Dear Academy Families,

October 4th is the feast day of Saint Francis Assisi.  Saint Francis is remembered as the patron saint of animals and the environment.  Saint Francis of Assisi chose a life of poverty, prayer, and peacemaking.  He cared for the poor, the sick, and all creation, and founded the Franciscan order. It is customary on the feast day of Saint Francis to bless the animals, in remembrance of his love for all creatures, great and small.   All are welcome to join the Saint Francis de Sales and Blessed Trinity Parish communities in the blessing of the animals on Tuesday 10/4 at 4 pm at St. Francis Parish (Prayer Garden), and 6:30 pm at St. Thomas More Church and Father Hession Hall. Feel free to bring your pets for a special blessing. 

Please see below for updates on the upcoming weeks here at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy.  

Franny Fun Run Sponsorship/Pledge: The Academy Family Association is proud to announce sponsorship opportunities for the third annual 2022 Franny Fun Run/Walk scheduled for Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.  The run/walk will take place on Rockaway Beach Boulevard from Beach 129th to Beach 139th Street and back.  

This event is the first major Academy fundraising event of the 2022/2023 Academic Year.  All proceeds from event sponsorships will go towards the “Cool the School” project so that we can continue to install air conditioning units in the remaining classrooms. 

Click the link below for a listing and description of the sponsorship opportunities available.  As you will see, there are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities at each tier.  Sponsorships are available on a first come first served basis. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiTAdDO7D1LAkR-D9RAa_5NnJmWkfw61G2TLLEpHHIQcHjbA/viewform

We ask you to join us in supporting our 3rd Annual Franny Fun Run/Walk Fundraiser to help us achieve our goal of school-wide air conditioning (We are now more than ½ way there!) We hope you can help, volunteer, and enjoy this wonderful school event!  Our challenge of $60,000 in donations is attainable if everyone can do their part. All students who meet their $60 goal by Thursday 10/27 will be able to participate and receive a T-Shirt to wear during the Run/Walk on 10/29 and will receive a Dress Down ticket to be used during the months of November or December.

• Step 1 – on Monday, October 3rd our families will receive an email providing a link to your family’s web-based donation page. This year we will be doing family based pages which is a change to the past when we did individual student pages. This will hopefully make it easier for families to share their pages on social media.  
• Step 2 – Share your donation page via Facebook, Twitter, and Social Media. Also, use the email and text link on the invite and reach out to as many family and St. Francis De Sales Catholic Academy friends requesting their support.   Donations are made via a secure credit card site. We will continue to accept cash or checks, send them to school in an envelope, Attn: Franny Fun Run.  Please include the family’s name along with the donor’s name and if available email.
• Step 3 – check-in often and follow SFDS and your child’s progress as we strive to reach and surpass our goal of $60,000!
• Reach out again as a reminder to family and friends

$1 Dress Down: On Wednesday, October 5th students may bring in at least $1 to dress down and wear Blue and Gold for Down Syndrome Awareness. All money raised will go to St. Camillus Special Olympics. They will be using the money raised to help pay to take the athletes to a St. John’s University basketball game, where they will watch the game and then be able to play on the court at halftime. They are all very excited about this trip. Thanks for your support.  

Upcoming ½ Day: For planning purposes, Friday 10/7 will be a half day with 12-noon dismissal for all students due to our afternoon faculty meeting. Another reminder that school is also closed on Monday 10/10 for Columbus Day. 

Family Mass Re-Schedule: Due to a scheduling conflict the Family Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish for the Kindergarten families has been postponed until Sunday 10/16 at 10 am. 

FACTS Gradebook: As we finish the 1st month of the school year please if you haven’t already, log on to the parent portal of FACTS to check on how your child is progressing this year. This is a great way to see if your child is missing any assignments. You should have already received usernames and passwords. Please contact the main office via email at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

Yearbook Order Form: 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 to your FACTS account during the month of November. 

Payment is expected within 20 days of posting.

The completed form(s) is due by Tuesday, November 1st. We have to send in our yearly order soon so there will be no orders accepted after this date.

The yearbook is a nice way to remember the school year since each class has an individual page.

Lockdown Drill: This week we will be having our second lockdown drill of the school year.  Please have a conversation with your children on the importance and reason for these important drills.

Absent Notes: As the school year moves forward many times a child may be absent from school for various reasons. Please remember that when a child has been absent, a written excuse is required from his or her parents/legal guardians. Without this written notice, your child’s absence will be recorded absent without a note on our attendance record. Also, please remember that if your child tests positive for COVID-19 you are still asked to report the case to the main office by phone call or using the following form. 

Enrichment Programs Starting: Just a reminder that many of our enrichment programs will begin over the next few weeks.  Paul Effman Band on October 11th, Mad Science on October 12th, Crayola World of Design on October 13th, and Abrakoddle Art on October 17th. 

