December 1, 2023 Volume 1 - Issue 14 |
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Dear Saint Families and Friends:
“Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we are beginning invites us to pause to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us signs of the attention he has for each of us.”
-Pope Benedict XVI
Greetings from Berks Catholic! Happy Advent! Do you remember when you were a little child at this time of year? Christmas at that age seemed like light years away. For me, the anticipation and waiting were so difficult. Now, the exact opposite for me is true. My thought at this age is always, “Will I be ready?”
As we prepare for the birth of the Christ Child and for a joyous Christmas, I invite you to put aside the expected hustle & bustle and set expectations that will bring you and others to our Lord. As Advent brings us hope, we can transform that hope into actions and experiences that helps us encounter Christ more fully. So, pause this Advent season and enjoy the presence of Christ each day even if it’s just for a moment. That small moment could make a huge difference. Have a great weekend.
It’s a great day to be a Saint!
John Petruzzelli
Principal
610-374-8361 ext. 253
Email: jpetruzzelli@berkscatholic.org
Twitter: jpetrobcsaints
Instagram: john.petruzzelli.9
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The Week Ahead
Monday, 12/4
Tuesday, 12/5
Wednesday, 12/6
Happy St. Nicholas Day
13 Days of Christmas Gift Give-Away Begins
NHS Dress Down ($2)
Shelter Drill
Thursday, 12/7
Circle of Grace presentations
Friday, 12/8
Mass of the Immaculate Conception
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Let Us Pray…
- For St. Peter School, one of our amazing partner schools, that God blesses them with his guidance and a love to learn new things every school day.
- As we conclude the liturgical year, may we rejoice in the countless blessings God has bestowed on us and look forward with patient hope for the New Year of grace beginning with the Advent season on Sunday.
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to Senior
Arabella Smith
who was named this week's
Saint of the Week!
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Bad Dad Thanksgiving Joke
Congratulations to Junior Sasha Schaeffer who answered the Bad Dad Thanksgiving Joke before break and won a Dunkin Donuts gift card.
2023-2024 Fall All Stars
Congratulations to our fall sports All Stars. Please click the link to view the individual sports and students recognized. Please note, we have not received notification yet for Water Polo All Stars. We will include them in a future Black and Gold Report once they are announced.
2023-2024 Fall All Stars
World Kindness Day
We received the following message of thanks from the St. Ignatius Parish Food Pantry: Can you please extend a warm thank you to all of the faculty, students and families at Berks Catholic for their donations to the St Ignatius food pantry. We sincerely appreciate your generosity and kindness from your World Kindness Day project. With your help, we are restocking our shelves in preparation for the upcoming winter season. Many thanks! Great job, Saints!
PTO Faculty Breakfast
Thank you to the Junior parents who made a donation to the PTO Faculty Breakfast this past Wednesday. Your treats were delicious and very much appreciated by the faculty and staff. Also, to Mary Gray for volunteering to help during the breakfast.
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Christmas Dance
Thank you to the parents and students who assisted with the Christmas Dance last Sunday by serving on the Dance Committee. A special thanks to the PTO and the Boosters who purchased tickets to be given away in our student dance raffle. It was an incredible evening. The students had a great time. For planning purposes, put the Sunday after Thanksgiving on your calendar for next year’s Christmas Dance!
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What's Happening
School Mass
Our next school mass will be on Friday, December 8th for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the Franco-Post Auditorium. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend. Please sign in at the Main Office upon arrival for Mass.
Circle of Grace Presentations
Earlier this week, you received an email about the diocese’s child protection catechesis, called Circle of Grace. On Thursday, December 7th, Fr. Kuna and Deacon Lanciano will give presentations for our students as part of the yearly education of diocesan students. These presentations will focus on dignity and respect for one’s body, appropriate boundaries and awareness of child protection topics, including online safety and grooming. These grade-appropriate modules are designed for K through 12 students and include information and resources for parents.
As a reminder, if you would like your student to opt out of this presentation so that you can address these important topics as a family, please inform us by emailing sperez@berkscatholic.org. Please include your student’s name and grade. If you have any questions about the Circle of Grace program or child protection catechesis in the Diocese of Allentown, please feel free to contact Fr. Kuna at mkuna@berkscatholic.org. The safety of our students is always our top priority, and we hope you will take advantage of the parental resources included with the curriculum.
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Join in on the Ho-Ho-Holiday fun and come visit Santa Claus on Saturday, December 16th from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the McGlinn Commons. The event is open to all future Saints. Enjoy snacks, play some games, read some stories, and, of course, meet the big guy, Santa himself! It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! | |  |
Our National Honor Society is collecting money to purchase new toys for Community Prevention Partnership and Catholic Charities. Toys will be distributed to local families in need to help them have a happy and merry Christmas. Money will be collected during lunch periods from Tuesday, November 28th to Wednesday, December 6th. We will also be having a Christmas-themed Dress Down Day on Wednesday December 6th. The minimum cost is $2. Additionally, if you would like to donate new toys, they can be brought in to school from Tuesday, November 28th to Wednesday, December 6th and dropped off in Ms. Fromuth’s or Mr. Latchum’s classroom. | | |
We invite you to attend our celebration of the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ at our Christmas Vesper Prayer Service. Vespers will take place on Sunday, December 17th at 3:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church located at 740 Cherry Street in West Reading. Christmas Vespers tells the story of Advent through music, prayers and readings from Sacred Scripture in the tradition of lessons and carols. The music portion of the Christmas Vespers features the Berks Catholic Saints Honor Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Kate Bobb, with accompaniment by Ms. Beverly McDevitt. Admission is free and open to the public. | | |
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Our Music program will be holding an Instrumental Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 19th at 6:00 p.m. in the Franco-Post Auditorium. Admission is free and the concert will feature the instrumental music students. Please take some time out of your busy Christmas schedule to come relax for some Christmas cheer.
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Dean of Students Report
Here are a few reminders from Mr. Ricco, Dean of Students:
In our continued effort to keep our students healthy and safe, I wanted to share the following link with information about vaping and ways in which you can address it or identify it our students:
American Academy of Pediatrics Link
I encourage you to take a moment to talk with your student about the dangers of vaping and please feel free to call me if you need assistance with starting that conversation. I am happy to assist you in any way possible to make sure we continue to create a safe and healthy environment for our saints every day.
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The Bible by the Numbers
- For Jesus’ idea of a Christian, check out Matthew 5.
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Social Media
Did you see our posts this week about our Christmas Dance? 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.
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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.
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