From the President | From the Principal | From the Dean of Students
From the Dean of Students
Nancy Doyle, Dean of Students, 452-3461 ext. 112
On Campus Live Scan Fingerprinting Event
As a convenience to parents, the school has arranged to have
Live Scan Fingerprinting available during Sports Physical Evening on
Wednesday, August 13, from 5:00-8:00pm.
"Request for Live Scan Services" forms will be available, but to expedite the process please download and complete this form in advance. Duplicate copies are required, so print and complete two copies (three, if you would like to retain one for yourself).
There is a fee for this service and valid Photo ID is required.
Download: Form 8016-Request Live Scan Services.pdf 47KB
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Fingerprinting Mandatory for St. Francis Parent Volunteers
(updated 05/31/08)
Because of California state law and to ensure the safety of our students, St. Francis upholds the diocesan policy that no adult may participate as a volunteer on campus or working directly with students unless the adult has fingerprint clearance on file with the Diocese. Adults who instruct, supervise, drive or chaperone students must obtain fingerprint clearance. SFHS requests that all parents/guardians complete the fingerprinting process early in the school year.
Fingerprints Already on File Within Diocese
You do not need to be fingerprinted for St. Francis High School if you were fingerprinted, at your daughter's Sacramento diocesan elementary or high school, after April 25, 2000.
If this applies to you, simply download and complete the "Request for Fingerprinting Records Form" and submit it to the St. Francis office.
Note: Please do not contact the Catholic School Department directly. If you are not sure if your fingerprint report is on record with the Diocese or St. Francis, contact Nancy Doyle, Dean of Students, 452-3461 ext. 112.
Fingerprints Not on File Within Diocese
You must be fingerprinted for St. Francis High School if you do not have fingerprinting records on file as described above.
Use the following link to view a list of locations that provide Live Scan service:
CA Office of the Attorney General Fingerprint Services
Fees vary. There is a $42 processing fee in addition to the fee shown by each company listed.
Once you have been fingerprinted you must either mail or deliver one copy of the completed Live Scan form to the Dean of Students office.
Uniform Policy for 2008-2009
(Apr-May 2008 Troubadour Tribune)
There are a few minor changes to the uniform policy for next year.
- A cardigan style sweater has been added to the uniform items that may be worn every day, including formal uniform days.
- A letterman’s jacket has been added to the items that may be worn every day except formal uniform days.
- The last change has to do with skirt length. The handbook currently asks that students wear their skirt at a modest length; next year the handbook will state that the length of the skirt may be no shorter than three inches above the middle of the knee. This length is consistent with the minimum length of skirts and shorts that our students can wear to dances. Summer is the perfect time to adjust the hem or purchase a new skirt, if necessary.
From the Troubadour Tribune: October-November 2006
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
New for this year, we have designated an area where students cannot exit or enter a car. We have done this to encourage parents to fully utilize the length of the drop off/pick up lanes. We ask for you cooperation in pulling up as far as you can.
Thanks to the cooperation of our parent drivers, the drop-off in the morning appears to be going smoothly. Please read and follow these guidelines:
1. Have your daughters ready to exit the car quickly. Have her backpack and any other items packed and ready to grab.
2. Pull forward, we must utilize the full length of the space provided. The painted white lines are your guide.
3. If you are in the intersection/driveway do not allow your daughters to exit from the car. The second outside lane will be used for any overflow of cars that do not fit into the drop-off area.
4. Please drive slowly.
Pick-up in the afternoon is much improved; just a couple of reminders:
Please do not arrive before 3:20 unless absolutely necessary, as we must allow our student drivers to exit the parking lot.
1. Students who are free at the last block of the day are allowed to leave early, freeing up parking places for parents after school.
2. Thank you to the many parents arriving after 3:20 to pick up their daughters. This gives students a chance to exit classrooms, get to their lockers, say goodbye to friends, and be ready to meet their rides. It also allows those parents who are driving to athletic practices or games to arrive earlier and leave quickly without being trapped by incoming cars. Those arriving at 3:30 are able to pick up very quickly.
