|
2020 - 2021
School Year
|
Nov
19-20
|
Parent - Teacher
Conferences
| |
Nov
23-27
|
Thanksgiving
Break
| |
Dec 21 - Jan 3
|
Christmas Break
| |
Jan 18
|
No School -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
| |
Feb 15
|
No School -
Presidents' Day
| |
Mar 15
| Spring Conferences | |
Apr
2-9
|
Easter Break
| |
May 31
|
No School - Memorial Day
| | Jun 11 |
Last Day of School Preschool/PreK
| |
Jun 18
| Last Day of School K-7 |
|
|
November 2 - 6
Allesandra D.
Vanessa H.
Grant J.
Luke L.
Olivia D.
Nicoletta N.
Molly G.
Liam V.
Emmie G.
Hudson G.
Caden B.
| 3B
3B
1B
1A
1A
KA
1A
1B
1A
1A
1B
|
|
|
|
 |
November 11, 2020
Dear St. Francis of Assisi School Parents and Guardians,
This Friday marks the end of our First Trimester of school. I am so proud of how the community has pulled together to not only reopen the school, but also how we work together daily, following safety procedures and protocols, for the health and safety of our students and staff. Our teachers have put in very long hours to provide a strong academic experience for all of our students in the hybrid and virtual options. We continue to collaborate on ideas and ways we can build community for all students. As we prepare for conferences and starting the next Trimester, we would like to get your feedback on how we are doing. Please fill out one survey for each student enrolled at SFA. It should take a couple minutes for each survey.
We are in the process of preparing for the return of more students next Trimester, which means that we are reviewing current placement for classes in the Seamus Glynn Center and the outdoor tent classrooms. To allow time for planning, any student returning from virtual to hybrid for Trimester 2 will begin on Monday, November 30 after Thanksgiving Break. All virtual students from Trimester 1 will remain virtual next week from Monday - Wednesday.
We are entering the flu season and the holidays, where some families may choose to have gatherings or may travel. We ask that all of our staff and families practice good discernment when we return from the holidays. If you or any family member has any cold and/or flu symptoms, please utilize our virtual option and consult with your family physician before returning to campus. Together we can keep each other healthy. We received word from the Superintendent's Office this week that if the County of Orange moves to purple, the OC Health Department has informed us that we will remain open to all hybrid students from Preschool through Eighth Grade. The only thing that can supersede this is a stay at home order from the Governor's Office. This is wonderful news as I wholeheartedly believe that our students are thriving in our current learning model. Continuity and consistency are so important for our children at this time.
I look forward to seeing everyone drive through our Tricks, Treats, and Tacos event tomorrow night. Thank you to La Reina Market and the Class of 2021 for helping us bring this event to life!
Be safe and be hopeful,
Jeannette Lambert
|
School Mass - Thursday Nov. 12
|
We will have an All School Mass on tomorrow. The Mass will be live streamed from the classroom hosting the liturgy on Facebook Live. All students in the indoor and outdoor classrooms are required to wear Mass Uniform! Please refer to the 2020 Parent and Student Handbook for the Mass Uniform guidelines.
|
Tricks, Treats, & Tacos Rescheduled! - November 12
|
 Tricks, Treats, & Tacos has been postponed! The event will still be be a drive through celebration. Visit the SFA parking lot from 5:00pm - 7:00pm tomorrow!
We encourage you to wear your costumes and decorate your cars before cruising through our parking lot to pick up your tacos and treats!
SFA's class of 2021 will provide all students who attend our Tricks, Treats, & Tacos event with a goodie bag. Families who not preorder meals to-go will be allowed to place walk-up orders. Each meal will include two tacos (one chicken and one beef), rice, beans, chips, salsa, and water.
Proceeds from Tricks, Treats, & Tacos will benefit SFA's Class of 2021. |
|
Virtual Students Materials Exchange Day - Friday, November 13th!
|
Materials Exchange for virtual students will take place this Friday, November 13th. If you have a virtual learner please visit the SFA parking lot on Friday from 12:15 pm - 5:15 pm to drop off any pencil and paper assignments that have been completed and pick up worksheets and materials for next week.
