Weekly Newsletter: October 27, 2019
This Week's Schedule
Friday, Nov. 1
  • All Saints Day
  • Honor Roll Assembly (St. Anslem Hall)
Message from the Principal
I recently had the opportunity to accompany our 7th grade class on a field trip to the Virginia Holocaust Museum, located right here in Richmond. 

As you can imagine, it was a very powerful experience. One the things that struck me the most was the idea that the Holocaust started with small acts and words that accentuated our differences and gradually grew into the horrific result of concentration camps and mass extermination.

It was a reminder to me and our students that we all share the gift of our human dignity bestowed on us by God. What we have in common is much greater than our differences. I was reminded of Jesus' teaching that, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."

Sean Cruess,
Principal
Please remember during car line in both the morning and afternoon that cars must come down Cleveland from Hanover and make a left turn into the alley. 

No cars should be taking a right turn into the alley.  The police have been very adamant that we cannot block traffic in both directions. 

We also want to be respectful of our neighbors. If you see anyone trying to get in or out of a parking space/garage during car line, please help as much as you can and always act with courtesy even when someone else is expressing their frustration.
Want to see what the kids are up to in our After School Enrichment program?
Click the link for the full schedule this week.
Teacher Conferences
Conferences are planned for Thursday, November 7, from 4pm-7pm and Friday, November 8 from 7:30am-12:00pm.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are not required but are encouraged, especially for students having difficulty in some aspect of their education. For elementary students, we encourage all parents to schedule a conference with your child's homeroom teacher. 

Middle school parents do not need to meet with every teacher, only those with whom they feel time is needed. If your child is doing well in all courses and you do not have any concerns, you do not need to schedule a conference. Specials (elective) teachers are not part of the Parent-Teacher Conference days.

If you have questions, please call Pam Autry at (804) 254-8850.  
Sign Up Genius will close at noon on Tuesday, November 5 .

Link to sign up genius:  
From the PTO

Thank you to all of the parents, students, and faculty that made this annual tradition happen.

Congratulations to all of our winners:

Chili Cook-Off:
Sean Priest

Trunk or Treat Car:
Linda & Tom Houghton
Grandparents Day
Grandparents Day is November 15, 2019

If you submitted your grandparents and grand friends names and addresses they will be receiving their invitations in the next week or so.

We encourage any grandparent or grand friend that cannot attend to send in letters for their students.  Letters should be received by November 13  and addressed to:

St. Benedict Catholic School 
ATTN: (Your grandchild's name and grade) for Grandparent's Day
3100 Grove Ave.
Richmond, VA 23221

As always we are still in need of volunteers for this special day. Please sign up below:


For more information, please contact the PTO at  YourSBCSPTO@gmail.com
Volunteer with Us
Volunteer Reminders!

The close of the 1st semester is quickly approaching and that means all families should have completed and recorded at least 8 hours of volunteer service to avoid any fees. Below are the guidelines regarding volunteering for SBCS.

● Each family should plan to work at least one shift for Oktoberfest (which is the 3rd full weekend in September each year.) 
● Each food donation in response to a PTO request counts as ½ an hour. Up to 6 food donations (3 hours/year) may be used toward the plan. 
● PIP Service hours must be performed by a family member who is 18 or older. Saint Benedict students may have community service requirements but are not part of PIP. 
● The family is responsible for recording hours in ParentsWeb. 
● Hours should be recorded within one week of completing the volunteer opportunity.
● Cancellations should be kept to a minimum and should be made as early as possible. 
● Participating in or providing food for class parties does not count toward volunteer hours
Little Sisters of the Poor - Canned Food Drive

Our Comet Community is collecting non-perishable canned goods for our good friends at Little Sisters of the Poor. Please send in NON-EXPIRED canned goods to your child's homeroom class. The class with the most canned goods donated will be treated to a FREE TAG DAY! The canned food drive ends November 1, so don't delay - share your blessings today!
CALLING ALL COMETS!

