THE BI-WORD Vol. 2 October 2026
Feel that Cardinal Spirit! The Introductions Continue! pg. 3-5
Spirit Week Rewind pg. 6-8
From Assistant Dean of Students to Author pg. 9-10
Find the Cardinal, Win a Prize Pg. 2
Meet the Staff
Angela Ciatti Junior, Editor-In-Chief
Liz Joyner Senior, Managing Editor
Elena Kokinda Junior, Senior Editor
Reporters Front Row, L-R: Elena Kokinda, ‘28, Angela Ciatti, ’28, Cora Croson, ‘29, Emma Salisbury, ‘29, Meredith Barker, ‘29, Andie Francis, ‘28, Matthew Mendoza, ‘27 Back Row, L-R: Arthur Stirewalt, ‘29, Ryan Fannon, ‘27, Sarah Ramirez, ‘27, Maddie Brown, ‘27, Mary Silis, ‘29, McKenna Flaaen, ‘29, Michael Metzgar, ‘29, Izabella Hernandez, ‘29, Liz Joyner, ‘27, Sam Dyck, ‘28, Christopher Saint-Cyr, ‘28, Will Carlson, ‘29
Welcome Back, Cardinals! Before you start reading this edition of the BI Word, we wanted to remind you that we are doing Find the Cardinal, Win A Prize! Remember the rules: Find the Cardinal (shown below) within this issue, email Mrs. Royle at beth.royle@bishopireton.org, before 3:05 on 10/30, say where you found it, and our staff will pick the winning name out of a hat for an Ireton surprise! Good luck and thanks for reading, Cardinals! Just remember to find the correct Cardinal. It is not within the logo; be sure to find the one below.
Congrats to McKenzie Brown ‘27 for winning the first “Find the Cardinal, Win a Prize” of the school year!
Welcome, New Staff! By: Christopher Saint-Cyr, Mary Silis, Matthew Mendoza, McKenna Flaaen, and Will Carlson
Meet Ms. Katie Scolese What is it like having been a student at BI now stepping into this role? “Returning to campus initially felt a bit surreal, especially transitioning to calling former teachers by their first names! Even so, having walked these halls as a student has been so helpful in this new position. It is really cool to see how the school has changed while still maintaining familiar, beloved traditions. Stepping into this position has been so deeply rewarding because I can truly relate to what the kids are going through. Sitting where they sat not that long ago gives me such a special perspective, which makes it easier to form authentic connections and help guide them in their faith and overall journey.”
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry What is one thing students might be surprised to learn about you? “I can juggle and solve a Rubix Cube!”
Meet Ms. Anastasia Adams What brought you to Bishop Ireton? “I didn't know anyone in VA or DC, but I just felt called to apply for the job; I hadn't been further east than Chicago before moving out here, so here we are.” What is one thing students would be surprised to know about you? “My favorite food is breakfast tacos. I know how to drive a stick shift. I love old country music, and I miss the mountains. One day, I want to see the ball drop in Times Square.”
English Teacher
Meet Ms. Teresa Cory What brought you to Bishop Ireton? “I came to BI from The George Washington University where I worked in the Registrar's office for seven years. What attracted me the most about BI was the strong sense of Registrar community and work/life balance! I am very thankful to be in this role and I look What is your favorite Halloween forward to continuing to meet students, staff candy? and faculty.” “My favorite Halloween candy is York Peppermint Patties!”
Meet Mr. Andrew Zager What brought you to Bishop Ireton? “I've known Mrs. McNutt and her family for over 20 years. I've seen all the McNutt kids go here for years, and [I] have a good impression of the school. When Mrs. McNutt heard I was retiring, she asked if I would be interested in coming to teach engineering for BI, and I was.”
Science Teacher
What is one thing students might be surprised to learn about you? “I parked the cars of four United States Presidents: Reagan, Nixon, Ford, and Carter.”
Meet Ms. Emily Perotti What brought you to Bishop Ireton? “I moved from New Jersey to Kingstowne this past summer to be closer to my husband's family. We all used to live in NJ, but over time they all made the move down here, so we were last to join the party. It's been a bit of a change getting used to the new area (this is much more city-like than where I was near the farmlands and suburbs of NJ) but it's been a positive change for my husband and I, and our dog.”
