Bethlehem Academy S C H O O L
P RO F I L E
2017 - 2018
S C H O O L
L E A D E R S H I P
Board of Directors President: Academic Dean: Jim Beckmann Melinda O’Connor President/Principal: Dr. Chuck Briscoe
Guidance Counselors: Laura Carlson & Jade Fiedler
Administrative Dean: Ed Friesen
105 Third Avenue Southwest Faribault, Minnesota 55021 Phone: 507-334-3948 • Fax: 507-334-3949 • www.bacards.org
Our Mission... Bethlehem Academy, a Catholic School of 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 and to seek the truth:
Veritas.
Goals of Bethlehem Academy
Bethlehem Academy offers a balanced educational program that demands self-discipline, fosters respect for others, encourages the search for truth—Veritas—and recognizes the unique abilities of each student. Guided by its Sinsinawa Dominican tradition, the Bethlehem Academy community has established high academic standards and offers a technology-enhanced educational experience to a diverse student body of committed young men and women. Bethlehem Academy seeks to develop the potential of its students in four key areas: • The intellectual potential of each student is developed through a college preparatory curriculum that encourages independent inquiry, critical thinking, creative expression, effective communication, and a thirst for knowledge. • The spiritual and moral potential of each student is developed through the daily teaching and practice of Catholic doctrine, traditions, and values. In addition, weekly Catholic Mass encourages an active and growing faith that rests in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Moreover, instruction and example in each of the academic areas corroborates this teaching and reinforces ethical behavior and responsible stewardship of gifts and talents. • The physical potential of each student is developed through both an extensive program of competitive cocurricular athletics and classroom instruction that promotes healthy and safe choices, fitness for a lifetime, and good sportsmanship. • The leadership potential of each student is developed through various clubs and organizations, such as National Honor Society, Peer Ministry & Service Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and student council, focusing on the knowledge and practice of character, leadership, and citizenship.
About Bethlehem Academy Founded: 1865 Sponsored by: Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic Accreditation: AdvancED-North Central Accreditation Description: Catholic, College Preparatory, Non-profit Student Body: Co-educational, grades 6-12 Professional Staff/Student Ratio: 1:12 Counselor Student Ratio: 1:156 (State of Mn Ave 1:743) High School Average Class Size: 19 Average Graduating Class Size: 42 Faculty Qualifications: 50% of Professional Staff have earned a Master’s Degree. Location: Faribault, Minnesota Enrollment: Grades 6-8......114, Grades 9-12......170 2017-18 Tuition and Fees for High School grades 9-12: $8255 2017-18 Tuition and Fees for Middle School grades 6-8: $6175 Financial Assistance Awarded: $280,650 Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Assistance: 56% Bethlehem Academy is a co-educational, Catholic school, serving students in grades 6-12 located in Faribault, MN. Founded in 1865 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, Bethlehem Academy taught young women, from Faribault and boarding students. Bethlehem Academy opened enrollment to young men and became coeducational in 1936. The boarding program stopped in the year 1962. Seventh and eighth grade joined the academic system and facility beginning in 1986 and the sixth grade joined the BA family in 2013. With any great institution, Bethlehem Academy has adapted to meet the needs present in the community. It should be noted that students who attend Bethlehem Academy are from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. Our ethnic diversity is 20% being non-Caucasian. In addition, more than 20% of our staff and students are not Catholic. Bethlehem Academy welcomes students with a variety of academic abilities. There is no entrance examination required to gain admittance, yet 99% of students graduate and 94% of students go on to post-secondary institutions after graduation. There are 42 students in the graduating class of 2018.
Educating Students for over 150 Years!
Facilities
Although the current school facility was built in 1949, numerous updates are highly visible throughout the building, including new LED lights, air conditioning in the band room and ceiling fans in classrooms. Our school is also working toward lessening our environmental footprint; we hold the status of Efficiency Partner 2012. We accomplished this by replacing toilets, sink and shower aerators, indoor and outdoor lighting, and replacing the pipe insulation with more energy efficient material. Also in 2017, we installed new energyefficient windows on the south side of the building as well as a security system with cameras at every entrance. Bethlehem Academy currently uses the Van Orsow Auditorium for athletic competitions, theater productions, band and choir concerts, as well as our fundraising events. Our auditorium offers unique individual seating, adding charm and character to the building.
Professional & Religious Affiliations
Bethlehem Academy is accredited by AdvancED, a member of the National Catholic Educators Association, as well as part of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Special Program Highlights
Technology Initiative - At Bethlehem Academy, we have a one-to-one student to laptop computer ratio, which has been in place since 2005. The goal of the program is to help our students to gain exposure to and develop strong skills using various computer programs. Our students are taught computer etiquette in the classroom and the risks and rewards of using social media.
The faculty and staff of Bethlehem Academy have the tools to communicate with parents and students through various web-based outlets. Bethlehem Academy uses PowerSchool, an online grading system, so that students, parents and teachers are aware of student progress. The Bethlehem Academy website shares resources with students, parents and the community. Students and parents can access lesson plans and assignments through Google classroom.
Middle School: “School within a School” - The curriculum for students in grades 6, 7 & 8 is designed to strengthen and broaden knowledge in core academic areas and is taught in a manner that addresses the unique developmental needs of this age group. Core courses include English, social studies, science, and math. Theology is incorporated into our core classes and a parish priest meets with classes weekly. All students in grades 6, 7 & 8 participate in physical education and music. To round out the middle school curriculum, students are exposed to the following electives: visual arts, industrial technology, agricultural studies, and computer technology. “Elective” courses are included in the curriculum to give each student the opportunity to experience and develop insight into personal strengths before high school. In addition, the core academic area teachers, called the middle school team, meet multiple times each week to develop interdisciplinary projects. The goal of these projects is for students to understand that learning is not contained in one subject, rather is a life long process to discover truth. The middle school team strives to develop strong academic, organizational and interpersonal skills to assist in the transition from middle school to high school.
