Principal Newsletter Archives
Principal’s Newsletter 3/22/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
Earlier this week, I was fortunate to lead the Kairos prayer gathering for the parents whose daughters were participating in the culminating senior retreat. It was an evocative evening, as parents got to reflect on their parenting journey, and the hopes/dreams they have for their daughter’s future, especially with the end of senior year only a few weeks away.
Principal’s Newsletter 3/15/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
We had another busy week at St. Francis! We had four days of course verification, during which our Guidance Counselors review students’ course requests for accuracy, as well as to verify placement into the appropriate course/s. In addition to that process, our Campus Ministry Department managed to run three amazing Freshman Retreats, helping our Troubies grow in their faith journeys.
Principal’s Newsletter 3/08/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
This week marked the beginning of the last quarter of the semester, as well as course registration for the 2019-2020 academic year. The remaining 10 weeks of this semester are going to move pretty quickly. We ask that you keep an eye on the calendar and on subsequent announcements to stay on top of all the end-of-year events.
Principal’s Newsletter 3/01/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
At St. Francis, our philosophy is based on a belief in God and our commitment to the values of our Catholic Faith. Inherent in this philosophy is the development of our young women to become forces for “peace and goodness.”
As we begin the month of March, we look ahead to the coming week in which we prepare for the Lenten Season. If you are able to, please consider joining us for Ash Wednesday Mass on March 6th, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., and start Lent in the proper spirit.
Message from the Principal – 2/26/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
Late last night, some of our students came across a disturbing posting on Instagram, in which an unnamed individual posted threats and pictures of possible school shootings in the Sacramento area today. Based on the information made available by the Sacramento Police Department, St. Francis Catholic High School was not one of the identified schools.
Principal’s Newsletter 2/22/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
This was a short week and it is hard to believe we are approaching the end of February, along with the end of the 3rd Quarter on March 1st. We are cognizant that this time of year brings some added stress, as Christian Service hours are due on Thursday, February 28th, and the end of the grading period is quickly approaching. Please reassure your daughters there is still time to improve their overall grade/s, and meeting with teachers now is better than waiting until the end of the semester.
Principal’s Newsletter 2/15/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
Earlier this week official acceptance letters went out to our new Troubies and their families. The class of 2023 will formally come to St. Francis in a few short weeks to register for their classes. We are excited to welcome all of our new families, and look forward to a fun, faith-filled, and rewarding four years together.
Principal’s Newsletter 2/08/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
As the first full week of February comes to an end, and Christmas break seems like a long time ago, the remaining weeks of the spring semester are going to accelerate pretty quickly. There are 13-weeks remaining in the school year, and plenty of work to do in the meantime. Please encourage your Troubie(s) to keep their eyes on the prize and not lose sight of the finish line, whether it be graduation or completing their current grade level. Summer break will be here before they know it.
SWAP DAY PARENT SURVEY – 2/01/19
Switch With A Parent (SWAP) Day is a unique St. Francis High School experience, providing parents the opportunity to get a glimpse of their daughter’s world for a day. Our hope is that parents gain greater understanding of their daughter’s school experience, build relationships with other parents, and deepen engagement in our community. That said, we’re always seeking ways to improve and remain relevant, and ask for your feedback to help us in these efforts.
Please complete this survey, regardless of whether you attend SWAP day or not, by Sunday, February 3rd at 11:59 p.m. Thank you in advance!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/25/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
Next week is our Pax et Bonum week, in which we celebrate the blessings of Catholic Schools Week. We have some fun events scheduled for our students and parents. I invite you to participate in our Pax et Bonum Mass on Wednesday, January 30th, as well as our annual SWAP Day on Friday, February 1st. I look forward to seeing you at one or both of these events.
In the spirit of the upcoming week, I offer this reflective prayer:
A Message from the Principal – 1/21/19
Dear Junior and Senior Parents,
I’m happy to share with you that on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, your daughter will be hearing from a renowned pro-life and chastity speaker, Ms. Patricia Sandoval, who travels internationally retelling her story of loss, struggle, and redemption. Her message has inspired thousands and is focused on God’s love, healing, and mercy. We are excited to host Ms. Sandoval at St. Francis, as this is the only high school in the region she will be speaking at, given that she is this year’s keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Walk for Life West Coast event in San Francisco, January 26, 2019.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 1/18/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
We had another fantastic week at St. Francis! Your daughters are tackling the new year with positive energy and optimism. While looking ahead to the remaining months of this semester, they’ve already begun to hear about the course registration for the upcoming academic year. Obviously, our seniors are slowly starting to realize their time at St. Francis is quickly coming to an end, and they are anxiously looking ahead to new experiences and adventures.
Principal’s Newsletter 1/11/19
Dear St. Francis Families,
Welcome back and Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that we are in the second-half of the 2018-19 academic year. I know the two weeks of Christmas break probably moved at a different pace, but now that school is back in session, a sense of normalcy should return to your households. The remaining months of this semester are going to move quite rapidly, and it’s important that we remind our daughters to plan ahead, stay on target, and not to procrastinate.
Principal’s Newsletter 12/21/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
It is hard to believe that we are halfway through the 2018-19 academic year. To our Class of 2022, congratulations on completing your first high school final exams! I know some of you were intimidated by the prospects of taking college preparatory exams, but you showed your mettle and rised to the occasion - well done! For our returning students, congratulations on making it through another cycle of final exams, and being one step closer to reaching your goal of graduation.
Principal’s Newsletter 12/14/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
As this week comes to a close, I would like to recognize the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice our Troubies have shown throughout this fall semester. I know their efforts to plan ahead, prioritize, and study will be rewarded in the upcoming week of final exams.
Please encourage your student(s) to study wisely over the weekend, and to get adequate rest on Sunday night.
I offer the following prayer as our students begin their preparation for final exams.
Principal’s Newsletter 11/30/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
As November comes to a close, and we prepare ourselves for Advent and Christmas, don’t forget to pause and think about the true meaning of the season.
Graduation Info 2019
Class of 2019, please review the following information regarding graduation. If you have questions please email the Assistant Principal Dr. Jason Javier-Watson.
Principal’s Newsletter 11/23/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
I hope you had a bountiful Thanksgiving Day, and I hope you enjoyed the time spent with family and friends. There have been a number of tragic events this November that remind me just how much we have to be grateful for as a school community. I am personally thankful for each of you. May God continue to bless you and be ever present in your lives during times of personal challenge and joy.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Senior Parents Service Hours Reminder
Dear Senior Parents,
You have made it to the final year of required parent service hours! Just a reminder that all parents of seniors (with no younger daughters at St. Francis) must report their volunteer hours by February 6, 2019*. Please plan wisely and sign up for your parent volunteer opportunities soon. You can create a new account, or login to an existing account, and access the available opportunities at MyVolunteerPage.com.
Principal’s Newsletter 11/16/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday next week, it’s important to pause and reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives. Sometimes we take for granted all that we have, and we don’t appreciate those things we cherish the most until they are gone.
Given the devastation caused by the Camp Fire, I think it is an opportune time to take stock of our many blessings. Let us express our gratitude to our family members, friends, neighbors, or those silent contributors that support us each and every day.
Special Message from Campus Ministry 11/13/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
Please join us on Tuesday, November 20th from 10:35-11:45 a.m. for our Thanksgiving Prayer Service. We are focusing on what we have to be thankful and hopeful for, and we are honoring the relationship between granddaughters and their grandparents. All are welcome! There will be a special blessing for our grandparents and granddaughters, who are welcome to sit together.
In honor of the special relationship between grandparents and granddaughters, we are requesting a photo of your daughter with her grandparent(s) for a slideshow to be viewed during the service. Please submit the photos by Friday, November 16th to Maggie Murray at mmurray@stfrancishs.org.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Campus Ministry Department
Principal’s Newsletter 11/09/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
As we prepare for the three-day weekend in observance of the Veterans’ Day Holiday, let us remember the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect our country. We also pray for those currently serving in harm’s way. May God bless them, watch over them, and return them safely home to their loved ones.
Message from the Principal 11/08/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
Earlier this morning we were alerted of a strange odor in a science classroom. We immediately contacted the Sacramento Fire Department and PG & E, who assessed the situation and determined there was no natural gas or carbon monoxide present. All of the students and faculty involved were evaluated by the paramedics and are safe.
Due to the nature of the reported incident, the Fire Department took every precaution to ensure the safety of our faculty and staff.
Principal’s Newsletter 11/02/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
As we finish Homecoming week, I am amazed by the talent, dedication, and work ethic that all of our Troubies exhibited this week. They have been working on their Homecoming class themes for the past three weeks, and the final products showcased their collective vision. The amount of school spirit and pride was certainly displayed at our Homecoming Rally today.
Principal’s Newsletter 10/26/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
We have two major events taking place in the upcoming week. There is a palpable energy surrounding Homecoming Week, and our students are visibly excited in anticipation of the week’s celebration.
Principal’s Newsletter 10/19/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
As we approach the end of October, you have probably seen an uptick of excitement in your daughter as the anticipation of Homecoming builds. Please encourage your daughter to stay on top of her academics, to prioritize, and to plan ahead in order to minimize stress levels and anxiety.
Principal’s Newsletter 10/12/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
Yesterday we celebrated our 7th Annual Day of Giving; Thankful Thursday. It provides scholarship assistance to more than 30% of our students who rely on financial support in order to attend St. Francis Catholic High School.
I am overjoyed with the positive outpouring of support we have received in the last 24 hours, and all the days leading up to Thankful Thursday. Obviously, we could not provide tuition assistance to the number of Troubies that we do without your continued support.
Principal’s Newsletter 10/05/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
We had another fantastic week at St. Francis! Yesterday we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, and our Troubies had an amazing time interacting with one another, our faculty, and staff. Thank you to all the parent volunteers that came out and made the event possible. It takes a small army to put on this school-wide event, and we couldn’t do it without your help.
Principal’s Newsletter 9/21/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
I wanted to bring to your attention the popular use of ride-sharing services (like UBER and LYFT) by some of our students. While I realize that many households utilize services like these to get students to school, home, and other locations, it does pose a general safety concern.
Principal’s Newsletter 9/14/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
I can’t believe we have completed the fifth week of instruction! The first month of school has flown by, and our Troubies are settling into their routine.
Principal’s Newsletter 9/07/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
I would like to remind you that tomorrow, September 8, 2018, is Holy Bowl. It is an annual tradition in which we support almost five decades of respectful athletic competition between Jesuit and Christian Brothers High School. This is a family event, and I welcome you all to attend with your daughter(s) to celebrate our Sacramento-area Catholic high schools.
While it is not a St. Francis High School event, it is an occasion that our Troubies use to catch-up and socialize with some of their grammar school friends, as well as an opportunity to showcase our enormous school pride and promote our Catholic education to the broader Sacramento area.
Please take some time to discuss with your daughter(s) the importance of being a good ambassador of St. Francis Catholic High School. As a Troubadour, her dress and behavior should be a reflection of our mission and core values, as well as a reflection of her family and community.
I hope everyone has a wonderful time and enjoys this long-standing tradition, surrounded by family and friends.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 8/31/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
I have spoken with a few parents and received additional emails inquiries about PowerSchool. Let me first reassure you by saying that we are working diligently to provide you with seamless access to your student’s grade portal.
When we were transitioning from our previous Student Information System (SIS) over the summer, we were under the impression PowerSchool would be able to communicate with our previous Learning Management System (LMS). That was not the case. Additionally, we wanted to provide you with a single-logon option, but due to some unforeseen technical issues, and limitations in the platform, we were not comfortable rolling out PowerSchool in the format we envisioned.
I want to reassure you that we are still working with the vendor to ensure your experience is user friendly. We don’t want to make the logon process confusing and/or cumbersome. In the upcoming week, you will be receiving an email with logon instructions and you should be able to access your student’s grades and attendance.
I apologize for the delay and thank you for your patience while we implement this new SIS. In the meantime, please have your daughter’s login to her PowerSchool Learning (Haiku) account and show you her current grades.
Enjoy the upcoming Labor Day holiday with your families, and cherish the quality time you spend together. If you are traveling this weekend, be safe, and we’ll be waiting for you on Tuesday, September 4th.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 8/24/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
We’ve had a busy start to the school year, and I’m happy to report that our Troubies are quickly acclimating to their routines. Some of the feelings of angst I referred to last week should be subsiding. If they are not, please have your daughter/s reach out to the Guidance and/or Wellness Department.
Principal’s Newsletter 8/17/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! We are blessed to have many new and returning families with excited Troubies back on our campus. It was a pleasant sight, seeing all the enthusiasm and energy they brought to our school this week.
