October 23, 2026 Volume 4 - Issue 9

Monday, 10/26

Admissions Office Parent Zoom (7:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, 10/27

Step-Up Day for 8^th Grade Future Saints

Wednesday, 10/28

Thursday, 10/29

Friday, 10/30

End of the First Quarter

Winter Sports Physicals Due

Dress for Halloween

Let Us Pray

For the needs of our brothers and sisters that through their presence in our community we may be enlightened and show our mercy.

That we may grow in love and understanding, supporting one another through life’s challenges.

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

Congratulations to

Sophomore

Leah Achenbach

Saint of the Week

Congratulations to the 79 new members of the National Honor Society (NHS) who were inducted into the Tetragrammaton Chapter of the Berks Catholic NHS on Tuesday.

Congratulations to Sophomore Franki Roberts and the Field Hockey team who were recognized with national coverage from the National Federation of High School Sports on the Field Hockey College Path weekly “Top Goals” video. Franki scored in BC’s 2-0 win last weekend against Exeter High School. You can check out the video here: FHCP: Top Goals

PIAA Girls State Golf Championship

Congratulations to Sophomore Ashley Sudderth who competed this week in the PIAA Girls’ State Golf Championship. Ashley finished 25th in the state! She is the first state qualifier and highest District 3 finisher (male or female) in BC history. She is the highest placing BC girl’s golfer of all time! Great season, Ashley!

BCIAA County Cross Country Championship



Congratulations to the Boys’ Cross Country Team who finished 4th in the BCIAA County Cross Country Championship this week. This was the best overall placement in school history for the boys as they also qualified for the District Championship. While BC finished 4th overall, they were the top AA school in the County! Further individual congratulations go to Senior Julien Scroggs who placed 6th overall and Junior Anthony Zoltack who placed 18th overall.



What's Happening

33 Days to Eucharistic Glory: Eucharistic Consecration

This week, we began with our Eucharistic Consecration as a school community. All students received two copies of the book this week. One copy is for them to keep in class. The other copy should have been brought home for your family to read. The “33 Days” book draws a distinction worth talking about at the dinner table: the difference between a tourist and a pilgrim. A tourist passes through, collecting sights. A pilgrim is going somewhere that matters and is changed along the way. Ask your child which one they would rather be, and where they think they are headed. On Tuesday, November 3rd, at 6:00 p.m., all students and families are welcome to attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour facilitated by the Live Vertical ministry at Nativity BVM High School, located in Pottsville.

End of the First Quarter

One academic quarter is done! Our first academic quarter ends next Friday, October 30th. Please encourage your Saint to finish the quarter strong academically and to complete and turn in any missing assignments.

Give Like a Saint

The BC “Give Like a Saint” Day of Giving will be held on our feast day, Sunday, November 1st (Feast of All Saints). This is a day when alumni, parents and friends of Reading Central Catholic, Holy Name and Berks Catholic can make a donation to support the BC annual fund. Every gift makes an impact. Make a donation and change the life of a current BC Saint. You can donate by Venmo, by sending in a check or by making an online donation at: Annual Fund. Our goal is $100,000.

Spam Emails/Phishing Attempt

Thank you to the parents who have notified us about the Spam emails you have received supposedly from Fr. Kuna. Please know that these are indeed fake, and Fr. Kuna would never ask you to send him money or gift cards online. We have worked with our tech specialists, and the leading theory is at some point a parent account was comprised and the phisher gathered contact info from a mass email in which the compromised parent was included. It is certainly frustrating. Latest global phishing data says that $17,000 are stolen every MINUTE due to phishing attacks. It's happening because it works! Thank you for your patience as we continue to work on this issue.

Class of 2031 Step-Up Day

We are excited to welcome our Future Saints, the Class of 2031, the 8th graders from our six partner schools, next Tuesday, October 27th. The Future Saints will visit BC and experience academic classes and lunch. They will have a prayer service and a Q & A session with Senior Saint Ambassadors. This will allow the 8th graders to get a feel for BC and to begin to understand what being a Saint is all about.

Kairos Retreat Sign-Ups

Did your Senior Saint forget to sign up for Kairos? There still may be a space for your Saint. Our fall Kairos Retreat will be taking place after school on Tuesday November 3rd until Friday, November 6th at the Malvern Retreat Center in Malvern, PA. The Kairos Retreat offers students an opportunity to step away from the busyness of daily life and reflect on their faith, friendships and their own personal journey. If your Saint has an interest, please see Mrs. Tona or Deacon Lanciano immediately. The cost of the retreat is $200. Financial aid is available. Please reach out to Mrs. Tona or Deacon Lanciano if you need financial aid or would still like to sign up.

