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Greetings,

There are a lot of moving parts to beginning the school year, and communication is the key to our success. Our Director of Marketing and Communications, Katrina Garnes, has set up a detailed process for the school to ensure we are all on the same page. The three greatest tools to stay connected with the whole school will be the official online school calendar, the key dates document, and The Weekly Buzz (newsletter).
Additionally, your child’s teacher will be the next line of communication regarding your student’s day-to-day experience. They will provide you with important updates, assignments, and progress reports. Please make sure to establish a good line of communication with them to stay informed about your child’s education journey.
If your child is enrolled in our Kindergarten–8th grade Stingers Squad after-school program, our Auxiliary Programming Director, Maurice Shaffer, will be communicating with you directly on August 11, 2026. Stingers Squad will share information about program activities, schedules, and any updates or changes that may arise throughout the year. Stay connected with them to ensure your child’s smooth transition from school to the after-school program.
If your child is enrolled in our preschool program, including extended day, our Preschool Director, Courtney Vaughn, will be communicating with you directly to share preschool specific information with you. In our preschool, our primary form of communication is through the Kaymbu app. You will be receiving an email through Kaymbu once your account has been set up.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We are looking forward to a great upcoming school year!
Best regards,
Anne Shamanski
Associate Head of School
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THE PARENT ASSOCIATION WELCOMES YOU
The Parent Association extends a warm welcome to all new and returning families! We’re excited for the year ahead and look forward to connecting with you.
There are many ways to get involved in the St. Benedict's community—starting with our Summer Socials, a great chance to meet other families before the school year begins.
If you have any questions about the PA, feel free to reach out at pa@stbs.org.
You can also join our Facebook group, Families of St. B’s, by clicking here and answering a few quick questions. We can’t wait to see you soon!
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CLASSROOM PLACEMENTS, TEACHER MEET & GREET, AND ADMINISTRATION Q&A
Teachers will be emailing welcome letters to students the week of July 27, and all families will hear from their teachers by Saturday, August 1, 2026. Please remember, per our school handbook, requests for specific teachers are not accepted. Teacher placement takes into account many variables, including the best academic learning environment for your child as recommended by your child’s previous teachers. It is a very thorough process. We are urging grade levels to coordinate sending their welcome emails as close together as possible; however, because teachers are enjoying summer with their families, please be aware they may be sent on different days.
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August 5 NEW Family Orientation Zoom 1st–8th Grade
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6:00 P.M. Required for any new family with a 1st–8th grade student and any Kindergarten family who can not attend Tears and Cheers.
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Zoom Link HERE passcode: annestbs
- August 7 Preschool Orientation (parents only)
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9:00 A.M.–10:00 A.M. Preschool 1s and 2s
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10:30 A.M.–11:30 A.M. Preschool 3s and PreK
- August 10 Meet & Greet (parents and students)
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9:00–10:00 A.M. K–2 Meet the Teacher (Yay Lunch, After Care, Clubs, Pikmykid in Parish Hall)
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10:00–11:00 A.M. 5th Grade Meet the Teacher
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11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. 3rd, 4th, & 6th Meet the Teacher
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1:00–2:00 P.M. 7th–8th Meet the Teacher (Yay Lunch, After Care, Clubs, Pikmykid in SC commons)
- August 11 Preschool Meet & Greet (parents and students)
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9:00 A.M.–9:45 A.M. Preschool 1s and 2s
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10:00 A.M.–10:45 A.M. Preschool 3s and PreK
- August 12 Tears and Cheers Reception with Parent Orientation
- 8:15 A.M. ALL Kindergarten families
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CARPOOL TAGS & MAPS
At Open House, new families will receive a backpack tag that should be attached to their bag. Car hang tags will also be handed out and should be displayed on your rearview mirror during pickup. These matching tags help ensure that the correct student is picked up safely and efficiently. If you need a replacement for either tag, please email Mollie Shepherd by Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Returning families' numbers will remain the same. Additional hang tags may be purchased for $6.00 per pair, and the charge will be applied to your FACTS account. If you would like to purchase additional hang tags, please email Mollie Shepherd by Sunday, July 19, 2026. Any later and you will need to wait for the next bulk order in November.
We are asking families to arrive on Fridays no earlier than 2:05 P.M. This helps the school increase instructional time and honor our promise to the community by keeping cars from stacking up on Cooper Lake Road.
5–8th grade can ONLY enter or exit the campus from/to Cooper Lake/Weaver Street. Per Cobb County Zoning, we cannot use Weaver Street to/from Daniel Street.
For your reference, these are the carpool maps for Main Campus (preschool through 3rd grade), The Hive (4th grade), and South Campus (grades 5th–8th).
When arriving on campus, you must use your PikMyKid app to announce. This ensures that the proper adult is picking up your student. A guide to using PikMyKid and the delegation process for our carpool app is attached here. If you have any questions about using PikMyKid, please email Mollie Shepherd.

