Academy of St. Benedict the African

Dear Families,

As we start the last weeks of school, we have lots of busy days and activities! While these days are fun and add excitement, it's important that children are following uniform and behavioral expectations. Please take a moment each morning to ensure your child has the correct uniform on and encourage them to be respectful, responsible, safe and kind each day.

Monday morning at 9 AM, PK - third grade have an author visit with Kentrell Martin. He last visited our school in 2019. His books are wonderful. The flyer went home with students a couple of weeks ago, but I am adding the form file to Bloomz and in the update. If you're free, stop by for the visit.

We received the school's 5Essentials Survey results. Teachers, students in 4th - 8th, and parents are part of the survey results. Our school is deemed "Well Organized" with 3 of the 5 essentials in the strong or very strong category. In the other two categories, we are just 4 points away from strong. As I told the children on Thursday, we know we have an amazing school, and now we have the hard data to support that claim! This is a testament our entire school community.

Our 4th graders worked with Backyard Gardens Englewood to plant the spring crops, which includes greens, kale and carrots. As the weather warms, more crops will go in. Having a school garden increases our students' experiential learning. If there is ever a day you have the time and inclination, the garden does need to be watered almost daily.

Progress is being made in extended day. Beginning on Wednesday, the new floors will be applied (epoxy) or tiled. The expectations is that they will be done on Saturday! It won't be long now until we reopen the chapel and extended day area of the building. It will be beautiful!

On May 8th we have a Family Bingo Night from 5 - 7 pm! Please fill out this form to attend. Dinner is free that evening. We are charging for Bingo and raffles to raise money to support our athletic program. There are a few free raffles. This is for all school families!

The 2023-2024 Yearbook should be back at school on May 13th. I will update as I get information. Books will be $20/each. They will make a nice remembrance of a great school year!

Are you registered yet for the 2024-2025 school year? We are a few students away from closing several classrooms, especially second and seventh grade for 24-25. Use this form to register if you haven't yet. Please remember that no one is automatically re-registered. All those students who are reregistered will have a dress down day every Friday until school ends. For all others, including 8th graders, Fridays remain Spirit Days.

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 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. Additionally, contracts for the 24-25 school year are being entered into FACTS. They are not accurate when first entered. The scholarships and financial assistance are credits put in on the second entry. Don't be alarmed if the amounts aren't right. In the next couple of weeks, they will be reflective of your contracts. Also, PK4, K and 8th grade accounts will have their graduation fees added. All financial accounts must be cleared for the student to participate in graduation.

Every day, students (PK - 8) must be in gym shoes. As a reminder, on gym days, students wear their gym uniforms That is the only day for the gym shorts or sweats. A kind shirt can be worn on gym days as the t-shirt and on Kind Shirt days. 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! It's a very busy time of the year. Please review the calendar.

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. 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.

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.

I want to take just a moment to thank you for your very kind words upon hearing that I will be moving back to Pittsburgh in July. As I mentioned in the letters and to the children, I thank God everyday that He brought me to Academy of St. Benedict the African. Moving was the only thing that was going to pull me away. I promise to come back to visit! ❤️

I will work with our leadership team to create smooth transition for your children. Maintaining the culture and values of our beautiful school are paramount.

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. Kind shirts may only be worn on kind days or gym days. 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 and Thursday.

Flag Football Practice is Tuesday and Thursday. This is the last week of practices.

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. Coding with Mr. Dean is on Friday.

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.

Graduation fees for PK4, K, and 8th are being added. Those accounts must be at a $0 balance before the fee may be paid.

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 were due last 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.

April 29th - Author Kentrell Martin visit for PK - 3rd grade at 9 AM.

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