English Teacher
What is one memorable Halloween costume you had as a kid? “I remember thinking I was so clever and writing "LIFE" on a yellow t-shirt and handing out lemons in exchange for candy. Get it? Life gives you lemons? It's pretty lame, huh :) But I enjoy a pun!”
Welcoming the New Faces on Campus! In our next issue, we look forward to the final installment of highlighting the new teachers. On deck: Dr. Adam Kellam- Math Mr. David White- Social Studies Mr. John Harrison- Theology Mrs. Christy Brooks- Science
A Week to Remember: Bishop Ireton Spirit Week 2026 By: Michael Metzgar In October, the hallways of Bishop Ireton fill with a palpable buzz surrounding Spirit Week and this year was no different. The week kicked off on Monday with Mass celebrated by Father Joseph Moschetto and “Jersey Day.” After Mass, a finish-the-lyric competition ensued, where students from each grade level and faculty members sang the lines to popular songs. "I really loved the karaoke and how everyone joined in together," noted Cara McCarthy ‘27 commenting on how the audience helped the contestants on stage. Tuesday’s “Dress like a Children’s Book Character Day” brought out the creativity from students, whose outfits ranged from classic favorites such as Dr. Seuss to throwbacks like Curious George. “Country Day” was held on Wednesday, where students dressed by class in themes and the faculty traded professional attire for running gear. During lunch students went out to Fannon Field where adorable animals grazed. "I love the petting zoo,” Ian Hixson ‘27 remarked. “The bunnies were my favorite part because they're fluffy and curl up into a ball." Science instructor and bunny enthusiast, Mr. Justin Waldman, agreed with Hixson saying, “I’m in my element.” Thursday was headlined by the annual “Advisory Day Parade.” This event provided a unique opportunity for bonding among the advisories and a morning of joy and laughs for the wider school community. Advisories feasted on breakfast in their classrooms before heading out to the field to be judged by a panel of staff and faculty members. The Cline and Grubb Advisory took home the top honors and bragging rights with its synchronized swimming routine.
Spirit Week concluded with Friday’s highly anticipated senior versus junior Powderpuff game. This year’s matchup saw the juniors secure victory with a big upset over the seniors. Spirit Week was capped off with Saturday’s homecoming football game and dance. The Cardinals played a hard-fought game against Bishop O’Connell, with members of the Homecoming Court and the Class of 1976 being recognized on the field during halftime. As darkness fell, the students returned to campus and entered into “A Night In Rio.” Tropical bird pop-ups and flowers greeted students as they entered Godley Gym where students danced the night away. The dance showed off the community that makes Bishop Ireton such a special place. As freshman Gabe Furgiuele put it, “My favorite part of spirit week was the dance and hanging out with my friends. I felt really excited that this was my first high school spirit week and I was just so ready to participate and be in all of the events.” The night culminated in the coronation of seniors Ian Hixson and Liz Joyner as this year’s Homecoming king and queen.
Juniors Rule the Field at the Annual Powderpuff Game By: Ryan Fannon On Friday, October 9 the junior and senior girls faced off on the gridiron for the annual Powderpuff football game. Fun was the name of the game, but make no mistake, both teams were ready to battle. Each team prepared by running through formations, going over coverages, and setting up plays. Coach Jack Brookes ‘28 felt especially confident in his squad going into the game, citing their “fast paced offense and blitz heavy defense.” Quarterback Mackenzi “Blu” Jackson ‘28 “knew the offense would move well because they trusted the coaching staff.” Although the senior girls got the ball first, the junior defense made a quick stand and began to showcase its high powered offense. Jackson and Kamiera Willis ‘28 exploded for two touchdowns through the air. Jackson credited the connection to their “on court chemistry as basketball teammates.” The air attack, combined with the ground attack of juniors Adi Salinda-Pirato and Aaliayh Harris, proved to be too much for the senior defense. But, Maddie Brown ‘27 provided the highlight of the day for the seniors intercepting a pass in the end zone and returning it 30 yards. Although it was not enough for the seniors to come out on top, Brown enthused it was “the highlight of her senior year so far.” The junior team is already looking ahead to next year. Brookes said that “one powderpuff win is not enough for us [the class of 2028],” but the class of 2029 has some athletes who will be ready to challenge the defending champs.