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  NEW STUDENT YARD SIGN T-SHIRT PICK-UP | |
New Families: St. B’s wants you to get excited about joining our amazing community! Feel free to pick up your student's yard sign, t-shirt, and tote bags (preschool only) from our administrative office on our Main Campus between 9:00 A.M.–2:30 P.M. Monday through Thursday throughout the summer.
Final Official transcripts for incoming 1st graders through 8th graders are due to the Office of Admissions by Friday, July 31, 2026.

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CALENDAR AND DAILY SCHEDULE
You can find a detailed calendar for the school year here, including some dates for PA events. Our first day of classes is on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and will follow our normal school schedule.
School hours are as follows:

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Preschool Infants, 1s, 2s, 3s and Pre-Kindergarten: 8:45 A.M.–12:45 P.M. (morning carpool begins at 8:25 A.M. and ends at 8:45 A.M.; afternoon carpool begins at 12:45 P.M. and ends at 1:00 P.M.)
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Kindergarten: 8:10 A.M.–2:20 P.M. (morning carpool begins at 7:45 A.M. and ends at 8:10 A.M.; afternoon carpool begins after 2:20 P.M. dismissal and ends at 2:35 P.M.)
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1st–4th Grades: 8:10 A.M.–3:10 P.M. (morning carpool begins at 7:45 A.M. and ends at 8:10 A.M.; afternoon carpool begins after the 3:10 P.M. dismissal and ends at 3:30 P.M.)
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5th–8th Grades: 8:00 A.M.–3:10 P.M. (morning carpool begins at 7:35 A.M. and ends at 8:00 A.M.; afternoon carpool begins after 3:10 P.M. dismissal and ends at 3:35 P.M.)

All students in grades K–8 will dismiss on Fridays at 2:20 P.M. throughout the school year. Carpool will begin after the 2:20 P.M. dismissal for all students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. This carpool will end at 2:40 P.M.
Early Pick-Ups

Early pick-up is arranged by an email to your child’s teacher and pickup@stbs.org. Children in K–8th will not be released after 2:45 P.M. Monday–Thursday and 1:50 P.M. on Friday. Children in Infant–PreK will not be released after 12:15 P.M. Please arrange early pick-up before these times to allow faculty and staff to end lessons and prepare for carpool.
| | K–8 UNIFORM & PRESCHOOL TOTE BAG GUIDELINES | |
Kindergarten–8th Grade Only
Uniforms are required for all Kindergarten through 8th grade students. These can be purchased at Lands’ End. Use this link here to see the uniform requirements for your student's specific grade.
Anything worn in the building to layer (sweatshirt, sweater, fleece, etc.) must be logoed. Anything worn just to the playground (like a raincoat or winter coat) does not require a logo - children can wear anything. Shoes are tricky because they are often not solid colors, but we ask athletic shoes to be worn daily, and if a dress shoe is worn for Chapel (optional), children should always be able to run and play safely. Boots (winter or rain) as well as other wedged or open-toe shoes are not permitted. PE Uniform - All students in 4th–8th grade should wear the PE uniform on days that PE is scheduled. The PE uniform is optional for 4th grade. Sweatshirts are part of the PE uniform and should only be worn inside during PE days.
Preschool Tote Bag Requirement (Infants, 1s, 2s, 3s, and PreK)

