Academy of St. Benedict the African

Dear Families,

The last weeks of school are exciting. There are many activities and field trips, along with lots of outdoor recess time.

iReady growth scores are the best yet! Our scholars are demonstrating tremendous growth in both reading and math, surpassing last year's numbers! The special reward excursion will be June 7th for students who met their growth metric. Each student's growth numbers are specific to them based on their August diagnostic test. Permission slips will go home this week - be on the lookout!

On Monday, Grades 7 & 8 are attending a field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago. They will have a docent led tour on Art & Activism.

Thursday morning, our 7th graders will be at the Federal Courthouse through the Big Shoulders Law Program. They have a Mock trial with students from four other Big Shoulders Plus Schools. Four of our students have earned roles in the trial due to their excellence during the program.

In very exciting news, extended day is open! While we are still ordering replacement items and setting up the spaces, we can use all the rooms! Dismissal after 3:30 each day is from door 2 - The Tiger Door. Thanks for your patience!

Please be sure your children are in the proper uniform (see below) for the day. Uniforms are mandatory. Additionally, please remind students of the behavioral expectations. Students must be respectful, responsible, safe and kind. This ensures a learning environment where all children can thrive.

The picture above is of our 8th grade students with Deacon and Mrs. Gill. Their retreat is the first event of many as inch closer to graduation. Have you seen their profiles on our social media pages?

Yearbooks are in! Don't miss out. They're $20/each. All classes are featured. It's a beautiful way to treasure the memories and have a keepsake of the 2023-2024 school year!

Are you registered yet for the 2024-2025 school year? Second grade is closed and we are making a waitlist. Seventh grade will close next. Use this form to register if you haven't yet. Please remember that no one is automatically re-registered. All those students who are reregistered will have a dress down day every Friday we have school until the end of the year. For all others, including 8th graders, Fridays remain Spirit Days.

The registration fee is now $50/student. Once registered and the fee is paid, families will receive a voucher for Martinelli's for a gym t-shirt and shorts. There is a referral incentive for current families. Receive a tuition credit of $500 ($250 in January and $250 in May) for the enrolled new family.

Our summer program runs June 17 - July 19 (no class on Juneteenth or 4th of July). Please us this form to register. We are almost full! This program is for rising PK3-5th graders and others by invitation. For those with Action for Children, the cost is your copay plus field trip fees. For those without AFC, the cost is $500/child plus field trip fees. If you don't have AFC, let's apply and see if you can qualify. Invoices for the summer program are going home this week.

Please check your FACTS account to ensure you are making payments. We need to keep the accounts up to date so that the school can meet its obligations. Additionally, contracts for the 24-25 school year are being entered into FACTS. Also, PK4, K and 8th grade graduation fees have been added.

The 2023-2024 calendar is on our website. It is linked here as well! It's a very busy time of the year. Please review the calendar.

The calendar for the 2024-2025 school year is complete. There is an image below and you can access it here. Please don't confuse it with this year's calendar. It is on the new school letterhead, so it looks a bit different. Supply lists will be added to the website this week.

As a reminder, we require that children who are unwell remain at home. Should your child be unable to attend school due to illness, please complete the absence form on the school app or send an email notifying the school.

Consistent and punctual school attendance is required, except in cases of illness. Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

*Please limit early dismissals. Students must be at school all day except for dr. appointments. They are disruptive to the class.*

Please check your child's blue folder daily and remind your child/ren of the school expectations. We begin each day (except full school Liturgy days) with a community assembly, as it sets the tone for the day. We are better together. Between 7:40 - 8:00 AM, students will enter school at door 2. We begin at 7:45 and teachers are taking attendance in assembly. Children must be with their teacher at 7:45 to be on time.

Thank you for choosing Academy of St. Benedict the African for your family. Great things are ahead!

Warmly,

Mrs. Farrand

jfarrand@academystbenedict.org

773-776-3316, enter 101 at the voicemail message if needed.

All financial accounts must be cleared for the student to participate in graduation and end of year activities. This is for PK4, K and 8th graders.

Graduations gowns and tickets will be given out the first week of June once final accounts are cleared. PK4 graduates at 8:30 on June 11th and families will receive 10 tickets. Kindergarten graduates at 9:30 on June 11th and families will receive 8 tickets. Our Class of 2024 graduates on June 8th at St. Benedict the African Church and families will receive 6 tickets. All ticket numbers are based on space and occupancy limits.