Message from the Dean of Students 8/13/18
Good Afternoon Parents,
Thank you for your patience during drop-off and pick-up today. We know the first week of traffic is a challenge. It may be even more so over the next few days with the addition of more drivers. We promise it will not stay this way. It takes a few days for the flow to improve as people learn the system, and follow the rules. The traffic patterns have been set in cooperation with the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Police Traffic Office.
Plan on having your student on campus at least 10 minutes prior to the start of school (pretend school starts at 7:50 a.m.).
The longest traffic delays are 7:45 to 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 3:15 p.m. If you come after 3:20 p.m., you will breeze through.
Students should have all items with them, and be ready to exit/enter the vehicle. They should always check that it is safe to exit/enter the vehicle.
The drop off/pick up lanes in front of the school are the only authorized areas for parent traffic.
During the school year, student drop off/pick up is by the gym doors only.
When using the cell phone lot, please park in the designated spaces, and only get into line after your daughter has called you. The biggest delays are caused by people stacking up in line in the armory/cell phone lot which causes a backup to those behind them. Parking in the cell phone lot for student pick up is not open until 2:40 p.m. for security and safety reasons. Additionally:
- NO drop off or pick up from the visitor parking spaces is allowed (unless your student is on crutches or in a wheel chair).
- NO crossing over from one lane to the other, as this has the potential to create further congestions and accidents.
- NO drop off or pick up on M Street or in the surrounding neighborhoods (students in violation will face Saturday school).
- NO drop off or pick up inside the student parking lot (PARENTS MAY NOT DRIVE IN THE STUDENT LOTS).
Thank you for all of your assistance and cooperation as we work together to inspire and support our Troubies.
Many blessings,
Mrs. Cost
Principal’s Newsletter 8/10/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
We are only a few days away from the start of the 2018-19 school year! The faculty and staff returned this week, and we are eagerly anticipating the return of our Troubies.
I am also happy to share with you that after a lengthy search and thorough interview process, we were able to hire a new 9th and 10th grade Assistant Principal. Dr. Jason Javier-Watson joined the Administrative team this week, and we are happy to have him.
Dr. Javier-Watson joins us from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was an adjunct professor and postdoctoral fellow. He has a wide breadth of experience working with middle/high school teachers in training around issues of pedagogy, curriculum, and diversity. Over the past few years, he has trained over 1,000 educators from across the country on diversity issues in public, charter, independent, and higher education institutions. Prior to being in academia, he was also a secondary school teacher in Philadelphia, teaching Spanish 1/2 and English Language Arts (ELA) for 7 years.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Jason Javier-Watson to our school community. Parents will have an opportunity to meet him at Back-to-School Night on August 23rd, and the entire community is invited to meet him at our St. Francis Day Celebration on Saturday, September 22nd.
Let us extend Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness) to Dr. Javier-Watson.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Sincerely,
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 8/03/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
We are a little more than a week away from the start of the academic year and looking forward to the 2018-19 school year. As is typical at this time of year, you might be receiving many emails from the school. Know that we try to minimize multiple communications, but we aim to keep you informed of upcoming events and activities on campus, as well as student life issues. Please take the time to review the communications sent to your household email address, and stay up to date on the first day of school procedures, mandatory form submissions, schedules, and uniform requirements.
As new and returning parents, you can always find additional information on the school website, and we will always include some of the most pertinent upcoming activities and events on the weekly Principal’s Newsletter.
I am excited and look forward to seeing all of our students on campus the first day of school, Tuesday, August 14th.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 7/20/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
I can’t believe the month of July is ending, and the start of the academic year is less than a month away. This being said, we are looking forward to seeing our students back on campus. We have missed the palpable energy they bring to our school. I am also excited to welcome the Class of 2022 and know our school spirit and traditions will be embraced.
I hope the remaining weeks of summer break are fruitful and filled with fond memories of adventure, travels, and good company. We await the return of our Troubies on the first day of school, and we anticipate another successful school year.
St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 5/25/18
Dear St. Francis Families,
This past Wednesday was our Commencement Ceremony at Memorial Auditorium, and it was a beautiful and holy event where we honored the graduating Class of 2018! It was the culmination of an amazing four years of faith, excellence, leadership and service. Our 247 graduates, crossing the stage in their white robes, was validation for all of their hard work and perseverance. I am proud of all they have accomplished, and know they will leave St. Francis being models of Pax et Bonum, as they embark on new adventures. Congratulations to the Class of 2018 and their families!
While this may be my last newsletter for the academic year, the entire St. Francis faculty and staff look forward to welcoming your daughters when they return in the fall.
Whatever your summer plans may be, and wherever your travels take you, may God watch over you and bring you safely home.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 5/18/2018
Dear St. Francis Families,
This week was full of joy and some tears as we celebrated our last school-wide Mass on Monday, in which we said farewell to our graduating class of 2018! On Wednesday evening, we welcomed our new senior class at the Junior Commissioning Mass, passing the leadership baton to the mighty Thumpers. These beautiful and holy traditions in the life of a St. Francis Troubadour mark important milestones that our girls and their families will remember for many years to come. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful students in our community.
With final exams beginning today, I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers. Let us pray that they do their best on these assessments and finish the 2017-18 school year strong!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/26/17
Dear Families,
Last night was our Commencement Ceremony at Memorial Auditorium which was a beautiful and holy event where we honored our Troubies in the Class of 2017. It was the culmination of an amazing four years of faith, excellence, leadership and service. Watching our 244 graduates cross the stage in their white robes, I was moved by their joy and sisterhood. I am proud and confident that they will leave SF and live the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, being models of Pax et Bonum in the world. Congratulations to the Class of 2017 and their families!
This is my last newsletter as Principal as I move move full time into the President’s position. We have appointed a new Principal, Mr. Elias Mendoza, and we warmly welcome him to our community. Read more.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/19/17
Dear Families,
This week was full of joy and some tears as we celebrated our last school-wide Mass, honored students at our Awards Ceremony, including our Pillar Award recipients, and welcomed our new senior class at the Junior Family Mass and Commissioning Ceremony. These beautiful and holy traditions in the life of an SF Troubadour mark important milestones for our girls and their families. What a beautiful week it was! With final exams beginning today, I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers, that they do their best on these assessments and finish the 2016-17 school year strong!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from Campus Ministry – Junior Family Mass Tomorrow
Wednesday, 5/17 at 6:00 p.m. in the gym
Dear Families,
Our Junior Family Mass is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the gym. We are inviting you to celebrate this special Mass honoring your junior daughter. Please join us for a reception following the Mass hosted by our Parents’ Guild.
Your daughter should check in with her homeroom teacher upon arrival. The collection at Mass will support the scholarship fund for our sister school in Ghana. We thank you in advance for your generosity. There will be opportunities for family photos both prior to and after Mass. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/12/17
Dear Families,
We just finished two weeks of AP testing and are down to the final days of school. This weekend is Junior Prom and Senior Ball, and we pray for fun, safe nights for all our Troubies! On Monday we will have our last school-wide Mass, and I encourage you to attend this beautiful liturgy in which we celebrate an amazing year and say goodbye to our beloved seniors. Mass is at 10:10 in the gym. We hope to see you there.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/05/17
Dear Families,
As we enter into the spring season of proms, balls and graduation parties, I would like to ask you to talk to your daughters about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Most parents are woefully unaware of the choices their children are making regarding these substances. Please talk to your children about saying no, and don’t be afraid to ask the questions that will keep them safe: Who are you hanging out with? What are your friends’ phone numbers? Who are their parents? Will they be supervising? Where do they live? Children need parents who are willing to set boundaries, even though kids push against them. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t always feel good, but out of love and concern for the safety and well-being of our kids, sometimes we have to be the “bad guys.” Let us pray that all our children will be safe this season.
We head into the second week of AP testing. Please pray for our students who will be taking these high stakes tests.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/28/17
Dear Families,
On Wednesday morning, a group of anonymous Troubies posted affirmations on each and every locker on campus. “You are loved.” “You are talented.” “You are kind” were just a few of the comments left on lockers. In our Easter Mass on Wednesday, we recalled Jesus’ dying and resurrection. His great sacrifice out of love for us. The locker affirmations were awesome Easter blessings for our Troubies, reminding them of their uniqueness and beauty in God’s eyes and how much they are loved, by their Troubie sisters and by God. What a wonderful gift our girls were given!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the President/Principal
Easter Mass - Wednesday, 4/26 at 10:00 a.m. in the gym
Dear Families,
The Easter season brings to mind thoughts of springtime, new life, and the Resurrection. Many, from St. Augustine to Pope St. John Paul II, have said we are an “Easter people.” We carry the joys of Easter with us in every aspect of our lives.
I would like to invite you to our Easter Mass tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26th, at 10:00 am in the gym. We love having our families join us for these beautiful, school-wide liturgies! Please be sure to check in at the front office prior to heading to the gym.
I would also like to encourage you to participate in our “Hands Up for Troubies” fund-a-need item. Funds raised will allow us to transform our gym space to enhance liturgies, athletics, assemblies, rallies, and other community events held in this space. We would like to purchase a new altar and liturgical linens, movable carpet squares to replace the tarp for the gym floor for events, new lights and safety features for the altar and bleachers. All monies brought in will help our entire community be engaged and inspired at our events. Even if you are not present at Revelry on Saturday, April 29th, you may still donate for this need by clicking here: http://www.stfrancishs.org/handsup
Thank you for your prayerful consideration and support of our mission!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum,
Theresa Rodgers
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/12/17
Dear Families,
As Lent comes to an end with the Holy Triduum this week consisting of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and the Resurrection of our Lord on Sunday, we are reminded of Christ’s great love and sacrifice for us. May this be a time of reflection and gratitude for all we have been given. We wish you a beautiful holiday and pray that this Easter season bring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to you and yours.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/07/17
Dear Families,
Our students are off on Easter holiday for two weeks, but faculty and staff are working for another few days next week. We will be sending another newsletter on Wednesday before school closes for the break. If you and yours are traveling this holiday, we wish you safe travels and joyful times with family and friends.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/31/17
Dear Families,
Spring is definitely in the air and happy Troubies abound! Our girls donned their neon today in honor of the Recognition Rally which had a “Golden Glow” theme. We honored our outgoing and incoming SBOs, arts, campus ministry, athletics, academic teams, clubs, and faculty and staff for their work in making this year a success. Mom Prom is tonight and promises to be another amazingly fun event. On Monday we will tape our school-wide lip dub at lunch, so be on the lookout next week for this fun video!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/24/17
Dear Families,
March has been a long month without a break. The days are longer. It feels as if Easter will never be here. During this season of Lent, let us remember that our God calls us to joy, despite the facts. Our model is Jesus who suffered, died and was buried, yet He rose again. We cannot have the Resurrection without the Crucifixion. So when the days become long and weary, remember that our Lord has a plan, and joy is, and will be, a part of it. We trust that all things work for good. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/17/17
Dear Families,
Next week we will host Freshmen Registration Night for our incoming class of 2021 and their families. We are thrilled with our numbers for next year and welcome 320 new Troubies, our largest class! Please keep these new families in your prayers, that their transition to our community will be filled with peace and joy.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/10/17
Dear Families,
On Monday, March 13th, students do not have school due to faculty and staff participating in a Lenten Retreat. During this time, we will come together as a faith community for renewal and refreshment. Please keep our faculty and staff in your prayers as we ask for God’s grace to grow in holiness, continue our important work of educating your daughters, and advance God’s kingdom.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/03/17
Dear Families,
Happy Lent! I know this isn’t normally something we say, but Lent is a time of hope as we take the next 40 days to turn inward and prepare for Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. I pray that you are your families grow closer in your walk with the Lord through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. May this be a season of spiritual growth for our entire community!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the President/Principal – Ash Wednesday
March 1 - 10:00 a.m. in the gym
Dear Families,
You and your families are cordially invited to attend our Ash Wednesday Mass THIS Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in our gym. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a season of fasting, praying and alms giving. Ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us and are a symbol of our penance, reminding us to purify our hearts and grow in holiness so we will be prepared to celebrate Easter with great joy. We look forward to celebrating this beautiful liturgy with you.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/24/17
Dear Families,
At Wednesday’s assembly, our guest speaker, Rochelle Whellums, spoke to our Troubies about habits. She said, “Habits are powerful. Be aware of your habits today because today you own them. Tomorrow, they own you.” Her message about how habits shape our lives highlighted the power of our words on others. She gave our students the opportunity to stand up individually and express gratitude to friends, siblings, and adults on campus for the impact those people have had in their lives. It was a powerful, joy-filled and emotional time for everyone. I am reminded of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s words, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” I can think of no better habit than loving our neighbor, and that is what our SF community is all about!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/17/17
Dear Families,
Next week our Troubies will attend a Wellness Assembly and hear noted national speaker, Rochelle Whellams. Rochelle is a speaker, educator, and youth leadership trainer. Rochelle’s speeches, workshops and retreats have inspired, educated and entertained young adults across the Western United States for over 10 years. Most of her programs center on individual accountability, action, and attitude. She will emphasize to our students the importance of being aware of oneself, choosing a deliberate course of action, and having a “GET TO” (Giving everything to the opportunity) attitude.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/10/17
Dear Families,
Next Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, a day when we celebrate love, devotion and romance; but did you know that this is the feast day of St. Valentine of Rome? Valentine is believed to have lived in the third-century Rome and was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted by the emperor Claudius. He was executed after refusing to renounce his Christian faith. St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses and his feast day is celebrated on February 14th. (http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159) St. Valentine, pray for us! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/03/17
Dear Families,
What a great week this was! Thank you for joining us for SWAP Day today and experiencing a day in the life of a Troubie! We loved visiting with you and celebrating our SF community. As we end National Catholic Schools Week, we reflect on the many gifts we have been given, especially the gift of an all girl Catholic education in which we graduate young women who change the world.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the President/Principal – Pax et Bonum Mass 1/30/17
Dear Families,
Happy Catholic Schools Week! We will be celebrating our Pax et Bonum Mass tomorrow at 10 AM in the gym. We would love to have you join us for this wonderful liturgy.
