We are coming around the final turn in our school year. The finish line is drawing very near. However, before we cross that line there are some important dates and events to remember.

• April 19 & 20: Achievement Testing. All students enrolled in grades K thru 12 will take the annual National Achievement Test. Please make sure your child is present on these dates. All testing materials will be provided.
• April 22 – 29: Easter Break. Classes will resume on Monday, May 2, at their usual time. There will be no extended care provided during the break.
• May 5: Final tuition installment is due. All accounts must be settled in full by this date. Please refer to the student handbook concerning this.
• May 7: Human Race. Please make every effort to help us in this final fundraising event of the year.
• May 14: C.A.L. Volleyball Tournament. The tournament will be held in El Cerrito. The tournament will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue through 7:00 p.m. For more information speak with Mr. Zamacona.
• May 16: 14th BBCA Sports Awards Presentations. This event is open to all student athletes and their immediate family. Dinner will be served, followed by the presentation of awards.
• May 26: 20th BBCA Kindergarten Graduation Program. Make plans to join us as we graduate our Kindergarten students into First grade. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. This is the final day for all Kindergarten (Levels I and II) students.
• May 27: Final day of school. All students are dismissed at noon. There is no afternoon extended care on this date.

Please be sure and submit your re-enrollment paperwork and fee as soon as possible. Open enrollment will begin on May 1st. Seats, after that date, will be on a first-come first-served basis. If you need more information please call the school office at 584-7275, or come by the school and speak with either Mrs. Smith or me.

As we turn our calendar to February we prepare for another busy month. Please refer to the following events scheduled for this month:

CRUSADERS VOLLEYBALL: Our girl’s volleyball team will host a match every Friday evening during the month of February. Games will begin at 6:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to begin arriving at 6 p.m. There is no charge to attend these volleyball games. Please come out and support our student athletes.

SAFEWAY FUNDRAISER: We were able to raise over five thousand dollars for our school during the months of September and October thanks to the efforts of the parents and students that volunteered to collect receipts at the Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa stores. We are happy to announce that Safeway is once again conducting their “Back To Schools” program. Mrs. Lucy Kunz is organizing teams to collect receipts from January 29th through February 22nd. Please make every effort to participate and help us duplicate our efforts from the fall program. Contact the school office for more information, or to volunteer to help supervise the students at one of the Safeway stores.

FIELD TRIP: A field trip to the Lawrence Science Museum located in Berkley, is scheduled for Thursday, February 24th. The cost to attend this field trip is $7 per student. The students will leave the school at 8:45 a.m. and will return by 2:45 p.m. on this date. A permission form and informational sheet was sent home with your child. If you have not received these forms please contact the school office right away. The permission form and the fee must be returned to the school no later than Wednesday, February 23rd. For more information, or to volunteer to drive students for this field trip, please speak with Mrs. Charon or Mrs. Zamacona.

PRESIDENT’S DAY: Please remember that classes will be closed on Monday, February 21st in observance of President’s Day. We will not offer any extended care on this date. Classes and extended care will resume on Tuesday, February 22nd at their usual times.

TUITION: I would like to thank all of you for keeping current on your tuition accounts. We depend upon the timely submission of tuition to meet the obligations of the school. Please remember to make your February payment before the 20th of the month to avoid any delinquencies. If you have any questions please contact the school office and ask for me; Mr. Abshire.

We look forward to a productive month for our students in their academic studies. Please remain pro-active in following up on your child’s progress. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to come in; at your convenience; and speak with me.

As we welcome the start of a new year, we go forward with great anticipation and expectation. With the new year comes opportunities for a fresh start in our life. I am sure that each of us will examine the last twelve months, and make “resolutions” for the coming year. Let us strive to remember and keep these resolutions.

Classes resume on Monday, January 3rd, at 8:30 a.m. sharp. Extended care also begins on Monday, at 7:00 a.m. Please help us by getting your child here on time, in uniform, and prepared to work. We have only two more weeks in this first semester, and each student will need to be focused and motivated.

We will kick off January with a renewed effort to raise funds for our school through the programs made available by Safeway Stores. We were able to raise over $5000 in September, and we hope to repeat this effort once again. Mrs. Lucy Kunz is busy organizing this effort and she will need all of our help. Please speak with her at your first opportunity to see when, where, and how you can help. Remember, every dollar we raise through programs such as this will result in direct savings to the families of our students. Also, please remember our “referral” program. You can receive a credit against your tuition account in the amount of $250 for each student that enrolls in BBCA through your referral. Parents typically make decisions to move their children at the mid term break; therefore, this is a golden opportunity for you to save some money by referring BBCA to all of your family and friends. For more information concerning this program contact the school office.

The annual C.A.L. Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Monday, January 17th, in El Cerrito, CA. Our Crusaders will participate in this tournament. There is no school on this date; therefore, we encourage as many families as possible to come out and cheer for our boys basketball team. For more information on this please speak with Mr. Abshire. Also, Girl’s Volleyball is in full swing, with their first match scheduled for Friday, January 28th, here at BBCA. The match will begin at 6:30 p.m. Please make plans to be in attendance and cheer on our team.

