Week of April 28, 2024
Dear Families,
As we start the last weeks of school, we have lots of busy days and activities! While these days are fun and add excitement, it's important that children are following uniform and behavioral expectations. Please take a moment each morning to ensure your child has the correct uniform on and encourage them to be respectful, responsible, safe and kind each day.
Monday morning at 9 AM, PK - third grade have an author visit with Kentrell Martin. He last visited our school in 2019. His books are wonderful. The flyer went home with students a couple of weeks ago, but I am adding the form file to Bloomz and in the update. If you're free, stop by for the visit.
We received the school's 5Essentials Survey results. Teachers, students in 4th - 8th, and parents are part of the survey results. Our school is deemed "Well Organized" with 3 of the 5 essentials in the strong or very strong category. In the other two categories, we are just 4 points away from strong. As I told the children on Thursday, we know we have an amazing school, and now we have the hard data to support that claim! This is a testament our entire school community.
Our 4th graders worked with Backyard Gardens Englewood to plant the spring crops, which includes greens, kale and carrots. As the weather warms, more crops will go in. Having a school garden increases our students' experiential learning. If there is ever a day you have the time and inclination, the garden does need to be watered almost daily.
Progress is being made in extended day. Beginning on Wednesday, the new floors will be applied (epoxy) or tiled. The expectations is that they will be done on Saturday! It won't be long now until we reopen the chapel and extended day area of the building. It will be beautiful!
On May 8th we have a Family Bingo Night from 5 - 7 pm! Please fill out this form to attend. Dinner is free that evening. We are charging for Bingo and raffles to raise money to support our athletic program. There are a few free raffles. This is for all school families!
The 2023-2024 Yearbook should be back at school on May 13th. I will update as I get information. Books will be $20/each. They will make a nice remembrance of a great school year!
Are you registered yet for the 2024-2025 school year? We are a few students away from closing several classrooms, especially second and seventh grade for 24-25. 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 until school ends. 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.
We have a 5-week summer program running June 17 - July 19 (no class on Juneteenth or 4th of July). Please us this form to register. 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.
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. They are not accurate when first entered. The scholarships and financial assistance are credits put in on the second entry. Don't be alarmed if the amounts aren't right. In the next couple of weeks, they will be reflective of your contracts. Also, PK4, K and 8th grade accounts will have their graduation fees added. All financial accounts must be cleared for the student to participate in graduation.
Every day, students (PK - 8) must be in gym shoes. As a reminder, on gym days, students wear their gym uniforms That is the only day for the gym shorts or sweats. A kind shirt can be worn on gym days as the t-shirt and on Kind Shirt days. Every other day, a school polo with the school's name or logo AND blue pants/skort are required. Blue is the only color bottom allowed on a regular day.
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.
Did you know that we have a used shoe and clothing box in the parking lot by the garage? As you do some spring cleaning, please use the box. Trees are planted every time we have our box emptied helping us be good stewards of God's creation.
As a gentle 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 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.
Extracurricular Activities
Debate Club is Monday and Thursday.
Flag Football Practice is Tuesday and Thursday. This is the last week of practices.
Chess club is on Wednesday afternoons. Praise Power Choir is 3:30-4:30 on Wednesdays.
Grade 6-8 Coding is on Mondays. Grade 3-5 virtual coding is from 4-5 on Wednesdays. Coding with Mr. Dean is on Friday.
April 29th - Author Kentrell Martin visit for PK - 3rd grade at 9 AM.
May 8th - Family Bingo Night
May 10th - No school, No childcare
May 27th - Memorial Day - no school
June 5th - 8th Grade Breakfast
June 6th - Candle & Ribbon grades 7 & 8, 1 pm
June 8th - 8th Grade Graduation 10 AM
June 10th - Field Day
June 11th - Moving up day - Our last day of school. 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
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