BA STAR Issue 1 by Bethlehem Academy

Issue Number 1

In This Issue: Welcome Back Meet the Teachers Purple Out Volleyball Recap Homecoming Activities Speaker Matt Birk Football Recap Storm Damage Faribault Sports Recap U.S. Armed Forces Student of the Month

Students, welcome back to the 2018-2019 school year! For many people, the start of the school year is full of mixed emotions; some students may be feeling nervous, anxious, scared, disappointed that the summer is coming to an end, or maybe some are excited for a new start. As an incoming Senior, people would think first day jitters are a thing of the past, but that is not true. I was feeling all of these emotions on the first day, just like the sixth graders as they start their journey at BA or the Freshmen who finally begin their high school chapter. My point is that whether you are a sixth grader or a Senior, the first day or even week of school is hard, so why not embrace it and use it as something that helps us grow together as a school? To all my fellow Seniors, this is it. August 27th, 2018 was the last first day of high school. That was the start of the lasts of this year. From now on we will look back at these days and say, “remember when?” so let’s make each and every day count. My wish for us this year is that all the memories we make are positive and help us become the best graduating class Bethlehem Academy has ever had. Our senior year is upon us and we have the ability to either make it a fantastic year or just mediocre. Together we are the leaders of the school and we have eyes on us whether we like it or not. We have the influence to help underclassmen and provide examples of how to be good people, students, and friends. Here’s to the class of 2019! Now onto the underclassmen. I want to give you some advice for your years here at BA, starting with the 6th graders. You graduate in 7 years, and right now you are probably thinking something along the lines of “we have plenty of time left together,” or “I can’t wait to get to high school”.

Written by: Olivia Nass

My advice would be that since you have plenty of time together, get to know everyone: have class parties, talk to the new people in your grade, and begin that unbreakable bond because it will only strengthen in these 7 years. To all the other middle schoolers, this applies to you too. It’s never too late to make new friends and create new memories. Live in each moment and embrace your years of being in Middle School. You will miss it someday when you get assigned to read The Count of Monte Cristo in Mrs. Piehl’s class! Moving onto the Freshmen! Freshman year is the time to work hard and learn more about yourself. If you are intimidated by any upperclassmen, don’t worry, we are not that scary. We want you to succeed just as much as the teachers do, so don’t be afraid to ask us for help adjusting to high school life. The start of your Freshman year means you have 4 more years left together, and those years go by in the blink of an eye, no joke. I hope that all of you have fun, grow closer as a class, and really enjoy your underclassmen years. Now to the Juniors. This very well may be your hardest year of high school. There will be days you’re stressed, tired, and you honestly just want to quit, but don’t. For every day that is hard, there is another day that makes this year worthwhile. Some events you should look forward to are Powderpuff (go Seniors!), Homecoming, Snoball, and Prom. Your days at BA are also dwindling; take advantage of being with your class and making memories because in one year, you will be in my shoes asking yourself how your years at BA could have gone by so fast. With all that being said, it’s time to jump into the 2018-19 school year! I hope we all come into this school year refreshed from summer with a good mindset, positive attitude and ready to work and have fun! It’s up to us to make this school year great. Good luck to everyone! Written by: Olivia Nass

Bethlehem Academy is privileged to gain many new faces to the staﬀ this year. One of the new staﬀ is our assistant principal, John Wollersheim. Mr. Wollersheim is in charge of academic operation of the school, as well as student conduct and attendance. In the past, he has coached varsity football, girl’s basketball and track as well as being a teacher and administrator. This summer, Mr. Wollersheim traveled from Minnesota to Arizona and back. Along the way, he hit 13 National Parks and he said his favorite was Yellowstone! We wish you a great year and hope you enjoy your time here at Bethlehem Academy.

The new Director of Advancement is Sharon Wilson. This is how she described her responsibility here at BA, “I am the Director of Advancement. That means I am responsible for relationships with donors and others who are supportive of the school. I help to plan special fundraising events that benefit the school and watch over the overall “advancement” of the school.” An interesting fact about Mrs. Wilson is that she once rode an elephant in the circus. Her hobbies include reading, writing and going on walks, but she mostly enjoys having coﬀee with her friends. We can’t wait to see what you do to make Bethlehem Academy a better school!

Our new 10th - 12th grade counselor is Melissa Hansen. Ms. Hansen has worked hard to continue helping upperclassmen and seniors with their schooling and their journey to college. Prior to becoming a school counselor, she worked as an employment counselor for low-income adults with children. This job consisted of helping connect them to resources, find housing and childcare, get re-enrolled in college or a GED program, and apply to jobs. This summer she was able to relax before taking on her role here at BA, “I visited my cousin and her new baby in Oklahoma, went camping, and hunted out with family.” Thank you for your commitment to helping us so far! We hope you enjoy your first year at BA! Written by: Olivia Nass

The next new face is Anthony Barrett. Mr. Barrett is the new middle school English teacher. Before he came to BA, he taught English for several years out in Denver, Colorado. In his free time he enjoys painting and playing the piano, but he also said he is pretty competitive and will play just about any sport or game. He also said he has been to every State Park in Minnesota. When asked how his first month at BA has been, this was his response: “The students and staﬀ members have been very welcoming in my first month here. I am grateful to be at a school where everybody cares so much about the people around them.” We are so thankful you decided to come and teach here!

