SFCS Weekly Howl - 5.6.24

Happy Monday!

Today kicks off our Spring MAP Testing for grades Kindergarten through 8th. Please be sure your student gets a good night's rest and breakfast to fuel their brain. Testing will last a couple of weeks with makeup testing during the last week of school if necessary.

This week we also celebrate the school's greatest resource, our teachers! Thank you to the FSA for coordinating a very special week to honor our faculty and staff.

On Thursday we will celebrate our athletes during the Athletic Awards Night. All students who participated in team sports during this academic year are invited to attend. An email was sent out with details on this event. If you did not receive the communication, please contact Jennifer Kelly in the School Office. Students should wear their uniform or for guys, a nice shirt and pants, or a dress for girls, to this evening event.

Only three weeks left until our 2023.24 academic year comes to a close. Where in the world did the time go? Yearbooks will be distributed beginning next week during lunch periods, to those students who ordered one. We will have a few extra yearbooks for purchase if you missed the opportunity to buy one. Yearbooks are $20 each and are a wonderful way to review the year captured through pictures.

On Friday, we will pray our last school community Rosary for the year. Please join us from your home at 8:15 a.m., as we lift up our 8th grade class as prospective graduates.

Wishing you a fabulous week ahead!

Blessings,

Andrea

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Principal

**FOR INFORMATION ON ATHLETICS, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE ATHLETICS SECTION. **

May 6 - 24 - Spring MAP Testing Window - Grades K - 8th

May 6 - 10 - Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7 - Bake Club

May 8 - 2nd Grade Play

Beta Club - End of Year Celebration

May 9 - 3rd Grade Field Trip

Athletic Award Presentation

May 10 - Schoolwide Rosary

May 13 - Yearbook Distribution

May 14 - Last Bake Club

May 15 - May Crowning

May 19 - School Family Mass - St. Francis By the Sea Catholic Church

8th Grade Confirmation - Holy Family

May 20 - 5th Grade Play

May 21 - Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony

8th Grade Graduation Practice

May 22 - 8th Grade Last Day

8th Grade Graduation Practice

4Q Academic Awards Presentation

8th Grade Send Off

8th Grade Cap and Gown Distributed

May 23 - Talent Show

May 24 - Last Day of School - Noon Dismissal

Move up Day - Grades PreK - 7th

8th Grade Mass and Graduation Ceremony

Please be sure to check your closets and drawers for missing items. Our lost and found pile is growing! Any items not picked up by the end of the month will be donated or thrown away. Thank you!

Congratulations to Michael B. for being honored this past week by the Hilton Head Island Rotary Club as Student of the Year at a special luncheon! Michael was nominated and voted as Student of the Year by the SFCS Faculty and Staff. Congratulations to Michael for a well-deserved honor!

While we continue to accept applications for enrollment and re-enrollment, we are now reaching waitlist status in some classes. Please contact the school office for more information. (843) 681-6501.

The students, faculty and staff will participate in our final schoolwide Rosary for this academic year on May 10. We will be praying for our 8th grade prospective graduates. Please join us at 8:15 a.m. from your home as we pray together.

Beginning the week of June 3 through August 2 the School Office will have the following summer schedule:

Monday and Friday - Closed

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Should you need special assistance outside of these hours, please call the School Office

(843) 681-6501 to arrange an appointment.

May 19, 2024

First Holy Communion was celebrated by Fr. Mike Oenbrink on May 5 at St. Francis By the Sea Catholic Church. It was a beautiful Mass and very special occasion. Thank you to Mrs. Karlya Gaherty, Mrs. Barbara Gloven, Mrs. Natalie Schoeppe, and Mrs. Mitzi Weaver, for leading the students through the yearlong preparations for receiving this beautiful Sacrament.

Thank you to our wonderful SFCS faculty and staff!

Stop by the Spirit Shop to get your Bundle today! Each Bundle contains a SFCS Holy Bear, a Tiny Saint Rosary, and a St. Francis of Assisi Tiny Saint charm.

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!

During the month of May, PreK will learn about all things "under the sea". This past week they focused on jellyfish and starfish!

The First-Grade class learned about the phases of the moon through a hands-on activity using Oreo cookies. (They did eat the cookies after the lab.) 😀

The First-Grade enjoyed lunch outside on one of the beautiful days we had this past week.

Most of the Second-Grade class participated in the First Holy Communion Mass on Sunday. Please see the special feature on First Holy Communion under the "Mass Celebrations" feature above.

Our 7th Grade students participated in an outdoor learning experience while kayaking on the Broad Creek waterway. Students saw dolphins, manatees, and other marine and wildlife. They learned about the importance of oysters as a natural filtration system, the tides, salt marshes, and more, while enjoying an unconventional classroom experience. Just another wonderful benefit of attending St. Francis Catholic School on Hilton Head Island!

The students in Spanish class celebrated Cinco de Mayo on Thursday! They learned what Cinco de Mayo is all about in the Hispanic culture. Students snacked on chips and salsa, queso, and Spanish cookies. They also learned the basic Salsa dance steps. Ole!

This past week students participated in a baseball unit during PE. Students practiced hand eye coordination, throwing and catching, teamwork, learned the rules of baseball, proper stance for hitting the ball and weight training. PreK - 2nd played a game of whiffle ball! It was a fun unit!!

There was fun and excitement for the Middle School Houses as they participated in their last athletic competition for the 2023.24 academic year. The 7th graders were also able to join in the dodgeball competition after returning just in time for the from their field trip! There is one final religion competition to go on May 9. Which House will win the House Trophy Cup? Find out at our Q4 Awards Presentation on May 22!

The Beta Club will have an end of year celebration during Middle School lunch on Wednesday,

May 8.

Join us as we celebrate our athletes at the Athletic Award Night on May 9th. Information about this event has been communicated via email. If you have a student who has participated on a SFCS team during the 2023.24 academic year and have not received communication about the Athletic Award Night, please contact Jennifer Kelly in the School Office.

We were grateful to reintroduce baseball to our athletic program this spring. Thank you to Coaches Ammerman, Carstens, and Szypczak, for leading the way for our middle school boys!

Another wonderful season for the SFCS Riding Team. Thank you to Coach Richardson to helping the team to learn and grow in this sport!

The SFCS Golf Team played its final match last week. Thank you, Coaches O'Rourke and Tylus, for your time and wisdom shared with leading the team for a second year in a row!

The Girls' Soccer team ended their season last Wednesday with a loss against Coastal Homeschool. The Lady Wolves played with excellence this spring and we are proud of these girls. Congratulations on a wonderful season! Thank you to Coaches Keefer and Schoeppe for your leadership!

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.

As Disciples of Jesus, each of us is given gifts we are called to use to build his Kingdom. On this retreat in preparation for Pentecost, we will identify which gifts we have received, and we will discern together how to best put our gifts to work. Has God given you the gift of Encouragement? Leadership? Service? Mercy? Writing? Come and learn with your fellow parishioners!

Friday, May 10, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Lunch and Mass are included!

$20 donation suggested, please pay by check to the parish office or drop it in the box in the church narthex.

The Flocknote signup (for the Flocknote version of this) is: https://stfrancisbytheseacatholi.flocknote.com/signup/163139

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