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Please remember to read this whole email for all upcoming events and information. TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 1-5 Next week the entire faculty and staff will be celebrating the time, talent and love they put forth to help ensure the success of your wonderful children. If you or your children would like to write a note, draw a picture, or send a flower to their teacher(s) they would be greatly appreciated and would add a special touch to the celebration week. Thank you! PE BBQ & RAFFLE May 10, 2017 Donations Needed! The most delicious and exciting day of the school year is only 13 days away and we need your help and support! We are in need of the following items: POPSICLES – 300 These can be donated by one family or by several families. Please email Janet Ward at jwlikescake@yahoo.com if you are able to donate some or all of the popsicles. THANK YOU SO MUCH! RAFFLE PRIZES – As many as possible! We are more than happy to accept Disneyland tickets, Dodger tickets, Universal Studios tickets, electronics, toys, games, sports equipment, gift cards, iPads, iPods, etc. Anything goes! We need prizes for boys and girls ages 4 – 14 Raffle Tickets are on sale Monday – Thursday in the upstairs breezeway. Tickets are .25 cents each or 6 for $1.00 Fiesta Time! In honor of you Parent Appreciation Dinner Tuesday, May 16th At 6:30 P.M. Holy Cross Hall Courtesy Babysitting in Cabrini Hall RSVP by May 8th Marthajay7@yahoo.com Looking to be apart of the SFX School Community?? The SFX PTO Board is in need of your help! We currently have some great positions open. This would be an awesome way to earn your 40 hours for the year while making a big difference in our school. Come be apart of helping make our school community a great place to be for the kids as well as the parents. If you are interested, please contact 2017-2018 SFX PTO President, Christina Sanchez at chrisvin13@sbcglobal.net. Greetings Dear Families and Friends of St. Francis Xavier School, Happy Easter! I hope you enjoyed the vacation break and that you enjoyed time with family and friends. We are back to school for the final leg of the school year! This Sunday April 30 the children are welcome once again to join the choir at the 10:30 A.M. Mass to help sing the opening and closing songs for Mass. Mrs. Bobbi Cranston will invite any school children in attendance to come forward to participate. It was a very nice thing to see last month when the children sang with the choir! This week the students are engaged with the Discovery Science Center. Representatives from the company are demonstrating interesting lessons for each class. On Monday TK and Kindergarten were introduced to the world of bubbles! Grades five and six created Land Yachts, whereby they created vehicles with tin foil sails. A fan was used to create a mighty wind to push forward the vehicles. The students enjoyed their time in the assemblies. Tuesday April 25 is devoted to Electric Circuits for the third grade, Pig Heart Dissection for eighth grade and Forces & Motion for second grade. Finally, on Thursday April 27 the fourth grade will work with Electric Motors, the seventh grade will explore Renewable Energy and the first grade will investigate Owls! It’s a week of scientific discovery to be sure! Congratulations to the students who participated in the play, Willie Wonka! The shows by all accounts were fantastic. The children worked so very hard in rehearsals and provided a wonderful show. Thanks to Ms. Stephanie and her able-bodied helpers for putting together another excellent theatrical experience for the students. Also, thanks to the many parent volunteers and CJSF students who helped in myriad ways. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce theater and make it meaningful! It was a truly enjoyable show! Until next year! Teacher Appreciation Week begins Monday May 1! While the faculty and staff will be treated to goodies throughout the week, perhaps you can encourage your child to create a card of thanks for their teacher. Perhaps the children may wish to write a note to their teacher. Either way, let’s encourage the children to reach out to their teachers to say “Good Job!” The interview process for new hires continues. I am hopeful to share results next week! There are a lot of candidates interested to join the faculty at St. Francis Xavier School. It has been very exciting to meet the many interested applicants. God bless each of us as we move through the end of April and into the month of May. Let’s remember in our thoughts and prayers those who are facing illness or troubled times. Let’s offer support to those in need to help brighten their outlooks. Sincerely, Paul Sullivan, Ed.D. Principal, St. Francis Xavier School

2017/18 School Year Important dates

First Day of school: Monday 8/28/17

Christmas Break: Thursday 12/21/17 returning Wednesday 1/3/18

Spring Break: Friday 3/30-returning Monday 4/9/18

Last day of school: Thursday 6/7/18

Kindergarten Graduation: Tuesday 5/29/18

Class of 2018 Graduation: Thursday 5/31/18

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Please remember to read this whole email for all upcoming events and information. No family envelope will go home this week. Please look at the After School Programs and sign up if interested. We need more students to have some of these programs. ______________________________________________________________