Preschool students are required to carry a St. Benedict’s tote bag and should bring it on the first day of class. Monogramming the student’s name on the bag is optional and, if desired, should be handled by the parent. A community partner, Marshmallow Dream, offers personalizations. Check out their flyer here.
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Weekly chapel services are the center of our common life. We gather as a community to celebrate, sing, and pray. We come together to share our stories, and we are reminded week after week of how God works in us as individuals and as a community. Chapel services are in the Episcopal tradition, but are accessible to people of all faiths. For the 2026-2027 school year, the days for Chapel will be:
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Tuesday 8:20 A.M.: Grades 1–3
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Wednesday 8:20 A.M.: Grades 4–5
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Wednesday 9:15 A.M.: Preschool 3s, PreK, and Kindergarten
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Thursday 8:20 A.M.: Grades 6–8

A typical Chapel is about 20 minutes long. PS/K is about 10 minutes in length.
Typically, Eucharist (or Holy Communion) takes place the first chapel of every month for our students in 1st through 8th grade. These services are longer and last for about 45 minutes.
There is no chapel during the first week of school. Parents and visitors are invited to join us, however, for parents of PK/K students, we ask that you only attend when your child is celebrating a birthday or serving as a chapel helper. The younger children tend to be harder to separate at the end of the service. Thank you for your support.
We will continue our safety protocol to have each family member register to Chapel prior to arriving. The sign-up is accessible on the school calendar on the website or in each weekly buzz. Please be ready to provide your ID upon arrival.
Blessing of the Backpacks will be hosted on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. This event takes place at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church during service.
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Digital literacy is an incredibly important skill and we are a 1:1 school for technology. IPad Minis are required for all 2nd through 4th Grade students. Families will purchase their own as the school does not provide the device. An iPad Mini is easier for younger children to handle and also allows for less drops and damage than the larger iPad. The device should be brought to school in a case that will keep them well protected, such as an Otterbox or Gumdrop case, preferably with a kickstand.
Please make sure that the device meets the following minimum requirements:
-The iPad Mini must be a 5th generation or newer and must be able to run on the latest iOS, which at this time is iOS 26, and must be able to be updated through the life of its use by the student.
See link below for generations that are compatible with the iOS 26

https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/ipad-models-compatible-with-ipados-17-ipad213a25b2/ipados
4th graders will still use iPads, but will be introduced to Chromebooks by utilizing a school-owned class set. Students in grades 5-8 will receive their Chromebook once school starts. The Chromebook is included in tuition and fees for students in grades 5-8. Students must keep their Chromebook in the assigned black case.
| | EXTENDED DAY, AUXILIARY PROGRAMS & ENRICHMENT | | |
Preschool Only (Infants, 1s, 2s, 3s & PreK)

We are excited to offer flexible scheduling options designed to support your family's needs before and after the school day.
Before & After School Options
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Before Care: Beginning at 7:15 A.M.
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Extended Day Pick-Up Options: 2:30 P.M., 3:30 P.M., or 4:30 P.M.
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Aftercare: Available until 6:00 P.M.
We also offer Afterschool Enrichment Clubs for Preschool 3s & PreK, Stingers Unplugged, and exciting Summer Camp programs throughout the year.
New to Extended Day? Click here to learn more about what your child can expect during our Preschool Extended Day Program.
Registration Dates
Registration for Extended Day, Before Care, Aftercare, and Fall Enrichment Clubs is completed through one convenient online registration process.
- Registration Opens: 10:00 A.M. on Monday, July 20, 2026
- Registration Closes: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
To help us plan staffing, families must register by Wednesday, August 5, 2026. While late registrations for Enrichment Clubs (space permitting) will be accepted through Friday, August 21, 2026, availability for Extended Day, Before Care, and Aftercare cannot be guaranteed after the August 5, 2026 deadline. Click here to register.
Preschool Enrichment Clubs