For more information about any of our enrichment programs please click here. If you have any questions, please send an email to Mrs. Endall at [email protected].

Upcoming Confirmation Practices: For those students receiving the sacrament of Confirmation at St. Francis on 10/20 there are mandatory practices later this month. For those students receiving at the 1 pm ceremony, their Confirmation practice is on Monday 10/17 at 6:30 pm. For those students receiving at the 4 pm ceremony, their Confirmation practice is on Tuesday 10/18 at 6:30 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Greene. 

8th Grade High School Information: Just a quick reminder for our 8th-grade families that high school information is being updated regularly on our website.  Many schools are advertising open houses that will occur during the month of October and some this weekend. Please make sure you are checking the “TACHS Exam and high school information”

Also yesterday the academy pushed the extension “Proctorio” on all school devices. Just a reminder this extension is needed to take the TACHS exam. Please begin to have a discussion with your child this weekend of what device he or she will use for the TACHS exam next month. Please note that the device must meet certain requirements and have a working microphone and camera.

VIRTUS Training: St. Francis de Sales will be hosting another VIRTUS training session onsite on Monday 10/24 at 7pm. This session will take place in the Small Hall. You can sign up for The 10/24 session or any session in the Diocese of Brooklyn by clicking here. 

Fundraising Corner

Fall Plant Sale: We are partnering up with Shannon’s Florist in Brooklyn to have a Fall Mum, Cabbage, Corn Stalk, and Hay Bale sale. Please click here for an order form. 

For each item pick a quantity even if it is zero. All order forms are due by Thursday, September 29th.  We need to have the order to the florist no later than Friday, September 30th.

You will be billed the amount you order through your FACTS account soon after.

The completed form is due by Thursday, September 29th.  

The items will be delivered to the school on Monday, October 3rd, and will be available to be picked up at dismissal on the 3rd.

Chicken Finger Days: We are happy to be partnering with Callie’s to bring back our monthly chicken finger days. These will take place at the end of the month on a Tuesday for grades 1-4 and on a Wednesday for Grades 5-8, starting in October. There will be 8 chicken finger days from October-May. 

Each student will receive chicken tenders and fries for $10 each. ($80 total for 8 chicken finger days.) 

NOTE:  Please fill out a SEPARATE order form (click link below) for each child.

After you submit your order you will be charged on your FACTS account. Please note that you will be billed once in October 2022 (50% of the invoice) and once in February 2023 (50% of the invoice).

Payment is expected within 20 days of posting.

The completed form(s) is due by Thursday, October 13th. 

No refunds will be issued if a child is absent.

Dates:

1st-4th Grades: 10/25, 11/29, 12/20, 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, 5/30

5th-8th Grades: 10/26, 11/30, 12/21, 2/1, 3/1, 3/29, 4/26, 5/31

https://forms.gle/bLFzxVybtainwr1y9

Football Frenzy: Football Frenzy is a fundraiser sponsored by St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. All proceeds directly support the activities of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. The fundraiser is based on the 2022-2023 NFL football season with a donation of $20 per ticket. Each ticket includes a different set of three NFL teams each week of the regular season, with a chance of winning cash prizes each week. For more information on this raffle please click here.

To order tickets for this raffle please click here. 

SAVE THE DATE

Terranovas: From October 12th– October 19th the Terra Nova assessment series will be administered to students in grades 3 through 8.  This assessment series is administered to all students attending Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese. The Terra Nova is designed to measure concepts, processes, and objectives taught throughout the nation.  Terra Nova results are used to: analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a student’s achievement in each content area; plan for further instruction; plan for curriculum development; and to report progress to parents.

Socktober: On Friday, 10/14 don’t forget to bring in $1 and wear CRAZY socks as we celebrate the last day of summer uniform. 

Just a reminder that Friday, October 14th, 2022 is the last day that students are allowed to wear their summer uniforms. Starting on Monday, October 17th students need to be in complete winter uniform. For the full uniform policy please click here. Please email Mrs. Hayes at [email protected] with any questions. 

Rosary Rally: Bishop Brennan has again asked that we join with other dioceses throughout the country by hosting a Rosary Rally.  Our school-wide Rosary Rally will be on Tuesday, October 18th at 1 pm.  Students in grades one through eight will be participating in this very special service. Students are asked to bring their rosary beads for this special service. 

Confirmation:  On Thursday, October 20th 2022, many members of St. Francis de Sales 8th Grade will be blessed by the Holy Spirit.  Due to the ceremony on 10/20 being at 1pm, the 8th Grade class is off on Thursday 10/20. The rest of the school has early dismissal at 12pm.

AFA Meeting: The Academy Family Association Executive Board is having its first general meeting on Tuesday 11/8 at 7pm in the gym. More information to follow in the coming weeks. 

Have a great weekend.