SFCS Weekly Howl - 8.19.24
SFCS celebrates 28 Years of Growing Together in Faith & Knowledge
Dear SFCS Parents & Friends,
We were excited to have the school year begin a week ago Monday, welcoming our students and families to SFCS! We have appreciated all the smiles, the joy in the student's eyes, and another opportunity to witness the growth of your children over the course of the year. A new school year also brings the opportunity to begin again spiritually. Catholic education is unique because our end is to be with Christ. Parents bring their children to St. Francis Catholic School because they see the Church offers more than a transfer of knowledge or skills. Our faculty and staff bring the students closer to Christ. No other school system can claim this purpose.
Welcome back! We are grateful for the opportunity to be of service to your family and partner together during the new academic year.
It's a great time to be a St. Francis Wolf!
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC
Principal
August 22 - Back to School Night
August 23 - 7th Grade Retreat
August 30 - 6th Grade Retreat
Pizza Fridays Form and Payment Due
September 2 - Labor Day - No School
September 4 - 23 - Fall MAP Testing
September 6 - 5th Grade Retreat
September 11 - 15 - St. Ignatius Book Fair
September 13 - Pizza Friday Lunch
September 20 - 3rd & 4th Grade Retreat
September 27 - School Pictures
October 4 - St. Francis Feast Day and 2nd Annual Feast Day Festival
October 9 - 8th Grade PSAT Testing - Noon Dismissal for all
October 11 - Pizza Friday Lunch
October 24 & 25 - Parent Teacher Conferences - 10/24 Noon Dismissal - 10/25 - Students Asynchronous Learning
SFCS NAMED NATIONAL BETA SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION!
Congratulations to our National Beta Club Sponsors, Mrs. Amanda Keefer and Mrs. Carol Ryan, and members of our Beta Club at SFCS for achieving National Beta School of Distinction status for the 2023.24 academic year! This national award speaks highly of our school's commitment to academic excellence and illustrates the dedication of our faculty and staff in preparing our students well!
A very special thank you to Mr. Thom Hill, SFCS Facilities Chair, and the Parish and School Facilities Staff, Mr. Bryan Goll and Mr. Dave Klub, for their hard work in re-landscaping Memorial Plaza. The flower beds were cleared out and replaced with new plants including elephant ears and a lemon tree. We are also grateful for the assistance of Thom Hill's grandsons, Will (SFCS Class of '24) and Matty (SFCS 8th grade), who spent time in the hot sun, loading mulch in the wheelbarrow and spreading it around the trees and flower beds. Thank you for making that outdoor space a beautiful spot for our students, faculty, and staff to enjoy! 💙🤍💛
VIRTUE OF THE WEEK - August 19
AFFABILITY
Take the time to smile, listen, and acknowledge the presence of others. Take time to listen.
OUR PRAYER
Dear Jesus,
Be my strength as I try to be good to all I meet today. Amen.
LATE AFTERSCHOOL PICK UP
PreK/K students are dismissed at 2:45 p.m. Students in grades 1st - 8th are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. We recognize that there are times parents or the designated pick up person can run late. For the safety of our students, if PreK/K students are not picked up by 3:00 p.m. or 1st - 8th students are not picked up by 3:15 p.m., their designated pick-up person will be contacted, and the student(s) will be brought to Aftercare. Charges will be incurred depending on the length of time a student is in Aftercare. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT - August 22 - 6:00 PM
Please plan to attend the Back to School Night this Thursday. Parents will have the opportunity to meet their student's teachers, see the classrooms, and learn about ways to get involved at the school and Church. The SFCS Spirit Shop will also be open! Please plan to be in the gym by 6:00 p.m. The evening will end at 7:15 p.m. We hope to see you there!
🍕PIZZA FRIDAYS!🍕
We are thrilled to offer a full year of Pizza Fridays each month throughout the year. Families may have their student(s) participate in Pizza Fridays by completing the form (see attachment below) and prepaying on or before August 30. This form was also included in your blue Back to School folder. For your convenience, you may also pay online by clicking the link below:
Don't miss out on this convenient lunch option, as once the August 30 deadline hits the opportunity to participate in Pizza Fridays for the year will be gone! 🍕
ST. IGNATIUS PRESS BOOK FAIR - SEPTEMBER 11 - 13
Come by the St. Ignatius Press Book Fair, September 11 - 15 in the SFCS Library. Students will have an opportunity to look at the books and build a wishlist. Families will be able to stop in after school and on Sunday, September 15, after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. We are excited to welcome this publisher of so many wonderful books for our school and families!
ST. FRANCIS FEAST DAY FESTIVAL T-SHIRTS PREORDERS
We are looking forward to celebrating the Feast of St. Francis on October 4th, with our 2nd Annual Feast Day Festival! Families will have the opportunity to preorder this year's t-shirt. Order forms and sales will also be available at Back to School Night on Thursday at the FSA table. The deadline to order your student's Feast Day shirt will be September 3. There will not be additional sales after the presale deadline. On Feast Day, students may wear this year's t-shirt throughout the day, including Mass. Let's unite together and be a community of pink, celebrating our Patron Saint, St. Francis of Assisi!
