Welcome from the Principal
Dear Parents and Visitors,
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website! My name is Sean Cruess, and I have been blessed to serve as principal of St. Benedict Catholic School for the past 13 years. Prior to that, I taught middle school in the Chesterfield County public school system. I have two children of my own, who have graduated from St. Benedict and moved on to high school, and four children currently attending St. Benedict, so I am writing this message as both an administrator and a parent.
St. Benedict has faithfully served Richmond families for 100 years. Established in 1919 in Richmond’s Museum District, Saint Benedict Catholic School has a rich history of giving children a timeless, faith-filled, academic foundation. Today we have an average enrollment of approximately 200 students from junior kindergarten through eighth grade. Our Catholic, classical education helps our students understand the important relationship between faith and reason – teaching our children how to think critically about the world around them, in light of our Creator. Our wonderful, family-like atmosphere in this small-school community ensures that every student is known and nurtured in a caring and supportive environment throughout their academic journey with us.
As COVID-19 changed the world for all schools, at St. Benedict our community came together and transitioned from classroom learning to distance learning in two days. Our students continued to learn and socialize (virtually) as we combined our teaching and technology resources to create a flexible learning environment which served the varying needs of our families. Over the 20-21 school year, we worked hard to keep our all of our students in-school, M-F, and we were blessed to complete the school year without being virtual and without interruption. Being a small-school makes us nimble and flexible to meet these unpredictable times - come what may - while continuing to ensure that our children keep learning, sharing and growing.
As parents, we want you to know that a St. Benedict education prepares children not only to think well, write well, and speak well, but to glorify God through their lives. Our ultimate mission is to instill a love of God, a love of learning, a love of neighbor, and a love of service amongst our students. We want to inspire our children to lead meaningful lives and to be good citizens in this world and the next.
I invite you to visit St. Benedict, virtually for the time being, and contact us to learn more about how we might serve your family.
In Christ,
Sean M. Cruess