The Buzz

Greetings SBPS Parents and Friends:

Thank you for everyone’s patience today regarding the decision to close school on Friday, January 23 due to the extreme cold weather predicted. I really try to exercise the best caution and judgement and not make a decision in haste too early. Friday’s forecast this evening looks a lot different than what the forecast showed on Tuesday. When I got wind that Chicago Public Schools were also considering cancelling classes tomorrow, I decided to give the situation another look. We do want to ensure that all the students, faculty, staff and adult care-givers are safe. Please take care of yourselves on Friday and Saturday morning when the temps and windchill are expected to be dangerously cold.

We are still moving forward with our 2026 Athletic Fundraiser on Saturday, January 24, in the evening, right here in the gym. Maybe after spending a whole extra day with your children at home, a night out with adults might sound like a great idea! This adult‑only event promises good drinks, great conversation, lively music, and a much‑needed mid‑winter night out. If you haven’t already, secure a sitter and plan to join us! In past years, proceeds have allowed us to complete meaningful updates such as the gym concession stand renovation and now the new lobby. Your participation truly strengthens our athletic programs and enhances the spaces our students use every day.

On Sunday, we begin Catholic Schools Week - a national celebration of the gift of Catholic Schools. I am personally grateful for the St. Benedict Community! With your help and support, we continue to have a strong academic and extra-curricular program. Enrollment is strong and our teachers and staff feel supported and trusted. All of this is certainly a gift and I am truly humbled to serve as your Head of School.

Catholic Schools Week is also considered a Spirit Week of sorts - please click on the post below to look for each day’s events and special out of uniform activities. We do begin on Sunday, January 25 at 10AM in the Church for Mass. I encourage school families to come and worship together as we give thanks to God for all the blessings we have in our parish and school. After Mass, stop by Beaven Hall for some famous St. Ben’s homemade donuts. I heard they even made the news the last time we had Donut Sunday!

I hope you also received this week’s news about the 2026 Gala which is on Saturday, April 11 this year. We announced the theme “A Night in the Emerald City!” The Gala Committee have so many great ideas and plans - but more hands make the work lighter! Please consider lending a hand with this year’s event. There are both big and small roles and a variety of skills needed. Join us in the library on Tuesday, January 27th at 7:30PM to learn more.

Finally, I invite all our families to consider supporting “The Golden Bengals” a group of 8th graders supporting Lurie’s Children’s Hospital’s “Step Up For Kids” in honor of one of our 8th graders who is currently seeking treatment for a serious illness. This group will be climbing the Aon Skyscraper early next month. Let them know that you are cheering them on and praying for our 8th grader, Florencia, for health and healing. Click here for more information: https://events.luriechildrens.org/step-up-for-kids/the-golden-bengals

Hopefully we’ll see you on Saturday night! For now, stay warm and safe!

There’s a lot more important information below. Be sure to check out the following:

• Bengal Bash Athletic Fundraiser - The Event is Still Happening on Saturday Evening

• Catholic Schools Week Events

• Gala 2026 - Updates and Invite to Join Committee

Please find listed below important dates:

• January 23, 2026 - School Campus Closed due to Inclement Weather - Classes, activities cancelled. Parish office is also closed.

• January 24, 2026 - Bitty basketball and Confirmation Retreat is postponed due to inclement weather

• January 24, 2026 - Athletic Fundraiser at 7PM (THIS EVENT IS STILL HAPPENING - Please join us!)

• January 25-30, 2026 - Catholic Schools Week 

• January 25, 2026 - Catholic Schools Week Family Mass 10AM  - come join us for Mass and show your St. Benedict Pride as we give thanks to God

• January 25, 2026 - Preschool and Kindergarten Open Gym at 11AM (after 10AM Mass) in Ackerman Center

• January 27, 2026 - Catholic Schools Week Mass

• January 27, 2026 - Gala 2026 Committee Meeting in Upper School Library - 7:30PM - Join Our Committee!

• January 28, 2026 - First Communion Parent Meeting 7PM in Kittler Hall

• January 29th- February 1st - 8th Grade Popcorn Sale to Support Washington DC Trip

• January 30, 2026 - PK-8 Open House 8:15AM to 10AM 

• February 1, 2026 - 8th Grade Parent Night in GYM - 5:30PM, 6:30PM and 7:30PM - cheer on our Bengals and support our parents

• February 4, 2026 - HSA Spirit Shop Open in GYM Lobby from 2-6PM

• February 6, 2026 - No School Professional Development Day for Faculty

• February 12, 2026 from 4PM to 7PM 2nd Trimester Conferences - in person

• February 13, 2026 from 8AM to 12PM 2nd Trimester Conferences - virtual - no school for students this day

• February 16, 2026 - No School for Presidents Day Holiday

• February 18, 2026 - Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins

May God bless us all!

Ms. Rachel Gemo, Head of School

Ms. Gemo’s Prayer Corner

Invocation for Peace
Words of Pope Francis, Vatican Gardens, Sunday, June 8, 2014

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!

Amen.