3. When the pick-up area is full, parents are directed into the parking area. If sent to the parking lot, please park and wait for your daughter; do not line up in the driveway. Parents should park in the empty spaces and ask their daughters to meet them there instead of trying to pick-up in front of the school. By pulling into the empty parking places outside of the Arts wing, the driving lanes are freed up for cars ready to exit.
Safety is always a prime consideration. Please do not ask your daughter to meet you on Elvas or in the surrounding area. Follow the directions of the safety staff as you pull in. We are attempting to keep the exit lanes flowing smoothly. Be aware that if you stop after pulling into the site instead of going to park in the lot to the right, you may be putting other drivers backed up behind you at risk on Elvas. Drive 5 mph in the parking areas. And a special blessing upon those drivers who give us a friendly wave and a smile. We love you.
Student Drivers (First year)
The DMV Handbook states that during the first year of having their license, students cannot carry passengers under the age of 20. There are Provisional License Restriction Exceptions.
If you feel that your situation fits the exceptions described in the handbook, the Dean of Students will provide a note on school letterhead that states that your daughter attends St. Francis High School and that we do not provide transportation for our students. This letter cannot be used for any school social activities.
Attendance Office Reminders
Missing a Class/Missing a Day – Call or send a note with your daughter the day before, or call by 8:00 AM on the morning of the event or appointment.
Missing Multiple Days (more than 3 days) – your daughter should pick up an extended leave packet to be signed by each of her teachers. She must then bring the packet to the administration office. In addition, parents must send a note or call the attendance line (once) to report her dates of absence.
If your daughter has a last minute appointment, you must call the attendance office. Please do not just drop in to pick your student up, except in the case of an emergency.
Upon return to school from a doctor, dentist, orthodontic or similar appointment, your daughter must bring a note from the medical office.
The attendance line is 916-452-3461, ext. 150.
If you have questions, please contact Cynthia Cost at ext. 219.
Date and Open Dances
St. Francis High School Spirit Week is November 13-17. The Homecoming Dance is Saturday, November 18, from 8:00 P.M. until 11:00 P.M. Students who do not have a date are welcome to attend the dance. No one is admitted to the dance after 9:00 P.M. and no one may leave before 10:30 P.M.
Policies for all dances:
• In our continued response to the U.S. Bishops’ concerns on poverty and to the rising tide of materialism and its values, we are asking that no students rent limos or buses. They will not be permitted into the parking lot.
• The penalties for alcohol and drug use during school-sponsored activities are stiff—suspension and/or expulsion.
Breathalyzer tests are now randomly administered to students as they enter St. Francis High School dances. If a student tests positive, her/his parents will be notified. The parents must drive the student home. Students who test positive and refuse to cooperate with school staff will be handed over to the Sacramento City Police providing security at the dance.
St. Francis High School is committed to ensuring that school sponsored social activities are safe and drug and alcohol free. We ask that parents support the school in this policy.
Homecoming Rally
St. Francis invites parents of our Seniors to attend the homecoming rally on Nov. 17th. A reservation must be made in advance. Seniors will be able to pick up reservation forms during the first week of November.
Internet Safety
We all are aware that we live in an instant message-digital-text-cellular phone world that presents us with opportunities to share information and ideas instantly. One of the most popular phenomena in this arena is web logs or “blogs” as they are commonly known. My Space is considered an internet blog site. These are journal-like internet documents where people can communicate and “post” entries on a variety of topics. Additionally, photos can be easily uploaded (from digital cameras and phones with photo capability). “Blogs” have gained popularity and purpose in several areas including politics, economics, pop culture and as personal diaries. They are growing in popularity especially among adolescents.
The majority of this blogging is positive and has allowed for lively interchange, and a large percentage of our kids have turned to “blogs” as a way to express themselves and talk about their lives with friends. In many respects, these are similar to the journals and diaries we kept in high school. However, there is one glaring difference: we kept these journals hidden, private and not open for comment on the World Wide Web.
The majority of the content of these blogs is predictable teen angst: “I hate math...school is a big drag...I broke up with my boyfriend...my parents do not understand me.” Unfortunately, being adolescents, they do not fully understand three major issues that arise from blogging: the content can go too far; any notion of privacy is an illusion, these blogs are public and can become harmful, and specific references to our school and its community can compromise reputations.
