come, first serve. The deadline is 3/15."

Americorps Jobs: A full description of the various positions can be found here, healthycommunityinitiative.org/americorps. 
 

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND CHURCH

Registration for the Steubenville Youth Conference is now open! Open to grades 8 (going into 9th next year) and up. July 29-31 at the University of St. Thomas. Cost is $275 per person, $100 deposit to hold your spot. Register online HERE. Find the conference video teaser HERE. 

 

SUMMER STRETCH June 13th-17th, 2022 This program is designed for middle school students going into grades 6-8 to "stretch" themselves by making new friends, growing in their faith, and having new experiences. Each day includes a morning service project (local needs, River Bend Nature, Sharing and Caring Hands, Feed My Starving Children), lunchtime Bible Student, and afternoon activity (waterpark, movie, Valleyfair, tour of Twins Stadium).***activities mentioned above are subject to change based on availability.  Register for Summer Stretch

Register for Totus Tuus

Day Program Grades 1-6 Divine Mercy Catholic School June 27-July 1 9:00am-2:30pm $50 per student, with $100 family max

Evening Program Grades 7-12 Divine Mercy Catholic Church/Farmhouse June 25- June 30 7:30p-9:45pm Free to attend

 

CALENDAR LINK
Click the link below for the school activities calendar.

• BA School Calendar 

Family Focus 3/4/22

03/09/2022

Kris Sauer

2021-22, March 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)

March 4, 2022

Dear BA Families:

Welcome March - the season of Lent begins. With March, the sun arrives a little earlier and warms us as we prepare for Easter during the season of Lent. As part of this preparation, students in 9th grade began March with an all day in-school Youth Frontiers Respect Retreat sponsored by the Faribault Rotary. Each year, planning a religious retreat along with daily prayer, Mass and spiritual events develops our young scholars character and enriches their faith life. Throughout Lent, we will also offer the Rosary each Friday morning at 7:40 a.m., Stations of the Cross, Fridays at 10:30 a.m., and continue with weekly Mass and Adoration inviting all of our families to join us when you can.

CONCERT TONIGHT!  Don't forget to join us for our winter Band/Choir concert on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m. tonight!

CONFERENCES MARCH 10: We invite you to in-person conferences this spring. Our staff looks forward to visiting with you! Please sign up here: (Sign Up)

BA REGISTRATION FOR 2022-23 CONTINUES:  BA staff and partners bring 16 new classes to BA scholars over the last two years with the option for over 300+ online courses through Catholic Virtual and CIS classes with the U of M and Marquette. It's a great time to be a Cardinal, register early and tell your friends! Enrollment is a two step process. 1) FACTS-this is where you re-enroll your scholar for next year and set up your payment plan-this can be adjusted later. 2) TADS-Apply for tuition assistance, if needed - MORE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Apply HERE by April 15. Award letters and tuition agreements are sent in May to enrolled students. Reach out to Kris Sauer with questions.

COVID Updates: Masks recommended. This week BA had no positive COVID cases and no one in quarantine. Since the start of the school year we have had 61 COVID positive student cases and 9 staff. 

• BABS-April 9: Raffle tickets now available and donations and Baskets Needed! Order raffle tickets HERE. See ideas for donations on our webpage from group events to auction items (BABS link). Contact Teresa, our new Development & Marketing Assistant to donate your time, talent, or treasure.
• Annual Fund: To date we have raised: $281,200. What an incredible response! Gifts continue to be accepted through June 2022. Donate Online (click)  
• 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 $7 million!

KUDOS: To our Robotics Middle School team, competing at State this Saturday and our middle school honors band students competing in Austin. Congratulations to our State wrestlers, Aiden Tobin '22 and Bo Bokman '25 as they compete today and tomorrow. Special thanks to Julie Smisek and all of the chaperones during our Wolf Ridge 8th Grade excursion. Congratulations to our STRIVE scholarship winners Justin Delesha, Madelyn Gersemehl, Abigail Kugler, and Sophy Smith.