Not only did we gain new teachers, but we also gained new office staff! Candice Snyder works in the office and her main job is to look at attendance, make a weekly Friday focus for staff and families, and answer the phones. When asked what her thoughts on BA were so far, she said, “BA is a great place to be! You can feel how much everyone cares about one another. Everyone here is pretty great!” This summer she spent most days boating and spent time with her children. We hope you have a great year at BA!

Finally, the new 6th - 9th grade counselor is Kimberly Turitto. Before coming to BA, she was a counselor at another school, a principal, and a teacher. One interesting fact about Mrs. Turitto is that she ran the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. Along with running, she enjoys reading, shopping, drinking coﬀee, and spending time with her kids. Have an amazing year at BA!

Written by: Olivia Nass

A Dress Down Day to Support Pancreatic Cancer Earlier this year, Dr. Briscoe’s wife, Cindy, passed away after more than a 5 year battle with pancreatic cancer. She fought a hard long fight. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Briscoe and his family during this time of mourning.

BA students and staﬀ bring awareness to pancreatic cancer

This year, B.A. students and staff held a surprise Purple Out Day on September 14th, 2018. Students were asked to dress up in as much purple as they could to support the cause to cure pancreatic cancer. Our school was able to raise roughly $275 to donate to pancreatic research. Dr. Briscoe stated that “It’s very humbling and supportive for Cindy and me.” This is the fourth Purple Out Day we have held.

Students dressed in purple showing support

Each year Dr. Briscoe participates in the Purple Ride. It is a walking and running event that raises money towards the cure for pancreatic cancer. Dr. Briscoe says, “It’s a day where I feel like I am really chasing down cancer.” We would like to thank all who donated and participated in this year’s Purple Out. It was a huge success! Dr. Briscoe and his daughter pictured before getting surprised on the Back 40

Written by: Zackary Bartness and Hilda Nunez

What: A 1-mile walk or 5K run When: Saturday, October 13th @ 8 a.m. Why: To Raise Money for our School Your Goal:

Every Student Registers to Walk or Run and gets sponsors = $50.00

School Goal: $13,000

How:

5K Run Registration = $30 1-Mile Walk Registration = $20 Get Sponsors = Amount is up to YOU!

Wear your favorite costume! Made by Sarah DeGrood in Multimedia

Prizes: Fabulous Friday Drawings Turn in Pledge Sheets Fri. Oct. 5 & Fri., Oct. 12 $5 Gift Cards! Top Grade - Level Fundraiser $10 Gift Cards

Prizes: Top Fundraiser in Middle School Top Fundraiser in High School BA Sweatshirt (Choice = $50 value) Top Fundraiser @ BA Alexa Bluetooth Speaker

Grand Prize:

Top fundraising grade will get a

1 week of Dress Down Days! (excluding Mass Day)

Olivia Nass

Chloe Kohl

The BA Cardinal volleyball team has gone down a rocky path this season against some of the best in the state. They currently have a record of 5-12 and are on Marshall (L) a three-win winning-streak. 18-25 12-25 22-25

Up against Lakeville North, the Stewartville (L) reigning Class AAA champions, the 25-22 23-25 25-18 25-16

Cardinals lost in 3 sets. “We didn’t play poor, but we didn’t play good,” BA coach Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (L) Tim Schmitz said. “I thought we 22-25 25-20 25-14 25-21

could have put up a little Lexi bit better fight, but Blooming Prairie (W) Boyd there’s a reason why 20-25 10-25 7-25

they’re the defending Kasson-Mantorville (L) Class AAA champions.” 17-25 16-25 9-25

In their home-opener game, the Cardinals were United South Central (W) matched up against a 25-11 25-9 25-19

state-ranked team, Marshall. The team NRHEG (W) experienced another loss 25-16 25-10 25-19

against the Tigers, and Mayer Lutheran (W) they fell in 3 sets. 25-23 25-16 25-23 25-21 Their next game was against Stewartville. In this game, despite the fact that they lost, the Cardinals played well and won their first set of the season. “We’re getting there. Baby steps,” Schmitz said. “We took a big step tonight. Stewartville has a great program.” The Cardinal’s first conference match was up against WEM. In a tough four-set match, the Cardinals lost the game. Next, BA was heading to Shakopee for a tournament, where Abby Jandro they fell to some of our state’s strongest teams. “I don’t believe our record shows how well we’ve played in spurts. We have little spurts of greatness against everybody,” Schmitz said after the tournament ended. Lakeville North (L) 25-16 25-9 25-9

