For all special lunch forms please fill out a separate order form for each child. You will be billed via FACTS two times a year for the lunches.

Due Thursday September 12th

Bagel Monday Order Form (Grades K-8)

Pizza Day Form (Grades K-8)

Due Thursday September 19th

Chicken Finger Day Form (Grades 1-8)

Baya Bar/Panino Rustico Special Lunch Form (Grades 1-8)

Any questions please contact Lisa Hayden at lhayden@stfrancisschoolbh.net

In the FACTS Family Portal please make sure that you fill out (new families) or update (returning families) the Demographic, Medical, Custodial, Emergency Contact, and Transportation Forms ASAP.

We have assembled some websites, information, and digital forms for starting a new school year. These links, along with the Family-Student Handbook and our Acceptable Use Policy, keep everyone “in the loop.”

Please note that some forms are optional, and others must be filled out. They are stated next to the name of the form. If you have any questions, please call the main office. We encourage parent communication and involvement; please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions.

• Handbook Agreement Form (Mandatory Form)- Due 9/13/24- Please note this form will be sent home to each family on Friday 9/6/24. Please be sure to read through the handbook before signing. If you need another copy, please print from the link.

• Parish Affiliation Form (Mandatory Form to qualify for affiliated tuition rate) – Due 9/20/24

• Class Captain Volunteer Form (Optional Form)- Due 9/20/24

• Absence Note Form (Please note that a written absent note still needs to be sent into your child’s homeroom teacher to record the absence correctly in FACTS and for our legal records).

It is difficult to believe that so much time has passed -- it seems like yesterday -- since we heard those first unbelievable reports that a plane, then another plane had crashed into the buildings of the World Trade Center. The anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, offers a time to remember, to reflect about this unforgettable moment in history, and to reconsider the effect that September 11th has had on our country and the world. This Wednesday as an Academy community in Grades 1-8 we will have the opportunity to pray as a school community at 1:15pm in our Prayer Garden and learn about those horrific events to make sure that the next generation, “Never Forgets.”

The New York City Department of Education provides transportation to all eligible New York City students in public, charter, and non-public schools. This includes the students of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. This year NYC Yellow bus service is scheduled to start this Monday, September 9th. On Friday information will go home about routes with those students who have signed up for bussing in the past and for those students who have signed up and qualified for bussing for the first time this school year. Please be patient with the bus on the first few days of bussing especially in the morning as routes are always being changed by the city at the last minute. Any questions please contact Mrs. Kenny in the main office.

This coming week Pre-Kindergarten and Nursery students both begin here at St. Francis. Families are asked to follow the schedule, drop off and pick up guidelines that were discussed at Back to School Night this week. Any questions please contact your child’s teacher via email or through SeeSaw.

During the week of September 9th, students in grades 1-8, will be taking the first of two writing benchmarks for the year. The purpose of these benchmarks will be to begin to gather data about individual students, classes and the school as a whole in order to assess our strengths and weaknesses as writers. There is no preparation necessary for these writing tasks and they will be ungraded assignments. If you have any questions regarding the benchmarks, please contact Mrs. Hayes at mhayes@stfrancisschoolbh.net

This week we were very accepting of students out of uniform or that did not get their Back to School Haircut, yet we do expect that corrections will be made by Monday. Any uniform or dress code questions please contact Mrs. Hayes at mhayes@stfrancisschoolbh.net. For more information about our Dress Code please click here.

We all know that life gets in the way at times and plans change. For your child's safety, please inform the office if there is a change of pickup or usage of the bus by note or email (before 9am). If it is last minute it will have to be by office phone.

There are a variety of ways in which we celebrate birthdays at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. Celebrations are at the discretion of the teacher but may include handmade cards, storytelling, the sharing of a book, etc.

Please communicate with the homeroom teacher beforehand. Families/guardians may drop off party goods (cookies, cupcakes, small plates, napkins, etc.) with Security at the beginning of the school day.

The Diocesan policy is that all food items shared be store-bought. The reason for this rule is strictly to serve as a safety precaution, allowing the school to know the ingredients of any item. We ask that no toys, lollipops, goody bags, frozen treats, or drinks be brought into school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Starting a few weeks ago all families should have begun to pay their families tuition through our FACTS system. Tuition payments for the 2024-2025 school year can be paid online, by phone, or by mail. You may also sign up for auto pay as well. The second payment of the year is due Monday September 16th.

