August 10, 2022
Dear SFX Families,

Welcome to the 2022 - 2023 school year!! We are excited and looking forward to beginning the new school year! Our Buildings and Grounds team has the school looking shiny & clean, and Faculty and Staff have been at school this week preparing their classrooms to welcome our students! Next week, teachers will be present in the building and we will be attending professional development and planning for the coming school year. Our 1st day of school for grades K-8 is a half day (noon dismissal) on Tuesday, August 23rd. On Wednesday, August 24th we will welcome our Preschool and PreK students and follow our usual Wednesday schedule.

I am pleased to welcome our new SFX team members

Ashley Augustyniak - Front Office Coordinator
Natalie Walsher - 3rd Grade
Patricia Cardoso - Teaching Assistant
Linda Schuman - Teaching Assistant
Pat McMahon - Athletic Director
and welcome back Lincy Pullappally - 4th Grade

When you come to SFX, all visitors will be asked for their name and their purpose as they come into the building and all visitors will be asked to wear a badge while in the building. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we welcome our new Front Office Coordinator, Ms. Ashley Augustyniak, to SFX and keep safety as one of our top priorities. Visitors can only enter through the main entrance.

Sixth grade will now be part of our MIddle School! Our Middle School Team is staying together and have been planning a schedule that will allow our teachers to remain in their curricular areas. Some teachers will be teaching more than one subject. Students in grades 6-8 will be switching for each subject area, giving them another year to prepare for high school.  

As we move into this phase of Covid 19 we will continue to be mask optional. As always, if a student has any symptoms of illness, they should stay home. If a student tests positive for Covid, they will need to remain home for 5 days and wear a mask when they return for days 6-10 unless a negative test is provided, home tests not accepted. Close contacts, without symptoms, do not have to stay home from school if they have a negative test. We will still use hand sanitizer in the classrooms and follow ongoing cleaning procedures. These protocols could be updated at any time by SFX, the Archdiocese of Chicago, or the Illinois Department of Health. We will share any updates we receive.

Our PS3 & PK4 parents are encouraged to attend Preschool Parent Information Night on Wednesday August 17th. Middle School parents will have their Curriculum Night on August 31st and September 7th will be for grades K-5. We look forward to seeing our parents back in the building to meet your child’s teacher, see their classrooms and hear about grade level information. All nights begin at 6:30pm. Parents will enter through the main entrance of the school.

This newsletter contains a lot of information, please read through it carefully. Please become familiar with the information in the 2022 - 2023 Parent Handbook and other resources available under “Parent Resources” on our website. The updated Parent/Student Handbook along with the Handbook Acknowledgement will be sent home next week. It is important that parents follow the traffic pattern around the school for the safety of all of our students. You will also see the arrival and dismissal doors. If you are not sure where you go on the 1st day of school please ask any staff member to help you!  

Parents are invited to attend the Parent Welcome Coffee on their child’s 1st day of school. There will be a table set up on the playground on 8/23 & 8/24 after students enter the building. Parents are welcome to bring their little ones (younger than school age) to the Parent Welcome Coffee.

Students are asked to bring supplies that they can carry on their own. Teachers will expect supplies during the 1st two days of school. On August 17th, Preschool 3 & PreK 4 parents only may bring supplies to Parent Information Night. 

Important Due Date Reminders:

  • All physical forms were due August 1st. Children who do not have physical forms turned in by October 15th will be excluded from school per the Illinois School Board. 
  • Emergency Contact Forms will be sent home on the 1st day of school. This teal colored form must be completely filled out and returned on the 2nd day of school.
  • Any Medication Forms must be completed by a physician and dropped off prior to the 1st day of school for medication to be carried or kept at school.

Class lists will be sent to families on Monday, August 15th. The spreadsheet has multiple tabs on the bottom, one for each grade level. Teachers work diligently to put these class lists together and have started putting student’s names on classroom materials and desks. We are working hard to create a welcoming environment!!

I would also like to encourage all of our parents to get involved and volunteer. You will be given information about many opportunities to volunteer at our school. SFX is a wonderful community that is strong because of the dedication of time, talent and treasure of so many parents. Become involved and enjoy being a part of the SFX community where WE PRAY - WE LEARN - WE SERVE Together!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us. The SFX Family Contact Protocol is a resource to help guide you to the person who can answer your questions. Follow us on FaceBook and Instagram where we share important and fun information about our school

We look forward to seeing all of you and working with you to create a cooperative learning environment for the children of SFX.  

Be Well and God Bless,

Sharon Garcia
Principal
SCHOOLBELLES UNIFORM STORE

Uniforms for grades 1-8 may also be
purchased online through Schoolbelles School Uniforms www.schoolbelles.com. Our school code is S1411

If you wish to shop in person, the closest store is: Schoolbelles of Chicago Ridge, 10139 S. Harlem Ave, Ridge Plaza Suite A, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415. Phone: 708-929-4695
SFX Spirit Wear Store is OPEN! 

