Great First Week, Comets! |
|
Weekly Checklist: Week of August 30, 2020
|
|
-
Monday, August 31 - Augustine House (only) wears House T-shirt with uniform.
-
Wednesday, September 2 - 12-12:30pm New Family Zoom Lunchroom with Mr. Cruess
-
Thursday, September 3 - Gregory House (only) wears House T-shirt with uniform. (St. Gregory the Great Feast Day)
-
Planning Ahead? Always check out school calendar on the website HERE!
|
|
The theme for this school year comes from the inspiring ninety-first Psalm:
Say to the Lord, "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2)
We feel that it is a timely reminder, especially in times of turmoil and anxiety, that our trust and confidence should always be in the Lord.
Car Line
First of all, thank you to all of our families for your patience as we all adjust to the new car line procedures. Morning car line has generally gone very well. Please remind your child to have everything ready to get out of the car, including their mask on, when they are in car line. It will just keep everything moving quickly. In the afternoon, it is still taking a little longer than we would like, but we're making a few adjustments that we hope will speed things up as we move forward.
Mask Reminders
As we've completed the first week of school, we've noticed a few things about masks. Please be sure masks fit properly and the child is able to easily take their own mask on and off. Gaiter and bandana-style masks are currently acceptable, but we've noticed that students can have trouble keeping them up and over their nose. Masks that tie in the back or have multiple straps can also be a challenge for students. Because masks are part of our everyday uniform, we appreciate you taking the time to help your children find masks that are comfortable for them, and are easy for them to take on and off and wear correctly. Students will each receive a lanyard today. If it helps, they may attach the lanyard to their mask, so it stays around their neck when they are not wearing it. Overall, we've been very impressed with how well the students have adjusted to wearing masks during the school day.
House System
Each student at St. Benedict is assigned to one of four Houses (with family members all in the same House). The House roster can be found here. The Houses are named after the four doctors of the church who are pictured in the mural at Saint Benedict Church above the tabernacle - Augustine, Jerome, Gregory, and Ambrose. The House system has three main goals:
- COMMUNITY - The House system will further increase the already strong sense of Christian Community at Saint Benedict. It will provide a forum for new families to be welcomed and for returning students to feel a sense of belonging. The smaller communities will provide a place where each student will play a part in a safe and welcoming environment and which will provide additional service opportunities as well.
- LEADERSHIP - The House system will promote virtue, develop leadership and provide academic support.
- SCHOOL SPIRIT - The House system will provide a framework to accommodate friendly competition, encourage school spirit, and increase volunteer participation.
Augustine House - Wear House Shirt Tomorrow (and Gregory on Thursday!)
On the Feast Day of the House Patron Saint, the members of that House should wear their House t-shirt with their normal school uniform (in place of their regular school uniform shirt). St. Augustine's Feast Day was this past Friday, but since it was a Mass day for our Middle School, students in Augustine House should wear their House t-shirts (red shirts) on Monday, August 31. St. Gregory's Feast Day is Thursday, Sept. 3rd. Gregory House should wear their House t-shirts (blue shirts) that day.
We have purchased House t-shirts for each of our new students. Returning students should still have their House shirt from last year. If your child has outgrown or lost their shirt and you'd like to order another, they can be ordered this week for $7 per shirt. Please send the student's name, t-shirt size, and House to Mr. Cruess no later than Friday, September 4.
COVID-19 Parent Information
Under Classwork you will see some of the helpful Covid-related resources we used with teachers for their training, as well as a collection of communications from the school.
|
|
New Family Zoom is THIS WEDNESDAY!
Mr. Cruess will be hosting a Zoom Lunchroom for our New Families THIS WEDNESDAY, September 2nd from 12pm-12:30pm. This is just a brief check in to see how things are going, what questions you have, and how we can help you get settled into your new school community!
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 779 8107 0445
Passcode: i89Wkn
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Gretchen at admissions@ saintbenedictschool.org who will be happy to help!
|
|
Morning Carline Reminders
- Morning Carline drop off begins at 7:45am and ends at 8:10am.
