Family Focus Newsletters



Welcome Guest
Recent Posts Recent Comments Categories Archives

 subscribe subscribe
 
Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

Family Focus 5/12/23

date 05/16/2023 author Kris Sauer category May 2023, 2022-23 comment Leave a comment

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)


May 12, 2023

Dear BA Families: 
May events continue! This week our musical students shared their talents at the Spring Concert. From strings, to jazz, and a teacher/student published song, music rang out in the auditorium. Thank you for joining us and a special thank you to Emily Cicha and Brad Lorence for preparing their scholars for a wonderful performance.

Additionally this week, our Houses gathered for the last time this year. We made more than 400 sandwiches for the homeless, worked together in each House to complete a scavenger hunt, and listened to speeches from students running for office as well as a special presentation from Air Force 1st Lt. Joe Belina, OHS '16 and Air Force Academy grad. It was a great week to be Cardinal! Special thanks to all of our teachers during this Teacher Appreciation Week, and to our lunch ladies and maintenance teams for the extra work with Houses and our Spring Concert. THANK YOU!


STAFFING UPDATES FOR 2023-24:

  • BA Staff Retiring: Steve Zabel, Julie Trnka, Barb Johnson and Tammy Anderson  (Please contact me to learn more.)
  • BA Teachers Leaving: Father John Powers, Josh Maus and Mark Nuehring
  • New Staff for 2023-24: We welcome Brent Zabel as Middle School Dean. He will continue to also teach the upper level science courses. Ms. Kallie Donahue Battles is joining the BA family as our new 9th and 10th grade science instructor and additional courses. Jolene Beske is joining our staff to teach business courses while Katy Ashley will be teaching some social studies courses as she begins her teacher training.
FUNDRAISER UPDATES:
  • The BA Annual Fund drive is at $232,200+ with a goal of $265,000 for this academic year! Gifts accepted through June 30, 2023.
  • Watch for information on our Cardinal Club Raffle, the Heritage Days parade June 17, the Cardinal Cafe at the Rice County Fair July 19-23, our SMART Ride July 27-29, and Cardinal Golf Classic August 4!

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE: 


UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar. 

  • May 17: Guatemala Mission Trip application due
  • May 18-31: Click here for a printable copy of the finals/senior week schedule
  • Wednesday, May 24: Mary Ceremony in gym @ 1pm, special schedule; Baccalaureate at DMCC, 7:30pm 
  • Friday, May 26: Awards Day @ 9:30am, grades 6-11 dismissed around 11am, no lunch served; Commencement, 7:30pm
  • Monday, May 29: Memorial Day - no school
  • Tuesday, May 30: 1pm dismissal, lunch served
  • Wednesday, May 31: 1pm dismissal, lunch served - last day of school! 
BA Job Openings: Help Spread the Word! BA is seeking a Kitchen Manager and Maintenance Supervisor for 2023-24. Contact Mindy Reeder at 507-334-3948 or at mreeder@bacards.org for info.

Please join me in prayers this spring as we wrap up our school year, praying for our scholars and teachers in the final weeks of the school year with special prayers for our seniors.

Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org


ALL
BA UPDATE

Order your 2022-2023 BA Yearbook! Click HERE to order online or use the form found here and return to the front office with your payment. Orders due May 31. Contact Mr. Zabel at bzabel@bacards.org with questions.

Summer Math Tutoring: Lynette Battles will be offering math tutoring this summer for 4th-8th grade students.  Cost is $150 for 6 one hour sessions. Please email her at lbattles@bacards.org for more information and availability. 


Summer Camps @ BA: Click HERE for information and registration forms for football, basketball, volleyball, robotics camps and summer voice lessons. 

DMCC Summer Programs: Great opportunities this summer through the Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth groups, including Totus Tuus. More info and sign up at this link.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Juniors: Sign up for STRIVE: STRIVE, a Faribault Rotary-sponsored program is taking registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. Sign up to participate HERE

Reminder: High school after school support is available for students in the library Tuesday - Thursday until 3:30.
 