Our Preschool 3s and PreK students can continue the fun after school with a variety of engaging enrichment experiences designed to inspire creativity, exploration, and learning.
Click here to view the Fall 2026 Enrichment Club Brochure and Calendar.
Plan Ahead
Our School Break & Auxiliary Programs Calendar helps families prepare for school holidays and auxiliary program offerings throughout the year.
Click here to view the calendar.
For more information, including pricing for extended case, visit https://www.stbs.org/before-and-aftercare-pricing or email preschool@stbs.org.
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Kindergarten–8th Grade Only
Our Stingers Squad Auxiliary Programs consist of Before and After Care for Kindergarten to 8th Grade, Afterschool Enrichment Clubs, Stingers Unplugged, and Summer Camps. Please click here to view the School Break & Auxiliary Programs calendar for the school year, which will be updated along with the main school calendar, as family event dates are finalized.
IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Extended Care & Enrichment Clubs
Registration for extended care (Preschool 1s through 8th Grade) and enrichment clubs for the fall semester will open at 10:00 A.M. on July 20, 2026, and close on August 5, 2026. Before care will be offered for all ages beginning at 7:15 A.M., and aftercare will be offered until 6:00 P.M. Stingers Squad is very proud to provide high-quality extended care programming. Click here to see what you and your child can expect during aftercare this year - we recommend you take a look, even if your child has attended aftercare previously.
For students in Preschool 3s through 8th grade, Stingers Squad is excited to continue to offer a variety of fun after school enrichment Clubs. Click here to see the enrichment clubs brochure and calendar for Fall 2026.
Extended care and enrichment club registration is combined into one process each semester. It is extremely important that you meet the deadlines below in order to utilize our extended care and club programs for Fall semester.
Registration for extended care and enrichment clubs for the fall semester will open on Monday, July 20, 2026, and close on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. We cannot guarantee extended care availability for registrations completed after this date. Late enrichment club registrations will be accepted by email until August 21, 2026. Please click here to register for extended care and/or clubs on or after July 20.
For more information, including pricing for extended care, visit www.stbs.org/stingers-squad or email: stingerssquad@stbs.org.
| | STINGERS ATHLETICS: THIS YEAR'S SPORTS | |
We are so excited for another great year for our Stinger Athletes. Please see below for all of our sports that we will offer this year. If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Department at stbsathletics@stbs.org.
Fall (November-February):
Winter (November-February)
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Boys and Girls Basketball (6th–8th)
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Please fill out this interest form here if your athlete would like to participate.
- Boys and Girls Basketball (5th Grade SBA)
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Please fill out this interest form here if your athlete would like to participate.
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Boys and Girls Swim (6th–8th)
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Please fill out this interest form here if your athlete would like to participate.
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Winter Tennis Skills and Drills (5th–8th)
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Please fill out this interest form here if your athlete would like to participate.

Spring (Mid January-April)
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Boys and Girls Track & Field (6th–8th)
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CoEd Flag Football (6th–8th)
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Boys and Girls Tennis (6th–8th)
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Please complete the following health forms in the event that your child has health conditions we need to help manage: 

- Authorization to Dispense Medication (use for all over-the-counter and prescription medications)
- Food Allergy Action Plan
- Asthma Action Plan
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Seizure Action Plan 

These forms should be completed for our school nurses to provide care for any student with any of these needs. If you have completed one in the past, we must have it updated for this school year.
You must also submit to the school a copy of each student’s Immunization Form 3231 (Infants–8th) and Hearing/Vision Form 2200 (K–8th)
All students must submit updated forms for the new school year even if no changes have been made. Please contact your pediatrician’s office to request the required immunization form. We ask that you scan and email the forms directly to forms@stbs.org or you may bring them to the school’s front office or mail them to us at 2160 Cooper Lake Road, Smyrna, GA 30080.
| | | YAY LUNCH!: FRESH, LOCAL MEALS FOR YOUR CHILD | | |
We’re excited to continue our partnership with Yay, our lunch service for Preschool 3s–8th Grade. They’re hard at work curating a customized menu just for us, featuring nourishing meals made fresh daily by local chefs.
Register or update your account today to be the first to know when your Lunch Calendar is ready to explore! With exciting announcements, delicious options and big promos around the corner, you won’t want to miss a thing.
| | ST. B'S FAMILY REFERRAL PROGRAM | | |
New and current St. B’s families who are enrolled for the 2026–2027 school year and refer a newly enrolled family that applies and enrolls between Monday, February 23, 2026, and Friday, August 7, 2026, will be eligible to receive a 10% discount on one student’s 2026–2027 tuition (fees not included).
Here’s how it works:

- The referred family must include your family name on their application in Ravenna. If more than one family is listed, the discount will be shared.
- Enrollment is defined as a signed contract and tuition deposit submitted by Friday, August 7, 2026.
- Both families must be enrolled for the 2026–2027 school year for the discount to apply.
- Multiple discounts are available. If you refer two families who enroll, you may receive a 20% discount.
- Tuition discounts are non-transferable.
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ST. BENEDICT'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | stbs.org
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