The Voyager Voice

Dear Voyager Families,

As we end this week, let us lift up our prayers for the victims and their families in Georgia. In times like these, we are reminded of the importance of community and faith, as we seek understanding and hope.

I also want to take this opportunity to let you know that we conduct emergency drills throughout the school year. These drills are generally unannounced to ensure preparedness; however, next week we will be having a drill that will be announced in advance. Please take a moment to check your FACTS family portal to ensure that your emergency contact information is accurate and up-to-date.

Tomorrow is our first, First Friday Mass. This will be our first opportunity to celebrate Mass as a school community, led by Grade 8. Also, beginning tomorrow and after each First Friday Mass, I invite you to join Mrs. Bianchi and me in McShea Auditorium for coffee and refreshments.

I look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night next week. It's going to be a wonderful year, and I'm excited for all that's ahead!

God bless,

Mr. C. Kroekel

Principal

"It's a Great Day to be a Voyager!"

September-

Fri. 9/6 Early release at 11:00 a.m. (bring a snack)

Fri. 9/6 First Friday Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. Hosted by Grade 8

*Join Mr. Kroekel for Coffee and refreshments in McShea Hall after Mass.

Mon. 9/9 First full day of school/ Lunch service begins/phys. ed begins

Wed. 9/11 Back to School Night 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Thur. 9/12 Voyager Band Demonstration (in school) Paul Effman Music

Mon. 9/16 MAP Testing window opens

Wed. 9/18 Milk Delivery Begins (See below in Parent/Guardian Action Items for info)

Sun. 9/22 Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade and Festival (SFX & SHS Partnership)

Sat. 9/28 VIRTUS Protecting God's Children Training in McShea Hall (sign up below)

October -
Fri. 10/4 Early release at 11:00 a.m.

Fri. 10/4 First Friday Liturgy - 9:00 a.m. Hosted by Grade 7

* Join Mr. Kroekel for Coffee and refreshments in McShea Hall after Mass.
Mon. 10/14 Columbus Day - No School

Fri. 10/18 Walk for Mercy

Fri. 10/25 Trunk or Treat 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (SFX & SHS Partnership event)

Each school year offers a fresh beginning, a time to set new goals and strengthen our commitment to living as disciples of Christ. We are called to reflect on how we can grow in our relationship with God and how our faith can guide our actions, decisions, and interactions with others.

Daily Prayer and Reflection:

To help our students stay grounded in their faith, we begin and end each school day, meeting, and event with a prayer and brief reflection. This daily practice encourages students to start their day with a focus on God's presence and His call to love and serve others.

The Peace of Adoration:

On the second Friday of every month, our students attend Eucharistic Adoration. This time allows them to better understand the importance and sacredness of truly being in the presence of God.

Monthly Mass:

We are blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate Mass as a school community each month. The first Friday of every month we have a schoolwide Mass at 9:00 a.m. We encourage families to attend this Mass with us and then join Mr. Kroekel and administrators in McShea Hall for "Coffee with Mr. Kroekel".

⚾Catholic Night at Fenway!

Join families and friends in your community at Fenway Park on September 7th at 7:10pm! The Archdiocese of Boston has secured a block of tickets available on this link in the right field grandstands. Hope to see you there!

Saturday Sep 07, 2024 7:15 PM EDT

Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox

Tickets: $54.00 - $64.00

Tickets may still be available.

Contact:

Lindsey Cole

Account Executive, Group Sales | Boston Red Sox

Fenway Park | 4 Jersey Street | Boston, MA, 02215
Direct: (617) 226-6183 | Mobile: (857) 248-8139 Email: lcole@redsox.com

✅Milk Order Form

First milk delivery will be Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Students should pack a drink for lunch until September 18th. Please print and return the order form, with payment, no later than Wednesday September 11, 2024. Click here for the Milk Order Form.

✅Become a Parent Ambassador!

At Saint Francis Xavier Middle School, our community thrives on the strong bonds we share and the warmth we extend to others. As we welcome 39 new families into our school, we are seeking dedicated Parent Ambassadors to help guide them through their first year and spread the good news of our school within the wider community.

If you are interested in becoming a Parent Ambassador, please contact Heather McGailey at hmcgailey@sfxschoolwey.org. and we will connect you with a new family.

✅Family Portal and Login Instructions:

Family Portal is where you will find your student's information, as well as resources such as the Family Handbook, Webforms, FACTS Financial (tuition and incidentals), and more. Please familiarize yourself with your Family Portal. If you need assistance, please email dianewalsh@sfxschoolwey.org

Action Item: Log in to Family Portal:

• Go to: https://factsmgt.com
• Select: Parent Log In
• Select: FACTS Family Portal
• District Code: SFXSH-MA

✅Parent/Guardian Volunteer Requirements:

There are two requirements that must be completed to be a volunteer at Saint Francis Xavier School.