Last week students were given envelopes in homeroom to return at Mass to place in the collection baskets. Every dollar brought in will be added to our SF Scholarship Fund. Donations will help us fulfill the goal of allowing as many young women as possible to reap the benefits of a St. Francis Catholic High School education. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/27/17
Dear Families,
Next week is National Catholic Schools Week, a time when we celebrate the gifts we have been given through Catholic education. We have many activities and events planned for next week:
- Monday and Tuesday: Special gifts for parents in the parking lot!
- Tuesday: Pax et Bonum Mass (Families are invited. Be sure to remember to bring your envelopes to contribute to our SF Scholarship Fund.)
- Thursday: Special student assembly to honor our guest, Sr. Martha Kello, principal of our sister school in Ghana, Africa.
- Friday: Switch with a Parent Day
We look forward to a wonderful week ahead filled with joy as we honor Catholic education and show gratitude for the gift of a St. Francis Catholic High School education!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/20/17
Dear Families,
The last couple weeks of storms have made driving to work and school a bit treacherous, the wind and rain causing flooding and power outages. However, the rain has also hydrated our fields, filled our lakes and caused snow in the Sierras. Let us remember to be grateful for the gifts God has given us. After years of drought, we rejoice in the blessing of water. In his prayer “The Canticle of Brother Sun,” St. Francis of Assisi wrote, “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.” We sing God’s praises for the gift of water.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
2018 WASC Surveys – Parents (Follow Up) Due Jan. 18, 2017
Dear Families,
St. Francis High School is in the process of renewing our accreditation from the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Last spring, parents completed initial surveys that were quite extensive. WCEA/WASC has since added a few survey items to the protocol updated in Fall 2016 that we need to provide. Please help us fulfill our requirements by completing this short survey no later than TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017. THANK YOU!
Click HERE to take the survey.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/13/17
Dear Families,
Spring semester is a busy time at SFHS, with athletics, arts, academic events, and retreats happening every week. I have had the privilege of attending several SFHS retreats and have loved my experiences with our Troubies. Our retreats give participants an opportunity to step away from their busy lives and reflect on themselves and their relationship with our Lord. Faith is one of the pillars of our school and so important in our life journey. Our Campus Ministry team does an amazing job of fostering this pillar in our staff and students. The impact retreats have on our participants is profound, giving people a new sense of community and purpose. I would like you to encourage your daughter to attend a retreat every year. I promise you, she will not be disappointed!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/06/17
Dear Families,
Happy New Year! Applications for new students for the 2017-18 school year are due on Thursday, January 12th. If you know young women who would be great additions to SFHS, please share your positive Troubie experience with them and encourage them to apply. (All information and applications materials can be found here.) We are encouraged by our wonderful applicant pool so far.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the President/Principal – Finals Update
Dear Families,
Thank you all for your flexibility and patience as we made swift decisions today to change our schedule due to the power outage. Students will take their Math and Science finals tomorrow and their Theology final on Wednesday, January 4.
Friday, December 16:
8:30am-10:00am - Mathematics (please note that Honors Algebra 2, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC will begin at 8:00am).
10:30am-12:00pm - Science (please note that AP Chemistry and Honors Physics will end at 12:30pm)
Students will take their Theology final on Wednesday, January 4. The rest of the day will be as follows (Please note these changes to your calendar):
Wednesday, January 4:
8:15-9:45am Theology Final
9:45-10:15am Break
10:15-10:40am A Block
10:45-11:10am B Block
11:15-11:40am C Block
11:45am– 12:10pm D Block
12:10-1:05pm Lunch
1:05-1:30pm E Blocks
1:35-2:00pm F Blocks
2:05-2:30pm G Blocks
2:35-3:00pm H Blocks
Thursday, January 5, Red 1 70 (Late Start)
Friday, January 6, Red 2 70 (Late Start – First Friday Staff Mass)
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 12/16/16
Dear Families,
We made it through finals- almost! Due to the power outage yesterday, we needed to move the Theology final to January 4th. Please see the online calendar for the new class schedule for the first week back. We have posted the Principal position, so if you know of anyone who would be a great candidate, please direct him/her to our website. This position will be posted until the end of February. On behalf of all of us at SFHS, I wish you and yours a beautiful and holy Christmas holiday. May the gift of Jesus bring peace and joy to all of us and all the world!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Special Reminder From The President/Principal – Early Close For Friday (December 9)
Dear Families,
This is a reminder that we have an Early Release Day tomorrow, Friday, December 9th. Students are done with classes at 12:30, and the campus will close (offices locked, gates shut) at 1:00 for the annual faculty/staff Christmas celebration. Please make arrangements to have your daughters off campus by 1:00. Thank you for your understanding!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 12/09/16
Dear Families,
Next week our students will be taking finals. During this stressful time, I encourage you to remind your daughters to eat well and get rest to maintain good mental health and wellness. If you would like specific tips on how to help your student deal with test anxiety, please come to another Parent Education Night on Tuesday, December 13th at 7 PM in the CLC where our own Resource Specialist, Joan Biller, will be presenting information to help parents understand the underlying causes of test anxiety, its physical and mental effects, and how to support students with scientifically-researched and teacher-vetted practices to help students take control of fear. It’s an evening you won’t want to miss!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 12/02/16
Dear Families,
We invite all St. Francis dads to celebrate their daughters and the holiday season at the annual Father Daughter Dance coming up on Friday, December 9th. This beloved event is a St. Francis tradition that has created memories that dads and daughters cherish for years to come. Please join us for a fun and festive evening that you won’t want to miss! Click HERE for more information.
Please join us for our school-wide Mass on Thursday, December 8th at 10:10 a.m. in the gym to celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is a Holy Day of Obligation.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/25/16
Dear Families,
I wish you and yours a joy-filled Thanksgiving. I offer this prayer written by Harry Jewell for our community:
Our Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ,
Our Heavenly Father.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Special Message From The Dean Of Students – 11.15.16
Dear Families,
St. Francis Catholic High School has been selected to host “DUI Court in Schools” as part of a pro-active effort to prevent issues surrounding underage drinking and impaired driving. Transferring a DUI sentencing from the county courthouse to a local school educates students about the judicial process and legal consequences. During the course of the assembly, the gym becomes an actual Superior Court with Judge Laurie Earl presiding.
Parents are invited to a special presentation in the CLC on Thursday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. with Judge Laurie Earl and District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert. This special presentation is very informative. It will assist parents in opening the dialogue with their children about this assembly. We hope parents will come and take advantage of this unique opportunity. Please feel free to contact Mrs.Cynthia Cost, Dean, with any questions. ccost@stfrancishs.org
Thank you.
Cynthia Cost
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/18/16
Dear Families,
Today at our DUI Court assembly, our Troubies witnessed the sentencing of a young woman who was arrested for driving under the influence. Students were allowed to ask questions of the judge, the District Attorney, and the young woman. All who witnessed today’s assembly were moved by the stories and information shared about the dangers of driving while intoxicated and distracted. I encourage you to talk to your daughters about what they learned today. This is an important message for all of us.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/11/16
Dear Families,
As you may have already read, Bishop Soto has appointed me as the new president of our school. I am honored to take on this new role and serve our community in advancing the mission of St. Francis Catholic High School. This opportunity brings new change as we now look to fill the role of principal. We will post the job through the holidays and interview after the new year for a start date of July 1. I will continue to serve as both president and principal until this time. If you know of anyone who would be a good candidate for the principal position, please let him/her know that we will be posting the position soon. Please pray for me in my new role, and please pray that our Lord brings us a dynamic principal.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/04/16
Dear Families,
On Friday, November 11th, we honor our Veterans for their service to our country. This week I urge you to say a prayer for our Veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed their freedoms to help keep ours. I offer this prayer for them this week:
God of all nations, you are our Strength and Shield. We give you thanks today for the devotion and courage of all those who have offered military service for this country:
For those who have fought for freedom; For those who have laid down their lives for others;
For those who have borne suffering of mind or of body; For those who have brought their best gifts to times of need. God, in your mercy and love, we thank you for their lives.
On our behalf, oh God, many have entered into danger, endured separation from those they love, labored long hours and born hardship in war and in peacetime. God, in your mercy and love, we thank you for their lives.
We ask today that you would lift up by your Spirit those who are now at war; encourage and heal those in hospitals or mending their wounds at home; guard those in any need or trouble; hold safely in your hands all military families and bring the returning troops to joyful reunion and tranquil life at home.
Give to us, your people, grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women and hold them always in our love and our prayers until your world is perfected in peace and all wars cease.
Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen. (Written by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Phillips)
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/28/16
Dear Families,
This was a wonderfully spirited week of Homecoming festivities! Our Troubies went above and beyond in their costumes, skits and cheers, and as always, they demonstrated what sisterhood is all about. Please pray for a fun, safe Homecoming Dance tomorrow night. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, November 1st, for our All Saints Day Mass which will be at 10:35 in the gym. This is a Holy Day of Obligation, and we love seeing our families join us for liturgy.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/21/16
Dear Families,
Homecoming Week is upon us! Next week is an exciting one for our students as they prepare for their skits, class competitions, and the Homecoming Dance. In the midst of this energy and the temptation to be swept away by competition, let us help our girls to be positive and gracious in all their activities. Let us help our Troubies to focus on the fun, not rivalry, because Homecoming is a time to build school spirit. In light of the dance, let us remind our daughters that they are beautiful creations of God who do not need to dress immodestly to show their beauty. Let us encourage them to wear attire that is both festive and age appropriate for a high school dance and remind them about how a young man is supposed to treat them- with manners and respect. We look forward to a wonderful week of spirited fun and school bonding!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/14/16
Dear Families,
Our Open House last weekend brought in over 500 future Troubies! It was one of the most highly attended Open Houses that we’ve ever had. Thank you for being great ambassadors of our school and encouraging your friends, neighbors and parishioners to check out our amazing community. We could not do what we do without your help, support and prayers. As we continue to move through “Admissions season,” please continue to share the good news of SFHS!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/07/16
Dear Families,
This Sunday, October 9, we host our annual Open House for prospective students and their families from noon to 3:00. This event highlights our wonderful faith community, academics, sports, arts, and student clubs. Faculty, staff, current parents and students are all here to answer questions and share their experiences with new families. If you know someone who might be interested in attending our school, encourage her to come for a visit. Click HERE for more information about Open House!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/30/16
Dear Families,
Tomorrow, Saturday, October 1st, we are hosting our second annual St. Francis Day Celebration from 3:30-7:30 PM. Please bring your family and friends and celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and the gift of our community! This is a family event with free food, games for the kids, and a live band. You won’t want to miss this wonderful community event!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Special Message From The Principal – 9.28.16
Dear Families,
Today our assembly speaker, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T., spoke to our Troubies about “The Healing Power of Beauty.” She blew our girls away with her personal story and inspirational message of God’s love. I wanted to let you know that she will be speaking tonight at 6:30 PM at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Carmichael where she will talk about forgiveness and mercy. If you cannot attend the talk tonight, I encourage you to talk to your daughter about her experience today. If you would like to hear the talk Sr. Miriam gave today, click HERE:
Thank you to Troubie TV for taping it!
