SFCS Weekly Howl - 3.11.24

Happy Monday!

Each Monday morning, I send out a Monday Morning Memo to the faculty and staff, outlining our week ahead. It is a chance to review what is planned for the week and communicate changes. During this time, I am also looking ahead at our calendar and schedules. We are closing out our 3rd quarter of academics tomorrow and will begin our last quarter for the year on Wednesday. How can this be? Time keeps marching on. I observe the students throughout the day and often think about when they began the school year in August. The changes that have occurred in seven months are incredible! They've matured, physically, academically, socially, and spiritually. I can't imagine the food bill for some of the middle school families with their boys growing taller each week! Our Winter MAP scores have shown us that overall, students have increased their scores, telling us continual learning is taking place in math and reading. Learning occurs in many different ways at SFCS, and I am delighted our teachers are so creative in their teaching. Just last week, the 5th grade class put on a production of "Miss Louisa and the Outlaws" as part of their Western Expansion unit in social studies. The 3rd grade created projects out of pizza boxes, depicting life as Native American Indian tribes. In the 8th grade science classes, students learned about electric currents and how they work by making electromagnets. Middle school students are also preparing for their next House competition which will be a religion competition, recalling all they've learned in their religion classes. Very soon, students in grades 3rd - 5th who are trained as Altar Servers will have the opportunity to serve at 11:30 a.m. Masses. While often times we want time to stand still, we can marvel at the growth time provides.

Wishing you a peace-filled week of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Blessings,

Andrea

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Principal

**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. **

March 12 - Q3 ends; Pre-K/Kindergarten Field Trip Experience; Bake Club - 3:15 p.m.; Baseball - SFCS vs. Riverview - 4:30 p.m. - Barker Field

March 14 - 5th Grade field trip to Jekyll Island

March 15 - Baseball - SFCS vs JP2 - 5:00 p.m. - Crossings

March 17 - School Family Mass - 9:00 a.m.

March 19 - Bake Club - 3:15 p.m.

March 21 - Schoolwide Rosary; 4th Grade field trip; Baseball - SFCS vs Bluffton Middle - 4:00 p.m. - Eagles Field

March 22 - Q3 Academic Assembly; Baseball - SFCS vs McCracken - 4:00 p.m. - River Ridge Field

March 25 - ARK Testing - grades 2nd - 8th

March 26 - Bake Club - 3:15 p.m.

March 27 - Grandparents' Day - noon dismissal

March 28 - Holy Thursday - No School

March 29 - Good Friday - No School

April 1 - 5 - Spring Break - No School

Thank you to Thom Hill, for providing the new umbrellas for our courtyard which is enjoyed by the students throughout most of the year. Last year we received a beautiful St. Francis of Assisi statue donated by one of the St. Francis By the Sea parishioners. The Beta Club has recently planted seeds and potted plants in the flower beds. Soon, the Gardening Club, one of our newer Middle School clubs, will be busy planting too. We are looking forward to a fresh coat of paint on the rosary beads which have graced the pavement of our courtyard for many years.

Thank you for your forms for the DC trip! We will let you know of your student's rooming assignment this week.

Enrollment for 2024-25 school year is now open! Current families may continue to with their enrollment process for their student and siblings. We look forward to welcoming back each student in our Wolf family and welcoming new families! Please contact the school office for more information. (843) 681-6501.

The students, faculty and staff will participate in a schoolwide Rosary on March 21, praying for Seminarians and religious vocations. Please join us at 8:15 a.m. from your home as we pray together.

On May 5, 2023, Governor Henry McMaster signed the Education Scholarship Trust Fund Act into law. This new ESA program—modeled after similar programs around the country—allows qualifying South Carolina parents to apply for a scholarship worth $6,000. These scholarships may be used to create a customized, flexible education for families who qualify. To apply using your FACTS account, click on the following link:

Welcome to Grant & Aid (factsmgt.com)

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2024.

The Women of St. Francis has announced application for the Rev. Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin Scholarship for 2024.25 is now open! Applications are available in the School Office and must be submitted no later than March 22, 2024. Recipients of this scholarship will receive $1000 and will be notified on or before April 22, 2024.

