Dear Academy Community, 

We hope this correspondence finds you well and ready to tackle the second half of the school year. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and want to wish all a Happy New Year! We look forward to 2024 and all that it brings us. 

Onto the short first week of the 2024 year……

Chocolate Bar Sale: Our school will be conducting a fund-raising candy sale during the month of January. We will be selling World's Finest Chocolate Products - truly delicious chocolates that have been sold for years by schools and organizations.

This year we are hoping for All Families to assist with this sale in order to make it as successful as possible. If all 380 Families sell 1 box of chocolate, we will earn a profit of over $11,000.00. 

During the week of January 3rd  your oldest child will be given a box of chocolate to take home. If you cannot support us in the sale, please fill out the google form that can be found by clicking here on or before January 2nd.

If you would like to request more than one box please also use the google form  that can be found by clicking here. 

All Students of families selling a box of Chocolate will receive a dress down ticket to use on a day of their choice in February or March. 

Christmas Card Collection: When we return from Christmas break St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy  will be collecting old Christmas Cards for Saint Judes Children’s Hospital. There will be a box outside the main office for children to drop off any front of the cards which are then sent to Saint Judes Children’s Hospital  and they use them for their own arts and crafts projects.  (No Picture Cards).  Please note it is not only for Christmas cards but for all occasion cards.  We will be taking cards until Tuesday January 9 2024. 

Graduation and Makeup Pictures: On Tuesday, January 9th, the 8th grade will be taking their individual graduation pictures. All 8th grade students are to be in full winter uniform.  Graduation gowns and mortarboards are provided by the company. Our gentlemen need to bring a white, button down dress shirt.  A tie is not necessary.  (The shirt may be brought on a hanger). 

Also if your child in Nursery-Grade 7 was absent on the original picture day, please know your child can dress up or wear their uniform for their makeup picture on January 9th.

Junior High Math Bee: Congratulations to our classroom Math Bee winners from grades 6-8! The parents of each of the following classroom winners are invited to watch our school-wide Math Bee on Friday January 5th at 1pm. 

6th Grade: Dakota Duffy, Fionnuala Fitzgerald, Kevin Heegan Molly Grace, Colin Mundy and Dylan Nowak

7th Grade:  Brianne Layden, Niamh Mullen, Makayla Tellone, Olivia Coursey, Madeline Forrester and Preston Howard

8th Grade: Lucas Allen, Matthew Mandala, Daniel McLoughlin, Kathleen Heegan, Joseph Keenan, Jack O’Grady, Hank Brucella, Mary Shaw,  and Jack Hayes

Last Call for 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 no later then January 2nd. 

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. 

Parent/Student Traffic Safety: Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Academy urges you to support our priority of student and traffic safety around our school. Safe driving around the school improves the safety for all children, including yours. Please consider the following tips:  

1. Please drive slowly around Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Academy while children are present.  

2. U-turns and K-turns increase the likelihood a child may get struck and significantly disrupt the orderly flow of traffic. They should be avoided, especially when children are present. 

3. Drivers must STOP for pedestrians crossing at a marked crosswalk.

4. Pedestrians must use marked crosswalks to cross the street. Never leave your car unattended.   

5. Do not block crosswalks, driveways, or fire hydrants.   

6. Be courteous to fellow parents and neighbors.  

7. Remain alert and encourage others to follow these safe driving tips. 

Thank you in advance for your help with improving the safety of your children.

Chess Nuts, Abrakadoodle Art, and Paul Effman Band Enrichment Programs: In the next two weeks we will be sending home flyers with information on how to register for the Winter/Spring Semesters for our Chess Nuts (Dates listed on School Calendar) and Abrakadoodle Art programs (Dates TBD). Any questions please contact the main office at 718-634-2775.

Just a reminder that Paul Effman Band Lessons begin again on Tuesday January 16th 2024. There is no band lesson on Tuesday January 9th. 

Re-Registration 2024-2025: Over the next two weeks we will be sending out instructions to re-register for the 2024-2025 school year. All re-registration forms  will be done via the FACTS Family Portal. Please note that all re-registration fees ($200 re-registration fee) will be added to your FACTS account. At that time you will have the option of paying through your checking account or being invoiced. Please note that all fees are non-refundable. 

Please note for your re-registration to be complete you must fill out the form and pay the registration fee no later than 2/25/24 and be up to date on all tuition payments for the 2023-2024 school year. We do expect to have a waiting list in many grade levels once we open registration and cannot hold a seat unless your re-registration is complete. If there are any financial issues please let the school administration know as soon as possible. 

Please note that all families that have a sibling (brother/sister) and filled out the intent form to register for the next school year will be receiving an email prior to 2/5/24 (if space allows) with a link to the registration portal for the 2024-2025 school year which officially opens on 2/9/24. 

SAVE THE DATES

1/9/24: Class of 2024 Dinner Dance Meeting  at 7pm

1/10/24:  Catholic High Schools Mail Acceptance Notifications

1/11/24: ½ day with a 12 noon dismissal 

1/12/24 (PD Day): Just a reminder that when we return from Christmas Recess our students have a 4 day weekend that gets kicked off on Friday 1/12 as the faculty participates in a Diocesan-wide professional development day that is then followed by Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday 1/15.  

Have a Happy New Year! We will see everyone on the 3rd.