When the Dean of Students is made aware of postings on any of these sites that can compromise the reputation of the school or the student the parent will be called in for a meeting. The student will be asked to delete her internet blog account and could face suspension or expulsion.
The web site www.myspace.com is the site that is most popular with our students. We would like you to discuss this site and other sites similar to myspace with your daughter. Insist that your daughter shows you her account if she has one and then take some time to navigate around yourself. In the profile area they may have put in enough personal information in that any stranger can find your daughter. Please take the time to discuss with her the dangers of putting personal information out for the world to see.
On behalf of the school administration we are not asking your daughters to not participate in these sites. We want to make you and your daughter aware of the above mentioned issues and help them see the dangers and any consequences that may arise. If the school is forced to act because of inappropriate items being posted, we will do so in accordance to the discipline policies listed in the Student-Parent Handbook.
For your information, these are some of the other web site addresses for “blogs” of which the school is aware: www.xanga.com, www.livejournal.com, www.opendiary.com.
A few highlights from the Student-Parent Handbook
Attendance Policy
A Parent or guardian (not the student) must call the school before 8:00am (452-3461 ext. 150) on each day a student is absent. The attendance recorder is available 24 hours a day. If the student is requesting a dismissal during school hours a note or phone call from the parent must be into the attendance office before 8:00am or on the previous day if the student has an early morning appointment. No e-mailed or faxed notes. Absences reported only to teachers are not accepted as excused. The attendance office must be notified of all absences.
August 18th is a mandatory school. If the student is not able to attend the attendance office must be notified.
Surveillance Cameras
To promote school security and safety St. Francis will utilize surveillance cameras for the parking area, the school perimeter, and hallways. These cameras will be installed this summer.
Transportation Policy
The following are changes from the previous policy:
- Students may not transport other students to school related activities if the transportation is organized by the school.
- A Driver Information Sheet must be on file in The Dean of Student’s Office before a parent can transport students to school related events. (Only if the school organizes transportation)
Parking Permits
Juniors and Seniors must apply for a parking permit tag in order to park in the school lots. The Student Parking Contract/Application is available in the Summer Mailing. The fee for the year is $25.00. Please apply early as there are limited spaces available.
We encourage all students who drive to school to car pool. Drive by yourself only when it is absolutely necessary.
Sophomores and Freshmen are not eligible to apply for parking permits. Please plan your carpools accordingly.
Student Drivers (first year)
The DMV handbook states that during the first twelve months of having their license, students cannot carry passengers under the age of 20. There are Provisional License Restriction Exceptions. (Please see page 12 of the California Drivers Handbook.)
If you feel that your situation fits the exceptions described in the handbook, the Dean of Students will provide a note on school letterhead that states that your daughter attends St. Francis High School and that we do not provide transportation for our students. This letter cannot be used for any school social activities.
Uniform Policy
The Uniform Policy has changes for the 2006-2007 school year. Please note the following:
- The gray sweatshirts have been phased out.
- Rain boots or Ugg style boots may be worn at any time.
- Layering of sweatshirts is permitted. A non-uniform sweatshirt may only be worn under the following:
- The uniform sweatshirt
- The long sleeved uniform sweater
- The long sleeved fleece.
(Absolutely no layering under the sweater vest or fleece vest.)
- We have added a uniform jacket. If a student wears a jacket to school it must be a SFHS uniform jacket.
Uniform Reminders
- Be sure your daughter’s skirt is in good condition. The button and zipper should be in working order so that it can be fastened at the waist.
- Backless shoes are out of uniform. This includes the clog style shoe with a thin lip at the heel.
- Only Khaki (not corduroy or denim) material is acceptable for pants. Beige is the only acceptable color.
Detention will be issued to any student not in proper uniform. A second violation will result in a major detention being issued and an extended-time detention.
Body Piercing
Students are not allowed to have any piercing other than in the ears. There are no exceptions to this policy. Students may not use tape or clear posts to disguise an unacceptable piercing.