Uniforms are required every day, with no exceptions. All students should be in their regular uniform with the school polo shirt unless it's a gym day. Traditional gym shoes are required each day. Kind shirts may only be worn on kind days or gym days.

Many students are out of uniform every day. Gym uniforms may only be worn on gym days. For reference: Mondays: 2nd/4th, Tuesdays: 3rd/5th, Wednesdays: K and 1st, Thursday: K/1 split and 7th, Friday: 6th/8th. All other days are the blue school polo and navy slacks, walking shorts, or skort. Uniforms define us as part of our community and lessen distractions to learning. Excellence happens on purpose.

Students must wear a St. Benedict top and/or hoodie on Fridays, which are spirit days. They may wear jeans, joggers, or shorts (weather permitting). Gym shoes are required every day for all students PK - 8th grade. Of course, their regular uniform is also fine!

Not Allowed: Nail polish, acrylic/gel nails, bracelets, necklaces, or rings. Any footwear besides gym shoes is not allowed.

**Many children are getting their nails done. Please follow the rules.

Debate Club's final debate is Monday at 3:30 in the gym. Please join us!

Chess club is on Wednesday afternoons. Praise Power Choir is 3:30-4:30 on Wednesdays.

Each family has an account in FACTS to monitor their tuition account. Payments for most are due on the 17th of the month. A few of our families have different due dates to accommodate pay periods. As a reminder, late fees are automatically assessed on the 4th day after the due date.

Graduation fees for PK4, K, and 8th have been added. Those accounts must be at a $0 balance before the fee may be paid.

While I wish we could offer school without tuition and fees, we can't. Please work to get the accounts up to date. We all need to do our part as the school has its obligations.

Tax agreements were due last month. Please honor your commitment to the school in a timely fashion.

Please get in touch with me if you have concerns.

Please do not send in fast food - including but not limited to Dunkin' Donuts, McDonalds, Burger King, and Starbucks. Let's be respectful of those with life-threatening food allergies, as well as the feelings of those without fast food.

An image of the calendar is here. There is also an option to download the pdf.

The calendar is always accessible on our website and our mobile app.

Get in compliance. Go to virtusonline.org, take the class online, and consent to the background check. Earn a PAW!

We need copy paper! For a special opportunity, two of the cases (10 reams) will earn FOUR PAWS!! You can send the paper to us directly from Amazon, Walmart, or Staples. Put your name on the gift receipt so we can credit the family properly.

To volunteer at school in any capacity or chaperone a field trip, adults must attend a Virtus class training session, consent to a background check through the Virtus system, and complete mandated reporter training. Go to www.virtusonline.org to get started. Be sure to choose Academy of St. Benedict the African. Virtus is only required once. Mandated Reporter training must be renewed every three years.

Families earn a PAW for getting in compliance. Families who chaperone may not bring any siblings on the trips. Attention must be focused on our students.

Email or call Ms. Fernandez for more information: mfernandez@academystbenedict.org. She is extension 102 at school.

May 27th - Memorial Day - no school

June 5th - 8th Grade Breakfast - 8th Grade Last Day of School

June 6th - Candle & Ribbon grades 7 & 8, 1 pm

June 7th - Reward trip for K-8 students to Haunted Trails in Burbank- Last day of school for 7th grade

June 8th - 8th Grade Graduation 10 AM

June 10th - Field Day - Last day of school for PK3

June 11th - Moving up day - Our last day of school 1:45 dismissal. No afterschool care.

June 17th - Five Week Summer Program begins.

August 15th - New Student Orientation

August 19th - Ice Cream Social 1 PM - 3 PM

August 21st - First day of School - All are dismissed at 3:10 - NO Extended Day

Mrs. Farrand, Principal x101

Mrs. Thornton, Assistant Principal x100

Ms. Fernandez, Business Manager x102

Ms. Botello, Administrative Assistant Main number 773-776-3316

Mrs. Martinez, Student Accounts x103

Ms. Zakowski, Office x104

**for questions related to tuition, please reach out to Mrs. Farrand or Ms. Fernandez first.

Morning Care: 6:15 AM - 7:15 AM

Arrival for breakfast 7:15 AM - 7:35 AM

Classes Begin: 7:45 AM (Children not with their class at 7:45 are marked tardy)

School Ends at 3:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. 2:30 PM on Wednesdays

Extended Day: 3:15 PM - 6:00 PM - to reach extended day, call the school and enter 101 at the recording. The late pickup fee is $ 3 per minute per child. Please don't be late.

Office Hours - Every Day - 6:30 - 3:30 and by appointment

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