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Dear Alvarez Family,
It’s hard to believe that in a few short weeks, we will welcome students back to school! This email contains a great deal of important information that you will need to know for the upcoming school year.
PLEASE read all of this email very carefully!
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, 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 after-school program (Stingers Squad and/or clubs), our Auxiliary Programming Director, Maurice Shaffer, will be communicating with you directly. They 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, 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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CLASSROOM PLACEMENTS, OPEN HOUSES AND
ADMINISTRATION Q&A
Teachers will be emailing welcome letters to students the week of July 29, and all families will hear from their teachers by August 2. 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 9 Preschool Orientation (parents only)
- 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. Preschool 1s and 2s
- 10:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M. Preschool 3s and PreK
- August 12 Open House
- 9:00 A.M.- 10:00 A.M. K-2nd
- 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. 3rd-5th
- 1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. 6-8th
- August 13 Preschool Meet & Greet (parents and students)
- 9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. Preschool 1s and 2s
- 10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. Preschool 3s and PreK
- Tears and Cheers Reception with Parent Orientation
- ALL Kindergarten families Wednesday, August 14, 8:15 A.M.
- For any families who can not attend, there will be a new parent zoom on Wednesday, August 7 at 6:00 P.M.
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CARPOOL TAGS & MAPS
In order to ensure the safety of our students, each family is assigned a carpool number and must display a school-issued hang tag when picking up their student(s) in the carpool line.
Returning families; numbers will remain the same. New families will be issued a new number and will receive two hang tags at Open House. 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 Gibson by July 19.
PLEASE NOTE: the hang tags require a minimum amount to order, so if you think you may need additional tags throughout the school year, or if you have lost your tag from last year, please place your order now. Orders requested after July 19 may not be received right away.
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.
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 using PikMyKid, please email Mollie Gibson.
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NEW STUDENT YARD SIGN T-SHIRT PICK-UP | |
St. B’s wants you to get excited about joining our amazing community! Feel free to pick up your student's yard sign and t-shirt from our administrative office on our Main Campus between 9:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Monday through Thursday throughout the summer.
If you have not done so already, please be sure to stop by the Main Campus to collect your Preschool Totes (PS1 - PK only), yard signs, and grade level T-shirts while supplies last.
Final Official transcripts for Incoming 1st graders through 8th grade are due to the Office of Admissions by July 31.
As a reminder, families that selected more than one payment plan are required to participate in the Tuition Refund Plan. It is already included in your monthly payments and is reflected in your FACTS account. Please click here for the tuition refund plan and keep a copy for your records.
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CALENDAR AND DAILY SCHEDULE
Our first day of classes is on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 and will follow our normal school schedule.
School hours are as follows:
- Preschool 1s, 2s, 3s and Pre-Kindergarten: 8:45 A.M.-12:45 P.M. (morning carpool beings at 8:25AM and ends at 8:45 A.M.; afternoon carpool begins at 12:45 P.M. and ends at 1:00 P.M.)
- Kindergarten: 8:10 A.M.-2:20 P.M. (morning carpool begins at 7:45 A.M. and ends at 8:10AM; afternoon carpool begins after 2:20 P.M. dismissal and ends at 2:35 P.M.)
- 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.)
- 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 3:30 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.
We offer Tutorial Tuesdays in Middle School from 3:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. so that students can get extra help from their teachers. Tutorial Tuesdays will start September 24.
Early Pick-Ups
Early pick-up is arranged by an email to your child’s teacher. Children will not be released after 2:45 P.M. Monday-Thursday and 1:50 P.M. on Friday. Please arrange early pick-up before these times to allow faculty and staff to end lessons and prepare for carpool.
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Uniforms are required for all Kindergarten through 8th grade students. These can be purchased at Lands’ End. The document explaining the uniform requirements can be found here.
If ordering from Lands’ End, you may click here for all of your ordering needs. Requirements are listed on the Lands’ End site, but a summary of all requirements is attached. Lands’ End offers a number of optional pieces. You will find many of these on the Lands; End site marked as such. The biggest questions we receive are outerwear and shoes.
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Anything worn in the building to layer (sweatshirt, sweater, fleece, etc.) must be logo’ed. 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. Sweatshirts are part of the PE uniform and should only be worn inside during PE days
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Preschool students are required to carry a St. Benedict’s tote bag and should bring it on the first day of class. These can be picked up in the front office of the Main Campus for new families.
The school office is open Monday-Thursday 9:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. for pick up. Monogramming the student’s name on the bag is optional and, if desired, should be handled by the parent.
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The PA would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning families! There are many opportunities to get involved in the St. Benedict's community and we cannot wait to connect with you this year.