Show your Falcon Pride with some new Spirit Wear!* 

All orders ship directly to you! 10% of the proceeds will benefit the SFX Athletic Department. CLICK HERE TO ORDER
* Spirit wear may not be worn as part of the school uniform.
STATE OF ILLINOIS STUDENT HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Illinois State Law requires that all students prior to entering:
  • Illinois schools for the first time
  • Kindergarten
  • 6th Grade
  • 9th Grade
must have a current (conducted within one year of entering the given grade) physical examination with a current immunization record. Students entering sixth grade will be required to provide proof of Tdap vaccination along with the school physical forms that are also required for these grades.

Illinois requires students to have proof of immunization to enter school. By October 15th each year, students must have an Illinois Child Health Examination form signed by a physician, nurse in physician’s office, school nurse, or local health agency and the form has to show: the type of immunization given, number of immunizations and dates immunizations were given. If the form is not received by October
15th, the child will be excluded from school until they can prove they received the required immunizations unless the child has a valid medical or religious exemption.

The State of Illinois has mandated that dental examinations are required for children entering:
  • Kindergarten
  • 2nd Grade
  • 6th Grade
  • St. Francis Xavier School recommends children entering school for the first time to have a dental examination.
Each child is required to present proof of examination by a dentist prior to May 15 of the school year.

Vision examinations are required for children entering:
  • Kindergarten
  • Or upon first entry into an Illinois school beyond Kindergarten.
Before October 15 of the school year, each child to whom the eye examinations requirement applies is required to present proof of an eye examination by a licensed optometrist or medical doctor who performs eye examinations.

Please be aware of the following:
  • Your child’s health/immunization form should be in the school office no later than August 1, 2022. The completed health/immunization form (with parent section top of page 2 completed and signed) may be brought to the rectory mail slot or mailed to school.
  • This completed form may be substituted for the Athletics Physical form, however, the Athletics form cannot be substituted for the State of Illinois Certificate of Child’s Health Examination.
  • Please retain a photocopy for your own records.
  • Physicians must conform to State Law requirements regarding immunizations or your child may be excluded from school.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please call the school office at 708-352-2175 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Peggy Evans
School Secretary 

PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN
COMPLIANCE for VOLUNTEERS
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
  • Please do not drop your students off before 7:50 am when supervision begins. 
  • Before school, there are supervisors on the playground beginning at 7:50 am.
  • After school, there will be 2 teachers outside for supervision.
  • Please discuss with your child to either stay on the playground until they see you or designate a meeting place.
  • All students remaining on the playground 10 minutes after the bell will be brought to the office

STUDENTS EXITING A VEHICLE  Whether students are being dropped off on Waiola or by the Rectory, they should leave the car on the side closest to the school. It is important that parents remain in the car and children are ready to get out of the car quickly. When dropping students off, pull as far forward as possible on Waiola or in the Rectory parking lot so that many students can exit their cars at the same time.
  • Rectory Lot:  Students should be dropped off in the line and not along the Rectory sidewalk. 
  • On Waiola:  Students should be dropped off along the curb in front of the school only, not on the snow hills, the grass or from the middle lane. That is unsafe when traffic starts moving. 
 
GENERAL TRAFFIC SAFETY PROCEDURES
  • Parents should never double-park to pick up students.
  • SLOW DOWN !!!
  • No cell phones should be used in the school zone.
  • Parents remain in cars and have your child ready so that drop off can be done quickly.
  • Those who enter the building during school hours may park in the Rectory parking lot. 
  • Please remember, if you are parking and walking to school, or parking and waiting for your student, the law requires that you park 20 feet from the crosswalk and 30 feet from the stop sign.
  • It is VERY important that everyone respects each other and follows our traffic pattern. 

WAIOLA TRAFFIC - NORTHBOUND ONLY
  • It is EXTREMELY important that everyone cooperates and lets a car in when they are trying to pull away from the curb. If everyone lets one or two cars in, traffic flow will be much quicker. It gets a little congested when the traffic light on Ogden is red, but traffic will flow when it turns green. 
  • Everyone must turn LEFT on Ogden from Waiola.
  • Waiola is ONE WAY during arrival and dismissal.  Traffic is NORTHBOUND ONLY on Waiola Ave.  
  • Cars may NOT enter Waiola Ave. from Ogden Ave.
  • U-turns in our neighbors’ driveways are NOT allowed. PLEASE Obey No U turn signs!
  • After school parents need to designate a spot, parents should not leave their cars if on Waiola, between Bell and Ogden. 
  • No Parking on Waiola, Bell to Ogden, unless you are picking up a sick child. When picking up a sick child, to allow room for emergency vehicles, please do not park directly in front of the school doors.
  • LaGrange Police have informed us they will issue tickets for parking violations, which include leaving cars parked on Waiola Ave. between Bell Ave. And Ogden Ave.
 
