Academy of St. Benedict the African

Dear Families,

It's Holy Week - the holiest week in the church calendar.

Did you register for 2024-2025 yet? We met our goal of at least 170 so this Thursday is a dress-down day for all students. Gym shoes are required. All other dress code rules apply.

Each morning during assembly this week, we will highlight the days of Holy Week. All of us are learning so much!

Tuesday is graduation picture retakes for students in grades PK4, Kindergarten and 8th Grade. All pictures will be first thing in the morning. Please be on time for school.

Tuesday at 5 we have a Parent Association Meeting in the library. Please join us!

We are working on make-up IAR testing for our grade 3-8 students who have tax credit scholarships this week.

We have an all-school liturgy on Thursday for Holy Thursday. Parents are welcome to attend. We dismiss on Thursday at 1:45 with NO after school care as we move into our Easter Break. We return to school on Monday, April 8th.

Restoration work in the extended day area of the school will begin this week and be completed by the end of April! This is great news!

Are you registered yet for the 2024-2025 school year? Over 171 students are! Use this form. We will fill up again, so don't delay! Please remember that no one is automatically re-registered. All those reregistered will have a dress down day every Friday AFTER Spring Break.

The registration fee is now $50/student. Once registered and the fee is paid, families will receive a voucher for Martinelli's for a gym t-shirt and shorts. 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.

We will have a 5-week summer program running June 17 - July 19 (no class on Juneteenth or 4th of July). Please us this form to register. This program is for rising PK3-5th graders and others by invitation. For those with Action for Children, the cost is your copay plus field trip fees. For those without AFC, the cost is $500/child plus field trip fees. If you don't have AFC, let's apply and see if you can qualify.

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. Those with tax agreements have 3/31 deadlines.

Every day, students (PK - 8) must be in gym shoes. As a reminder, on gym days, students wear their gym uniforms. A kind shirt can be worn on gym days as the t-shirt. Every other day, a school polo with the school's name or logo AND blue pants/skort are required. Blue is the only color bottom allowed on a regular day.

The 2023-2024 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.

Did you know that we have a used shoe and clothing box in the parking lot by the garage? As you do some spring cleaning, please use the box. Trees are planted every time we have our box emptied helping us be good stewards of God's creation.

As a gentle reminder, we require that children who are unwell remain at home. With several viruses circulating, it is crucial for the well-being of all students and staff that we minimize the spread of illness within our community. We understand the challenges faced by working families during these times, but we all share the responsibility of safeguarding the health of our community members. Should your child be unable to attend school due to illness, please complete the absence form on the school app or send an email notifying the school.

Consistent and punctual school attendance is required, except in cases of illness. Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

Please check your child's blue folder daily and remind your child/ren of the school expectations. We begin each day (except full school 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. Children must be with their teacher at 7:45 to be on time.

Again, we dismiss on Thursday at 1:45 with NO after school care as we move into our Easter break. We are off March 29-April 5th, with all returning on April 8th. April 8th is the solar eclipse, so that will be an exciting day!

Wishing all of you a blessed and joyous Easter and Spring Break! The next Family Update will be sent at 9 AM on April 7th.

Thank you for choosing Academy of St. Benedict the African for your family. Great things are ahead!

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 comfortable. 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.

Debate Club is Monday only this week.

Flag Football Practice is Tuesdays only this week. Please dress for the weather.

Chess club is on Wednesday afternoons. Praise Power Choir is 3:30-4:30 on Wednesdays.

Grade 6-8 Coding is on Mondays. Grade 3-5 virtual coding is from 4-5 on Wednesdays.

There is no FLAG this week.

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.

While I wish we could offer school without tuition and fees, we can't. Please work to get the accounts up to date. We all need to do our part.

Tax agreements are due this month. Please honor your commitment to the school in a timely fashion.

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.

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.

March 26th - Graduation Picture make up day

March 26th - Parent Association meeting 5 PM - All are welcome

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. Solar Eclipse Day

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

May 8th - Family Bingo Night

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.

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