-
Everyone must go through carline unless they have been approved as a walker by the Principal.* All students will have their temperature taken before a parent departs.
-
Be sure your students are wearing their mask BEFORE the teacher approaches the car door. Help us keep the carline moving by making sure your child has their mask on, filled bottle of water, backpack and lunchbox in hand and ready to go when you pull up.
-
Carline Courtesy: Enter the carline on Cleveland St. from Hanover Avenue ONLY. If you enter from Grove, you will be cutting the line, blocking Cleveland St. and frustrating fellow families and our neighbors. Not sure? Check out the map here!
- If the gates are closed, you are late.
-
You must park. Walk your student to the front door. Wait at the front door until your student passes the health check. Parents MUST accompany a late child to the front door for their health screening.
Afternoon Carline Reminders
- Afternoon Carline begins at 3:00pm and ends at 3:15pm.
-
Everyone must go through carline unless they have been approved as a walker by the Principal.*
- We will call the parents of any remaining children not scheduled for ASE. At 3:30 students remaining will be sent to ASE (and you will incur the ASE cost).
* Generally a walker is someone who walks to/from school or takes public transportation. To be approved as a walker you need to email prepared@saintbenedictschool.org and await approval. You are not a walker until you have received approval.
|
|
Before and After School Care Reminders
- Morning Care is available from 7:30am - 7:45am. (Carline opens at 7:45am)
- Parent must wait at ramp door until health check is passed
- After School Enrichment (ASE) is available from dismissal - 6pm.
- Parent calls upon arrival at ramp door on N. Belmont Ave.
|
|
Taking Care of Our Comet Family |
|
Please remember that we are one community that is supportive and respectful. As in any year, from time to time teachers and students may be out of school. Please respect privacy and don't jump to conclusions.Whenever a member of the school community has a confirmed case of COVID-19, we will work with the Diocese and the Health Department to make sure close contacts are notified so they may take appropriate action inline with CDC guidance.
|
|
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!
|
|
We love our Comet Family!! |
|
I wanted to say thank you for this whole process of enrollment to the first day of school running so smoothly. We would recommend St. Benedict’s to everyone we know. Everyone has made us feel like part of the Comet family immediately and we are so thankful God let us to this school and the wonderful people! - Stephanie, mom of 1st and 3rd graders
We've been so blessed to receive such kind words of support from families! 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 us 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!!
|
|
Yay Lunch! Order weekly by Saturday night! |
|
In case you missed this on social media! |
|
Saint Gertrude Middies Fall Sports for Girls in Grades 5-8
At Saint Gertrude, our Athletic Department has been working to give our student-athletes the best athletic experience as possible for this fall, and we want to do the same for our Middies program. For those of you who do not know, we typically run a Grade 5-8 Middies Field Hockey and Middies Volleyball program. Both sports compete throughout the fall with other local area teams. Right now we are evaluating the interest level moving forward with offering these teams. Please send me an email at fpochily@benedictineschools.org by September 7th if you have a daughter who would be interested in participating in one of these programs. Thank you so much and go Gators!
Greater Richmond School of Music
Richmond's award winning music school, "Greater Richmond School of Music" is happy to announce that we will continue to provide the students of St. Benedict Catholic School with the highest quality of instrumental music education for the 2020-2021 School Year. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, this will be provided via LIVE ONLINE lessons with degreed music instructors both in private and group options. To register for music lessons, or to get additional information, please visit the following link https://grsm.net/register/ or email Charlene at info@grsm.net. We have instructors available from 9am-9pm Monday-Saturday, and we look forward to working with your family in this format until we can be back in person at St. Benedict's (hopefully soon).
|
|
And remember!
ONLY COME TO SCHOOL IF….
- Your temperature is under 100.4 degrees.
- In the past two (2) weeks, you HAVE NOT presented symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, with no alternative diagnosis.
- In the past two (2) weeks, you HAVE NOT traveled internationally.
- In the past two (2) weeks, you HAVE NOT been exposed - less than six (6) feet for greater than 15 minutes - to anyone who has tested positive for or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 (with no alternative diagnosis), without wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
