ROOTED IN FAITH, TRADITION, & ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE |
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A LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL |
What is your family’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Maybe you and your family join around the table to share what you’re most thankful for that year, or you get to make a traditional dish side-by-side in the kitchen with your grandma, or you volunteer at a Thanksgiving dinner for those spending the holiday alone, or you join in a local turkey trot run. Mine? Thanksgiving’s just not quite the same without the very special, very undiet sweet potatoes my Uncle George makes or the official first viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
In a year full of craziness, a lot of our favorite traditions at SFBRHS have had to take a backseat to social distancing and sanitation. For our Class of 2020, it was missing out on the traditional last day of school breakfast on the front steps. For this year’s seniors, it was not having a Homecoming dance. For our Athletic Association, it meant reimagining the fall mixer. For our Advancement Office, it means postponing the annual dinner auction/gala until the spring.
In the midst of all the cancellations, postponements, and changes, I can’t help but be thankful for the rich traditions this school holds. We are truly blessed to have so many memory makers that truly define what makes the Borgia Family.
So, that begs the question - What is your favorite Borgia tradition? Is it the Grandparents Mass? Or Friday night football games? The pep assemblies or spring musical? One of my favorites in high school was definitely the Homecoming parade; now, I would hate to miss a Luke 18 closing Mass. In this time leading up to Thanksgiving, please know that we are oh so thankful for you, our alumni, who have paved the way and created so many of the special traditions we hold dear.
I hope the holiday season brings your family joy, peace, and health.
Pam Tholen
Principal
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BREAKING NEWS!!
Congratulations to our Principal, Pam Tholen and her family! New addition Abe Daniel Tholen decided to join the family a little early this week, just in time for his debut in the alumni newsletter. Mom and baby are healthy and happy. Here are the details on the newest Knight:
9lbs 8oz - 22"
7:51am - Nov 14th, 2020
Abe joins big sister Betsy and big brother Moe.
We can't wait to meet him!
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Borgia Giving Day - A Huge Success! |
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Because of the generosity of almost 400 supporters, we were able to raise over $120,000 in celebration of Borgia Giving Day!
We can agree, now more than ever, our world needs the men and women formed at SFBRHS. It needs men and women of character that can creatively solve problems and serve others with compassion. Their works and deeds can grow exponentially in our community and affect others well beyond our brick and mortar. The gifts made on Borgia Giving Day are investments in our young people that will extend decades and even generations into the future.
We would also like to send our heartfelt thanks to our most generous matching gift donors:
Diane and Roland Gaasch '60
Susan (Ballmann) '89 and Steve Lange and Family
The Riegel/Rickman Families
Bonnie (Hellebusch) '65 and Richard Riegel ‘64
Lynn and Bret Riegel '85
Laura (Riegel) '90 and Joel Rickman
The Walter and Jean Voelkerding Charitable Trust
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Click on the video to see a big thank your from our students.
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YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! |
This year, more than ever, we ask for your assistance. We want you to "U-Knight" with us in providing the resources and opportunities for our incredible young people to grow. Not including additional Covid-related costs, our expenses per student are $10,740 – well above the tuition level of $8,400.
That puts our deficit per student over $2,300 – or nearly $675,000 in total. We need to keep the Borgia experience affordable for our families, and we need the assistance of generous donors like you to help support our students.
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ROOTED IN FAITH, TRADITION, & ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE |
We recognize times are tough for some donors, just as they are for our students. We humbly still need your support. We ask you to give what you can, recognizing the act of giving itself is just as important as the amount. We are grateful for any sacrifice you can make and even more grateful for your prayers and support during this school year. Thank God for our outstanding students and their supporters like you! |
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You can make a gift by mail, online at borgia.com, or Venmo @ SFBRHS
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Emily receives news that she is a recipient of the 2020 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. About 100 educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area receive this award each year. Recipients are selected by their educational institutions and are eligible to apply for Gold Star cash grants from Emerson to help support educational and classroom goals for these teachers. |
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Emily (Holdmeier) Marquart '14 has had quite a month. First, she married her high school sweetheart, Luke Marquart, on October 24. Days later, Emily became a recipient of the 2020 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award! Emily is a 5th grade teacher at St. Francis Borgia Grade School.
Congratulations, Emily; we are proud to call you an alum!
