Academy of St. Benedict the African

Dear Families,

We are hoping that this week gives us no difficult weather!

Congratulations to our Gr. 7/8 Basketball team for a fantastic win on Saturday against Betty Shabazz. The team played with tenacious defense and teamwork!

We started our iReady middle of the year diagnostic testing last week and will continue this week. The growth is fabulous! Each scholar has their own growth metric based on their fall diagnostic test. All students who meet their typical annual growth metric in either reading or math (or both) will have a fun field trip in the next few weeks. Once we have the number of scholars attending, I can finalize the plans.

Our Glow Run fundraiser is set for 1/31, which is during Catholic Schools Week. Please register your child to participate in this fun run. This Monday, we will kick off the event with some excitement and prizes at morning assembly! All who register for the Glow Run at mybooster.com will receive a prize! Students will receive pledges for either per lap or per event. There are prizes for the children for registering and then for fundraising. The run takes place during the school day with classes going for about 45 -50 minutes. We are hoping to raise enough money to complete the Marcy Park Playground. The gym will be transformed into a glowing fun run! We do need some volunteers for the day. This is a PAWS opportunity.

This Friday, January 26th is a professional learning day for our teachers. There is no school. We are offering no cost childcare for the day. The children will have a fun day with their friends. Uniforms are not required. Sign up here!

Are you registered yet for the 2024-2025 school year? Use this form. We will fill up again, so don't delay! The registration fee through 2/15 is $25/per student. Registering now secures the lower rate, even if you need a bit of time to make the payment. The first 100 students registered will receive a voucher for Martinelli's for a gym t-shirt and shorts once the fee is paid. Registration for new families will open on January 28th during Catholic Schools Week. Our current kindergarteners and 4th graders are in the lead with close to half of each class registered!

Please check your FACTS account to ensure you are making payments. We need to keep the accounts up to date so that the school can meet its obligations.

Every day, students (PK - 8) must be in gym shoes. If boots were worn, due to inclement weather, gym shoes must be sent. Our uniform is mandatory - please be respectful.

The calendar is on our website. It is linked here as well! Additionally, please join our Bloomz page. Also, download the school app. It is the hub for all school information; from the app, you can get to PowerSchool, complete the absence form, go to FACTS, and go to Bloomz. There is typically a banner message on the app with information. Students with phones should download the school app.

We are currently working on next year's calendar. We hope we will have a 5-week summer program running June 17 - July 19 (no class on Juneteenth or 4th of July). I am working on staffing the program.

Graduation pictures for PK4, K and 8th grade are scheduled for February 7th.

Our 2nd Annual Sneaker Ball is February 9th from 5:30 - 7:30. Tickets are on sale now. They are $8/person with a ($25/max per family). We will only sell 250 tickets.

Children who are sick MUST stay home. There are many viruses active right now, including COVID, RSV and the Flu. We understand it is sometimes hard for working families, however, we have a shared responsibility to our community to limit the spread of illness. Please fill out the absence form on the app or send an email. School attendance is required every day unless sick. That includes being on time.

Please check your child's blue folder daily and remind your child/ren of the school expectations. We begin each day (except Liturgy days) with a community assembly, as it sets the tone for the day. We are better together. Between 7:40 - 8:00 AM, students will enter school at door 2. We begin at 7:45 and teachers are taking attendance in assembly.

In the event of inclement weather, please check Bloomz, emergencyclosingcenter.com, and the school app. All will list whether school is delayed, closed or open. I will also send alert notifications through both school platforms.

Let's set goals to be on time and in uniform each day! Excellence does happen on purpose!

Warmly,

Mrs. Farrand

jfarrand@academystbenedict.org

773-776-3316, enter 101 at the voicemail message if needed.

Basketball & Cheerleading are in full swing! Practices for basketball are Monday and Tuesday 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm and Wednesday from 3:15-4:15. Cheerleading practices on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30. As of now, this week's games are on Saturday at 11:30 for 5/6 and the Cheer Squad and then 12:20 for our 7/8 team. All players should arrive by 11:15 as the games are back-to-back. (same as last week)

Chess club is on Wednesday afternoons.

Yearbook club will be starting Thursday. This club is open to 6-8 graders. Sign up here.

In person coding through BSF and Capital One begins February 12th. This is for 6th-8th grade. The signup sheet is on all junior high Bloomz pages. Virtual coding for grades 3-5 begins that same week. Again, the signup sheet is on the classroom Bloomz pages.

Fight Like A Girl will offer a spring session. I don't have any updated information, yet.

In February, I will offer another cooking club session. The first session will be for 1st - 3rd graders, limited to 15. Sign up form will be coming in the next couple of weeks.

Catholic Schools Week is January 29th - February 2nd. Catholic Schools throughout the United States will be celebrating the unique and special character of Catholic Schools. The new logo for CSW24 is included at the top of this Family Update.

Monday - Celebrating our Faith with a prayer service to open the week.

Tuesday - We celebrate our Faculty and Staff

Wednesday - We celebrate our Community - Glow Run!

Thursday - We celebrate our Families (special treat at drop off on Laflin side) & Special West African Dance Assembly 9 AM for all students.

Friday - We celebrate our Students - Volleyball and Basketball Games in the Afternoon for all students.

