Copy
   January 27, 2016
Dear God,

Thank you Father, for the gift of life. 
Thank you for the beauty of the day...
for sunshine...for snow...for seasons...for happiness...even for sorrows I do not understand.
But most of all, Father, thank you for the gift of human dignity. Help us to be a witness to the faith as we stand in solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable. 
Hear this prayer to assure life for the unborn and those who are near death so that they, too, may one day share the happiness of life and goodness of your love.

Amen.
All School News
Catholic Schools Week is Next Week! 
National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. As we continue to follow Pope Francis’ call to mercy, we especially remember the joy and love that abounds in our Catholic school community of BSM. To celebrate the week, we have a number of events planned.
  • Monday, February 1: Hall of Honor Celebration and Awards Dinner
  • Tuesday, February 2: Donuts at drop-off for parents, as a thank you for choosing to invest in Catholic education, sponsored by the Parent Association!
  • Wednesday, February 3: All School Mass. Also, Just for Parents session with Dr. Gyolai.
  • Thursday, February 4: All School Assembly – special Catholic Schools Week speaker, Alex Sheen.
  • Friday, February 5: No School. Faculty and staff will be on retreat this day, keep them in your prayers!
Tuition Contracts
We are pleased to announce that we are enrolling students electronically for the 2016-2017 school year. Instructions on how to complete your electronic enrollment contract were recently sent to you via email. Completed contracts are due Monday, February 15, 2016. Please note that this process is available for current students only. It is not available for students with split billing households and international students.
 
As a reminder, it is our school’s policy that tuition accounts be current. Students with past due tuition will not be offered course selection materials for the upcoming school year until their balances have been cleared with the Finance Department. Course selection materials will be distributed to students with a completed tuition contract on file.
 
Please review your most recent tuition account activity in PowerSchool to ensure your account is current. If you have questions about your tuition account or the electronic enrollment process please contact Shané Sisco at 952-767-3121.

Tuition Assistance Applications for Current Families
Tuition assistance applications for the 2015-2016 school year are due Monday, February 15. Tuition Aid Data Service (TADS) applications can be completed online. Please note that all current families receiving assistance must reapply each year. Financial award letters will be sent the first week in March. 

If you have general questions about the BSM Tuition Assistance program, please contact Shané Sisco, student tuition and financial aid specialist, at 952-767-3121. If you need assistance with respect to completing the TADS application or checking the status of your TADS submission, you may contact TADS directly at 612-548-3320. 

Hall of Honor 
The 2016 Hall of Honor Celebration and Awards Dinner is Monday, February 1, 2016. The Hall of Honor is a recognition program designed to consistently and publicly honor the heritage of BSM, salute the dedication and service of the volunteer community, and reward the professional longevity of employees. There are a number of familiar faces being honored this year. Your presence at this event would be a meaningful tribute to them and their contributions to our community. You can see the full list of honorees and reserve your seat(s) to the Hall of Honor Celebration and Awards Dinner here or by contacting Mary Fran O'Keefe at 952-915-4360 by Wednesday, January 27.
 
Shoe Drive for World Soles 
The Junior and Senior High Student Council groups are hosting a shoe drive this week, January 26-29, 2016. All students are invited to donate new or used athletic shoes. There will be donation boxes in the front entryway, as well as in front of the junior high office. All donated shoes will be delivered to developing countries by an organization called World Soles. Please tie each pair of shoes together before you drop them in the donation box!

