Newsletter for June 1, 2010

Saint Benedict Catholic School's WEEKLY NEWS

3100 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221

June 1, 2010

Please pay all outstanding balances before the end of the school year.  Grades will not be released to families who still owe money at the end of the school year.

St. Gertrude High School is hosting a Summer Girls Basketball League for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. We would like to form a St. Benedict team to play in this league.  The season will go June 19-July 31 with no games the weekend of July 4.  Games will be on Saturday mornings.  Please contact Joey Coleman for more information at jkhsrc@verizon.net.

Calling all Field Day volunteers!  Please help make Field Day, June 10, a success.  Come to a brief meeting June 2 at 6pm in Mr. Kelleher's room.  Contact jenunger@cox.net for more information.

PTO Note:  The PTO is checking to make sure all parents have fulfilled the volunteer commitment they made at the beginning of the year.  If you did not meet you volunteer commitment, there is a PTO fee that will be charged (everyone had the option at the beginning of the year to pay the fee or volunteer).  If you have questions or need to report hours volunteered, please contact Stacey Nelson-Munro at fourgirlsforme@gmail.com.  There are still many opportunities to fulfill volunteer hours before the end of the year through: field day, the cafeteria, parish/school picnic, and other volunteer activities.

Also, the donor who gave a week in Pawley's Island, SC for the Gala has offered a second week if someone is willing to make a $3,000 donation to the school.  Please contact Mr. Cruess for details at scruess@saintbenedictschool.org.

Middle school parents are invited to join us on the morning of June 7 for our annual Moving Up Ceremony.  At this ceremony, the current 8th grade class passes the torch to the rising 8th grade, and the rising 8th grade pledges to be the leaders of the school for next year.

Also on June 7 is our First Ever Latin Play:  The Life and Death of Julius Caesar!  Mr. Massett and many of our students have put in a lot of time writing the play, designing the set, and practicing their parts.  Please come out and see the fruits of their labor at 1:30pm in the school library.  Latin Play Volunteers needed!!!  All hands on deck!  The Latin play is less than 1 week away!!!  Currently, we could use help with finishing up our stage design and costumes.  Anyone with theater experience or with a knack for arts and crafts with time to spare would be welcome!!!   Please email Mr. Massett @ lmassett@saintbenedict.org.

It is time for Yearbook orders!  The cost this year is $18, and there are only a few yearbooks still available, so please turn in your order as soon as possible.  Checks should be made out to St. Benedict School.  Contact Mrs. Eliasek with questions at seliasek@saintbenedictschool.org.

Next week, we will have our annual meeting for parents and players interested in the Middies Football Program.  Most of the coaches will be there to answer questions, and you may hand-in forms at this time.  The meeting will be held on June 2 (Wed.), from 6:30 PM until approximately 7:30 PM, at the Benedictine Abbey Sheppard Auditorium (note: entrance is to the back right of the main building). The Abbey is located at 12829 River Road in Goochland, just west of the Henrico line.

Congratulations to our own Saint Benedict Comets Chess Club in defeating Father Kauffmann last Wednesday afternoon in a very exciting chess match! We thank and appreciate Father Kauffmann for participating! We hope that Father will be willing and able to play our club in a rematch next year! If you are interested in learning more about chess and the Saint Benedict Comets Chess Club please contact Mr. Cruess.

Please note that on the school calendar it lists all middle school exams being conducted from May 25-27.  Those dates are only for 8th grade exams.  6th and 7th grade exams will be June 2-4.

The Annual Parish/School Picnic will be held June 6 on the Feast of Corpus Christi.  All members of the school and parish are invited to attend.  Burgers and drinks will be provided, and each family is asked to bring a salad, side, or dessert to share.  Sign up on the side porch of the church or use the form included in last week's communication envelope.  We are looking for volunteers to help set up from 2-5pm on June 5.  This could help meet your school volunteer hour requirement.  Contact Linda Foreman at lforeman@saintbenedictparish.org to help set up for the picnic.

Also on June 6, the Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a Blood Drive.  The Virginia Blood Bank will be set up in St. Anselm Hall from 9:30-1:00 for those who wish to donate blood.  Please help save lives!

We are planning to launch a Scrip program for the 2010-2011 school year.  With everyone's participation, this could be a significant fundraiser with no additional expense to families.  Please read the flyer enclosed in last week's communication envelope.

St. Benedict's PTO is looking for PTO room reps and officers. Parents, you are an integral part of our school and we really need your involvement!!  We need your ideas and creativity!  If you are interested, please contact Lisa Merriman at lisa.m.merriman@altria.com.

Saint Benedict will be offering two exciting summer camps this year.  The first camp will introduce students to acting and theater.  It is open to students of all grade levels.  The second camp is available to students in third grade and up.  It will provide participants an introduction to film and movie making.  For more information check out the website http://www.finalactdrama.com/summer-camps.html.  Sign up before it's too late!

Parents, please remember to check your student's uniform each morning before they leave the house.  It saves teachers valuable instructional time when we don't have to correct students who are out of uniform.  A few things that we are noticing as ongoing problems:  elastic bracelets, boys not wearing belts, socks shorter than crew length, tennis shoes with the summer uniform that are not white, and hair that is too long (gentlemen).  If you have questions, please consult the school handbook.

Up coming events:

June 2-4           6th and 7th Grade Exams

June 7              Moving up Ceremony

June 7              Latin Play at 1:30 in the school library

June 8              8th grade noon dismissal (all other grades dismissed at 3pm)

June 9              8th Grade Graduation at 5:30pm in the church

June 10            Field Day

June 14            Early Dismissal at 12:30

June 15            Closing of the Year Mass at 10am w/dismissal at 11:00am from St. Benedict Church

"Everyone who listens to the word of God and acts on it will be like a wise man who built his house on rock."         

-Matthew 7:24