Disciplinary Detention
The following is a change from our previous policy:
Students may now serve detention during community lunch. Ten students per day may sign-up in advance to serve detention during community lunches. Students will be either picking up trash or assisting with the campus recycling program. Only students with minor infractions may serve detention during community lunch.
Fingerprinting
St. Francis High School policy requires all parents who plan to volunteer on campus to be fingerprinted. Please contact Nancy Doyle at 452-3461 ext. 112 for instructions on how to complete the fingerprint process.
Phone Messages
School policy states that phone messages will not be delivered to your daughter during the school day. If details of appointments or pick-up plans are not firm, please make plans with your daughter to contact you using the pay office phone designated for students during their free blocks.
Cell Phone Use
Cell phones are not to be used or seen during school hours. This includes free blocks, and lunch blocks. Students must wait until after school to check messages. (Please see the cell phone policy in the Student-Parent Handbook.)
Lockers
Please read the locker policy in the Student-Parent Handbook with your daughter.
Detention will be issued for the following locker violations:
- Students leaving lockers unlocked
- Students using tape on lockers (Students may use magnets on the inside only.)
- Students trading lockers
- Students writing on lockers
Early Dismissal Passes
Students who have a free block at the end of the day may request permission to leave at that time. The student will be allowed to leave at the end of her last class or community lunch;
- When a completed Early Dismissal Form is returned to the Dean’s office.
- When she has received her pass.
On schedules 2, 3, and 4 the early dismissal pass is not valid until the end of community lunch.
Students cannot leave campus in the middle of the school day without written parent permission.
INCOMING FRESHMAN Parents PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY
Drop-off and Pick-up
All Drop-off and Pick-up is done on the Elvas Avenue entrance. M Street is not open for student drop-off or pick-up.
Morning:
PULL AS FAR FORWARD AS POSSIBLE INTO THE TWO DROP-OFF LANES
- Have your daughter ready to exit the car quickly. Have her backpack and any other items packed and ready to grab.
- Please do not allow your daughter to exit from the car until you are in the drop-off lanes. Please wait and pull up as far as possible.
- Please drive slowly.
STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE DROPPED OFF IN THE FINE ARTS PARKING LOT
Afternoon:
PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 3:20
Two hundred cars driven by students exit the parking lot at 3pm. Please give them 15 to 20 minutes after school to do so. Then we will have room for your car either in the drop-off pick-up area or in the parking lot, everyone will be less frustrated and your friendly administrators, who put themselves at risk directing traffic every day after school, will be safer too.
PLEASE DO NOT LINE UP IN THE PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY
The parking lot driveway is the only exit. Students as well as parents will not be able to exit. If we wave you toward the fine arts parking lot, it is because we know that we don’t have room for you in the pick-up area in front of the school. Go into the parking lot and park (not loop around). Ask your daughter to meet you there instead of in front of the school.
Parking in the spaces along Elvas (across from the pick-up lane) further complicates the situation as you must back up into both outgoing and incoming traffic and students must cross three lanes of traffic to get to you.
Supervision of Students on Campus
St. Francis has a variety of schedules with start and end times changing within the school week. Sacramento City College classes on campus start as early as 6:50am. 0 block classes begin at 7:15am. Approximately 60% of our students take a 0 block. On schedule 2 and 3 different classes are held during the first and last blocks of the day, and finally, on most Thursdays classes begin at 9:25am.
School office hours are 7:00am – 4:30pm. The campus is opened at 6:30am with members of our maintenance staff and a school administrator on campus; teachers as well as students begin to arrive at that time. Until 8:00am there is minimal supervision. Minimal supervision is described as staff on campus but not directly supervising students. From 8:00am until 3:00pm faculty and staff are assigned active supervision duty. Active supervision is where a teacher or staff person is assigned a specific area and time to supervise students on lunch and free blocks.
From 3:00pm to close of campus, a time which varies depending on activities taking place, there is minimal supervision. If your daughter is involved in a school activity there is adult supervision at all times.
If your daughter arrives at school early or is waiting for a ride after school, there is minimal supervision. In case of emergency the staff on campus would take on supervisory roles.