Holy Week Mass Schedule April 9 - Palm Sunday April 12 - Parish Reconciliation Service at 7PM April 13 - Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Last Supper at 7PM April 14 - Good Friday, Stations of the Cross at 2:30PM & Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ at 3PM April 15 - Easter Vigil Mass at 8PM April 16 - Easter Sunday Mass at 8:30AM, 10:30AM & 12:30PM ______________________________________________________________ Dear Friends, Little Johnny was not doing well in school. His parents decided to send him to a Catholic school. At the end of the year Johnny came out at the top of his class. His parents were surprised at this dramatic turn of events. “What made the difference Johnny?” his parents asked him. “You see, on the first day when I walked into the school I saw a guy hanging on the cross. I knew right away that teachers are serious. So I decided not to take any chances.” We are in the final stage of our journey. The holiest week of the year, the week of salvation. The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is Holy Week. During these days we commemorate the foundational history of our salvation which transformed human destiny. We witness the institution of the Priesthood, Eucharist, ministry as well as the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Let us meditate and reflect on each of these in these days of salvation. On Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday, people crowned Jesus with kingship. They spread their cloaks on the road, waved olive branches, and sang “Hosanna” to Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem. This excitement and human praise did not last long. Four days later the same throngs that hailed him failed him. They shouted, “Crucify him.” The praise and glory of human hearts emerged from a calculated mind and a selfish goal. Human behavior changes sometimes according to the mood of the mob. The glory based selfish motives and conveniences did not last. The glory that world offered to Jesus was that of selfishness. It collapsed like a house on sand. Palm Sunday reflects this reality. During the days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday we are reminded of this selfishness of the human mind. People moved away from Jesus and with the leaders accepted the untruth in order to reject the truth. Jesus did not live up to their expectations. They crucified Jesus. The glory they offered to Jesus was not the one God the Father offered to Jesus, the Son of God. It was the way of suffering for the salvation of humanity. On Easter Sunday we witness to a new Glory, the glory God offers. God exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. This eternal Glory resulted from Jesus’ unfailing commitment to the will of God. Jesus resurrected from the dead. He returns with Glory to love and bless us. Let us join with Jesus and complete our salvific Journey. The sufferings of Jesus should not deter us from following Him who loves us and wants us to stay with Him. Let us give time to accept the Blessing during these days of salvation. It will lead us to Easter Joy. I keep you all in my prayers at this Holy time of grace. Let us together grow in. I wish you all the best this Holy Week. Your Fr. Benny ______________________________________________________________

PE BBQ PRIZE RAFFLE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT! Please support this wonderful event by donating a prize today! We would love to have items for all ages! We are happy to accept  toys, sports equipment, gift cards, Disneyland tickets,  Universal Studios tickets, Dodger tickets, electronics (iPad, iPod, laptop,  camera, headphones, etc.) and anything else you can come up with. Get a jump start on your 2017-2018 PSA Hours by donating a prize or two!  All donations earn one hour for each $25 in value. Please drop all donations off to Mr. Orlando in the PE Office or to Mrs. Janet Ward in  the Kindergarten classroom. Please include your name and the value of your donation  with your items so your PSA Hours can be approved once submitted. Thank you so much for your support and generosity!

Willy Wonka Kids Kompany Play Please join us for Willy Wonka  April 6, 7 & 8 at 7PM  April 8 at 1PM

Attention Every St. Francis Xavier Student You are invited to sing the opening and closing songs at this weekend’s 10:30 Mass. This is a great way to get involved at church and share one of your many talents. All students have been practicing with Mrs. Raymundo during music class. Please arrive a little early to Mass and see Mrs. Cranston in the choir area. After the first song students will sit with their family. Mrs. Cranston will then call them up to sing the last song.  Please try to come. We are really excited to start this new tradition.

Final Archery Class of the Year!!!! I would like to personally like to invite you to join Mrs. Smith and I for our final archery class this year. That’s right! Mrs. Smith is going join us on April 15th. Space is limited. Please send me an email to register.  This event will take place in Lower Arroyo Park in Pasadena and is organized by the Pasadena Roving Archers. The times are from 12:00 - 2:30pm. This costs $25 per participant and includes all instruction and equipment. Parents you are more than welcome to participate with your children. If you have any questions or if you are interested please send an email to theprezsfx@gmail.com and let me know who will be participating and for which date.  Thanks once again for everything you do,  Bill Wickersheim – PTO President

Worship Schedule for Holy Week.

                                                           Sunday, April 9

Palm Sunday

Wednesday, April 12

7 p.m. Parish Reconciliation Service

Thursday, April 13

Holy Thursday

7 p.m. Evening Mass of the Last Supper

Friday, April 14

Good Friday

2:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross

3 p.m. Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ

Saturday, April 15

Holy Saturday

8 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass

Sunday, April 16

Easter Sunday Masses

                                       8:30 a.m. , 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m

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Please remember to read this whole email for all upcoming events and information. No family envelope will go home this week.

