Comet Connection | Week of Aug. 27th | | |
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Back to School and everyone is having fun enjoying the new playground equipment!
Thank you again to all of our parents and grandparents who supported this major initiative for our school!
God has blessed our school community generously!
❤️❤️❤️
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Let's Plan for a Great Week! | |
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Monday, Aug. 28
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Virtual VIRTUS Training via Zoom; 5:30pm. This session is full. To find other sessions, click here: https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/
- Feast of St. Augustine - Augustine House ONLY wears (Red) House Shirt (with normal uniform bottoms.)
Friday, Sept. 1
- Feast of St. Gregory - Gregory House ONLY wears (BLUE) House Shirt (with normal uniform bottoms.)
Monday, Sept. 4
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NO SCHOOL! Labor Day observed.
Wednesday, Sept. 6
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NEW FAMILIES Coffee with Mr. Cruess, 8:30am, Cafeteria - RSVP HERE!
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Back to School Night! (Parents only) 6:30pm
Planning Ahead...
- Friday, Sept. 15, NO SCHOOL! It's Oktoberfest Weekend!
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Friday, Sept. 15 - Sunday, Sept. 17th - St. Benedict Oktoberfest! VOLUNTEER NOW! ALL Families are asked to work at least 2 shifts at Oktoberfest. See below for details.
For Comet Clubs & Sports Schedule - CLICK HERE FOR OUR CALENDAR!
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Mr. Cruess' Convocation Message (from Tuesday)
I’d like to welcome back this morning, all of our students, our faculty and staff, and our parents. It is a wonderful blessing to be together as we start this new school year. Our theme for this year is from James 1:22, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” This Scripture passage challenges us in two ways, to be both hearers and doers of the Word. There are many ways that God speaks to us. Most obviously through the Scriptures and prayer, but the Lord also speaks through our imagination, considerate friends, the wonder of His creation, and the wisdom of the Church. All of that can easily be drowned out by the business of life. Once we hear the Lord, though, we are encouraged by St. James to be doers of the Word. For students, that could mean coming to school each day with a positive attitude, putting into practice the manners and virtues we learn, seeing a friend who is lonely or having a difficult day and offering your help, and participating fully throughout the school day, especially at Mass. I also want to encourage us parents to be doers of the Word. Make sure we have time for personal prayer and family prayer at home each day, make it a priority to be at church every week, and take advantage of the opportunities promoted by our school such as the Bible in a Year or Catechism in a Year Challenge, Parents in Prayer, or the Parent Scholars program. Check in with your students each day about how their day went and encourage their relationship with Jesus. Together, as a community, trusting is the Lord’s goodness, this will be a grace-filled year here at St. Benedict.
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Mark your calendars!
Help Distribute YAY Lunches Service Hour Opportunity!
Everyday we need parents to help distribute lunches to our students in the cafeteria. Must be VIRTUS Trained & Background Screened. Click here to help!
https://signup.com/go/RqBCWxG
Help Out at Back to School Night: Wed. Sept. 6th Service Hour Opportunity!
This fun event requires a few volunteers to assist with setting up and breaking down chairs and tables and also with laying out refreshments.
https://signup.com/go/JbWWxam
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Oktoberfest is less than 3 WEEKS AWAY!
You are needed! Please sign up now!
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Oktoberfest is coming and ALL SBCS FAMILIES are needed to work a minimum of 8 hours (2 shifts) in service to our school community and this major RVA event which brings over 50K guests annually. This year, ALL parent service hours at Oktoberfest will be counted towards your PTO commitment because this is such an important event for our school (we are the biggest beneficiary of Oktoberfest!)
and it requires the generous support of MANY volunteers (over 700 shifts)!
Oktoberfest will be held Sept. 15-17 and service opportunities will be available for that weekend AND the weekend and days leading up to the event so sign up now!
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The Comet Drama Company will be convening for the fall semester, starting on September 5th, under the direction of Mrs. Connie Schneider. All 5th - 8th grade students are welcome to join. Students will practice theatre skills and work to prepare for our Christmas performance. We will rehearse in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. In order to give focused instruction to actors, there will sometimes be rehearsals just for specific actor groups. A schedule for these focused rehearsals will be handed out the second or third week of drama meetings, and reminders will be sent each week. We are asking for a $25 fee per participant to cover various program needs. Mrs. Schneider looks forward to meeting all our budding actors!
