January 16, 2026 Volume 3 - Issue 21

Monday, 1/19

Martin Luther King Holiday

No School

Tuesday, 1/20

3rd Academic Quarter Begins

Grades Due

Wednesday, 1/21

Thursday, 1/22

Friday, 1/23

For doctors, nurses and caregivers who minister to those most in need that their dedication and generosity will be rewarded.

For those serving in the military that they may be supported by our prayers and comforted by their faith.

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

Congratulations

to

Junior

Joel

Frutos

who was named

Saint of the Week.

PMEA District 10 Chorus

Congratulations to Senior Emily Schearer who qualified for the PMEA Regional Chorus Festival to be held at Warwick High School in February! Emily recently participated in the PMEA District 10 Chorus held at BC. Earning placement in both the PMEA District 10 Chorus and the PMEA Regional Chorus is a distinguished honor. It signifies not only outstanding vocal ability, but also perseverance through a challenging and competitive process, marking these students as some of the most dedicated and accomplished young singers in the region. Way to go, Emily!

Congratulations to the Boys Wrestling team who placed second at the BCIAA County Wrestling Championship. The following wrestlers won medals at the Championship:

• First Place: Trapp Walsh ’28, Tyden Shuman ’28, Gunnar Maciejewski ’26, Andrew Messner ’27 and Layden Acevedo ’28.
• Second Place: Keith Messner ’26 and Palmer Reber ‘26
• Third Place: Neil Bitting ‘27

Congratulations to the following members of the Girls Wrestling Team who won medals at the BCIAA Championship: Kim Munoz ’29 - First Place and earned the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award; Nia Morales ’27 – Third Place; Dina Flynn ’29 – Fifth Place; and Nora Klinger ’29 – Sixth Place.

What's Happening

School Mass

Our next school Mass will be during Catholic Schools Week on Wednesday, January 28th at 9:00 a.m. The Mass will have extra significance because this day begins the celebration of the diocesan 65th Anniversary Jubilee Year. Parents, guardians and families are always welcome to join us for Mass. If you plan to come, please sign in at the Main Office before coming to the Franco-Post auditorium.

Martin Luther King Holiday

Just a reminder that Martin Luther King day on Monday, January 19th is a school holiday for all students and staff.

Catholic Schools Week

We are excited to celebrate Catholic Schools Week (CSW) in just over a week. CSW is a special time to appreciate and celebrate Catholic schools and all that they do and offer to students and their families. Both across our diocese and the United States, this has become a valuable time to showcase the many amazing opportunities that Catholic schools offer its students. During this week, BC is proud to highlight our academics, spiritual life, service opportunities and social activities. On Sunday, January 25th, we will begin our annual celebration focused on the theme of “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” As the theme reminds us, Catholic schools teach how Jesus Christ united us as a family of believers. They prepare students for the future by instilling in them faith that helps mold them into the future of the Church. Our Saints grow and mature by coming to know the importance of community and how together we can make our school and the world better places for everyone. Be sure to check out our CSW calendar by clicking here:

Catholic Schools Week Letter & Schedule

Catholic Schools Week Service Project

Once again, we have selected a service project to undertake as a school during CSW. Our project is being coordinated by the Pre-Med Club. We will be collecting new and gently used stuffed animals to be donated to the children’s section of Reading Hospital. Knowing the importance we place on service, we wanted to assist with a need right here in our community and impact children in Berks County. Modeling the Teddy Bear Toss that takes place at the Reading Royals game, we will have our own Teddy Bear Saints Toss on Friday during the Dodgeball Tournament.

Saint Families Testimonials

As a Saints family, your story helps inspire future Saints. Please share why you chose Berks Catholic or what the BC experience has meant to your family. Testimonials may be used for admissions, marketing and school communications. Thank you for being part of the Berks Catholic family.

College Acceptances and Scholarships

Senior Saints and their parents/guardians are reminded to turn in all college acceptances, and any scholarship offers you receive to the College and Career Counseling Office. This information is tabulated and documented for each Berks Catholic graduating class. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Ditsky, Mrs. Eckenrode or Mr. Van Blunk in the College and Career Counseling Office.

News from the Tuition Office

The 2026-2027 Tuition & Financial Aid packet was mailed in late December. Check your postal mailbox for this important information!

The 2026–2027 Financial Aid Application is OPEN and accepting most recently completed tax documentation from the 2025 or 2024 tax years.

Please complete your application as soon as possible and by April 15, 2026 for maximum financial aid consideration. Please click on the links for instructions:

STS Financial Aid Instructions - English

STS Financial Aid Instructions - Spanish

END OF 2^nd QUARTER PAYMENT REMINDER - Please pay outstanding fee and tuition balances by Tuesday, January 20, 2026 to avoid a report card hold.



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.

Make a Joyful Noise Competition

IT’S ALMOST TIME! BC will once again participate in the diocesan “Make a Joyful Noise” (MAJN) competition. As you may recall from the past few years, MAJN asks each school to choose a song and make a lip sync spirit video of the song. It encourages each school to get the entire student body involved in the video. We are ready and excited to share our video during Catholic Schools Week. Like last year, supporters of each school will be able to vote for their favorite video by making a donation for the school’s video. You will be able to vote for BC’s video in just over a week!

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.

The Saints Locker has openings! Please contact Mrs. Cunningham at 610-220-1583 for more information. All diocesan volunteer clearances are required for anyone wishing to volunteer in the store.

BC By the Numbers

214: Singers from across Berks County and the surrounding region hosted at BC for the District 10 PMEA Chorus Concert last week.

The Bible by the Numbers

When your wallet is empty, check out Jeremiah 29:6-8