October 2026 Newsletter

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Back to School BBQ

We are proud to share that our annual Back-to-School BBQ was a success! Families, students, and staff enjoyed a meal together, had their faces painted, played games, and listened to music. Students shared that the best part was having time to hang out with their friends outside of the school day. Thank you to everyone who helped out and joined us to kick off the school year with an afternoon full of activities.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

On September 18, we celebrated the beginning of the new school year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit. The BJP community came together to ask for God's help in guiding students through this year's theme, “Where We Walk, We Leave Our Mark.” Thank you to Fr. Thomas Benz, SJ, and concelebrants Fr. Brian Konzman, SJ and Fr. Ken Gavin, SJ, for saying Mass with us.

Hispanic Heritage Month

September commences Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. In assembly, our sixth grade students introduced this year's theme, “Unidos, Somos Más,” or “Together, We Are More,” shared facts about the month, and reflected on what the holiday means to their culture and community. O'Milia and India, 7G2, also contributed a book talk about Frida Khalo to commemorate the month. "She is an inspiration for us," says O'Milia. "She went through a lot in her lifetime, including sickness and other hardships, but persevered." India adds, "She channeled her emotions into her artwork, so others could understand what she was feeling." Please join our students and staff in celebrating all this month means for our community!

High School Fair

The high school fair is an opportunity for our 7th and 8th grade students and families to become acquainted with admissions counselors, class representatives, and BJP alumni. Over 20 institutions table at the event, sharing information regarding their school's programming and curriculum. Our students met with representatives from Cristo Rey Brooklyn, Notre Dame, Xavier, and more, asking questions like, "Do you have any study abroad programs, and what sports teams can I join?" Over the course of the year, students and families will continue exploring high school options to ensure each placement is a strong fit for every student. Thank you to the many high schools who took the time to travel to BJP and meet with our students.

Student Government

Last week, students held the 2026/2027 student government elections. Candidates gave speeches to their peers, answered questions about their running platforms, and promoted their campaigns with posters, handouts, and merchandise. Please join us in congratulating the students who campaigned for roles, and those elected!

President: Shiloh (8G)

Vice President: Tyler (8B)

Speaker: London (8G)

Secretary: Leydy (7G1)

Treasurer: O'Milia (7G2)

8th Grade Class Representative: Giovanny

7th Grade Class Representative: Dillon

6th Grade Class Representative: Ethan

5th Grade Class Representative: Dahlia

Class Spotlight: Biology

We are in the full swing of classwork and studies at BJP. This month, our fifth and seventh grade students are learning about biology and have the opportunity to work with microscopes in science class. Students joined in small groups and rotated around four different microscopes in the room, observing various live test subjects and microorganisms. Observations include, "this one has black spots" and "This organism looks a little yellow!" Ms. Lococo, our science teacher, states that students benefit from having the ability to experience science through various mediums. "The students just finished chapter one, which is about live bacterium. The class serves as a basic introduction to biology, and the microscopes are a great way for students to get a visual understanding of cells - plus they have a lot of fun!"