Uniforms are required every day, with no exceptions. All students should be in their regular uniform with the school polo shirt unless it's a gym day. Traditional gym shoes are required each day. Allowing your child to be in the wrong uniform is disrespectful. Please ensure they have the correct clothes on every day.

The building is warm and cozy. Only St. Benedict sweatshirts and hoodies are allowed over the polos. Navy blue plain sweaters can also be worn - provided there are no logos of companies on them.

Students must wear a St. Benedict top and/or hoodie on Fridays, which are spirit days. They may wear jeans, joggers, or shorts (weather permitting). Gym shoes are required every day for all students PK - 8th grade. Of course, their regular uniform is also fine!

Not Allowed: Nail polish, acrylic/gel nails, bracelets, necklaces, or rings. Any footwear besides gym shoes is not allowed.

Each family has an account in FACTS to monitor their tuition account. Payments for most are due on the 17th of the month. A few of our families have different due dates to accommodate pay periods. As a reminder, late fees are automatically assessed on the 4th day after the due date.

We will exclude students from school on Thursday. While this is my least favorite thing to do, some payment must be made. Please reach out so we can work together.

Tuition accounts that are past due will be receiving phone calls. As a school that relies on tuition to run, we need your help staying up to date. Please call if there is an issue. Extended day ends at 6:00 pm each day. Please be on time. There is a $3/minute per child late pickup fee. Please be on time.

Please get in touch with me if you have concerns.

Please do not send in fast food - including but not limited to Dunkin' Donuts, McDonalds, Burger King, and Starbucks. Let's be respectful of those with life-threatening food allergies, as well as the feelings of those without fast food.

An image of the calendar is here. There is also an option to download the pdf.

The calendar is always accessible on our website and our mobile app.

Get in compliance. Go to virtusonline.org, take the class online, and consent to the background check. Earn a PAW!

We need copy paper! For a special opportunity, two of the cases (10 reams) will earn FOUR PAWS!! You can send the paper to us directly from Amazon, Walmart, or Staples. Put your name on the gift receipt so we can credit the family properly.

We need 4 volunteers (all day) or 8 volunteers (half-day each) to help with the Booster run on 1/31.

To volunteer at school in any capacity or chaperone a field trip, adults must attend a Virtus class training session, consent to a background check through the Virtus system, and complete mandated reporter training. Go to www.virtusonline.org to get started. Be sure to choose Academy of St. Benedict the African. Virtus is only required once. Mandated Reporter training must be renewed every three years.

Families earn a PAW for getting in compliance.

Email or call Ms. Fernandez for more information: mfernandez@academystbenedict.org. She is extension 102 at school.

January 26th - Professional Learning Day -No School - Free childcare available

January 28-February 3rd - Catholic Schools Week

January 31st - Fundraising Fun Booster Glow Run - Details coming (4 volunteers are needed)

February 1st - Black History Month Begins

February 7th - PK4, Kindergarten and 8th Grade Graduation Pictures

February 9th - Sneaker Ball

February 19th - No School - President's Day

February 21st - Family Science Night - 5 pm - 7pm

February 23rd - African American Heritage Prayer Service at Holy Name Cathedral. 8th grade attends.

February 29th - Black History Program 10 AM

March 1st - Professional Learning Day - No school - Free Childcare Available

March 8th - Parent Teacher Conferences from 12 pm - 6 pm. Students dismissed at 11:30. There is afterschool care.

March 28th - Holy Thursday, Students dismissed at 1:45 - NO afterschool care

March 29th - Good Friday - No School

April 1st - 5th - Easter Break

April 8th - Return to school

April 26th - Professional Learning Day - No school - Free Childcare Available

May 10th - No school, No childcare

May 27th - Memorial Day - no school

June 5th - 8th Grade Breakfast

June 6th - Candle & Ribbon grades 7 & 8, 1 pm

June 8th - 8th Grade Graduation 10 AM

June 10th - Field Day

June 11th - Moving up day - Our last day of school. No afterschool care.

June 17th - Five Week Summer Program begins, if staffed. Information coming soon!

Mrs. Farrand, Principal x101

Mrs. Thornton, Assistant Principal x100

Ms. Fernandez, Business Manager x102

Ms. Botello, Administrative Assistant Main number 773-776-3316

Mrs. Martinez, Student Accounts x103

Ms. Zakowski, Office x104

**for questions related to tuition, please reach out to Mrs. Farrand or Ms. Fernandez first.

Morning Care: 6:15 AM - 7:15 AM

Arrival for breakfast 7:15 AM - 7:35 AM

Classes Begin: 7:45 AM (Children not with their class at 7:45 are marked tardy)

School Ends at 3:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. 2:30 PM on Wednesdays

Extended Day: 3:15 PM - 6:00 PM - to reach extended day, call the school and enter 101 at the recording. The late pickup fee is $ 3 per minute per child. Please don't be late.

Office Hours - Every Day - 6:30 - 3:30 and by appointment

Email: jfarrand@academystbenedict.org
Website: academystbenedict.org
Location: 6020 South Laflin Street, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 773-776-3316
Facebook: Facebook.com/academystbenedictafrican
Twitter: @asba_chicago