Catholicism 101
We will be hosting our second annual “Catholicism 101” tomorrow night, Thursday, September 29, at 7 PM in the CLC. This is an evening of Q & A and discussion on how SF can help families feel at home in our Catholic community. This is open to parents and students, Catholics and non-Catholics. Join Campus Ministry, Theology Department teachers and Fr. Arnold Parungao for a fun and educational night!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/23/16
Dear Families,
The Diocese of Sacramento has posted the president job for our school, and it is also posted on our website – click HERE. If you know of anyone who would be a great candidate to advance the mission of St. Francis Catholic High School, encourage him/her to apply. In the meantime, I ask for your prayers that God will bring us qualified candidates for the interview process. The job posting closes mid-October and the goal is to be able to announce the new president by December.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/16/16
Dear Families,
Next week is a short week for our students but there are some great activities on campus for you to attend. I encourage you to come to our Parent Education Night on Monday, September 19, and learn how to empower your children to make positive choices. In addition, we have our Season Sampler for the Arts on Wednesday, September 21, an evening that highlights all the upcoming visual and performing arts events. There are always great things happening at SFHS!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/09/16
Dear Families,
I invite you to join us for two events on campus next week. The first is “Meet a Grandparent/Parent for Lunch” on Tuesday for students with last names A-L. This is a great way to feel the joyful energy on campus, spend time with your Troubie, and sample our delicious food from Epicurean. We are also hosting our first-ever Math Night for parents on Thursday night to help you support your daughter’s math development. We hope you can make it to both of these great events.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/02/16
Dear Families,
On Tuesday, September 6th, we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 8 AM to 3 PM in our Chapel. This is a time that we encourage, staff, students and parents to spend some quiet time with our Lord. I encourage you to come to campus and pray for the needs of our school family. It is a wonderful way to unite with our community, to be with Jesus, and to receive the many graces He wants to share. May you and yours enjoy a safe and joyful Labor Day weekend.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 8/26/16
Dear Families,
It has been an amazing first two weeks of the 2016-17 school year! I thank those parents who attended our Welcome Mass, a joyful liturgy that highlighted all that is beautiful in our community. Thank you also for attending Back to School Night and supporting our faculty and staff. It, too, was a great evening for all. Please keep our community in your prayers as we work together to mold our students into the women God is calling them to be.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Special Message From The Principal
Dear Families,
We are very aware of the frustrations you and your daughters are having with eBooks and apologize for the inconvenience. I assure you that this is not how we do business and are doing everything in our power to address the situation with our vendor who is well aware of our concerns.
Our teachers are aware of the eBook situation and are working with students who may not be able to access their texts by providing copies and posting information on their Haiku pages.
Thank you for your patience as we work to address this issue.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 8/19/16
Dear Families,
We officially welcome you to the 2016-17 school year! We especially welcome the Class of 2020 and our transfer students and their families to SFHS. This is the first of my weekly e-newsletters which you will receive every Friday. We will keep you informed on student activities, special announcements, and upcoming parent volunteer opportunities. It is a great way to stay up-to-date on all the latest SFHS happenings, and you can always go to our website for more information as well. I invite you to our Welcome Back Mass on Wednesday, August 24, at 10:00 in the Gym, and we also look forward to seeing all of you on campus on Thursday, August 25, for Back to School Night, which begins with our official welcome at 5:45 in the Gym. May this new school year help us all grow together as a strong faith community. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/27/16
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that we have ended another school year. As I watched our 252 beautiful Troubies cross the stage at our commencement ceremony Wednesday night, I was reminded of each and every one of you– parents, community members, benefactors, coaches, faculty and staff– who have contributed to our graduates’ success. Thank you all for making it a great year, supporting our community, and praying for all of us. I wish you and yours a joyful and relaxing summer break!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/20/16
Dear Families,
On Wednesday of this week we honored students at our annual Awards Ceremony. At this event, we recognized students who received national recognitions, donor-sponsored scholarships, and the highest honors, the Pillar Awards of Faith Excellence, Leadership and Service. Of our 252 seniors, 70 received the general excellence medal which represents their earning a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or above for all eight semesters of high school. The class of 2016, as a whole, was offered over $32 million dollars in one time and four-year renewable scholarships. We have much to celebrate as we look forward to our commencement ceremony on Wednesday night!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Special Message for the Class of 2016 Parents
Dear Parents of the Class of 2016,
Today at lunch I gathered together our beautiful seniors to address a serious concern I have regarding parties. In the last month, administration has been dealing with students who have participated in activities that violate our Substance Abuse Policy, including hosting parties, providing and consuming drugs/alcohol, and attending parties where drugs/alcohol are present.
Over the course of four years, our seniors have heard about the dangers of drugs/alcohol in Health and Biology classes, seen a live DUI court, participated in Every 15 Minutes, and heard ad nauseum from administration about making good choices in and out of school.They know the rules, our expectations and the consequences.Today, I reminded our seniors that we care not just about getting them to graduation but getting them to heaven and that every choice they make determines their future.
As Catholic educators, we partner with parents to help mold their children into who God is calling them to be. With nine school days left until graduation and Senior Ball this weekend, I am asking that you talk to your daughters about good choices. I am asking you to question them when they go out: Who are they with? Where are they going? Who is supervising? Asking the questions might not make you the “good guy” but it just might keep your daughter out of a dangerous situation.
Father Arnold, our school chaplain, prayed over our seniors, and will be offering Mass for their safety. Let us together pray for their safety and for their well-being as they navigate the tricky waters of adolescence and senior year. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum,
Theresa Rodgers
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 5/13/16
Dear Families,
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the Blessed Mother’s appearance to three children from Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Mary’s message to them was simple – pray. And so today, I ask Our Lady of Fatima’s intercession for the health, safety, peace and well-being of our students as they head into the last few weeks of school. I ask for her holy mantle to be wrapped around all of our Troubies for their protection and inspiration to lead lives of holiness. I ask that you stop and pray a “Hail Mary” right now for all of our Troubies. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/06/16
Dear Families,
As we enter into the spring season of proms, balls and graduation parties, I would like to ask you to talk to your daughters about the dangers of attending parties where drugs and alcohol are present. Most parents are woefully unaware of the choices their children are making while attending these parties. I sent a letter to our juniors and seniors this week, reminding them about our behavioral expectations on and off campus, that they are Troubies wherever they go. I ask that you talk to your daughters about safe and healthy choices. I encourage you to ask the questions that will keep them safe: Who are you hanging out with? What are your friends’ phone numbers? Who are their parents? Will they be supervising? Where do they live? Children need parents who are willing to set boundaries, even though kids push against them. Doing the right thing doesn’t always feel good, but out of love and concern for the safety and well-being of our children, sometimes we need to be the “bad guys.” Let us pray that all our children will be safe this season.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/29/16
Dear Families,
Next week we begin two weeks of Advanced Placement (AP) testing on campus. This year we have 330 students taking 526 exams. Please pray for our Troubies as they participate in these high stakes tests. Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing on all those who are testing. Bless them with knowledge, confidence and patience before, during and after their exams and help them to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually during this anxious time.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Special Message from the Principal 4/27/16
Dear Parents,
Please fill out our survey! This is a great opportunity to finish up your service hours OR get a head start on your parent volunteer hours for NEXT year.
Please take a few minutes to share your valuable feedback for our WASC accreditation process. You will receive two hours for taking this short survey.
Please click HERE to take survey.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/22/16
Dear Families,
On Saturday night we host our biggest fundraising event of the year, Revelry, in which we celebrate our “Diamond Gala” and 75 years of St. Francis Catholic High School. I want to thank the many people who have taken time out of their busy schedules to help organize, decorate, donate, and support in myriad ways to make this event possible. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes an army of dedicated volunteers to plan Revelry! I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow night, and I thank you for all your efforts in supporting this very important fundraiser that benefits our Troubies.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/15/16
Dear Families,
Throughout all of next school year, our faculty and staff will be working on our WASC/WCEA accreditation process in which we will be gathering data and writing our self-study report. Please support our efforts by completing the parent survey below by April 29. Your feedback provides valuable data as we reflect on our accomplishments and plan for the future. It takes only 15 minutes, but you will be given TWO parent service hours for your help. Thank you in advance for your time.
Click here to take WASC PARENT SURVEY – Complete by April 29
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 4/08/16
Dear Families,
We are excited about Revelry which will be on Saturday, April 23rd. For those of you who are new to our community, Revelry is our largest fundraiser and most fabulous event on campus! This year, we are celebrating our 75th year with our “Diamond Gala” theme. There are still tickets left for this beautiful event, which includes silent and live auction, live entertainment, and dinner. Please consider joining us for a fun and elegant evening. I hope to see you there! For tickets, please go to: www.stfrancishs.org/revelry
Throughout all of next school year, our faculty and staff will be working on our WASC/WCEA accreditation process in which we will be gathering data and writing our self-study report. Please support our efforts by completing the parent survey below by April 29. Your feedback provides valuable data as we reflect on our accomplishments and plan for the future. It takes only 15 minutes, but you will be given TWO parent service hours for your help. Thank you in advance for your time.
WASC PARENT SURVEY - Complete by April 29
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/18/16
Dear Families,
Since we will be on Easter break next week and will not be sending out a newsletter, I’d like to wish you and yours a very happy and holy Easter season! We’ve spent the last 40 days fasting, praying, almsgiving, and preparing for the greatest feast on the Christian calendar. Let us lift our voices together and proclaim as a community, “Christ is risen!” Jesus’ death and resurrection assures us of the promise of new life, in this world and the next. May this holy season bring you and yours a stronger realization that Jesus Christ died for us so that we might live anew in Him.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/11/16
Dear Families,
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. On that day we remember one of the world’s most popular saints, St. Patrick of Ireland, who died in 361 after evangelizing Ireland for 40 years. He is remembered as a humble, pious, and gentle man, whose love and total devotion and trust in God is a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God and importance of his mission. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate such a beloved, international saint than to come to our 25th anniversary celebration of International Night! Join us at 4:30 on March 17th when we will host two international food trucks and sample desserts from around the world. At 7 PM we will head to the theater to watch our talented students perform songs and dances from around the world. Click here for more details. I hope to see you at this festive community event!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/04/16
Dear Families,
We are moving into the fifth week of the Lenten season. I pray that this has been a beautiful time of conversion for you and your families. I offer this prayer by St. Ambrose of Milan from the fourth century:
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all,
Take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow and enjoy Thee, for Christ’s sake, Amen
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/26/16
Dear Families,
We are thrilled to announce another successful year for our 24/24/24 Fourth Annual Day of Giving. Thanks to the support our amazing community and our generous matching donor, we raised $145,168.91 to fund scholarships for students in need of financial assistance. A HUGE thank you to all of you who contributed to this valuable fund. Our Troubies and future Troubies thank you as well!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/19/16
Dear Families,
Don’t forget that Wednesday is our Fourth Annual 24/24/24 Day of Giving! Lent, a time of fasting, praying and almsgiving, is the perfect time to share our blessings with others. We are asking members of our entire community to donate just $24 (or more!) to support students at our school who are in need of financial support. I can’t think of a better way to help those in our own school be able to continue their fine St. Francis education. Please support our mission and give opportunities to those who seek the beautiful St. Francis experience!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/12/16
Dear Families,
In just a few days we will be kicking off our Fourth Annual 24/24/24 Day of Giving. We are asking members of our entire community to donate just $24 (or more!) to support students at our school. As a Catholic community we are called to help those in need. Since all money directly benefits students who are in need of financial support, I can’t think of a better way than to help those in our own school be able to continue their fine St. Francis education. Nearly 30% of our Troubies benefit from financial aid, and the need increases every year. Please support our mission and give opportunities to those who seek the beautiful St. Francis experience!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/05/16
Dear Families,
Lent begins next week with Ash Wednesday. We invite you to join us for our school-wide Ash Wednesday Mass on February 10th at 10:00 in the Gym. Lent is a beautiful time for us to grow in relationship with God, and as we enter these next 40 days, let us ask God to transform our hearts and renew our spirits! Next week is also Staff Appreciation Week in which we show our gratitude to those who work on campus to support our mission. If you have a moment, drop a note or email to your favorite faculty or staff members, letting them know how much you appreciate them and all that they do to make our community great.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/29/16
Dear Families,
We hosted SWAP Day today and had a wonderful time with our parents. I want to thank those of you who joined us for this great tradition. It is a wonderful way to bring together our community and show off the great things our teachers are doing in the classroom. I can’t think of a better way to conclude Catholic Schools Week, to highlight the great teaching and learning happening across campus and to celebrate the impact Catholic education has had in our community and in our world!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Advisory – January 2016
This advisory letter is to inform you that a single case of Pertussis (whooping cough) has been reported at St. Francis Catholic High School. The student is home recuperating and on a treatment of antibiotics. The following is the information to be disseminated to parents concerning the illness.