Please register here.
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Carline 101 - PLEASE READ | |
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Morning Carline Reminders:
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Morning Carline drop off begins at 7:50am and ends at 8:10am.
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If your child is a walker, you must walk them to the front door and ring the bell. We open at 7:50am.
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Be sure your students have ALL of their items for the day ready to go BEFORE faculty approaches the car door...it really slows down the carline if kiddos are searching for lunches, backpacks, etc.
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If the gates are closed, you are late. You must park and walk your student to the front door to sign your child in. Absolutely NO DROPPING OFF. This is for the safety of all students.
Afternoon Carline Reminders:
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Afternoon Carline begins at 3:00pm and ends at 3:20pm.
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Please remember to show your carline sign to the attendants in the street. They are texting your child's name to the teachers at the gate so your child is ready when you approach.
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If someone else is going to be picking up your child you must contact the office in advance of carline, otherwise, we will have to call to verify and that really holds up the carline. CALL 804-254-8850 OR pautry@saintbenedictschool.org
- If your child is a walker, they will be dismissed to their parent at the front of the building by our faculty.
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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).
Carline Courtesy: VERY IMPORTANT!
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Please enter the carline on Hanover Ave. FROM NANSEMOND Street. If you cut in on another side street to Hanover, you will be cutting the line AND our side streets are getting blocked which the neighborhood does not want. See the map below for directions.
- Remember, DO NOT ENTER Cleveland Street from Grove Ave. You will be cutting in line and that's not considerate to your fellow parents.
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New this year! As a fundraiser, we auctioned off ONE 'jump the carline' pass at last Spring's Gala, so there is only 1 family who is allowed to enter the carline from Grove Avenue. They have a special car pass. Anyone else trying to enter the carline from the direction of Grove Avenue will be directed to the end of the carline by the carline staff.
- Keep your blinkers ON in carline so people see the line and can move around us.
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Be courteous to our neighbors in carline. If you see someone trying to get in/out of their parking space or garage, kindly move out of their way as soon as possible. Do not speed on our city streets - children live all around our school. PLEASE do not block the garages on Cleveland St AND stay as far right as you can to keep traffic flowing around us. We want to be good neighbors!
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If someone else is picking up your child, please make sure you have informed the office and have instructed them on our carline procedures.
- THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR CARLINE MOVING EFFICIENTLY AND FRIENDLY :)
CARLINE MAP... Please enter the carline on Hanover Ave. from Nansemond St. Please do not use other side streets as it causes extra neighborhood congestion. Also, unless you are in carline, avoid Cleveland and Hanover Avenues during those times to help lighten the traffic load for your fellow families and the safety of our carline staff! Thank you!
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After School Enrichment (ASE) | |
After School Enrichment (ASE) is available for all students Grades JK-8th from 3-6pm on a regular basis (contract) or by drop-in/reservation. THIS YEAR there are a limited number of spaces available daily, so If you do not have a contract agreement for ASE, please email Pam Autry at pautry@saintbenedictschool.org no later than 9am on the day requested and she will need to confirm that drop-in space is available. If you'd like to set up a daily space for your child (via a contract agreement), and haven't done so already, please contact Brian Wingfield in the Business Office at bwingfield@saintbenedictschool.org to make these arrangements. ASE is available every school day during the year, including 12:30pm early dismissals, except December 20th, March 28th and June 5th. Feel free to call or email the office with questions. | | |
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Yay Is Back!
We’re excited to continue our partnership with Yay, our lunch service. They’re hard at work curating a customized menu just for us, featuring nourishing meals made fresh daily by local chefs.
Register or update your account today to be the first to know when your Lunch Calendar is ready to explore! With exciting announcements, delicious options and big promos around the corner, you won’t want to miss a thing.
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Substitute Teachers Needed at SBCS | |
Saint Benedict School is looking for substitute teachers for the 2023-2024 academic year. 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! | |
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Another great installment from internet evangelist IM Beggar on "What is Love?"
Click on the image below to check it out!
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