When a student reports to her first class of the day, this is the school’s first official notice that the student is here on campus. Students are then required to remain on campus until the end of the school day. Students who have the last block of the day free may request an early dismissal pass. Written parental permission is required for a student to receive an early dismissal pass.
It is very important that parents are aware of the following policy. St. Francis does not require students who arrive on campus early to remain on campus. If you drop your daughter off prior to her first class of the day she may leave campus. We have many students who arrive early to school on the late start days who walk over to Starbucks and Jamba Juice. If you do not want your daughter to do this you must state your wishes to your daughter. If you signed an Early Dismissal Form your daughter may leave campus after her last class of the day.
As a commuter school, we try to accommodate the needs of parents who must drop off their students early or pick them up after school. Please be aware of these supervision levels. With numerous activities on campus every day we feel it is safe for our students to be on campus before and after school. As it is now dark by 5:00pm please make sure your daughter waits for you in a well lit area of campus.
Nancy Doyle, Dean of Students
452-3461, ext. 112
ndoyle@stfrancishs.org
Blogs
We all are aware that we live in an instant message-digital-text-cellular phone world that presents us with opportunities to share information and ideas instantly. One of the more recent phenomena in this arena are web logs or “blogs” as they are commonly known. These are journal-like internet documents where people can communicate and “post” entries on a variety of topics. Additionally, photos can be easily uploaded (from digital cameras and phones with photo capability). “Blogs” have gained popularity and purpose in several areas including politics, economics, pop culture and as personal diaries. They are growing in popularity especially among adolescents.
The majority of this blogging is positive and has allowed for lively interchange, and a large percentage of our kids have turned to “blogs” as a way to express themselves and talk about their lives with friends. In many respects, these are similar to the journals and diaries we kept in high school. However, there is one glaring difference: we kept these journals hidden, private and not open for comment on the World Wide Web.
The majority of the content of these blogs is predictable teen angst: “I hate math...school is a big drag...I broke up with my boyfriend...my parents do not understand me.” Unfortunately, being adolescents, they do not fully understand three major issues that arise from blogging: the content can go too far; any notion of privacy is an illusion, these blogs are public and can become harmful, and specific references to our school and its community can compromise reputations. It is also important to know that strangers, who can lie about their age, gender, etc., can “post” to any account on these sites.
Recently, it has come to our attention from the Deans at Jesuit and Christian Brothers that postings on these sites include personal information (including the use of the name of St. Francis High School), provocative pictures, and questionable materials.
The web site that has come to our attention is www.myspace.com. Over the Christmas holiday I had the opportunity to navigate around this web site. I was able to locate quite a few of our students who have accounts. We would like you to discuss this site and other sites similar to myspace.com with your daughter. Ask your daughter to show you her account if she has one and then take some time to navigate around yourself.
The school administration is not asking that your daughters not participate in these sites. We want to make you and your daughter aware of the above mentioned issues and help them see the dangers and any consequences that may arise. If the school is forced to act because of inappropriate items being posted, we will do so in accordance to the discipline policies listed in the Student-Parent Handbook.
For your information, here are some of the other web site addresses for “blogs” of which the school is aware: www.xanga.com, www.livejournal.com, www.opendiary.com
Inhalant Use
In our ongoing effort to keep parents informed of current trends in the drug and alcohol arena, I would like to share with you a message from the Dean of Students at Jesuit High School:
“Recently, we received information that some of our students are involved in inhalant abuse (the deliberate inhalation of fumes, vapors, or gasses for intoxicating effects.) Quite simply, these substances are very easy to get, legal for their intended purpose (deodorant, computer cleaner, white out, dry erase markers, etc.) and inexpensive. Inhalant use is very difficult to detect, damaging to the brain, circulatory and respiratory systems, and is potentially fatal.”
Research indicates that the number of new inhalant users increased from 627,000 new users in 1994 to 1.2 million in 2000. During this period, more males than females initiated inhalant use. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (www.inhalants.com) suggests the following for parents:
- Know the facts.
- Be able to communicate the facts clearly.
- Explain that inhalants are not drugs, they are deadly chemicals and poisons.
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