Principal’s Newsletter 1/22/16
Dear Families,
Next week we celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. The theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” We have some fabulous activities planned, including a surprise for our parents in the parking lot, our Pax et Bonum Mass on Wednesday, and SWAP Day on Friday. Through these events, we focus on the value Catholic education provides to our young people, its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation. Parents are invited to attend our Pax et Bonum Mass which will be held in our gym at 10:35. And, of course, we look forward to seeing all of you on SWAP Day! For more information on the success of Catholic school across the nation, see the NCEA website HERE.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/15/16
Dear Families,
Spring semester is a busy time at SFHS, with athletics, arts, academic events, and retreats happening every week. I have had the privilege of attending several SFHS retreats and have loved my experiences with our Troubies. Our retreats give participants an opportunity to step away from their busy lives and reflect on themselves and their relationship with our Lord. Faith is one of the pillars of our school and so important in our life journey. Our campus ministry team does an amazing job of fostering this pillar in our staff and students. The impact retreats have on our participants is profound, giving people a new sense of community and purpose. I would like you to encourage your daughter to attend a retreat every year. I promise you, she will not be disappointed!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/8/16
Dear Families,
After three successful years of technology integration using iPads and Google apps for education, we are changing devices. We are proud to announce our new Chromebook initiative for the 2016-17 school year. Beginning with summer school classes in 2016, the school will be issuing each student a school-managed Chromebook. We have analyzed the increased quality of Chromebooks, alongside Google’s progress in the development of its educational tools, and have come to the decision that this is the best next step to take in the development of our 1:1 program. For more information about this exciting initiative, click HERE.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 12/18/15
Dear Families,
On behalf of the St. Francis administration, faculty and staff, we wish you and yours a very joyful Christmas season. May the coming of Christ help us to see Jesus in the people and ordinary events of our lives. May you and your yours be richly blessed as we give thanks for Christ, our Savior! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
MID-WEEK REMINDERS
CALENDAR CHANGE FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 – CHANGED TO AN EARLY RED DAY 5
Please note that Friday, December 11 has been changed to an Early Red Day 5 with a student release of 1:05 p.m. The campus will close at 1:30 p.m. for a staff event, and all students should be off campus by that time. Please make appropriate arrangements for your daughter.
FATHER-DAUGHTER DINNER DANCE CORSAGE/BOUTONNIERE PICK-UP
Principal’s Newsletter 12/11/15
Dear Families,
Finals week is upon us, and as our girls prepare for their tests, let us keep them in our prayers. We pray that the Lord bless them with diligence to study, knowledge of the content, wisdom to know their boundaries, and peace in knowing that God is in charge. We also pray for our teachers who are putting in late nights, preparing and grading final tests and projects. The ending of the first semester and the beginning of the Christmas season are cause for great joy. As we enter the Christmas season, I pray that you and your families share relaxing and holy times together. And may the new year bless all of us with energy and a desire to follow the Lord with renewed zeal. God bless you. Merry Christmas!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 12/04/15
Dear Families,
On Tuesday, December 8th, we will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation, and a day in which we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. In particular, we look at the holiness of Mary who was “chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless“ before God (Ephesians 1:4). During this time of Advent, we joyfully await the coming of Christ and reflect on Mary’s part in ushering in God’s new creation. We hope that you will join us for this beautiful Mass and celebration of our Blessed Mother.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/20/15
Dear Families,
As we take time next week to be with loved ones and give thanks for all that we have, I offer this prayer for you on Thanksgiving:
O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ your son. Amen. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
From Celebrating Faith: Year-round Activities For Catholic Families, by Mary Cronk Farrell
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/13/15
Dear Families,
In this month of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for all that God has blessed us with. I am especially thankful for our school community and all those who help to make it a vibrant place of faith and learning. I encourage you this month to reach out to those in our community and send them a note of gratitude for what they do and how their work has contributed to your daughter’s life and well-being. May we all be reminded of the many blessings in our lives.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the Principal – Today’s Reunification Drill
Dear Families,
St. Francis Catholic High School conducted a basic reunification drill today for students and staff. In some emergency situations, the school will require parents to pick up students in a formalized, controlled release. The process of this release is called a reunification and may be necessary due to weather, power outage, hazmat or other emergency at school. Reunification is a process that protects the safety of the student and provides accountability in releasing a student to an authorized parent or guardian.
Today’s drill showed students where to go in an emergency and how to behave in an orderly and quiet manner during the reunification process. They were given specific information regarding text messages to send to their parents in a crisis situation. The students were also given an opportunity for a question and answer period. The questions were thoughtful, insightful, and relevant to the situation.
We were extremely proud of the response of our students and staff. Additional parent reunification information will be in the Principal’s newsletter tomorrow.
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum,
Theresa Rodgers
Principal’s Newsletter 11/06/15
Dear Families,
On Wednesday, November 11th, we honor our Veterans for their service to our country. This week I urge you to say a prayer for our Veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed their freedoms to help keep ours. I offer this prayer for them this week:
God of all nations, you are our Strength and Shield. We give you thanks today for the devotion and courage of all those who have offered military service for this country:
- For those who have fought for freedom;
- For those who have laid down their lives for others;
- For those who have borne suffering of mind or of body;
- For those who have brought their best gifts to times of need.
God, in your mercy and love, we thank you for their lives.
On our behalf, oh God, many have entered into danger, endured separation from those they love, labored long hours and born hardship in war and in peacetime.
God, in your mercy and love, we thank you for their lives.
We ask today that you would lift up by your Spirit those who are now at war; encourage and heal those in hospitals or mending their wounds at home; guard those in any need or trouble; hold safely in your hands all military families and bring the returning troops to joyful reunion and tranquil life at home.
Give to us, your people, grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women and hold them always in our love and our prayers until your world is perfected in peace and all wars cease.
Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
Written by Rev.Dr. Jennifer Phillips
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/30/15
Dear Families,
In an effort to build community and bring an understanding of our faith tradition, we invite you to our first ever “Catholicism 101,” an evening of Q and A and discussion on how we can help you and your family feel at home in our Catholic community. What are the Mass, Theology classes, retreats, and our patron Saint all about? Join Campus Ministry, Theology Department Chairs, and Fr. Arnold Parungao for a fun and educational night! This evening is open to parents and students. “Catholicism 101” will be held in the CLC on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at 7PM. Click here to RSVP. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/23/15
Dear Families,
Last Wednesday, while 10th and 11th graders were taking the PSAT, our 9th graders attended three workshops aimed to improve their academic experience at SFHS. The three workshops, given by our own faculty and staff members, were “Multiple Intelligences,” ”Creating a Positive Digital Presence,” and “Study Strategies.” A survey given to our 9th graders showed that they overwhelmingly felt that the sessions were useful and engaging. The girls gave us some great feedback, including the following: “Finding my learning strengths is going to help me become a better student in the future…” “I realized that we have a lot of support from numerous people to help us out when we need it.” “I learned a lot about online safety and actions that are important in ways we don’t realize daily.” We were happy with the feedback and know that our 9th graders gained some valuable tools and resources to ensure their success. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/16/15
Dear Families,
We are all excited about Spirit Week next week. This is a time when we gather as a community to celebrate and have some fun. It is also a time of class pride, friendly rivalry and great creativity as we watch our amazing students compete in games, build sets, and create skits. Please make sure that you check the schedule this week for special daily schedules. May this week bring us all closer as we celebrate our vibrant Saint Francis Catholic community.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/09/15
Dear Families,
Tell your friends and neighbors with elementary and middle school daughters to join us this Sunday for our Open House from 12:00- 3:00! It is the day we get to show off all the wonderful things SFHS has to offer: supportive faculty and staff, rigorous academics, a variety of athletic programs, award-winning arts and academic teams, student clubs, technology, and much more. This year we have added some fun activities for our prospective Troubies who get to walk away with some fabulous SFHS goodies. We hope to see many new faces. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Freshman Parents, we want to hear from you!
Dear Freshmen Parents,
It’s hard to believe that your daughters have been with us for nearly seven weeks! As the first quarter draws to a close next week, we want to thank you again for choosing St. Francis Catholic High School and for partnering with us to educate these amazing young women.
Principal’s Newsletter 10/02/15
Dear Families,
Today and tomorrow we, as a community, celebrate our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, a man who turned away from his indulgent life and embraced a life of poverty and spirit of humble service, transforming the Church and the world forever. Our community seeks to emulate St. Francis’ love of Jesus and his commitment to serving the needs of the marginalized in society. This weekend we recognize all that St. Francis of Assisi gave to our school, the Church, and the world. We look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow, October 3rd, to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis from 3:30 – 8:00. It is going to be a time you won’t want to miss! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Save the Date
We invite parents to the following information nights:
- Thursday, November 12th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the CLC: “Catholicism 101: Everything You Wanted to Know about Catholicism but Were Afraid to Ask.” This is open to both parents and students. Join our Chaplain, the Director of Campus Ministry, and Theology Department Chairs for a night of education and fun Q & A.
- Wednesday, December 9th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the CLC: “Student Resilience: Enhancing Coping Skills and Stress Management in your Teen Daughter.” Parents only. Join our Wellness Counselors and learn how to help your child manage the everyday bumps in the road of life.
Principal’s Newsletter 9/25/15
Dear Families,
We are just a week away from our highly anticipated St. Francis Feast Day which is on Saturday, October 3rd from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM. I want to encourage you, your families, your neighbors, alumnae, and future Troubies to join us as we celebrate our patron’s feast day and 75 years of educating young women who change the world. We will have a live band, food and beverages, fun games, and activities for all ages. Admission is free! Let’s celebrate the gift that is our community! Please RSVP to www.stfrancishs.org/rsvp75.
I look forward to seeing you there. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/18/15
Dear Families,
Next week Pope Francis will be in the United States for his historic first time visit. During his visit to Washington, D.C., he will be celebrating the canonization Mass of Father Junipero Serra, the Spanish missionary priest who founded the California missions. It is an exciting time for us as several members of our school community will be present to celebrate such a momentous occasion. President Margo Brown, Director of Campus Ministry, Stephen Tholcke, and eight Troubies– Emily Bartylla, Clare Brennan, Victoria Castillon, Sidney Clymer-Engelhart, Maya Solis, Julianna Tanjuakio, Brooke Uhlenhop and Emma Vance– will be representing SF . During their visit, our Troubies will be memorializing their experiences via our SF Facebook and Instagram accounts so you can keep track of their exciting adventures. Please pray for their safe travel and for a grace-filled, “Papa Francis” experience. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Friday, September 18 – Regular Red Day 5
Dear Parents,
Please note that Friday, September 18, is a regular Red Day 5, not a late start as indicated in the student planner. As a reminder, the St. Francis online calendar houses the most up-to-date information on daily schedules and upcoming events.
Accepting Applications for Registrar
Dear Families and Friends of St. Francis Catholic High School,
Our Assistant Registrar, Maria Fernandez, accepted a position at the University of California. Maria worked at St. Francis for eight years, starting her tenure in the Advancement Department and then moving into her most recent position. Maria was a bright light in the front office, and her loving and kind presence will be missed. We wish her well in her new endeavor.
Principal’s Newsletter 8/28/15
Dear Families,
What a wonderful turnout we had for our Back to School Night last night! Thank you for your attendance and support of our amazing school. September 4, 2015, is the first Friday of the month and a late start for students. It is a time when faculty and staff celebrate Mass in our chapel and lift our community up in prayer. On this day, and every first Friday of the month, we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 9 AM to 3 PM. This is a time that we encourage staff, students and parents to spend some quiet time with our Lord. I encourage you to come to campus and pray for the needs of our school family. It is a wonderful way to unite with our community, to be with Jesus, and to receive the many graces He wants to share. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Francis Mother-Daughter Fashion Show
Good Afternoon Class of 2016 Parents,
We recognize that the Fashion Show has been a tradition at St. Francis for many years, and we wanted to update you on our plans for this school year. A similar message was sent to your daughters.
Over the past several years, the community support for the Mother-Daughter Fashion Show has waned. Additionally, with our 75th anniversary, school events have been added to the calendar and others have moved in order to encourage a community-wide celebration of this momentous achievement.
Principal’s Newsletter 8/21/15
Dear Parents,
It has been wonderful welcoming new and returning Troubies this week and to see the enthusiasm on campus! We invite parents and grandparents to join us for our Welcome Mass on Wednesday, August 26th, at 10 AM in the gym. Please come to the front office to sign in. If you have not experienced a St. Francis school-wide Mass, I encourage you to join us for a beautiful experience. We also are looking forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on Thursday, August 27th. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the Principal 8/17/15
Dear Families,
After 35 years of dedicated service to our school, Ms. Jane Trippet, beloved teacher in our Physical Education Department, has decided to retire, a decision that was not easy for her. Jane’s love and concern for our school community these many years showed in everything she did. Her compassionate heart and big smile made her a favorite among students and staff.
