SFSS Family Newsletter
September 8th, 2023
First days of school are in the books!
We had a great start to the school year. I applaud the teachers and students in how well they did with the heat and humidity. Lots of learning happened as they persevered through the day.
We ended the week with Mass. It happened to be the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
One student came up to me after morning announcements and say: "Ms. Pohorence, we are going to celebrate the birth of Jesus and Christmas today".
Well, not quite. It's the best thing about going to a Catholic school because we get to learn together about the difference between the two Nativities. We actually celebrated the birth of Mary today. The readings sounded familiar to the Christmas story, but not what today was about. We believe in the special gift that Mary was to Saints Ann and Joachim and the whole world. Mary was chosen by God to be born without original sin and to be the mother of God. She is a great role model for all mothers and mothers at heart. She is a role model for all to say yes to God's plan for us.
There is so much we can learn from Mary's life and role in our faith. She was completely devoted to God. It's one of the greatest things about our school. We have an opportunity to teach students and their families to understand themselves and their connection to God more through the faith. We can rely on our faith to help students overcome personal challenges like anxiety or to help students understand kindness and love.
So this week was a beginning to helping your child move further along on their faith journey. We also invited parents to join us on this journey. Be sure to ask your child about religion class each day, ask about Mass, and you can help your child learn the prayers. Teachers will be more than happy to share a list of prayers taught in their grade. Thank you for saying yes to our school and coming with us on this journey.
We encourage students to wear their uniforms for this Mass. We are also looking for students to act as greeters, lectors, and those in grades 3-8 to be part of the choir. Please contact Ms. Pohorence if interested in greeting or being a lector. Contact Chris Sauter- Milligan (chris.sauter-milligan@dor.org) if interested in the choir.
If there is a group of parents interested in hosting a coffee and muffin hour after Mass, please contact Ms. Pohorence.
PTO Meeting Change
The PTO meeting on September 12th has been postponed. Stay tune for a new date.
America Reads
America Reads program will start Monday, September 11. The program runs 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm. Those participating in this semester's program have been sent a separate email as a reminder. Those not able to be part of this semester's program, will have an opportunity to sign up in January.
Library Books
Students in grades K - 8 had a chance to come to our new school library. (Pictures to come when the tables and chairs are in place.) Classes attend library every Friday.
Please note when your child brings a library book home, it will have a bar code with SFSS Geneva on top of the bar code label. During class today, students talk about how to find books in the library and how to care for these books.
Remind your child about the importance of caring for their library book and returning it in a timely fashion. Students will only take out a new book when they return the last book they borrowed. Student who damage or lose a book will be charged a replacement cost for the book through FACTS.
Support Our School!
Walk-a-thon
On Monday, families received the following email from 99Pledges:
You've been invited to participate in the 7th Annual SFSS Walk-a-thon for St. Francis- St. Stephen School.
Here's your page (SHARE this with others by email, text message, and Facebook!):
https://app.99pledges.com/fund/7thannuals
Your goal is $150.
Feel free to email suzanne.pohorence@dor.org with any questions.
Thanks so much for your support and good luck!
Ms. Suzanne Pohorence
St. Francis- St. Stephen School
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Our walk-a-thon is Friday, September 29 starting at 12:30 pm. Students will lap around the block celebrating our school.
Cash and check donations can be sent to the school for those not wanting to use the site. Keep spreading the word about our event. Every little bit helps us reach our overall fundraising goal.
Classes who reach their class fundraising goal ($150 x the number of students in the class) will earn a pizza and ice cream lunch.
Any student who reaches their fundraising goal will have a chance to win one of two gift cards.
We are looking for a few volunteers to seek out snack and water donations for the event.
Our Busy Classrooms
2nd grade in line to head to Mass.
3rd grade with Ms. Burke, our librarian, in our new library space.