Week of January 30, 2022
Click on the image below to see our highlights from Catholic Schools Week!
Coming up this week....
Masks are recommended for all in-person events, regardless of vaccination status.


  • Monday, Feb. 7th - Last day to send in men's deodorant and body wash for veterans at McGuire's VA Hospital.

  • Friday, Feb. 11th - Re-enrollment contracts deadline for the 22-23 school year. Contracts with deposit are due.

  • Friday, Feb. 11th - Honor Roll Assembly

  • Saturday, Feb. 12th - GO COMETS BASKETBALL! Click here for schedule.

PLANNING AHEAD...
  • Feb. 18th - Parent/Teacher Conferences, NO SCHOOL
  • Feb. 21st - NO SCHOOL. President's Day Holiday.

Check out our school calendar on the website HERE!
Need a past newsletter? Check out our archives on the website HERE!
Principal's Corner
Thank you for building up our Catholic School
As we come to the end of Catholic Schools Week, I think it is important to thank everyone who makes our school not just possible, but thriving. We are grateful to the parishioners of St. Benedict for the support they provide and to Father John David for his spiritual guidance. We thank our parents for their commitment to a faith-filled education for their children. We thank our faculty and staff for their dedication and care. We thank our students for the joy and enthusiasm they bring to school each day. And finally, we thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us.
Parent-Teacher Conference Time is Here!
Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Friday, February 18th from 7:30am-12pm. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on this day. Since our conference time is limited, we ask that parents only sign up for a conference if there is an academic or classroom concern. If your child is making good progress, you do not need to schedule a conference. Specials (elective) teachers are not part of these regularly scheduled conferences. Please contact them directly if you would like to set up a time to meet. The Sign Up Genius will close at 12pm on Wednesday, February 16th. Feel free to call Mrs. Autry in the main office (804) 254-8850, if you have any questions.  
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
Care for Creation Club Forming!
Mrs. Brunner, our JK Teacher, is inviting 20 students in grades JK-8 to join her for a new club at SBCS! Let us gather together to learn about how, like St. Francis, we can learn about our God and our Earth. We will talk about our Catholic faith, plant seeds, and learn how to care for the poor. The first meeting will be February 14th, Valentine’s Day, from 3:15-4:15pm.

If your child is interested - please sign up here. Participation is limited to the first 20 students.
Next PTO Gala Meeting is Feb.22nd
Our next PTO meeting will be held on TUESDAY, Feb. 22nd at 6:30pm in the cafeteria. This will be a joint meeting with members of our Alumni Committee. We'll be joining forces to continue our Gala planning and review our auction items and baskets, art auction items, Centennial Booklet, event logistics and more. PLEASE join us! When we meet, the auction will only be 10 weeks out and we need many hands to pull off an amazing Centennial event, which this is shaping up to be!! Can't make it, but can help? Email our wonderful PTO President, Georgia Riccobono.
Gala 101
Because of Covid, it has been 3 years! since our last Gala, and in that time, we have welcomed so many new families into our school family. We thought it would be a good idea to provide a little "Gala 101" to give you the download on this incredible evening and what you can look forward to on Saturday, April 30th!

  1. This is our school's major event of the year. (Yes, Oktoberfest is major too - but the parish is responsible for that event and we are thankfully the biggest beneficiary which is why we do all we can to support that event.) But the Gala is our event and directly benefits our school and our PTO. We look forward to seeing all of our parents there each year, so please plan now to attend and have a GREAT evening!
  2. The Gala features a live auction and silent auction with an amazing professional auctioneer to keep the bidding exciting! We are so grateful to our parents, alumni and business friends who donate items to make our auction a fun and fantastic time! We hope that if you have connections to a hotel, vacation house, restaurant, retail store, etc. you can help us with a donation. Your child's class is also building a special themed "Class Basket" for the auction - and those are a BIG HIT - so please be sure to do what you can to help make it AMAZING!
  3. Our Class Art Auction is a big deal. We are blessed to have parents who have volunteered to coordinate a beautiful, personalized piece of art - handmade by your child's class - to be auctioned off in our live auction. Just a little head's up: the bidding gets pretty competitive for these one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork (plus bragging rights for being the owner)! 😉👍
  4. We use an electronic bidding system for our auction, so you can conveniently bid from your smartphone. When you purchase your ticket, you'll register for your Auctria link.
  5. Salute your Comet/s in our commemorative Centennial Program. Just for this Centennial celebration, we are creating a special booklet to honor our school, its history and all of the decades of Comets who have come before us and helped to ensure that St. Benedict's mission would continue for us and beyond. It will be like an amazing yearbook celebrating 100 years, and your family and/or your business can be included in this keepsake by purchasing an ad. See the ad below for more information!
  6. Business attire is the dress and this event is for adults only (children are not allowed to attend the Gala, no exceptions.) Plus, parking is conveniently located next to The Commonwealth Club and valet parking is also available if you'd prefer. The Commonwealth Club does not require vaccination or masks to enter its facility. Our venue space also includes ample outdoor space (in addition to an expansive indoor space) weather-permitting.
  7. So what should you I do now?
Comets SPRING Sports! Go Comets!
The Spring season is just around the corner, and St. Benedict's hopes to offer several opportunities this year.