College in the Schools (CIS) Courses - Bethlehem Academy participates in the College in the Schools program through the University of Minnesota. CIS courses allow high school junior and senior students the opportunity to earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. Courses currently offered include Human Physiology, Technology & Medical Devices (4 credits), Calculus (4 credits) and US History (3 credits). A student that successfully completes these three courses will earn 11 college credits that are transferable from the University of Minnesota to other post secondary institutions. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be eligible. If these three courses were completed at the University of Minnesota the cost would be $5,415.41. Bethlehem Academy students pay $435. 28% of the junior class is enrolled in one CIS course. 36% of the senior class is enrolled in one or more CIS courses.
Grading System and Testing Components
Bethlehem Academy does not weight grades and does not rank students based on grade point average. Classroom % 94-100 90-93 87-89 83-86 80-82 77-79 73-76 70-72 67-69 63-66 60-62 59 & below
Letter Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F
Value 4.000 3.667 3.333 3.000 2.667 2.333 2.000 1.667 1.333 1.000 0.667 0
Unranked Rationale
Due to small class sizes, Bethlehem Academy is an unranked school. If class rank is required for acquiring a scholarship, it will be provided if the applicant would otherwise be ineligible.
Test Scores Class of 2017
Composite ACT Average score: 23.3 Sample: 28 Middle 50%: 20-26
Standardized Testing Program
Bethlehem Academy implemented a new formal assessment series during the 2014-15 academic year. The ACT Aspire Summative test is utilized for students in grades 9-10. The summative testing is conducted in April of the academic year and assesses English, reading, mathematics, and science. Eleventh grade students then can choose to complete the ACT in order to pursue and gain college admittance. Eleventh grade students are also given the opportunity to complete the PSAT (Preliminary Standardized Achievement Test), which is used to recognize National Merit Scholars. Middle school students participate in the NWEA Map Assessment. These tests will be given in reading and math three times during the academic year to assess evidence of student learning and growth.
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements The curriculum at Bethlehem Academy is designed to meet student’s unique abilities and push them to grow academically in order to achieve personal, career and life goals. Bethlehem Academy graduation credit requirements are listed by each department’s offerings. Bethlehem Academy uses a semester grade reporting system. For each semester course completed with a passing grade, 0.5 credit is earned. Details about our course offerings can be found in our curriculum guide.
English (4 credits required)
English 9, English 10: Writing & Research, English 10: Speech & Research, Reading & Writing, American Literature, World Literature, Advanced Composition, Cinema and Literature
Fine Arts & Industrial Technology
(1 credit required from one of the following categories listed below) Visual Arts: Drawing, Painting, Studio Arts Performing Arts: Concert Band, Concert Choir Industrial Arts: Intarsia, Woodworking, Modern Carpentry, Intro to Agricultural Studies
Mathematics (3 credits required)
Intro to Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Consumer Math, Foundations of Personal Finance, Probability & Statistics, Pre-Calculus, CIS Calculus
Physical Education/Health (1 credit required)
Physical Education, Health, Lifetime Fitness, Strength Training
Science (3 credits required)
Physical Science, Biology, Field Biology & Ecology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, CIS Human Physiology, Technology & Medical Devices, Introduction to Engineering
Social Studies (3.5 credits required)
Citizenship & Government, Geography, American History, Economics, Contemporary Events, Psychology, CIS U. S. History: 1865 to Present, World History
Theology (4 credits required)
Revelation of Christ, Christian Morality, Theology of Christ, Theology of the Church
World Language Spanish I, II, III, IV
Computer
Multimedia and Journalism, ACT Prep Course
BA graduates post-secondary education (2014-2017) 4 YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: Argosy University
Saint Louis University
Bard College
Saint Mary’s University
Baylor University
Saint Norbert College
Benedictine College
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Bethany Lutheran College
South Dakota State University
Black Hills State University
Southwest Minnesota State University
College of Saint Benedict
University of Mary
Concordia College-Moorhead
University of Minnesota- Duluth
Concordia University-Nebraska
University of Minnesota- Morris
Concordia University-St. Paul
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
Creighton University
University of Notre Dame
Crown College
University of Saint Thomas
Drake University
University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire
Edgewood College
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse
Franklin and Marshall College
University of Wisconsin- Madison
Global University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Gustavus Adolphus College
University of Wisconsin- Stout
Hamline University
Westmont College
Iowa State University
Winona State University
Johns Hopkins University Loyola University-Chicago
2 YEAR COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS:
Marquette University
Alexandria Technical and Community College
McGill University
Big Bend Community College
McNally Smith College of Music
Century College
Metropolitan State University
Dakota County Technical College
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
Golf Academy of America
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Inver Hills Community College
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Itasca Community College
Minnesota State University- Moorhead
Riverland Community College
Northern State University
Rochester Community and Technical College
North Dakota State University
South Central College
Pratt Institute
Southwestern Community College
Saint John’s University, Collegeville
University of Wisconsin- Richland
105 Third Avenue Southwest Faribault, Minnesota 55021 Phone: 507-334-3948 • Fax: 507-334-3949 • www.bacards.org