We thank her for her 35 years of service to our community and wish her well as she moves into this next golden chapter of her life. Blessings to Jane on the journey ahead!
Principal’s Newsletter 8/14/15
Dear Parents,
We officially welcome you to the 2015-16 school year! We especially welcome the Class of 2019 and our 20 transfer students and their families to SFHS this year. This is the first of my weekly e-newsletters which you will receive every Friday throughout the year. We will keep you informed on student activities, special announcements, and upcoming parent hour opportunities. It is a great way to stay up-to-date on all the latest SFHS happenings! You can always go to our website for more information as well. We look forward to seeing all of you on campus next Thursday, August 27th, for Back to School Night. May this new school year bring all of us greater knowledge, wisdom and deeper faith. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Message from the Principal for Class of 2019 Parents
Dear Parents of the Class of 2019,
I welcome you and your daughter to the 2015-16 school year! We are so happy that you have chosen to be part of our Troubie family. We will make every effort to ensure a smooth transition for your daughter, including keeping you informed of all school events.
Class of 2017 and 2018 Retreat Information
My name is Maggie Murray, I am the Campus Minister of Retreats. I lead all class retreats for Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors. Recently I sent an email out to your daughters reminding them about our Junior Retreats for this coming school year. These retreats allow for them to continue building class unity and to learn more about our Pillars of Faith, Service, Leadership and Excellence.
Get a Jump Start on your Parent Service Hours!
We have a few upcoming parent volunteer opportunities for which you can complete required service hours. Please see the following opportunities and sign-up if you are able!
Remember to record service opportunities you complete on a new 2015-2016 Parent Reporting Form (available here).
Important Messages for Parents:
Message from the Dean – DRESSES: Attention parents, your daughter may have a homecoming, prom or ball dress that she will never wear again. Rather than just have it hang in her closet, please consider donating the dress to SFHS. Inspired by the students at the recent dances, I am hoping to start a pay it forward closet of dresses that students in need may choose from for future events. All that I ask is that the dresses are on hangers and preferably clean. Thank you for your consideration.
Principal’s Newsletter 5/15/15
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that we will be ending another school year and in a few days will be graduating 253 amazing young women who will go out and change the world. As I watch our Troubies cross the stage on Thursday night, I will be reminded of each and every one of you– parents, community members, benefactors, coaches, faculty and staff– who have contributed to our graduates’ success. Graduation is a time to celebrate our amazing Class of 2015 and give thanks for all those who have inspired them along the way. Thank you all for making it a great year, supporting our community, and praying for our success. I wish you and yours a joyful and relaxing summer break! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/08/15
Dear Families,
Please pray for our students who will be attending Junior Prom tonight and Senior Ball tomorrow night. We pray for the safety of our girls before, during and after these events. We pray they make good choices, remembering that they are daughters of God and always Troubies on and off campus. Please remind your girls– as Dean Cost has many times–that their poor choices will earn unhappy consequences in the last days of school. Thank you for your prayers and communication. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/01/15
Dear Families,
As we enter into the spring season of proms, balls and graduation parties, I would like to ask you to talk to your daughters about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. One of our speakers at the Every 15 Minutes Assembly last week shared that most parents are woefully unaware of the choices their children are making about drugs and alcohol. Please talk to your children about saying no, and don’t be afraid to ask the questions that will keep them safe: Who are you hanging out with? What are your friends’ phone numbers? Who are their parents? Will they be supervising? Where do they live? Children need parents who are willing to set boundaries, even though kids push against them. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t always feel good, but out of love and concern for the safety and well-being of our kids, sometimes we have the be the “bad guys.” Let us pray that all our children will be safe this season. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
We begin AP testing this week and will continue testing for the next two weeks. Please pray for our students who will be taking these high stakes tests.
Principal’s Newsletter 4/24/15
Dear Families,
This week we hosted the “Every 15 Minutes” (EFM) program, a two-day assembly that educated our students about the dangers of drinking and driving. Students witnessed a mock crash scene and its gruesome results. They saw their classmates and beloved teachers pulled from classes every 15 minutes to symbolize deaths due to drunk driving, and they listened as parents and students read letters of loss about their “dead” classmates and children. While this week was emotionally heavy, I hope our students did not miss the essential truth about EFM, which was not about death. It was about LIFE. It was about making healthy choices to be the best people God is calling us to be. We have a God of hope, and it is in praying to that God that we ask for help in becoming the people that we are called to be. As we head into the junior prom/ senior ball/graduation season, I ask that you talk to your children about choosing LIFE, one decision at a time. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Watch the Video from EFM 2015 Here (contains graphic simulation)
Every 15 Minutes Program
April 21 & 22, 2015
Did you know that alcohol-related collisions are the leading cause of death among teenage youth? In fact, every 15 minutes, someone in the United States is injured or killed in an alcohol-related incident.
Principal’s Newsletter 4/17/15
Dear Families,
College acceptance letters have been sent, and students across the country are either elated about or lamenting their options. In this highly competitive college admissions world, I offer you the following from Jeffrey J. Selingo author of, “Forget Harvard and Stanford. It really doesn’t matter where you go to college” from The Washington Post. He discusses the undue stress and competition elite schools put on students and adds that where their degree comes from doesn’t determine future success. He writes, “A college alone doesn’t make a successful graduate. Sure, top college provides a peer network that greatly helps both while students are on campus and afterwards as alumni. But someone with grit and ambition can succeed at many different types of schools.” Some of our Troubies may not have gotten into their first choice schools, but I know that SF has molded these young women to have grit, ambition, and faith, who will be successful- no matter where they end up. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us! (For full article, click here.)
Upcoming Parent Fingerprinting & Volunteer Opportunities
We have an Upcoming Fingerprinting Opportunity on April 14 (during Freshman Registration Night) as well as numerous Volunteer Opportunities when we return from break.
All parents who want to volunteer during their time at SFHS must be fingerprinted in the Diocese of Sacramento (all other fingerprinting will not apply). See Fingerprinting information as well as volunteer opportunities below.
Principal’s Newsletter 3/27/15
Dear Families,
I pray that these two weeks off will bring rest and rejuvenation to our staff and students. I want to wish you and your families a beautiful Holy Week and blessed Easter! May the joy of the Easter season cause us to shout for joy that our Lord has risen! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/20/15
Dear Families,
Third quarter grades are out. March has been a long month without a break. The days are longer. It feels as if Easter will never be here. During this season of Lent, let us remember that our God calls us to joy, in spite of the facts. Our model is Jesus who suffered, died and was buried, yet He rose again. We cannot have the Resurrection without the Crucifixion. So when the days become long and weary, remember that our Lord has a plan, and joy is, and will be, a part of it. We trust that all things work for good. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 3/13/15
Dear Families,
On February 23, 2015, SFHS hosted the chairperson of our 2012 WASC/WCEA accreditation team, to follow up on our progress mid-way through the six- year term. After reviewing our report and interviewing staff, students and parents, they were impressed by our many accomplishments in the last three years:
- Implementation of a new schedule in 2012-13
- One-to-one iPad roll-out
- Implementation of regular, ongoing faculty/staff evaluations and yearly goal-setting
- Collaboration of faculty via Professional Learning Communities
- Construction of the new Dining Hall
- Acquisition of the Armory
- Improved Communication
At this time the visiting committee does not recommend the addition of any further action plan goals as good progress is being made on the goals that have been established. We are pleased with their assessment, which affirmed all the hard work of the last few years. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Upcoming Parent Volunteer Opportunities
Dear Parents,
We have a few upcoming volunteer opportunities that we need to fill ASAP. Please see the following open opportunities and sign up using the links below. Be sure to view our Parent Service Opportunities page (www.stfrancishs.org/parent-service-opportunities) for the most up-to-date volunteer needs.
Principal’s Newsletter 3/06/15
Dear Families,
As we continue our Lenten journey, I’d like to share something a colleague passed on to me. It is a list of “Lifelong Lenten Observances.” I will share a few of the 75 that are on the list. It is great food for thought as we look to renew ourselves in Christ this season.
- Talk to God daily.
- Savor simple things.
- Every day, be kind to a stranger.
- Learn to be silent.
- Bless your money so that as you use it, it will bless others.
- Go to Confession, especially if you can’t remember the last time you went.
- Strive to become holy.
- Don’t be hard on yourself.
- Be humble.
Our Lord invites us to come back to Him in a deeply personal way this season. May your Lenten observances do just that. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Parent Volunteer Opportunities 3.5.15
Dear Parents,
We have a few upcoming volunteer opportunities that we need to fill ASAP. Please see the following open opportunities and sign up using the links below. Be sure to view our Parent Service Opportunities page (www.stfrancishs.org/parent-service-opportunities) for the most up-to-date volunteer needs.
Principal’s Newsletter 2/27/15
Dear Families,
Every first Friday, our faculty and staff come together for Mass in our chapel. It is a wonderful time for us to gather in community, celebrate Eucharist, and pray for the needs of our school. In addition, on first Fridays, we offer Eucharistic Adoration from 9:15 to 3:00 PM. This is a gift we have been given, and I know that many graces have come to our community as a result of having Adoration. During this Lenten season, I would like to encourage you to join us any time next Friday to sit in the chapel for Adoration, a perfect time to be with Jesus and lift our community up in prayer. If you cannot make it to campus, encourage your daughter to sit in the chapel during her free time for the silence, reflection and time with our Lord. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/20/15
Dear Families,
One of our Troubies shared with me yesterday that for Lent she was going to give up Netflix so she could spend more time with her family. I had a teacher share with me that her Lenten routine would be to try to sit in silence for 15 minutes every day to listen to God. Whether you give up something or take on something new as your Lenten observance, I hope that this holy season be a time of growth in your relationship with God and an opportunity to pray more deeply as individuals and families. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
24/24/24
Next week, on Tuesday, February 24th, we are having our annual 24/24/24 “Day of Giving” event, in which we ask SFHS alumnae, community members, families, students, and staff to contribute $24 (or more!) to help families with financial aid. Last year, over 1,000 supporters from all over the world came together to donate $72,000 through individual contributions. All funds raised were dedicated to SFHS scholarships. Hundreds of young women with various backgrounds want to attend St. Francis Catholic High School. The demonstrated need of our families that apply for financial aid is over $2.4 million each year. St. Francis is able to grant only half that amount. Please help us support the young woman whose heart is with St. Francis, but is torn by concern over her family’s finances. Thank you for your financial blessings!
50 Hues of Holiness
A lot has been discussed most recently regarding the book and the film, 50 Shades of Grey. I have received many emails this week from concerned parents about this movie and the number of young women who are going to see it. In a letter, dated February 4, 2015, to fellow clergy at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Richard Malone, wrote: “Remind the faithful of the beauty of the Church’s teaching on the gift of sexual intimacy in marriage, the great dignity of women, and the moral reprehensibility of all domestic violence and sexual exploitation.” As we work in collaboration to help mold our children into the saints God is calling them to be, I encourage you to talk to your daughters about their beauty and dignity as children of God and what a holy union between a man and a woman looks like. This movie does not represent who we are and what God is calling all of us to be.
Principal’s Newsletter 2/13/15
Dear Families,
Thank you to our community, especially our Parent Guild, who helped make Staff Appreciation Week a success. Our faculty and staff loved the coffee and the wonderful treats you shared with us this week.
It is hard to believe that Lent begins next week with Ash Wednesday. Please join us for our school-wide Mass on February 18th at 10 AM as we begin this 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We love having our families join us for Mass! I hope to see you there. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 2/06/15
Dear Families,
Next week is Staff Appreciation Week, a time when we celebrate our wonderful faculty and staff. I am so very blessed to work with professionals who share their time, talent and treasure to make St. Francis Catholic High School a wonderful place to work, a home away from home for our students, and a Christ-centered environment. I thank them for being great role models for our students, for teaching with passion, for living the faith, for modeling Gospel values, and for inspiring our students on a daily basis . If you have a moment this week, say a prayer for them and/or drop them a line and tell them what they mean to you and your daughter. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/30/15
Dear Families,
As we end National Catholic Schools Week, I’d like to share some interesting facts about Catholic education from the Alliance for Catholic Education out of the University of Notre Dame:
- The achievement gap is smaller in faith-based schools.
- Students in Catholic and other private schools demonstrate higher academic achievement than students from similar backgrounds in public schools.
- Latino and African American students who attend Catholic schools are more likely to graduate from high school and more likely to graduate from college than their public school peers..
- The “multiply disadvantaged” benefit most from Catholic schools.
- Social class effects on educational achievement are significantly lessened in Catholic schools.
- The poorer and more at-risk a student is, the greater the relative achievement gains in Catholic schools.
