December 19, 2025 Volume 3 - Issue 19

Dear Saint Families and Friends:

“For I wish to recall to memory the little child who was born in Bethlehem. I want to set before our bodily eyes the hardships of infant needs, how he lay in the manger, how with an ox and donkey standing by he lay upon the hay.”

-St. Francis of Assisi

Greetings from Berks Catholic! Happy Advent! This third week of Advent changes things up a bit for us. It calls us to rejoice! As we rejoice with just two weeks until Christmas, we pray that our loving God will fill our hearts with gladness that comes from trusting his promises, even amid any waiting or uncertainty we might have. Let us share this Advent joy with all we meet this week, as we prepare to welcome Christ, our newborn King on Christmas day! Have a great weekend.

It’s a great day to be a Saint!

A Time to be BOLD!

John Petruzzelli

Principal

610-374-8361 ext. 253

Email: jpetruzzelli@berkscatholic.org

Instagram: john.petruzzelli.9

Monday, 12/22

Tuesday, 12/23

Special Schedule

School Mass

11:00 a.m. Dismissal

Christmas Break begins at dismissal

Wednesday, 12/24

Christmas Break

Thursday, 12/25

Merry Christmas

Friday, 12/26

Christmas Break

For our Jewish friends who celebrate their holy season of Hanukkah.

For the faithful laity that they fulfill their baptismal call with courage and contribute to the sanctification of the world.

Congratulations...........

Congratulations

Junior

Matthew

Sauselen

who was named

Saint of the Week.

Congratulations to our four 2027 Saints who applied and were offered spaces in the highly competitive Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development EmpowerED High School Internships for the Spring Cohort. Students accepted are: Juniors Wilson He, Arianna Landis, Ennybel Mejia and Angie Morales. Excellent work, Saints!

🎄 🎶 Berks Catholic High School Christmas Concert

Congratulations to Mr. Scollick and the members of the Band for their enjoyable and energetic Christmas concert performance on Tuesday evening. Amazing solo performances were given by Jasper Langumas ‘29 on piano, Dayalin Polanco ’26 on clarinet, Ava Freed ’29 on clarinet and Cassidy Okonski ’29 on flute. Click the link to hear a part of one of their musical selections.

Congratulations to Junior Rosie Perlman and Freshman Suannabelle Zhingre-Kelly who were the school winners in the Poetry Out Loud competition. Both students move on to the regional competition after Christmas. Congratulations also to our Saints who auditioned: Casey Changco ’27, Anthony Hauser ’29, Ennybel Mejia ’27, Milagros Solis-Frutos ’28 and Alicia Wong ’28.

Congratulations to the following members of the DECA Business Club who medaled in the District 6 Regional DECA Competition:

Individual Events

1st Place: Mya Monroig-Acevedo ‘26 -Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

2nd Place: Maxwell Strock ’28 - Principles of Finance

2nd Place: Alex Sobota '28 - Retail Merchandising Services

3rd Place: Nicholas Zoltack '26 - Principles of Marketing

3rd Place: Luke Schrenk '27 - Business Services Marketing

3rd Place: Peyton Newswanger ’27 - Food Marketing Services

3rd Place: Rosie Perlman ’27 - Hotel and Lodging Management

3rd Place: Ariana Plevrakis ’28 - Quick Service Restaurant Management

3rd Place: Emily Hirneisen ’28 - Retail Merchandising Services

3rd Place: Esperanza Zudie ’28 - Sports and Entertainment Management

Teams

1stPlace: Josie Babiec ’27 and Ellie Hook ’27 – Travel and Tourism

2nd Place: Micah Drumheller ’26 and Matthew Morganti ’26 - Marketing Management

3rd Place: Parker Krajsa ’26 and Sadie Bookser ’26 - Buying and Merchandising

3rd Place: Jakob Dempster ’27 and David Schnatz ’27 – Entrepreneurship

3rd Place: Whitney Femino ’28 and Mackenzie Robinson ’28 – Hospitality Services

3rd Place: Sofia Cirandine ’27 and Eva Gallo ’27 – Travel and Tourism

Congratulations to the Girls’ Swim Team (who co-op with Reading High) who earned their first victory of the season last week by defeating the Milton Hershey School.