For those families that have an Invoice Payment Plan, each month, 20 days before your payment due date, FACTS will send you an email or mail invoice letting you know that your invoice is ready. If you want to mail in a payment, you will need to log into their FACTS account and click on the Actions button and choose the Mail In a Payment link.

Any questions please feel free to call FACTS at 1-866-441-4637

Any questions about your account please reach out to our Bookkeeper Mrs. Marguerite Kazalski at mkazalski@stfrancisschoolbh.net

We Are a NUT Aware School! Unfortunately, our school cannot guarantee a nut, milk, or “allergen-free” environment. The risk of exposure is always present. Instead, we have an “allergy aware” policy, which empowers everyone.

Children with allergies become aware of what they can and cannot eat, and school staff are alert and careful about each student’s allergies. As we have students with SEVERE LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES, we ask all families to avoid bringing in items such as nut butters, Nutella, or any other nut based products.

We ask that you be very aware of any items brought into our school which: may contain nuts/may have been processed or manufactured in a facility which uses/contains nuts. Finally, please remind your children to never share snacks, food, or drinks with anyone.

8th Grade Parents you can now register your child for the TACHS exam. If your child will take the TACHS exam (entrance exam for Catholic High Schools) please register as soon as possible. For more information including how to register please click here. Any questions please contact Mr. Scharbach at admin@stfrancisschoolbh.net.

We are happy to announce that continuing on Monday, September 9th we will be offering an Early Morning Drop off program from 7:00 am-7:40 am each day. For more information about this program please click here.

We are also happy to announce that starting September 16, 2024 the After School Program will begin. The goal of the After School Program is to provide a safe, nurturing, fun environment for children who need care after the regular school day. On most days the program will include time for play, snack, homework help, and an activity for the day (arts & crafts, board games, etc.).

The program will run Monday through Thursday on most days when school is in session and will be staffed by members of the faculty assisted by 7th & 8th Grade students and 6th graders (starting in January 2025). Children in Grades PreK-5 may attend. After school is not in session on 1/2 day dismissal days. For more information on our After School Program and our registration form for those that are interested in using the service please click the links below.

After School Handbook

After-School Registration Form

For the safety and well being of each and every child in our school, all volunteers must go through the following process:

1) Read and sign a code of conduct

2) Have a background check

3) Take part in the VIRTUS program. (Register at virtusonline.org)

Please note that St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy will be offering two sessions of the VIRTUS program on 9/30 and a second date TBD.

After completing the VIRTUS Program we ask that you please bring to the office a copy of your certificate for us to keep track of in our database. We hope that this is not an inconvenience for anyone, but we need to be sure that all adults who interact with students are in compliance.

Also a reminder that VIRTUS now requires anyone working with children to complete “re-certification” training every seven years.

If your VIRTUS certification was more than seven years ago (before December 2016), please log on to www.virtusonline.org and complete the self-paced module, Protecting God’s Children On-Line Awareness Session 4.0_Brooklyn and also complete an updated background check if indicated for your account.

If you need assistance with your account, such as user name and/or password, please contact the VIRTUS Help Desk at 1-888-847-8870. For further information or assistance, or if you are unsure if you were trained before 2016, please email Lisa Hayden at lhayden@stfrancisschoolbh.net.

Catechetical Sunday is when those designated to serve as catechists are called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in passing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. All are welcome to join the Saint Francis faculty and Saint Francis Religious Education faculty at this very special liturgy at 10:00am on Sunday, September 15th.

As many people know September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. On Friday 9/20 all students may dress down for $1 and Go Gold for Childhood Cancer. Students are asked to wear Gold or yellow shirts on this dress down day. All proceeds from the dress down day are going to annual Catch a Cure 5K Race. Catch a Cure is a community non-profit charitable organization that benefits local families dealing with cancer.

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy

Asst. Principal: Mrs. Maureen Hayes

Email: admin@stfrancisschoolbh.net
Website: https://stfrancisacademybh.org/
Location: 219 Beach 129 Street Belle Harbor, NY 11694
Phone: (718) 634-2775
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SFDSCA