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

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

Family Focus, 5/5/23

date 05/10/2023 author Kris Sauer category 2022-23, May 2023 comment Leave a comment

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)


May 5, 2023

Dear BA Families: 
It's Prom at BA and May events! Join us tomorrow (Saturday, May 6) for our Prom Grand March at 5pm, details below as our May events begin. Also, for your planning purposes, please keep in mind we will have three early release days this spring:

  • Friday, May 26 (Awards Day @ 9:30am, dismissed around 11am, no lunch); 
  • Tuesday, May 30 (lunch served, 1pm dismissal); 
  • Wednesday, May 31st (lunch served, 1pm dismissal) - last day of school! 

Teacher Appreciation Week May 8-12: Bethlehem Academy is blessed to have a history of teachers serving our scholars for many years. Additionally, this year we welcomed new teachers into our Catholic school family. Please thank them for their service and dedication and celebrate them this week - send an email, a note card, or treats to school. WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS!

The Month of Mary: May is the month of Mary. We began this month with the DMCS 1st grade Mary Crowning. What a joy to celebrate Mass as an entire school family! Later this month, our seniors will close out our year with the Mary crowning ceremony and the distribution of flowers to those who made a difference in their lives. Additionally, the Archdiocese offers family events for the month of May honoring Mary, see the opportunities below.


STAFFING UPDATES FOR 2023-24:

  • BA Staff Retiring: Steve Zabel, Julie Trnka, Barb Johnson and Tammy Anderson  (Please contact me to learn more.)
  • BA Teachers Leaving: Father John Powers and Mark Nuehring
  • New Staff for 2023-24: We welcome Brent Zabel as Middle School Dean. He will continue to also teach the upper level science courses. Ms. Kallie Donahue Battles is joining the BA family as our new 9th and 10th grade instructor and may teach additional courses, see Kallie's introduction below.
FUNDRAISER UPDATES:
  • The BA Annual Fund drive is at $227,200+ with a goal of $265,000 for this academic year! Gifts accepted through June 30, 2023.
  • Watch for information on our Cardinal Club Raffle, the Cardinal Cafe at the Rice County Fair, our SMART Ride and Cardinal Golf Classic!

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE: 


UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar. See some additional Archdiocese events and invitations below.

  • May 6:
    • Prom, Grand March 5pm @ BA, click HERE for info
    • DMCC Kite Festival, student volunteers needed (service hours) from 9am-1pm. Click HERE to sign up. 
  • May 7: Guatemala Mission Trip info meeting (option #2), 6pm DMCC
  • May 8: Last 1pm WIN day of the quarter for support
  • May 9: AP English Language Exam, Student Council candidates registration due
  • May 10:
    • Student of the Month, 7:30am
    • BA Band/Choir Spring Concert, 6:30pm in Van Orsow Auditorium
  • May 11: AM WIN Schedule - House Activity & Student Council Candidate speeches; AVANT Spanish Test
  • May 12: 
    • Ag Science/FFA Baby Animal Day @ BA
    • Student Council elections
    • DMCS Family Fun Day, 4:30-7pm : Student Volunteers needed! Click here to sign up to volunteer.
  • May 15: Intercultural Club Midtown Global Market field trip. Permission slips due May 10. Find the form HERE
  • May 17:
    • Student Council Class Officer elections
    • Guatemala Mission Trip application due
  • May 18-31: Click here for the finals/senior week schedule
BA/DMCS Job Openings: Help Spread the Word!
  • Positions available at Bethlehem Academy for 2023-2024, contact Mindy Reeder at 507-334-3948 or at mreeder@bacards.org:
    • Kitchen Manager; and 
    • Maintenance Supervisor 
  • DMCS is hiring a full-time admissions, marketing and fundraising director. Contact Gina Ashley @ gashley@dmcs.cc for info

Please join me in prayers this spring as we wrap up our school year, praying for our scholars and teachers in the final weeks of the school year with special prayers for our seniors.

Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org


ALL
BA UPDATE
Welcome BA Alum, Kallie Battles! My name is Kallie (Donahue) Battles. I am excited to return to BA as a teacher! After graduating from BA in 2017, I studied biology and education at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Most recently, I taught middle school science at Holy Cross Catholic School in Webster. My husband, Noah, and I are getting ready to welcome our first child this June. I look forward to meeting you and your children this fall!

Student Volunteer Opportunities: See below for 2 great opportunities for students to volunteer and earn service hours!

  • Saturday, May 6 Kite Festival at Divine Mercy Catholic Church! One-hour slots available from 9am through 1pm. Click HERE to volunteer.
  • Friday, May 12, 4:30-7pm, DMCS Family Fun Day at Divine Mercy Catholic Church. Help especially needed at the temporary tattoo bar and bingo game. Click HERE to sign up and volunteer.

Guatemala Mission Trip Info Session:  Live your faith - join the joint BA/DMCC Guatemala Mission Trip February 2024! If you missed Wednesday's meeting, a second information session will be held Sunday, May 7, 6pm in the commons area at Divine Mercy Catholic Church. Interested but can't make the meeting? Contact Mrs. Rachel Tondryk for more information. Ready to sign up? Click HERE to fill out the mission trip application form, due May 17. 


Order your 2022-2023 BA Yearbook! Click HERE to order online or use the form found here and return to the front office with your payment. Orders due May 31. Contact Mr. Zabel at bzabel@bacards.org with questions.

RaiseRight (SCRIP) Tuition Credit Program Update for April: Click HERE.

Summer Math Tutoring: Lynette Battles will be offering math tutoring this summer for 4th-8th grade students.  Cost is $150 for 6 one hour sessions. Please email her at lbattles@bacards.org for more information and availability. 

Summer Camps @ BA: Check out our great summer camp offerings for students elementary through high school. Open to all area students. Click HERE for information and registration forms for football, basketball, volleyball, robotics camps and summer voice lessons. 

DMCC Summer Programs: Great opportunities this summer through the Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth groups, including Totus Tuus and the high school Steubenville Conference. See the flyer below; learn more and sign up at this link.

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Prayer Events:
Join in these prayer and advocacy events as our legislators make final decisions during this session. See below for information and links. 

Friday, May 5 – Final First Friday Adoration: Join in praying before the Blessed Sacrament for our state and our lawmakers from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Capitol in Rm B420 – the Governor’s Dining Room. Learn more.

Thursday, May 11 – Final Capitol Thursday: RSVP to join the MCC staff from 10 – 11:30 a.m. and learn about advocacy, have a Capitol tour, and meet with your legislators.

Archdiocesan Family Rosary Procession

Sunday, May 7, 2 p.m. (Procession line-up at 1:30 p.m.), Procession from State Capitol to Cathedral of Saint Paul

As a public witness to our Catholic faith during the month of May dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary, come with family and friends to the annual Archdiocesan Family Rosary Procession. Archbishop Bernard Hebda will join at the Capitol and in the Cathedral. Learn more and view the Archbishop's video inviting you to participate HERE

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Prom/Post-Prom information: Click HERE for Into the Night Prom information and HERE for a non-BA student guest permission form. Click HERE for Post-Prom information and the permissions slip. All permission slips are due April 28.

Juniors: Sign up for STRIVE: STRIVE, a Faribault Rotary-sponsored program is taking registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. Sign up to participate HERE

Senior Parents: Open Campus Information-Daily open campus began Monday, May 1 for eligible seniors. Lunch and study halls are eligible, Mass is not. Please contact Mr. Wollersheim at jwollersheim@bacards.org or 507-334-3948 with questions. 