Congratulations to the Boys’ Swim Team (who also co-op with Reading High) who earned their first victory of the season last week by defeating the Milton Hershey School.

Congratulations to the winners of the Christmas Door Decorating Contest sponsored by the Spirit Club. Tied for first place were the doors for Homeroom 12E (Mrs. Eisenhofer) and the Aquinas Room (Mrs. Hearing). Both classes won doughnuts and hot chocolate.

Congratulations to Senior Homeroom 12F who won the Gingerbread House Making Contest that took place during the Senior Christmas Activities Day.

🏠 🏠 🏠 🏠

We received a thank you note from Catholic Charities last week for the food BC donated during our Spirit Week. The note read, in part: “We are delighted to share some exciting news – thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we have already reached 70% of our “Phil the Bag Campaign” goal. Your support is moving this mission forward in powerful, hopeful ways…Thank you for the compassion, dignity and hope you extend to others.” Wonderful work, Saints!

Special thank you to our dedicated Berks County priests who joined us at our Advent Penance Service on Tuesday afternoon.

Thank you to everyone who attended our beautiful Band Christmas Concert. Thank you for supporting our Saint musicians who work so hard for their craft!

Thank you to our ”Future Saints” who attended our Christmas Movie Night last Thursday (20 Future Saints) and our Santa with the Saints on Saturday (40 Future Saints).

What's Happening

School Mass

Our next school Mass will be Tuesday, December 23rd at 9:00 a.m. in the Franco-Post Auditorium. Parents, guardians and families are always welcome to attend. If you plan to come to Mass, please sign in at the Main Office before coming to the auditorium.

Advent Reflection

For this Third Week of Advent, Bishop Schlert shares a beautiful Gospel Reflection on the joy of encountering Jesus this Advent season. You can read it here: Gospel Reflection: Third Sunday of Advent- AD Today.

Week Three of Advent: Joy

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as “Gaudete” Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin term meaning “rejoice.” Lighting the pink candle of joy symbolizes a break from the season’s penitential tone, inviting us to celebrate the blessings of Christ’s coming. Advent joy calls us to pause and appreciate the presence of God in our lives, to look forward to the fullness of joy that Christmas brings. It’s an invitation to reflect this joy through kindness, gratitude and worship, radiating the light of Christ to those around us.

Christmas Break

Families are reminded that Christmas break begins at the end of the day on Tuesday, December 23rd (11:00 a.m. dismissal). Saints and staff return to school on Monday, January 5th. The school office will close at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday and remain closed until Monday, January 5th at 7:00 a.m.

Friday Newsletter

This will be the last Black and Gold Report for 2025. The next newsletter will be sent on Friday, January 9th after we return to school from Christmas Break.

Mid-Term Exams

Mid-Term Exams are just a month away. The Mid-Term Exam schedule is listed below. Homeroom will begin at 7:50 a.m. on Exam Days. Exam #1 will start at 8:15 a.m. Exam #2 will begin at 9:55 a.m. Dismissal on Exam Days will be at 11:00 a.m. Busses have been made aware of the early dismissal time. Vacations and trips are not valid excuses to miss an exam. If a student has a planned absence, they must speak to the teacher prior to exam week to schedule a time to take their exam. Any student who is sick and misses an exam should try and make up the missed exam during a time slot when they normally have lunch or a study hall/gym class. If this is not possible, students will need to make up the exam on Thursday, January 15th after the two regularly scheduled exams. The exam schedule is as follows:

Monday, January 12th - Exams for Periods 1 and 6
Tuesday, January 13th - Exams for Periods 8 and 3
Wednesday, January 14th - Exams for Periods 2 and 5
Thursday, January 15th - Exams for Periods 7 and

News from the Tuition Office

Holiday Greetings from the Tuition Office!

We are preparing to mail the 2026–2027 Tuition & Financial Aid packets in late December. Please look for this important information in your mailbox soon!

The 2026–2027 Financial Aid Application opens on January 1, 2026.

Merry Christmas! We look forward to working with you in the New Year!

