BI Word - March 2026

THE BI-WORD Vol. 6 March 2026

Bishop Burbidge Leads with Faith Pg. 3

Spotlight on Women Leaders Pg. 4-5

Student Successes Pg. 11, 13, 14

Find the Cardinal, Win a Prize Pg. 2

Meet the Staff Angela Ciatti Sophomore, Editor-In-Chief

Natalie Drey Junior, Managing Editor

Eden Boyd Junior, Senior Columnist

Madison Ingram Junior, Senior Columnist

Benjamin Smith Junior, Senior Columnist

Abby Stump Junior, Senior Columnist

Khaliq Carson Senior, Columnist

Silas Devonish Senior, Columnist

James Jennings Junior, Columnist

Liz Joyner Junior, Columnist

Sophia Larose Sophomore, Columnist

Joe Subasavage Sophomore, Columnist

Thank you for reading, Cardinals!

Before you start reading this edition of the BI Word we wanted to remind you that we are still doing Find the Cardinal, Win A Prize!

Remember the rules: If you find the Cardinal (shown below) within this issue, email Mrs. Royle at beth.royle@bishopireton.org, before 3:05 on 4/1, say where you found it, and our staff will pick the winning name out of a hat for a Ireton surprise! ind f o t r e b Remem e to find th nal. i d r a C t c corre in a h t i w t o n It is e to r u s e b ; o log ne find the o below.

Congrats to Ms. Anastasia Vestermark, Assistant Librarian for winning the February Find the Cardinal, Win a Prize!

Bishop Burbidge on cambridge road By: Liz joyner

Bishop Burbidge made his annual spring trip to Cambridge Road to visit the Bishop Ireton Cardinals. The Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington visited with students and faculty in and out of classrooms. He enjoyed Theology teacher Mr. Joseph Jacobeen’s Apologetics class and learned about Mr. Garrett Fabacher’s AP Art History class’ field trip to New York City to put art into action by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He even made a surprise appearance in Ms. Beth Royle’s Broadcasting class! Mrs. Royle said it was a “delight” to spend that time with the Bishop. He shared how important the role of communication is because it is a chance to spread the word of the Lord with others. Bishop Burbidge enjoys hosting his Podcast, “Walk Humbly,” because he is able to “offer the Catholic perspective on the most recent events taking place in the world.” He shared a timely anecdote with the class, too. In one of his short radio segments, he referred to the March Madness basketball tournament as “one and done” meaning you lose and you are out. But, he emphasized that “with God, we are never done. He is always with us.” The fact that Bishop Burbidge spends such meaningful time with the students and leaves them with uplifting messages is one of the many reasons everyone looks forward to his visits.

Bishop Burbidge was also able to meet with the seniors from our spring musical Hello, Dolly!

Mirabelle Brantley, Co-Props-Masters, shared that she “really enjoyed the Bishop Burbidge visit” and how the theater department “talked with him about everything to do with the show” which included an “impromptu singing [of ] “Put on Your Sunday Clothes!” Mirabelle even said that “BI is the only diocesan school to ‘make him a cardinal’ as a result of a gift given to him by the Director of Theater Arts, Ms. Katie Rice, which consisted of some BI swag! The Bishop remarked that “he always loves the shows at Bishop Ireton” and gave the cast a blessing prior to opening night.

One of the highlights of his day was visiting the students in the options program. Junior Sage Duskie-Billen and her peer mentor, junior Elizabeth Bresett, shared the fact that Sage was making her debut in Hello, Dolly! Sage was one of the policewomen and she loved being able to tell Bishop Burbidge about her role.

It’s always a good day to be a Cardinal and on this day, it was a great day to be visited by the Bishop. Ms. Jennifer Grubb, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, says it best: “It is always a joy to welcome Bishop Burbidge to Bishop Ireton, especially in the spring when he can see the school and spend time with the seniors. His visit means so much to our students and whole community.”

Looking BACK Looking BACK & & MOVING FORW MOVING FORWARD ARD By: Sophia Larose

March is Women’s History Month where women are celebrated for the important role they played in American history. It is a time where women look back on the past while moving into the future by honoring those who came before them and empowering those who will come after them. Women, like Susan B. Anthony and Sally Ride, who fought for women’s rights and gender equality, deserve to be honored. It is a time when we reflect on what many before us have achieved while looking to those who will keep lighting the way.

