Dear Saint Benedict families,
I was so pleased to be able to share our plans for reopening with you this past Thursday evening. For those who were not able to attend, we recorded the Town Hall, so you can still view it. We are excited and grateful that we have a way to be in school, in-person, less than a month from today!
There has been a lot of thought, research, planning, and work that has gone into developing this plan. I am grateful for our Reopening Team members who have worked so hard to develop our plans. I just want to remind everyone that this upcoming school year will require the cooperation and teamwork of our entire community. As we take added precautions in school, we ask everyone to do the same outside the school building.
Finally, we know that our Reopening Plan must be fluid. As circumstances change, or better information becomes available, we may need to adjust. We will continue to monitor our procedures in school and modify them as needed.
Thank you for your prayers and your support. Let us be constantly united by our love for Christ and our love for one another.
In Christ,
Sean Cruess
Back to School Dates for your Calendar
-
Monday, August 10th - Welcome Fair Sign Up Sent Out
-
Monday, August 24th will be our Welcome Fair (Re-imagined!)
-
Tuesday, August 25th will be the 1st Day of School for all students! 12pm dismissal for JK & K, full day 1-8
-
Wednesday, August 26th - 12pm dismissal for JK & K, full day 1-8
-
Thursday, August 27th - full day all students
Diocesan-Wide Face Covering Guidelines
After a great deal of discussion, review of CDC guidelines, and consideration for the well being of our children and teachers, and the practicality of mask-wearing at different age levels, the Office of Catholic Schools has shared the face-covering policy that will be used by Catholic Schools diocesan-wide. With our 6 feet of physical distancing in the classroom it allows for students to remove their face covering during times of classroom instruction, but ensures that teachers and students are as safe as possible during transition times and any times we may not be able to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing.
Face Covering Guidelines
- Teach and reinforce use of cloth face mask coverings.
- Teachers, all staff members, and visitors are to wear face mask coverings when they are not able to maintain a 6ft. distance in classrooms or when in communal spaces such offices, hallways, restrooms, school Masses, etc.
- Face mask coverings are to be worn by students in grades 4-12 when they are at a distance of less than 6ft. in the classrooms or in communal spaces such as hallways, restrooms, school Masses, etc.
- Face mask coverings may be more difficult for our younger students in PK through 3rd grade but they should all have masks with them and will be encouraged to wear them when they are at a distance of less than 6ft. in the classrooms and in communal spaces such as hallways, restrooms, school Masses, etc.
- Developmentally appropriate or medically necessary accommodations should be made as needed.
Registration Papers - Please Get Them In Now!
-
Registration - 1 per student
-
Health Clinic - 1 per student
-
Testing form - 1 per student
-
Family Information - 1 per household (address)
-
Parent Involvement Program - 1 per family
-
Demographic Form - 1 per student - NEW STUDENTS
-
Commonwealth of Virginia School Physical Form - K and all NEW Students 1 - 8
-
Immunization Record - JK Students and all 7th Grade students who didn't provide proof of TDAP to St. Benedict Last Year
...And FRESH OFF THE PRESS!
You can drop off the forms in the mailbox at the bottom of the front stairs at school. If you have not yet returned your forms, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you!
School Supply Update
If you cannot find Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer for the classroom, no worries.
Just added! 2 face coverings (may be disposable) in a ziploc bag with the student's name.
|
|
Used Uniform Swap OUTSIDE on the Blacktop - August 17th- 1pm - 4pm
The PTO is hosting a uniform swap on August 17th from 1-4. Things will look a little different - you will be limited to a 20 minute time slot and you may only bring one other person. Items can be swapped or purchased for $2.There will not be a used uniform sale at Welcome Fair, so sign up today!
We are looking for volunteers to help set up, assist customers and put away the uniforms.
Please click the link to sign up to volunteer:
To shop at the Used Uniform Swap...
2. Upon arrival you will be screened and your temperature will be taken.
3. Adults and children in 4th grade and up must wear a mask.
4. Items can be swapped or purchased for $2. Your FACTS Incidental account will be charged for purchases. (Your FACTS account may be paid online or be sending cash or check into school.)
|
|
Fall Clean Up is Saturday, August 22nd
Join our St Benedict School Community in cleaning up the grounds! Volunteer duties include weeding, hedge trimming, picking up trash and laying mulch. Please sign up using the link below. Remember to bring gloves, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, shovels and other useful gardening tools. This is an adult only event, please no kids.This is a great way to start earning those volunteer hours with friends old and new! (Virtus is NOT required for this volunteering opportunity.)
|
|
Substitute Teachers Needed
Saint Benedict is looking for substitute teachers. Applicants should have their college degree and will have a background check performed as part of the application process. Please contact Sean Cruess or Pam Autry at 804-254-8850 if you are interested. Thank you!
|
|
Welcome New Families and New Siblings! |
|
Get Ready for Back to School at SBCS!
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Gretchen at admissions@ saintbenedictschool.org who will be happy to help!
|
|
Summer Reading - Finish Strong Comets!
Let's make sure our Comets are ready for Back to School and have finished up their summer reading assignments! Our Middle School students also have a keyboarding certification to complete. Be sure to check out what you will need to do over the summer now, so you can plan your time accordingly! Our summer reading is available on our website here.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BE GETTING THIS DONE so you don't have to cram the week before school starts :).
|
|
We love our Comet Family!! |
|
"Before we moved to Richmond, we knew we'd send our kids to St. Benedict. Its reputation for academics oriented towards truth, strong community and faith preceded it! Now that we have kids in 3rd and 1st grades, we know all of this to be true. The teachers truly care about the students and I regularly see the older students guiding and watching out for the younger ones. My boys have grown as students, but more importantly in character and faith - thank you St. Benedict!" - Caitlin, Mom of 1st & 3rd Graders
We've been so blessed to receive such kind words of support from families! With school being closed, please know how important it is for us to be able to continue sharing those testimonials with the broader community. If you have a minute and can send a few words about what your family appreciates about St. Benedict to Gretchen at admissions@saintbenedictschool.org it would be VERY appreciated and you will receive 1 PTO Volunteer Hour for the 20-21 school year! That's an easy hour and does SO MUCH GOOD for your school in this time! THANK YOU!!
|
|
Principal - Sean Cruess
(scruess@saintbenedictschool.org)
Administrative - Pam Autry (pautry@saintbenedictschool.org)
Financial/Technical - Elizabeth Hanson (ehanson@saintbenedictschool.org)
Admissions/Development/Communications - Gretchen Ridgely
(gridgely@saintbenedictschool.org)
If you need to stop by the school, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE FIRST
at 254-8850 or email pautry@saintbenedictschool.org.
Our school is a construction site right now and our office hours vary based on work currently underway.
|
|
Nurses Corner...Get Ready for Fall! |
|
It is a state requirement that all students entering Kindergarten and new to the school in grades 1-8 have a physical, including up-to-date immunizations, completed by their local doctor within the year. There is a state-mandated form (found on the school website here) that needs to be completed by the doctor at that visit.
We will need an immunization record from a health provider for all incoming JK students.
All students entering 6th grade are required to receive a 7th grade booster and must provide the clinic with a copy of this immunization update.
And a reminder to all students with emergent/as needed medications kept in the clinic, such as Epipens and inhalers, the required medication administration forms, found on the school website, need to be completed by a physician within the year.
All of the above forms are required for the first day of school (but turning them in sooner is greatly appreciated). Stay healthy!
|
|
As a reminder you will have two FACTS accounts, one for tuition and one for incidentals. FACTS is our student accounts system of record and all charges and payments are recorded there.
Incidental charges (including ASE and Early Arrival) will be entered in FACTS and be due on 5th of the month. Unlike the tuition account, the incidental account can be changed so payments are not automatic.
Incidental invoice emails will contain a payment button that allows you to make payment without logging into to your FACTS account. Consequently, the email can be forwarded to allow someone else to make payment if you desire.
For 2020-2021, families who are paying tuition in one lump payment will pay $10 to have both a tuition account and an incidental account. Families who are paying tuition monthly will pay $45 to have both a tuition account and an incidental account. Families who need a second incidental account will pay $10 the additional account.
If you make a partial payment, it is applied proportionally to charges that are due. If you need the payment applied another way, you should make the payment by phone with a FACTS representative or send in payment to the school office.
FACTS Payments: If you need to adjust a payment date you have the following options:
1. Log into FACTS and
-- for payments on the tuition plan, move the payment up to 10 days yourself
-- for payments on the incidental plan, you can turn off automatic payments
2. Email ehanson@saintbenedictschool.org . You will normally get a response within 3 hours, but you should allow 24 hours. Be as specific as you can with your request.
(Please be advised, that if you call FACTS, the first thing they will ask is if you have reached out to the school.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