• March 5: MS Robotics teams @ State; MS Honors Band in Austin
• March 9: HS Choir Group Music Festival
• March 10: Conferences (Sign Up)
• March 10: BAAA Easter Flower order deadline. Order yours HERE (Store ID=440); see below and attached flyer for more info 
• March 14: Softball, track & field season opener
• March 15: Spring sports meeting, 6:30pm
• March 21: Golf, baseball season opener
• March 21-25: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
• Find our event school calendar on our website HERE 

ALL BA UPDATES

BA Activities Association (BAAA) Annual Easter Flower Fundraiser! This annual Easter flower fundraiser is now online! The BAAA will receive 30% of all plant sales, with proceeds going to offset the costs of athletic uniforms, choir robes, robotics fees, etc. Orders must be completed by 10 PM on Thursday, March 10. NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Products can be picked up in the BA lobby April 12 & 13. Please contact your fundraiser chair: Clarice DeGrood or via 507-838-8073 with questions. Thank you for your support! Find the link to order HERE (Store ID = 440 and BA is the seller's name); flyer also attached. 

Face coverings no longer required on school transportation: On Friday, Feb. 25, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated their face mask requirements for transportation operated by school systems. Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, Faribault Public Schools - and Bethlehem Academy - no longer requires students and adults to wear face coverings when riding a school bus or on other district-provided transportation. Students and staff may choose to wear a face covering at any time. 

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. 

PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM: Phoenix Counseling, with a Catholic focus, is our counseling association and is available to BA parents. 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). 

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

Class of 2022 College Scholarship & Other Info:
Tri-Lakes Sportsmen's Club will be offering a $500 dollar scholarship again this year to students with a love for the outdoors planning to attend a 2 or 4 year post-secondary program. Find the application HERE, due to Ms. Roessler by March 10, 2022.

BA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Evening School Maintenance position open: Hours 3-11pm during the school year, 6:30am-3 p.m. in the summer. Deadline to apply: March 18, 2022. Click HERE for the full job description. 

JOB/COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Faribault Youth Baseball Summer League Registration: Registration from Feb 1-March 15 for the 2022 summer metro baseball traveling league ages 10u-15u.  Go to faribaultbaseball.com for more info and to register. 

Free Meals for Students
Community dinners are offered Monday-Thursday, 4:30-5:30pm at Jefferson Elementary School (922 Home Place). Kids eat free; adult meals are $3.50. More information in English and Spanish HERE. 
 

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND CHURCH

Registration for the Steubenville Youth Conference is now open! Open to grades 8 (going into 9th next year) and up. July 29-31 at the University of St. Thomas. Cost is $275 per person, $100 deposit to hold your spot. Register online HERE. Find the conference video teaser HERE. 

 

SUMMER STRETCH June 13th-17th, 2022 This program is designed for middle school students going into grades 6-8 to "stretch" themselves by making new friends, growing in their faith, and having new experiences. Each day includes a morning service project (local needs, River Bend Nature, Sharing and Caring Hands, Feed My Starving Children), lunchtime Bible Student, and afternoon activity (waterpark, movie, Valleyfair, tour of Twins Stadium).***activities mentioned above are subject to change based on availability.  Register for Summer Stretch

Register for Totus Tuus

Day Program Grades 1-6 Divine Mercy Catholic School June 27-July 1 9:00am-2:30pm $50 per student, with $100 family max

Evening Program Grades 7-12 Divine Mercy Catholic Church/Farmhouse June 25- June 30 7:30p-9:45pm Free to attend

 

CALENDAR LINK
Click the link below for the school activities calendar.

• BA School Calendar 

ATTACHMENT

• BAAA Easter Flower Fundraiser

Family Focus 2-25-22

03/01/2022

Kris Sauer

February 2022, 2021-22

Leave a comment

"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)

February 25, 2022

Dear BA Families:

Closing out February. This week our scholars celebrated national FFA Week with special events, games and a visit from two little lambs! In addition, our 10th and 11th grade scholars attended a full day NET Retreat for time together as classes, time for religious discussion and essential time for Mass, prayer and reflection - critical in developing the body, mind and spirit. This next Wednesday we invite you to join us for Ash Wednesday Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Church as we begin the season of Lent. Also, don't forget to join us for our winter Band/Choir concert on Friday, March 4.

