Family Update
Week of March 13, 2022
Did You Spring Ahead? Are Your Children Registered for 22-22?
Good morning,
The video included before this section will highlight the main points of the update.
There is no school on Monday, March 14th. We build emergency makeup days into our calendar. If we do not need to make up any days, we have the day off. We will do the state-required 176 days this year. Next year we move back to 180.
Last week we celebrated our Kind Kids with a fun ice cream party! We raised money to support the children of Ukraine (almost $400). We witnessed the joy of students earning a "magic coin" for Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine. The school is full of joyful learning!
Have you registered your child/ren yet? Fill out the form today to hold the space! The fee to register will be taken care of later. We have 109 students registered. We will go to waiting lists. Please complete this form! The payment can be made in the office or through the payment portal on our NEW SCHOOL APP putting registration 22-23 in the note/memo section! Many families are receiving notification of tax credit scholarships for next year. Be sure to keep an eye on your emails.
We received a tremendously generous donation to our Big Shoulders Fund Tax Credit fund. This will increase the number of Tax Credit Scholarships by at least 25 students! God is good! For those who already received Empower Illinois scholarships for next year, your child's name has been removed from the Big Shoulders list. Each child may only receive one tax credit scholarship.
Students in grades 3-8 who have tax credit scholarships this year will begin the required IAR testing the week of March 21st.
We are working very hard to keep the school free of COVID to the best of our ability. With that said, our families must partner with us by not sending any students to school who have ANY symptoms. We will send home students with runny noses, headaches, sore throats, and/or coughs. If your child has seasonal allergies, please get a note from the doctor for us and take a home test. We are mask optional now. We will have masks and offer them, but we do not expect nor insist students or staff wear them. That's a family decision.
Our PK, K, and 8th grade will have in-person graduations! This is very exciting!
June 1st
- 8th Grade send off Breakfast - last day of school 8th grade
June 2nd:
- 1 PM - Candle & Ribbon Grades 7 & 8 Awards
June 3rd: (Last Day of School)
- 9 AM - PK 4 Graduation
- 10:30 AM - Kindergarten Celebration
- 12 PM Grades 1-3 Awards and Moving Up
- 1:30 PM Grades 4-6 Awards and Moving Up
June 4th:
- 10 AM Grade 8 Graduation St. Kilian Church
- FOLLOW THE DRESS & UNIFORM CODE: 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. We still have light blue hoodies in all sizes and some navy blue hoodies.
- Students should not have nail polish, artificial nails, any jewelry, or smartwatches. Students do NOT need their cell phones at school. They are kept in the office all day. - This is becoming an issue and it's distracting from learning. Students will be receiving notices. Following the rules and expectations is required at St. Benedict.
- Please be sure to check the "Save the Date" section below.
- There is a professional learning day on March 25th. There is no school for students but we will have childcare available from 7-4 for families that need it - there is no additional charge. Students will have breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Here is the form to register. This is the last professional learning day of the school year.
- We will have a five-week summer program for students entering PK3 - 5th grade. The program runs from June 13th - July 14th. (No camp on July 4th) Register using this form.
- Do you have clothes and shoes your family has outgrown, don't wear, 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. Our amazing office staff can take payments, sell hoodies and polos and answer questions. After 3:30, please leave a message on the mainline or dial 101 at the recording to be connected to my extension. If you need extended day after 3:30, dial 107 at the voicemail message.
As I reflect on today, it marks two years since our world changed so dramatically. March 13, 2020 was our last day of in-person school for that year. Since then, we have had less than 5 in-school COVID transmissions and two were adults. Our protocols have worked in partnership with you, our families. A big thank you to you and to our amazing staff for making it all work!
Thank you for trusting us with your child/ren. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Mrs. Farrand
STEM - 8th Grade
Kindness Abounds
Joyful Art
Amazon Gift Cards for Referrals!
2022-2023 School Calendar
2022-2023 Financial Contracts and Forms
The contract will be written without carrying over any part of the 21-22 contract. In June and July, if necessary, we will make updates.
Please be sure that the phone number and emails we have on Powerschool are accurate.
Tuition Payments - Please call the office with concerns.
Families with Income Tax agreements are expected to make that payment this month. Please let the business office know if there is a problem.
As a reminder, all financial accounts must be settled by May 15th for all graduating students: PK4, Kindergarten, and Eighth grade.
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.
PAWS
As a reminder, all PAWS must be completed by May 15th.
Thanks for your help!
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES!
- March 14th - No school
- March 22nd - Kind Shirt Day
- March 25th - Professional Learning day No school however, childcare is available from 7:30-4.
- April 4th - Kind Shirt Day
- April 15th - 22nd - Easter Break -no school
- April 27th - Kind Shirt Day
- May 10th - Kind Shirt Day
- May 10th - Vaccine Clinic - All childhood vaccines and COVID are available - More details to follow.
- May 19th - Kind Shirt Day
- May 30th - Memorial Day - no school
- June 1st - Last day of classes for 8th grade
- June 2nd - Candle & Ribbon 1pm (Grades 7 & 8)
- June 3rd - Last day of school for all students, PK & K graduations (NO Extended day)
- June 4rd - Eighth Grade graduation 10 AM
- June 13th - July 14th - Summer Program
- August 22nd - First day of the 2022 -2023 school year. Full-Day for all students, no extended day.
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