Dear St. Francis de Sales Community,
The saying goes April showers bring May flowers but in school, May brings "end of the year" activities -- it is usually a hectic month!
Like schools across the country, the end of year activities differ from previous years and even from last year. Prom and graduation are both on the horizon, but the format differs. For now, we are working hard as are our students to make sure they are ready for the next step.
In this April News, we include a lot of news!
- The gym re-do is done -- see a video and some pictures in this newsletter.
- We have several openings for transfer students. With nearly all families returning, only a few spots are open. We share a transfer student story this month.
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The TV show, 61st Street, brings Hollywood stars Tosin Cole and Bentley Green to SFDS!
- And congratulations to our students and science teacher Jane Healy on winning the environmental RISE Challenge this week!
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Please let me know if you have information you want to share in future monthly newsletters.You can email or call me at the contact information below.
We love our Pioneer Family!
Mary Kay Ramirez
Director of Community Relations
mramirez@sfdshs.org
P.S. Keep us informed of your reunion plans! We will share information in this newsletter and on our website linked here!
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Pictures and Community from April |
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This month, Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore AGAIN distributed bags of groceries to families in need on the East Side from the SFDS parking lot. Together we can build an even stronger community!
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What's Happening
in the building
at SFDS?!
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The GYM facelift is complete!
The SFDS gym has long been known as a beauty and it is again living up to its history. We think the gym is one of the most quintessential SFDS spaces, don't you? Take a look at these pictures and stop by for a visit.
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In her words: Spotlight on Akira
a transfer student and
a remarkable young pioneer!
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I am Akira, an SFDS Junior, who transferred from De La Salle institute. When you transfer it can feel quite scary and intimidating, a quote that speaks to me would be “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”Martin Luther King Jr. It suggests that no matter what obstacles you face or if you worry about what you can’t do there’s always an alternative or something to move on to. Change itself is not an easy experience, but transferring to Saint Francis De Sales was one of the best decisions my family and I have ever made. I transferred to St. Francis on a journey to move forward to better, and enhance my knowledge so that I could express my capabilities and become successful. and on that journey, the staff and students of St. Francis de sales welcomed me with open arms, I had not only found a school that was financially affordable but also provided me with opportunities, academic success and taught me how to become a leader and break those barriers that so many of us faced. Read more here!
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SFDS has several transfer spots
We are looking for students who are individuals driven to work hard,
explore their interests and be part of a family community,
one that knows you, believes in and supports you!
Define Yourself @St. Francis de Sales High School
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61st Street at 101st and Ewing! |
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Hollywood comes to SFDS! Principal Facen interviews the stars of 61st Street
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After a bit of healthy star stalking, Cinespace replied and so did the stars of 61st Street, an AMC production currently filming across the street from St. Francis de Sales. The stars, Tosin Cole and Bentley Green sat down with Principal Facen and opened up about Chicago, food likes, the show and their journey. Both inspired today's pioneers by sharing wisdom including this quote from Tosin Cole "Trust the process. It may not happen when you want it to happen, there is hardship, disappointment. But keep the faith. Trust in yourself. Trust in the process. Be resilient." Thank you to both Mr. Green and Mr. Cole for inspiring us!
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2021 Emergency Relief Fund |
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Alumni Chris Cole, Fran Lichon and John Czulno
again have come together
to support SFDS through the
2021 Emergency Relief Fund!
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Thanks to many alumni and donors last year, we were able to provide families impacted by COVID with tuition and food relief through a matching grant. This year our alumni have stepped up and again created a $15,000 matching donation supporting a community still in need. You do so much -- thank you! To read about the need or to give, please click here. Thank you!
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Work Study Program
The Job Committee works to expand
the world for pioneers
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St. Francis de Sales High School continues to work to transition to a Work Study Program. Programming will continue with a phased-in approach with training next fall and some work placement in the winter of 2022.
The Jobs Committee, lead by Mike Dooley, Director of Business Development for Big Shoulders and St. Francis de Sales, includes community leaders volunteering their time to give opportunities to our students by finding businesses that will employ students in Work Study across Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
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If you want to hear more about Work Study or are interested in your company participating, contact Mike Dooley at mdools40@gmail.com.
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