January 12, 2024 Volume 1 - Issue 18

The State qualifiers include: Alex Avram ’24 - Business Services Marketing; Alexis Border ’24 - Apparel & Accessories Marketing; Benjamin Cunningham ’24 - Business Law & Ethics Team Decision Making; Alex Davis ’24 - Retail Merchandising; Emilio DeCarlo ’27 - Restaurant and Food Service Management; Madeline Frisina ’24 - Apparel & Accessories Marketing; Jillian Huntley ’27 - Food Marketing; Isabella Logozzo ’25 - Marketing Communications; Paisley Lutz ’24 - Apparel & Accessories Marketing; Abigail McNeil ’24 - Personal Financial Literacy; Amado Morales ’25 - Financial Services Team Decision Making; Paige Munley ’24 - Marketing Management Team Decision Making; Andy Nguyen ’26 - Financial Services Team Decision Making; Brayan Olivares ’24 - Quick Serve Restaurant Management; Marianna Ott ’24 - Food Marketing; Claire Pakradooni ’24 - Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Nicola Polinsky ’24 - Human Resources Management; Jasmine Soto ’24 - Hotel and Lodging Management; Carly Stuckert ’24 - Food Marketing; Lizmarie Vega ’24 - Business Law & Ethics Team Decision Making; Noah Newswanger '25 - Travel and Tourism; Jack Krajsa '25 - Travel and Tourism; Grace Witmer ‘24 - Marketing Management Team Decision Making.



Congratulations to Boys Basketball Coach Snip Esterly who won his 800th game last Thursday against Daniel Boone High School. This win puts him in elite company both statewide and nationwide. In his 34 years as a Head Coach (Berks Catholic 13th season/2011-2023 and Reading Central Catholic High School 22 seasons/1989-2011), Coach Esterly has amassed three 30 Win seasons and twenty-six 20 Win seasons. He has won 26 Division Championships; 8 Berks County Championships; 14 PIAA District 3 Championships; and 1 PIAA State Championship in 2007. He has been selected Coach of the Year eight different times. Congratulations, Coach Esterly – 800 wins and counting! Read more here: Snip Esterly earns 800th career win as Berks Catholic defeats Daniel Boone in boys high school basketball (readingeagle.com)



What’s Happening

Pope Francis on the Epiphany

Recently, Pope Francis shared some thoughts on the Epiphany in America Magazine. He encouraged Catholic to “find God in flesh and bone, in the faces of those we meet each day.” To read the entire article, click here: Pope Francis on Epiphany: ‘Let us find God in flesh and bone, in the faces of those we meet each day.’ | America Magazine

Martin Luther King Holiday

The Marting Luther King holiday on Monday, January 15th is a holiday for all students. Teachers and staff will participate in a professional development workshop at school.

Catholic Schools Week

Preparations are being made at school to celebrate Catholic Schools Week (CSW). CSW is a time to appreciate and celebrate all the incredible things that Catholic schools offer their students and their families. During this week, we highlight our academics, spiritual life and some fun activities to celebrate this important time. On Sunday, January 28th, 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 good people. Catholic schools teach students the importance of community and how together we can make the world a better place. Stay tuned for our CSW calendar which will be emailed home next week.

FAFSA Application Update

As a follow up to Mr. Ditsky’s Sunday College Counseling email, Senior families are reminded that the FAFSA Application is now open and live for the 2024-25 academic year. Application information as well as deadlines for applying for aid from Pennsylvania can be found by clicking the links below:

•      https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
•    https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines

Inclement Weather Policy

Each year we remind families of how we communicate during inclement weather. Forecasting the weather for school closures is not an easy task. Our community is large enough that snow may accumulate on one area and not in other areas. Berks Catholic puts a great deal of time and effort into determining whether to keep schools open, start late or close due to inclement weather. A decision will be made by 6:00 a.m., when conditions are stable enough to make the announcement the night before, we will do so.

Berks Catholic will report all school schedule changes to the local news media, BC social media, BC website and One Call.

Please click on the link for a copy of our Inclement Weather Policy

The Bible by the Numbers



When the world seems bigger than God, check out Psalm 90.