Written by: Kennedy Tutak

The Cardinals experienced their first victory of the Leader Stats Kills: Haley Lang (65)

season against Blooming Prairie in straight sets. The girls came out slow but ended up dominating most of Digs: Olivia Nass (100)

the match. “Once we got back ahead, we never looked back and we finished well, so I Aces: Ellie Cohen (13)

was happy,” says coach Tim Schmitz. Their next matchup against Kasson Assists: Abby Jandro (90)

Mantorville reminded them of their tough schedule again. BA fell in three sets to the No.3 Blocks: Kennedy Tutak (21) team in Class AA. Their game against USC was a very comfortable win, and they beat the Rebels in 3 sets. In this match, BA was louder and more persistent than in other matches. Next, the Cardinals went to Apple Valley for another tough tournament against state ranked teams. BA lost its first three games to Eagan, Hopkins, and Apple Valley, but came out and won their fourth match against Orono. Later on, BA was to play Gopher Conference opponent NRHEG in our home gym. They played a great game and won it in three sets. In one of their more recent matchups, the Cardinals were pitted against the No. 2 ranked Mayer Lutheran Crusaders, who won the 2017 Class A state tournament. During the first set, the teams both played back and forth until Abby Jandro the Cardinals won it 25-23. In the second set, the Crusaders came out stronger and took it 25-16, not giving BA a second chance. However, the Cardinals didn’t let this ruin their spirits. They took the next two sets at scores of 25-23 and 25-21. BA Senior Olivia Nass said, “We knew if we won this game, we would definitely make a big statement, so I think now that we won, we know what we’re capable of playing at and we know we can keep continuing to get better and we can compete with the bigger, better teams.” This match has the potential to be a turning point for the Cardinals. Jacie Jasinski As the end of the season approaches, what other challenges and hurdles will the team have to overcome? Written by: Kennedy Tutak

8th grade

Kate Trump and Reagan Kangas

7th grade

6th grade

Freshmen 8th grade Boys

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Sophomores

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Kyle Kohl and Mr. Zabel

d Ben Cohen an Emma DeMay

Mikayla Bohner, Miss. Ricker, Mr. Gardner and Joshua Bohner

8th grade girls

Miss Hese lton and Heather T hompson

Brady St rodtman and Ellie Cohen Made by Maci Bongers and Anna Selly

This year for homecoming, BA had a Buddy Day with DMCS. The DMCS students walked over to the Back 40 after mass to play games with the BA students. The Seniors were partnered with Kindergarten, the Juniors were with Preschool, the Sophomores were with first grade, and the Freshmen with second grade. There were four game “stations” so each grade was at a different station with their buddies. We switched stations after about 15 minutes. One of these games was Red Light Green Light. Red light green light is where one person and their buddy stand in the middle of the playing station and call out either red light or green light. Everyone else is on the other side following the directions of the leaders. When they hear green light, they ran, and when they heard red light, they stopped. The next game we played was Freeze Tag. To play freeze tag, we had certain people that are freezers and everyone else is running away from the freezers. If they tag you, you have to freeze until someone can unfreeze you. Then you can continue running. Another game we played was Simon Says. For this game, everyone stands a big circle or two smaller circles. One leader and their buddy stands in the middle of the circle. The leaders give commands starting with “Simon Says”. Everyone has to follow what they say. They can also give commands without saying “Simon Says”. If you hear these, you don’t want to follow them or else you’re out. An example of this would be “Simon says touch your toes”. Everyone would touch his or her toes. Then they could say, “touch your nose” and everyone that touches their nose would be out. You would keep going until everyone is out. The last thing we did was play with a parachute. Everyone would hold onto the parachute and follow what the teacher said. One of the things was putting a foam ball on the parachute and trying to keep the ball out of the center. After that game, we played a game according to our buddies birthdays. They would call out a month and if it was your buddies birthday month, you would start running to the other side while everyone else held the parachute up. I personally liked to get to know the younger kids at DMCS. I thought it was a fun experience and it meant a lot to the younger kids. I think that it’s important to have this day because it’s a time for the younger students to spend time with the older kids. I remember having buddy day when I was younger and I thought it was so cool to hang out with the older kids. I think this is a great homecoming tradition that should continue for a long time. Written by: Emily Casper and Regan Bulger

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Danika Darula and her Buddy

Olivia Morelan and her Bu ddy playing Simon says

Brynn Whitten and Mitchell Schuenke, and Spencer Ell with their Buddies

Kyle Kohl and Montana Limon with their Buddy

The Sophomore float featured a wooden ship with a white B.A. sail. A “Class of 2021” sign was present on the side.

The Freshman float was a pontoon. It had a “Freshies are Friends not Food” sign on the side as well as balloons and streamers to finish the look.

In third, the junior float was a fishing boat with a sail and “Class of 2020” on the side.

The senior float featured a cardinal shooting a cannon with half of a viking ship in water.

