Dear Academy Families, 

“And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier’s tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.”

— Joseph Rodman Drake, To the Defenders of New Orleans

Memorial Day has come to signify the start of summer for many Americans and is often celebrated with cookouts, family get-togethers, road races, and concerts. But the real meaning of Memorial Day has, for too many Americans, gotten lost in holiday hoopla. Memorial Day was created as an occasion to honor those who have paid the ultimate price to ensure our freedom. It is our opportunity to stop and give thanks for the many who have died protecting that freedom. Let us this weekend keep all those who have died for this country in our prayers. 

Please join the Academy community this Monday, May 29th, as we march in the Memorial Day Parade. St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy will be marching in the parade at 11:30 am in the morning following the Memorial Day Mass at 10:30 am. The parade starts right here on 129th Street.  We would love to see everyone come out for this special event. All students are encouraged to wear their uniform on this day. We will be marching to 121st Street. 

We also ask all in our school community to continue to pray for Tess Kuhlmann from the Class of 2022. Tess is healing every day, yet she still needs our prayers. Please note that the Rosary is prayed every Monday at 7 pm in the church or the Grotto. All are welcome to attend. 

Our NJHS would like to sponsor a Dress Down Day for a $1 next Thursday, 6/1, to help raise money for a Gas Card for the Kuhlmann family, as they will need to travel back and forth from Rockaway to the hospital over the next few months. Students are asked to wear Blue and Gold, our school colors. Thanks so much for your generosity. 

Onto to some important updates for our school for the Week of May 29, 2023  

Class of 2024 Ring/Pin Service: The Class of 2024 (7th graders) will receive their class rings and pins in St. Francis de Sales Church on Tuesday, May 30th, at 7 pm. A small reception will follow in the Gym. All 7th graders are asked to report to the Gym at 6:45 pm.  

Art Night: Please join us on Wednesday, May 31st at 5 pm for our annual Art Show! Mrs. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Todd, and our students have worked tirelessly in preparation for a truly superb art gallery display. We hope to see many of you there. To get a sneak peek of some of our student's artwork, please follow our artists on Instagram at (sfds_art)

Early Childhood Information Nights: On Monday, June 5th at 6 pm, we will host a Pre-K information night.  On Wednesday, June 7th at 6 pm, we invite our incoming Kindergarten parents to join us for the Kindergarten Information Night. On Monday, June 12th at 6pm, we will be hosting a Nursery information night. On these evenings, the early childhood teachers will share all the details of what is in store for children entering their early childhood years. Parents will be receiving supply lists and summer ideas during this meeting. We hope to see everyone there. 

Writing Benchmarks for the 2023-2024 School Year: In the Spring of 2022, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy began to work on DeSales115, the Strategic Plan for the Academy. The strategic plan focused on six domains.  

After much research and discussion, a school-wide writing curriculum was created.

The writing benchmarks are broken down from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, where each year scaffolds and builds on the previous year. Please click the link below to view the individual grade benchmarks. 

Writing Benchmarks

In addition, to the writing benchmarks, St. Francis de Sales will adopt a writing portfolio system for grades kindergarten through eighth.  We are very proud of the work that has been done and look forward to our students growing as readers and writers. 

I-Ready Exams: All students in Kindergarten-7th grade will be taking the third round of the diagnostic test starting on Thursday, May 25th, and continuing into next week. Students will complete both the i-Ready Math and Reading Diagnostic. This will be the third and final time that the students are taking the diagnostic test, and we look forward to sharing their results and your child’s growth with you once we have completed the test for all students. 

5th- 8th Grade Finals: This is a reminder to the Class of 2023 that Finals began this week for Grade 8. Please be sure that the 8th-grade students put in the effort needed to do well on these exams.  On Tuesday, June 6th, finals begin for Grades 5-7. Please be sure that students in 5th-7th grade do not wait until the night before to begin to study for these exams.

2023-2024 Calendar: A tentative calendar for the next school year has been posted to our website. As always, the calendar is subject to change if necessary. Please check periodically for more details about next year’s school events over the next few weeks. 

Special Lunches Coming to an End: Next week (5/30 and 5/31) is our last Chicken Finger days of the school year for Grades 1-8. Next Friday, 6/2, is the last pizza day for Grades 7 and 8.  Monday, 6/5, is the last bagel day for Grades K-8. Thursday, 6/8 is the last Pizza Day for K-4, and Friday, 6/16 will be the last Pizza Day for Grades 5-6

We look forward to continuing our Bagel Mondays, our Pizza Thursdays/Fridays, and our monthly chicken finger days next school year. Stay tuned this summer for more information. 

Upcoming Uniform Swap:

Last Call for Spiritwear: Show support for the Academy by purchasing SFDS Spiritwear! See the form below.  Billing will be done via FACTS. Orders will be fulfilled as forms are received. Please note, quantities are limited. 

Spirtwear Order Form

SAVE THE DATE 

Spring Concert: Members of the Paul Effman Band, please save the date! Tuesday, June 6th at 7pm is our annual St Francis de Sales School Band Spring Concert.

1/2 Day Dismissal: Friday, June 9th is a half-day. Please remember that dismissal is at 12 pm and there is no after-school program on half days. 

8th Grade Graduation Mass: On Friday, June 9th, the 8th grade will kick off their graduation exercises with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 6 pm, followed by their Dinner Dance.  A separate email was also sent to 8th-grade families with all the final details.  Please feel free to be in touch with any questions. 

Step Ups Ceremonies: Parents of our Early Childhood students, please note the day, time, and location of your child’s step-up up below. Any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. 

Nursery AM: Wednesday, June 14th at 8:30 am in the Small Hall

Nursery PM: Wednesday, June 14th at 11:30 am in the Small Hall

Pre-K: Wednesday, June 14th at 10am in the Gym

Kindergarten: Thursday, June 15th at 10am in the Gym

Last Day of School: The Last Day of School will be Thursday, June 22nd. We will celebrate an End of the School Year Mass at 10am, followed by  11am dismissal. All Report Cards will be posted via Email at 11am for Grades 1-7. Any issues, please get in touch with your child’s teacher using their email address by Friday, June 23rd. 

Catholic Schools Night with the Brooklyn Cyclones: On Wednesday, June 28th St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy is hosting a "School Spirit Night" at Maimonides Park during the Brooklyn Cyclones game. The Brooklyn Cyclones are scheduled to take on the Jersey Shore Blue Claws that evening. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM first pitch and the front gates will open to the public around 6:00 PM. Pregame activities include the priests taking on the principals in the Collars vs Scholars softball game. There will also be a ceremony celebrating the Valedictorians and Salutatorians from Catholic schools throughout the diocese.

Students, faculty, staff, family, and friends from St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy are invited to take part in this School Spirit Night!

Tickets are only $15 EACH!  Also, as part of the Brooklyn Cyclones Catholic Schools Night, there's a $20 Ticket Option that includes a DEACON MAC BOBBLEHEAD!

To buy tickets, please click the link below

Cyclones Ticket Order Form

Here are some more things to look forward to when you show up to the ballpark for the game:

KIDS EAT FREE WEDNESDAY!

-Kids 14 & Under will get to eat for FREE. Upon entry, with a paid ticket, children will receive a voucher for HOT DOG, CHIPS, and FOUNTAIN DRINK!

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Helen Endall at (718)634-2775 via email at [email protected]