Family Focus Newsletter 2025-2026

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Campus Ministry-selected Bible verse for 2025-2026)

Dear Families,

T minus 48 hours until we officially launch the 2025-26 school year! Teachers and staff have been working hard this week preparing to greet your students on Monday morning, including laying the groundwork for collecting and using data to inform instruction, using AI to promote student learning, and mental health awareness.

Thank you to all who attended Back to School Night! The energy and excitement was so great, and our teachers loved connecting with their students and families. I also appreciated meeting all those who stopped to introduce themselves and am excited to continue to connect with families throughout the school year.

We are excited to welcome back all of our students at Orientation at 9 am on Monday in the gym. It’s going to be a great day, filled with fun, joy, and a bit of business. Then on Tuesday, August 26, we begin the academic year with a regular Red day schedule where middle school students will report to homeroom and high school students to their first period class.

We are also excited to jump into planning for our Homecoming Week festivities which will begin on September 8 and culminate on September 13th with our Homecoming football game at 6 pm against the Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons. The week will be busy with a home varsity volleyball game on Tuesday, September 9, Mass, Service Day, pep fests, and our annual parade. Watch for a full schedule of events coming soon!

We would also like to invite families to join our student body for our first Mass of the year at 10:30 am on Friday, August 29 in Van Orsow Auditorium.

Saint Joseph and Saint Catherine of Siena, Pray for us!

Go Cardinals!

Paula Leider

No Faribault busing this week. Parents should plan to drop off/pick up students on the west side of 2nd Avenue SW. The area from the Adoration Chapel past the first hydrant on the Back 40 will be a no parking zone for this purpose until 3rd Avenue in front of the school is finished.

August Hot Lunch Menu

September Hot Lunch Menu

Email attendance@bacards.org for student tardies, absences or illness.

SEPTEMBER 1: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

SEPTEMBER 3: New BA Parent meeting (6pm, Cafeteria); Senior-Parent Info Night(7pm, Room 207)

SEPTEMBER 8-12: Homecoming Week

SEPTEMBER 13: Homecoming football game, 7pm; high school informal dance to follow

SEPTEMBER 13-14: Divine Mercy Catholic Church Spirit Fest

Parents! We need the following forms filled out and dropped off in the BA front office. Click the link in the button below to find copies of all the forms.

1. 2025-2026 Parent-Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form - parents and students sign
2. Field Trip/medical authorization form
3. Health form (also sent in August mailing)
4. Lunch Forms (also sent in August mailing)
5. Home and School (also sent in August mailing

Returning Grade 7-12 Students: Click the button below to reserve your day/time to pick up your new laptop! New grade 7-12 students will get their laptops in a special session from 11:30am-1pm following the all-student orientation Monday, August 25 (lunch provided). Grade 6 students will get their laptops Tuesday and Wednesday during Technology class. NOTE: students who do not have a signed tuition contract will not be eligible to pick up their laptop until this is completed.

The Bethlehem Academy seniors are selling t-shirts for Homecoming this year! The cost of each shirt is $15, and the amount is due at the time of order. We will be taking orders until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3rd. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to support the Cardinals while we: “Fry the Falcons!”

BA’s Clay Target Team has a firearm safety field day scheduled on Saturday, September 13th at the Morristown Gun Club from 9 am - early afternoon. Please email Coach Troy tcmarquardt@gmail.com to learn more and get a session scheduled. All are welcome!

Fall sports are underway! Click the buttons below if you still need to pay fall sports fees or need the 2025-2026 sports physical form. For more information, please visit the BA athletic website.

Get your BA gear! Click the link below to order items from the BA School Store. Order online, pick up at BA. Online, cash, check, and Venmo payments options.

We are grateful for all our parent volunteers, who make our events successful each year. Opportunities to work concessions or take tickets at fall home football and volleyball games are listed in the POINT app and are available for sign up. Hours are automatically tracked via the sign up. Spirit Fest at Divine Mercy Catholic Church is September 13-14. Many student and parent volunteers are needed! (Note that the homecoming game and high school dance is the evening of Sept 13). Click HERE to sign up. Parents can self-report up to 5 hours (total, not per parent) worked at this event. Student hours count as per their theology class instructions.

Find more information at Volunteer Connections under the resources tab on our website. Contact advancement@bacards.org with questions.

Check out two great shows coming up at Faribault's Paradise Center for the Arts!