From Hallways to Hardcovers: Assistant Dean of Students Writes a Children’s Book By: Elena Kokinda There is a new author walking the halls of Bishop Ireton. Ms. Lori Whitley, the Assistant Dean of Students, has recently published her first book, “Charlie and the Shoe.” As a children’s book, “Charlie and the Shoe” is geared toward young audiences and teaches the lesson of honesty. Charlie, a mischievous dog, is caught by his owner after chewing a shoe. But, you must purchase the book to find out what happens next. Whitley has always loved books, from taking her daughter to the library when she was young to frequent trips to Barnes and Noble, or as she calls it “Barnes,” a nickname she uses for the bookstore because she goes so often. Now, she has taken that love of reading one step further by writing and self-publishing a children’s book of her own. When envisioning the idea for her first book, Whitley wanted to “create a fun and entertaining story that children could laugh at and enjoy.” She also wanted to encourage children to use their imagination when trying to figure out how Charlie and his young owner deal with the chewed up shoe. Whitley gave a nod to her real-life four-legged companion, a Shih Tzu named Charlie, who is the inspiration behind the book and according to Whitley, “this is definitely based on true events. Charlie has destroyed many pairs of my shoes, AirPods, cash, etc!” The writing and publication process of “Charlie and the Shoe” took about a year and a half. Although the actual writing process only took about two hours, the editing took much longer: “It was the editing and coming up with the dog that I wanted, the characters, the scenes, and making sure the images matched what I wanted to share… that took at least a year to get it perfect.” But, it was worth it. Whitley’s vision came to life and children and adults can enjoy reading about an Ms. Lori Whitley, Assistant Dean of Students, impish dog and his wild adventure while really learning about the value of honesty. and author of “Charlie and the Shoe”
In the future, Whitley hopes to write more books with this goal in mind: “We should always want to challenge ourselves, and we should always want to bring humor and fun into the world.” Whitley has given us both.
Advice for Aspiring Authors “If you have an idea and the thought comes to you to put it in any form, you should follow it.”
“We should follow our dreams and not let anyone or anything keep us from moving forward.”
Ms. Whitley’s dog, Charlie!
Blessing of The Pets By: Cora Croson On Sunday, October 11 Bishop Ireton celebrated its sixth annual Blessing of the Pets in honor of the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Even the remnants of Hurricane Isaias didn’t dampen the spirits of the owners and their four-legged friends. Andrea Coronado ‘27, went to get her two dogs blessed. She said, “I feel it is a good tradition, especially for the Feast of Saint Francis. It's always nice to get together and see other pets being blessed!” Many in the Ireton community were excited to have their pet blessed by Father Moschetto, BI’s Chaplain. Father summed up the reason for bringing our pets for a special cause: “When we bless them, it’s like when God created all of creation and called it good; we’re affirming their goodness as God’s creatures, and asking that they continue to remind us of God’s glory. It’s also a fun moment to gather together as a community with our beloved pets!” Rain or shine, it is always a good day to be a Cardinal, or at least one of their furry friends.
check in with campus ministry By: Maddie Brown As the school year progresses, Bishop Ireton’s Campus Ministry is working to create more opportunities for students to serve others and deepen their relationship with God. One of Campus Ministry’s primary goals this year is to help students better incorporate their faith into their daily lives through opportunities such as Bible studies, the daily decade, and faith-centered clubs. Ms. Katie Scolese is the newest addition to Campus Ministry, serving as the Assistant Campus Minister, and is working to expand Campus Ministry’s presence within the community. Having attended Bishop Ireton as a student, Scolese brings a unique perspective to the role because she believes that her previous experience as a BI student helps her understand what the students need from Campus Ministry. She shared that her goal this year “is to create opportunities for every student to encounter God and feel welcomed, supported, and valued, no matter where they are in their faith life.” Retreats also remain an important part of Campus Ministry, and the department has introduced a significant change to the sophomore retreat. In previous years it consisted of a day of service depending on a student’s theology class. However, with required service hours and a school-wide service day, Campus Ministry decided to dedicate the retreat to prayer, with one retreat for boys and one for girls. “We're constantly tweaking our retreats and seeking to make them the best that they can be,” the school Chaplain, Father Moschetto, shared. Beyond retreats, service continues to be an integral part of Campus Ministry. Ms. Jennifer Grubb, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, encourages students to take advantage of the many service opportunities available on campus, particularly the Camden service trip for juniors and seniors. This trip allows students to serve others while deepening their relationship with their classmates and with God. For those working in Campus Ministry, one of the most meaningful aspects is to witness how students grow through these experiences. Grubb emphasized this, sharing that “it is so rewarding to see students step outside of their comfort zones, serve others, and experience moments that deepen their relationship with God.” Through retreats, service opportunities, and weekly faith-centered activities, Campus Ministry strives to help students put their faith into practice and make it a meaningful experience part of their everyday lives.
