Please remember to read this whole email for all upcoming events and information.

Jog-A-Thon donations and help

Volunteer opportunities are up on Sign Up Genius. Please click the link below to see what opportunities are available. You will receive Parent Service Hours (PSA) for all items donated and all hours worked at the Jog-A-Thon. Please click on button below.

We have lots of after school activities starting soon. Please see the flyers below for more information.

Greetings Dear Families and Friends of St. Francis Xavier School,

Welcome to the close of August and the opening of September! We look to the Labor Day weekend for some fun and interesting family activities! Perhaps the BBQ at the house is ready for one last hurrah to officially say goodbye to summer!

I am grateful to the PTO Board members who commit themselves to the fundraising goals of the school community. We gathered on Wednesday evening to officially adopt a budget and finalize other details for the year. President Bill Wikersheim and the PTO Board officers will outline their ambitious agenda this evening at Back-To-School Night in Holy Cross Hall at 7:00 P.M.

Following the PTO Board presentations, the teachers will host 15 minute overviews in their classrooms for the school year. Junior high presentations will take place in Holy Cross Hall. TK and Kindergarten will present in their rooms in the lower building. Grades on through five will host in their rooms in the upper building.

Extra-curricular programs are taking shape. The Chessnuts leaders visited the school yesterday and spoke to the children about the chess program. Interested children took home a course overview to parents. CYO Sports are underway at the “A” or varsity level (grades seven and eight). Coaches Graceffo and Perez lead the Boys A Flag Football Team. I, Dr. Paul, will lead the Girls A Volleyball team.

The Boys B Flag Football team will be coached by Mr. Michael Magallon, while the Girls B Volleyball team will be coached by Mr. Clark McKnight.

The robotics classes are almost finalized, but I can share the plan! First, the bad news: We did not field enough interest to host the programming class for grades seven and eight. We will try again for the second trimester! The good news is that we will be able to host two concurrent DINO classes for students in grades K through three thereby serving the needs of all interested students and families. Additionally, we will host one SEAL class for grades four through six. We look to start on Friday September 9 from 1:05-2:05 P.M. There are eight classes in all at $17 per class. I’ll send home the details after finalizing the plan with the company. If you missed out on signing up for this trimester, you will have another opportunity following the holiday season.

Academic Decathlon is chaired by yours truly, assisted by Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Zakowski and a group of dedicated parents, Mrs. Rose Sorensen, Mrs. Ellen Petty, Mr. Jose Sanchez and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Flynn. We are in the early phases of identifying interest and selecting a team. I’ll be sharing more news about decathlon as the program develops.

The Mock Trial team is also in a developmental phase. We are officially registered and the tem will be selected by me after the Labor Day weekend!

KidsArt and Sewing are set to begin the week of Labor Day and Chessnuts will begin on Monday September 12!

Holy cow that’s a lot of goings-on for St. Francis Xavier School! We have these programs to offer in addition to the daily instruction in the classrooms! We are successful for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is tied to your own expectations for your children. Parents who set the tone for accountability and responsibility in the home are the true primary educators of their children. When the children know that mom and dad are expecting optimal effort, the students know to put forth their best. This year won’t be any different. Great parenting and teaching is happening at St. Francis Xavier! Our students will find success in their studies and in their efforts in the extra-curricular programs offered.

Don’t look now, but progress reporting occurs at the end of September! Wow! Don’t be reluctant to remind the children! Let’s keep them working hard to achieve their goals!

By the time I address the community this evening, we will have experienced our first school liturgy. In the selected Gospel, Jesus explains to those in his audience that the kingdom of God is like a treasure buried in a field, and that once discovered, that person buys that field. We too have a treasure. Our treasure is the student body of our school, and the parents, faculty and staff who work together on behalf of the student body. We are supported and nourished through the Catholic identity of our church, led by Fr. Benny, and assisted by Deacons Jim, Jaime and Tony, not to mention countless other ministry leaders. Together we comprise a dynamic community dedicated to supporting all of its members in body, mind and spirit. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!

Sincerely,

Paul Sullivan, Ed.D.
St. Francis Xavier School
Principal