Weekly Newsletter: Sept. 15, 2019
This Week's Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 19
  • Cut off for Friday ASE sign up, noon

  • 6pm 1st PTO Meeting

  • 6:30pm High School Information meeting at St. Mary's
Friday, Sept. 20
  • Carline change for Friday due to Oktoberfest road closure (instructions below)

  • Interim Report Cards (visit RenWeb to check your Comet's progress)

  • 12:30pm Dismissal (no lunch)

  • Students in ASE Friday need to bring lunch
This is Oktoberfest Weekend Sept. 20-22
If you haven't signed up already, PLEASE DO SO NOW -  here's the link ! If you have and can spare a few more hours for our school - WE WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL! Serving 50,000 guests takes MANY HANDS! You do NOT need to be VIRTUS trained to work at Oktoberfest. 
Without funding from Oktoberfest, our tuition would be higher and we would have LESS financial aid to award. So it's in ALL of our families' best interests to do what we can - roll up our sleeves - and help out! It's just 1 weekend out of the year, so please help out!
Note to parents:   Student volunteers are welcome to participate, but must be age 13 to work in Set up/Pack Up or the Children's Area and age 14 to work in Food Concessions or as Food Runners. *Student help only counts as service hours, not family PTO volunteer hours. 
Principal's Message
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Back to School Night this past week. The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children. With that in mind, I want to thank all of the parents who have volunteered so far this year, and encourage all parents to involve yourselves in the life of our school community. 

We have a volunteer requirement not only because at a small school volunteer help is necessary, but also because we want parents connected and engaged in your child's school community. Our next PTO meeting is September 19, and I encourage everyone to participate in our Parent Teacher Organization. 

Saint Benedict Oktoberfest, our largest volunteer effort, starts this Friday, Sept. 20. Please make sure to do what you can to help out since we are the biggest beneficiary of this wonderful event.

And while you do not have to be VIRTUS trained to volunteer for Oktoberfest, it is required for most other activities involving our school. If you have not already completed the free Virtus training, please do; this is a diocesan requirement before you go on field trips, help with class parties or volunteer with children in any capacity

Virtus training sessions are offered around the diocese, and you can go to this website to view upcoming sessions . 


Thank you for your help and support!

Sean Cruess, SBCS Principal
CARLINE CHANGE FOR FRIDAY! 

Please remember that N. Belmont Avenue will be CLOSED this Friday (9/20) due to Oktoberfest.  This will affect our morning and afternoon car line . 

For both morning and afternoon car line, use the following procedure: 

Drive East on Hanover and turn right onto Cleveland. Students exit/enter the car on Cleveland near the entrance to St. Benedict Alley. After your pickup/drop off, proceed on Cleveland until you reach Grove Avenue, turn right onto Grove. 

Friday is a 12:30pm dismissal, no lunch. 
ASE is available - ASE students should BRING LUNCH.
From the PTO
Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6pm
Ever wonder how your child’s house earns points or what they do during “House Days”? Then please join us as Mr. Cruess gives a presentation on the House System- how it works, how students contribute and how families can also participate. There will be time for Q&A and a friendly house trivia competition at the end. 

Make sure to wear your house colors!!

The Comet Shop and Used Uniform Swap will be open a half hour before the meeting starts at 5:30pm.
St. Benedict Pauses to Remember 9/11
If you aren't on social media, you missed the beautiful moment when our students and faculty joined together in singing God Bless America in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country. As a school, we thank God every morning and every afternoon for the blessings of each and every day.
Volunteers Needed
Help Distribute Lunches
School lunches are delivered and labeled  for each ordering child by Yay Lunch. It's easy-peasy, but we need parent volunteers to help give them out!

And your kiddos will love to see you during their lunchtime. You just have to be VIRTUS trained and background checked to participate. Here are the times - CHOOSE ONE or CHOOSE ALL we're just grateful for your help:
  • 11:30am - 12:00pm
  • 11:45am - 12:15pm
  • 12:15pm - 12:45pm
We are looking for families who are interested in assisting with weekend hospitality at St. Benedict Church. Our school assists with hospitality for the 8:30am and 11:00am Masses on the third Sunday of every month. 

This does count toward PTO volunteer hours. If you would like to help with hospitality, please email Mr. Cruess at  scruess@saintbenedictschool.org
Mass Schedule & Prayer Group
Friday, September 20
Choir: 4th Grade
Lectors: Vivian Ridgely, Christian Ramos
Servers: Lemma Wheatley, Jude O'Herron, Noah Mikkelson

Friday, September 27
Choir: 3rd Grade
Lectors: Michael Purcell, Ben Nguyen
Servers: Jack Bellaver, Gabriel Bevc, Liam O'Herron
We are going to continue the morning prayer group for parents that started last year.

 It will take place in the Mary Garden at church, weather permitting. Starts after morning drop off, usually about 8:20am. 

October 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29
High School Information Fair
St. Mary’s Catholic school would like to invite your middle school students and their parents to our annual high school information fair to be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019 from 6:30 to 8 PM in the upper commons of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Several other high schools will be in attendance.
Share the Saint Benedict Love
Are you willing to share your experience with our social media followers?

Please send in a family selfie, with a short testimonial on your experience at Saint Benedict School and we'll share it on FB, IG and Twitter. email: scauley@saintbenedictschool.org
Would you be willing to put an "Enrolling Now" sign in your front yard for SBCS?

We have one for you!! Email Gretchen at  admissions@saintbenedictschool.org  
and we'll get you one!
Got a referral family for us? We love those too! So, send them to one of our upcoming Open House Events. And thank you in advance for helping spread the word about our amazing little school!
Ministry & Events
On Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm The Lilies of the Holy Trinity cordially invite all women of the parish to join them for a beautiful morning of prayer, and presentations on Our Lady of Guadalupe by Bryan Walsh and the Blessed Virgin Mary by Deacon Edward Owen.

Breakfast will be included. Registration will be available at all masses on Sept 14-15 and Sept 28-29 or by contacting JoAnne Tucci at:  Joanneinva@comcast.net  Fee $10 per person, $5 for Lily member. 
K-5 Time Change!
Parish Religious Education for grades Kindergarten through 5th grades is being moved from Wednesday nights to Sunday mornings between the Masses from 9:45am-10:45am and will be located in the same rooms as last year at the parish school. Classes will begin on Sunday, October 6. 
Edge Kick-Off
The Edge Kick-Off will be on Wednesday, October 2 from 6:30pm-8:00pm at St. Benedict Catholic Church. All 6-12 graders are welcome! Dinner will be served.   Edge, middle school youth ministry and religious education, will take place from 6:30pm-8:00pm on Wednesday nights in the St. Anselm Hall of the Parish School after the kickoff. 
Registration Open!
Registration for Kindergarten through 5 th grade religious education, Edge middle school youth ministry and religious education, The Rule high school youth ministry and religious education, confirmation preparation, and First Penance and Communion is open! Please register online on the parish website. 
First Penance/First Communion Sacramental Preparation
The deadline for signing up for First Penance/Communion (age of reason: 7, typically in 2nd grade) is October 6.

Registrations are online on the parish website and letters with schedules are on the parish website and side porch. Classes for First Penance/Communion will take place on select Sundays between the Masses from 9:45 to 10:45am. 

Please remember that any child preparing to receive sacraments must be concurrently enrolled in religious education, which is different than sacramental preparation. Sacramental preparation for First Penance/Communion is required to occur through the parish, not the school.

Religious education, however, can take place either through a Catholic school, parish religious education program, or a homeschool program. In some cases, a young person will be receiving both religious education and taking sacramental preparation courses. School students have their religious education covered in class. 
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