Academy of St. Benedict the African

Dear Families,

What a wonderful Catholic Schools Week 2024 we had! There was the Glow Run, the Celebration Dances of West Africa Performance, and fun games on Friday afternoon! Our school community is amazing!

A little update on the extended day area of the school. On Monday the 29th, I arrived to find ground water in our basement level. Within 30 minutes, we had a professional contractor on site to clean up the water, pull out everything that was damaged and thoroughly clean the area. They were on-site for the next two days. The City of Chicago water department was on Justine to clean out the drains. There were no sewage leaks and there is no mold. At this point, we have checked and repaired all of the plumbing in that area and are ready to begin putting it all back together. It will take us some time to get all the work done. I'm so grateful that we have Deacon Gill, who is a licensed mechanical contractor and plumber to help us with this big project. I also grateful that school was not interrupted and safe for all. That space is a wonderful bonus area for us, but we are managing quite well with the space that is available. Additionally, the space will be better than ever when we are done restoring the area. This coming Saturday, we have a service day, that has been coordinated by Big Shoulders Fund, and the entire area will be repainted before we epoxy all the floors down there. In the interim, we will all be patient waiting for the work to be completed.

Graduation pictures for PK4, K and 8th grade are scheduled for February 7th. No money is due for pictures. Once proofs are received, then families choose the packages. Students are wearing caps, so updos are not recommended.

This Friday is our Second Annual Sneaker Ball from 5:30 -7:30! This amazing family event is not one to miss. The tickets are on sale in the office. Tickets are $8/person and the maximum any family pays is $25. There will be pizza, treats, a 360° photo booth, a DJ, and lots of picture opportunities. Be sure to dress up and don your sneakers!

Are you registered yet for the 2024-2025 school year? Over 100 students are! 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 150 students registered will receive a voucher for Martinelli's for a gym t-shirt and shorts once the fee is paid. Our current kindergarteners and 4th graders are in the lead with close to half of each class registered! Registration is now open for new and returning families. There is a referral incentive for current families. Receive a tuition credit of $500 ($250 in January and $250 in May) for the enrolled new family.

February 21st is our Family Science Night. This no cost event includes dinner and many different hands-on science activities. It will run from 5:30 - 7 pm.

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.

The calendar for the 2024-2025 school year is complete. There is an image below and you can access it here. Please don't confuse it with this year's calendar. It is on the new school letterhead, so it looks a bit different.

We will have a 5-week summer program running June 17 - July 19 (no class on Juneteenth or 4th of July). We will begin registration in March. This program is for rising PK3-5th graders.

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.

Thank you for choosing Academy of St. Benedict the African for your family.

Warmly,

Mrs. Farrand

jfarrand@academystbenedict.org

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

Wow! Permission slips have gone home to all of the students who were invited for this trip. The trip is February 13th. There will be another fun opportunity in the spring as we take the diagnostic in May. The goal for every child is growth. Growth numbers are personal for each person.

There are changes to the basketball practice schedule moving forward. We want all of the after-school children to have access to the gym especially due to the space limitations. Practice for basketball is Mondays and Tuesdays 3:15-4:15. The players are expected to wear their uniforms for practices.

Chess club is on Wednesday afternoons.

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 begin next week. Box United is working on a way to have the program at Fuller Park Gym with transportation to and from the school. This is the sign up form: form and the transportation waiver: https://forms.gle/V5XGzJb7EC7ufgAJ9

I will offer another cooking club session once the extended day area is back up and running.

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.

**Many children are getting their nails done. Please follow the rules.

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 Tuesday, February 6th. 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 chaperones for Gizmos! Call the office. As for all trips, complete compliance is required.

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.

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.

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!

August 15th - New Student Orientation

August 19th - Ice Cream Social 1 PM - 3 PM

August 21st - First day of School - All are dismissed at 3:10 - NO Extended Day

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