Elementary School

“I will never cut down my friends”

Elementary School

When celebrated Battle Creek artist Richard Schlatter came to St. Joseph Elementary last Thursday, it wasn’t as the ArtPrize 2017’s grand prize winner, but as a storyteller. “One of my ministries is visiting elementary schools, reading my book to second-grade classes,...

“These kids are my vitamins”

Elementary School, High School, Middle School

St. Joseph preschool teacher Kelly Francisco considers BCACS a family. Her father worked there, she graduated from there, her husband graduated from there, and her children now attend there. But it took breast cancer to reveal the depth of her school family. “I...

Need a Buddy? Take a seat.

Elementary School

There are three benches on the St. Joseph playground, but the yellow one is special. If you need a friend, you take a seat. St. Joseph Elementary Preschool and TK teacher Amiee Downey first saw a Buddy Bench during her family vacation in Holland. Children sat there if...

We begin in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Elementary School, High School, Middle School

New Year’s Day has nothing on the first day of school, especially at our Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools. In fact, we were so excited to get our school family together, we started a little early. Before school began, our administrators and staff, in cooperation...

The last day of school: Ardis Vandenboss & Danielle Orton

Elementary School, High School

Summer vacation is wonderful, but goodbyes are tough. Today’s BCACS Blog spends time with two beloved teachers for whom the last day of school is their last day with us. Ardis Vandenboss St. Joseph Elementary School teacher Ardis Vandenboss wouldn’t consider her...

St. Joe students walk for miles and miles and miles…

Elementary School

You can see them during morning drop-off at St. Joseph Elementary School – students as young as five and as old as fifth-graders circling the school grounds, stopping only to swipe a card before taking off again. You will see them again during lunch recess, racking up...

First Communion Joy

Elementary School

It was a rainy Saturday, full of budding flowers, and the crisp dresses and pressed dress shirts of St. Joseph’s 2017 First Holy Communion Class. These children had prepared all year, reflecting on the significance of the Eucharist, reading about saints devoted to the...

Getting the facts from living wax

Elementary School

What happens when you combine history with a dash of Halloween? You get the BCACS Fourth Grade Wax Museum. Posing as historical figures, fourth-grade students come to life with a press of a “button” on their hands. Laura LaLonde started the wax museum in 1999, which...

A truly “super” market

Elementary School

It’s the sweetest supermarket you will ever visit, full of tasty treats, thoughtful gifts, bargains and big grins. But you have to be quick. It’s only open one time every school year. Why? Because hosting the annual Second Grade Supermarket is a once-in-a-lifetime...