SFCS Weekly Howl - 1.15.24

Thank you for your flexibility with our shift to a remote learning day last week, in preparation for the inclement weather. Once again, our teachers did not miss a beat as they prepared lessons for at home learning.

We continue to put the final touches on the 2024.25 master calendar. Please don't forget to participate in the Grandparents Day survey which was emailed on January 5. Right now, the shift to a fall celebration in '24.25 is close, with the fall date leading by a bit more than a half a dozen votes. The celebration events will not change, regardless of when the celebration date is. The survey results will be emailed to you after the survey closes on Tuesday, January 16. Thank you for your participation and feedback!

There was miscommunication on our Winter MAP testing. We apologize for any confusion. The Winter MAP testing dates will begin in February not January as originally published.

Finally, our re-enrollment packets will be distributed this week. Included in the packet will be Summer Camp 2024 sign up as well as the '24.25 Master Calendar. Please be on the lookout for this important information.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Blessings,

Andrea

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Principal

On January 5th, a survey was sent to our families regarding Grandparents Day for the 2024.25 academic year. Due to the spring season being a very busy one, we are considering changing Grandparents Day to be celebrated in the fall. Again, this is for the 2024.25 academic year. As we finish up our planning the 2024.25 Master Calendar, your feedback is important to us whether to make the change or keep the event in the spring. The celebration will be the same regardless of when it is. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, January 16. Thank you!

**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. **

January 15 - MLK Day - No School

January 16 - Bake Club begins

January 21 - Open House

January 22 - 100th Day of School

January 26 - SFCS Gala - Emerald City

January 28 - February 3 - Catholic Schools Week (See CSW feature below)

Please be on the lookout for SFCS Summer Camp information and sign ups! This information will be included in the re-enrollment packets as well as the new admission packets. Both packets will be available this week!

Our annual Open House is scheduled for January 21 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Please invite families and friends who may be looking for a PreK - 8th grade school on Hilton Head Island.

During our monthly Rosary, we will pray for our community and service to others. Our prayers will be specifically for the support of life and the Pregnancy Center. Please join us at 8:15 a.m. from your home, to pray with us.

We are busy preparing for the reveal of the Middle School houses, which is scheduled for February 1, during Catholic Schools Week. The students have been working hard during the first semester researching, planning, designing, learning, and making decisions on their house name, colors, motto, crest design, cheer, dance, etc. We are looking forward to a wonderful celebration! Middle School parents are invited to attend this afternoon assembly.

Re-enrollment for our current SFCS families will begin on February 1. Re-enrollment packets will go out this week. We are anticipating some classes to fill up so please get your re-enrollment forms and deposit in early to secure your student's place.

Thank you to all you have registered for the Washington, DC trip in April. As a reminder, the final payment is due January 27. Please log in to your account to ensure you have a zero balance on or before this date. There will be a meeting in February for all DC travelers.

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

January 28, 2024 - Catholic Schools Week Begins

February 18, 2024

March 17, 2024

April 21, 2024

May 19, 2024

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! Until we post regular SFCS Spirit Shop hours, if you would like to shop, please contact the School Office.

The SFCS Gala 2024 - "A Night in the Emerald City" at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort is weeks away! We are excited for an evening of dinner, music, dancing, and the silent and live auctions on January 26. Tickets are available until January 21 by clicking on the link below. We look forward to a celebrating this wonderful event with you! #THEREISNOPLACELIKESFCS

https://sfcshhi.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/8?access_code=247513385a9a57e499f38f81008df91d8d9d3fc5

Our 2024 Emerald City Gala sponsors list is growing! Thank you to all the families, companies, and organizations who are sponsors. We are grateful for your support! We continue to seek organizations, companies, and/or families that would like to sponsor this amazing event! All proceeds benefit SFCS. The Gala is January 26, 2024. If you know someone who is may be interested in a gala sponsorship, please contact fsa.sfcs@gmail.com. #THEREISNOPLACELIKESFCS

The middle school will once again host the wine pull during the Gala and are in need of wine donations. Red / white / bubbly, it doesn’t matter, (perhaps you have a few left over from the holidays that you will never drink?) The only caveat is that each bottle needs to be worth more than $10. You may drop off the bottles during morning carline (please give to Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Kessinger) or deliver to the school office by Wednesday, Jan. 24.

