Weekly Family Newsletter

Current families in preschool to grade 7 have only a few steps to complete. No more filling out stacks of papers!

Here are the steps you need to complete:

1. Log in to your Family Portal Account.

2. Go to Apply/Enroll on the left sidebare.

3. Click Enrollment/Reenrollment. (If you are choosing to not return to SFSS, you will select “do not enroll” and submit.)

4. Review the information rolled over from your prior enrollment forms.

5. Provide any missing information or documents.

6. Elect your payment plan and/or apply for financial aid.

7. Electronically Sign

One of the benefits of automatic re-enrollment is families are charged a $10 processing fee instead of the $20 processing fee for new applications. There is still the $100 registration fee per child, $200 maximum per family.

Tuition was increased by $100 to off set some of the increase in operating costs. We are ever so grateful for the Harry J. Touhey bequeath that kept this increase low. If you are planning to use the FACTS Management System for tuition payment, there will be a fee of $20 for annual or semi-annual payments made or $50 for quarterly or monthly payments made.

New families or family members who are not current students will be required to submit an application in FACTS to new enrollment. More information will be available on our school's website.

We are very fortunate to have scholarship money available for families. Last year, we gave out over $100,000 in scholarships. Here are three ways to receive financial aid:

1. Families benefited from the Building a Brighter Future Scholarship. More information to come about that scholarship in the coming weeks.
   
   
2. Currently, families can apply for the Reverend John A. Reddington Scholarship Fund. There is no limit on the number of times a student may apply for a scholarship. Scholarships are not automatically renewed each year. Students must reapply annually.

To apply for this scholarship, please visit https://www.geneseevalleytrust.com/Community/2023_Reddington_Scholarship/.

3. Financial aid through FACTS. When you re-enroll, you will be prompted to set up your tuition agreement. When you do this, you will be prompted to apply for financial aid. There is a $40 non-refunded fee for your application.

Saturday Mass - Your dress uniform

Monday - Your school spirit wear

Tuesday - Crazy socks and/or hat with your uniform of the day

Wednesday - Red, White, and/or Blue

Thursday - Your future career or vocation

Friday - Uniform of the day

If your child chooses not to participate in the dress days, they should wear their uniform of the day.

The book fair will be open to students and families Monday, January 30th to Friday, February 3rd from 8 am to 3 pm. With a special extra time on Wednesday, February 1st from 6 pm to 7 pm.

Visit the book fair webpage for more information. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/stfrancisststephen

The Scholastic Book Fair to benefit our school library!

Students will get a day to preview and throughout the week shop for new books to inspire them to love reading. Families can send in money or add money to your child's e-wallet. Information for the e-wallet can be found below.

As mentioned in last week's newsletter, our library has been undergoing updates with entering books into our new online catalog system; barcoding for easy tracking and check out/check in; discarding tattered and outdated books; and reorganizing the library to make finding books easier for the students and teachers.

We want our students to enjoy their trip to the school library and be encouraged to fall in love with reading. Our Scholastic Book Fair will help immensely to help fill our shelves with books our students will love to read.

Another undefeated weekend for the St. Francis St. Stephen Crusaders.

The 3/4 Coed team faced off against a tough St. Joe’s of Penfield. The Crusaders got off to a slow start and were down by 7 early but rallied to tie the game at half time and close with a 24 – 21 win to go 5 – 0 for the season. The Crusaders were led by dominating performance by Tripp Tapscott with 14 points and 6 rebounds. With less than two minutes to go Tripp had a 3 point play to put SFSS in the lead. The Crusader defense was able to hold on for the win. Joe Dorn added 7 points in the victory.

The 5/6/7 Girls visited St. John of Rochester and came home with a 29 – 7 victory to improve to 6 – 0 for the season. The Crusaders were led by Kate Good with 16 points including 2 three pointers. Elizabeth Scibona added 4 points and Molly Lamson added 2 in the win. Natalie Dorn and Francesca Calabrese contributed to the tough defense that proved too tough for St. John’s to overcome.

The 6/7/8 Boys team visited St. Louis in Pittsford and after a back and forth struggle were able to pull ahead at the end of the game for a 46 – 34 victory. The Boys are now 5 – 2 on the season. A balanced scoring attack propelled the Crusaders to victory. Nick Down led the Crusaders with 18 points, Thomas Hutteman 10, Max Delgado 6, Roman Nearpass 4, Dominic Petramale and Matt Merkley both with 2 each. And scoring his first points of the season was Jack Validzic with a key basket in the win.

All three teams will be at home this week, Saturday the 28th.

3/4 Coed at 9:45 vs St. John of Rochester

5/6/7 Girls at 11:00 vs St. John of Rochester

6/7/8 Boys at 12:15 vs St. Louis

Come on down and see the St. Francis St. Stephen Crusaders in action.

We have three more athletic opportunities! The only way we can grow our athletic program is 1) to have student interest, 2) location for practices, and 3) parents volunteer to coach.

Kickball is back for grades 2nd - 12th this spring.

I'm so excited that the diocesan CYO program is expanding to include flag football for grades 3rd to 8th grade this spring and summer basketball for 7th - 12th grade.

Please reach out to Jim O'Connor, jim.oconnor152@gmail.com, for more information and to ask any questions you have.