PLEASE NOTE: Next week our Materials Exchange Day will be held on Wednesday, November 18 so families will have the necessary paperwork for Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday. |
| Thanksgiving Food Drive - November 5th - 17th |
Please bring your items to school on your designated cohort days. Virtual students can drop off food items during our Friday Materials Exchange. |
| Mrs. Field's Delivery Dates - November 17th & 18th |
|
Fall Fundraiser Mrs. Field Cookies products DELIVERY DAYS:
Tuesday November 17th (Green Cohort) and Wednesday November 18th (Blue Cohort and All PreK students).
Pick up time begins at the dismissal of school until 6:00pm each day. All products MUST be picked up on you designated day without exception. Products will spoil if left at the school. If you are not able to make it for any reason please send a friend or family member to pick up on your behalf. AGAIN WE WILL NOT STORE ITEMS OVERNIGHT!
|
| Mrs. Field's Pick Up - Volunteers Needed! |
 Volunteers are needed Tuesday and Wednesday for DELIVERY DAYS from 9:30am - 6:00pm. Any time you could give would be greatly appreciated. Volunteers must be physically able to lift and move boxes.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer please contact Fall Fundraiser Coordinator Danielle Hill at dhill@sfayl.org or 714-322-6979. |
|
Spirit Day - November 18th
|
Virtual students, we want to see your school spirit at home! Wear your class color and snap a picture to share with our community. Send your photos to Allison Clewett via email aclewett@sfayl.org. |
Teacher & Staff Monthly Recognition
|
 On behalf of our SFA Community, in an effort to support our hard working SFA teachers and staff during this challenging year, we are launching a "Recognition of the Month" program. Classes are coupled together for a designated month to do something special for all of our teachers and staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty this year. Room Parents have been given the details and will be reaching out to you to either solicit participation or inform you of what is being done. If you are interested in helping, please contact your Room Parent.
The month of November, the 6th and 7th grades will lovingly express their gratitude and Thanksgiving on behalf of our SFA Community. 4th and 5th grades are up next in December.
|
SEEDs - Processing Changing Holiday Traditions
|
With the holidays approaching, many of us won't get the traditional family gathering or celebrations we are used to every year. Like many things with 2020, this could be perceived as a loss for our children.
While children will adapt to these new holiday changes, whenever there is change or loss, we want to make sure we first validate our child's feelings (I know you feel sad we can't see all our your cousins this year). Once we validate whatever it is they may be feeling (there are no wrong feelings!), we can then refocus on talking about new things we can do instead! Be sure to keep traditions and routines alive (when possible) for continued structure and also allow your child some ownership and control over what happens this holiday season. Can they make some decisions (Would you rather us make mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes? Should we set up a morning family zoom or afternoon family zoom? You are in charge of baking the pumpkin pie this year!) to allow them to feel more control over the situation. Giving them choices and new responsibilities can help combat some feelings of defeat and it helps remind our children that while there may be some things they can't do, there are still plenty of things within their control.
|
Turn Off Heaters in Morning Carline
|
As the temperature has dropped we have noticed an increase in students registering high in temperature during morning drop off. This increase is primarily due to the toasty interiors of your cars. Please be sure to turn off your car heaters as you wait on Eastside Circle to avoid having to park and have your child's temperature retaken. Thank you!
|
Shared Responsibility Reminder
|
As a reminder, St. Francis requests that families screen their students for symptoms of COVID-19 at home before arriving at school each and every day. Anyone with a fever of 100.4° F or greater within the past 24 hours must stay home as well as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, new loss of taste or smell, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, fatigue, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose, nausea and vomiting. In addition, anyone with recent close contacts within the past 14 days with known or suspected COVID-19 positive cases must stay at home. Personal illness, quarantine, COVID-19 illness, and symptom-related absences will be excused.
This shared responsibility is critical to our ability to keep our school open for hybrid learning. In support of this partnership, the school will send out regular reminders to families periodically. Please report your student's illness with details of all symptoms to their school Covid Coordinator. A school staff member will follow up on all students that are at home with COVID-19 symptoms.
