Academy of St. Benedict the African

Dear Families,

The video above includes the highlights of this week's update.

As we near Thanksgiving, it's a wonderful time for us to reflect on our blessings. I am so grateful to be part of the St. Benedict family. I am so grateful for you and your children. Thank you for choosing to be part of our family.

Last week, we hosted Big Shoulders for Lend a Shoulder Day. Our guests joined students in activities and classes, listened as our Praise Power Choir sang, and heard from our student speakers. All were very impressed with the school.

This week, we have our Scholastic Book Fair. Families can create eWallets for their students by going to this link. The book fair is a great opportunity to purchase books for Christmas gifts! Be sure to stop by on Conference day, but classes will visit the book fair with their classes during the week.

Thursday our students in grades 4 - 8 have liturgy. Grade 5 will lead us. It begins at 9 AM and parents are welcome.

Parent-teacher conferences and report card pick-up are on Friday. We dismiss at 11:30. There is after-school care for students. Conferences run from 12 pm - 6 pm. To receive a student's report card, there must be a conference. Signups for the conferences are on each teacher's Bloomz page. Stop by the office if you are not yet connected to Bloomz, we will help you get connected!

We do have a few spaces in kindergarten and PK. Do you have a family or friend to refer? You will receive a tuition credit. We are planning to open up 10 more seats in PK once we finish the construction project in the big preschool room.

The statement of work for the new sound system in the gym has been signed! We are making progress. Say a prayer that we can get it all done before the Christmas program!

We are following up with families that are not compliant with health and immunization records. Letters were sent to grade K and 6 families out of compliance with an exclusion date of 11/27.

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.

Basketball practice is Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 - 4:45.

Cheerleading is Tuesdays from 3:30-4:45

Any students in grades 5-8 who will play sports also need physicals.

Chess club is every Wednesday (grade 3 and up) at 3:45. Praise Power Choir is also on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30.

Fight Like a Girl is on Wednesday this week as the girls will be going to Fuller Park Boxing Gym. The school is busing the girls to the gym, but they must be picked up by family at 5 PM.

All shirts must have the school logo or our school name; plain light blue polos are not part of the uniform. We have polos in the office. ALL students wear gym shoes every day. Uniforms define us as a community. Please be respectful of the school rules.

The calendar is on our website. It is linked! 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.

Children who are sick MUST stay home. 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 with a community assembly, as it sets the tone for the day. We are better together.

We are on Thanksgiving break the week of 11/19-11/26. The next Family Update will be sent on November 26th. Be safe and enjoy your family.

Let's have a great week of learning!

Warmly,

Mrs. Farrand

jfarrand@academystbenedict.org

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

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!

Please see the image for more information. Order your gym uniforms if you need them from Martinellis immediately.

As I noted on Bloomz, the tax credit scholarship program, has ended. All children with scholarships will keep their current scholarships through the end of the school year. Moving forward, I am committed to finding the resources to support your family. You and your children are part of our school community and family. Working with the Big Shoulders Fund, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and our donors, we will create plans that work.

Consistency in schooling is key to student success. We are your partners in your child/ren's education and will remain so.

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.

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.

Here is our November Lunch Menu.

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 batteries! 2 multi-packs (at least 8 batteries) for a PAW - AA, C, or D, or any combination.

We will need help on December 19th from 3-6 setting up the gym for the Christmas Program.

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.

November 13th - 17th - Scholastic Book Fair

November 17th - 11:30 Dismissal. Report Card Conferences from 12-6. Aftercare Available.

November 20th - 25th - Thanksgiving Break NO School.

December 13th - NO AFTERCARE - Staff Christmas Party

December 20th - Christmas Program at 9:30 AM - No aftercare

December 21st - January 3rd -Christmas Break

January 4th - Return to school

January 15th - No School - Dr. King's Birthday

January 26th - Professional Learning Day - Free childcare

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

February 19th - No School - President's Day

February 29th - Black History Program 10 AM

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 in their seats 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