All News
A Message From The Dean: Safe Return To School Plan
Please allow me to clarify, all students will be divided into Red and Gold Cohorts and will be physically on campus two to three times a week, depending on the rotation of the schedule. The previous example only showed two weeks. On the days the students are not on campus, they will be at home doing synchronous distance learning via videoconferencing.
Principal’s Newsletter 7/10/20
Dear St. Francis Families,
I can’t believe we are already into the month of July, and we are a few short weeks away from beginning the 2020-2021 school year. My administrative team has been extremely busy preparing for the safe return of our students, faculty, and staff in August. A lot of refinements continue to be made around student schedules, balancing Red/Gold cohorts, community lunches, and extracurricular activities.
Last week, I included a parent survey soliciting feedback from families about carpooling or special considerations as we finalize our Red/Gold cohorts. If you have not done so already, please complete the survey by Monday, July 13th at 5:00 p.m. We will use this information to finalize our schedule. Again, please know that we are looking at well over 500 individual requests and may not be able to accommodate all of these requests.
Since we released our Safe Return to School Plan on June 26, 2020, we continue to monitor the guidelines published or updated by federal, state, and local government agencies. In the coming days, we’ll be releasing an addendum to our Safe Return to School Plan in next week’s Principal’s Newsletter, providing you with additional information about the 2020-2021 school year.
The health and safety of our students, families, and staff is always our primary concern, and we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. As a faculty and staff, we are especially empathetic to our students who are missing some of the traditional St. Francis High School experiences. Our goal is to continue to support the whole student – academically, socially, and emotionally – and we are working to reimagine and recreate as many of these experiences as possible. We are aware of the mental toll that this transition may take, and our Wellness, Campus Ministry, and Guidance teams are continuously collecting support resources for our community. They will be ready to serve your daughter when school resumes in August.
I thank you for your continued support as we continue to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I pray that you and your families continue to enjoy a safe and healthy summer break.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Chromebook Batteries and Chargers for Class of 2021 & Class of 2022
Batteries and chargers are covered under a 1-year warranty. Batteries are currently on back order at CTL and should be available the last week of July. We will post any update on our website and on the Principal’s Newsletter when they are available for purchase.
To purchase either, please click on the link below for the battery or charger.
Click HERE for CTL J5 Battery. CTL is offering a discount code of 30% using the code: J5BATTTERY$
College Workshop for Rising Seniors
College Workshop for Rising Seniors (On Campus)
Date: August 3-6th
Time: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Register: HERE
New Guidance Counselors
We are happy to share with you, after a lengthy search and thorough interview process, we were able to hire two new Guidance Counselors.
Ms. Katrina Fox, Class of 2008, will be assuming the role of 10th grade Guidance Counselor. She joins us from St. Francis High School in Mt. View, CA. She holds an M.S. in Counseling, a PPS Credential, and MFT from CSU East Bay. She can be reached via email at kfox@stfrancishs.org.
St. Francis Accepts Vehicle Donations!
Here’s another great way to support St. Francis and our Troubies. Donate a used car, truck, or boat you no longer need! Vehicle donations have the potential to bring hundreds and even thousands of dollars in support of our programs and services.
Through our vehicle donation program, we make donating a vehicle easy, and provide free pick-up. All vehicle donations are tax deductible, and St. Francis will provide you with a receipt.
Summer Reading / Summer School Assignments/Summer School Textbooks
All summer reading and summer assignments can be found on the St. Francis website. Students should complete all assignments prior to returning to campus in August.
The St. Francis bookstore is now live for summer reading and summer school. While we offer the online bookstore for your convenience, you are not required to purchase books through our site.
Yearbook Update
Typically, at the end of each school year, all Troubies receive a yearbook. This year is different due to COVID 19. The following classes (2021, 2022, and 2023) will receive their 2019-2020 yearbook in August on picture day. Additional information will be coming out with more specific details as we get closer to August. We are very sorry for the delay, but we are very excited for you to receive your book!
Please contact Mrs. Benson (ebenson@stfrancishs.org) for any questions.
Principal’s Newsletter 7/03/20
Dear St. Francis Families,
I hope you’re all doing well and preparing for a different 4th of July holiday weekend.
Last week, I shared St. Francis’ Safe Return to School Plan. I know that several of you have reviewed it already, as I have received some questions about the Synchronous Hybrid Learning Model.
