Newsletter for March 9, 2010

Saint Benedict Catholic School’s WEEKLY NEWS3100 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                March 9, 2010  The PTO Meeting scheduled for March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) has been moved to March 24.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

The annual Sports Banquet will be held Thursday, March 18 at 6:30pm in St. Anselm Hall.  Food will be prepared by Carlos Silva, owner of Bistro 27.  Cost: $5.00 per person or  $20.00 per family, donations welcome   -  ATHLETES EAT FREE !!!  Anyone wishing to help with organizing the event, decorations, or trophy/food display, please e-mail catkpb@verizon.net or call Ken Manspeaker at 350-9563.  Any help or ideas are appreciated!

We have been asked this year to participate in the annual St. Patrick’s parade that is part of the Irish Festival on Church Hill.  The parade is at 10:00am on Saturday, March 20.  Participants should try to arrive around 9:00, wear their school uniform, and wear something green.  This is an exciting way to advertise our school at a fun, family event.  There is also a costume contest.  For students who participate in the costume contest, you do not need to wear your school uniform.  More information is included in the communication envelope.  If you plan to participate in the parade, please let the school know by calling the school office or sending an e-mail to scruess@saintbeneidctschool.org.  We need a count by Friday.

 We would like parents to be aware of some recent concerns about Facebook.  Parents should be aware that Facebook requires all users to be 13 or older.  Information on Facebook is not private and should not be treated as such.  Parents should always have access and regularly check student’s social networking sites to make sure communication is appropriate.  Across the country “cyber-bullying” is a troubling phenomenon that we do not want to see here.  The school is planning a training for parents on social networking.  The tentative date is March 24 as part of our PTO meeting. 

Reenrollment contracts for next year will be coming in March.  If you have questions about reenrollment, please contact the school office.  If you are looking for new uniform items for next year, Rose Uniforms is currently offering 15% off through March 10.

Please apply now if you are seeking tuition assistance for next school year.  FACTS is now accepting applications for 2010-2011 at www.factstuitionaid.com.  Anyone seeking tuition assistance must apply through FACTS.  There will be no paper applications this year; all applications should be completed online.  If you plan to apply for financial aid, please start the process now, and don’t wait until the last minute!

Please be aware of the following changes to the Battle of the Books schedule.  The meeting scheduled for March 1st is canceled and will be made up on March 15th after school.  The Final Battle of the Books Competition will be held Monday, March 29th.  If you are planning to participate in the competition, you must attend the March 15 meeting.

 Please support our 6th Grade Drink Pouch Brigade!! 

We will be collecting empty Capri Sun drink pouches in order to benefit the planet, as well as our school.  Collection containers are in the school cafeteria.  

Benedictine and St. Gertrude High Schools will host their 2nd Annual 5K Challenge on March 13, 2010 at 9:00am.  The Catholic school that sends the most runners/walkers to the race will be awarded the Challenge Trophy.

All boys interested in playing for the Benedictine "middies lacrosse" program this spring, please register online at the Benedictine High School website. Go to Athletics, then Lacrosse, then middies and the form and details of the program are available. The season starts March 8.  There is also a baseball team starting that hopes to combine middle school boys from St. Benedict, St. Bridget, and Our Lady of Lourdes.  The registration form can be picked up in the school office or e-mail anthony_pecora@yahoo.com for more information.

Have a new and exciting international experience this summer!! Host a Spanish boy or girl (ages 14-17) or their chaperone for one month in your home. Learn about Spain and the Spanish culture while he/she learns about living in an American family. Students participate in a program of cultural excursions during the week and will be involved in Host Family activities during the nights and weekends. Host families are expected to provide a bed and a bedroom (can be a shared room) and three meals a day. For more information contact Seanne Webster-Davis at 804.475.7289 or jacksww@gmail.com.

The St. Benedict Institute on February 10 had to be cancelled due to the weather.  They hope to reschedule later in the spring.  The next St. Benedict Institute seminar will feature Father Sidney Griffith, Ph.D. from Catholic University of America on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7 PM.    The lecture will take place in the Temple Building on the VCU campus.  The title of the seminar is:  “The Early Church and Islam.  The address is 901 W. Main St, Room 1169. The seminar is free and open to the public.

The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Lenten Fish Fry on Friday, March 12 in St. Anselm Hall after the 5:30pm Mass and Stations of the Cross.  The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children, and a family maximum of $25.  If you plan to attend, please sign up on the side porch or e-mail Ruppert_Beirne@verizon.net.

 Please remember to follow all the drop-off and dismissal procedures and follow all laws in regard to parking.  In the afternoon, cars waiting in the line on Hanover should have their right turn signal on, so that other traffic on Hanover knows their intention.  No cars should be coming from Grove Avenue and making a right turn into the alley in the afternoon.  No parking signs by the school on Grove and Belmont and at the bus stops must be followed.  Cars are not allowed to park in front of the school on Grove Avenue at dismissal time.  That is for van parking ONLY. Make sure this year’s PTO Spring Gala is on your calendar.  It will be held the evening of May 15.  More details to follow.  And…the Girl Scouts will be selling cookies after school on March 10 and 17 at the corner of Grove and Belmont.  Be sure to stop by and pick up a few boxes to support our Girl Scout troop! Up coming events:

Mar. 10            Tag Day (bring $2 to participate)

Mar. 12            School Mass w/BHS at 8:55am in the church (dress uniform for middle school)

Mar. 12            Stations of the Cross and Knights of Columbus Fish Fry

Mar. 18            Sports Banquet at 6:30pm in St. Anselm Hall

Mar. 19            School Mass at 8:30am in the church (dress uniform for middle school)

Mar. 20            St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade on Church Hill

Mar. 24            Rescheduled PTO Meeting at 6pm in the Science Room

 “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