1. CORI - Any parent/guardian who would like to volunteer at SHS or SFX must complete a 2024/2025 CORI Form. Mrs. Walsh will have CORI Forms available at Back to School Night on September 11th at 6 p.m.
2. VIRTUS Protecting God's Children Training - This is a required course in order to volunteer, but only needs to be completed once. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a certificate to submit to our administration prior to volunteering at an event. Note: Please create an account and select the "Archdiocese of Boston" first in order to access the training at SFX.

Back to School Night:

Join us September 11, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Meet your child's teachers, explore their classrooms, and learn about the exciting plans we have for the year ahead! We look forward to seeing you there.

Helpful Tips on How to Help your Middle School Student:

As we continue to support our students both academically and spiritually, we wanted to share this insightful article: "How Students Learn". It offers tips and guidance for parents of middle school students. We hope you find it helpful!

Welcome back to a new school year! I'm here to support the health and well-being of all our students, ensuring they have a safe and healthy environment to learn and grow. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any health concerns or questions. Together, we will make this year a healthy and successful one!

Thank you for your partnership in this endeavor in an effort to keep our students safe!!

~Bridget Jaklitsch, BSN, RN

*** Safety is a priority at Saint Francis Xavier School***

Please be aware that our classrooms are tree nut/peanut free.

Students can eat peanut /tree nut products in the cafe.

Please reinforce the no sharing of food due to allergies.

Here are some helpful links for more information about mosquito control and West Nile Virus.

Mosquito Control Project

Massachusetts Department of Health

CDC

Arrival and Dismissal:

Safety is our number one priority! Please click here to read arrival and dismissal information carefully. Please refer to the 2024-2025 Family Handbook for further information or clarification.

We are excited to announce a new initiative to make your pick-up experience stress-free and efficient. With our two campuses in mind, we've created a special Head Start to Sacred Heart Lane in our parking lot at Saint Francis Xavier School, designed to help you get in and out quickly.

This lane will be dedicated to families who pick up from both campuses, ensuring a smoother flow of traffic and helping you get on your way to Sacred Heart School with ease.

Please keep an eye out for signage and instructions on how best to use this new feature. We appreciate your continued support as we work to improve your family's partnership school experience.

To register for a Head Start Pass, which must be displayed on your dashboard in order to use the Head Start Lane, please click here.

We'd LOVE to hear your feedback about our new initiative!! Click here to fill out a comment form.

Sunday, September 22, 2024

We are excited to announce that our partnership schools will proudly participate in this year's Irish Heritage Parade, and we need your help to represent our community! Parents and students are invited to walk with us as we showcase the unity of our campuses. This is a wonderful opportunity for our schools to shine, and we would love to see a great turnout. More information to come along with details on how to sign up.

Champions After School Enrichment Program

(2:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Top 5 Reasons Families Love Champions:

1. Happy, Healthy, inspired children.
2. Learning that's fun.
3. Safe, convenient location.
4. Homework time makes evenings more relaxed for families.
5. Frequent communication keeps parents informed.

Click here to learn more and enroll in Champions!!

Bus Information:

While Mrs. Walsh is happy to help with transportation questions, please know Weymouth Public Schools set all bus schedules. Click here to access WPS bus route schedule for 2024-2025.

Uniforms:

Lands' End

School Name: Sacred Heart and St. Francis Partnership

Preferred School Number: 900129198

Click here for direct ordering.

Donnelly's Clothing

1471 Main St.

Weymouth

Click here for direct ordering.

Lunch ordering:

✅New Lunch Ordering Procedure:

Families are now able to log into their Family Portal and order lunch for their students. As soon as the order is submitted through Family Portal, it displays in FACTS SIS. If the order is changed in FACTS SIS, the change is immediately reflected on the Family Portal. This new system of ordering is designed to be convenient and user-friendly to meet the needs of all of our families. Here's why you'll love it:

• More Control - Choose from a wider variety of options to suit your child's tastes and dietary needs
• Ease of Use - Plan and order meals in minutes from your phone or computer.
• Healthy Choices - Our menu offers nutritious and balanced options, ensuring your child gets the fuel they need for a successful day.

Click here for details and instructions. (Lunch service begins Sept. 9th)

New Year - New Opportunities!!

Exciting things are happening with our Parent Association (PA) as we gear up for a fantastic school year! We'll be at Back to School Night and would love to connect with you! Whether you've been involved for years or are new to our community, we have plenty of opportunities for you to get involved.

We are currently seeking enthusiastic parents to fill key leadership positions, including PA President and other leadership positions. These roles are vital in helping guide our events, initiatives, and community-building efforts throughout the school year. If you are interested in one of these leadership opportunities, please sent a letter of interest to Mr. Kroekel.

Not looking for a big role?? No problem! We also need event chairs to help organize fun and memorable events for our school community. It's a great way to contribute, meet other parents, and support our students. Please visit our Parent Association table at Back to School Night for sign-ups.

If you're interested or just curious, stop by our table. We'd love to chat and answer any questions you have. Let's make this school year the best one yet!!

Click here to view General Information for parents on the website!