Saturday Program
On October 18th, we held our first Saturday program of the year! This month's activities included pumpkin painting. We're grateful to journalist Julie Bourbon for her recent coverage of our program on the Jesuits' website. The article was inspired by what a U.S. surgeon general termed an "epidemic of loneliness." Our Saturday Program offers students a space to come together on weekends. Participants engage in academic work and seasonal activities in a cell phone-free environment, which encourages deeper connections among peers. Read more here. Saturdays at BJP are instrumental for establishing community. We're so grateful to all the volunteers who helped us execute a meaningful day for our students.
Trunk or Treat
At BJP, our goal is to provide safe, enjoyable experiences for our students during every celebration. We're grateful to our teachers, families, and students for their participation in this year's "trunk or treat" activities. Every homeroom worked on a theme and poster that they would present to their peers. Our fifth grade class, pictured above, dressed as the 101 Dalmatians. Then parents joined us in our cafeteria to celebrate with our kids, handing out candy, building on the themes of their students' classes, and celebrating together before the close of the week. We were excited to see everyone's unique take on the theme, some of which included Men in Black, Toy Story, and Spongebob Squarepants. It was a fun close to the month!
Stomp Out Bullying Initiatives
We are incredibly proud of our ability to offer our students a comprehensive counseling program. Our school counselor, Ms. Doino, works hard to provide students with guidance on tough topics. This month, we raised awareness on bullying. Stomp Out Bullying educates and encourages students on what to do when facing situations that involve bullying. Whether they are bystanders or subjects, our kids need to know what resources are available to them. The best way to foster safety is to work together, lead with kindness, and help your peers. Our goal is to help eliminate fear and encourage students to speak up.
Principal's Appreciation Month
Our students and faculty continue to find ways to bring warmth to Ms. Antonio's first year as principal. For this year's Principal Appreciation Month, our school came together to present posters thanking Ms. Antonio for her support as a leader. As we enter a month of gratitude, it's important to find ways to remind members of our community that they are appreciated. We're consistently proud of our students for their grace and for recognizing others for their hard work. We are also so grateful to Ms. Antonio for all she has done at our school thus far. We look forward to the rest of her first year and are grateful for the chance to celebrate her.
Fall Open House
Throughout his tenure, our Director of Admissions, Mr. Carlos Ventura, has led our recruitment and enrollment efforts and expanded his reach to more neighborhoods, schools, and families. This year, that meant enrolling 100 total students, which is our highest number yet! Part of what makes his efforts so successful is that he starts recruiting earlier in the school year, including at our fall open house. At this event, we welcome prospective families for a tour and the opportunity to meet current students and families. Joining us at school helps families to picture their students within our walls while learning more about our school's programming. We're excited to meet next year's cohort of new students!
Students of the Month
Each month, we award four students with a certificate that celebrates their abilities to embody core values of our school. We are proud of our Students of the Month for October 2025! Mikaella, Yan, Payton, and Arianny were awarded for their roles as Upstanders, which refers to a student's ability to step in during situations that can lead to bullying. As part of our Stomp Out Bullying initiatives, we taught students to recognize various signs of bullying. While it's sometimes uncomfortable to speak up, these four students showed an ability to advocate for their peers gracefully.