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

Co-ed Elementary 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 4 volunteers and a maximum of 25 students. $25 fee.

Co-ed Middle School Track. Grades 5-8. No experience required. Practices as scheduled by the coaches and two or three meets over the course of the season. First meet TBD. A minimum of 2 coaches and 8 athletes. $25 fee.

Boys Middle School Volleyball. Grades 5-8. No experience required. Practices as scheduled by the coaches and five to six games over the course of the season. Runs from March to May. Saturday games at St. Bridget's School. A minimum of 2 coaches and 10 athletes. $25 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. Registration closes at 3:00pm Friday, February 18th.

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.
Library Notes and News
You have until April 29 to finish the school Reading Challenge. Earn House points and a reward for turning in your challenge sheet by the deadline. Information is on the library page of the school website. 

The 4&5 Book Club meets on Monday, February 7th. 

Friends of the Comet Library can donate to the library through our BTSB wishlist: https://www.btsb.com/sosl/saintbenedictcatholicschool/

Treat your library books with care and return them on time. 
Tuition Assistance for 2022-23
Tuition Assistance - All returning families without significant business/self-employment income must apply for tuition assistance no later than March 1st. Those with significant business/self-employment income have until June 1st. That being said, the sooner you complete your application, the sooner you will hear from us. You will have two weeks after receiving the tuition assistance decision to cancel your contract and receive your deposit back. Please know that because the tuition assistance model assumes that the only change on your tax return is your W2 income, in years with a lot of changes in your life the model struggles to be accurate; therefore, we may reach out to you and discuss waiting for your 2021 return to be complete before making a final decision. That being said this does not change the deadlines for applying.

  • March 1st Deadline:
  • Returning Families with W-2 income and without significant business self/employment income (2020/2021 Return and 2021 W2s)
  • Returning Families who do not file taxes - March 1 - other documentation of income
  • June 1st Deadline:
  • Returning Families without W-2 income who file a tax return (2021 Tax Return)
  • Returning Families with W-2 income and significant business/self employment income (2021 Tax Return)
Purchase An Ad in Our Commemorative Centennial Program! Salute Your Comet!
Celebrate this momentous occasion of St. Benedict's Centennial and join our families, faculty, alumni, business neighbors and friends in congratulating our wonderful school for 100 years of service to RVA's children and their families!

This keepsake book will commemorate our school's Century of Service and feature special recognition letters from Church and school leaders, a history of our school community, shared memories and photographs from across the decades and congratulatory ads from our broader community. Leave your mark in this once-in-a-lifetime Comet publication by sending words of congratulations, honoring a loved one or memorializing friends and family. 

The book will be distributed at the Centennial Gala with limited distribution after the event. All advertisers will receive a copy of the booklet. Have questions or need help with your ad? Contact Gretchen at centennial@saintbenedictschool.org

Substitute Teachers Needed
Saint Benedict School 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!
Growing in Our Faith
Thanks for sharing!
When your son tells you,"Mom, do Spirit Day with me.  
Close your eyes, it's going to be a surprise."
High School Information & Upcoming Events
For the Health of Our Community
Executive Order Two requires that as of January 24, 2022 parents make the decision about whether their students wear masks in school.
• Indoors: Masks are recommended for all individuals aged 2 years and older, including students, teachers, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
• Outdoors: Masks do not need to be worn when outdoors.

ONLY COME TO SCHOOL IF….

Helpful resources for our families:

COVID-19 Testing Information

How to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine