Blog

Don’t worry. The math (and science) still adds up!

High School, Middle School

Dear Eighth-Grade Parents, Battle Creek Math and Science Center letters are speeding to your door. Depending on what’s inside, you may be happy, sad or confused. If your child qualified, congratulations! If they didn’t, don’t worry. Our St. Philip...

Mingling innovation with inspiration

High School

St. Philip High School English teacher Jenny Niesen believes in self-directed learning, which is why she assigns Innovation Projects. The project can be anything, but it must root from the student’s passion. Emily Pearl, a senior in Mrs. Niesen’s AP Language...

Teacher Feature: Molly Williamson

Middle School

They say when God closes a door, He opens a window. When St. Joseph Middle School’s math teacher left in December, God did more than open a window – He opened a new chapter. This January, Molly Williamson began her post as our middle school math teacher and student...

Nine times a double blessing

Elementary School, High School

Most of us don’t have a twin, which may be why twins fascinate us. Currently, our Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools have nine sets of twins. That’s a lot of twins. We have five sets in the high school, four sets in the grade school, two sets in the marching band, and...

The story behind “Adriana’s Angels”

Elementary School

Adriana Nelson, a student in Mrs. Kuenzel’s third-grade class, had a question her mother couldn’t answer. “We give stuff on Thursdays at church, but why can’t we give stuff to the poor every day?” The “stuff” she was referring to was the non-perishable food items St....

Learning the ABCs of character

Elementary School, High School, Middle School

I received a lovely surprise last week. My daughter was named “student of the month” for the freshman class. Her nomination had nothing to do with grades or extra-curricular activities, but kindness. How cool is that? Kindness is one of several “student of the month”...

Christmas off the grid

Elementary School, High School, Middle School

“Joy is the true gift of Christmas.” ~Pope Benedict XVI Christmas Break is over, which means the parties, presents, and planning is over. No more Christmas Carols on the radio. No more Christmas movies on TV – not even on the Hallmark Channel. The kids are...

A BCACS Christmas Story…

Elementary School

Christmas is a time for stories and here is one our BCACS staff shared with me. Shortly before Christmas break, the staff of the St. Joseph Elementary School found a surprise on their desk in the morning – a large gourmet candy cane lollipop. It wasn’t just one...

Don’t put lit candles under the bed and other lessons learned from school Mass

Elementary School, High School, Middle School

I enjoy BCACS school Masses, partially for the unpredictability. You never know what young Catholics are going to do or say, which keeps us older Catholics from stodginess. Kids don’t sit well or kneel well or stand in one place well, which is the exercise program of...

Sitting, Swaying and Sacrifice

Elementary School

Before we moved to Battle Creek, my kids attended the public school by our home. The building was new and the principal was wonderful, but the school was overpopulated. My son’s kindergarten class had over 30 kids, a first-year teacher, and no aide. My son was a...