SFCS Weekly Howl - 1.29.24

Happy Catholic Schools Week!

It is a privilege to have your child(ren) at SFCS. Thank you for sharing your most treasured gift(s) with the faculty and staff at St. Francis Catholic School. The 2024 theme for CSW is "Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community". This week we are focusing on different themes each day, which highlight the value Catholic education provides to our children and the contributions to our church, community, and nation. Your children are not only gifts to the St. Francis community, but also to our nation. The National Catholic Educational Association cites the average cost for a public-school education is $14,330. Catholic Schools provide a $24.3 billion in savings each year for our country. We are glad you have invested in our Catholic school for your child(ren), allowing us to provide an exceptional education with excellent standards, faith formation, and creative opportunities.

We are thrilled to celebrate this week, all who make SFCS a wonderful Catholic school. Please refer to the Catholic Schools Week feature below which highlights the theme we will focus on daily. This morning, we opened our week with students, faculty, and staff praying the Rosary as a community. Our prayers were lifted in support of life of the unborn child and the Pregnancy Center.

On Thursday we will have our long awaited "House Reveal" in an afternoon assembly. I know our middle school students are excited and we are too!

Here's to a wonderful week ahead!

Blessings,

Andrea

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Principal

Effective Monday, January 29, we will have a new traffic pattern for morning student drop off (all grades) and dismissal (grades 3rd - 8th only). Our school road to Hospital Blvd will become a one way exit only. This change is necessary out of concern for safety, as we have witnessed many close calls due to congestion and confusion when cars are driving in from both Beach City Road and Hospital Drive, then meeting to turn onto School Loop Drive. This change will be in affect during the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 7:55 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday when school is in session.

In the morning, all cars should enter the School/Church parking lot from Beach City Road, snake around the parking lot (when necessary) and then approach the School Loop Drive for drop off. For afternoon pick up, only grades 3rd - 8th are affected as those students are picked up on School Loop Drive.

Please make every effort to drop your student(s) off in the morning, no later than 7:55 a.m. After 7:55 a.m., they will be considered tardy. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated as we continue to keep our students and campus safe and preserve instructional time with minimal disruptions.

Don't forget to order your student's 2023.24 yearbook! The cost of the yearbook without personalization is $20. To purchase, visit this link: Balfour and follow these steps:

1. Once you click on the link, go to Yearbooks

2. Buy your yearbooks

3. Enter the school - "St Francis Catholic School"

4. Click on our school

5. Enter your child's name and grade

6. Choose your package

7. Then click "Get Started"

8. Complete the teacher's name or homeroom teacher's name

9. Customize your yearbook by selecting icons, if you choose, this is optional.

10. Add to Cart and pay by credit card

Please contact the School Office with any questions.

It's time again to check your mudrooms, closets, and cupboards for missing items, because chances are we have them waiting for you. Water bottles, headbands, uniform pieces, and more are accumulating in our Lost and Found pile! Please stop by the School Office to claim what is yours. At the end of the month all items will be donated or disposed.

**FOR INFORMATION ON ATHLETICS, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE ATHLETICS SECTION. Due to changes impacting practice or competitions that may occur, please be sure you follow the email communication you receive from the coaches. That information will be the most current. **

January 28 - February 3 - Catholic Schools Week (See CSW feature below)

January 29 - All School Rosary (See Rosary feature below)

January 30 - Bake Club - 3:15 p.m.

February 1 - Middle School House Reveals - 2:15 p.m.

February 5 - 23 - Winter MAP Testing (grades K - 8th)

February 6 - Bake Club - 3:15 p.m.

February 9 - Valentine's Day Dress Up

Middle School Dance

February 13 - Bake Club - 3:15 p.m.

February 14 - Ash Wednesday

February 15 - 5th Grade Field Trip

February 16 - Faculty PD - Students Asynchronous Learning Day

February 19 - Presidents' Day - No School

February 21 - First Reconciliation - 2nd Grade

February 23 - 25 - Diocesan Basketball Tournament

The sign up for Summer Camp 2024 has been included in re-enrollment packets. Summer Camp will be is open for students who will be in the 2nd - 8th grades during the 2024.25 academic year. If you need another Summer Camp registration, please contact the School Office.

One addition to our weeklong celebration of Catholic Schools Week, will be on Friday. A group of moms will be hosting an ice cream party during all lunch periods for the students, faculty and staff. Thank you to our generous moms of SFCS! 💙🤍💛

We are busy preparing for the reveal of the Middle School houses, which is scheduled for February 1, during Catholic Schools Week. The students have been working hard during the first semester researching, planning, designing, learning, and making decisions on their house name, colors, motto, crest design, cheer, dance, etc. We are looking forward to a wonderful celebration! Middle School parents are invited to attend this afternoon assembly.

Re-enrollment packets went home with your youngest child. We are anticipating some classes to fill up so please get your re-enrollment forms and deposit in early to secure your student's place. Please note the re-enrollment fee includes a partial tuition deposit. Please contact the School Office for more information. Enrollment for new families will begin on March 1.

Please check back for information on a prep meeting, coming soon.