Written by: Zackary Bartness

As a tradition at Bethlehem Academy students practice homecoming skits for weeks. These are skits that showcase the creativity and talents of the students at BA. On homecoming, the skits are performed in front of the entire student body, parents, and community in the BA gym.

The Freshmen took first place for their “Deal or No Deal” themed skit! The players of the game had to choose from three boxes and the loser got a pie in the face. It ended with a large group of Freshmen yelling “RACK EM UP STACK EM UP LET’S GO!” Sophie Smith as a game show host.

Hunter Dillon with a pie in his face!

The Seniors took second place with their skit. They reenacted their previous skits, which included dancing and Kyle Kohl’s impersonation of Jerry Seinfeld. Eric Allen also made an appearance and roasted his big brother Teddy. It ended with glow in the dark dancing and confetti cannons! Teddy Allen and Kyle Kohl

The Sophomores took home third place when they cosplayed as Scooby Doo characters. The group had to stop the mysterious creatures from roaming around the school. In the end, just like any other great Scooby Doo Mystery, they revealed the mysterious creatures as none other than the Hayfield Vikings. Sophomores as the Scooby Doo gang!

For the Junior skit, they danced to many diﬀerent songs including Baby Shark, Milkshake, Watch Me (Whip /Nae Nae), In My Feelings, Ridin’, and Party in the USA.

Junior girls dancing

Written by: Conner Lyman

Josh Oathoudt

Damon Trump

Mrs. Donl on and Mr

s. Kriechb aum Alex Broin and Parker Nelson

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Teddy and Eric Allen

Get To Know your court This year’s homecoming court was definitely one to remember! If you don’t know too much about who these people are as individuals, keep reading this article and learn about Bethlehem Academy’s 2018 homecoming court! Homecoming king candidate Kyle Kohl likes to hang out with friends, participate in sports, and play Fortnite with the boys. His favorite class is science and looks to continue his education at St. John’s University. His favorite school lunch is Chicken Chipotle Bowl and his favorite candy is Twizzlers. His ideal weekend consists of watching college football on Saturdays and staying up late that night. Then, he can sleep in on Sunday morning and wake up to watch the Vikings. Kyle’s escort, Olivia Nass, likes to play volleyball, spend time with her friends, and be outside. She loves gym class because they do something new every day and there’s always positive vibes during class. Her favorite candy is Kit Kats and her favorite school lunch is Chicken Twisters. She loves the movie Mamma Mia and her ideal weekend consists of playing board games with her family or watching a movie with her friends. Theodore Allen enjoys playing football and doing projects in shop class. His favorite school lunch is Chicken Wild Rice Soup and he likes to hang with the bros. His escort, Vanessa Kotek, likes to sleep and watch Netflix. Her favorite lunch is Chicken Chipotle Bowl and her favorite candy is Hershey’s chocolate. One of her favorite school memories is going to the mound. She plans on majoring in something involving science in college.

Back from Left to Right: Griffin Malecha, Kyle Kohl, Theodore Allen, Damon Trump, and Tiernan Donahue. Front from Left to Right: Megan Liverseed, Olivia Nass, Vanessa Kotek, Chloe Kohl, and Caitlin Lipinski

Damon Trump loves to play basketball. He also enjoys spending time at the apple orchard that his family owns. His favorite lunch is Chicken Wild Rice Soup and his favorite thing to do on the weekends is hang out with friends. Chloe Kohl, Damon’s escort, likes to hang out with friends and play volleyball. Friday was her favorite part of Homecoming because of the activities outside. She wants to go into the business field when she goes to college. Tiernan Donahue likes to watch the skits during Homecoming and his favorite candy is Mike and Ikes. His favorite memory at BA is going to after prom. He loves woodworking because he likes to build and assemble different things. Tiernan’s escort, Caitlin Lipinski, likes to hang out with friends and go on road trips or travel. Her favorite candy is snickers and her favorite school lunch is Chicken Chipotle Bowl. Our homecoming king, Griffin Malecha, enjoys our school’s lunch, Chicken Chow Mein. His favorite candy is Sour Patch Kids and his favorite part of Homecoming is everything that happens on Friday. Griffin’s escort, Megan Liverseed enjoys spending time with loved ones and being cozy at home. Her favorite school lunch is baked potato bar and her favorite part of homecoming is all of the Friday activities. Written by: Caitlin Lipinski

