The Buzz

Dear SBPS Parents and Guardians,

What a wonderful week it has been for our St. Benedict Prep community! Last week was filled with joy, school spirit, service, and opportunities for students to grow as leaders. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Beals, our middle school faculty and staff, and the Home & School Association for their work in organizing and supervising the Spooktacular Dance. Thank you as well to our Middle School House Leaders, who did an outstanding job planning and leading Friday's Pep Rally. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and leadership were on full display and reflected one of our core beliefs: that students flourish when they are given opportunities to discover and use their God-given gifts in service to others.

Our Halloween celebrations were another reminder of what makes St. Benedict Prep such a special place. We are blessed to be part of a community where families, faculty, staff, and volunteers come together to create meaningful experiences for our students. Thank you to the many HSA volunteers and parents who supported the festivities and helped make the day memorable for our children. These moments of celebration strengthen the sense of belonging that is at the heart of our school community.

I am especially proud of our students and families for their generosity through the Student Council's annual Halloween Candy Collection for Soldiers' Angels. When our student leaders delivered the donations, they were told it was the largest single donation received by Soldiers' Angels in 2026. What an incredible witness to the spirit of service that defines our school! As a Catholic community, we strive to help students understand that generosity often involves sacrifice. By giving some of their favorite treats to service members, our students demonstrated gratitude, compassion, and care for others in a meaningful way.

This past Sunday, we were also honored to welcome many former and current faculty and staff members to our Noon Mass as part of our 125th Anniversary Celebration. Whether they served for a few years or dedicated an entire career to St. Benedict, each person played a role in advancing the sacred mission of Catholic education. Together, they helped generations of students grow in faith, knowledge, character, and purpose. We are deeply grateful for their service and for the lasting impact they have had on our community.

The Mass also provided an opportunity to celebrate the enduring legacy of one remarkable educator. We were proud to introduce the Betty Blazek Perseverance Award, a new endowed scholarship established in honor of Betty Blazek's faithful service to our Preschool program from August 1991 through June 2025. For many years, generous benefactors have supported the St. Benedict Prep Educational Endowment to ensure that our mission continues for future generations. This new scholarship, the tenth endowed scholarship within our Educational Endowment, will award $1,000 annually to a student who demonstrates the resilience, determination, and perseverance that Mrs. Blazek exemplified throughout her years of service. More information regarding scholarship applications will be shared later this school year.

Tomorrow, there will be no school for students as our 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. We believe that excellent teaching is one of the greatest gifts we can offer our students, and ongoing professional growth helps us better support every child's academic and personal development. For families needing childcare, LVL will once again offer a Day Off Sports Camp, with registration information available below.

On Wednesday, November 11, we invite any students who have relatives who are U.S. military veterans to join us for our Veterans Day Mass at 8:30 a.m. During the Mass, Father Ryan will offer a special blessing for our veterans in gratitude for their service and sacrifice. Following Mass, we will hold a Color Guard ceremony in the courtyard. This event provides a meaningful opportunity to teach our students the importance of gratitude, citizenship, and honoring those who have served our country. Families are warmly invited to attend.

Finally, I would like to ask for your partnership in helping us be good neighbors. We have recently received concerns from nearby residents regarding increased traffic through neighborhood alleys during morning arrival. While we understand that arrival can be busy, alleys are not intended to serve as through streets. If you must use an alley, please do so slowly, cautiously, and respectfully. Many residents use these shared spaces for walking, accessing garages, and daily activities. Our Root Beliefs remind us that every person possesses inherent dignity and deserves our respect and care. A tardy is simply a tardy; it is never worth risking an accident or someone's safety. Thank you for helping us model patience, responsibility, and consideration for others as we continue to be good neighbors and ambassadors of the St. Benedict community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are building a faith-filled community where every child is known, valued, challenged, and loved. May God continue to bless our students, families, faculty, and staff as we grow in wisdom, faith, service, and belonging.

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

• Veteran’s Day Mass and Color Guard Ceremony

• Nominate a Teacher for the Golden Apple Today!

• ‍ Concession Stand Help Needed

• Learning Portrait Update - see our middle school students use it with confidence as they prepare for finals

Please find listed below important dates: 

• November 6, 2026 No School Professional Development Day  

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

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

• 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

• November 14, 2026 - Bitty Basketball

• November 14, 2026 - Confirmation Retreat

• November 15, 2026 - Donut Sunday after all the MASSES!

• November 16, 2026 - First Day of Trimester 2

• November 16, 2026 - 8th Grade Virtual Agora/DC Parent Meeting 7:30PM

• November 20, 2026 - Open House for all Prospective Families

• November 21, 2026 - Bitty Basketball

• November 25-27, 2026 - Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 26, 2026 - Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving Parish Dinner

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