Habemus papam! We have a new pope! Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is a native of Chicago, making him the first American pope. He spent much of his ministry in Latin America and came to the conclave as the Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. We pray for him as he begins to lead our church through this challenging time. May God bless him.

Thank you to the Junior Class for planning a fantastic prom - the gym looked amazing (and so did all our students)! Gratitude as well to the parents who helped with post-prom. FFA hosted Baby Animal/Ag day at DMCS yesterday. Traditions like these are what help us bond as a community. Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms this Sunday. Blessings to you and thanks for all you do for your children.

Upcoming Events
May 19-20: Senior Exams Period 1, 2, 3
May 2: 1pm Mary Ceremony, 7:30pm Baccalaureate: all are welcome
May 23: 9:30am Awards Day Ceremony; Gr 9-11 dismissed @ 11:15, no lunch served; 7:30pm Commencement. All are welcome!
May 26: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
May 28: 1:05 pm dismissal
May 29: Last day of School, 1:05 dismissal 

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

Reminder to please complete enrollment packets for next year (look for an email from Catholic Schools of Faribault). Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or any other questions. 

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

JULY 16-20: Lots of parent and student volunteer shifts! Find the daily Cardinal Cafe sign ups at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/.
Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! 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 (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.
Save the date! All are welcome to join us for this great celebration. This FREE event features live music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, school tours, 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/

Prom is tomorrow! Grand March is at 4pm in the BA gym and all are welcome to attend. We thank Prom Advisor Mrs. Nettie Battles and the junior class for their work in planning this event. We pray for a fun and safe prom and thank SADD officers and SADD Advisor Mrs. Donlon and Counselor Mr. Bienias for promoting good decision making and safe driving this week.

National Teacher Appreciation Week starts Monday! Please take a moment to thank a teacher for their hard work wtih our students. 

There have been instances this year where student and staff emails have been compromised, most recently an email sent this week "from" Dave Wollin of our staff. We will be requiring students and staff to change their passwords and adding an extra layer of authentication to staff logins. A reminder that if an email looks suspicious or has unexpected attachments, to trust your instinct and delete the email. 

Ms. Jolene Beske has stepped away from her position at Bethlehem Academy. We are fortunate that Mrs. Melinda O'Connor, an experienced teacher and former BA staff member, is filling in for Ms. Beske starting this past Wednesday through the end of the school year. 

Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have not yet re-enrolled, please do so as soon as possible. Award letters have been mailed 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, have questions about the award letter you have received, 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. 

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

JULY 16-20: Log in to POINT (https://pointapp.org/sign-in/) to find the daily Fair shift and job volunteer options.	Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! 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 (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! 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/

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/