Lastly, please make sure that your tuition account is current. Delinquent accounts must be brought current before students will be allowed to return to classes. If you need more information please speak directly with Mr. Abshire. Our office staff is not able to make arrangements on tuition accounts.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to come in and speak with me.

I am appalled today at the advertisements I see during the Christmas season; yes, I said CHRISTMAS! Retailers are so concerned about “offending” someone that they very carefully design all of their advertisement to exclude Christ. They speak of the “holidays” or the “season,” but they will not give homage to the one for whom the holiday season exists. We here at BBCA are not ashamed of our LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And furthermore, we encourage all students to proclaim His name now and throughout the year.

This month, we offer each family an opportunity to come together and contemplate what the season is all about: the birth of Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel. On Thursday evening, December 16th, our student body will come together and share the love and beauty of Christmas in two parts. First, the elementary students will perform a beautiful Christmas Cantata entitled, Signs of Christmas. Then, the junior and senior high school students will perform a play for your enjoyment entitled, The Magi. It is a look at the Christmas story through the eyes of the wise men who travelled from the East to worship and pay homage to their newborn King.  The cost for this evening is $5 per adult, $2.50 ages 12 and under, free for all children under 3.  A nursery will be provided for infants (aged newborn thru 3).  Tickets may be purchased in advance through the school office. Please invite all your family and friends to this heartwarming event.

Christmas break begins on Friday, December 17th. All students are dismissed at noon on this date. There will be no afternoon extended care, so please make arrangements to have your child picked up by noon.  Also on Friday, the students will enjoy their classroom Christmas parties. Please insure that your child brings a present for the gift exchange. For more information on your child’s classroom party please speak with their teacher.

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to share in our celebration of Christmas by attending our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, on Friday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. Come and enjoy the uplifting hymns and carols, the inspiring message from God’s Word, and the warmth and joy of the Christmas story.

Lastly, please make sure to submit your December tuition before the 20th of the month. Our obligations must be met and in order to do so we must depend upon the timely submission of family accounts. On behalf of the entire staff of BBCA and the Berean Baptist Church, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a most prosperous and Happy New Year!

November is finally here, and with it comes the excitement and warmth of the holiday seasons.

This will be a busy month for our students. We are in full swing with rehearsals for the upcoming Christmas Pageant, to be held on Thursday evening, December 16th, 7:00 p.m. Please make plans to be present and invite all of your family, friends, and co-workers. This pageant is an important fundraiser for our school. Admission is $5 per adult, $2.50 ages 12 and under, free for all children under the age of three. All students enrolled at BBCA are participating in the performance, so their admission is free.

Spirit Week is also upon us. Students demonstrate their school spirit by participating in the special “dress up” days. A flyer was sent home detailing each day’s theme. Please remember to contact the office with any questions concerning what a student may or may not wear. Then, on Friday afternoon, November 5th, 1:30 p.m., we will hold a Homecoming Pep-Rally for our students. Winners of the spirit days contests will be announced, a three point shootout will be held, a classroom cheer competition will be held, and we will conclude with a “Little Tykes Basketball Championship” for our kindergarten boys. You will not want to miss this, so make plans to be in attendance. Finally, our Crusader Basketball team will take the floor on Friday evening, 6:00 p.m. for this year’s Homecoming game. Please join us and cheer on our boys.

On November 8 – 12, we will host the Scholastic Book Faire. This annual event gives each family a wonderful opportunity to purchase books for their children and our school. Book sales will begin on Monday, November 8th at 8:00 am, and will continue throughout the week. A family night will be held on Friday, November 12th, 6:00 p.m., complete with activities, book readings, contests, and refreshments. Please make plans to be present for this event. Proceeds from this event go to add resource books for our classrooms and reading materials for our library.

Fine Arts Competitions are scheduled for Monday, November 22nd, and Tuesday, November 23rd. Students will compete in areas such as: Music, Singing, Art, Photography, Crafts, Academics, Strategy, and Culinary Arts. A complete competition schedule will be available at a later date. Please encourage your child to use the talents God has given them and enter into as many competitions as possible. Awards will be presented at the weekly chapel service on Wednesday, December 1st.

Thanksgiving break is Wednesday, November 24th through Friday, November 26th. There will be no classes and no extended care on these dates. Classes and extended care will resume on Monday, November 29th at their usual time. We invite you to join us for our Thanksgiving service, Sunday, November 21st, 11:00 a.m. This service will be followed by our annual Thanksgiving luncheon. There is not cost for this luncheon, and we would count it an honor to have you as our guests. For more information please contact the office.

Please make sure you remain current with your tuition installments. The financial pressures of the holiday season can sometimes cause us to alter our spending habits, but please remember that we depend upon the timely payments of the tuition accounts to meet the financial obligations of the school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

October is always an exciting, and busy, month here at BBCA.

