
Crusader Chronicle
April 2025
Dear Crusader Families,
It is hard to believe we are coming close to the end of the school year. Mrs. Jen would like to remind the families that the very last day to be able to charge without funds on the students’ account will be April 17, 2025. The students will need to have funds on their accounts to be able to purchase any items from the café to include with their lunches. Accounts need to also be brought up-to-date if there is a negative balance.
I wanted to let our families know, when completing the Edchoice Expansion application for the 2025-2026 school year, only families whose income changed (decreased) from last year will need to complete the Income Verification Portal, since you may be eligible to receive more money from the state towards your scholarship amount. Families whose income stayed the same/increased, do not need to update the Income Verification portal this year. If your family is new to the Edchoice Expansion Scholarship, all new families must submit their income via the Income Verification Portal. If there are questions about this process, please contact the school office.
Lastly, below is a message regarding Staff Appreciation Week. Please take time to read and review the information.
As always, thank you for all you do to support the school!
Gratefully,
Sarah Bitzer
Principal
Staff Appreciation Week is just around the BOARD and we aren’t playing any GAMES. It is time to help show our staff just how appreciative we are for everything they do each day!
All families are invited to MAKE YOUR MOVE by donating small tokens of appreciation for each staff member. See the Signup Genius link below for the list of requested POWER UPS for the staff that week. We already have donations rolling in, but we still need your help to MOVE AHEAD!
Some items are difficult to describe and links have been provided as an example. Please do not feel obligated to purchase from the link.
All items are due by 4/17/25 (due to Spring Break). Please mark items "Attn: Jena Greiner". There will be a collection box in the front office.
If you would prefer to provide a monetary donation, please send cash or check (made out to Jena Greiner) in a sealed envelope marked "Attn: Jena Greiner" or Venmo (jmgreiner). No donation is too small.
Let’s roll the dice and show our staff how much TROUBLE we would be in without them. Whether it is a perfect set of DOMINOS or making moves in the GAME OF LIFE, we appreciate them to pieces. Thank you for your support and generosity. Your contribution is a GAME CHANGER!
Please reach out if you have ANY QUESTIONS or need any clarification!!!
Our school community is truly PERFECTION!
Jena Greiner
Crusader Shout-Outs
Track Shout-Outs
The SFDS 7th/8th grade track team completed at the CYO Track Invitational held at LaSalle High School on Friday March 28.
- Congratulations to Vanessa Treml (7th grade) for placing 1st in the discus.
- Congratulations to Hailey Yontz (8th grade) for placing 2nd in the 800 meters and 1600 meters setting a new school record in each race
- Congratulations to Sophia Tebbe (8th grade) for placing 2nd in the long jump, 2nd in the 200 meters and 1st in the 400 meters
Upcoming Events
Lent Resources
2025 St. Francis de Sales Fish Fry
The proceeds of this year’s Fish Fry will go toward our school kitchen renovations and other worthy SFDS causes. Church community volunteering is what makes this event a success! Pick the spots that best fit your schedule and interests. Remember, this is a great way for youth to get volunteer hours as well. We highly encourage those who need service hours to sign up. For the first four weeks, we’ve grouped school and Youth Faith Formation classes as indicated in the SignUp Genius to distribute the volunteering load. Feel free to organize together within those groups to fill the spots. Please also feel free to just show up anytime to help if the set shifts don't work with your schedule. We will never turn away the help! We can't do it without YOU!!
We are also asking for dessert donations to provide a sweet finish to each meal. Please bring desserts to the cafeteria before 5:00 PM each Friday.
SFDS and the SFDS Knights of Columbus Council #14408 thank you in advance for your time, talent and treasure!
Please contact Anthony or Anslie DeFalco with any questions.
Anthony - aczj@yahoo.com- 973-294-5465
Anslie - thedefalcofam@yahoo.com- 478-808-4868
Volunteer Incentives:
March 7th - School and YFF 8th / 1st / K
March 14th - School and YFF 7th / 2nd
March 21st - School and YFF 6th / 3rd
March 28th - School and YFF 5th / 4th
April 4th - Church and Welcome
April 11th - Church and Welcome
**The highest percentage of class volunteering, on the assigned Fish Fry night: those classes will receive a 1 week out of uniform pass. Students and parents are both eligible to volunteer.**
To volunteer, please sign up on the link below!
Parish Events
Athletic Registration
Parent Resources
Summer Camps
Mahoning Valley Farms is holding a one-day program for elementary school-aged children at Mahoning Valley Farms in Lebanon on April 12. This special day will include unique and compassionate experiences filled with learning and love for horses. We recommend this to every child, especially those who may especially benefit from horse therapy.
$10 registration fee
Deadline for registration is April 2.