FIRST SCHOOL FAMILY MASS
Thank you to all the SFCS families who attended our first School Family Mass yesterday. It was a beautiful celebration! Thank you to Mrs. Brewster for coordinating our family volunteers, Connie Killeen, School Advisory Council President, for working with the readers, Mrs. Sweeney and all the students who participated in the choir, and those serving at the Mass.
MONTHLY SCHOOL FAMILY MASS DATES
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15
January 26 (Catholic Schools Week)
February 9
March 16
No mass in April
May 18
MEET OUR NEW FSA CO-CHAIRS
We are happy to introduce you to our new FSA Co-chairs, Laura Clare and Jarren Kostrzewski. Laura has two boys enrolled at SFCS and Jarren has three girls enrolled at SFCS! Both Laura and Jarren have exciting plans for our school this year. Mrs. Smith is looking forward to a wonderful partnership with these two talented ladies! Stop by the FSA table and meet them on Thursday evening at our Back to School Night and learn how you can get involved with FSA this year. Welcome Laura and Jarren!
FSA MEETING - SEPTEMBER 10
SFCS SPIRIT SHOP
The SFCS Spirit Shop will have regular hours soon, but for now, the Spirit Shop be open by appointment. Please contact the School Office (843) 681-6501.
SAVE THE DATE - GALA 2025! - February 1, 2025
We are happy to announce that the St. Francis Catholic School “Gridiron Gala" is slated for Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Poseidon’s Rooftop Bar. Put on your team colors for an evening of fundraising, food and fun. Information on sponsorships and ticket sales will be announced soon. See you at kickoff!
FSA ISLAND DISCOUNT CARDS!
We are off to a fantastic start with the sale of our '24.25 Island Discount Cards, featuring discounts at a variety of businesses on the Island. Thank you to all who have purchased the cards. Each card is $25 or buy four get one free. Cards may be purchased from the School Office by check (made out to SFCS), at the Parish Office, 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!
KINDERGARTEN
Mrs. Anderson and Miss Byrd welcomed a new class of Kindergarteners, and the students had an amazing first week of school! We are excited to watch their progress, and the teachers introduce creative learning in math, reading, science, religion, fine arts, and Spanish!
1ST GRADE
The first week of school has been a great one for our first-grade class! The students are adjusting to a later lunch, a more structured classroom environment, and getting to know their new teachers, Mrs. Wolfkiel and Ms. Lesley. This past week, their fabulous teachers introduced them to Stem-makers, a science and math-based learning center of activities.
2ND GRADE
The 2nd graders are off to a great start as they explored manuscript review. The students did an outstanding job!
3RD GRADE
The 3rd grade students are transitioning nicely with their new teacher, Ms. Nickles! Mrs. Wolf will teach religion in this classroom and as well as continues as the teacher's assistant. The students are settling in nicely to their 3rd grade instructional routine.
4TH GRADE
Mrs. Watson's 4th grade wasted no time during the first week back to school with the students getting organized for a productive week of learning.
5th GRADE
Mrs. Brewster's 5th Grade Rockstars are ready to roll! Students are on their way taking on new challenges. Collaborative work and student-driven learning were well under way during the first week of school!
8TH GRADE
DECORATING 6TH GRADE LOCKERS
Thank you to Gianna D., Audrey K., Eleanor B., and Grady F., continuing the tradition of welcoming the 6th grade students to middle school by decorating their lockers. 6th Grade students came in on the first day of school with their lockers adorned with balloons, streamers, candy, and names of each member of the 6th grade class! Thank you, ladies, for making the 6th graders a bit less nervous going into the middle school by making them feel so special!
CLASS RETREAT
A big shout out to Mrs. Jenny Zmarzly, Youth Minister, for leading the 8th grade retreat on Friday. Students enjoyed time in small and large groups, praying the rosary, engaging in fun activities, and attending Mass. It was a wonderful day for the class to grow closer to Christ and each other.
PE
Mrs. Kristan was excited to welcome the students back to P.E.class! This week the students reviewed P.E. expectations and participated in Summer Olympic games. Students practiced Track and Field, Soccer, Gymnastics, Weight Training, Basketball and Golf.
This year in each class, students have the opportunity to earn MVP AWARDS- Students who follow class expectations such as doing their best, following directions, showing good sportsmanship and kindness are considered.
For safety reasons, please ensure that your student is wearing proper footwear to P.E. An athletic running shoe is required to keep your student safe. No Crocs, Converse, or flat bottom shoes. Thank you in advance!
A special shout out to our 6th grade class for all wearing proper footwear to P.E. and Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf on HHI for donating putters to our P.E. program.