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Meredith Chalk '07 married Neal Steinbach on September 26 in St. Louis. They reside in Ballwin, MO. Congratulations to the Steinbachs! |
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Alums and high school sweethearts Dylan Bielicki and Jodi Klott, both from the Class of 2011, were married on
November 7.
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Bielicki!
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On October 17, Jack Haddox '11 wedded Tess Johnson in Washington, MO. They will renew their vows and host a reception in November 2021. We wish you a lifetime of happiness. Congrats!]
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Mary (Stock) '03 and Phillip Kleekamp '03 welcomed their third child, Anna, on October 8, 2020. Anna joins big brother, Jack (6) and sister, Lily (3).
We are looking forward to Anna being a member of the SFBRHS Class of 2039!
Congratulations to the Kleekamp family!
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We love hearing from our alumni! These former students wrote in to let us know their latest news: |
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Kyle LaBeau '13 let us know that he is working full-time at Six Flags as a Financial Planning/Analysis Supervisor. |
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Yvonne (Voelkerding) '69 and Steve Maune '67 are proud grandparents of Borgia sophomore Liam Kluesner. |
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Emily (Smith) Kappesser '00, her brother Clayton Smith '01, and Clayton's wife Erin have opened a new coffee roastery called Reconstruction Coffee Roasters. |
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Based in their hometown of Villa Ridge, Reconstruction focuses on roasting specialty coffees that are sustainably and responsibly sourced from small coffee farms around the world.
Emily, Clayton, and Erin are pictured here at their new business on the first roasting day!
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Recently married? New baby or job?
Let us know what's going on in your life so we can share
it with your classmates in this newsletter!
Send information and photos to bridget.callahan@borgia.com
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In thanksgiving for the sacrifices and contributions offered by those before us on our behalf, we at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School offer our afternoon prayer for different members of our alumni each day. |
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If you have children who are graduates and still receive mail at your home, but no longer live there, please contact Donna Grahl, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, to update your child's address. She can be reached by phone at 636-239-7871 ext. 131 or via email at donna.grahl@borgia.com. |
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GRANDPARENTS DAY POSTPONED |
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SAVE THE DATE FOR THE GALA!
New name, new date, same amount of fun!
Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to move our annual event from February to April this year only. Our hope is to have an in-person experience for our guests by moving it to the spring. Look for more information to come for this special event; we can't wait for you to join us and to celebrate with us this year!
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Our Annual Report was mailed out last month. If you would like to see an electronic copy, it is available on our website, or just click on the picture of the Annual Report in this newsletter!
Thank you to everyone who makes it possible for us to fulfill our Mission here at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School!
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Each year St. Francis Borgia Regional High School awards $25,000 in prizes through our annual Borgia Mega Raffle. There are two $1,000 drawings each month and an additional $1,000 drawing on October 10 to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Borgia. In addition, the student who sells the winning ticket receives a lunch credit for a week. |
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November 1
Barb (Kloeppel) Jankowski '89 (sold by Eric Jankowski '20)
November 15
Robert McManns (sold by Luke Hendrickson '20 )
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For 40 years, St. Francis Borgia has sponsored a magazine drive. While we have decided to end the drive format, you can renew or order new subscriptions by contacting a Borgia student or the Advancement Office at (636) 239-7871 x 122. You can also order online all year long!
When subscriptions are ordered or renewed through St. Francis Borgia Regional High School, we keep 48% of every dollar spent, netting us over $3,800 already this year.
Click the order button to shop and start supporting Borgia and our students all year round!
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SCHNUCKS E-SCRIPT PROGRAM |
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If you shop at Schnucks, you could earn up to 3% of your purchase amount for St. Francis Borgia Regional High School. Click the picture on the left to sign up. Our eScrip school id is 6674669.
Thank you!
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Athletic and Activities Schedule |
Welcome to another exciting year of Borgia Athletics and Activities. Together, let’s always and, in all ways, celebrate the efforts of our students, players, coaches, and teachers as they strive to make Borgia #1 in class, style, sportsmanship, and competitiveness.
Go, Knights!
Click the Knight logo to see a comprehensive athletic and activities schedule.
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St. Francis Borgia Regional High School - Spirit Shop
Check out our very own Sprit Shop for gifts and apparel for everyone on your Christmas list! Don't forget about our annual sale on St. Nick's Day where everything is 10% off!
Read more
shop.borgia.com
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St. Francis Borgia Regional High School
1000 Borgia Drive, Washington, MO 63090
P: 636-239-7871
F: 636-239-1198
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