The Buzz

Greetings SBPS Parents and Friends:

Happy New Year! Welcome 2026. I pray that you and your families have had a blessed Christmas and New Year Holiday break. In just a few days, we’ll be starting back up for the winter months. This issue of the BUZZ has just a few items to help families make the transition back to school routines.

One of the things accomplished over the break is the start of the renovation of the gym lobby. You’ll see that it has been updated to reflect the enthusiasm and love for this special space and our athletic programs. There will be a few more items coming over the next several weeks, but it certainly looks like a new lobby and I can’t wait for you to see it. The proceeds used to renovate the gym lobby were raised at the 2025 Athletic Fundraiser. We have the 2026 Athletic Fundraiser coming up in a few short weeks, on Saturday, January 24 in the evening. This is an adult only event in the gym where we have good drinks, good conversation and lively music. By then, you’ll all need a break from the winter doldrums. So secure your sitter now and make plans to join us. This important fundraiser has helped us do athletic program and gym upgrades in the past. Our gym concession stand was also renovated a few years ago because of proceeds from the event. I’d like to thank the Athletic Board for their work on the fundraiser as well as planning and implementing the gym lobby renovations. Your work is greatly appreciated. As we start up all the January Basketball games, we will be able to welcome our families and guests with Bengal pride!

Our teachers will be back on Monday, January 5 for a professional development day. We will continue our MBL work as well as prepare for all the things that happen in January. There is so much to look forward to…iReady Winter Diagnostics, our Peace Prayer Service, Catholic Schools Week and more. Stay tuned for coming information. Winter clubs also start up the week of January 12. Later this week, club forms will be sent out. Parent may already register for the Winter Chess Club on Tuesdays. The Winter Theatre Club with Sarah Hall will also be coming out shortly.

If you need something for your 1-8th grade child to do on Monday so you can get some things done around the house or go into work for a bit, please know that we offer a Basketball camp on Monday, Jan 5th. Please see below for more information and how to register.

Thank you to all the families who donated their time and/or food items for the parish Christmas dinner. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, too, for all the ways your families have supported the parish and school donation drives and teacher/staff appreciation. The school families continue to be in my prayers for the new year.

On Tuesday, January 6, the students in grades 1-8 will attend a special Epiphany Mass, celebrating the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God to the world, primarily through the visit of the Magi (Wise Men). Epiphany House Blessing Kits were made by our 4th grade students before Christmas break. Each student will receive a House Blessing kit. We hope that all families later that afternoon/evening will use the House Blessing Kit to bless your homes and thresholds. Thank you to Father Ryan for purchasing the holy water bottles for us and thanks to the middle school service committee for filling all the water bottles. We hope this might be a St. Ben’s tradition for years to come.

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

• Jan 5th BBall Camps and Summer Sport Camp Registration Available

• Bengal Bash Athletic Fundraiser - Save the Date and Buy Tickets today

• Winter Chess Club Registration

Please find listed below important dates:

• December 20-January 5, 2026 - Christmas break

• January 5, 2026 - Teacher Professional Development Day - no school for students

• January 5, 2026 - Holiday Sports Camps for Students grades 1-8 - Registration Information below

• January, 6, 2026 - School Resumes for all grade levels

• January 6, 2026 - Winter Bengal Cubs (2 1/2 year-old program begins)

• January 12, 2026 - Winter Clubs begin (look out for club forms when we return from Christmas break)

• January 12, 2026 - iReady Math Diagnostics  Grades 1-8 begins 

  January 16, 2026 - 4th Grade Peace Prayer Service

  January 19, 2026 - No School – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday  

  January 20, 2026 - iReady Reading Diagnostics  Grades 1-8 begins 

  January 23, 2026 - PK-8 Open House 8:15AM to 10AM 

  January 24, 2026 - Athletic Fundraiser at 7PM

  January 25-30, 2026 - Catholic Schools Week (full schedule coming)

  January 25, 2026 - Catholic Schools Week Family Mass 10AM 

  January 27, 2026 - Catholic Schools Week Mass 8:30AM K-8  

May God bless us all in the coming year,

Ms. Rachel Gemo, Head of School

Ms. Gemo’s Prayer Corner

Please pray for Kim McMillan’s mother, Adrienne Pudlo, passed away Christmas morning. Please join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Adrienne Pudlo, for Kim McMillan, and her family. Grant eternal rest unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

The Work of Christmas Begins

When the carols have been stilled,
When the star-topped tree is taken down,
When family and friends are gone home,
When we are back to our schedules
The work of Christmas begins:
   To welcome the refugee,
   To heal a broken planet,
   To feed the hungry,
   To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear,
   To share our gifts,
   To seek justice and peace for all people,
   To bring Christ’s light to the world.

- by Michael Dougherty, a variation on Howard Thurman’s ‘When the Song of the Angels is Stilled’