Please also keep this shared responsibility in mind as you gather with extended family and make travel arrangements over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
Lastly, it is important to note that a student who is sent home, stays home, or has been exposed to COVID-19 and is at home in quarantine, will be able to access live classroom instruction from home if they are healthy enough to participate. Thank you in advance for your commitment to this shared responsibility. |
While we continue to finalize the installation of all components of our air filtration system, we would love to ask all families to participate in any way that they are able.This endeavor cost the school an additional $66,000. The remaining balance will come from fundraising savings. The air scrubber removes or destroys up to 99% of all surface and airborne contaminants. Please fill out this hyperlinked form to indicate what your family would like to contribute.
|
|
Are you an architect? Do you know an architect? We will begin forming the vision for our multipurpose facility this year. In our grassroots effort to keep the cost down, we want to partner with parents who may be in this field and can advise us on the journey!
Please contact Mrs. Lambert at
|
|
|
Extended Care Registration
|
Families that plan to utilize our after school Extended Care Program must complete their registration prior to the first day they attend Extended Care. The 2020-2021 Registration Form can be downloaded here or from the Extended Care page at sfayl.org.
|
|
Friday Morning Prayer via Facebook live - 8:10 am
|
 Joining together in prayer as a community is an important part of the "Spirit of St. Francis" here at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School. We would like to create social and spiritual bonds by connecting in prayer on a weekly basis. We invite you to join us online via Facebook Live for Friday Morning Prayer services at 8:10 am.
Question: How do I get on to SFA's Facebook Live Broadcast if I do not have a Facebook account?
Answer: Go to the SFA Website and click on the Facebook icon. This will take you to the SFA Facebook Public page where the live broadcasts will appear. You DO NOT need to sign in to a Facebook account. Just ignore any prompt that asks you to sign in. However, you must REFRESH for the broadcast to appear if it has not started. You can also watch the broadcast after the event by visiting our Student Council page at sfayl.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Next week our Community Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday, November 18 due to Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday.
|
|
Just in case you lose your phone or the cloud vanishes, you will be glad you order printed pics of this school year bound together in the yearbook! Order TODAY for $40! Price goes up November 16th!
Click here to place your order!
The cost for a 2020-2021 yearbook was included in class fees for 8th Grade students. It is not necessary to purchase a yearbook for students in the class of 2021!
|
| 6th Grade Families - Immunization Requirement |
|
TDap immunization is needed before your child enters 7th grade. Once this requirement has been met, please be sure to forward documentation to the SFA office. We will need this information prior to the start of the 2021 - 2022 school year.
|
| Outdoor Classrooms - Bring Your Sweatshirts & Water Bottles |
|
As the weather begins to cool down in the mornings it would be beneficial to have students wear sweatshirts to school, especially those students learning in our Outdoor Classrooms. Please make sure your child's sweatshirt is clearly labeled with his or her name on the tag. When temperatures are very low, students are also allowed to bring a blanket to stay warm in our outdoor classrooms!
We have also noticed many students coming to the front office to request water after lunch. Please be sure to pack a refillable water bottle for your student as we are running low on disposable water bottles. Thank you!
|
| Santa's Secret Shop Goes Virtual! |
| SFA Face Mask Buddies for Sale! |
The St. Francis of Assisi Scrip Program is a major fundraiser used to reduce tuition costs for families at SFA. The scrip program provides families the ability to purchase retailer gift cards through various providers. Those retailers then rebate a percentage back to the school to pass on to each buyer.
The SFA Scrip Program will run on a yearly basis from April 1 through March 31 and will operate weekly throughout the school year with minor deadline and delivery changes due to holidays and vacations. Participants must check the school newsletter for updated order and pick up schedules.
Please download and return the attached Scrip delivery form.
|
|
Great news! Shop With Scrip has a new feature and families can have orders shipped directly to their home.
Watch this brief video to learn more about the Shop With Scrip.
If you have any questions regarding the scrip program please contact Michelle at scrip@sfayl.org.
Thank you for supporting our school by using the scrip program.
|
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support our school every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School. Simply click here to begin shopping through AmazonSmile.
|
| Santa Margarita Catholic High School |
| Mater Dei High School - Early Admissions |
|
|
