Family Update
Week of November 28, 2021
Week of November 28th - December 3, 2021
Good morning,
The video included before this section will highlight the main points of the update.
We all hope that you and your families had a healthy and happy Thanksgiving! Our staff was quite moved by the notes of thanks. We will keep that display up for a while as those sentiments are so impactful!
As a reminder, if your family traveled out of state and your child is not fully vaccinated, your child must quarantine for 10 days upon return or have a negative PCR test to return to school. There are a few states that are exceptions to this rule. Fully vaccinated children and adults, without symptoms, do not need to quarantine or test. Please help us all stay healthy!
- Today marks the beginning of Advent and our preparations for the birth of Jesus.
- Pictures came in on Friday, November 19th. They will go home Monday if not received at conferences. Retake/makeup day is Tuesday, November 30th - sorry for the quick turnaround! Students who are taking pictures on 11/30 may wear any school appropriate outfit.
- Uniforms and the school dress code are required. This includes no nail polish or acrylic/artificial nails, bracelets (except medical), rings, and non-school sweatshirts. Also, all students must wear gym shoes during the day. As we come into winter and the need for boots, students will change into their school sneakers upon arrival. Gym shoes are the safest shoes for students.
- Tardiness is still an issue, but it's much better! Thank you for helping your child maximize their learning time by arriving between 7:15-7:40.
- Please see the section after this about vaccinating your child and family against COVID-19. We do expect to have a clinic at school on 1/7/22.
- Second Grade is starting a service-learning project collecting supplies for a local shelter this holiday season. Please see the attached flyer.
- Hoodies and sweatshirts that are not part of the school uniform are not allowed during the school day. Please have your child wear their school hoodie, school gym sweatshirt, or a plain navy blue sweater if they're cold during the day. Please see the school uniform/dress code in our family handbook. We believe that excellence happens on purpose. Lessening distractions of being out of uniform is one way we foster that excellence.
- Please be sure to check the "Save the Date" section below.
- We still have a few spots remaining in Preschool. Do you know of anyone with children preschool-aged? Referring families will receive a $300 tuition credit ($150 this year and $150 next year) and 3 PAWS will be credited. We accept Action for Children/Child Care for payment for preschool. Spread the word!
- Please keep your child home if they are sick or have symptoms that could be COVID-related. If the symptoms (including fever) clear up in 24 hours (no medication), please send them back to school. Any illness lasting longer than that will require either a negative COVID test or an alternate diagnosis from the doctor. We cannot accept home test results.
- Do you have clothes and shoes your children have outgrown or don't want? We have a clothes and shoes collection box in the parking lot! The school receives $0.02/lb and a tree is planted in our honor each time it's emptied. We are the stewards of God's beautiful earth. This is one way we help!
- The school office is open Monday through Friday 6:30 AM - 3:30 PM. After 3:30, please leave a message on the mainline or dial 101 at the recording to be connected to my extension. We have hoodies ($20/23) available in the office as well as polos ($15) for students. We ordered adult size Kind shirts for sale. They're $10 cash/$12 debit.
- Please send your child to school with their mask every day along with an extra in their backpack. It's really important that the children are wearing child-sized masks that cover their nose and mouth fully.
- Tax Credit Scholarship Applications will open on 1/12 for Empower Illinois at 6:30 PM to pre-enter information with 7 PM being the exact moment one needs to enter for a good timestamp. The following morning January 13th, Big Shoulders Fund's application opens at precisely 8 AM. We will start school at 9 AM that day to give everyone time to apply and then get to school. 68 Children have tax credit scholarships this year - it's a wonderful program. Be sure to apply as close to the opening time as is humanly possible. More information will be coming to you soon!
Thank you for trusting us with your child/ren. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Mrs. Farrand
A Video Message from I AM A Gentleman Group of Chicago
COVID-19 Vaccines
One of our parents shared that St. Bernard Hospital is doing vaccinations for all ages 5 and up, as well as booster shots. The address is 6307 S. Stewart in the Ambulatory Clinic. Hours from 9 am-5 pm, Monday to Friday.
The school is working to host a clinic on January 7th. I'll keep you posted about this as I have more information.
Thank you for helping us keep the school and our community as safe as possible.
Tuition Payments
The office will continue making reminder calls. Please let us know if there is a particular challenge in advance of the payment due date. We will work with you, but we need to know! We will be starting exclusions as necessary.
Academy of St. Benedict the African's Virtual Christmas Program
Jennifer Farrand is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Academy of St. Benedict the African's Virtual Christmas Show
Time: Dec 17, 2021 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85287023580?pwd=aFNpMlkyMXM2d3hVaFFMTkpSRmUvUT09
Meeting ID: 852 8702 3580
Passcode: Christmas
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,85287023580#,,,,*838552887# US (Chicago)
+13017158592,,85287023580#,,,,*838552887# US (Washington DC)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 852 8702 3580
Passcode: 838552887
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kVuPjZYhb
Friday, Dec 17, 2021, 01:00 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Volunteering in School
Go to https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/ to register for an online class and consent to the background check. Please see or email Ms. Fernandez (mfernandez@academystbenedict.org) if you need assistance or have a question.
The Archdiocesan policy is that volunteers who are working directly with children, like chaperoning or in the classrooms must be vaccinated. Proof of the vaccination must be shown to me. Thanks for your understanding.
PAWS
Here are some suggested PAW-pportunities! We really can use children's masks. Amazon has sets of 100 available ($23.99). They can be sent directly to the school with your name or your child's name on the gift line. 100 masks will give credit for one PAW, 200 masks will give credit for 3 PAWS.
Another PAW--pportunity is for paper towels. two 12-16 packages of Paper towels will qualify for one PAW.
Thanks for your help!
Travel and Quarantines
As families gathered for Thanksgiving and will again for Christmas, we do insist that all regulations for quarantining & testing as a result of traveling must be followed for the safety of our school community.
In accordance with the Chicago Travel Order, anyone who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 traveling must either quarantine for 10 days upon return or have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of returning to Illinois if the state visited is noted in the travel order. The test results must be shared with the school. Please help us keep our school community well by adhering to this policy.
Once vaccinated, no testing or quarantines are required unless the person has symptoms.
Thank you! https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES!
- November 30th - Kind Shirt Day
- November 30th - Picture Retake day
- November 30th - Chat with the Principal 2 PM.
- December 9th - Kind Shirt Day
- December 14th - Kind Shirt Day
- December 15th - NO EXTENDED DAY - Staff Christmas celebration
- December 17th - Student Dress Down Day - Christmas Colors
- December 17th - 1 PM Stream our pre-recorded Christmas Program. More information coming!
- December 18th- January 2nd - Christmas Break
- January 3rd - Welcome back!
- January 12th - 7 PM -Empower Illinois Opens for 22-23 Tax Credit Scholarships
- January 13th - 8 AM - Big Shoulders Fund Application Opens for 22-23 Tax Credit Scholarships
- January 13th - School Starts at 9 AM due to TCS Application opening
- January 17th - Dr. King's Birthday - NO SCHOOL
- January 20th - Liturgy - Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King
- February 11th - Professional Learning Day for Teachers -NO SCHOOL
Academy of St. Benedict the African
Email: jfarrand@academystbenedict.org
Website: academystbenedict.org
Location: 6020 South Laflin Street, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 773-776-3316
Facebook: Facebook.com/academystbenedictafrican
Twitter: @asba_chicago