Matt Birk Shares His Journey of Faith On Tuesday, September 25th, former Viking offensive lineman, Matt Birk, came to BA to talk to us about our Christian faith. Birk started playing football in his Sophomore year of high school. He was accepted into Harvard to major in economics and continued to play football there. He played for the Vikings over a span of ten years. He then signed a contract with Baltimore and won a Super Bowl. He announced his retirement in 2013, and since then he has written a book and become a speaker for Catholic people around the nation. Matt Birk told us all about his Catholic faith and how it has changed and developed throughout his life. He revealed that he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always been a devoted Catholic person. For a long time in his life, he stopped attending church and was only focused on himself. He said he set his sights on the fame and fortune that the world had to offer. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully appreciate all he was given, including the Catholic faith given to him by his parents. After a while, Birk started to get sad despite all of his possessions and wealth. Then, God gave him what he needed most. He met a woman who eventually became his wife. Not long after they got married she made him go back to church. That was when he knew why he was so sad. It was because he lacked God. After returning to the faith, his football and possessions stopped mattering as much to him. All he started to care about was what God wanted for him. He claimed to have felt out of place and scared when he returned, but he felt like he finally returned home. Matt Birk and his experiences are a great lesson for all of us. We are children of God and we are here to know, love, and serve God. He also tells us about the road to happiness. Everything that society claims will make you happy, wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully fulfill us as we all have a longing for God in our hearts. The only way to be truly happy is to follow and love God.

Written by: Kennedy Tutak

The Cardinals went head to head with the JWP Bulldogs. JWP started the game off strong with a touchdown, however, the Cardinals decided to come back and play stronger. After the first half was over the Cardinals dominated the game on offense. The offense had a total of over 400 rushing yards. The defense held JWP to just 21 points and the offense scored a whopping 41 total points. This game allowed the Cardinals to change their mindset and focus on winning. The Homecoming game against the Hayfield Vikings was a huge confidence booster for the Cardinals. Considering starting running back Jack Clark was out with a shoulder injury, this was really a statement game. The Cardinals started off slow until the offense started to kick in. Luke Wobschall went in as running back and ended up rushing the ball for over 200 yards. It almost seemed like he could not be stopped. The defense for the Cardinals had not been too hot, but they did their job and stopped Hayfield for the most part. “The defense played better,” head coach Glenzinski said. They ended with a final score of 34-20 to win their homecoming game!

The Cardinals currently have a record of 2 wins and 4 losses. The first game to USC was a big loss at 35-0. Then they headed to Medford and not only lost the game but also the paddle that BA had for over a decade. The Cardinals hope to finish the rest of the season strong and have better outcomes than what the season has so far.

Written by: Josh Oathoudt and Olivia Nass

On September 20th, in northwestern Faribault, there were three tornados spotted. They were by the Faribault airport, the west side of Roberds lake, and the south side of Roberds lake. Around Roberds lake, there was a lot of damage including trees down and even houses that trees fell through. Boats were tipped over and flipped on land which caused damage to houses. The city also had to close the road by the east side of the lake because of all the debris from the storm. Pictures of damaged homes at Roberds Lake.

The city of Faribault was also hit hard by the strong winds and tornados. 3rd Avenue by Bethlehem Academy had several trees down and a power outage. The city had to close many roads down and reroute traďŹ&#x192;c due to the damage. Also, the Faribault airport was completely demolished by the storm. Several buildings, planes, and hangers were destroyed. Insulation and debris were scattered across the road from the airport after the storm.

Damage at the Faribault Airport and homes in the city.

Many people here at BA that live in the northwestern area or near Morristown and Waterville had no power for around 3 days. Some also had damage to their houses and trees down. Mr. Hillesheimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighborhood had many trees fall on houses as well as in the road. There were also power lines wrapped around houses and a branch went through his roof.

Written by: Brad Sartor

In an interview with Miss Heselton she talked about her experience doing community clean up service with the Seniors.

“This afternoon, BA students had the opportunity to demonstrate one of the four Dominican pillars of service by going out to the Faribault Airport, St. Lawrence Cemetery, Northfield neighborhood, Morristown Cemetery, and Waterville neighborhood to help clean up debris from last weeks storms. The students and staﬀ were remarkable and represented all the values we hold at BA! Thank you, everyone, for making our community and the surrounding stronger and cleaner! On Thursday, September 27th, Bethlehem Academy set out to aid surrounding communities in tornado cleanup. Mrs. Piehl, Mr. Zabel, Mrs. Hanson, and I joined the senior class in serving the small town of Waterville. The class and chaperones split in two upon arrival in the city. I went with Mr. Zabel’s homeroom to shuttle around town on a small city bus. The work we did was simple: moving piles of brush created by fallen trees and branches from the back of yards to the curb for easy pick-up. We visited a total of three sites and spent no longer than twenty minutes at each. While the time was short and labor less than intensive, our service was meaningful. Each home was inhabited by an older man or woman who, alone, would have labored intensively to clean up their property. But half of the senior class was able to gather their piles of debris quickly and with joy. I saw this most evidently when we cleaned the yard of a woman named Peggy. She said she was alone during the tornado because her husband is away at work in Arizona. The storm was scary, she said, and the cleanup overwhelming. She had tears in her eyes when she said how amazing it is that no one was killed by the seventeen (or so) tornadoes that went through southern Minnesota: “It is a real blessing.” She continued to speak of blessings when she shared how grateful she was that Bethlehem Academy sent students to help her recover from the storm. We looked across her large backyard as twenty seniors carried armfuls of branches from one side to the other. I could tell her sense of overwhelming joy as she shared her gratitude through simple tears. I left her presence to join the seniors in the cleanup. Before leaving, though, Mr. Zabel and I wished her well and said goodbye. She made sure to give me a hug before leaving and thanked us again for coming. The senior class was a deep blessing for her and brought her the encouragement she needed to continue on after the storm. We parted with a “God bless you”. I am thankful for the blessing that Peggy and the service opportunity was for us. Written by: Brad Sartor

Girls Soccer and Tennis The girls tennis season is a short 2 month season and girls have had a good season so far. There are lots of new girls on the team who are learning new things and improving their skills. Their next game is Thursday, October 11 at Lakeville indoor courts, individuals. Abby Goodwin and Erica Johnsroud, won doubles and won 3rd place at Big 9. Junior Serena David says, “My most memorable moment this season is when it was down pouring, and we had to run into Panera and as soon as we got in Rylie yelled, "I'm sister soaked!" Sitting down in an interview with Mikayla Bohner, she told us about her soccer season so far. There are only a few BA students on the soccer team this year. Mercedes Huerta and I are on varsity and Greta Hillesheim, Caroline Sauer, and Regan Bulger are on JV. Overall after the season is finished, I think we are 3-13-2. Although this seems like a poor record, I think our team showed improvement in a way that cannot be expressed on paper. A few of our games were only 1 or 2 goal games, and in many of our losses, we had a fighting chance. This year we could sustain more offense instead of being on the defensive side the whole game. We also won our first Big 9 conference game in 4 years on September 29th against Austin (4-2). When I asked Mikayla about her favorite and most enjoyable part of the season she replied without hesitation, “Hands down, winning our first playoff game against Albert Lea was the highlight of the season. There are not enough words to describe what I felt. That game was quite possibly one of the best games we played as a team the whole season. We stayed with our marks and shut down their best players so they couldn’t get any offensive pressure. Albert Lea resorted to sending long balls down the field which were easily scooped up by our goalkeeper, Olivia Williamson. Not only did we have an amazing game defensively but we also kept possession of the ball and created scoring opportunities. Mercedes scored early in the game off of a corner kick and in the last 5 minutes she was fouled in the penalty box and scored off of a PK to make it 2-0. When that final buzzer rang I was filled with so much joy and exhilaration. We finally did it. We finally won a playoff game. The girls were so proud especially the seniors - that we could play another game and that our season was not always bound by the first playoff game. It has been 10 years since our last playoff game win, which was in the 2007-2008 season. This year, we played a 4-5-1 formation (4 defenseman-5 midfielders-1 forward) as opposed to the traditional 4-4-2 (4 defenders-4 midfielders- 2 forwards). Out of the 5 midfielders, 2 of them were on the outside as wings leaving three in the middle to form a triangle. This is so that our 3 midfielders would hopefully outnumber the 2 center midfielders on the other team. I was part of this midfield “trifecta”, as our coach called it. My job was to make sure that the other team’s midfielders could not send long balls toward our goal and make passes to our wing players and our forward to combine and move toward the goal, all while trying to maintain a rotating triangle formation in the middle. It has been a remarkable season for the girls soccer team and I look forward to seeing their improvement next year. Congratulations girls!

Written by: Kendra Kotek

Boys and Girls CC How is your Senior season of cross country going? What’s your personal best? “My senior season of cross country going pretty well, we have placed in a lot of meets. I had surgery to get my appendix removed and will not be able to run for the rest of the season, which is sad but I still enjoy going to every practice and meet,” says Nicole, a senior in cross country who has been running for 6 years. When inquired about her season, Maggie Viland, also a senior in cross country, says, “It’s been going great, a lot of the teammates have been improving. Both the girls and the boys’ placements have been high. Yesterday, boys got first and girls got second. My personal best is 21:56.” What’s your favorite part about cross country and what have you learned from your experience in this sport? Nicole and Maggie both agreed that their favorite part of cross country was the bonding aspect of all the teammates. “I’ve learned that no one actually likes to run, but we all enjoy the company of one another,” says Nicole. “I think my favorite part about this sport is the teammates and how close we all are. We really prioritize team bonding. I have learned that the more you put in, the more you get out.” Maggie says. Griffin Malecha, a senior and captain of the team, quotes: “My favorite part would probably be getting pushed to do my absolute best by my teammates. I’ve learned that hard work and dedication lead to success in the end.” What is your advice to people considering it? Nicole: "If you’re considering joining CC, it’s definitely a mentally challenging sport, but, it is worth it because of all the friendships and life lessons you learn.” Maggie: “Just do it, because it’s rewarding when you make a lot of new friends and create strong relationships.” Griffin: “The running part gets easier once you run a lot.” Written by: Danika Darula

U.S. ARMED FORCES

The United States Armed Forces consists of five military branches. Air Force, Army, Coast   Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Every day, brave men and women decide to take an oath to serve their country. However, the armed forces are very thorough with their screening practices, especially regarding medical and criminal history checks, so to pass and be enlisted is a remarkable accomplishment. There are many steps before being enlisted. First, you will meet a recruiter to the particular branch you are interested in. After you meet with them and decide which is the right branch for you, you talk more about the enlistment process. Usually, your recruiter will notify you when there is a time at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to take your Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and receive a physical examination. It is typically a two-day process, so you would stay in a hotel overnight. If you pass your ASVAB and your physical, you will go through processing to see what jobs you would succeed in based on your test scores. Next, you will go over your contract to make sure everything is correct. Finally, you take an oath and sworn into the United States Military!