Please make note of our upcoming events, and stay tuned for more as we draw closer to the start of school:
July 13 - Used Uniform Sale 1125 Concord Road, Smyrna, GA
August 5-10 Summer Socials (see below to RSVP by grade level)
August 20 First PA Meeting
If you have any questions about the PA, please email pa@stbs.org
You can also join our Facebook Group, Families of St. B's, by clicking here and answering a few questions.
See you soon!
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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 Kindergarten through 3rd 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 run on the latest IOS, which at this time is IOS17.4, and must be able to be updated through the life of its use by the student.
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Purchase the latest iPad Mini generations. See below link for generations that are compatible with the IOS17 - https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/ipad-models-compatible-with-ipados-17-ipad213a25b2/ipados
- 4th graders will transition to computers this year but they will be utilizing a class set of Chromebooks so there is nothing to purchase.
- 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.
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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 and welcome to people of all faiths.
For the 2024-2025 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
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 for Chapel prior to arriving. The sign up is accessible on the school calendar on the website or in The Weekly Buzz. Please be ready to provide I.D. upon arrival.
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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 (August-October):
- Boys and Girls Cross Country (5th-8th)
- Registration open
- Girls Volleyball (5th-8th)
- Registration open-Closes July 1
Winter (November-Mid February):
- Boys and Girls Basketball (5th-8th)
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Please fill out the interest form here if your athlete would like to participate.
- Boys Tennis (6th-8th)
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Please fill out the interest form here if you athlete would like to participate.
Spring (Mid January-April):
- Boys and Girls Track & Field (6th-8th)
- Boys and Girls Flag Football (6th-8th)
- Boys and Girls Tennis (5th-8th)
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Please complete the following health forms in the event 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
- 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 (Preschool 1s-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.
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We’re excited to continue our partnership with YAY Lunch as our lunch service. 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.
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STINGERS SQUAD AUXILIARY PROGRAMMING

Our Stingers Squad Auxiliary Programs consist of Before and After Care, Afterschool Enrichment Clubs, Stingers Unplugged, and Summer Camps.
Before care will be offered for all ages beginning at 7:15 A.M., and aftercare will be offered until 6:00 P.M. For students in Preschool 3s through 8th grade, Stingers Squad is excited to continue to offer a variety of fun after school enrichment Clubs.
This year, extended care and enrichment club registration will be combined. Stingers Squad is very pleased to announce that families will no longer be charged for aftercare during the club hour if registered for both aftercare and clubs! Further, if registering for both clubs and aftercare, during registration you will have the option to add aftercare for the days at the beginning and end of the semester when there are no clubs; pricing for these days has been adjusted to the normal aftercare rate and not the drop-in rate (if you select this option, you will no longer need to notify us or be billed as a drop-in at the beginning/end of the semester).
Registration for extended care and enrichment clubs for the fall semester will open on July 12. In order to staff adequately for extended care during the fall semester, prompt registration will be required to utilize these services. Extended care registration will close on August 7, and we cannot guarantee extended care availability for registrations completed after this date.
Click here to see the enrichment clubs brochure and calendar. Enrichment clubs will open for registration on July 12; registration will close on August 18.
Please click here to register for extended care and/or Clubs. For more information, including pricing for extended care, visit https://www.stbs.org/stingers-squad or email: stingerssquad@stbs.org.
Registration for the spring 2025 semester must be completed in December (more information will be provided via The Weekly Buzz towards the end of the fall semester).
STINGERS UNPLUGGED
Throughout the school year, Stingers Unplugged offers fun and care for students on days when school is out. Check The Weekly Buzz throughout the year for registration information and deadlines.
Stingers Unplugged will be offered on the following dates this school year:
- August 30 - early release care offered from school dismissal until 4:00 P.M.
- October 11 & 14 - care offered from 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
- November 22 - early release care offered from school dismissal until 4:00 P.M.
- November 25-26 - care offered from 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
- February 28 - early release care offered from school dismissal until 4:00 P.M.
- March 3-7 - care offered from 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
- May 21 - (Preschool) early release care offered from school dismissal until 6:00 P.M.
- May 22 - early release care offered from school dismissal until 4:00 P.M.
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GRADE LEVEL SUMMER SOCIALS | |
The Parent Association invites you to attend our summer socials during the week of August 5th. Please email pa@stbs.org if you are interested in being a contact person for each date. | |
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Wednesday, August 7
Pre-K: 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. RSVP
2nd: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
5th: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
6th: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
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Thursday, August 8
1st: 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. RSVP
3rd: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
7th: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
8th: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
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Friday, August 9
Kindergarten: 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. RSVP
4th: 4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. RSVP
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Saturday, August 10
Rising infant – Pre-school 3s: 11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. RSVP
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Please note grades 4th-8th will have their Summer Social at the new property and grades 3rd and younger will have theirs at Oakdale Park.
Blessing of the Backpacks will be hosted on Sunday, August 11, at 8:00 A.M. & 10:00 A.M. This event takes place at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church during service.
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ST. BENEDICT'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | stbs.org
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