The Diocese of Charleston has announced the application process for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Tuition Assistance Grant for 2024.25 is now open! Applications are available in the School Office and must be completed and returned no later than March 15 to Mrs. Smith as signatures from both the Principal and Pastor are required. The Diocese must receive all applications in Charleston no later than March 27, 2024.

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

March 17, 2024

April 21, 2024

May 19, 2024

SFCS will be collecting food donations for a Lenten Food Drive, serving the Mercy Mission. Food items are assigned by grade. Pre-K and 8th grade: cereal

Kindergarten - 1lb bag or boxes of white rice

2nd grade: dry black beans

3rd grade: non-refrigerated milk

4th grade: chicken noodle soup

5th grade: canned pork & beans

6th grade: oatmeal

7th grade: breakfast bars

As a reminder to our Middle School students, each item donated will be counted as one House point. The food drive collection will end on March 22.

The 3rd Grade is leading a school-wide effort to collect Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities, on behalf of our ministry partner, the Women of St. Francis. Join our efforts by bringing in pop tabs from soda cans this Lenten season! It takes approximately 1,128 pop tabs to equal one pound. The Ronald McDonald House Charities typically receive between $0.40 to $0.50 per pound of pop tabs. The program brings in an average of $6,000 each year. Last year over 13 million pop tabs were donated! Thank you for helping the 3rd grade make a difference for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The collection of the soda pop tabs will be ongoing through March 27.

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!

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!

This past week the Pre-K students learned about rainbows and God's promise.

The first graders had quite a week. They celebrated Dr.Seuss’s birthday. They learned about needs and wants and goods and services. The class worked on a STEM project stacking red cups. The class enjoyed several mystery readers, including Mr. Dave, and “Ms. Francesca”, Ms. Lesley’s “twin". The students learned about St. Patrick and made shamrocks for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day. Finally, the entire class reached a milestone with all first graders being able to successfully tie their shoes. What a wonderful week the first grade class had!

Student athletes from the 2nd & 7 Foundation had the best morning in 3rd grade!! SFCS alumni Andrew Boyden and Stewart Misko were joined by fellow John Paul II student athletes to read and give free 2nd & 7 books to the 3rd graders! They talked about the importance of reading and giving back to your community and always doing the right thing!

The 5th Grade class learned about the Western Expansion in Social Studies. During this unit, the students participated in the production of "Miss Louisa and the Outlaws". The class put on six productions of the play for SFCS students and 5th grade families. The class enjoyed a cast party hosted by the O'Rourke Family! Congratulations to Mrs. Brewster, Mrs. Wolf, and the 5th grade students for a job well done!

The race for the House Trophy Cup continues this week with a religion competition. Good luck to all of our Houses! As a reminder, students should wear their House t-shirts on Thursdays.

GIRLS SOCCER -

Monday through Thursday - 3:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m. - Practice - Chaplin Field

BASEBALL -

Monday - Gym - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday - 4:30 p.m. - SFCS vs. Riverview - at Barker Field

Friday - 5:00 p.m. - SFCS vs. JPII - Crossings Field

GOLF -

Tuesday and Thursday - 3:30-5:00 p.m. - Practice - Sea Pines Country Club

Please check back for photos and important information.

Thank you to our coaches, Amanda Keefer, and Natalie Schoeppe, who will lead the SFCS Soccer team during the 2024 spring season! Please be sure you are checking your email for the most up to date information from the coaches.

We are looking forward to our growing golf team during SFCS' second season of golf. Thank you to Coaches Tylus and O'Rourke for their leadership during another exciting year on the links! Please be sure you are checking your email for the most up to date information from the coaches.

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

Alumni, Andrew Boyden and Stewart Misko, joined by other friends, spent time with the 3rd grade class last week, as part of their service to the 2nd & 7 Foundation. Thank you, Andrew, Stewart, and friends!

Sophie Safe, and the Hilton Head Island High School's Drill Team, 'Relentless', competed in the Superintendent's Cup in October, placing 1st overall. Congratulations to Sophie and the Drill Team! Sophie is currently preparing for HHIHS's NJROTC parent meeting this month.

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.

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