Student Questions - Megan Liverseed What Branch/Division are you going into? Army National Guard. What has inspired you to choose this career path? I have always wanted to help others, and I admire the men and women who serve. I have family that have served, specifically my Grandpa Liverseed, who was in the Army. I looked up to him and he is my inspiration. How would you describe your feelings about this process and why? (are you excited, nervous, anxious) I have been incredibly anxious about the whole process. I’ve had doubt too. I just want to make sure that I am doing the right thing and we never know what can happen in our futures, so the uncertainty is what causes a lot of my nerves. What advice would you give people who are thinking about enlisting? Meet with a recruiter. Seriously, even if you are barely thinking about it. They will open your eyes and they will answer any and all questions you can possibly think to ask. Parent Questions - Megan’s Mom As a parent what are your feeling about you son/daughter choosing this career path? I am very proud that my daughter is doing such an amazing thing. What was your initial reaction when you heard your son or daughter wanted enlist? How do you feel about it now? I was initially very surprised, not in a bad way though. Now, I am beyond proud of Megan. I know that she has a great future ahead of her and I can’t wait to see where it takes her. What advice have you given her? I gave Megan the same advice I always give her, which is to be the very best you can be in all that you do.

Written by: Megan Liverseed

U.S. ARMED FORCES

Parent Questions - Luke’s Mom As a parent what are your feelings about your son/daughter choosing this career path? I’ll admit that joining the Marines was not what I had envisioned for my son’s future. I have a lot of mixed emotions about his career path….I’m apprehensive and scared for what his future holds, but I’m also extremely proud of him. He and others have chosen serving our country over college and self and I am extremely proud and grateful for their sacrifice. I’ve learned a lot about the wonderful opportunities that Luke can take advantage of while serving and can’t wait to see where this journey will take him. What was your initial reaction when you heard your son or daughter wanted to enlist? How do you feel about it now? I never dreamed that he would actually commit to joining the Marine Corps. Luke first started talking about the military when he was in middle school. And just like a lot of other dreams he’s had over the years, I thought it was just a passing phase. He started to seriously talk about enlisting during his junior year in high school. He started off by going to weekly physical training at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Owatonna and also began talking to the recruiter. Again, I thought it was just a passing phase, as he loved the challenges of the intense workouts they had him doing in preparation for boot camp. We had many discussions about his decision to enlist, and my first initial reaction was that of fear and worry and what this decision would mean for my son and his future. Out of my own selfishness, I tried talking him out of joining by focusing on all the negatives and not the positives. In one of the many conversations we had, he finally looked me in the eyes and said “Mom, I realize all of the dangers, but I still want to serve our country, because I feel it’s my duty and if I don’t do it, who will?” It was at that very moment that I finally understood his reasoning in enlisting and that this was his dream and vision and not mine. It was also at that moment that I realized that I have never been more proud of my son. I’m still apprehensive and scared about his upcoming journey and I know that realistically I won’t see him much over the next 4 years, but will constantly be thinking and praying for him. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I am extremely grateful to my son and to all of the men and women in uniform, past, present and future that have given so selflessly to something bigger than themselves. What advice have you given him? I’m hopeful that he will take full advantage of the educational opportunities given to him and takes the time to find out what he is truly passionate about and to never give up on his hopes and dreams. And lastly, his faith is what will see him through the most challenging and best of times.

Student Questions - Luke Wobschall What Branch/Division are you going into? Marine Corps. What has inspired you to choose this career path? To challenge myself and to serve my country. How would you describe your feelings about this process and why? I’m excited about doing something that matters. What advice would you give people who are thinking about enlisting? Look at all different branches and what options or choices they offer you and then decide what is best for you.

Written by: Megan Liverseed

SEPTEMBER STUDENT

OF THE

MONTH

The student of the month is a program we have here at BA where every month each teacher chooses one student that they believe demonstrates â&#x20AC;&#x153;CARDSâ&#x20AC;?. The students that got picked show character, accountability, respect, decision-making and service. This is an opportunity that pushes students to work harder. They get rewarded for their excellence in the classroom. This achievement is something that is only obtained through hours of hard work and dedication to a subject and is something that is venerable.

