Dear Academy Community, 

In the month of December we spend a great deal of time preparing children for Christmas shows, decorating classrooms, and making preparations for Christmas at home by shopping, baking, attending parties and sharing joy. As you know, Advent is a time for waiting, praying, and preparing ourselves for the birth of Christ. By taking a step away from the hustle and bustle, and asking children to slow down and reflect on what the birth of Christ means to them, the world, and our faith, such richness will be added to this time of waiting.

This weekend we begin the beautiful season of Advent. Advent has a twofold nature: It prepares us for Christmas, when we recall Christ’s first coming among us, and it is also a time when we look forward to His second coming at the end of the ages. Advent is the season of joyful expectation. As a school community, we will be exploring many avenues during Advent amidst the frantic energy of preparing for December 25. How wonderful it is that as Christians, we do not liturgically celebrate Christmas until December 25 and after, giving us the opportunity to focus our attention on the true meaning of the season! Of course there will also be opportunities to have fun as well our Polar Express night this Friday, making ornaments for our Christmas Tree in the lobby, and making Christmas crafts as well. 

Please see below some upcoming news for the next three 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.

Polar Express: We are so excited to 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)

SFDS Family Mass: Just a reminder that this Sunday St. Francis de Sales parish has their monthly family mass at 10am. What a wonderful way to kick off the Advent season! This will be followed by a reception in the gym with Cookies with Santa. 

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. 

Student Illness: As the colder weather begins, we see more and more children who become ill. A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. If your child is ill, before sending them back to school please clear it with your child's pediatrician. Please call the school's nurse or main office if you have any questions or concerns.

$25,000 Raffle: This 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.  100 Boxes were sold at $500 each with half going to the Academy and the other half in 5 prize denominations: $15,000, $5000, $2500, $1500, $1000. Thanks again to all who continue to support our academy.

Sibling Registration Intent Form: Our school year is rapidly moving along. We can hardly believe that Christmas is almost here. As we begin to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, we want to ensure that our plans maximize the benefit to your child/children. We have just completed a period in which our current Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten families filled out a letter of intent for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes for next school year.

We ask that if you have any sibling (brother or sister) of a current student here at St. Francis who plans on attending St. Francis in 2024 as a new Nursery, Pre-K, Kindergarten or Grade 1-7 student please complete the form below by Monday, December 18th. After that, we will be opening registration to the public in the Winter of 2024 (If space allows)

https://forms.gle/gho3LJmgiSB5pavx6

Please note we anticipate having waiting lists in many grades for next year. This intent form is for planning purposes only and does not guarantee your registration for the 2024-2025 school year. 

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 your child signed up for this event they will not be dismissed at 2:30pm. Our 4th grade students have to be picked up at 3:30pm, while our 5th grade students have the option to walk home. If your child is staying we please ask they commit to the entire session as it becomes very difficult to manage students leaving early. Thanks in advance for your cooperation. 

Baya Bar/Panino Rustico Special Lunch: We are happy to announce that due to the success of the Bay Bar/Panino Rustico Special Lunch day in November we have decided to add a monthly day to our calendar in January until May (similar to chicken finger day). A form will go out next week to those families in Grades 1-8 who would like to participate. 

We are looking for a parent volunteer to chair this lunch day. Anyone who is interested please email Lisa Hayden at [email protected]

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.  

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. 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. 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

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 weekend!