Dear Academy Community, 

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is amazing that when we return from Thanksgiving Recess we only have four more weeks of school until Christmas. The other day a letter and order form went home about the Christmas Show. For another copy of the letter and order form please click here. Orders are due on Wednesday, December 6th. Any questions about tickets please call the office. Any questions about costumes or dress please contact your child's teacher directly. To take another look at the information posted about costumes please click here. The dress rehearsals for both shows will take place on Monday, December 18th. 

Please see below some upcoming news for the next few weeks until Christmas Recess……

Report Cards and Parent-Teacher Conferences: Please note that all report cards (Nursery-Grade 8) are digitally distributed on Wednesday, December 6th at 3 pm via the FACTS Parent Portal. This year all conferences will take place on Thursday, December 7th from 12:45 pm-2:45 pm and from 6 pm-7:30 pm. Just a reminder that Thursday, December 7th is a 12 pm half-day for students and there is no after-school available on this day. 

 Nursery-Grade 4

Please click here for Nursery-Grade 4 Appointments until Sunday, December 3rd. 

Please visit the website listed above for your child’s class to sign up for a time for your conference. You will need to enter your name and email address. Please sign up by Sunday, December 3rd. We will assume that families not signed up by December 3rd are not attending parent-teacher conferences. You will not be able to confer with your child’s teacher that afternoon or evening. 

Grades 5-8

Please note in Grades 5-8 your child has 4 to 5 teachers.  The 5th-6th grade teachers have 134 students while some 7th and 8th-grade teachers have 131 students. 

In Grades 5-8 please feel free to go to your child’s individual teacher(s) at the assigned times (Thursday, December 7th from 12:45 pm-2:45 pm and from 6pm-7:30pm.) You will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Historically, the afternoon session has shorter wait times. We will do our best to accommodate all those families that need to meet with their child’s teacher(s). As always all teachers are always available to answer any questions you may have via email. 

One final note, please do not get caught up in the grades your child has earned, but rather try to work with the school on areas of concern. This will help your child’s progress in school which is our mutual goal.

$25,000 Raffle: Next weekend the $25,000 raffle will be drawn.  For those who bought a ticket the drawing will take place at the Wharf on Sunday, December 3rd from 4pm-6pm.  ONE box is currently available in our 9th Annual $15,000 raffle. 100 Boxes are sold at $500 each with half going to the Academy and the other half in 5 prize denominations: $15,000, $5000, $2500, $1500, $1000. If you are interested, please text: 917-881-1771. Thanks again to all who continue to support our academy.

Advent Service Project: Our Franny Friendship Committee is hosting our 2nd Annual Advent service opportunity for 4th & 5th Graders on Monday, December 4th from 2:30 pm-3:30 pm.

Students will be making cards and ornaments for elderly parishioners in our community. 

If you would like your child to participate, please fill out the following form no later than Wednesday, November 29, 2023. 

https://forms.gle/anC3iryr1bSgRrH97

Early Childhood Registration: We are beginning to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year.  A few weeks ago 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.

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!

5th and 6th Grade Spelling Bee: Congratulations to both Colin Mundy (Grade 6) and Saoirse Kash (Grade 5) for being the two finalists from our school to move on to the next round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. We wish both of them the best of luck. 

Stockings for a Cause: This Christmas season we are partnering with Stockings for a Cause. For the past 13 years, Stockings for a Cause has partnered with various businesses in NYC and around the country to raise money for a worthy recipient. Stockings for a Cause provides stockings to the business which are then sold to their patrons with all money going towards the yearly honoree.

Past honorees have been wounded vets. These men and women have given up so much to help others, Stockings for a Cause was created to show our thanks and to give back to them! 

We are inviting each homeroom to participate in the Stockings for a Cause fundraiser this year. Students are asked to donate $2 each which will go towards their homeroom stocking. We are asking that our students use their own money whether it be from doing some house work or loose change that they collected for this donation.  Our goal is to have 100% homeroom participation.

Stockings denoting each homeroom will be hung in the main lobby starting after Thanksgiving.

Stockings will also be sold during Report Card Conferences for $25 each for any families that would also like to donate.

All money collected will go directly towards helping this year’s recipient, Army Sergeant, Jason Earl Walker. Sergeant Walker was injured in September 2013 on foot patrol when he stepped on an IED which took his left foot in Afghanistan. His left leg is amputated below the knee and he also suffers from PTSD and a TBI. Recovery wasn’t easy but he is strong and perseveres! Sergeant Walker lives in Beaverton, Oregon with his 2 sons, Jacob and Ryan. Stockings for a Cause will be teaming up this year with Tunnel to Towers in hopes to build Jason the smart home he needs to live a beautiful life.

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

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. 

Dress Down Day: Thursday December 21st is a $1 dress down day. All students are encouraged to wear Red and or Green, or wear an ugly holiday sweater. All money raised is going to a family in need. 

Christmas Craft Day: Every year, students, 5th through 8th grade, prepare a craft activity to create, with students in Pre K-4th grades.  This year the entire school will be partaking in this activity on Thursday, December 21st in the afternoon.

Christmas Vacation: On Friday December 22nd we have a ½ day 12 noon dismissal, this kicks off our Christmas Recess. Please note we do not reopen until Wednesday January 3rd, 2024. 

Have a great Thanksgiving!