Weekly Newsletter - February 26, 2019

WEEKLY NEWS - February 26, 2019

Com et Parents TO-DO List for This Week!

THURSDAY (2/28) Parent Workshop - 7-8pm, Library. Dr. McKenna on Social Media and Screen Time: Pitfalls and Advantages. Please RSVP here.

IMPORTANT!!!!

THIS FRIDAY(3/1) DEADLINE FOR RE-ENROLLMENT! CONTRACTS DUE! If you have not already returned your contract you must do so by Friday or incur a late penalty of $300 (on top of the required $200 deposit). Plus, you lose your guaranteed spot and some classes are near or at capacity. PLEASE! Don't miss this deadline, parents!

THIS FRIDAY(3/1) DEADLINE FOR FACTS Tuition Assistance (Round 1) Application Deadline! DON'T WAIT, SUBMIT TODAY!

THIS FRIDAY(3/1) Deadline for Comets Spring Sports Registration (see below)

From Our Principal

This is typically the time in the school year when we start to see some fatigue set in and students get a little lax in adhering to the school procedures and rules. To try to head that off, we had assembly with the entire school last week. I reminded them of the high expectations we have for them. I particularly emphasized following the uniform guidelines, practicing good manners, showing respect toward adults, and treating others with kindness. To read more details about my comments at the assembly, please click here . I ask for your help in reinforcing these things at home as well, so they become habits that our students do without even thinking. That is the ultimate goal of practicing virtue.

Mark Your Calendar: Parent Workshop with Dr. William McKenna

Social Media and Screen Time: Pitfalls and Advantages

Dr. William McKenna will be presenting a program titled, "Social Media and Screen Time: Pitfalls and Advantages" for parents about the safe and responsible use of technology by kids. The presentation will take place at 7pm on Thursday, February 28 in the school library. Dr. William T. McKenna, Psy.D., is a Psychologist in private practice here in Richmond. His clinical work includes counseling couples, trauma across the lifespan, male adolescents, and psychological testing. Dr. McKenna received his Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Belmont Abbey College in 2011, and his Masters and Doctorate from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences (IPS), the School of Psychology at Divine Mercy University in 2017. He completed his residency training with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. Finally, Dr. McKenna is a Richmond native having attended St. Edwards-Epiphany School and Benedictine College Preparatory. All are invited to attend his presentation. Please RSVP here so we have enough seats for everyone!

A Video Welcome from our new Art Teacher, Ms. Amanda Gough!

Comet Spring Sports Reminder! March 1 Deadline!

Our Spring sports offerings are:

1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th Grade Flag Football. Co-ed. No experience required. Brief practices before Saturday games. Season begins 9 March. A minimum of 2 coaches and 8 players per team needed. $50 fee. This was a great hit last year, and we expect to have another successful season. If your child is interested, please sign up HERE .

Elementary Running Club/Middle School Track. Co-ed. Running club grades 1-4; track grades 5-8. Running club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays; track meets TBD. Running Club capped at 50 students. $10 fee. If your child is interested, please sign up HERE .

Start dates and other details will be sent along as they arrive. Please note that registration closes 1 March.

Finally, please note that all our teams rely on volunteer coaches. If you are VIRTUS-trained and interested in helping our kids, please sign up HERE .

Help Make 2019's Gala a Grand Success!

CALLING ALL PARENTS!! You eat out, you visit shops, salons, and sports parks...You have friends or family who own local businesses...YOU CAN HELP!

Gala planning is well underway and we need you to help make our AUCTION a great success! Think of the restaurants and bars you frequent, the beauty salons and other shops you patronize and please ask them for a donation to our school auction.

So, here's our AUCTION DONATION FORM to use....SIMPLY:

1)Fill out the form;

2) Have the donor SIGN the document;

3) Take a picture of the entire form with your phone.

4) Leave the form with the donor for their tax records.

5) Email the picture of the form to CGRIDGELY@gmail.com.

We are also looking for Sponsors for the event. Event sponsorship packages range in price point and perks. If you are able to contribute in any of these ways, please reach out to Georgia Riccobono at Georgia.a.Riccobono@gmail.com or at 757-812-4509.

Spring Alumni Social Needs VOLUNTEERS! (Another Opportunity to Earn Your Hours!)

Our next school event is our Spring Alumni Social being held on March 5 from 7-9pm in St. Anselm Hall. Gretchen Ridgely, our Dir. of Admissions & Development, is looking for parents to help set up, tear down and serve food during the event. THIS IS ANOTHER EASY WAY TO EARN YOUR PTO VOLUNTEER HOURS! The Sign Up Genius link can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e45ada623a0f94-spring5

Stay Tuned! Our School Book Fair is coming up March 13-15. Volunteers will be needed!

IMPORTANT DATE FOR FACTS - MARCH 1 - TUITION ASSISTANCE

IMPORTANT Date For FACTS - March 1

All families should have their application submitted in FACTS by March 1, 2019, even if you are applying in Round 2 and your tax information will be uploaded later. While aid is distributed in all rounds, the total amount of Parish Sharing aid the school receives from the Diocese is determined based on the total need of applications in FACTS on March 1. Therefore, even if you are participating in Round 2, please have your application submitted by March 1.

More on Tuition Assistance:

All families seeking tuition assistance must complete an on-line application through FACTS and upload the required tax documents. There are two main rounds of tuition assistance. Returning families without business income are only eligible for Round 1 assistance. All other families are eligible for Round 1 or 2.

Deadlines as follows:

Round 1 - March 1: Families will be notified in mid-April (2018 W2s and 2017 Tax Return)

Round 2 - June 1: Families will be notified in late June (2018 W2s and 2018 Tax Return)

Please note, The Diocese of Richmond requires that each student apply for aid at only ONE Diocesan School.

Tuition Assistance Policy Updates as of the 2018-19 school year:

PreK Students are no longer eligible for Diocesan aid (Parish Sharing, McMahon Pareter, EISTC) but will still be considered for school based aid. The tuition of the PreK student will continue to be taken into consideration when determining Diocesan and school awards for other students in the family.

Who applies?

For Student's Parents/Guardians married, separated, or living together:

Both parents apply. If living apart, they submit separate applications.

Student's Parents/Guardians not married and live apart :

The custodial parent the child spends the most time with applies

(This is the same guideline used for the college Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSFA)). In addition, the spouse of the applicant also applies. Other adults living in the household but not on the same tax return with the applicant need not apply, and since their income is excluded, their expenses are also excluded.

Extended Day on Re-enrollment Contracts - NEW THIS YEAR!

New this year! All families are being asked to choose an extended day option on your tuition contract. We often hear from parents that they will never use Extended Day, but then something happens, and we don't have the correct paperwork on file for your student to use Extended Day. Even if you don't think you will ever use Extended Day we encourage you to select both Morning Care and After School Enrichment "By Appointment" so you are properly registered should you ever need it . If you do not want to register for Extended Day, please let the business office know and they will send you a contract where you explicitly reject using this program.

MARCH 6th is COFFEE WITH MR. CRUESS for RISING MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS! (Grades 5, 6, 7)

PARENTS! Please join Mr. Cruess and teachers from our Middle School next WEDNESDAY MARCH 6TH from 7:45am - 8:30am in the cafeteria to discuss timely issues related to the interests of our RISING middle school students (currently parents whose students are in grades 5, 6 and 7). From tips on preparing students for entering middle school in the fall to upcoming research papers, this is a GREAT opportunity to hear from teachers and communicate with them about helping your learner to prepare for success! Bagels and coffee will be provided! Students can access Morning Care (on us!) so that parents can join us for the event. RSVP Here!

The St Benedict Team Shop is Open! Order all your P.E. uniform and SBCS sport wear here. Youth and adult sizes, performance wear and totes are available. P.E. uniform rules still apply. All orders need to be placed by March 12. CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR TEAM SHOP! Go Comets!

MASS SCHEDULE FOR MARCH

Friday, March 1

Lectors: Yaretzi Bello Yepez and Aviel Meyrieux

Choir: 3rd Grade

Servers: Jack Bellaver, William Proctor, Noah Mikkelson

Wednesday, March 6 (Ash Wednesday)

Choir: 6th Grade

Servers: Scout Kennon, Griffin Lang, Seamus Cruess

Friday, March 15

Choir: 2nd Grade

Servers: Madeleine Lang, Max Brunner, Gabriel Bevc

Friday, March 22

Choir: 1st Grade

Servers: Liam Cruess, Jack Donner, Michael Williamson

Friday, March 29

Choir: 5th Grade

Servers: Hector Cibes-Lee, Liam O'Herron, Jude O'Herron

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Family Lent Calendar from Partners in Faith

From the Parish

Visit our parish online for mass schedules, sacramental preparation and other timely info! Also, here's a link to Ida B's Bits ( our parish administrator's weekly email with events and happenings at Church.)

Religious Education K-5 and Edge 6-8

Religious Education for grades K-5 continues this Wednesday, February 27th in St. Benedict Catholic School from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Aftercare is provided until 8:00pm for those who have parents in the choir or older siblings in Edge or The Rule.

Edge , which serves as both youth ministry and religious education for children in 6th through 8th grades, continues this Wednesday as well, from 6:30 to 8:00pm, in the St. Anselm Hall. The Rule, which is for 9th through 12th grades meets at the same time in the parish center next to the church.

Edge and The Rule Outing- MARCH 2ND

Edge and The Rule will be going on a joint outing to LaserQuest on Saturday, March 2nd. Meet at St. Benedict’s at 10:00am and pick-up at 2:00pm. Cost is $20 and is due with permission form, which may be found on the parish website, by Wednesday, February 27th. Bring money for Chick-Fil-A lunch after we play.