The Voyager Voice

Dear Voyager Families,

Greetings Voyagers! So here we are on the verge of a most exciting, productive, and fulfilling new school year. I look forward to meeting you and your family as we embark on a new year together. The teachers are excited to get started! Welcome back, one and all!!

I thought you would enjoy a few simple ideas that might help you and your family gear up for a great school year (they were taken from "Parents Make a Difference!" magazine):

• Make a plan for after school activities.
• Schedule adequate time for homework, play, clubs, sports, and practice.
• Scale back TV/screen time.
• Establish bedtimes for school nights and routines for school mornings.
• Collect important phone numbers. Update doctor, work, and other listings for the school office and afterschool programs.
• Have a backup plan. Create a carpool, if possible.
• Spruce up a quiet study space for your child(ren). Include pens, pencils, dictionary, and other needed supplies.
• Get children in the habit of getting ready the night before school. Set out clothes, pack lunch, and put the backpack by the front door.

Most importantly, be flexible. The start of the school year can be stressful so be prepared for hiccups and glitches. We will get through it together! Let us start this new school year with Christ at the center of our journey.

Our teachers look forward to working with you and your child(ren). Parents and guardians play a vital role in fulfilling our mission at Saint Francis Xavier Middle School. We can't do it without you!

Please enjoy a wonderful Labor Day weekend with friends and family!

God bless,

Mr. C. Kroekel

Principal

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

August -

Fri. 8/30 School Closed

September-

Mon. 9/2 Labor Day - No School

Tues. 9/3 Homeroom assignments available at 7:00 p.m. via FACTS Family Portal
Wed. 9/4 First Day of School - Early release at 11:00 a.m. (bring a snack)

***See below for important First Day arrival information

***First Day of Head Start to Sacred Heart Lane

Thur. 9/5 Early release at 11:00 a.m. (bring a snack)

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

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

Wed. 9/11 Back to School Night
Thur. 9/12 Voyager Band Demonstration (in school)

Fri. 9/13 Full school Adoration

Mon. 9/16 MAP Testing window opens

Fri. 9/20 Whole School Rosary

Sun. 9/22 Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade and Festival

Fri. 9/27 Whole School Rosary

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

October - Early release/ No school days
Fri. 10/4 Early release at 11:00 a.m.

Fri. 10/4 First Friday Liturgy - 9:00 a.m. Hosted by Grade 7
Mon. 10/14 No school - Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day

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.

Experience the Peace of Adoration:

We are blessed to share a wonderful opportunity with our school community. Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman, is offering times for Eucharistic Adoration. This is a beautiful chance for our students, families, and staff to deepen their relationship with Christ through prayer and reflection. For more details and to see available times, please click here.

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 starting at $48 each. Hope to see you there!

Saturday Sep 07, 2024 7:15 PM EDT

Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox

Tickets: $48.00 - $70.00

Purchase Deadline: Aug 31, 2024 11:59 PM EDT

For questions please contact Frconley@stmaryscituate.org.

✅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.

Summer Packet and Supply Lists:

Please complete summer assignments and procure supplies for the start of school by clicking here.

Teacher Return to Email Communication:

Teachers return to school and will have access to emails beginning on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Per the Family Handbook, teachers have access to their emails Monday-Friday during the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. In general please allow for 48 hours for a response.

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.

***Arrival Procedure for the First Day of School***

As we welcome you all to the start of a new school year, we want to ensure a smooth first day. There is a special arrival procedure in place for Day 1 only. Please take a moment to review the guidelines below.

No Rolling Drop Off to Main Door on the First Day:

Students will gather in the schoolyard before entering the school building on the first day of school. There is no rolling drop off on the first day of school. If you wish to walk your child(ren) to the schoolyard, please park along Pleasant St. and walk down.

Parking on the First Day:

Please park in the on Pleasant St or in the church parking lot near the flagpole. There is No Parking along the driveway up from Park Ave.

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.

(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)

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