We would love to have you serve as an usher/greeter at our Weekly School Mass,. We have two slots available each week. Please click on the link below to reserve your date/time for the remaining school year during January - May 2024. We are grateful for your gift of time.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA4AC2BA3FACE9-46679241-weekly

February 18, 2024

March 17, 2024

April 21, 2024

May 19, 2024

Are you new to SFCS or have free time and are searching for ways to get involved at SFCS? There are many opportunities for parents to get involved at our school. Opportunities to consider are:

• FSA (meetings, committees, events, Spirit Store)
• In individual classrooms (reading, tutoring, etc.)
• During lunch
• Athletics and athletic events (Coaching, concessions, gate admissions, etc.)
• Weekly School Mass Greeter
• School events (i.e. Middle School Dance planning and decorating, Advent Concert, field trips, International Day - Salute to America Show, 8th Grade graduation)
• Fundraising efforts (Pottery Jam, FSA sponsored Gala, Athletics)
• Uniform Closet
• Summer - distribution of classroom materials and supplies

Contact Mrs. Smith for more information (andrea.smith@sfcshhi.com). All parents must go through a background clearance through the Diocese of Charleston. Please contact the School Office for information on the background screening process. Together we can make a difference!

What a terrific event the SFCS Gala 2024 - A Night in the Emerald City was! Thank you to Rileigh Knight and Heather Quinn - Gala Co-Chairs and their committee, for organizing a beautiful and fun evening! Thank you to our sponsors, and all who participated in the live and silent auctions!

Come check out the merchandise in our SFCS Spirit Store!

Debit and credit cards are accepted as well as checks made out to SFCS.

Please let the School Office know if you'd like to stop by the Spirit Store to shop.

The Island Discount Card provides discounts at a variety of businesses on the Island. Each card is $25 or buy four get one free. Cards may be purchased from the School Office by check made out to SFCS or online through Hometown Ticketing. To purchase online, please click here SFCS ISLAND DISCOUNT CARDS. There is a small surcharge for processing when purchasing online. Thank you for supporting SFCS through the purchase of an Island Discount Card!

100th Day!

100th Day! Students in 5th grade made posters showcasing 100 objects in creative ways.

Students continue to learn and practice their skills in the "basketball" unit during PE class.

Get ready for the big reveal! House names, colors, crests, and more will be revealed on Thursday, February 1, during an afternoon assembly.

It is time for spring sign up for the SFCS Equestrian Show Team. Please see flyer below.

We continue to work on the details and organizing a team for SFCS. More information on SFCS baseball will be announced soon!

**Please be sure to check your email for the most up to date information on practices and competitions.**

Basketball practice and playing schedule for the week of 1/29:

Monday, Jan. 29 - Home basketball games vs. Beaufort Academy -

Varsity Girls at 4:00 p.m.

Junior Varsity Boys at 5:00 p.m.

Varsity Boys at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 30 - Home basketball games vs. St. Gregory -

Junior Varsity Girls at 4:00 p.m.

Junior Varsity Boys at 5:00 p.m.

Away basketball game at Coastal Homeschool

Boys' Varsity at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 31 - Away Basketball games at Hilton Head Prep -

Junior Varsity Girls at 4:00 p.m.

Junior Varsity Boys at 5:00 p.m.

Varsity Girls at 6:00 p.m.

Practice

Varsity Boys' - 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 1 - Home basketball games vs. Low Country Montessori -

Varsity Girls at 4:00 p.m.

Varsity Boys at 5:00 p.m.

Practice

Junior Varsity Boys' - 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 2 - Practice

Junior Varsity Girls' - 3:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Week 3 of Winter Basketball Camp!

Please follow email communication from the Cheer coaches for the most up-to-date information.

Cheer Game Schedule - 2024

February 1st (Thursday) 4pm (K&1st) and 5pm (2nd- 4th)

February 8th (Thursday) 4pm (K&1st) and 5pm (2nd- 4th)SENIOR NIGHT

Go Wolves!

Thank you to our Athletic Sponsors for the 2023.24 academic year. We are grateful for your support!

Do you have any news about alumni from SFCS? If so, please contact Andrea Smith (andrea.smith@sfcshhi.com) with information to share. Please include the year of SFCS graduation.

St. Francis Catholic School, a ministry of St. Francis By the Sea Catholic Church, partners with several of the Parish ministries. Please refer to this section of the Weekly Howl for information and events of those ministries who have a partnership with our school.

Make plans for the annual Women of St. Francis' Soup for Scholarships event on February 20! This is a well-attended and enjoyable event so get your tickets early. Tickets will go on sale after all Masses on February 10th and 11th, as well as February 17th and 18th.

The St. Francis Thrift Shop is looking for volunteers to work in the store. Any amount of time you can give the SF Thrift Shop will fit your availability into a schedule. Interested volunteers should contact Eleanor Bell, Embell31@outlook.com.

Email: school@sfcshhi.com
Website: sfcshhi.com
Location: 45 Beach City Rd, HHI, SC 29926
Phone: 843-681-6501
Facebook: facebook.com/sfcshhi