- Graduates of Catholic high schools are more likely to vote than public school graduates.
- Graduates of Catholic schools are likely to earn higher wages than public school graduates.
- Catholic schools tend to produce graduates who are more civically engaged, more tolerant for diverse views, and more committed to service as adults.
For more information, click here.
Thank you, parents, for sending us your beautiful daughters and for supporting Catholic education.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/23/15
Dear Families,
Next week is National Catholic Schools Week, a time when we celebrate the gift of Catholic education across the country and its impact on our young people and our nation. At St. Francis Catholic High School, we are celebrating it as Pax et Bonum Week, highlighting our community’s unique gifts. We have several fun activities next week, including SWAP (Switch with a Parent) Day on Wednesday, in which parents come to school and participate in their daughter’s classes. It is a wonderful community builder and a great way for parents to experience the awesome teaching and learning that is happening at St. Francis. In addition, we have a fun surprise for our parents on Monday morning. So I ask that you please be extra careful in the lot that morning. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/16/15
Dear Families,
Today, at our school assembly, we hosted Catholic speaker and singer/songwriter, Emily Wilson. Emily’s message to our girls was one of hope, reminding them that they are perfectly made in God’s image. She challenged them to find their own identity without looking outside of themselves (not the culture, not the media, and not boys) to find out their worth and figure out who God is calling them to be. Emily shared her own story and personal choices and led our girls in song and prayer. It was a beautiful reminder to all of us how God loves us into existence and created us in His image. I hope you can talk to your daughters about their “take-aways” from Emily’s talk! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 1/09/14
Dear Families,
Happy New Year! I pray that 2015 has been a joyful year for you and yours. No doubt you and your families have made New Year’s resolutions. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, met with Vatican employees, mostly lay people with families, before Christmas and shared with them the following points. They sound remarkably like New Year’s resolutions, and I’d like to share them here:
Principal’s Newsletter 12/19/14
Dear Families,
The ending of first semester, a respite from school, and celebrating the Christmas season are all reasons to be joyful! On behalf of the faculty, staff and administration, I want to wish you and yours a very holy and peaceful holiday. May this Advent and Christmas season birth in all of us a hunger and zeal for our Lord, Jesus Christ! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 12/12/14
Dear Families,
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the Church we celebrate Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531. As a result of her appearance, millions of natives were converted in a very short time, and a revival was sparked in the nation. Mary’s appearance to this humble man, reminds us of God’s limitless love and mercy for all. His desire to bring all his children back to Him is as strong today as it was in 1531. During this Advent season, may we reflect on Mary’s unending love for us, which brings us ever closer to her Son. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, pray for us!
On Monday, we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Thank you to all those parents who joined us for liturgy. Father Roland, our wonderful priest, gave an excellent homily, explaining the Immaculate Conception. I have provided it here:
Principal’s Newsletter 12/05/14
Dear Families,
Happy Advent! Advent should be a season of great joy and anticipation as we await the coming of Christ. However, as we move more deeply into the holiday season, it seems that the stress mounts. Mary DeTurris Poust, author of Everyday Divine, shares these simple tools for relaxing during this most special season.
- Stop multi-tasking now. Doing too many things at once can diminish the simple pleasures of life.
- Seek silence daily. In today’s noisy, technology-driven world, make time for moments of solitude because it is often in silence that God speaks to us most clearly.
- Find the divine in the mundane. Strive to make even the most tedious chores an act of prayer.
- Practice daily self-examination. Take stock of all your thoughts and actions and look for ways to improve.
If we, the adults in our girls’ lives, practice these simple tools, perhaps our daughters will start doing what we model. I pray that this Advent season be a time of great joy and peace for you and yours. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Please join us for our school-wide Mass on Monday, December 8th, at 10 AM for a celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is a Holy Day of Obligation, and we would love to see our families in attendance.
Principal’s Newsletter 11/21/14
Dear Families,
I want to wish you and yours a very blessed and joyful Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for our entire St. Francis community- faculty, staff, families, donors, and alumnae. We give praise for all those who make this a beautiful place to serve God and each other. I offer this prayer as we celebrate the upcoming holiday with those we love:
O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ your son. Amen.
From Celebrating Faith: Year-round Activities For Catholic Families, by Mary Cronk Farrell
Parent Volunteer Opportunities 11/17/14
Dear Families,
Just a reminder that Senior parent hours are due January 15. The following are parent volunteer opportunities.
Principal’s Newsletter 11/14/14
Dear Families,
This is the month of giving thanks. And while we should always be grateful for God’s gifts in our lives, the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday gives us reason to pause. This week, we hosted over 100 prospective parents for “Parent Shadow Days,” all of whom were impressed with our programs, our academics and our community. I want to thank you, our families, for your continual support of our school and for your kind words about St. Francis Catholic High School which reverberates in our community, sending us new families to educate. I am grateful for your confidence in us to help mold your daughters into the women God is calling us to be. Thank you for sending us your children!
Principal’s Newsletter 11/07/14
Dear Families,
On Tuesday, November 11th, we honor our Veterans for their service to our country. This week I urge you to say a prayer for our Veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed their freedoms to help keep ours. I offer this prayer for them this week:
God of all nations, you are our Strength and Shield. We give you thanks today for the devotion and courage of all those who have offered military service for this country:
- For those who have fought for freedom;
- For those who have laid down their lives for others;
- For those who have borne suffering of mind or of body;
- For those who have brought their best gifts to times of need.
- On our behalf, oh God, many have entered into danger, endured separation from those they love, labored long hours and born hardship in war and in peacetime.
- God, in your mercy and love, we thank you for their lives.
We ask today that you would lift up by your Spirit those who are now at war; encourage and heal those in hospitals or mending their wounds at home; guard those in any need or trouble; hold safely in your hands all military families and bring the returning troops to joyful reunion and tranquil life at home.
Give to us, your people, grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women and hold them always in our love and our prayers until your world is perfected in peace and all wars cease.
Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen. ~ Written by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Phillips ~
Principal’s Newsletter 10/31/14
Dear Families,
On Saturday night, we will be hosting over 1200 students at our Homecoming Dance, a fun and festive event for our students and their guests. We also want to encourage our parents to help their daughters make good choices before, during and after the dance. This includes monitoring our girls attire, making sure it adheres to the SFHS dress code rules, discussing appropriate dancing, and ensuring safe events to attend after the dance. When it comes to allowing our children to attend events (dances, parties, sleepovers, etc.), we also encourage parents to ask the following questions of their children: Who are you going with? What are their names and parents’ names? What are their phone numbers? How long is the event? If you are going to someone’s house after an event, what is the address and who is in charge? Don’t be afraid to ask these questions and get all the facts. We all want our children to have fun and, most importantly, to be safe. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/24/14
Dear Families,
We are all excited about Spirit Week next week! This is a time when we gather as a community to celebrate our classes and have fun. It is also a time of class pride, friendly rivalry and great creativity as we watch our amazing students compete in games, build sets, and create skits. Please make sure that you check the schedule this week for special daily schedules. May this week bring us all closer as we celebrate our vibrant St. Francis Catholic community.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/17/14
Dear Families,
This past Wednesday, while 10th and 11th graders were taking the ACT/Aspire test, our 9th graders attended three workshops aimed to improve their academic experience at SFHS. The three workshops, given by our own faculty and staff members, were “Reading and Notetaking Across the Disciplines,” Learning Styles and Study Strategies,” and “Managing Time, Assignments and Schedules.” A survey given to our 9th graders about the workshops showed that they overwhelmingly felt that the sessions were useful and engaging. The girls gave us some great feedback, including the following: “I found that learning about managing my time and creating schedules most valuable about the presentations today. I learned I need to manage time better and plan out the whole week. It helped a lot. I also found out what type of learner I am. This will help me adapt.” “I love how all the teachers that presented were very thorough with what they were speaking about. I will definitely be using everything that I have learned today in my daily life.” We were happy with the feedback and know that our 9th graders gained some valuable tools and resources to ensure their success! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/10/14
Dear Families,
Next Saturday, October 18th, is Revelry, a most amazing event and SFHS’s biggest fundraiser of the year. I want to encourage you, if you haven’t done so already, to join us for fine dining, conversation, live auction and community-building. You also won’t want to miss how the Revelry decorations committee transforms our campus to adhere to the theme, which this year is “A Night in the Museum: Behind the Ropes.” Tickets can be purchased on our website. I look forward to another joyful event with all of you! And a very special thanks to the many parents and staff members who have worked for MONTHS to make this event memorable. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 10/03/14
Dear Families,
On Sunday, October 12th from Noon – 3 PM, we will be hosting our annual Open House for prospective families. We encourage you to tell your neighbors, friends, and fellow parishioners about this event, which will promote all the wonderful opportunities SFHS offers to young women in the Sacramento area. Academics, arts, athletics, academic teams, campus ministry, retreat programs, service opportunities, cultural immersions, and student clubs will be highlighted this day. There is so much to brag about at St. Francis Catholic High School. Please spread the good news about our school because we are ALL Troubie Ambassadors!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/25/14
Dear Families,
Next Friday we celebrate our annual St. Francis Day in which we come together as a school community to honor our patron, St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis converted from a life of self-indulgence to a life of total obedience to God’s will. Francis learned to rejoice in the overwhelming beauty of God’s creation–a beauty signifying God’s love–yet he did not desire anything of the material world for his own fulfillment. On this day, we remember St. Francis’ life and his contribution to the Church. During this day of sisterhood, fellowship, and fun, we celebrate Mass and reflect on this year’s theme of “Cultivate Peace; Protect Creation.” Each year, our Campus Ministry Department raises funds on St. Francis Day for a particular organization that reflects our theme. During Mass we are asking for donations to the Northern Valley Catholic Charities and Sacramento Catholic Charities, which will benefit the victims of the Northern California wildfires. Please encourage your daughters to contribute to this fund. St. Francis Day is a short day, taking place from 9 AM to 1 PM. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/19/14
Dear Families,
It was wonderful to see so many parents and grandparents on campus this week for “Meet a Parent/Grandparent for Lunch Day.” I want to encourage the rest of our community to join us for another lunch on September 23rd, when students with the last names between L and Z are able to host their families. I also suggest that when on campus, you take a peek at our new dining hall and perhaps taste the wonderful fare our new food service company, Epicurean, is serving our community. This event is yet another excellent opportunity to witness the many good things happening on our campus!
We have added another section to our newsletter. Every week we will post an interesting fact or quote which supports the “St. Francis Advantage,” the data supporting that all-girls’ schools give young women the best preparation to succeed in college and the world beyond.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Apple has released iOS8 this week. We are telling our students NOT to upgrade their iPads at this time until we know what kind of issues may occur or how existing apps may be affected. SFHS will not be responsible for any problems and/or loss of data related to this upgrade. We will let students know in about a week when Apple feels it is safe to upgrade. And, as always, students should be backing up their iPad data to Drive and iCloud as we are not responsible for lost data.Principal’s Newsletter 9/12/14
Dear Families,
Today we surprised our community by unveiling the dining hall and using it for the first time! Our maintenance staff and Epicurean employees put in many hours yesterday to prepare the dining hall for today’s celebration. It was a delight to witness our students’ happy faces as they walked into their new dining facility for the first time. Balloons and cake greeted them, in addition to our regular fabulous food, prepared lovingly in our state-of-the-art kitchen by our food service company, Epicurean. Father Roland provided a prayer before lunch and blessed the dining hall. We are so fortunate to have such a supportive community who made the dining hall a reality- our benefactors, alumnae, leadership, faculty and staff. Today is a day for the history books! It was a wonderful day at St. Francis High School. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 9/05/14
Dear Families,
Our school community is amazing, and I am always proud of us. I know our staff, parents and students feel the same way. In that regard, we are ALL always ambassadors of St. Francis Catholic High School, and our actions reflect on our school. I bring this up in light of the upcoming Holy Bowl game on Saturday, September 13th. For new parents, this is the highly anticipated football game between Jesuit High School and Christian Brothers High School. While this is not our school event, many of our students attend this game. I just wanted to gently remind our community that we are all ambassadors of our school, and our students are expected to speak, dress and behave in such a way as to bring pride to our school. Please remind your daughters of this so they hear it from both school and home. I was impressed with our students at our own Holy Court game this week (the volleyball game between us and Christian Brothers High School), which I am happy to announce we won! Our fans were spirited, joyful and classy. I am confident that our girls will be just as classy and positive at Holy Bowl. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 8/29/14
Dear Families,
This week we celebrated our first school-wide Welcome Mass. It was a beautiful celebration of faith and community, and it was wonderful to see so many parents join us for it. I want to continue to encourage our parents to join us for these celebrations. Next Friday, September 5th, we have Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in our chapel from 9AM-3PM. This is a beautiful, silent time that we offer our community to spend some time with our Lord. We encourage our families to stop by and lift our school up in prayer.
Thank you to all those who joined us last night for Back to School Night! We love hosting our parents and sharing all the wonderful things going on in and out of the classroom. We are happy to be working in partnership with you.
Have a wonderful, blessed week!
Message from the Principal 8/27/14
Dear Families,
This is a reminder that we have Back To School Night tomorrow, Thursday, August 28th. The agenda is as follows:
5:00-5:55 Reception in Serra Court
6:00-6:25 Formal Welcome in the Gym
6:35-8:35 Class Visits:
A Block 6:35
B Block 6:50
C1/C2 Block 7:05
D Block 7:20
E Block 7:35
F Block 7:50
G1/G2 Block 8:05
H Block 8:20
8:35-8:50 Senior Parent and Junior Parent Meetings
PLEASE make sure to write down your student’s class schedule so you know where to go. Better yet, have your student take a photo of her schedule with her iPad and email it to you! We will not have printed copies of student schedules as we have in the past.
Support Revelry at Back To School Night
The Revelry Committee will be accepting wine donations (minimum $20 value) at Back To School Night, so stop by their table and receive a free Revelry raffle ticket for each donated bottle!
Parking / Drop Off / Pick Up
On another note, in the last three days we have had multiple situations in which parents/guardians have had negative interaction with law enforcement, parking personnel and school staff. Please note the following from our Student/Parent Handbook:
A necessary condition of continued enrollment at St. Francis Catholic High School is that students behave in a manner, both on and off campus, which is consistent with the principles and Christian philosophy of St. Francis High School. It is also a condition of enrollment that the parents/guardians of each student adhere to these standards of conduct.
St. Francis expects parents/guardians to work courteously and cooperatively with the school in a manner that is not discourteous, scandalous, rumor-driven, disruptive, threatening, hostile, or divisive. St. Francis High School reserves the right to determine, at its discretion, which actions fail to meet the principles and Christian philosophy of the school. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in a disciplinary action, suspension of a student, revocation of a parent/guardian’s privilege to attend or to participate in school activities, or dismissal of the student.
The safety of all our students and personnel is a priority and we will identify the parents who are in direct violation via the on campus camera system. However, we ask all parents to help us to keep a safe environment and report anything that compromises this safety to the Dean.
As a reminder, parents absolutely cannot come onto campus and park in the pick-up lane prior to 2:40. It is unsafe to have people hanging around campus for up to two hours in some cases, and it forces us to open the security gates before the designated times, creating a breach in the safety procedures we have established to help protect all our students.
Thank you for kindly following our school policies and procedures. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow night! ~ Blessings ~
Principal’s Newsletter 8/22/14
Dear Families,
What a joy it is to have our students back. The campus has come alive with the Troubie Spirit. This week we officially welcomed the Class of 2018 with a vibrant Back to School Rally where their class mascot was revealed, Squirt from Finding Nemo. The social media “Ice Bucket ” sensation made its way to our campus as members of our Athletic Department, guidance and even the Dean of Students, took part in the challenge in lower Serra Court. Our seniors began the Class of 2015 festivities with their early morning Senior Sunrise. Finally, the SFHS Booster Club, Parents Guild and Patrons of the Arts hosted a phenomenal Welcome Back Parent BBQ to kick off the year in style. And this was just the first week! We look forward to many more exciting weeks to come.
As we look to this year’s school-wide theme, Cultivate Peace; Protect Creation, we can reflect on the words Pope Benedict XIV spoke at World Day of Peace in 2010: “The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity.” How are we as a community protecting God’s precious gift? Over this next year you will see the many ways in which we have begun to live his words including our pledge to reduce printing, use of 100% compostable products in our dining hall, and education on how we can all reduce our footprint on the environment. We urge you to take the pledge alongside of us this year.
Mary Castellano – Assistant Principal of Academics
Principal’s Newsletter 8/15/14
Dear Families,
Welcome to the 2014-15 school year! We are blessed to have many new families with excited Troubies join our community this year. There have been exciting changes this summer with the finishing of our dining hall and the hiring of new faculty. We welcome Mrs. Pamela Buck to our Performing Arts Department, Kimberley Flaata to Math, Jennifer Ferrara to English, and Sister Stella Ihejeto to Theology. We are blessed to have such highly qualified educators join our community and inspire our students. We also welcome Father Roland Ramirez, our new campus minister, and Christina Rotas, a new addition to our Marketing and Enrollment Department.
As you know, we begin this year with the unexpected loss of our beloved teacher Mr. Brian Dodson, and it has been a difficult time for our community. I once heard someone say that “joy is not the absence of sorrow; it is the presence of God.” As we work through our grief, we also recognize that God is always in our midst. When we keep our eyes focused on Him, we can get through anything and find joy in everything. Our faith teaches us that hope is always alive and that God’s grace is present, even in times of trial.
Our Principal Theresa Rodgers is attending to family matters at this time, and we look forward to her return soon. Please continue to keep our entire community in your prayers as we look to this school year with great joy. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Finally, please monitor your email for important forthcoming messages from Guidance/Campus Ministry and the Dean regarding resources for students and the first day of school logistics.
Mary Castellano – Assistant Principal for Academics
Schedule Changes for the Week of August 18
Monday, August 18, Red Day 3
| 8:00am – 9:20am | Students report to Homeroom and then Class Meetings |
| 9:25am – 10:20am | A Block |
| 10:25am-11:20am | B Block |
| 11:25am-12:05pm | Community Lunch |
| 12:05pm- 1:00pm | C1 & C2 Blocks |
| 1:05pm – 2:00pm | D Block |
| 2:05pm – 3:00pm | E Block |
- Tuesday, August 19, Red Day 4, no change
- Wednesday, August 20, Red Day 5, will be a regular start, with D Block beginning at 8:00am.
- Thursday, August 21, Red Day 1, no change
- Friday, August 22, Red Day 2, no change
No Formal Uniform on Monday, August 18
First day of school, 8/18, is no longer a Formal Uniform Day. Students are asked to wear red or white polo shirt and uniform skirt. Questions on Uniform Policy? See Dress Code page for more info.
Back to School Supply Drive, August 18-22
Information on specific items needed will be sent to parents. Please bring items to the CLC at beginning or end of the school day between August 18 and August 22. Parents may earn one volunteer hour per $5 spent; maximum of 5 hours (attach receipts to Hours Reporting form and turn in when all hours are completed).
Musical Workshop/Auditions, Tuesday, August 19
The “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” workshop will be held Tuesday, August 19, at 3:20 in the Choir Room. Audition dates are being rescheduled and will be announced during the workshop.
“Heart of a Troubie” Welcome Back Parents BBQ, Thursday, August 21
Mark your calendars for this fun St. Francis tradition celebrating the Troubie Spirit! Join us in welcoming our new families and catching up with fellow parents in Serra Court for a casual evening hosted by our Parents Guild, Booster Club and Patrons of the Arts. Please visit their booths to learn more about opportunities to get involved. We begin at 5:30 pm with a no-host bar followed by the always tasty “Booster Que” and dessert. The Revelry Committee will be accepting wine donations (minimum $20 value), so stop by their table and receive a free Revelry raffle ticket for each donated bottle! RSVP now here.
Frosh Soph Open Dance, St. Francis HS Gym, August 22
We are in need of 20 parents to help with this dance from 7pm – 11pm on Friday, August 22nd at St. Francis HS. Thank you! Click here to sign up.
Volunteers Needed for Robotics, Saturday, August 23
Volunteers are needed for the Robotics Move Day on Saturday, August 23, from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Volunteer hours will be honored. We will also give credit for food purchases (pizza for the girls). Please contact: magatstein@stfrancishs .org.
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Applications – Due Monday, August 25
Is your sophomore, junior, or senior daughter interested in joining California’s oldest honors society? Applications for California Scholarship Federation (CSF) are available in the front office. Applications are due Monday, August 25th.
Model United Nations Academic Team Tryouts, Monday, August 25 & Wednesday, August 27
SFHS is holding tryouts for the Model United Nations (MUN) team, will take place Monday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 27, 3:15pm—5pm, in room 320. Tryouts will include an application, essay, and an impromptu speech, and are open to all St. Francis students. Veteran MUN members must also attend to tryout for team placement.
MUN is an academic team that simulates the crucial business of the United Nations assembly. We will compete in a conference, attend workshops and prepare for simulations with other schools. This is a one credit graded class at St. Francis, but most importantly will sharpen your public speaking and negotiation skills; expand your knowledge of politics, history and international relations; and learn more about the structure and policy power of the United Nations. Email Laura Hanusek at lhanusek@stfranicshs.org with any questions.
Brunch and Mimosas! “Back to School Brunch” hosted by Celia Puff, Tuesday, August 26
This event was offered as a sign-up party at Revelry 2013, and the hostess has indicated there is room for more attendees! While the girls are back in school, come to this delightful morning that will include a delicious champagne brunch with coffee and mimosas! Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased on-line here.
Patrons of the Arts Welcome Reception, Tuesday, August 26
Meet Arts faculty and Patron of the Arts parents on Tuesday, August 26 in the Library, 5:30. Talk with others who help the arts productions and shows and find out how you can join in the fun.
SAVE THE DATE! Revelry Gala & Auction-A Night in the Museum-Behind the Ropes, Saturday, October 18
Mark your calendars for the event of the fall season as the SF community celebrates Revelry – A Night in the Museum! Support the school’s major fundraiser of the year by becoming a sponsor; donating an item, vacation home, gift cards or wine; making a cash donation; or volunteering! For more information about Revelry, please visit www.stfrancishs.org/revelry or contact Melissa Deiro in the Advancement Department at mdeiro@stfrancishs.org.
Class Fees – Fall 2014
Students taking courses with class fees will receive an email at the beginning of school. The email will be sent to the household email account and will contain a link to pay your daughters’ class fees online. TEACHERS WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT CASH or CHECKS.
Troubie Store Hours:
- Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during the school year.
- Thursday, August 21 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, August 21 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. for Welcome Back Parent BBQ
- Thursday, August 28 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for Back to School Night
- Blazers will be in at the end of August or beginning of September. You will be notified by email when they will be distributed.
Athletics Update
- Troubadours to Compete in Delta League – click here
- Volleyball’s Wright Selected for Section Hall of Fame – click here
- Holy Court – click here
Follow St. Francis Athletics on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Fall Athletic Spirit Gear Available Online
Support your daughter’s team with official St. Francis Adidas spirit gear from Athletics Unlimited. Each fall sport has team-specific gear available online for a LIMITED TIME until August 29. All items will be shipped by September 26 and proceeds from the sales will benefit the St. Francis Booster Club. click here
ARTS News! SARTA Nominations
This past summer, the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance Board of Directors nominated “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Reviving Ophelia” for many Elly Awards. Congratulations all who were a part of the musical and play last year. All of our entries are under “Education Plays”. For “Once Upon a Mattress: Denise Miles was nominated for “Costume Design” and Steve Decker for “Set Design”. For “Reviving Ophelia”: Jordan Davis was nominated for “Leading Female”, Steve Decker for “Lighting Design”, and the entire cast, crew, and production staff for “Overall Play”.
The Youth Elly Award Ceremony is Sunday, September 7 at The Roseville Theatre Arts Academy. All production staff, cast, crew, musicians, and friends are invited to attend. For tickets: www.sarta.com
Parent Updates – Volunteer Opportunities & Parking
Hello Parents,
We have a few announcements for your Monday, see below.
Principal’s Newsletter 5/19/14
Dear Families,
This is the last newsletter of the school year! What an amazing year it has been! As I conclude my first year as principal, I am in awe of how quickly this year passed. I am thankful every day that I have the opportunity to serve this community. I want to thank you for sending your daughters to St. Francis High School. They truly are amazing, articulate, confident women who make me proud every day. I want to thank you for your support as we work together to help our girls become all that God is calling them to be. To our senior parents who are saying goodbye this year, I look forward to celebrating this week’s senior festivities with you. I wish you and your graduate the best in the next chapter of your lives. You will ALWAYS be Troubies! May God bless our graduates and their families during this bittersweet time. And may you all have a restful and rejuvenating summer break! St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Principal’s Newsletter 5/12/14
Dear Families,
We praise God for a safe and celebratory prom/ball weekend! Our girls had a wonderful time at Haggin Oaks and were beautifully dressed. This week we continue AP testing for our students, and finals begin on Friday, May 16th. Please remind your daughters that we have our final formal uniform day on Wednesday, May 14th, as we celebrate Mass one last time as a school community and say goodbye to our seniors. Please continue to keep our entire school in your prayers as we wind down the school year. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!