Get ready for #iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday! If you aren't familiar with #GivingTuesday, it follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and kicks off the charitable season and brings people together to give thanks and give back! 

 The goal of this year's #iGiveCatholic is to support the organizations that shape our souls right here in the Diocese of Richmond: our parishes, schools, and nonprofit Catholic ministries. St. Benedict will have its own challenge page for #iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday and we'll be raising money from our entire Comet Community of parents, grandparents, alumni and friends to support The Centennial Fund for Saint Benedict Catholic School!

The Centennial Fund is our $1M campaign to raise the money we need to: (1) replace our aged HVAC system in the school so we have adequate heating and cooling; (2) expand and renovate our outdoor learning and playground spaces for our children, and; (3) maintain our common areas, annual fund and stewardship for the school!

This campaign is 100-years in the making and will allow us to take care of our wonderful little school and keep it vibrant and attractive for future Comets to come!

WE NEED YOU! In honor of our 100th Anniversary, we are looking for 100% participation in The Centennial Fund from our school families and faculty. #iGiveCatholic is a great opportunity to do that - and because this is on a social platform, you can spread the word to family members and friends too, to help make our Centennial a great success for the benefit of our students now and in the future.

#iGiveCatholic is DEC. 3 and advanced giving opportunities will begin in November, so STAY TUNED!
Substitute Teachers
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!
Mass Schedule
Friday, November 1 - All Saints Day (Mass at 8:45am)
Choir: 8th Grade
Lectors: Jack Donner, Ryker Cook
Servers: Liam Cruess, Jude O'Herron, Noah Mikkelson

Friday, November 15 - Grandparent's Day (Mass at 10:30am)
Choir: 4th Grade
Lectors: Alexis Griffin, William Proctor
Servers: Lemma Wheatley, Cristian Ramos, Max Brunner

Friday, November 22
Choir: 3rd Grade
Lectors: Robbie Cleveland, Cecilia O'Herron
Servers: William Proctor, Isaac Fitzpatrick, Seamus Cruess
One For the Books
Your school library is sponsoring the SBCS Reading Challenge to encourage all students to read and enjoy great books.. Students who complete the challenge will earn house points and an award! Click the links below for your list of books to choose from and log:


Lunch Time
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

Ministry & Events
St. Benedict Parish Religious Education for grades Kindergarten through 5th takes place on Sunday mornings from 9:45am to 10:45am at St. Benedict Catholic School.

The next several classes are Sundays October 27; November 3, 10, 17, and 24.
Edge, St Benedict Parish Middle School Youth Ministry and Religious Education, takes place on Wednesday nights in St. Anselm Hall from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The next several meetings are Wednesdays October 30; November 6, 13, 20.

The meeting on November 6 will be a joint Edge and Rule social in the parish hall. There will be no meeting on November 27.
Contact Rob Hamrick at  rhamrick@saintbenedictparish.org  for more information on K-5 Religious Education or Edge
First Penance Class

First Penance preparation takes place on Sundays, November 3, 10, and 17 from 9:45am - 10:45am in St. Anselm Hall. One Catholic parent is required to attend. At this time, if your child was baptized at a parish other than St. Benedict's, proofs of baptism with notations from the parish of baptism are due to the parish office.

Likewise, if your child is registered at a parish other than St. Benedict's, permission from your pastor for you child to receive sacramental preparation at St. Benedict's must be sent to either Kevin Corcoran or Fr. John David Ramsey. Contact Kevin Corcoran at  kcorcoran@saintbenedictparish.org  if you have any questions.
Comet Clips from Social Media
We had a busy week and shared some awesome photos of our Comets on our Facebook and Instagram pages. In case you missed it, Comet grads now at Benedictine paid us a visit, we had prayer time in our newly landscaped/hardscaped butterfly garden, we had a rainy day recess and picture day re-takes.

We'd love it if you followed our Saint Benedict School pages on FB, IG and Twitter, but you don't have to - the pages are public so you can stop by and click LIKE any ol' time. The links are below these pics!
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