July E-Buzz

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July | 2021

BACKPACKING PROJECT FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

The New York Times sent a writer and photographer to hike The Trail with freshmen from the Boys Prep Division in May. Read coverage of this important rite of passage and Gray Bees’ resolve to complete the Backpacking Project in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.

We Couldn’t Do This Without Your Loyal Companionship

Thank you to everyone who supported The Hive during our Fiscal Year 2020-2021! Our year ended on June 30th and we are still tallying the numbers, but we are sure the figures will be near record-breaking fashion. We will be sure to share our results once they are finalized! The work that we do at St. Benedict's wouldn't be possible without your continued loyalty and support. Thank you for all that you do for us. To get a jump start on your Fiscal Year 2021-2022 giving, you can click this link to be counted!

From the Headmaster’s Desk

Fr. Edwin spent time on the road in June, traveling to Stennis Space Center in Mississippi to address an international student audience who enthusiastically embraced his message about St. Benedict’s historical mission of inclusion, and what we do today to empower girls and women, starting with our launch of the Girls Prep Division.

Next stop for our Headmaster was Notre Dame, where Fr. Edwin led a discussion on community with the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teaching fellows. He even spent some time visiting “Touchdown Jesus,” officially known as the Theodore Hesburgh Library with the mural called "The Word of Life," which overlooks the football stadium in South Bend.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

A Whole New Experience Surrounding Graduation

Commencement 2021 – like the entire school year – was nothing like we’ve ever experienced at St. Benedict’s. Click here to read story and view all of our wall-to-wall coverage of graduation week, which includes photos from both Commencements and the Senior Awards Dinners.

SAVE THE DATES

50th Reunion for the Class of 1971

Sept. 9-11, 2021

After the class arrives in town on Thursday, Sept. 9, they will reconvene on Friday, Sept. 10 for a 9:30 a.m. tee time at the Fox Hollow Golf Course in Branchburg. A Dutch Treat Dinner will be held that evening at the Spanish Tavern at 6:30 p.m. in Newark. On Saturday (Sept. 11), the ’71ers will gather at Mike & Nancy Farrell’s House (34 Kennedy Ln., New Vernon) at 3:30 p.m. for a Memorial Mass for deceased classmates before concluding the day with a cocktail hour and barbeque.

60th Reunion for the Class of 1960

Sept. 18, 2021

The Essex & Sussex

700 Ocean Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762

More details to follow. Contact Candace Bradsher for more information.

Gray Bee Golf Outing

Sept. 20, 2021

The Spring Lake Golf Club

The Gray Bee Golf Outing will once again be at the Spring Lake Golf Club at the Jersey Shore – on Monday, Sept. 20. Sponsorship opportunities and registration will be coming soon. For further information, please email Mary Hauck.

50th Reunion for the Class of 1970

Sept. 24-25, 2021

Stag Party Friday Night. SBP Sporting event Saturday afternoon (if possible). Dinner Saturday night at St. Benedict's. More details to follow. Contact Candace Bradsher for more information.

Boston Reunion

Oct. 14, 2021

at the Brae Burn Country Club (MA)

Our Annual Boston Reunion, hosted by Art Meehan ’53, will take place on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 14 with a cocktail reception at the Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, MA. Stay tuned for a registration link. For more information, please email Mary Hauck.

Hall of Fame Dinner at Nanina’s In The Park, Belleville

Oct. 20, 2021

Our Hall of Fame Dinner, postponed last fall due to the pandemic, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 20. A Nomination Form is available until July 30by clicking here. Registration will follow soon thereafter. Contact Mary Hauck for more information.

Senior Alumni Luncheon at The Breakers in Spring Lake

Nov. 5, 2021

One of the most popular events on the school's calendar, the Senior Alumni Luncheon, which is for anyone who graduated from The Hive 50 years ago or more, will be held at The Breakers in Spring Lake on Friday, Nov. 5. Registration link coming soon. The Luncheon will return to its normal date in June next year.

STUDENTS

Three Gray Bee rowers from coach Craig White’s crew team – rising seniors Jayden Dasher, Alvaro Paulin and Yamill Harris – are currently representing St. Benedict’s at the US Rowing Under-19 Olympic Development Program (ODP) in Jacksonville and Sarasota, Fla. Click here to watch video just before their departure to the Sunshine State.

Gray Bee Gardens – “Soil to Plate” For the past 11 years, the urban farm at St. Benedict’s Prep has helped students appreciate and grow vegetables for the school and monastic communities. But this year, history teacher Susanne Mueller gathered a group of students to figure out how to make the farm a sustainable, year-round non-profit business. And with the help of Fr. Maximilian Buonocore, O.S.B. H’15, who has led the spring phase Garden Project for the past few years, and two students living in Leahy House, the first steps of that business have begun by getting their produce for sale on the Urban Agriculture Cooperative website (under Gray Bee Garden).

Christian Edwards ‘99 invited students in the Gray Bee Ministry to participate in a workshop on servant leadership with King’s Counsel Coaching, hosted by Super Bowl Champion Steve Weatherford (and the Super Bowl Trophy, pictured), last month at the West Side Park Recreation Center. The students discussed the importance of building up their confidence in their God-given mission in life and learning how to take ownership of their futures.

ALUMNI

Our Newest Alums! The graduating Class of ’21 are just beginning a new chapter in their lives. All 23 Girls Prep Division students who graduated on June 5 are matriculating to college. Of the 100 Boys Prep Division graduates from June 6, 89% will head to college, with the remainder doing a postgraduate year, trade school, or military service.

Dr. Ivan Lamourt ’82, Senior Associate Headmaster, and David Rodriguez ’96, foreign language chairman and director of 520 Corp., are featured in a recent publication of their college alma mater’s magazine, St. Anslem Portraits Magazine. Click here to read story.

Award-winning filmmakers Marylou & Jerome Bongiorno, who produced the documentary on St. Benedict’s entitled THE RULE, in 2014, have released its sequel RUST, the third in their acclaimed 3Rs Trilogy of documentaries on Newark, which is being streamed through July 17 on PBS. The documentary catches up with successful St. Benedict’s Alum Chris Bonilla ’13 a decade after he was featured in THE RULE.

LAST WORD

Drum Beats a Path Back to The Hive! This circa 1954 bass drum was somehow surrendered by the School in the early 1980's in favor of new instruments being gifted to the Gray Bee orchestra. Landing in the hands of a preschool teacher, the drum was silent and forgotten in the teacher's basement for nearly 40 years until it was recently posted on Facebook for sale. An SBP staffer was alerted to the post and quickly connected with the seller, who coincidentally lived no more than two miles away in Watchung and was happy to hand it over for free. The drum is back where it belongs – it’s truly come full circle.

Need some Gray Bee gear? Check out our revamped school store in the month of July for free shipping for purchases over $50.00. Do you have a birthday in July? Then be sure to click this link for a free gift on us with a $40 purchase.

The entire faculty of the Elementary Division was lauded with the Raymond J. Sachs ’25 Memorial Award for distinguished teaching for the 2020-21 school year. This is the first time the award went to a group and not a single individual since its inception in 2011. Click here to read more.

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