Dear Academy Community, 

As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I am filled with gratitude and reflection, and I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation for the wonderful community we have here at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy.

In the spirit of this season of thanks, I am truly thankful for the privilege of working with such dedicated and caring teachers and families. Your commitment to your children's education and the values we uphold at our Catholic school is truly inspiring. Together, we have created a nurturing and supportive environment where our students can flourish academically, spiritually, and personally.

The collaborative efforts between our school and our families are the cornerstone of our success. It is heartening to witness the partnership between home and school that fosters the holistic development of our students. Your involvement, whether through volunteering, attending school events, or participating in your child's education, makes a profound difference in the overall experience of our school community.

As we gather with our loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us also reflect on the many blessings we share as a school family. May this season be filled with warmth, love, and moments of joy for you and your loved ones.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication. I wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving.

Although next week is a short one, please see below some upcoming news for the next few weeks….

Thanksgiving Holiday: Just a reminder that St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy has a half day on Wednesday, November 22nd with 12 noon dismissal. Grades 1-8 will be attending mass at 11am. This is then followed by Thanksgiving Recess on November 23rd and 24th. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Coffee with the Administration: We look forward to bringing back a forum that we used in the past for periodic meetings, “Coffee with the Administration.” Each session will be themed around a topic that may interest many families in our school community. Join Dr. Scharabch, Mrs. Hayes, and Mrs. Buckley on Monday, November 20th at either at 9:00 am or 7:00 pm (Small Hall) for an informational session on what special education services look like at St. Francis de Sales. We hope to see you there.  

Report Cards/Parent Teacher Conference: This year all conferences will take place on Thursday, December 7th from 12:45pm-2:45pm and 6pm-7:30pm.  Wednesday, December 7th is a 12pm half-day for students and there is no after-school available on this day. 

On Wednesday, November 22nd we will send out information on signing up for time slots for conferences. All families will have until Sunday, December 3rd to sign up for the conferences on Thursday, December 7th from 12:45pm-2:45pm and from 6pm-7:30pm. 

5th and 6th Grade Spelling Bee: We will be having our first ever 5th and 6th Grade Math Bee on Monday 11/20 at 1pm. Congrats to our classroom winners.

Grade 5

Anthony Capek

Emma Keenan

Honora Sullivan

Emma Vuono

Mackenzie Capek

Erin Henry

Madeline Gallagher

Mairead Henning

Caroline Minson

Saoirse Kash

Grade 6

Timothy McDonagh

Adrianna Troia

Keira Gilroy

Charlotte Colleran

Colin Mundy

Giuliana Gentile

Early Childhood Registration: We are beginning to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year.  Last week we issued a Google Form of intent for any current Nursery and Pre-K student here at St. Francis who plan on attending St. Francis in 2024 as a Pre-K or Kindergarten student. Those forms are due by Monday, November 27th.  As always, we thank you for your dedication and support of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. If you have any concerns that we may address, please do not hesitate to call or email us. 

After Thanksgiving,  an email will be sent home to families of current students to see if any siblings will be joining our academy next year if space allows. Please fill out all letters of intent as soon as possible, as we will begin open registration in the winter of 2024.  This is especially important to do with our current enrollment numbers.

St. Francis de Sales Parish Confirmation Pictures:  Attached are the links for the pictures from both of the October 19, 2023 Sacrament of Confirmation masses. We hope you will keep these memories of your children for years to come. 

1pm Mass

4pm Mass

Yearbook Order Form: A few weeks ago marked the start of our 2023-2024 Yearbook Sale! The yearbook is a great way to remember special events throughout the year! All students will be featured in the yearbook on their class page!

If you would like to order a school yearbook, (delivery in June) please fill out the following form.

After you submit your order you will be charged on your FACTS account during the month of January.  

Payment is expected within 20 days of posting.

The completed form(s) is due by Thursday, December 7th. Since we have to send in our yearly order soon after there will be no orders accepted after this date.

**Class of 2024 Families, any graduate that has $130 (cost of a full page ad) worth of ads in the yearbook will receive a free yearbook, up to two free yearbooks. Please keep this in mind when placing your order.**

CLICK HERE FOR THE YEARBOOK ORDER FORM

SAVE THE DATES

Class Picture Day: Please note that on Wednesday, November 29th all students need to be in their full dress uniform (No Dress Down Tickets) to be in their class picture. Thanks in advance for your cooperation with this. 

Toys for Tots: With the Christmas season approaching, as we look forward to the birth of our Lord, we should remember those less fortunate than us. In the spirit of giving, we are asking that students donate a gift for other children. Please bring in an unwrapped toy or game after the Thanksgiving Holiday. All donations will go to children in need. Thank you for your generosity. All donations need to be made by Friday, December 15th.  

Polar Express: We are so excited to announce that we will host our annual Polar Express Night in the school gym on Friday, December 1st. We will be having two sessions this year. The 1st session will be only for Kindergarten and 1st grade students from 4pm-6pm. Our second session will be for 2nd-4th graders from 6:30pm-8:30pm. We are looking forward to a great night … All Aboard!

Tickets can be bought at the door for $10. This will cover admission, popcorn, Oreo cookies, Yoohoo Chocolate Drink, and a special treat. If your child has an allergy and cannot have these items please email  Dr. Scharbach at [email protected].

To help accommodate all children we are asking that this be a drop-off event. (Children Only)

Parents, please take a few minutes to go over these basic etiquette guidelines with your child(ren). It is our hope that by following these guidelines, everyone’s movie-going experience will be a good one.

1. We do not talk during the movie.

2. Refrain from getting up and down. People behind us are trying to watch the movie and too many trips to the bathroom, drinking fountain, etc. is distracting and unnecessary. This will also help eliminate many spills on the floor.

3. Running will not be tolerated.

4. Enjoy and have fun!

Immaculate Conception Day: Friday, December 8th is a Diocesan Holiday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is a Diocesan Holiday so just a reminder that St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy is closed. 

SFDS Parish Tree Lighting: Please save the date for Tuesday, December 12th at 6pm as St. Francis de Sales Parish lights their Christmas Trees, Angels, and Nativity. We hope you join us for this great tradition. 

Christmas Boutique: We are also happy to announce the dates of our Christmas Boutique this year. The Christmas Boutique for our students will be December 12th- December 13th. More information to follow closer to the dates. 

Have a great weekend! Tickets for this year's Christmas show will be available to purchase next week.