Principal Newsletter Archives
Principal’s Newsletter 5/28/21
Dear St. Francis Families,
As we officially close the 2020-2021 school year, I want to recognize the resilience and grit demonstrated by all of our Troubies, as well as the amazing St Francis faculty and staff that pivoted more times than I’d like to count over the past 14 months. I am also thankful for the endless support parents, grandparents, and family members invested to help our students get to the end of the school year. I know this past year was not easy for any of us, and I praise God for his unwavering protection of our school community.
While this may be my last newsletter for the academic year, please know that we’ll begin preparations for the 2021-2022 school year almost immediately. There is a lot to accomplish in the next two months, but rest assured that the entire St. Francis faculty and staff look forward to welcoming your daughters when they return in the fall.
I will provide updates during the summer as additional guidance is published by federal, state, and local agencies, as they pertain to reopening schools in the fall.
I wish you all a restful and relaxing summer, and wherever your travels take you, may God watch over you and bring you home safely.
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
Principal’s Newsletter 5/21/21
Dear St. Francis Families,
Yesterday, our graduates, along with their families and friends, gathered at Jesuit’s Athletic Field for our 77th Commencement Ceremony. This beautiful and holy occasion honored the Class of 2021 as the culminating event of an amazing four years of faith, excellence, leadership, and service. The 277 graduates, dressed in white robes, crossed the stage to validate all of their hard work and perseverance. I am proud of all they have accomplished, and know each will leave St. Francis, a model of Pax et Bonum, as she embarks on new adventures. Congratulations to the Class of 2021 and their families.
On behalf of the entire St. Francis faculty and staff, I want to say how proud we are of your four years of achievements. You’ve been exceptional and persevered through a multitude of experiences that you will carry with you as you embark on a new journey.
Wherever life takes you from this day forward, know that you are members of a long and distinguished legacy spanning 80 years. May God continue to bless you and watch over you as you begin your post-secondary adventures.
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
Vaccination Clinic at SFHS – Saturday, 5/22/21
Dear St. Francis Families,
We are working with Pucci’s Pharmacy to offer a vaccination clinic at St. Francis Catholic High School this Saturday, May 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Please follow the attached traffic flow map to orient yourself to the entry and exit points for this event, as it may be different than how you typically enter campus.
The vaccination clinic is free, and anyone 12 years or older is able to receive the initial dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Please CLICK HERE to schedule your appointment.
Additionally, the COVID-19 Vaccine Screening & Consent Form is linked HERE for your reference. All parents or guardians need to complete the form in order for any 12-17 year old to receive the vaccine. Paper consent forms need to be signed by the parent or guardian and brought with the student.
Required Documents:
- Signed consent form
- Passport or CA Identification
- Medical Carrier Card (if you have coverage)
- *If you don’t have medical coverage, you can still receive the vaccine
If you know of anyone that is interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, feel free to share the link above in order to take advantage of this opportunity.
We look forward to a very successful event and hope that a majority of our student body and their families are able to participate in this opportunity.
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
Principal’s Newsletter 5/14/21
Dear St. Francis Families,
This week marks the last official week of instruction for the 2020-2021 school year, as our Troubies begin to tackle final exams. As I reflect on the past 14-months, no one could have predicted back in March 2020 that we would be dealing with a world-wide pandemic and finishing the school year virtually. Nonetheless, I am so proud of the perseverance and commitment all of our Troubies have demonstrated throughout the course of the past 427-days of Hybrid and/or Distance Learning. I know it was not easy.
As we begin to wrap-up this school year, I want to thank you, parents, for your patience and continued support of St. Francis and all of our faculty and staff, as we transitioned from face-to-face instruction to a hybrid teaching model. We made the transition in a short period of time and ensured the continuity of instruction and advancement of curriculum.
We made it through this year together, as a community, and I am grateful for your collective sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure. We could not do what we do without your assistance and support.
I hope your daughters take some time to rest and detox from their digital devices, as soon as they complete their final exams next week.
I am also looking forward to celebrating our Seniors next week with an in-person Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation ceremony. May you have a safe, healthy and relaxing summer, and I look forward to seeing you all in August.
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
Principal’s Newsletter 5/07/21
Dear St. Francis Families,
Today was a bittersweet day, as we recognize that our Seniors have officially completed their required days on campus, unless they have upcoming AP exams or pending final projects. We are saddened that we could not have them all on campus to wish them well and embrace them one last time, but we are resolute in knowing we will see them again on May 19th and 20th for a proper Baccalaureate and Graduation ceremony!
We are immensely proud of our graduating Class of 2021, as they have endured a global pandemic with all the corresponding losses in what should have been a very celebratory time. It will certainly set them apart from any other graduating class. We know their perseverance, dedication, and grit will prepare them for the challenges ahead. They have set the bar high and will inspire future generations of Troubies in what it means to be a woman of faith, excellence, leadership, and service.
On behalf of the entire faculty, staff, and administration, we are proud of our Simbas, and excited to share in this victorious moment. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
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
Principal’s Newsletter 4/30/21
Dear St. Francis Families,
It’s hard to believe that we are down to the last three weeks of the school year! We are two weeks away from the start of final exams, and then the 2020-2021 academic year will be over. Please reassure your daughters that there’s still time to prepare, and finish the year strong.
While the current school year may be coming to a close, we will turn our attention to the fall. We will begin to prepare for a return to in-person instruction, 5-days a week, with a normal school day from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Based on the current COVID positivity rating and the number of faculty, staff, and students inoculated, I’m optimistic we’ll be able to return to our beautiful campus in a more normal routine. Obviously, there may still be some changes that occur over the summer, but we’ll continue to work with CDPH and Sacramento County to determine what additional safety measures may be put in place to mitigate the transmission of COVID for those students and staff not yet inoculated in the fall. I will keep you posted, as I receive more information over the coming weeks and into the summer.
In addition, some families have also inquired about the format for Summer School courses, and at the moment, we are preparing for an in-person experience. We will not be offering Distance Learning for any academic courses or Summer Camps. There may be a need for face coverings and additional COVID mitigation measures, but those requirements will be made clear once we get closer to the start of Summer School, which will begin on Monday, June 14th.
Lastly, as we prepare for the coming week, I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers. We pray that they do their best on their Advanced Placement (AP) exams starting on Monday, May 3rd.
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