High School Reminders: 

  • After school support is available for students in the library Tuesday - Thursday until 3:30 (link to info)

  • Senior Scholarships: Click HERE for a list of college and community scholarship opportunities, requirements and deadlines.

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES
Student volunteers needed! Sign up for this student service hour event HERE. 






COMMUNITY NEWS

 

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

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

Family Focus 4/28/23

date 05/02/2023 author Kris Sauer category 2022-23, April 2023 comment Leave a comment

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (Peer Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2022-2023)


April 28, 2023

Dear BA Families: 
Welcome May! As we turn the calendar to the last month of the school year, I look back at all our scholars have achieved - we are proud of our Cardinals! We have also achieved more of our strategic plans to continually improve the Bethlehem Academy legacy and tradition.

Achievements from our Strategic Plan in 2022-23 include:

  • New courses and programs
  • Increased student support for high school
  • Continued Social Emotional Learning & Houses
  • Strong participation in athletics and activities, including District, Regional, and State awards in: Football, Volleyball, Coop Sports, Spelling Bee, Band & Choir Excellent & Superior ratings and History Day and FFA State awards.
  • Increased student retreats and all-school service events
  • New doors on classrooms, new parking lot, and new bricks on south outside wall.
  • Balanced budget and increased revenue through fundraisers and donations.
As we plan for next year, thank you for your feedback on our parent survey as this helps affirm plans and review areas for improvement in our strategic plan. 

KUDOS! Congratulations to our FFA Team at the State Convention. Check out our facebook page for all the details and awards. Additionally, we are so proud of all of our students and staff who in our theater production, open this weekend. Come out to see this wonderful production! Thanks to our Patrick Baucher, our director from the Paradise Center of the Arts, and Jason Hillesheim for set, art and lights!

REGISTRATION: A special thank you to everyone who has registered for next year. We are at 90% registered and thank you for the time this takes to complete the scholarship application and enrollment forms. Award letters will be out in early May. If you have questions about next year, please do reach out. Ms. Sauer and I will be following up, as well. 

STAFFING UPDATES FOR 2023-24:

  • BA Staff Retiring: Steve Zabel, Julie Trnka, Barb Johnson and Tammy Anderson  (Please contact me to learn more.)
  • BA Teachers Leaving: Father John Powers and Mark Nuehring
  • New Staff for 2023-24: Cecilia Allen will be added to our High School Math Department, see her write up below and welcome her back! Jolene Beske will be teaching business courses, she was announced several weeks ago. Katy Ashley will begin her studies to become a teacher and will be teaching a few courses as well as supporting high school students next year.
FUNDRAISER UPDATES:
  • The BA Annual Fund drive is at $225,700+ with a goal of $265,000 for this academic year! Gifts accepted through June 30, 2023.
  • Watch for information on our Cardinal Club Raffle, the Cardinal Cafe at the Rice County Fair, our SMART Ride and Cardinal Golf Classic!

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE: 


UPCOMING EVENTS: Click HERE for a copy of the 2023-2024 BA School Calendar

  • April 28-30: Spring Play @ BA: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, see info below
  • May 1: Daily open campus begins for eligible seniors
  • May 3:
    • AP English Lit Exam
    • HS Guatemala Mission Trip Info Meeting, 6pm, Room 107 (option #1)
  • May 4:
    • 6th grade field trip to River Bend Nature Center, click HERE for permission slip
    • AP Statistics Exam
  • May 5: AP European History Exam
  • May 6:
    • Prom, Grand March 5pm @ BA, click HERE for info
    • DMCC Kite Festival, student volunteers needed (service hours) from 9am-1pm. Click HERE to sign up. 
  • May 7: HS Guatemala Mission Trip info meeting (option #2), 6pm DMCC
  • May 8: Last 1pm WIN day of the quarter for support
  • May 9: AP English Language Exam
  • May 10:
    • Student of the Month, 7:30am
    • BA Band/Choir Spring Concert, 6:30pm in Van Orsow Auditorium
  • May 11: AM WIN Schedule - House Activity; AVANT Spanish Test
BA/DMCS Job Openings: Help Spread the Word!
  • Positions available at Bethlehem Academy for 2023-2024, contact Mindy Reeder at 507-334-3948 or at mreeder@bacards.org:
    • Full and/or part-time positions in the Front Office
    • Kitchen Manager; and 
    • Maintenance Supervisor 
  • DMCS is hiring a full-time admissions, marketing and fundraising director. Contact Gina Ashley @ gashley@dmcs.cc for info

Please join me in prayers this spring as we wrap up our school year, praying for our scholars and teachers in the final weeks of the school year with special prayers for our seniors.

Blessings, Mindy Reeder - President/Principal
mreeder@bacards.org


ALL
BA UPDATE
Welcome back, Cecilia Allen! Greetings Bethlehem Academy Family! It appears as though the saying “Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal” is really true. After a seven year absence from the halls of Bethlehem Academy, I will be returning this fall as a part-time math teacher. Faribault has been home for my husband Paul and I for 23 years and all four of our children went through the DMCS and BA school systems. After graduating from Winona State University in 1986, I have spent 35 of those years teaching math to both elementary, middle, and high school students with some private tutoring on the side. Of those 35 years, 31 have been at Catholic Schools including BA from 2000 - 2016 and DMCS from 2017 - present. God has blessed me with the opportunity to work in both schools and I am very thankful. I am truly looking forward to doing everything I can to help BA students understand (and hopefully enjoy) the beauty of mathematics all while being surrounded by a community of faith-filled people who live and practice that faith!





Order your 2022-2023 BA Yearbook! Click HERE to order online or use the form found here and return to the front office with your payment. Orders due May 31. Contact Mr. Zabel at bzabel@bacards.org with questions.

RaiseRight (SCRIP) Tuition Credit Program Update for April: Click HERE.

Summer Math Tutoring: Lynette Battles will be offering math tutoring this summer for 4th-8th grade students.  Cost is $150 for 6 one hour sessions. Please email her at lbattles@bacards.org for more information and availability. 

Summer Camps @ BA: Check out our great summer camp offerings for students elementary through high school. Open to all area students. Click HERE for information and registration forms for football, basketball, volleyball, robotics camps and summer voice lessons. 

DMCC Summer Programs: Great opportunities this summer through the Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth groups, including Totus Tuus and the high school Steubenville Conference. See the flyer below; learn more and sign up at this link.

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Prom/Post-Prom information: Click HERE for Into the Night Prom information and HERE for a non-BA student guest permission form. Click HERE for Post-Prom information and the permissions slip. All permission slips are due April 28.

Juniors: Sign up for STRIVE: STRIVE, a Faribault Rotary-sponsored program is taking registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. Sign up to participate HERE





Senior Parents: Open Campus Information-
Daily open campus begins Monday, May 1 for eligible seniors. Lunch and study halls are eligible, Mass is not. Please contact Mr. Wollersheim at jwollersheim@bacards.org or 507-334-3948 with questions. 


High School Reminders: 

  • After school support is available for students in the library Tuesday - Thursday until 3:30 (link to info)

  • Senior Scholarships: Click HERE for a list of college and community scholarship opportunities, requirements and deadlines.

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL UPDATES
Student volunteers needed! Sign up for this student service hour event HERE. 


Learn more about these summer programs at DMCC and sign up at this link.

 

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

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

Our Mission
Bethlehem Academy, a Catholic school in the Sinsinawa Dominican tradition, strives to empower its students and staff to achieve personal, spiritual and academic excellence. We challenge ourselves to love as Jesus Christ loved, to lead, to serve, to inspire and to seek the truth: Veritas.
Address
105 3rd Ave. SW
Faribault, MN  55021
Phone:  507-334-3948
Fax:  507-334-3949