Bethlehem Academy High School Students of the Month (left to right): William McIntyre, Maddison Carter, Abigail Strodtman, Zhou (Ken) Hao, Jarrett Malecha, Ryan Hoisington, Joseph Seidel, and Emily Dietz. Not pictured: Eric Allen. Written by: Emily Dietz

SEPTEMBER STUDENT

OF THE

MONTH

Bethlehem Academy Middle School Students of the Month (left to right): Anna Tobin, Joseph Kunze, Thatcher Simon, Elliot Daschner, Brooke Johnson, Cohen Martin, and Charlie King. Not pictured: Matthew Twaites. Written by: Emily Dietz

Senior What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve is when people are indecisive If you could have a super power what would it be and why? I would have telekinesis because I would not have to get up if I needed something and I could move myself anywhere I want.

Senior What’s your biggest pet peeve and why? My biggest pet peeve is irresponsible and disorganized people. If you had a spirt animal what would it be and why? My spirit animal would be a dog because I am very energetic, happy, and intelligent.

Senior

Junior

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is snakes.

If you could be an animal for 1 day what would it be and why? I would be a cat, I love cats. It could be better when they can talk with me.

What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve are people who are cocky and just rude .

Senior What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t clean up after themselves. If you could have a super power what would it be and why? If I could have a super power it would be to fly so I could fly and travel to anywhere I want to.

2018

Senior If you could have a super power what would it be and why?

If I had a superpower I would want to be able to fly because I could go anywhere. If you were stranded on an island what would be the one item you would need to have to survive? And why? If I was stranded on an island I would bring one of those single people RVs to be my shelter.

Sophomore

What’s your biggest pet peeve and why? My biggest pet peeve is fake people because they are annoying.

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is heights.

If you were stranded on an island what would be the one item you would need to have to survive? And why? I would bring a box of cookies because they’re yummy.

Freshman If you could be an animal for 1 day what would it be and why? A bird, I would love to see the world from the sky without fear. What’s your biggest pet peeve and why? When people repeat what they just said. It is annoying me because I like things when they are repeated to me like: Have you done this, are you going here, how was your day, what did you do?

Junior If you had a spirt animal what would it be and why? I would be a Golden Retriever because they are so soft and gentle.

What is the saddest movie you have seen? What part made you lose it? The Fault in Our Stars when Hazel and Gus were in Amsterdam and Gus told Hazel he had cancer was so sad.

If you could have a super power what would it be? My super power would be teleporting.

Freshman If you had a spirt animal what would it be and why? If I had a sprit animal, I think it would be a dog. This is because dogs can sense their owners feelings and can tell when their sad or happy. I do this all the time with my friends and family.

Senior What movie character do you most relate to and why? I think the movie character I relate to the most is Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant” because I’m always trying to keep my grades surviving. If you could have a super power what would it be and why? My superpower would be teleportation because I love to travel but actually getting to far away places takes up a lot of time.

2018

Freshman

Senior

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is heights… they terrify me.

What’s your biggest pet peeve and why? My biggest pet peeve is when people crack their knuckles when its quiet.

If you were stranded on an island what would be the one item you would need to have to survive? And why? I would bring clothing to stay warm.

Sophomore What movie character do you relate most with? I relate to Cher from Clueless because she’s very picky and so am I. If you were stranded on an island what would be the one item you would need to have to survive? And why? I would bring a sketchbook so I could sketch my adventures.

Freshman If you were stranded on an island what would be the one item you would need to have to survive? And why? I would bring a survival book so then I can learn to use my environment. What was the most awkward thing that has happened to you? I went half a class thinking music was coming out of my ear buds but it was coming out of my phone.

2018

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is Michael Jackson.

Junior If you were stranded on an island what would be the one item you would need to have to survive? And why? I would bring a helicopter with auto pilot. What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is centipedes.

Sophomore What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is probably being buried alive. What was the most awkward thing that has happened to you? The most awkward thing that ever happened to me is when I was younger I would accidentally grab the wrong hand thinking it was my parents, but it wasn’t.

Senior

Sophomore

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is failing other people.

What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve is when people chew with their mouths open.

What is the most awkward thing that has happened to you? The most awkward thing is all social interactions ever.

Sophomore What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is being kidnapped. If you could have a super power what would it be and why? If I could have a super power it would be to have the ability to heal people. I want this super power so whenever people are sick or hurt I could have the ability to cure them.

What is the saddest movie you have seen? What part made you lose it? The saddest movie I’ve ever seen is "My Sisters Keeper", and the saddest part is when her sister dies.

Sophomore What is your biggest fear? M biggest fear is being the last person on earth. If you could be an animal for 1 day what would it be and why? I would be a dog because all they do everyday is sleep and play and eat. Would you rather be a dinosaur or a unicorn for one day? I would rather be a unicorn.

Sophomore If you could have a super power what would it be and why? It would be to fly away from the crushing responsibilities of life. If you had a spirt animal what would it be and why? It would be a turtle because why not? (Also I took a test and that’s what it told me).

2018