THE BI-WORD Vol. 4 January 2026
New Dawn, New Day “One Pill Can Kill” pgs. 3-4
Hack Attack pg. 5
Field Trip Fun pgs. 8-9
Coming Attractions at BI pg.12
Meet the Staff
Eden Boyd Junior, Co-Editor
Angela Ciatti Sophomore, Co-Editor-In-Chief
Abigail Crum Senior, Reporter
Peter DiBella Senior, Reporter
Natalie Drey Junior, Co-Editor
Madison Ingram Junior, Reporter
Rory Sheehan Sophomore, Reporter
Benjamin Smith Junior, Reporter
Abby Stump Junior, Co-Editor-In Chief
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 1/21, 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 Mirabelle Brantley ‘26 for winning the November/December Find the Cardinal, Win a Prize!
“One Pill Can KILL” Local organization visits Bishop Ireton to warn students about the deadly consequences of experimenting with drugs By: Natalie Drey
On Wednesday, January 7 and Friday, January 9, 2026, guest speakers from the “Silent No More - Overdose Prevention Initiative: Outreach Invisible Dangers” (O.P.I.O.I.D.) organization visited Bishop Ireton High School. The presentation focused on the dangers of drug addiction and the fatal risk of an overdose. “Silent No More” is part of the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia, working in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, whose goal is to shed light on the addiction crisis with teens. The speakers came to BI to report on the dangers of the drug that Time magazine calls “the most powerful painkiller:” opioids, and more specifically, fentanyl. Drugs like fentanyl are synthetic opioids, meaning they are made in a lab, which makes them both cheap to produce and very addictive. Opioids are often used as painkillers in clinical settings. The issue arises when unregulated opioids are made, often in unsanitized and unregulated settings and foreign countries. All of these factors combine to make a much more potent and dangerous pill. According to “Silent No More,” one person in the United States dies every five minutes from an overdose. This is the leading cause of death for persons 18 to 45 years old. Ms. Chelsea Curtis works in the US Attorney’s Office and shared her gut-wrenching personal story about the deaths of her older brothers and the recent loss of her mother to overdoses. Ms. Curtis recalled that “this is the reality of how addiction affects not just the user, but the entire family unit,” as she showed a photo of her family, missing three of the seven members. However, there is a sliver of silver lining in her story. Ms. Curtis told the audience there is hope of recovery, noting that her younger brother, an addict since the age of 12, successfully recovered and was sitting in the audience. She credits her own ability to escape the same fate of her family members by being put into foster care and having a stable family environment.
“The day everything changed.” This slide was part of the story of Sean and Afrodita Foster who told the audience that on January 31, 2023, their world came to a shattering halt. That is the day their only son, 18-year-old Cayden, died from taking one-quarter of a pill he believed was a Percocet. Unfortunately, that pill contained deadly fentanyl and instead of waking up Cayden on that school day, his mother tearfully recalled how he never woke up again. Mr. Foster hopes that if he can change only one mind, and convince one teenager not to try drugs, then Cayden’s death will not have been in vain. He emphasized that Cayden was not a “druggie,” but instead, a young man just like everyone else. He played sports, had lots of friends, and was looking forward to college. Instead, an online friend who introduced him to opioids is now dead and the dealer who sold him the fatal pill now sits in a jail cell for the next 15 years. Cayden never lived long enough to fulfill his dream of attending the University of Tennessee.
The Fosters hope that Bishop Ireton students understand that “if you try, you die” and to choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong. Detective Tyrone Guyse, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said that most of the fentanyl entering the United States comes from China and Mexico. He explained the dangers of many types of drugs and also warned that even vapes can contain deadly levels of fentanyl. Detective Guyse provided statistics showing that out of the 80 million pills seized by authorities in 2023, seven out of ten pills contained fentanyl. That is why the DEA’s drug campaign is deadly simple: “One pill can kill.” The final speaker was Dr. Mark Franke, an emergency room doctor and a Bishop Ireton graduate, who explained how drugs affect the teen brain and how addiction develops. Students often hear how their frontal lobes are not as developed as older adults. Dr. Franke vividly illustrated how teenagers’ brains are not equipped to make all of the right decisions. That is why it is so important to understand that the days of experimenting with drugs are over. The answer must always be no. The audience later learned that Dr. Franke’s daughter died from an overdose. He wants to make sure nobody else experiences that kind of pain. The “Silent No More” presentation ended with the message that there is hope and help. Reach out to the helpline listed below if you or someone you know is struggling with drugs. Do not become another statistic.
Powerful Message: Students react to “Silent No More” “It was impactful to hear what Cayden’s parents had to say on the issue of fentanyl. The death of your child cannot be easy, and it was inspiring how they seek to contact the youth out there to try and prevent this from affecting other families.” - Ian Hixson, Class of ‘27
“The stadium images. Seeing all the seats and thinking of all the people who could have filled them that have now died from drug overdose or poisoning. It's jarring. But, in contrast, the fact that the number of deaths is going down gives me hope that we can do something about it. We can save lives instead of watching them disappear.” - Mary Schweers, Class of ‘28
“I felt like it was very informative in the sense that we learned the science behind drugs and the reason they are so addictive. As well as the information from Cayden's parents about how quickly it all happened. 6 weeks after his first use he was no longer alive, which goes to show how quickly it can all happen. That is truly devastating.” - Addie Buffaloe, Class of ‘26
“The second speakers, the couple who lost their son. When the mom said a lot of people knew and didn't do anything; that really hit me hard.” - Tessa Marzluff, Class of ‘29
If you or someone you know needs help with substance use disorder, call or go to: SAMHSA’s National Helpline: (800) 662-HELP (4357)
By: Angela Ciatti You’ve probably heard over the announcements for the past several months something about HackBI IX, but you may not know what it is or if you should do it. Senior Mary Kate Costello, the co-director of HackBI IX, breaks it down for us. “HackBI is Bishop Ireton's free annual hackathon. A hackathon is a unique opportunity for individuals to use their technology skills to create a solution, otherwise known as a “hack.” HackBI is a student-led event where middle and high school students engage in collaborative design and coding to compete for prizes. HackBI is open to students of all coding skill levels and there is free food, free swag, and more!” Sounds fun, right? No coding experience is necessary so don’t worry, HackBI is a great place to learn skills, have fun with friends, enjoy free food, sleep (or not) in the school, and win amazing prizes. You will also make new friends and lasting memories like Mary Kate. “My favorite memory from HackBI was last year when I was the middle school team leader. I had a great time working with my wonderful team and managing the middle school portion of HackBI in the computer labs. It was a joy to teach the younger kids and see their final projects.” She also shares some words of advice for students who are undecided: “If you are considering attending HackBI, go for it! I was hesitant to sign up when I was a freshman, but I ended up participating and it was an amazing decision.” Lastly, she wants to remind you not to miss DJ Bob (Artman) in the cafeteria for some awesome music. HackBI IX takes place, January 17-18, at Bishop Ireton. It is led by seniors Mary Kate Costello and Ethan Miller, along with a huge, dedicated team ready to welcome you to the hackathon. We can’t wait to see all of the amazing projects the hackers create. To learn even more about HackBI, visit its website at hackbi.org/
Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By: Rory Sheehan
This year, the Bishop Ireton community is coming together to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Day commemorates the strides that Dr. King made for equality and is observed on the third Monday of January. Bishop Ireton is honoring Dr. King through the art club, which is creating a piece pertaining to his renowned “I Have a Dream” speech. Ireton’s Black Student Union is planning a service project and Ms. Janell Cline, one of our math teachers, echoes the call to serve. “This quote from Martin Luther King Jr. reminds me of how Christ taught us how we should serve Him by serving others: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is What are you doing for others?’” She continues, “For the past 20 years on MLK Day, it has been a day of service to the community; helping those who are not as fortunate to have the luxuries and essentials that I have.” During this upcoming holiday weekend, we hope you can also find a way to serve your community in the same spirit as Dr. King.
Congratulations to Mr. Michael Hernandez, a Bishop Ireton theology teacher, for winning the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award at the Arlington Diocese Youth, Campus and Young Adult Appreciation Dinner. He has worked to institute and lead the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults at BI to prepare 18 students to receive the Catholic Sacraments of Initiation in the Spring.
A Message From Our Salesian Leaders By: Ben Smith
The Salesian virtue for the month of January is “Joyful Optimism.” Father Moschetto and the Salesian leaders hope all students approach each day with a mindset that combines expecting positive outcomes with a feeling of deep happiness. Some of our Salesian Leaders share how they and we can “live Jesus.”
“When I got chosen to be a Salesian leader, I accepted immediately because I want to help the BI community and get people closer to God.” James Walker, Class of ‘26
“This year remember to always be kind and to share God's love to one another because you never know what someone is going through!” Eliana Ventura, Class of ‘26
"To me, being a Salesian leader is a wonderful opportunity to lead the Bishop Ireton community and grow closer in my faith with Christ. It is also a great way to get involved more with Campus Ministry. As someone who lectors for Mass and has served as the rector for fall Kairos, being a Salesain leader has allowed me to focus leading with the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal." Emma Bahdi, Class of ‘26
Visiting Fox News! By: Abby Stump
Ms. Beth Royle’s journalism class had an amazing opportunity to visit the Fox News bureau, learn how a newscast is produced, and watch a live taping of Special Report with Bret Baier. We got to walk through the studio and the control room, watch live news in action, and understand how so many people behind the scenes are needed to make things happen. Seeing everything in person made what we learn in class feel more real and exciting. It was eye-opening to see how fast everything moves and how everyone has an important job.
Bret Baier’s IG post of us!
One of the best parts of the trip was learning about well-known broadcasters, including Bret Baier, Anchor and Executive Editor of Special Report with Bret Baier. He generously met with us before the broadcast answering questions and sharing stories about himself and the business. His favorite interview? Jimmy Buffett! His advice to aspiring journalists: Get any and all experience no matter how big or small. This field trip also shows that Bishop Ireteon gives students special learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Visiting a big news bureau like Fox News shows how valuable it is to combine classroom learning with real-life experiences. Going on this trip (even after school hours) and getting the chance to share it with you makes us proud of our school and shows that students here are encouraged to aim high.
cs Fun i s y ! Ph By: Abigail Crum
In December 2025, Dr. Marilyn Mielke’s second period physics class had an exciting visit to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) after competing against many other schools in an egg-drop contest and winning. The class got a hands-on look at the facility where new cars are tested for safety. Students toured the facility, but the fan favorite was watching how real crash tests are conducted. This field trip reinforced the importance of how everyone, especially teenagers, need to drive safely and always wear a seatbelt. Dr. Mielke’s class had an amazing time. The trip gave new meaning to getting a “crash course” in safety.
By: Peter DiBella
Directions: Match each clue to the correct event. Humans travel around the Moon for the first time in over half a century. A beloved animated franchise returns with its fifth major installment.
Events FIFA World Cup Olympics Avengers: Doomsday
This nationwide celebration marks 250 years since the founding of the United States.
Toy Story 5 America 250
Marvel’s heroes reunite in a high-stakes cinematic crossover.
NASA Artemis II
An international winter competition brings thousands of athletes to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in northern Italy. Nations face off on the world’s biggest stage for the most popular sport on Earth.
Find the answers on the back page!
Cambridge Road Cambridge Road Submissions Now Submissions Now Open! Open! Submit now to the 2025-2026 Cambridge Road Literary Magazine! Reach out to Emilio Burneo with any questions!
Please email thecambridgeroad@ bishopireton.org with .docx/Google Doc or as a JPG (artwork) of your submission Please title it: “TYPE OF SUBMISSION: YOUR NAME”
THEME:
WE ACCEPT: POETRY SHORT STORIES ESSAYS REVIEWS CLOSE DATE: PHOTOGRAPHY MAR 6 PAINTINGS DRAWINGS
Guiding Lights
Coming Soon! Bishop Ireton students will soon have an opportunity to participate in the National Geography Bee. Watch for more information! January 23rd: First Love in Action Field Trip- Life Is Very Good Event and Mass at Eagle Bank Arena. January 26-31: Catholic Schools Week See the calendar on the next page for daily events and Mr. Dodds’ slide deck for more details as well as week-long events. January 31st: Winter Ball February 11th: First One Book Reading DayOrder Sourdough by Robin Solan.
Catholic Schools Week 2026
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
January 26- 31
Take a picture with your Parish Priest after Mass and submit to have a chance to win a gift card to the school store. sun
Mass, St. Francis de Sales presentation, Salesian Medal of Honor, and “The Masked Singer” during an All-School mon assembly
tue
BI Spirit Wear Dress Out Day “Silent Disco” at lunch Advisory Game Assembly
wed
Young Alumni Panel Catholic “Word on the Beat” at Lunch
thu
fri sat
Sports Rally with Captain Dodgeball $2 Class Color Coded Dress out Day (See Mr. Dodds’ slides for more information) Faculty vs. Seniors Basketball game
Winter Ball 8-10 pm
Happy New Year, Cardinals!
Puzzle Answer Key 1 A 2 B 3 E 4 D 5 C 6 F
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