The Buzz

Dear SBPS Parents and Guardians,

Tomorrow our school community will enjoy some festive Halloween celebrations together, and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our Home & School Association, Room Representatives, teachers, and parent volunteers for helping make these events possible. One of our core beliefs at St. Benedict Prep is that strong relationships and a sense of belonging are essential to a child's growth and flourishing. These moments of celebration provide opportunities for students to build community, create joyful memories, and strengthen friendships while experiencing the warmth and spirit that make our school such a special place.

We look forward to our annual Halloween Costume Parade on Friday, October 30, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Families who are able to arrive a little early for dismissal are welcome to watch from the perimeter sidewalks surrounding the school campus. We are grateful to the HSA for their continued support of our students, faculty, and staff, including the special Halloween treats they have prepared for our teachers.

As many of you prepare for Halloween celebrations at home, I encourage families to consider participating in our annual Halloween Candy Collection for U.S. Troops, sponsored by Student Council. This tradition provides a meaningful opportunity for students to practice generosity and gratitude by sharing some of their favorite treats with the men and women who serve our country. As a Catholic school, we strive to help students recognize that even small acts of sacrifice and service can be expressions of love for others. We hope this experience encourages our children to think beyond themselves and develop habits of compassion and stewardship.

Next Friday, there will be no school for students as faculty participate in a Professional Development Day. Lower School teachers will continue training on our new reading program, while Upper School teachers will deepen their work in Mastery-Based Learning and Learning Portrait. Our commitment to ongoing professional growth reflects our belief that excellent teaching is essential to helping every student reach his or her God-given potential. For families needing childcare that day, LVL will be offering a Day Off Sports Camp. Additional details and registration information can be found below.

On Monday, our students in Grades 1-8 will gather for a special All Souls' Day Mass. November holds a unique place in the Catholic tradition as we remember and pray for those who have gone before us in faith. Students are invited to bring a photograph of a deceased family member or loved one, and these intentions will be remembered during the Mass. This beautiful tradition helps our students understand that we remain united through Christ with those we have loved and lost and reminds us of the hope we share in the promise of eternal life.

Next week also marks National Vocation Awareness Week, a time when Catholics throughout the country pray for those discerning God's call in their lives, particularly to the priesthood and religious life. I invite our school community to keep in prayer the seminarians who have visited and supported our parish and school over the past year, especially Paul, Will, and Cody. May God continue to guide them as they discern how best to serve His Church.

Finally, don't forget that Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend. Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday morning and enjoy the gift of an extra hour for rest, prayer, family time, or whatever brings renewal to your household.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust. Together, we are building a community rooted in faith, characterized by belonging, and committed to helping each child discover and develop the gifts God has entrusted to them. May God bless your family and our entire St. Benedict Preparatory School community as we enter this beautiful month of remembrance, gratitude, and hope.

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

• All Souls Requiem Mass

• Nominate a Teacher for the Golden Apple Today!

• Donate Halloween Candy for the US Troops

Please find listed below important dates: 

• October 30, 2026 Halloween Celebrations

• November 1, 2026 - Daylight Saving Time ends at 2AM - turn the clocks back one hour (and enjoy the extra hour!)

• November 1, 2026 - 125th Anniversary Current and Former Faculty Mass and Reception at 12PM in church

• November 1, 2026 All Saints Day   

• November 2, 2026 All Souls Day  

• November 2, 2026 Stock the Lounge - thank you HSA

• November 2, 2026 All Souls Requiem Mass 1:30PM grades 1-8 - information below

• November 3, 2026 - Election Day  (WE are IN SCHOOL ON ELECTION DAY)

• November 6, 2026 No School Professional Development Day  

• November 6, 2026 - LVL Day off camp at SBPS - registration information below

• November 10, 2026 - Last day to donate Halloween Candy for US Troops

• November 11, 2026 - Veterans Day - Mass and Tribute (we are IN SCHOOL ON VETERANS DAY)

• November 12, 2026 Middle School Trimester Final Exams-Math & SS 

• November 12, 2026 - HSA Mom’s Night Out - (Moms, you deserve a night out!)

• November 13, 2026 Middle School Trimester 1 Exams Day 2-ELA & Science 

• November 13, 2026 Last Day of Trimester 1

May God bless your family and our entire SBPS community as we continue this journey together.

Ms. Rachel Gemo, Head of School

Ms. Rachel Gemo,
Head of School