Just to clarify, each student group or cohort, will meet on campus for two consecutive school days, followed by two Distance Learning days. When the Red Group is on campus, the Gold Group will be accessing class via our distance learning platform, and vice versa. As the schedule rotates throughout the semester, each student cohort will be on campus the same number of days. The hybrid learning model maximizes the student instructional minutes and student-teacher contact points, while maintaining the health and safety of our school community. The benefit of this hybrid learning model is that teachers will be able to see all of their students in class two to three times per week, in order to get to know them, and develop a rapport that is not easily developed remotely.
This being said, some parents have requested that special consideration be given for carpooling families, seniors, and friend groups. Unfortunately, at this time, this is not something that I can guarantee, but please know that we are looking at several options to ensure we divide the student body in a fair and equitable manner. Click HERE for a parent survey that will help us make our decisions as we finalize our Red/Gold schedules for our expected return to campus this fall.
Thank you for your input and continued support, as we continue to navigate the implications created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I pray that you have a safe and healthy holiday weekend surrounded by those you love.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Course Assignments
Course assignments will be released on Monday, July 13, 2020, for the purpose of purchasing textbooks. In early August, you will receive an updated schedule with your finalized blocks, teachers, Red or Gold cohort, and C1/C2 or G1/G2 lunch information.
2020-2021 Christian Service Requirements
On June 9, 2020, all students were emailed information for the upcoming academic year regarding their Christian Service Requirements and opportunities. Students who have questions regarding policies or opportunities for credit are encouraged to reach out to the Campus Minister for Christian Service, Stephanie Villanueva. As new service opportunities become available, they will be emailed directly to students.
Class of 2024 News
We are so excited to welcome the Class of 2024 to the SFHS community! Due to COVID-19, we are re-imagining activities for Freshman Orientation. This year, we are planning a Freshman Welcome Day, combining some of the best activities from Overnight Retreat and Orientation Day into one, while socially distancing and having a super fun day on campus. Freshman Welcome Day will take place on Monday, August 10th. More information will be provided to Class of 2024 families soon.
Principal’s Newsletter 6/26/20
Dear St. Francis Families,
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate the implications of the COVID-19 outbreak together, and plan for a rigorous and dynamic 2020-21 school year.
An incredibly dedicated team of St. Francis teachers, administrators, technology, and facilities members have been diligently exploring options to create the best plan for reopening school in August. The team considered safety guidance from the county and state, the needs expressed by our students and teachers, technical and physical campus resources, and discussions happening in local school districts and private schools. Potential plans were presented to a larger group of teachers representing all academic disciplines.
Their review criteria focused on maximizing student instructional minutes and student-teacher contact points, teacher office hours and availability for students, teacher prep and collaboration time with peers, reducing student numbers to ensure compliance with physical distancing practices, as well as ease of adaptability for a full distance learning model if needed at any point in the year. The overwhelming response from the team and administration was that a new 70-minute synchronous learning model would net the best results for our students.
The health and safety of our students, families, and staff is always our primary concern, and we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. As a faculty and staff, we are especially empathetic to our students who are missing some of the traditional St. Francis High School experiences. Our goal is to continue to support the whole student – academically, socially, and emotionally. We are aware of the mental toll that this transition may take, and our Wellness, Campus Ministry, and Guidance teams are continuously collecting support resources for our community and are ready to serve your daughter when school resumes in August.
As of this writing and our current realities, we have outlined our initial plans for the 2020-21 academic year in this document. Undoubtedly, plans may be updated by future developments in public health and governing guidelines. We will continue sending the Principal’s weekly newsletter throughout the summer and posting updates outlining more details as they become available. Click HERE for the link to the Safe Return to School Plan.
Thank you for allowing us the privilege of educating your daughter(s) in an environment that embeds faith, excellence, leadership, and service into all that we do.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Theresa Rodgers
President
Textbooks 2020-2021
Students and families can locate the spreadsheet of the books for the 2020-2021 school year on the St. Francis website. St. Francis partners with BNC to provide families with a one-stop-shop for their textbooks. However, families are not required to purchase books through this site. Remember, if purchasing books from sites other than the St.
St. Francis Parents’ Guild
The St. Francis Parents’ Guild looks forward to a great 2020-2021 school year. While the meeting and events schedule is still being worked out, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to connect and get involved. Rebecca Badeaux (mom of Lisé ’22) has stepped down from her leadership role, as their family moved to Tennessee for new adventures. New President, Sandy Pimenta, is eager to lead and welcomes your involvement. There are still a few openings on the board, including membership chair, alumnae liaison, and reps for the incoming Class of 2024.