Bowlapalooza The Fourth Annual St. Francis Xavier Bowlapalooza is Friday March 31, 2017 at Pickwick Bowl. This event is for the whole family to attend.

PE BBQ & Prize Raffle PE BBQ & PRIZE RAFFLE - Wednesday, May 10, 2017 PE BBQ RAFFLE TICKETS Raffle tickets go on sale on Monday, March 20! Tickets can be purchased Monday - Thursday at recess, outside the PE office. Tickets are .25 cents each or 6 for $1.00 Please print your name and grade on ALL tickets and return them to Mr. Orlando to be put in the tumbler.  Good luck! PE BBQ RAFFLE PRIZE DONATIONS Please help us make many children very happy by donating an item or two to the PRIZE RAFFLE.  Prizes for children of all ages are needed. Games, toys, posters, gift cards, sports equipment, electronics, and event tickets are just a few examples of the items we're looking for. PSA HOURS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ALL DONATIONS. You will receive 1 hour for every $25 in value. We are happy to accept your generous donations beginning Monday, March 20. Please drop your items off to Mr. Orlando in the PE Office or to Mrs. Ward in the Kindergarten classroom. Many thanks for your support and generosity!  Janet Ward

BASEBALL OPENING DAY - Monday, April 3, 2017 In celebration of Dr. Sullivan's favorite day of the year he is allowing us all to wear our favorite baseball shirt/jersey and baseball cap with blue jeans, to school on Monday, April 3, 2017.  GO DODGERS!!!

Attention Every St. Francis Xavier Student You are invited to sing the opening and closing songs at this weekend’s 10:30 Mass. This is a great way to get involved at church and share one of your many talents. All students have been practicing with Mrs. Raymundo during music class. Please arrive a little early to Mass and see Mrs. Cranston in the choir area. After the first song students will sit with their family. Mrs. Cranston will then call them up to sing the last song.  Please try to come. We are really excited to start this new tradition.

A valuable item has been turned into the school office. If you have lost something, please see Mrs. Konzen with a full description. Thank you!

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez awards Kaitlyn Maddigan '17 the Christian Service Award Medal

SFX Alumni Kaitlyn Maddigan '17 receives Los Angeles Archdiocesan Christian Service Award 3/17/2017 Kaitlyn Maddigan, who has served with joy to bring more student participation to campus Masses, and volunteers at her parish and in the broader community, was honored for her exemplary Christian service during her years at Mayfield Senior School. Kaitlyn Maddigan ’17 said she was not only honored to receive the Christian Service Award Medal from Archbishop Jose H. Gomez this week, but she was also proud to stand among 75 other Catholic high school award recipients. “It showed how so many young people are doing good things in their schools and in their communities,” she said. “When you learn to perform service at a young age, I think it is something you do for the rest of your life.” The annual awards, organized by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools, honor one student from each Catholic high school for outstanding service to the community and for exemplifying Gospel values. Kaitlyn is a Mayfield Campus Ministry team leader and has worked with other students this year to build strong participation in campus Masses.  “We have tried to make the liturgies more relevant,” she said. “It makes them more enjoyable, more meaningful, we are not just going through the motions.”  Kaitlyn said she and the team involve students in affirming activities at every Mass—handing out candles for Advent and selecting their own readings when possible. “I think the whole student body has grown spiritually this year,” she said. “In general, I think people are more involved in Mass and we have more fun being involved.” Campus Minister Teri Gonzalez said Kaitlyn is young woman of faith with "a strong, resilient and joyful spirit." She is generous with her time and service and always responds to the needs of her leadership role at Mayfield, she said. "Kaitlyn is dedicated and committed to her faith in her personal growth and the growth of others," Mrs. Gonzalez said. Kaitlyn's service extends to her home parish of Saint Francis Xavier Church in Burbank, where she is a Confirmation leader, Eucharistic Minister and lector. In the broader community, Kaitlyn is an active member of the National Charity League and she and her mother make lunches at family shelters and assemble hygiene kits for homeless seeking aid. “Mayfield has taught me to try to branch out when it comes to service, to try something new,” she said.  When Kaitlyn was younger she would just drop off lunches at the family shelter. Now she has expanded her service and stays to serve meals to families. “When you stay you have a personal connection to the people you are serving," she said. "You realize they are just like you but are going through bigger problems.” Kaitlyn received her medal following Mass at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels on March 14 and her award will be recognized during Mayfield’s graduation ceremony in June.