• Monday, January 14 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. NO SCHOOL. ENJOY THE LONG WEEKEND!
• Wednesday, January 18th - Coffee w Mr. Cruess - 4th & 5th Grade Parents - 8:30am, Cafeteria; RSVP Here by Jan. 14th.
• Thursday, January 19 - PTO Meeting (Parents get 1 PTO Hour to Attend!)
• Friday, January 20 - Report Cards post for end of 2nd Marking Period

Planning Ahead...

• Friday, January 27 - Re-enrollment Contracts go home. Due back Feb. 10th.
• Sunday, January 29 - Catholic Schools Week!
• Catholic Schools Week Dress Up Days (for your planning!) Thank you to our Student Council & 8th Grade for selecting this year's Themed dress up days! Stay tuned to next week's newsletter for more details for this fun week!
• PLEASE NOTE: Students must either be dressed in normal uniform OR dressed in the spirit of the theme of the day. These are not 'free tag days' and students treating them as such will not be allowed to participate in the theme days. Thanks for your help on this, parents!
• Monday 1/30 - Decades Day (dress from a decade before 2000)
• Tuesday 1/31 - Dress Like a Teacher (and teachers dress like a student)
• Wednesday 2/1- Career Day (dress like what you want to be when you grow up)
• Thursday 2/2 - Spirit Day (wear blue and gold)
• Friday 2/3 - Dress Uniform (wear your school uniform for Mass)

Uniforms

Catholic schools have a long-standing tradition of uniforms, but sometimes we simply accept it as a tradition and don't think about the reasons for having a uniform. The uniform reminds students of the importance and value of education. It lets them know that it is something their parents and teachers take seriously and want them to take seriously, as well. There is a noticeable difference in how the kids carry themselves on days we are not in uniform. The uniform is also a visible reminder that whatever socio-economic differences may exist, in the classroom all students are equal. We ask parents to be vigilant about your child's uniform each morning, because when we have to remind students about these issues at school, it takes away from important academic time.

I wanted to mention a few of the common uniform infractions we've seen lately and ask for your help at home. 

1. Our uniform shirt is white and our polo - as well as our PE shirt - must have the logo on it. If your child's shirt has become grey, stained or has holes in it, please do not send your child to school in it. It needs to be replaced.
2. Children grow more quickly at times and the length of both shirts and skirts must be appropriate (see handbook). We will send an email home if your child comes to school with a shirt or skirt that is too short. Rolling skirts is never allowed.
3. A number of students seem to have received "smart" watches for Christmas and want to wear them to school. Please remember that students should not bring any internet-connected devices to school. 
4. The uniform policy also prohibits bracelets, rings, and earrings other than a single pair of studs. Makeup and fingernail polish are also not allowed.
5. Since we are out of the summer uniform right now, tennis shoes should only be worn on PE days and, for JK-5, the athletic shoes should be white.
6. Hair grows quickly at this age, and boys' hair should be kept above the eye brows, above the ears, and off the collar.
7. Items that do not match the uniform policy (stained shirts, worn out pants, etc.) will not be accepted at future PTO Uniform Swaps.

The complete uniform guidelines can be found in the Parent & Student Handbook here. There are also additional pictures on our website here. We will let you know in the newsletter when the next Uniform Swap will be. In the meantime, if you need to replace any logo items, please visit Flynn O'Hara on Midlothian Tpk. or online. Please let us know if you have any questions, and thank you for your help with this important aspect of school culture.

Thank you SBCS families for all of the support you have shown our school community during the first half of the year! The link below includes our volunteer opportunities for the rest of the year. Please keep in mind, all families are asked to volunteer either at FallFest or the Gala. 

Gala committees are now forming! Join us at our meeting this week - THURS. 19TH - to find out how you can help. *Specific day of volunteer needs for the Gala will be posted at a later date*

The Spring season is just around the corner, and St. Benedict's hopes to field several teams this year.

Co-ed Flag Football. 1st & 2nd grade and 3rd & 4th grade teams. No experience required. Brief practices before Saturday games or as scheduled by coaches. First games Saturday, March 11th. A minimum of 2 coaches and 8 players per team. Each team capped at 12 students. $50 fee.

Co-ed Running Club. Grades 1-4. No experience needed. Sunshine, fresh air, and exercise at SBCS once or twice a week. Meetings begin when Spring arrives. A minimum of 3 volunteers and a maximum of 25 students. $25 fee.

Co-ed Track. Grades 5-8. No experience required. One or two practices during the week and two or three meets over the course of the season. First meet TBD. A minimum of 2 coaches and 8 students. $25 fee.

Boys Volleyball. Grades 5-8. No experience required. Players will have a 30-minute training session with a trainer and then play the best of 3 sets. First games Saturday, March 11th. A minimum of 1 coach and 8 students. Team capped at 10 students. $50 fee.

Girls Soccer. Grades 5-8. No experience required. Games to be played Wednesdays and Thursdays at St. Edward-Epiphany beginning in mid-March. Brief practices before games or as scheduled by coaches. A minimum of 2 coaches and 15 students. $50 fee.

If your child is interested in one or more of our offerings, please register HERE. Spots offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As a courtesy to the league organizers, registration will close at 3:00pm Friday, January 27th and no late registrations will be accepted.

Finally, please remember that all our teams rely on volunteer coaches. If you are VIRTUS-trained and interested in helping our kids, please sign up when you register your child.

Thank you to everyone who continues to participate in our Middle School Youth Ministry! Our next St. Benedict Middle School Youth Group (Grades 5-8) will meet on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. All those in grades 5-8 are welcome to join us at any time!

Mrs. Radford's 8th Grade History Class welcomed the St. Benedict Mom's Group for "Kid Olympics" this week. Our little Olympians got to participate in chariot races, battle Minotaurs, ring 'Grecian vases' and were presented with medals and laurel wreaths!

Families - whenever you are in need of basic school information, please check our website! We try to keep everything you need to know easily accessible there. Most information is located under our SCHOOL LIFE tab, but here are some ready links:

Calendar

PARENTS WEB 

FACTS

Past Issues of Newsletter

Uniform Guidelines

School Handbook

School Supplies List

Summer Reading & Assignments

Forms

Faculty & Staff Contacts

Online School Directory (log into ParentsWeb, select Directory)

And some other helpful info (non-website)...

Need to book Afterschool or Morning Care?

Need to pick up your child early from school?

Is grandma or someone else picking up your child?

Email Mrs. Autry: pautry@saintbenedictschool.org or call 804-254-8850

Tia Lukanova - School Counselor

And don't forget to follow us on Social Media!

Instagram

Facebook

Executive Order Two requires that as of January 24, 2022 parents make the decision about whether their students wear masks in school.

ONLY COME TO SCHOOL IF….

• Your temperature is under 100.4 degrees.
• You do NOT have other symptoms of COVID-19, without an alternative diagnosis. Other symptoms include chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Please notify the school about a positive COVID test or possible exposure by sending an email addressed to pautry@saintbenedictschool.org, mmeadows@saintbenedictschool.org and scruess@saintbenedictschool.org.

Helpful resources for our families:

School Covid Guidance as of April 2022

COVID-19 Testing Information

Free At-Home COVID Tests

Richmond/Henrico Testing

Chesterfield Testing

How to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

Richmond Health Department