At Bishop Ireton, the light is shining bright. From Head of School, Ms. Kathleen McNutt, to Ms. Lori Whitley, the Assistant Dean of Students, to Ms. Cara Guzik, the Facilities Services Manager, to countless others, the female Cardinals in charge are the embodiment of Ireton’s motto: Advance Always.

Ms. Kathleen McNutt Head of School

Ms. Lori Whitley Assistant Dean of Students

Ms. Cara Guzik Facilities Services Manager

Every successful woman has her own personal journey and experiences that shape her as a person and other aspects of her life and Mrs. McNutt is no different. She attributes a lot of her success to hard work, dedication, and the passion of her mentors. She points to her own mother as her biggest inspiration, especially when it comes to advocating for what’s right. “She was not shy in speaking her mind,” says McNutt and that is an important lesson for women to learn so their voices are heard. Her strong faith also shaped her into the person and leader she is today. Mrs. McNutt shares her spiritual connection to her work: “I see my work in education - in particular Catholic education - as my vocation.” This kept her motivated through tough times as she looked inward and upward: “There is great motivation to be doing what God is calling me to do.”

Maintaining a strong connection to those around you is essential to leadership. Mrs. McNutt believes that “remaining connected to those people that you are serving” is the best advice she can give to the younger generation. She hopes they see that in order to become the best version of yourself, you must learn from others as she has done with personal role models such as her mom, and spiritual guides like Mother Teresea. Mrs. McNutt looks to Mother Teresa for inspiration because she was an exceptional woman and “she was this amazing communicator - she respectfully but firmly shared the message we must take care of everyone;” an ideology McNutt brings to her role as the Head of School, as a wife, a mother, a daughter and a sister.

Mrs. McNutt’s journey from student to teacher to Principal to the Head of School at Bishop Ireton is a great example of how hard work and perseverance are keys to one’s success. Being a woman is not a disadvantage. Being a woman with high visibility is the chance to serve, learn, grow, and lift others up.

Mrs. McNutt touches on her experiences as a woman climbing the corporate ladder. She emphasizes maintaining a work-life balance. When asked about her biggest challenge she answered: “My biggest challenge was taking care of my family, and keeping up in my own world - which was the world of education.” It is a balance many women juggle, but Mrs. McNutt believes she rose to the challenge and works at it every day.

Mother Tersea

On the Path to Easter: H o w We C a n P r e p a r e By: Angela Ciatti Cardinals, we are more than halfway done with Lent. How’s it going? Maybe your Lenten plans have gone exactly the way you wanted them to, or maybe you need a bit of redirection and recommitment. Do not worry if you are part of the latter category- there is still time to prepare your heart for Jesus’ Resurrection at Easter! As we journey closer and closer to Easter, we also get closer to the week leading up to His Resurrection: Holy Week.

The norms of Lent and Holy Week can get a bit confusing sometimes, so, if you are feeling lost, read on to know how to best observe this week and be ready to celebrate His Passion and Resurrection.

Palm Sunday, which falls on March 29 this year, commemorates Jesus’ joyous entry into Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. At Mass on this day, the readings are about Jesus’ Passion and Catholics hold blessed palm branches symbolizing the welcoming crowd that laid these branches at His feet as He entered on a donkey into Jerusalem.

Just four days later, the Church celebrates Holy Thursday. On the night before Jesus was to suffer and die, He celebrated His last meal with his closest disciples. He washed their feet and gave us His Body and Blood through the Eucharist; not as a symbol, but to prove that He truly wants to live in our hearts even after He is gone.

On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ passion and death. It might seem ironic that the day that the Savior of the World suffered and died is called “good,” but this is because on this day, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). On Good Friday, through the suffering, torment, and pain that our Lord had to endure, He opened the gates of Heaven for us so that one day, we can be with Him for eternity. Many parishes hold Good Friday Services and Stations of the Cross, especially during the time of 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., the hours Jesus was nailed to the cross.