Upcoming Events
  • February 3 - Catholic School's Week Mass (9:15 a.m.) 
  • February 3 & 4 - Block Days
  • February 5 - No School (Faculty/Staff Retreat)
  • February 10 - Ash Wednesday Mass 
  • February 15 - President's Day (No School)
  • February 17 - Block Day (Late Start Seniors Only)
  • February 18 - Block Day

Click here to view the BSM 2016-2017 Preliminary Academic Calendar

Click here to view the BSM Master Calendar

Click here to view the Lunch Menu
 
back to top 
Senior High
Final Grades
Semester one final grades will be posted to PowerSchool by Friday, January 29. Once logged into PowerSchool, click on "Grade History" on the left side of the page. If there are questions regarding a final grade, students are asked to speak directly to the teacher.  
Junior High

BSM Junior High Winter Party

All junior high students are invited to attend the Winter Party, Friday, January 29, 7-9:30 p.m. at BSM for an admission fee of $2. There will be many fun activities including basketball, dodge ball, ping-pong, black jack, bingo, snacks/drinks, contests, music and dancing. New this year: Human Foosball inflatable in the Great Hall! The theme this year is "Sports Jerseys" (professional or amateur). Student Council will also be collecting shoes for World Soles (athletic shoes are in particular need). Students may bring in shoes (used or new) the week of the party, January 26-29, or the night of the party. We are looking for volunteers and donations for the party. If you are available and would like to volunteer, please sign up using the Sign Up Genius site here. 
 

Wolf Ridge Field Trip

The entire 8th grade class will be traveling to Wolf Ridge February 15-19, 2016. Information has already been sent home to parents concerning this field trip; however, if there are any 8th grade parents who have not yet volunteered to chaperone and would like to, please contact Dave Platt. 


Save the Date - Junior High Ski Day!

The junior high will be going to Afton Alps during the school day Tuesday, February 9.  Students will have the choice to ski or snowboard and may bring their own equipment or rent from Afton. Students who rent equipment will participate in a group lesson. Experienced students pass through the lesson and ski independently. We encourage all students to participate. Watch for permission slips at the end of January.
Athletics & Activities

Chipotle Fundraiser for Boys' Lacrosse 

Show your team spirit by attending a fundraiser to support BSM boys' lacrosse teams. Come on in to the Chipotle at Calhoun Commons, Tuesday, February 2, 6-8 p.m.  Bring in a flyer, show it on your smartphone, or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds are donated to the BSM boys' lacrosse teams.
 
back to top
Parent Association
Senior Parent Meeting
Save the date for the senior parent meeting in the BSM theater tonight, Wednesday, January 27, 7 p.m. Issues related to policies and procedures for finals, graduation ceremony, etc. will be discussed. Part of the meeting will also cover details about this year’s senior party (which follows commencement Friday, June 3) including registration, cost, activities and more. This parent-chaperoned, parent-organized, all night-party for our graduates is sponsored by the Parent Association. It is a wonderful way to celebrate our seniors and their success!

Father Daughter Dinner Dance
Senior high female students and their dads/guardians are invited to attend the Father Daughter Dinner Dance, Saturday, February 20, 6-11 p.m. at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. This year’s theme is "MidKnight Rodeo.” Get ready to put on your boots and bling and spend a wonderful evening with your daughters. Formal invitations have been mailed. You won’t want to miss this truly memorable BSM tradition. Once online registrations are confirmed, girls may sign up for table spots in the Spirit Shop, registration ends Tuesday, February 16. Click here to register! If you have any old cowboy hats or boots you would like to donate for the event’s decorating committee, please drop them off at the front office. For any questions about the event, please contact Karen Dorn or Maureen Segner.

Senior girls, and senior dads/guardians, be sure not to miss the upcoming skit practices in the commons. Schedule details can be found here. 

Mother-Son Knight
Register now for this year's Mother-Son Knight, Friday, March 11, 6-9 p.m. at Pinstripes. Senior high boys and their moms/guardians are invited to be high rollers at the Casino Knight gaming tables presented by Las Vegas Tonight. In addition to bocce and bowling, you can relax by bonfires, enjoy dinner by Pinstripes Bistro, win prizes and be entertained by the seniors and their moms during the traditional dance/skit. Click here to join the fun. Early-bird ticket purchases by February 15, enter you into a prize drawing for four Minnesota Wild tickets. For any questions or to volunteer, please contact Teri Dewey Smogard or Mary Tucker.

