MS. RACHEL GEMO,
HEAD OF PARISH SCHOOL
April 16, 2026 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 34
THE BUZZ FROM MS. GEMO | LOWER SCHOOL NEWS - GRADES PRESCHOOL-3
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS - GRADES 4-8 | WEEKLY CALENDAR | HSA
Dear SBPS Parents and Guardians,
What a magical night it was in the Emerald City!
We are still in awe as we reflect on an unforgettable evening celebrating our parish community and supporting our school. Heartfelt thanks to our incredible Gala Chairs, Meredith Blake and Cassidy Cunningham, and the dedicated Gala committee whose countless hours, creativity, and tireless efforts brought An Evening in the Emerald City to life. Their leadership helped guide us down the yellow brick road to an extraordinary success.
We are deeply grateful to our generous parent community, sponsors, item donors, ticket guests, and night‑of contributors whose overwhelming support helped us gross over $900,000 for St. Ben’s. Your generosity truly shows there’s no place like this community. It was especially inspiring to see the Fund‑A‑Need reach an all‑time high of $196,250, directly supporting scholarships and important security camera upgrades for our school.
And the fun isn’t over yet! There’s still time to keep the magic going by purchasing tickets for Post‑Parties, the beloved “There’s No Place Like St. Ben’s” ornament, the First Communion Class Mosaic Cross Project, or the ever‑popular Out of Uniform Packet for the 2026–27 school year. Click the Gala website to see what’s still available. See the post below for more information.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for following the yellow brick road with us and for showing, once again, the extraordinary generosity and spirit of our St. Ben’s community.
As we continue to strengthen our school community, I also invite you to prayerfully consider applying to join our Advisory Board. We are seeking parents with gifts in marketing and communications, finance, facilities, stewardship, and those who feel called to support our teachers through the Annual School Fund. We also welcome parents who are passionate about strengthening the connection between home, parish, and our rich Catholic faith. Applications are due April 23, 2026. If you would like to learn more and meet current members, please join us for the upcoming Board Member Meet & Greet—details are included below.
There’s a lot more important information below. Be sure to check out the following:
Advisory Board Member Application - Applications due April 23, 2026
Parent Webinar - Friday, April 17 at 11AM Helping Youth Navigate Social Media: A Guide For Parents, Coaches, And Caregivers.
Summer Camp Registration
Please find listed below important dates:
April 17, 2026 - Preschool Open House for Prospective Families beginning at 8:30AM
April 22, 2026 - 8th Grade Confirmation Rehearsal
April 23, 2026 - Advisory Board Applications Due - see below for details
April 25, 2026 - 8th Grade Confirmation at 1PM in church
April 27, 2026 - No school for students grades 6-8 - Agora prep day
April 27, 2026 - Virtual Parent Workshop at 6:30PM (see info below) RISE Together in partnership with DePaul University
May 1, 2026 - 3rd Grade Wax Museum
April 27-May 1, 2026 - AGORA TRIPS for grades 6, 7 and 8
May 7, 2026 - Middle School Spring Fling
May 8, 2026 - No School - Professional Development Day
May 11-15, 2026 - Teacher Appreciation Week!
May 12, 2026 - Athletics social for 3rd grader parents - RSVP information below
May God bless us all!
Ms. Rachel Gemo, Head of School
Ms. Gemo’s Prayer Corner
Please pray for Ms. Zadrozny’s nephew, Cody, who is currently serving on the USS Lincoln in the Middle East. Please pray that God keep him and all our troops safe during the current conflict in the region.
EASTER PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for the joy of Easter and the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who through His Resurrection brings us hope, renewal, and everlasting life. As we celebrate this sacred season, bless our school families with peace, faith, and gratitude. May the light of the Risen Christ guide our children as they grow in wisdom, compassion, and love, and strengthen us as partners in nurturing hearts rooted in Your truth. Fill our homes with the joy of Easter and help us to live each day as witnesses of Your mercy and grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.