SPRING AVENUE & CHURCH LOT TRAFFIC
  • When dropping off in church lot, pull up as far as possible before stopping to drop students off, EVEN IF YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THERE!  Cars pulling up after you cause a traffic jam on Spring Avenue.
  • Students entering from Spring Ave should use the sidewalk by the Rectory to get to playground
 
BICYCLE SAFETY
  • Students should walk to the fence and follow the walkway
  • Students on bicycles must enter the playground from the Waiola side.
  • Bicycles should be locked up daily

Safety is our #1 PRIORITY!  THANK YOU for respecting the rules and having patience!
SFX ATHLETICS
 
The SFX Athletics Program is a member of the Suburban Parochial League (SPL) comprising local area Catholic grade schools. Sports schedules, directions and other information may be found on each sport’s websites (noted below). (Cheerleading is a non-competitive sport.)

LINKS


FORMS


HANDBOOKS & PLEDGES
 
GET INVOLVED for the 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR!

Hello SFX Families! 

Here is an overview of the volunteer* sign-up process at St. Francis Xavier School. This information was sent to current school families in May. 

All of these fun social events and special programming that help to set SFX above the rest could not happen without the help of volunteers. Thank you in advance for dedicating your time and talents to our school.

*Please note: All volunteers who interact with children must be fully compliant with the “Protecting God’s Children” (VIRTUS) program.
Thank you for making SFX such a terrific school and community! We could not do it without you!

Sincerely, 
Carrie Johnson, 2022-2023 FSA President
Volunteer Sign-Up for 2022/2023 School Wide Events

This online Volunteer Sign-Up is for volunteer opportunities for the upcoming school year that are not classroom specific. Looking ahead to next year, we still have many areas where parent volunteer help is needed! We are seeking volunteers to help with things like: Yearbook (need 3rd, 5th and 6th grade parent leads), Athletics Program, Junior Falcon Club, Social Events like 4th-6th Grade Monster Mash Bash, Falcon 5K, School Advisory Board committee positions & MORE! Please visit: https://signup.com/go/UrQefEy 
 
We are always in need of day-of volunteer assistance for specific events as well. Throughout the year, we will send out Volunteer Sign-Ups for events like Oktoberfest, the Falcon 5K and more! 

August 2022 Volunteer Sign-Up for 2022/2023 Room Parent and Service & Art Smart Programs

After class lists are available in August, this online Volunteer Sign-Up will be sent out for Room Parent, Art Smart Program Volunteers, or Service Program Volunteers for your child’s specific class. (Please note that room parents primarily assign roles and send reminder emails for a volunteer list created with the teacher’s help. This could be a good fit for working parents or those staying home with small children.)

September 2022 Classroom Volunteer Sign-Up

The online Volunteer Sign-Up for class parties, field trips and other miscellaneous activities will be sent mid-late September.

November 2022: Service Day Volunteer SignUp

In the fall, you will receive a separate Sign-Up for Service Day.
Registration. is OPEN! SFXgolfouting.com!
SFX Volunteers! We are looking for co-chairs to assist us for the near future, no golf experience required. Come join the remarkable Golf Outing planning team to make a difference for our SFX school and community. Questions, contact Lindsey Mackenzie, lindseycotter@yahoo.com
SAVE THE DATE: SFX FALCON 5K SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2022
We are thrilled to announce the 17th annual St. Francis Falcon 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Runs will return to La Grange Park on Saturday November 5rd, 2022

This is our long-standing school 5K and it continues to create a fun family-friendly morning! With the generous support of our families, volunteers and sponsors, we’re able to continue to produce such a high quality, fun event. We hope that you will consider supporting us whether you plan to run, walk, volunteer and/or sponsor. 
Race Registration: Registration to run/walk in the event will open in September. More details to come this Fall.

Volunteer Support: We’d value your support to help pull off this memorable race. If you are interested in volunteering before, during or after the race, please sign-up here.

Become a Sponsor: Do you know a local business interested in supporting this race as a Sponsor? Please send an email to SFXFalcon5k@gmail.com and we’re happy to share a number of opportunities. 
 
As members of the SFX parish and school and as passionate runners, we are honored to follow in the footsteps of past Chairs and can’t wait for November. Please email SFXFalcon5k@gmail.com with any questions! 

Michelle Martin and Eleanor O’Reilly
Co-chairs
St. Francis Xavier Falcon 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Runs
The following is shared community news. Content shared is informational and does not serve as a recommendation or endorsement by SFX School or Parish. 
SHOP FOR SFX THANKS YOU!
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