May 24, 2020 * Comet Newsletter
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From Our Principal...Finish strong, Comets!
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THURSDAY, MAY 28: Saluting Our Graduates!
As we approach the end of the school year, it is normally a time of celebration for our 8th grade class as they prepare to move on to high school. Due to the social distancing guidelines, we have officially moved the 8th Grade Graduation date to July 16 in hopes that we may be able to have an in-person graduation event. To honor our graduates now, we want to celebrate the St. Benedict Class of 2020 (from a distance) with a
Car Parade Brigade!
and bring each of them a special yard sign to recognize their accomplishments at St. Benedict.
We'd love to have as many families join us next Thursday morning, May 28, to cheer on the 8th grade class!
We will split into two groups with one group visiting our 8th graders who live north of the River and the other group south of the River. Here are the details for the "
north of the river
" route and the "
south of the river
" route. Everyone will remain in their cars, honking and cheering as our car parade pauses at their houses to drop off a sign!
FRIDAY, MAY 29: Last Day to Turn in Assignments!
Understanding that some added flexibility is needed during these circumstances, we have set aside May 27-May 29 as days for students to complete any outstanding assignments. No new work will be assigned on those days. Please be sure to follow up with your teachers and get in those missing assignments by Friday.
MONDAY, JUNE 1: Virtual Middle School Orientation
This is for new middle school applicants and
all rising 6th grade
students. More details will be sent directly to those families.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2: Virtual Field Day!
We will be enjoying a number of fun, virtual community-building games and activities throughout the day for our students. We know it won't be a typical field day for us - but we're going to make it a fun time for one and all! Plus, this will also be the last chance to earn House points - so don't let your house down!! A schedule will be sent out in next week's newsletter so stay tuned!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3: Summer Send Off!
On
Wednesday, June 3
, the last day of school, we will hold a
Summer Send Off!
in the Church parking lot
to collect books and other supplies that need to be returned to school, and give you any supplies your student may have left in the classroom. Each family will also receive one "registration" packet in a bright yellow envelope in the bag of the youngest child's belongings
.
In consideration of our neighbors, we ask all families to drive east on Stuart Avenue, take a RIGHT onto Sheppard St., a RIGHT onto Hanover Ave., and enter the Church parking lot FROM Hanover. You will exit onto Belmont.
Please follow these directions to make our drop off orderly for everyone. ALSO, in order to avoid long lines and wait times, we have a schedule below that is alphabetical
by last name
.
Please contact
pautry@saintbenedictschool.org
if you will
not
be able to make it at your assigned time OR if you are picking up another family's materials in addition to your own.
All of our teachers look forward to seeing their students and giving them a GREAT Summer Send Off!!
10-10:30 : A-B
10:30-11: C-E
11-11:30: F-J
11:30-12: K-N
12-12:30: O-R
12:30-1: S-Z
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd: End of School Year Mass
Please join us via Facebook Live for our
Closing Mass of the School Year
on June 3 at 5:30pm
. Students are encouraged to wear their uniforms, even though we will participate in Mass from our homes.
Parents - please snap a pic of your students and email them to Mrs. Ridgely at admissions@saintbenedictschool.org for our social media!!
Yearbook Update!
The 2019-2020 Yearbooks have been printed, but due to COVID-19, there has been a delay with delivery. We are going to wait to take orders until the yearbooks arrive. Thank you to Mrs. Houghton for all her work to put these beautiful memories together for all of us!
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Stay Connected! Zoom with Us This Week!
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Attention 8th Grade Parents!
Coffee With Mr. Cruess is this Wednesday, 5/27 at 9am!!
Thank you to all of the parents who have joined us for our virtual Coffee's with Mr. Cruess! It has been a great opportunity for us to connect with our parents and
THIS WEEK we'll talk about the end of this school year and our planning efforts for graduation
. The zoom link for our 8th grade parents is:
Meeting ID: 774 0218 1741
Password: 9a8syb
Please plan to join us for this special meeting for our 8th grade parents!!
End of Day Announcements & Prayer with Mr. Cruess!
This will be our final week of concluding each school day with our Assembly and Prayer at 3:00pm. Everyone is invited to join us via Zoom Tuesday through Thursday using the following link:
Meeting ID: 765 4374 4675
Password: 8H7JD4
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Important News from the Diocese
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Office of Catholic Schools Shares Important Updates on School Prep for THIS FALL!
Please see the document from our Superintendent, Kelly Lazzara,
here
!
Virginia Catholic Conference Needs Your Help Now!
Let your voice be heard alongside the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on behalf of Catholic school communities, which urgently need help in this time of uncertainty.
Take action now
on a
USCCB alert to urge Congress to provide emergency aid to Catholic schools and their families in the next Covid-19 legislation package
.
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Comet Classwork for Week 10
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Just click on your child's grade below to get your teacher's lesson plan for the week.
All referenced attachments/worksheets will still be found in
Parent's Web
and/or Google Classroom (if the teacher is using Google Classroom)
.
We also have this posted on our
website
.
Parents - please reach out to your teachers for support. They are here for YOU!
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
Specials
:
Lauren Bykowski (
lbykowski@saintbenedictschool.org
) - Art
Liz Williams (
lwilliams@saintbenedictschool.org
) - Music
Kristen Treadwell (
ktreadwell@saintbenedictschool.org
) - P.E.
Michelle Clark (
mclark@saintbenedictschool.org
) - Library
GENERAL ASSISTANCE
Principal - Sean Cruess (scruess@saintbenedictschool.org)
Administrative - Pam Autry (pautry@saintbenedictschool.org)
Financial/Technical - Elizabeth Hanson (ehanson@saintbenedictschool.org)
Technical Support - Ash
Tabrizi (atabrizi@saintbenedictschool.org)
Communications & Social Media/Admissions/Development - Gretchen Ridgely (gridgely@saintbenedictschool.org)
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Share Your Support...Thank you families!
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This year was my children’s first year at Saint Benedict’s. Our family has had a wonderful experience. From the kind, welcoming, and active community, and staff that lives by example, to the Classical curriculum taught by teachers who are invested in each student, we have been grateful for finding this one hundred year-old school.
With school being closed, we can no longer give tours or host Open Houses, which means we have to take our admissions online. Your recommendations for our school means so much!
So, if you send a short video (1 minute or less) or write down what you value about our school or why your family attends St. Benedict School, and email it to
admissions@saintbenedictschool.org
by
JUNE 3RD, we will gladly thank you for your help with
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!! P.S. Check out our new school "
Virtual Tour
" video!
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Lunchtime on Zoom at The Comet Cafe!
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The following will be the Zoom schedule for the FINAL WEEK OF OUR COMET CAFE!!!
We've had so much fun sharing, crafting, traveling (virtually) and gaming!!
So grab a sandwich and your device and connect with your classmates for a
30 minute
virtual lunchroom on Zoom! Please encourage your child to participate in their upcoming lunchroom below!
MIDDLE SCHOOL (and Rising Middle) (Grades 5-6-7-8) - TUESDAY at 12pm
It's a VIRTUAL SCAVENGER HUNT....boys vs girls!
The guys beat us last time, but we'll be back to take the win!!
We name an item that might be in your house and the first to find it, wins the point!
3rd - 4th - WEDNESDAY at 12pm
Lego Treehouse Challenge SHOW AND TELL!!
Build your Lego Treehouse (or Treehouse creature) NOW
so you can show us your amazing creativity in the lunchroom!
K - 1st - 2nd - THURSDAY at 12pm
Lego Creation Show and Tell!
Is it a car? A spaceship? A beachhouse or a treehouse?
Whatever it is - use your legos, duplos or anything you want to show us your creativity!!
CLICK HERE to access your grade's Comet Cafe:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74349608636?pwd=ZEdUV2lPZlNFNVNCczBxTWcwNitjQT09
Meeting ID: 743 4960 8636
Password: 4PZLgp
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Nurses Corner...Get Ready for Fall!
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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 Tdap 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.
Stay healthy!
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Time to get ready for next year!
A new school year always brings lots of paperwork. To help make it easier we have prefilled many of the forms with the information we already have. On Wednesday June 3, as you return things and pick up things, we will also have a packet of forms for you to update and return by July 1. (Registration - 1 per student, Health Clinic - 1 per student, Testing form - 1 per student, Family Information - 1 per household, Parent Involvement Program - 1 per family) We are holding off on the Handbook and Transportation Forms until we have completed more of the planning for the fall - please don't turn those in now. New students will also need to submit a Demographic Form (available on our website here at
http://www.saintbenedictschool.org/school-life/handbook-n-forms.cfm
).
Also as part of getting ready for the new year, over the next few weeks the business office will be setting up new billing agreements. In order to receive the Catholic Discount you should submit a Catholic Verification form at least 30 days before your first payment is due. This year we have reached out to the parishes on your behalf to get these forms completed. The Business Office will be emailing you over the next week if you indicated that you were seeking the Catholic discount and we have not received your form.
Also, in order for the business office to set up your new FACTS agreement, you MUST have valid banking information. Now is a great time for you to log into FACTS and make sure all of your information is up to date.
As a reminder you will have two FACTS accounts, one for tuition and one for incidentals.
Going forward Incidental charges 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:
Please be advised that FACTS is experiencing a heavier than normal call volume. 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.)
Enrollment Update:
Given the uncertainty that everyone is experiencing we are extending the contract cancellation deadline for 2020-21 from April 20, 2020 to June 3, 2020.
As a reminder, tuition assistance offers are made based on the retrospective financial information provided in FACTS. Families with a recent change in circumstances can work with Elizabeth Hanson at
ehanson@saintbenedictschool.org
for temporary assistance, which will be reviewed quarterly. We love our Comet Family and are here for you!
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