Ms. Jennifer Grubb, pictured with Liz Joyner ‘27
Ms. Katie Scolese, pictured with Fr. Joseph Moschetto
cards put their knowledge to the test By: Sarah Ramirez-Ochoa Bishop Ireton’s “It’s Academic” team returned to the studio this fall. With a new group of competitors and only four weeks to prepare, seniors Cooper Kalan, Nate DeGrandi, and team captain Owen Penrose faced the challenge of competing on one of the longestPictured left to right: running quiz shows in the United States. Back row: Zoe Reynolds ‘27, Juliana Franco ‘27, Mr. Thomas Cogliano, Reagan McCallum 27’, Liz Joyner ‘27, Hillary Howard (Host) Front row: Nate DeGrandi ‘27, Owen Penrose ‘27, Cooper Kalan ‘27
Preparation required more than simply reviewing facts. According to head coach and math teacher Mr. Thomas Cogliano, the team practiced with buzzers and Penrose explained they also “prepared for the competition by working with practice questions from ‘It's Academic’ and other quiz bowls and watched previous episodes.” Despite the pressure, the experience offered memorable moments. “The most memorable was definitely seeing ourselves on the camera monitor,” he added. The team’s success also depended on the different strengths each member brought to the table. Penrose attributed their performance to their well-rounded knowledge, explaining that each competitor had a different specialty. Kalan excelled in geography and history, while DeGrandi was strong in math and chemistry. Combining their individual expertise allowed the team to approach a wider variety of questions with confidence. Bishop Ireton’s participation in “It’s Academic” dates back to the school’s early years in the 1960s. Following last year’s victory, the team also saw increased interest at the school’s Club Fair, creating opportunities to welcome new members and develop future competitors. One student hoping to help build that future is sophomore Liliana Matos, who became interested in the club because of its resemblance to game shows she remembered watching in cartoons and other television programs. “The idea of being in a video and game show was just so appealing to me,” Matos explained. She attended the filming and watched the competition unfold. Cogliano hopes to build on the team’s experience by entering local quiz bowl competitions. His message for all students is: “For any student out there reading this, practice your ‘buzzer thumbs’ and join the Quiz Bowl team.”
The team’s episode is scheduled to air on WETA on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.!
From Classroom to Newsroom: Journalism Class Visits NewsNation By: Angela Ciatti On October 16 Ms. Beth Royle’s journalism class had the opportunity to visit the Washington, D.C. bureau of NewsNation to learn how the news is produced and to meet Mr. Chris Stirewalt, political analyst and host of “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt.” Stirewalt graciously gave his time to talk about the importance of journalism in America. He emphasized that reporting all news, even the parts that people may not want to hear or see, may seem difficult, but is imperative because news is often referred to as the first draft of history. A journalist’s duty is to report the news to reflect that. When asked how he reports unbiased events, he shared that he assumes each person to whom he is speaking believes what he or she is saying. When he approaches stories with that mindset, he is able to go deeper with the follow-up questions. This message is not only one that is so important in journalism, but also can be applied to daily conversations with others. Stirewalt ended up in this field because of hot dogs; he found an internship at a local newspaper in the sports department after realizing selling hot dogs from a cart on the streets of Wheeling, West Virginia was not what he wanted his summer job to be! He challenged the students to ascertain between a vocation and a profession. A vocation, what God calls us to do, may be different from what people think they want to do.
Stirewalt left the students to be a guest on a radio show, but he also left the students with a lasting impression of what it means to be a journalist. He handed the students over to Anna Sugg, an anchor producer for “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt,” and Riley Johnson, an associate producer. Sugg and Johnson gave a full tour of the NewsNation bureau including the studio and control room and explained everything that goes on behind the scenes of a broadcast and how it takes more than just the anchor for each show to be a success. From the executive producer to the floor manager, each person’s job makes a difference. The students learned that each broadcast requires careful planning, editing and reviewing, as well as quick thinking when things do not go as planned. The big takeaway is that the magic of television is only magical when everyone does his or her part. It was the perfect way to bring the real world into the classroom. Stirewalt even served the students donuts - after all, it was Friday! “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt” airs on Sundays at 10 a.m. EST on NewsNation.