THEATER CLUB AUDITIONS FOR "CLUE": BA is partnering with the Paradise Center for the Arts this year and will feature our scholars in CLUE at the Paradise on April 29, 30th and May 1st. Audition packets are available in the office and open to 7-12th grade students. Students can audition on March 2nd or 3rd after school. Patrick Braucher is our director, one of the Paradise directors. Encourage your scholar!

CONFERENCES MARCH 10: We invite you to in-person conferences this spring. Our staff looks forward to visiting with you! Please sign up here: (Sign Up)

BA REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2022-23 - Early Financial Aid Applications Due March 1:  BA staff and partners bring 16 new classes to BA scholars over the last two years with the option for over 300+ online courses through Catholic Virtual. It's a great time to be a Cardinal, register early and tell your friends! Enrollment is a two step process. 1) FACTS-this is where you re-enroll your scholar for next year and set up your payment plan-this can be adjusted later. 2) TADS-Apply for tuition assistance, if needed - MORE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Award letters and tuition agreements are sent in May to enrolled students. SIGN UP BY MARCH 1 (deadline extended!) to take advantage of all scholarship offerings and BA covering the $10 FACTS enrollment fee. Reach out to Kris Sauer with questions or to set up time for support.

COVID Updates: Masks recommended. This week BA had no positive COVID cases and no one in quarantine. Since the start of the school year we have had 61 COVID positive student cases and 9 staff. 

• BABS-April 9: Raffle tickets now available. Order yours HERE. Volunteers and auction items needed! See ideas on our webpage from group events to auction items (BABS link). Contact Teresa, our new Development & Marketing Assistant to donate your time, talent, or treasure.
• Annual Fund: To date we have raised: $281,000. What an incredible response! Gifts continue to be accepted through June 2022. Donate Online (click)  
• 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 $7 million!

KUDOS: To our FFA team members for hosting this week and to Richard for subbing and bringing in the little lambs. Also, special thanks to our basketball coaches, participants and families - it was a great season with much to be proud of!

• March 1: No fee FACTS re-enrollment & TADS financial aid deadline for full scholarship consideration extended!
• March 1: 9th Grade Youth Frontiers Retreat @ BA (more info below)
• March 2 & 3: Theater Auditions for "Clue" after school 7-12th grades
• March 4: Class registration forms due, students grades 8-11
• March 4: Band & Choir Concert
• March 5: MS Robotics teams @ State; MS Honors Band in Austin
• March 10: Conferences (Sign Up)
• March 10: BAAA Easter Flower order deadline. Order yours HERE (Store ID=440); see below for more info & QR code
• Find our event school calendar on our website HERE 

ALL BA UPDATES

BA Activities Association (BAAA) Annual Easter Flower Fundraiser! This annual Easter flower fundraiser is now online! The BAAA will receive 30% of all plant sales, with proceeds going to offset the costs of athletic uniforms, choir robes, robotics fees, etc. Orders must be completed by 10 PM on Thursday, March 10. NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Products can be picked up in the BA lobby April 12 & 13. Please contact your fundraiser chair: Clarice DeGrood or via 507-838-8073 with questions. Thank you for your support! Find the link to order HERE (Store ID = 440 and BA is the seller's name) or scan the QR code for a direct link: 

Tuition Tax Documents: Please remember that your tax deduction for tuition spans two school years. TADS information can be downloaded from your account under Reports/Tax Year. Find the process from obtaining tax information from FACTS HERE. 

 & click on Financial Aid Assessment to get started. The application deadline was just extended to March 1 to be considered for all available scholarships. 

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. 

PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM: Phoenix Counseling, with a Catholic focus, is our counseling association and is available to BA parents. 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). 

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

9th Grade Retreat March 1: 9th graders will participate in a Youth Frontiers Respect Retreat sponsored by the Rotary Club of Faribault here at BA. Please click HERE for more information about Youth Frontiers and to watch a video about the Respect Retreat. 

Class of 2022 College Scholarship & Other Info:
Tri-Lakes Sportsmen's Club will be offering a $500 dollar scholarship again this year to students with a love for the outdoors planning to attend a 2 or 4 year post-secondary program. Find the application HERE, due to Ms Roessler by March 10, 2022.

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.  Deadline extended to March 1, 2022!