Please use the links below if assistance is needed. Please access and refer to your STS account for detailed tuition, fee, and financial aid information. If you have difficulty logging in, please email STS Customer Support. The Tuition Office is happy to assist with any questions at 610-374-8361 ext. 223.

Access Your STS Account

STS Customer Service

BCHS Tuition Office

Meet the College and Career Counseling Team

Enjoy a short video of introduction from our College and Career Counselors, Mr. Ditsky, Mrs. Eckenrode and Mr. Van Blunk. Click the Link here:

Open House

SAVE THE DATE! Berks Catholic will host our annual Open House on Thursday, January 29th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Our Open House is a terrific opportunity to see our school in action. You can hear from current Saints, tour the campus, learn about clubs, activities and sports, and meet with faculty and administrators. Please share this information with anyone you know who has middle school students. Did you know if you refer a public or home school student to BC and they enroll you can receive a tuition credit? For more details, contact Nicky Smith, Director of Admissions, at nsmith@berkscatholic.org.

Open House RSVP

Please watch the Berks Catholic ETIC/OSTC Program Video

Businesses and individuals who pay PA state tax dollars can direct them to help provide scholarships and financial aid to Berks Catholic students through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) Programs.

Christmas Vespers Concert

POSTPONED! Due to the weather last week, our annual Christmas Vespers Service has been rescheduled to this Sunday, December 21st at 3:30 p.m. (please note the new time) at Sacred Heart Church in West Reading. The concert will feature our dedicated choir sharing scripture readings and songs of the Christmas season. The concert will surely add to a blessed Advent season for all.

Yearbook Sales

Yearbooks make GREAT Christmas presents! Purchase a 2025-2026 school yearbook for your Saint. Cost of the yearbook is $90. Don’t miss out on the year’s highlights and memories.

Yearbook Senior Ads

Attention Senior families:

Time is running out! Memorialize your Senior Saint’s time at BC by purchasing a Senior ad in the yearbook. Deadline to reserve your ad is Friday, January 30, 2026! Now is the time to reserve your yearbook ad. Don’t miss out on this loving gesture to your Senior.

Senior Ad Form

BC By the Numbers

125: Average number of cookies sold each day in the school cafeteria (Yum!)

"Say What Sunday"

As relatives visit this holiday season, if they are alums from Central Catholic, Holy Name or Berks Catholic, please ask them to take a minute to share about their high school experience. We would love to hear from alumni about what their time in high school was like. Please go to: https://forms.gle/hpF8HWXaJCiL86ga8 to leave your message.

The Bible by the Numbers

When you are seeking solace in following God’s commands, check out Luke 1:26-38.

Social Media

Did you see our post about our Senior Christmas Activities? Keep up with all the happenings at the school on our social media channels. Check out what our students are doing day-to-day in class; important news articles; sports and activities; and more! Be sure to follow the school on social media for all the latest updates, pictures and school information. Facebook: Berks Catholic; Twitter: @BerksCatholic; and Instagram: berkscatholic.

With Sincere Thanks

Thank you for the generosity you showed in contributing to the Berks Catholic faculty Christmas gifts. Your kindness and thoughtfulness mean more than you may ever realize.

Our faculty and staff choose to serve in Catholic education not for financial gain, but because they believe deeply in our mission and in the young people entrusted to them. Your gift—whether financial or the gift of prayer—is a powerful reminder that their sacrifices, dedication, and daily commitment are seen, valued, and appreciated.

This extra gesture of generosity brought genuine joy and gratitude to our faculty and staff during this Christmas season. Most of all, it affirmed the strength of our Saints community and the shared spirit of faith, gratitude, and care that unites us.

Thank you for supporting those who give so much of themselves to our students every day. Please know that your kindness—and your prayers—truly matter.

It's a great day to be a Saint!

Our Mission

Berks Catholic High School is centered on the four pillars of God, Family, Academics and Fun. As a vibrant Christ-centered community, the Administration, Faculty and Staff are dedicated to providing a challenging academic environment for a diverse population of young men and women. Through Christian principles rooted in the Catholic tradition, we strive to positively impact our students spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally, so they can live productive lives of service in this world and attain eternal life.

Visit our Website