Student’s Thoughts “Visiting NewsNation was awesome because it was my first time inside of a live news station” and “my favorite part was hearing from Mr. Stirewalt about his personal experiences and who he has been able to meet.” -Ryan Fannon, ‘27
“There was a studio in the building, I think it was number six, and being in there for me had the familiar feel of a backstage or green room. It was cool knowing that even behind the scenes when live-on-air you still have to fuss over makeup or being mic'd up properly just like we do in the theater department.” -Matthew Mendoza, ‘27
“Getting to see behind-thescenes of all the work and collaboration that goes into a broadcast was such a cool experience. I loved learning not only about how journalism works, but also why it is so important, both to our society and especially to the people who dedicate their lives to it.” -McKenna Flaaen, ‘29
Fall Sports Highlights By: Samuel Dyck
With fall sports coming to a close and winter sports right around the corner, some Cardinal teams have stood out this month. The Ireton boys soccer team has earned its way to States for the first time in a decade. After a shutout win over St. Mary’s Ryken, they have shown tremendous growth, and will be a force to be reckoned with in playoffs. Junior Max Schneeberger played a major role in the victory over Ryken, scoring the team’s first goal and recording an assist on the second. The team followed up the win against Ryken with a dominant performance over Archbishop Carroll, finishing with a score of 6-1. While reflecting on this historic season, Raul Cardenal ‘27 shared that “everyone’s focused right now on our goal to make history at BI after qualifying for both WCAC and State playoffs.”
The girls soccer team has also had a strong season, winning games against Washington International and St. Mary’s Ryken. Caitlin Carney ‘28 led the team with three goals across the two games including the only one in their narrow victory over Ryken.
Cross Country had a strong showing at the Joe Halm Alexandria City Cross Country Championships. The Cardinals were led by senior Jason Day who finished a full minute ahead over second place, setting not only the event record, but a Bishop Ireton record as well. His performance as well as a seventh place finish by Nico Mundarain ‘29 was enough for a second place finish from the BI boys cross country team. The girls team was also able to secure a second place finish led by Cate Messing ‘28 and Sophie Larose ‘28 finishing fifth and seventh respectively.
Winter try-outs begin mid-October and the beginning of November. Looking forward to moving indoors to see the Cards in action!
BI Honors Hispanic Heritage Month By: Meredith Barker
This month, Bishop Ireton celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month, or Latino Heritage Month, acknowledges the many contributions made by Hispanic/Latino men and women in the United States. At BI, Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to teach students about historical events and cultural traditions that come from various Hispanic countries. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, students from the Hispanic Heritage Club (HHC) and various Spanish classes decorated the rock outside the school with The HHC painting the rock for Hispanic flags from Hispanic countries and said the morning Heritage Month prayers and Mass readings in Spanish. When asked how Hispanic Heritage is embraced outside the month of October, Ms. Gabrielle Baniqued, Bishop Ireton’s Diversity Director, emphasized that “one of the goals of the Diversity Initiatives Team is to foster curiosity within the BIHS community. To me, this means creating a culture where students are genuinely interested in learning about their peers - not just their names, but the things that are important to them and all the little pieces that make them who they are. I hope that even outside of Hispanic Heritage Month, students continue to share their cultures loudly and proudly, while their peers receive those stories with openness and curiosity.” While the official celebration ended on October 15, Bishop Ireton’s commitment to uplifting and commemorating Hispanic heritage continues to shape school spirit and shared faith year-round.
It’s Fall on Cambridge Road! By: anderson francis
Across 5. Name of our Cardinal mascot. 6. “Go, Fight, Win!” A group that chants from the sideline. 8. Flag Football game between the junior and senior girls.
Down 1. The Bishop Ireton Hype Squad. 2. Powderpuff Champs!!! 3. Gathering crops in the fall. 4. The theme of the first day of spirit week. 6. USA, Country Club, Country Western, Country Core. 7. Popular Latte flavor in the fall.
Answers on next page
All Smiles for October! Crossword Answers: Across 5. Cambridge 6. Cheerleaders 8. Powderpuff Down 1. Cardinal Crazies 2. Juniors 3. Harvest 4. Jerseys 6. Country 7. Pumpkin Spice