Before the joyous season of Easter, there is one more day of waiting and sacrifice - Holy Saturday. This last day of Lent is spent preparing for Easter and the Resurrection of Christ.

As we grow nearer to Holy Week and the celebration of one of the holiest days in the church year, let us consider what we can do to enter into Jesus’ passion with Him and be ready to welcome Him into our hearts at Easter.

Most Asked Question about Lent: What’s the deal with meat on Fridays?

In recognition of Friday as the day of the crucifixion, canon law calls for abstinence from eating meat on all Fridays of the year (see Canon 1251). The bishops of the United States have determined that outside of the Fridays of Lent, Catholics may choose to substitute another penance that is particularly meaningful to them, although they continue to recommend abstinence on all Fridays for Catholics.

Abstinence from meat is required for all Catholics age fourteen and older and has no upper age limit.

Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays.

Man on the Street: What Cardinals are Doing to Prepare for Easter

Christina Ciatti, ‘29 “I gave up sweets for Lent.”

Anna Collins, ‘28 “I made a resolution to dedicate at least one thing to God each day.”

Beckett Engelhardt, ‘26 “For this Lent Luke Sparrow and I both gave up processed sugars.”

Reagan Kaleta, ‘26 “I deleted Instagram for Lent.”

James Hess, ‘29 “I have been waking up 30 minutes earlier than normal and doing a devotion and praying to start the day.”

Bernadette Phan, ‘27 “For Lent, I’m doing more chores for my parents so they have less to do around the house and I’m praying more and journaling more.”

Zach Moeller, ‘28 “I gave up Instagram for Lent.”

Ryan Fannon, ‘27 “I gave up Ice Cream.”

at BI!

Celebrating Culture By: Madison Ingram

Celebrating different cultures is important because it helps show others something they may know nothing about. And the Bishop Ireton Cultural Fair does just that! Here at BI, we show diversity all around campus, but especially on this day! This celebration of cultures is made possible by our Director of Diversity, Ms. Gabrielle Baniqued, who explained that the cultural fair is “an annual school-wide event where students can share the gift of their cultural heritage with their school community.” She expressed the importance of having this time implemented in our school because “students are the ones who asked for it!

The existence of the Cultural Fair would not have been possible without students asking for it, and the continuation of the event depends on students participating in it, whether by running or visiting the booths.” Ms. Baniqued hopes this year’s fair has a domino effect and “that students who don't see their culture represented are inspired to host a booth next year!” If you’re feeling up for it, make a booth and represent! I had the privilege of interviewing a variety of booth hosts and assistants, who told me about their culture and why it is so important to them.

“So I'm from Bangladesh, and I'm “I’m representing Italy. My favorite representing Bengali culture. There's part about my culture is my family so many things to choose from. It's so and the people in general. They're so hard to just say one, but I would happy and fun and loud, very loud, have to say our music, our food.” like me and the food is delicious!”

- Elijah Amond ‘27 - Isabella Lascialfare ‘27

“I’m Vietnamese. I feel like it’s just good to be aware of other cultures and you know, try new things!”

- Bernadette Phan ‘27

“My country is Tanzania. The main takeaway of my culture is how it brings families together and how different tribes unite together.”

- Noreen Njau ‘27

“Our culture is African/Caribbean American. We’ve gone through a lot “My culture is Filipino culture. We of struggle, but we’re bonded by love love to make food, and eat. We love to sing! We are amazing and we love and God. There’s been so much Jesus!” division in the Caribbean, but now - Mr. Mark Patubo, Science Teacher we can be united!” - McKinleigh Rountree ‘27, Alani Henning ‘27

Irish American Heritage Month By: Abby Stump

Irish American Heritage Month is celebrated in March and honors the history, culture, and contributions of Irish immigrants in the United States. It is a time to learn about how many Irish people came to America, especially during the 1800s, and how they worked hard to build new lives despite facing discrimination and poverty. Irish Americans have had a big impact on American society, including in politics, labor movements, and culture. At Bishop Ireton, the students participated in the annual Cultural Fair where Ireland was proudly represented by the Irish American Club. The students shared that learning about Irish culture is important because it helps others understand the challenges immigrants faced and how different cultures have shaped the country. Overall, Irish American Heritage Month reminds us to appreciate diversity and recognize the role Irish Americans have played in U.S. history.