BETA CLUB MEETING - 8.21.24
There will be a Beta Club informational meeting on Wednesday, August 21 during Middle School lunch. Please bring your lunch to the library for the meeting.
HOUSES
St. Adjutor
St. Sebastian
St. Joan of Arc
St. Nicholas
THE HOUSE COMMUNITIES WELCOME NEW STUDENTS AND THE 6TH GRADE CLASS!
On Thursday, the Middle School students gathered to welcome the new students and 6th graders to the SFCS House System. The new Housemasters and House Captains were also introduced. Congratulations to:
House of St. Adjutor - Housemaster - Mrs. Gagliardo
Captains: Lia G. and Zach S.
House of Joan of Arc - Housemaster - Coach Adair
Captains: Audrey K. and Andrew P.
House of St. Nicholas - Housemaster - Mrs. Hudgins
Captains: Maddie P.
Henry W.
House of St. Sebastian - Housemaster - Mrs. Kristan
Captains: Drew B.
Cadence S.
Everyone is looking forward to the upcoming competitions, and community building activities planned. Stay tuned!
CLUBS
The Middle School Clubs will begin today during 8th period. The proposed clubs being offered this year are:
Book Club
Business Club
Chess Club
Robotics Club
Stock Market Club
Friday was the last day to turn in a student's club selection form. If you have not turned one in for your student, please complete the form below today and email to the School Office! The actual offering of a club will depend on the number of students signed up. Thank you for your prompt attention to completing the form.
SFCS MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
St. Francis Catholic School is excited to introduce a new endeavor to our middle school, the SFCS Middle School Leadership Academy. Once a week, students in grades 6th – 8th will participate in team building, learning and growing in leadership skills, and participating in presentations by professionals in our community. The Leadership Academy will begin this Tuesday! We invite parents, family, and friends who are interested in speaking at one of our Leadership Academy meeting dates to sign up. You may be actively employed or retired from a career to be considered. We would be grateful for you to share your wisdom on your career path and what leadership skills are/were needed during your career. Please click on the link below to sign up or contact Andrea Smith, Principal, (andrea.smith@sfcshhi.com) for more information.
St. Francis Catholic School: MS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - CAREER SPEAKERS (signupgenius.com)OUR GREENHOUSE CLASSROOM IS HERE!
The Greenhouse Classroom, donated by the Women of St. Francis, and shipped from the U.K., had the final touches put on the structure over the weekend. We are grateful for this new space and the opportunities to bring learning outdoors. There is still a bit more to come before completion, such as flower boxes, and the irrigation system. There will be a Dedication Ceremony date announced, to commemorate the Women of St. Francis' 20th Anniversary as a ministry of St. Francis By the Sea Catholic Church. The WOSF are so supportive of our school, its mission, and the mission of Catholic education! Thank you, to this fabulous ministry of women! 💙🤍💛
SUMMER READING OLYMPICS PIZZA PARTY
Students who participated in the Summer Reading Olympics Program celebrated their reading achievements with a pizza party on Friday. Students received medals, enjoyed pizza, and ice cream. Thank you to Mrs. Keefer for organizing the Summer Reading Olympics program and students from Beta Club who assisted with the party!
*Please be sure to check your email for any updates on practices and competitions from the Athletic Director or the team's coach, as changes may happen after the Weekly Howl is published.
THIS WEEK IN ATHLETICS
Monday
3:15-4:15 - Cross-Country Practice - Jarvis Creek Park
3:30-5 - JV Volleyball Practice - SFCS Gym
5-6:30 - Varsity Volleyball Practice - SFCS Gym
Tuesday
3:15-4:15 - Cross-Country Practice - Jarvis Creek Park
3:30-5 - JV Volleyball Practice - SFCS Gym
5-6:30 - Varsity Volleyball Practice - SFCS Gym
Wednesday
3:15-4:15 - Cross-Country Practice - Jarvis Creek Park
3:30-5 - JV Volleyball Practice - SFCS Gym
5-6:30 - Varsity Volleyball Practice - SFCS Gym
Thursday
3:15-4:15 - Cross-Country Practice - Jarvis Creek Park
No Volleyball competition or practices due to Back to School Night
Friday
No practices or competitions
SFCS 2024.25 ATHLETICS SPONSORS
Thank you to our families and businesses who have committed to an athletic sponsorship supporting the SFCS Wolves during the 2024.25 academic year.
2024.2025 ATHLETIC SPONSORSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE
Thank you to those families and businesses who have become '24.25 SFCS Athletic Sponsors! Sponsorships are still available! If you are interested in becoming an Athletic Sponsor for the 2024.25 academic year, please see information below. Our sponsors will be highlighted beginning next week in the Weekly Howl!
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.
St. Francis Thrift Shop - Volunteer Opportunities
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.
St. Francis Catholic School
Email: school@sfcshhi.com
Website: sfcshhi.com
Location: 45 Beach City Rd, HHI, SC 29926
Phone: 843-681-6501
Facebook: facebook.com/sfcshhi