Our Crusaders basketball team has gotten off to a tremendous start defeating both Arlington Baptist and Bethel Baptist schools. This 2 – 0 start marks our best start for the past 9 seasons, dating back to October 2001. Congratulations to our boys and Coach Eaton. Please make plans to be at our home games to cheer on our team. The dates of our home games are: October 29th, November 5th, and November 19th. All home games start at 6:00 p.m.

October also marks the end of our first quarter, Friday, October 22nd. Each of you, in the very near future, will receive an appointment notice for your scheduled Parent/Teacher conference. If you cannot keep the appointment assigned to you, please contact the school office and reschedule as soon as possible. Parent conferences will be held on Monday, November 1st. There will be no classes on this date. Please encourage your children to work as hard as possible to earn the best grades they can.

Lastly, we will begin working on our annual Christmas Pageant. Students in grades K through 6 will participate in a musical presentation celebrating the birth of Christ. Then, the junior and senior high school students will present, for our enjoyment, a play entitled, The Magi. This presentation is one of our annual fundraising events. The cost to attend is $5 per adult; $2.50 for children 12 and under; under 3 is free. BBCA students are admitted for free. Please make plans to be present for this and invite all of your relatives and friends.

Thank you all for your confidence and support of our school. We count it a privilege to serve you in the education; both academically and spiritually; of your children. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

With only fourteen more school days remaining, I wanted to remind you of some important dates:

• MAY 5: This was the due date for your final tuition installment. If you have not yet made this final payment please do so by May 20th. Students with outstanding balances after that date may not be allowed to return to classes.
• MAY 17, SPORTS AWARD BANQUET: This event is open to all student athletes and their immediate family. Please RSVP to the school office right away.
• MAY 21, CLASS FIELD TRIPS: Please speak with your student’s teacher as to the time and location of their class trip. There will be no classes and no extended care on this date.
• MAY 26, ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM: The awards program will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. All parents are invited; and encouraged; to be present for the presentation of academic awards for the 2009-2010 school session.
• MAY 27, KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION: The ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. The students will perform a short play based upon Mother Goose nursery rhymes. Academic awards for the kindergarten students will immediately follow the graduation ceremony.
• MAY 28, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: This will be a half day. All students must be picked up at noon. There will be no afternoon extended care on this date.
• MAY 28, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: The ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. The speaker for the evening will be Pastor V. Mark Smith. All families are encouraged to be present for this ceremony to honor our graduates for this year.

We have not yet finished totalling the pledges from the Human Race event. As soon as the final numbers are available we will post them to our website. That being said, I would like to express my most heartfelt appreciation to all the students and parents that labored to raise funds for this event.

If you have not yet re-registered for the 2010-2011 school year, please do so right away. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have concerning this.

As always, my door is open to all of you. Please contact me with any questions you may have.

That’s right! BBCA now hosts an online mall. Simply log on to our website; select the “School Office” tab; then select the “Online Store” option. From there you can choose from: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blockbuster, Kmart, Office Depot, Sears, Target, and Walmart (others may be added soon) for your online purchases. Whenever someone browses the store through these links, and makes a purchase, BBCA will receive a percentage of each sale. That’s it! It’s that simple. Please make sure and tell all your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers about this program. It’s a simple way to help BBCA without expending any additional funds! For more information on this program speak with Mr. Abshire or Mr. Petro.

I trust that all had a very restful and enjoyable Christmas break. It is wonderful to be able to spend time with family and friends. But now, we must turn our attention to the new year approaching, and return to the classroom and to the task of educating our students.

Please mark your January calendars for the following dates:

• January 4 – Classes resume at 8:30 a.m.;
• January 5 – Tuition installment 6 of 10 is due (delinquent after the 20th of the month);
• January 8 – BBCA Crusader’s Basketball – this is a home game, begins at 6:00 p.m.;
• January 9 – Pioneer Club Pine Car Derby Workshop – here at the school – 10 am til 1 pm;
• January 15 – End of first semester;
• January 18 – No School – C.A.L. Tournament @ BBCA – Schedules TBA
• January 23 – 5th Annual Pine Car Derby – 10:00 a.m.

Please remember the many ongoing programs to help our school raise funds: EScrip programs at Safeway and Raley’s, Box Tops, and Campbell Soup Labels. Please speak with Donna Chamblee or Tina Balderrama for more information on these programs. Also, please remember our referral program which could help you earn a $100 credit for every student enrolled by your personal referral. Go to the video archives on our website and learn all the details concerning this program, or call the school office for more information.

This is one of our busiest times of the year. Our students and staff have been working very hard in preparation for the 14th Annual BBCA Christmas Pageant. From our youngest students to our graduating seniors, all have a part in this year’s program. Please make plans to be here and lend your support and encourage to your child. Invite all your relatives and friends. The cost of admission is: $5 per adult, $2.50 for children 12 and under (BBCA students attend for free), and no cost for children 3 and under. A nursery will be provided for all children 3 and under. Tickets must be purchased through the school office. Ticket order forms are available upon request from your student’s teacher.

Please remember that we depend upon the timely payment of all tuition accounts to meet the obligations of the school. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

On behalf of the entire staff of both BBCA and the Berean Baptist Church, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.