Supplemental Chromebook Insurance
We recommend all students purchase Supplemental Chromebook Insurance.
Class of 2021 and Class of 2022: Purchase warranty coverage for the J5 Chromebook
Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 original warranty coverage for the J5 Chromebook are no longer covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Securanty is offering a full extended warranty including battery and AC adapter, as well as accident and theft coverage for $22 per year with $0 deductible.
Summer Reading for the Class of 2024
An updated document with links to the Class of 2024’s English 9 summer reading assignment has been emailed to each student. Students and parents can also find the document on the St. Francis website.
Athletic News – 6/19/20
Cross Country Camp Cancelled
The St. Francis Cross Country Camp scheduled for August 4 through 7 at the Olema Campground has been cancelled for this summer.
St. Francis Athletics will continue to be directed by Diocesan, CIF State, and Section guidance regarding the status of fall sports and the start in August with the health and well-being of our students and coaches as the primary concern. The CIF will be determining by July 20 if fall sports will continue as currently scheduled.
Principal’s Newsletter 6/19/20
Dear St. Francis Families,
Although it feels different this year, summer is here (well, officially tomorrow) and with that, we move closer to the start of the 2020-21 school year. A dedicated cadre of staff has been working diligently to ensure a safe return to our campus, keeping in mind the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. I will keep you informed along the way, as we finalize our return-to-school plan.
Like many other educational institutions in the region, we’ve received guidance from the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and the Sacramento Office of Education, and we have consulted with local authorities to ensure that we implement their guidelines as recommended. They have confirmed that we have clearance to proceed with reopening our school in August, as well as customizing a plan that fits the physical footprint of St. Francis Catholic High School, and the needs of our community.
St. Francis is committed to creating a plan that will afford each student an optimal learning environment, while ensuring that we follow the social distancing guidelines as prescribed by state and local agencies. Relationships and community are a core part of the St. Francis experience for both students and their families. Our plan for this uncertain time will be to try to maximize opportunities to strengthen relationships and support our community whether virtually or in person.
The St. Francis Safety Team has made arrangements to allow the return of some staff members to campus and begin preparations for the eventual return of all employees in August. Hygiene, sanitizing, cleaning, and safety supplies are currently being identified and ordered in preparation for the fall. As you can imagine, this is no small task, as there are many moving pieces to this plan. The St. Francis Safety Team appreciates your patience while we finalize our plans. Rest assured that we are committed to reopening our school in the safest manner possible and maintaining the sense of community that makes us unique.
We are also interacting with the Diocese, Sacramento County, local school districts, CIF, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to determine when to begin summer conditioning in a safe manner following the guidelines published by these organizations. Student-athletes and their families should expect to hear from our Athletic Director with more details in the coming week.
Again, St. Francis Catholic High School intends to return to in-person instruction in August as planned, beginning with our Freshman Student Orientation as usual. More specific information will be shared later this summer.
Please continue to pray that the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, so we can return to a sense of normalcy, albeit, a new normal. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Troubie Store Uniform Liquidation Sale
We are having a Troubie Store Uniform Liquidation Sale. The link will be live until Sunday, July 5 at 11:00 p.m. Click HERE for the link.
Reminder From the Business Office
Welcome to the 2020-21 school year at St. Francis Catholic High School!
Tuition payments for the 2020-21 school year began July 1, 2020.
The TADS Billing & Tuition Management system is the school’s Financial Enrollment and Bill Collection service.
All tuition payments for the 2020-21 school year need to be submitted through the TADS system. St. Francis does not accept tuition payments at the school.
Arts Department News
Artwork from Classes
Thank you, underclassmen, for picking up all of your paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the art rooms. Seniors may pick up artwork when they come for their graduation. All senior artwork will be in the cafeteria. Remember to pick it up!
Cancelled Shows/Donated Tickets
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Returning to Campus August 2020
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate the implications of the COVID-19 outbreak together.
The following update is from the 6-26-20 Principal Newsletter emailed to families.
“An incredibly dedicated team of St. Francis teachers, administrators, technology, and facilities members have been diligently exploring options to create the best plan for reopening school in August. The team considered safety guidance from the county and state, the needs expressed by our students and teachers, technical and physical campus resources, and discussions happening in local school districts and private schools. Potential plans were presented to a larger group of teachers representing all academic disciplines.