Spring Musical News

We are excited to announce that this year’s Spring Musical production will be Camp Rock, another fun-filled production that will have you singing and toe tapping in your seats. Auditions for the show will be on Thursday, November 5th from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mark your calendars now for the performance dates: Saturday, March 6th (7:00 p.m.) and Sunday, March 7th (2:00 p.m.).

Please click on the link for Audition & Stage Crew Sign-ups: Camp Rock Sign-Ups

Halloween Costumes

Students may dress up for Halloween on Friday, October 30th. Costumes should be appropriate for a Catholic school. If there is a question about whether a costume is appropriate, then the student should NOT wear it. Costumes also need to be legitimate costumes. Students should not just come to school dressed down in sweats and sneakers and call that a costume. Prizes will be awarded for the best and most creative costumes.

Winter Dress Code

The winter dress code will go into effect on Monday, November 2nd. All students are required to wear a sweater or quarter-zip over their school uniform shirt. Female students must wear black opaque tights instead of black socks and may choose to wear a white button-down dress blouse in place of a polo shirt. Please refer to the handbook for year-long dress code policies, particularly regarding skirt length and jewelry. Male students must wear a white button-down dress shirt with all buttons, including cuffs and top button, fastened at all times. Shirts must remain tucked in, and the approved school tie, available in the school store, is required. Please review the handbook for additional year-round expectations related to belts and grooming. As we enter the colder months, let’s continue to show pride in our school by meeting and exceeding our dress code expectations.

Sign-Off Forms

Students who have not yet submitted their Consent/Agreement Form will be given a copy to take home for completion and signature. This form is required for every student by the Diocese and must be kept on file by all high schools, as mandated by the Office of Education.

Please complete and return the signed form to the Main Office as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in ensuring that all required documentation is submitted.

College Counseling – Return on Investment (ROI)

One of the many advantages when you attend Berks Catholic is working with the College and Career Counseling staff. Our counselors have established 35 agreements, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), with colleges and universities that guarantee admission and scholarship money when a Saint meets certain admissions requirements. Seniors should carefully consider if one of our MOU schools could be the place for them next fall. For instance, a student with a 3.25-4.0 GPA applying to Hood College (MD) would qualify for a $33,000-$35,000 scholarship ($132,000-$140,000 over four years). A Saint with a 3.5-4.0 GPA applying to Duquesne University would qualify for 10% off tuition scholarship which would be $4,900 for this coming year (resulting in at least $18,000 over four years). There are more college agreements that are currently being negotiated by our counselors. That’s quite an ROI for our Saints and their families! These agreements recognize the academic rigor and college preparedness provided at BC to each Saint. Our college counselors are available to answer any questions you might have about these MOUs. Find more information here: College Partnership Schools - Berks Catholic High School



College Visits Next Week

• October 26th: None
• October 27th: John Carroll University (OH)
• October 28th: None
• October 29th: Loyola University of Maryland
• October 30th: California University of PA

News from the Tuition Office

End of the First Quarter Reminder: Please ensure your STS account is paid up to date. This includes your Tuition Payment Plan AND your Incidental Invoices for fees. Some families still have outstanding balances for the 2026-2027 Course Selection Fee, Technology Fee, Activity Fee, Graduation Fee and device or textbook replacement. Please make payment towards past due balances by October 31st 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.

RaiseRight Scrip Gift Cards – Tuition Benefit

Do you shop at Dairy Queen, Nordstrom, DSW or Petco? Don’t miss out on an easy way to reduce your tuition. Do you know some families save several hundreds of dollars on tuition each year by participating in the RaiseRight Gift Card Program? By purchasing gift cards to these and other businesses you use every day, you can reduce your tuition. See the flyer for more details.

The Gift Within: A Women’s Advent Retreat 

Women of the Diocese are invited to join the Bishop’s Commission for Women and the Catholic Women’s Society of Giving for “A Women’s Advent Retreat” on Saturday, December 12th, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Allentown. Spend a morning preparing your heart for Christmas as retreatants contemplate Mary, the Ark of the Covenant and reflect on the virtues of our Blessed Mother and how you can offer your unique gifts to God and draw others into His presence.

The retreat will feature guest speaker Dr. Carmina Chapp, Ph.D., Catholic theologian, educator, and Dean of the School of Theological Studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. The morning will conclude with Mass celebrated by Bishop Schlert. The cost is $15 per person, including a continental breakfast. Register and view the flyer at:  The Gift Within: A Women's Advent Retreat