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!

Thank you to our faculty, staff, parents, and students, for handling the shift to remote learning last week due to the storms. Thank you to the families who sent in their remote learning day photos!

The kindergarten class is preparing for the square dance competition as part of our Catholic Schools Week celebration. The students are doing a fine job learning to do si do, promenade, and swinging their partner!

The 3rd grade students learned about charting and statistics in math class. Students collaborated in groups to come up with topics to gather data about, then put their data into charts.

Father Rafael Ghattas visited our 8th Grade Religion class on Friday. Father Rafael offered the students a time for Q & A on anything they wanted to ask. Father responded to each question. After the class took time to share in Father Rafael's favorite snack (baby carrots), they went out to the field space on the playground for a game of 'Keep Away'. Thank you, Father Rafael for spending time with the 8th graders!

A form was emailed out on Friday evening to our Middle School families for those students interested in participating in the SFCS spring sports season. This is a preliminary sign up. Registration packets will be sent out to those athletes interested in participating in the next few weeks. Spring sports will begin after basketball season ends. Please check your email for this important form which needs to be completed and turned in to the School Office no later than January 19. Go Wolves!

It is time for spring sign up for the SFCS Equestrian Show Team. Please see flyer below.

More information on SFCS baseball will be communicated after January 19, when all the preliminary spring sports sign-ups are in.

**Please be sure to check your email for the most up to date information on practices and competitions.**

Basketball practice and playing schedule for the week of 1/15:

Tuesday, January 16 – Home basketball games vs. Cross

Girls’ Junior Varsity - 4:00 p.m.

Girls’ Varsity - 5:00 p.m.

Boys’ Junior Varsity - 6:00 p.m.

Boys’ Varsity - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 17 – practices

Girls’ Varsity - practice - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Boys’ Varsity - practice - 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Girls’ Junior Varsity - practice - 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 18 – Home basketball games vs. Hilton Head Christian

Girls’ Varsity at 4:00 p.m.

Boys Junior Varsity - 5:00 p.m.

Boys’ Varsity at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, January 19 - practice

Girls’ Junior Varsity practice - 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Go Wolves!

Saturday, January 20 - Winter Basketball Camp

The SFCS Winter Basketball Camp opened this past weekend and what a terrific time the campers had! Students in grades PreK through 4th grade learned and practiced basketball skills and drills.

Please follow email communication from the Cheer coaches for the most up-to-date information.

Cheer Game Schedule - 2024

January 16th (Tuesday) 4pm (K&1st) and 5pm (2nd- 4th)

January 23rd ( Tuesday) 4pm (K&1st) and 5pm (2nd- 4th)

February 1st (Thursday) 4pm (K&1st) and 5pm (2nd- 4th)

February 8th (Thursday) 4pm (K&1st) and 5pm (2nd- 4th)SENIOR NIGHT

Go Wolves!

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

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.

It's time to mark your calendar and plan to attend the Knights of Columbus Annual Spaghetti dinner on January 20! Tickets will be on sale after all Masses the weekend of January 13/14. Don't miss out on this wonderful event with excellent pasta sauce and meatballs donated by Mulberry Street Trattoria, fantastic bread by the French Bakery, delicious cookies baked by the SFCS Bake Club, and fabulous fellowship! You may dine in or take out. Mangia, Mangia!!

Make plans for the annual Women of St. Francis' Soup for Scholarships event on February 20! This is a well-attended and enjoyable event so get your tickets early. Tickets will go on sale after all Masses on February 10th and 11th, as well as February 17th and 18th.

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