Their review criteria focused on maximizing student instructional minutes and student-teacher contact points, teacher office hours and availability for students, teacher prep and collaboration time with peers, reducing student numbers to ensure compliance with physical distancing practices, as well as ease of adaptability for a full distance learning model if needed at any point in the year. The overwhelming response from the team and administration was that a new 70-minute synchronous learning model would net the best results for our students.
The health and safety of our students, families, and staff is always our primary concern, and we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. As a faculty and staff, we are especially empathetic to our students who are missing some of the traditional St. Francis High School experiences. Our goal is to continue to support the whole student – academically, socially, and emotionally. We are aware of the mental toll that this transition may take, and our Wellness, Campus Ministry, and Guidance teams are continuously collecting support resources for our community and are ready to serve your daughter when school resumes in August.
As of this writing and our current realities, we have outlined our initial plans for the 2020-21 academic year in this document. Undoubtedly, plans may be updated by future developments in public health and governing guidelines. We will continue sending the Principal’s weekly newsletter throughout the summer and posting updates outlining more details as they become available. Click HERE for the link to the Safe Return to School Plan PDF”
In response to COVID-19, we pivoted quickly to support our students’ academic learning with an instructor-led Distance Learning Program. Here’s what some of our students had to say about their experience:
“A lot of teachers helped us during this time, and made me feel like we were physically in class. They gave us meaningful work that helped us learn”
” Our school definitely earns an A for our transition to distance learning. Compared to nearly all of the schools in Sacramento, we were the first and fastest to begin distance learning. The schedule and “signing in for every block” also gave me a routine and sense of responsibility. It kept me productive throughout the day and gave me work that was similar to the amount I would receive at school. I certainly consider our distance learning successful”
“I would give SFHS an “A” in distance learning. Teachers made plans for their classes quickly and were still able to teach their students. Most schools did not do distance learning or simply held zoom calls every so often, but our system was a successful replica of actual school”.
Principal’s Newsletter 6/12/20
Dear St. Francis Families,
The past few weeks have been difficult for all of us as we confront the violence against Black people, racism, and systemic injustices in our world.
It is our responsibility as a community to have intentional conversations and recognize our personal and collective role in this trauma, as challenging and uncomfortable as it may be. While we have yet to break down the injustices that we, as a society, have thrust upon communities of color, we must listen, reflect, and correct inequities within our own school community. We cannot stop at mere acknowledgment of these injustices through public statements alone. There is work to be done.
As such, this past week, we held a second Listening Session focusing on the Black student experience at St. Francis. It was facilitated by Dr. Kelsey Jones, Assistant Professor in the Human Development Department at California State University, San Marcos, who has expertise in racial literacy and helping schools empower their communities to address race issues. This session was again moderated by alumna, Destinee Dickerson ‘10.
These listening sessions were the first steps in the change process, rebuilding trust, and healing hurts and injustices of the past. Many feelings, stories, and experiences were shared by students, alumnae, and family members. These sessions also brought forward ideas for implementing change. Our alumnae community worked together on a petition of well thought out, tangible, and measurable changes for consideration.
The petition, as well as all of the feedback and input from the Listening Sessions, and the follow-up calls with all who have requested, will be reviewed over the next 45 days as we create a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Implementation Plan with actionable steps and timelines. We will also work with the Diocese to explore and implement concrete solutions to address the racism that still pervades our society and work in collaborative ways to strengthen the response of all people to this evil.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan will be housed on the St. Francis website to ensure accountability to the broader community. The plan will incorporate lessons learned from stories shared, recommendations from students and student leadership, alumnae, parents, SFHS faculty and staff, and best practices learned from schools and organizations, who are committed to these priorities.
We believe and know that we can change as we’ve seen incredible involvement from students, alumnae, families, and our faculty and staff. More than 250 alumnae responded to post-listening session surveys saying they wanted to further the conversation and help make meaningful change. Our students, alumnae and families, as well as our faith, require us to do better to eradicate racism and injustice.
These conversations are not easy, and they should not be. Admitting mistakes, missteps, and biases takes humility. There is trust that needs rebuilding. Topics of racism, social justice, and equity are complex and can be uncomfortable; but, we have to commit to continuing these conversations. We owe it to our community, our students, and ourselves.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal