Dear Academy Families,

The first couple of days were filled with excitement, introductions, and reuniting with friends, teachers, and peers.  Mrs. Hayes and I walked around the building, it was so lovely to see both our students and teachers hard at work. And, of course, we began the 2023-2024 school year with a joyful Opening of School Mass this morning.  I know next week we will hit the ground running for our first whole week of school. 

We are so happy that you have chosen what we feel is the best investment a parent can make in a child’s future: a Catholic education. That choice and investment don’t end each week on Friday afternoon. We as parents, are all called at our children’s baptism to be the primary caretakers of our children’s faith formation. 

When our children attend Mass, they are physically in the presence of Christ. When our children attend Mass, they hear the word of God and prayers praising Him. Those precious phrases expressing our faith's foundations are repeated weekly, and they will stay with them forever. When our children attend Mass, they will see that the Communion of Saints is made up of real people all united in the same act of worshiping God. It’s invaluable to see that reality played out in person every week. 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mk 10:13-14

As parents, we are called to ensure that our children come to Mass every Sunday and to educate them in participating in the main divine worship event of the Church’s week.  We are called to help them celebrate and learn about their faith. Please know that the Pastoral Staff of both Blessed Trinity and St. Francis de Sales invite and encourage our families to participate in the Mass each and every weekend. 

Speaking of going to Mass, both of our aligned perishes this weekend are having a special Backpack Blessing to kick off a new school year. Please see below for more information. 

Digital Forms

In the FACTS Family Portal please make sure that you fill out (new families) or update (returning families) the Demographic, Medical, Custodial, Emergency Contact, and Transportation Forms ASAP. 

We have assembled some websites, information, and digital forms for starting a new school year.  These links, along with the Family-Student Handbook and our Acceptable Use Policy, keep everyone “in the loop.” 

Please note that some forms are optional, and others must be filled out. They are stated next to the name of the form. If you have any questions, please call the main office. We encourage parent communication and involvement; please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions.

• Handbook Agreement Form (Mandatory Form)- Due 9/15/23- Please note this form will be sent home to each family on Thursday, 9/7/23. Please be sure to read through the handbook before signing. If you need another copy, please print from the link. 

• Height and Weight Form (Please fill out one for each child) (Mandatory Form)- Due 9/15/23

• Parish Affiliation Form (Mandatory Form to qualify for affiliated tuition rate) – Due 9/22/23

• Class Captain Sign-Up Form (Optional Form)- Due  9/15/23

• Absence Note Form (Please note that a written absent note still needs to be sent into your child’s homeroom teacher to record the absence correctly in FACTS and for our legal records). 

Special Lunch Forms

Bagel Monday Order Form (Grades K-8)- Due 9/14/23

Pizza Day Form (Grades K-8)- Due 9/14/23

Chicken Finger Day Form (Grades 1-8)-  Due 10/5/23

1/4 Zip Sweatshirt Order Form 

1/4 Zip Sweatshirt Order Form- Due 9/9/23

Please look below for a few updates and reminders for the first full week of the school year 2023-2024 school year. 

September 11th Day of Remembrance: It is difficult to believe that so much time has passed -- it seems like yesterday -- since we heard those first unbelievable reports that a plane, then another plane had crashed into the buildings of the World Trade Center. The anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, offers a time to remember, to reflect about this unforgettable moment in history, and to reconsider the effect that September 11th has had on our country and the world. This Monday as an Academy community in Grades 1-8 we will have the opportunity to pray as a school community at 1:15pm in our Prayer Garden and learn about those horrific events to make sure that the next generation, “Never Forgets.”

i-Ready: We are excited to share that our Kindergarten through 8th grade students are continuing to use a Mathematics and Reading program called i-Ready. Below you will find information about the program and how we will be using it in the classroom.

What is i-Ready?

i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.

The i-Ready Diagnostic that students in Grades 1-8 will begin to take at the end of next week is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.

Writing Benchmarks: During the week of September 11th, students in grades 1-8, will be taking the first of three writing benchmarks for the year.  The purpose of these benchmarks will be to begin to gather data about individual students, classes and the school as a whole in order to assess our strengths and weaknesses as writers. There is no preparation necessary for these writing tasks and they will be ungraded assignments. If you have any questions regarding the benchmarks, please contact Mrs. Hayes at [email protected]

NYC Yellow Bus Service: We have received news that no strike is planned for Monday! 

The New York City Department of Education provides transportation to all eligible New York City students in public, charter, and non-public schools. This includes the students of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. This year NYC Yellow bus service is scheduled to start this Monday, September 11th. Students who have been routed by OPT have been sent home with information about routes. We are aware that there are about 40 students who have yet to been routed and are actively trying to get their routes (times). We will be checking the system this weekend and if they are routed sharing that information via email.   Even with no strike we do anticipate timing issues as we have seen in the first days of Yellow bus in the past. Please be patient with the bus on the first few days of bussing, especially in the morning as routes are always being changed by the city at the last minute. Any questions please contact Mrs. Kenny in the main office. 

Back to School Nights (Meet the Teacher): On Wednesday, September 13th at 6pm (Grades 1-4) and on Thursday, September 14th at 6pm (Grades 5-8) all parents are invited to meet their child's teacher(s).

On both Wednesday, September 13th and Thursday, September 14th from 6pm-6:30pm there will be a plenary session where the Administration and the Academy Family Association Executive Board will present to families. At 6:30pm families will be able to go to classrooms and “Meet the Teacher.”  We hope to have 100% attendance at these important nights of the school year. 

This night is an information night. If there are any pressing issues or matters that need to be discussed with the teachers please make an appointment to see them at another date. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate individual conversations on Meet the Teacher night, but we would be more than happy to schedule a time to discuss your child(ren). 

Pre-K and Nursery Start: This coming week Pre-Kindergarten and Nursery students  both begin here at St. Francis. Families are asked to follow the schedule, drop off and pick up guidelines that were discussed at Back to School Night this week. Any questions please contact your child’s teacher via email or through SeeSaw. 

“Cool the School” Project: We are happy to announce that all phases of the construction phase of our “Cool Our School” Air Conditioning Project was completed this summer. (And with the heat we had this week, it was just in the knick of time).  We have been able to install air conditioning in 28 classrooms along with the Faculty Room, Small Hall and the Main Office since August of 2022. 

A special thank you again to the Academy Family Association and all the families that helped fundraise the past two school years to help get this project up and running. We look forward to this year’s fundraising efforts to help pay off the balance of this project.  

Summer Uniform: This week we were very accepting of students out of uniform or that did not get their Back to School Haircut, yet we do expect that corrections will be made by Monday. Any uniform or dress code questions please contact Mrs. Hayes at [email protected]. For more information about our Dress Code please click here. 

Peanut/Nut Free: We Are a NUT Aware School! Unfortunately, our school cannot guarantee a nut, milk, or “allergen-free” environment. The risk of exposure is always present. Instead, we have an “allergy aware” policy, which empowers everyone.

Children with allergies become aware of what they can and cannot eat, and school staff are alert and careful about each student’s allergies. As we have students with SEVERE LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES, we ask all families to avoid bringing in items such as nut butters, Nutella, or any other nut based products.

We ask that you be very aware of any items brought into our school which: may contain nuts/may have been processed or manufactured in a facility which uses/contains nuts. Finally, please remind your children to never share snacks, food, or drinks with anyone.

Change of Plans: We all know that life gets in the way at times and plans change. For your child's safety, please inform the office if there is a change of pickup or usage of the bus by note or email (before 9am). If it is last minute it will have to be by office phone. 

Tuition Accounts: Starting a few weeks ago all families should have begun to pay their families tuition through our FACTS system. Tuition payments for the 2023-2024 school year can be paid online, by phone, or by mail. You may also sign up for auto pay as well. The second payment of the year is due this Friday, September 15th. 

For those families that have an Invoice Payment Plan, each month, 20 days before your payment due date, FACTS will send you an email or mail invoice letting you know that your invoice is ready.  If you want to mail in a payment, you will need to log into their FACTS account and click on the Actions button and choose the Mail In a Payment link.

Any questions please feel free to call FACTS at 1-866-441-4637

Any questions about your account please reach out to our Bookkeeper Mrs. Marguerite Kazalski at [email protected]

After School Program: We are happy to announce that starting September 18, 2023 the After School Program will begin. The goal of the After School Program is to provide a safe, nurturing, fun environment for children who need care after the regular school day. On most days the program will include time for play, snack, homework help, and an activity for the day (arts & crafts, board games, etc.).

The program will run Monday through Thursday on most days when school is in session and will be staffed by members of the faculty assisted by 7th & 8th Grade students and 6th graders (starting in January 2024). Children in Grades PreK-5 may attend. After school is not in session on 1/2 day dismissal days. For more information on our After School Program and our registration form for those that are interested in using the service please click the links below. If you have any questions please feel free to email Mrs. Kenny at [email protected]

After School Handbook

After-School Registration Form

Early Morning Drop Off Program: We are happy to announce that continuing on Monday, September 11th we will be offering an Early Morning Drop off program from 7:00 am-7:40 am each day. For more information about this program please click here. If you have any questions please feel free to email Mrs. Endall at [email protected]

Birthdays: There are a variety of ways in which we celebrate birthdays at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy.  Celebrations are at the discretion of the teacher but may include handmade cards, storytelling, the sharing of a book, etc. 

Please communicate with the homeroom teacher beforehand.  Families/guardians may drop off party goods (cookies, cupcakes, small plates, napkins, etc.) with Security at the beginning of the school day.  

The Diocesan policy is that all food items shared be store-bought. The reason for this rule is strictly to serve as a safety precaution, allowing the school to know the ingredients of any item.  We ask that no toys, lollipops, goody bags, frozen treats, or drinks be brought into school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

8th Grade TACHS Registration: 8th Grade Parents starting on Monday, August 21st you can begin to register your child for the TACHS exam. If your child will take the TACHS exam (entrance exam for Catholic High Schools) please register as soon as possible. For more information including how to register please click here. Any questions please contact Mr. Scharbach at [email protected].

High School Meeting: There is a special 8th Grade Parent High School Meeting on Monday, September 18th via a Zoom Webinar. Please come to ask any last-minute questions on the high school admissions process (Catholic High Schools and Public High Schools). This meeting is scheduled to be recorded in case any family cannot attend. 

When: Sep 18, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: 8th Grade High School Parent Meeting

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82952339610?pwd=S0FNZkxTT2t1V1hGYW1qMEpwTjVIUT09

Passcode: SFDS2024

2023-2024 School Year Volunteering: For the safety and well being of each and every child in our school, all volunteers must go through the following process:

1) Read and sign a code of conduct

2) Have a background check

3) Take part in the VIRTUS program. (Register at virtusonline.org. Download the registration guide.)

Please note that St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy will be offering two sessions of the VIRTUS program on 9/25 and 11/6.

After completing the VIRTUS Program we ask that you please bring to the office a copy of your certificate for us to keep track of in our database. We hope that this is not an inconvenience for anyone, but we need to be sure that all adults who interact with students are in compliance.

SAVE THE DATES

Catechetical Sunday: Catechetical Sunday is when those designated to serve as catechists are called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in passing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. All are welcome to join the Saint Francis faculty and Saint Francis Religious Education faculty at this very special liturgy at 10:00am on Sunday, September 17th.

 Catholic High School Fair:

Go Gold for Childhood Cancer: As many people know September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. On Friday 9/29  all students may dress down for $1 and Go Gold for Childhood Cancer. Students are asked to wear Gold or yellow shirts on this dress down day. All proceeds from the dress down day are going to annual Catch a Cure 5K Race. Catch a Cure is a community non-profit charitable organization that benefits local families dealing with cancer. 

Have a great weekend. We hope to see you at mass this weekend!