“I love being able to share the culture of Ireland and connect with others of Irish heritage.”

-Adelie Lupo, ‘26

“I wish there were more sheep and open fields and castles (in America). I would also love it if there were more Irish fashion like kilts.”

-Pierce Aldridge, ‘26

“I love corned beef on St. Patty’s day. St. Patrick’s day has always been fun.”

-Mrs. Victoria Eichler, Fine Arts Teacher

Hello, Dolly! - A match made in Heaven!

Interview with Technical Director Ms. Arianna Tilley By: Natalie Drey with contributions by Silas Devonish

On March 20, 2026, Bishop Ireton premiered its spring musical Hello, Dolly!, created and performed by the talented Bishop Ireton Theatre Arts Department (BITA) students. It was a packed house for its performances with lines going out the door on some days!

For anyone interested in this grand musical, our BI Word staff reporter Silas Devonish reached out to Ms. Arianna Tilley, the Technical Director of Hello, Dolly!, with some questions.

Ms. Tilley and all the students involved in the production of Hello, Dolly! want to emphasize the hard work, time, dedication, and effort put into this musical and wish for all students to bring their family and friends to see this marvelous production.

How long is it going to last?

“Our Production of Hello, Dolly! runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

However, do not be alarmed by the amount of time you are in the theater.

Hello, Dolly! is fast-paced and full of high-energy dance numbers, fun songs, and laughter.”

What is Hello, Dolly! about?

“Hello, Dolly! is a comedy that centers on a true “jack of all trades,” Dolly Gallagher Levi. Dolly is a charming matchmaker who always seems to know everyone’s business - and how to fix any situation into their favor.

Do you like doing plays or musicals better?

“Honestly, it depends on the show. I love working on shows that lend themselves to a lot of creativity, both onstage and offstage. This BITA season has been just that! Every team in our department (Cast, Crew, Costumes, Scenic Art, Props, Dramaturgy, Marketing & Publicity, etc.) has been able to design and create extraordinary things. Watching them succeed in their endeavors is the true gift of being Tech Director, no matter the show.”

When business tycoon and money-obsessed millionaire Horace Vandergelder hires Dolly to find him a wife, Dolly secretly decides his perfect match might actually be… herself.

Meanwhile, Horace’s niece is in a “Romeo and Juliet” style romance (without the death!), and Horace’s employees sneak off to New York City for adventure and accidentally fall in love.

There are twists and turns for every relationship in this show.

But through all the chaos and Dolly’s mischievous plans, the show showcases the power of love and how life is brighter and better when you have someone to share it with.”

End of Winter Season Basketball highlights By: Joe Subasavage The Ireton Cardinals finished the winter season strong. Congratulations to the girl’s basketball team for winning the VISAA state championship! A three-peat for the record books! And Coach Kesha Walton was named the VISAA Coach of the Year. She is honored for the recognition and gives full credit to her team and coaches. In an interview with the Alexandria Times, Coach Kesha explained her thoughts about the season: “I had to convince them to trust the process. We built from the bottom up. It took a while but each player learned how to be a good teammate.”

The boy’s basketball team had the most winning season in school history finishing with a strong 19-12 record which is the best record (most wins in a season) in school history. Senior Silas Devonish made Ireton history by becoming the alltime male leading scorer for the Cardinals. He credits God and his family. “When I first got the message, it didn't really kick in. But, it took some self-reflection, and I feel good about myself because the accomplishments you can see is proof of putting in the work ever since I was a little kid until now so I am pretty happy about myself." He has been named to the first team VISAA and second team for the WCAC. After the exciting ending on the basketball court, spring sports are in full-swing.

Good luck to everyone playing!

IS YOUR MARCH MADNESS BRACKET BUSTED? SO IS EVERYONE ELSE’S! By: Khaliq Carson

Cardinals' March Madness Picks 2026 Howard

University of Arizona

Texas Tech

UNC

UVA

Florida

Michigan

Duke Georgia

Houston

UConn

Arkansas

Villanova

Alabama

High Point

Purdue

Arkansas

Hofstra

Vanderbilt

University of Arizona

Houston Michigan

Duke

March Madness is always exciting to watch simply because you never know what is going to happen. The tournament is notorious for having all kinds of upsets and twists we never expected. This year March Madness has truly lived up to its name, bringing shocking upsets and unexpected outcomes that have ruined brackets across the country. According to the Associated Press (AP), “there are zero perfect NCAA Tournament brackets left among the millions that entered in ESPN's bracket challenge.” The odds of creating a perfect bracket is nearly impossible, ranging from 1 in 9.2 quintillion for random guesses to about 1 in 120 billion even with some actual basketball knowledge. So no worries, if your bracket is already busted. You're definitely not alone and there's always next year!

Here at BI, the Cardinals have been tuned in and locked into following the madness closely. And some of their predictions show some clear favorites. Duke, University of Arizona and Houston are fan favorites with Michigan and Arkansas receiving a little bit of love and home-town UVA getting some looks. Other powerhouse teams like Florida, UConn, and UNC had a handful of votes, showing a bit of diversity among the student body and staff.

Of course, not every pick has worked out. I mean, even Mrs. Royle’s choice of Florida has already been busted out of the running. But that's just part of what makes this tournament so exciting; anything can and will happen, and no one's bracket is safe. As the tournament continues, Cardinals will be watching closely to see if their top picks still in the running can survive the madness and come out on top.

Model UN Successes!

By: Eden Boyd The Bishop Ireton Model UN team recently competed at the Virginia Tech Conference in Blacksburg and came back with a win! BI received the top award for its size when named "Best Small Delegation.” Each team member demonstrated strong diplomatic and problem-solving skills while working in committees tackling international maternal health issues, national emergency operations, pop star security, and the Spiderman multiverse.

In addition to the team award, four students received individual recognition: Quentin Lisecki '26, Lorelei Burns '27 and Bella Palomino '27 were each selected as the Outstanding Delegate in their committee, and Daniel Santillan '26 received an Honorable Mention. The team was accompanied by Dr. Tom Cross and Ms. Gabrielle Baniqued. Congratulations to all!

ON THE MAP! SOPHOMORE GOING TO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE By: Angela Ciatti Dr. Tom Cross, one of Bishop Ireton's history teachers, led the inaugural Geography Bee! Ten students entered and sophomore James Feeley came out on top. He has the chance to compete with other top school champions from around the country at the 2026 National Geography Bee in Cambridge, Massachusetts in May. Good luck, James!

Two BI Art Students Honored with Awards By: James Jennings

1st Place Winner Kolby Curry ‘27

3rd Place winner Campbell Taylor, ‘26

Last month at Episcopal High School in the Angie Newman Johnson Gallery, over 30 talented artists competed for awards over the week-long event. Featured at this event was a range of different art pieces including paintings, ceramics, photography, sculptures, drawings and more. Two students from Bishop Ireton were honored with awards for their art.

Junior Kolby Curry won 1st place and senior Campbell Taylor won 3rd place in the overall ceramics division at the Alexandria All-City High School Art Exhibition.

Congratulations to these students as well as everyone else who participated in the event.

Kolby Curry was pleasantly surprised by her first place finish.

“It felt really satisfying to win because I spent so much time and effort on my piece. I would not have previously considered myself to be a very artistic person, so it came as a bit of a shock that someone else thought my piece was good enough to be entered into a show, let alone win.” Curry channeled her family when producing her art: “My piece was inspired by my mom because her favorite animals are turtles and she loves the outdoors. Additionally my whole family loves nature and we live out in the sticks, so it seemed pretty logical to make a piece about something that I have a bit of knowledge on to make it somewhat anatomically correct.”

Campbell Taylor responds similarly saying that “it felt really nice to be recognized after putting so much effort into my work. Winning the art show gave me a greater appreciation for my artwork.” Her artwork, a ceramic mango piece, was “bright and colorful” and she “also wanted a challenge…by blending the colors to see if I could achieve an ombre effect.”

Congratulations to these two artists on a job well-done!

We’re almost to Spring Break, Cardinals!