Just for Parents: What it Means to be in a Catholic School Community
Come Celebrate Catholic Schools Week with us, Wednesday, February 3, 1 – 2:30 p.m.! A Catholic school has many attributes that create a unique foundation for a student’s development as a learner and person. Hear from BSM President Dr. Kevin Gyolai speak about these attributes that make up a Catholic school and community, along with the innovative initiatives that have been developed specifically at BSM as a part of its Catholic identity.

Prayer and Share
Prayer and Share is an informal gathering of parents in the chapel to provide spiritual support to the BSM community. We begin with a scripture reading and take time to pray about, reflect on and discuss both specific and universal issues in our children's lives and community. Prayer and Share will meet this month, Wednesday, February 17 and 24, 9 – 10 a.m. in the Chapel. All are welcome.

HoneyBaked Ham Gift Card Fundraiser 
Purchasing HoneyBaked Ham Gift Cards is a great way to help BSM, with 20% of all sales going to support our school starting today January 27-March 11. With Easter around the corner, it’s never too soon to start planning. Use HoneyBaked Gift Cards to shop online, order from the catalog, or go to any location nationwide. Choose from their signature hams, tender turkeys, delicious desserts or Heat & Serve sides.To buy your gift cards click here and please allow one to two weeks for delivery by mail. Spread the word and encourage your friends and relatives to participate as well! If you have any questions, please contact Parent Association representative Leslie Wille, and thank you for your support!
 

back to top
Guidance

Applying for Extended Time on the PSAT, ACT, SAT & AP Exams 

If your son or daughter meets all of the following three criteria, he or she may qualify for extended time on standardized tests:
  1. Your son or daughter has documentation from a complete assessment of his/her disability (including academic and intelligence tests) done by a licensed professional in the past three years, OR an update of a previous assessment
  2. Your son or daughter has an accommodation plan on file at BSM that states the need for extended time on tests
  3. Your son or daughter is currently using extended time in at least one class at BSM.
Be sure to start applications for extended time at least one month before the test’s registration deadline. For example, the registration deadline for the April 9 ACT is March 4, so you should begin the process with Dave Herbst, BSM’s learning specialist, by February 4. For specifics, click here, then click on the link “Applying for Extended Time.” Contact Dave Herbst if you have any questions or to begin the process – 952/915-4358, ext. 2491. 
 

Parents of Juniors 

  • All BSM juniors are required to attend the Building Your Future workshop about college and career planning, Thursday, February 11. As a reminder, juniors should plan to arrive at school no later than 8:30 a.m. and will need to drop off their jackets and backpacks in their lockers, then go to the main lobby with their laptops. Juniors need to be checked in and seated in the theater by 8:45 a.m. and will be released at 2:40 p.m.
  • Mark your calendar for the College Planning Meeting for parents of juniors, in the Hamburge Theater, Wednesday, February 17. Parents can attend either the 10 a.m. meeting or the 7 p.m. meeting, both of which will be the same presentation. Refer to the letter mailed home in early January for more details concerning what will be presented at the meeting.

Summer Opportunities for Enrichment

The Summer Opportunities page of the BSM website has many opportunities for enrichment this summer. Many colleges offer programs for high school students and some, such as Notre Dame, have rapidly approaching deadlines. You can find these opportunities on the BSM website here.  
 

back to top
Spirit Shop
Valentine's Day Balloons and Gifts
Surprise your student for Valentine's Day with a specially delivered balloon or gift during your student's lunch period. We also specialize in all things red and white, making it the best place to find the perfect gift for your Valentine.
 
The Spirit Shop is open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on school days.
 
back to top
Let's Get Social!
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Instagram
Website
Email
Copyright © 2014, Benilde-St.Margaret's School, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address:
2501 Highway 100 South, St. Louis Park, MN  55416

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences