St. Margaret’s Reaffirms Commitment to Health and Wellness With New Assistant Head of School Position

Patrick Bendzick

Patrick Bendzick joined the St. Margaret’s professional community in 2015 as the school’s athletics director, seeking to enhance the school’s athletic department through innovation, on-field success, and fulfilling athletics’ role in nurturing the health and well-being of Tartan student-athletes. 

It’s been quite a ride since then, as Mr. Bendzick soon after expanded his scope to oversee all of St. Margaret’s health and wellness initiatives, which included all-school counseling, the Health Center and more. That shift came at a time when health and wellness of young people became an urgent focus both at St. Margaret’s and around the world. 

Now, Mr. Bendzick has a new title: Assistant Head of School for Health and Wellness. 

Head of School Jeneen Graham—leaning into the school’s priority for the health and wellness of young people, and recognizing Mr. Bendzick’s work ethic, passion and expertise in pursuing better student outcomes—promoted him to the new role this summer. 

“Patrick has been a tremendous leader in our school community for many years now, and has worked tirelessly on behalf of the students, professional community and families in a variety of roles,” Dr. Graham said. “We view health and wellness as an essential part of the St. Margaret’s student experience, and by elevating Mr. Bendzick to assistant head of school, we recognize not only his value to the school community but also the importance of student’s physical health, mental health, belonging and community in their growth. We are thrilled to have Patrick in this important role.”

Much of Mr. Bendzick’s previous job duties will continue—he will oversee the athletic department, as well as the Health Center and all-school counselors, in addition to his leadership role in other programs that have a health-and-wellness focus. 

Mr. Bendzick is also one of the leaders in seeing through plans for the St. Margaret’s Commons, a state-of-the-art 30,000-square-foot building that will serve all Tartans in their nutrition, fitness and wellness. St. Margaret’s is currently fundraising for the Commons with plans to break ground on the building in 2024, and Mr. Bendzick will play an important role in moving the project forward and keeping the community involved. 

He will also continue his coaching duties as head coach of the cross country team and an assistant coach on the track and field team. 

To Mr. Bendzick, he sees his new role as supporting St. Margaret’s vision of developing the whole child in their pursuit of academic achievement, physical health, mental well-being and spiritual growth. 

“Our mission calls on us focus on the ‘lives’ of our students, and we believe that student health and wellness is within the responsibility of the school in partnership with our families,” Mr. Bendzick said. “We know that if students are well in mind, body and spirit, they can live up to their full potential.”