Main Office Closed Tomorrow from 11:30am to 1:00pm

Please note: the main office personnel will be participating in Professional Development activities from 11:30am to 1:00pm tomorrow, October 11th; therefore the office will be closed at that time.

Students: Checking In and Out of the Building

Students must report to the main office to check in when they arrive late to school for any reason AND check out from the main office before leaving the building.

The Event of the Year This Saturday!

October 14, 2023

If you have yet to buy your ticket to Friends in the Courtyard, click here to view all the fabulous package options! Doors open at 6pm on Saturday, with wine tasting and delicious cocktails, wonderful food, silent and live auctions, exciting games and more taking place in the Little Theater lobby and gymnasium.

Live Auction Preview

Don’t miss out on this AWESOME Live Auction item! Package includes Blanton’s Barrel Head Tray with five unique bottles of Blanton’s. If the reserve of $1,500 is met, a very special sixth bottle will be added to the package.

$10,000 Raffle - A Win-Win for the Stallions!

We hope YOU win the $10,000 Raffle, but everyone has a chance to win by supporting our Stallions in all they do -- on the field, court, course, pitch, water, stage and track!

Every family who has child in a co-curricular is asked to support our $10,000 Raffle; each year we have winners at the $10,000, $1,000 and $500 levels. Get your tickets today! 

• To purchase your $10,000 Raffle tickets with cash or check, you can contact LuAnn Pusateri at pusateri@desales.co or 614-267-7808 x402.
• Winners will be announced at halftime of the Home Football game against Bishop Watterson on Friday, October 20! *Winners need not be present to win*

Stallions in the Spotlight

Last Tuesday students and staff represented SFD at the Red Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. The Red Mass is a historical tradition within the Catholic Church dating back to the Thirteenth Century when it officially opened the term of the court for most European countries. It is celebrated in honor of the Holy Spirit as the source of wisdom, understanding, counsel and fortitude, gifts which shine forth preeminently in the dispensing of justice.

Students also had the opportunity to speak with Mrs. Christine Julian '85, a distinguished SFD alumna, attorney and Thomas More Society member.

We were blessed to have so many of our grandparents here last Friday to celebrate Mass and enjoy a dessert reception. Our second Grandparents Day for students with last names M-Z, or special requests, will be on April 12. Check out our social media accounts to see more great pictures from the day!

Congratulations to senior Lily Hartman who was selected as one of the October students of the month for the Rotary Club of Westerville.

SFD students attended the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice at St. Joseph Cathedral last Friday. This Diocesan Respect Life Mass was celebrated by Bishop Fernandes. Students listened to a powerful message on the dignity of life. After Mass they had a photo op with Superintendent Adam Dufault, and then were treated to lunch thanks to Mr. Garrick's generosity. 

Members of the Autism Awareness Club, their families, along with club advisor, Mr. Montenaro, participated in the annual Autism Walk. The club held a bake sale earlier in the month donating all the proceeds to the walk.

A group of Stallions traveled to New York last week to take part in the Salesian Leadership Retreat. The student participants came back rejuvenated and empowered! Special thanks to Sr. Guerline and Mrs. Mitevski for taking these students on this inspiring experience.

Over the weekend Ms. Heinmiller, Campus Ministry Assistant, proudly represented Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) Catholic Church in the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. She ran alongside several Franciscan nuns who serve at the parish. She fundraised $1,300 for OLA; all proceeds go to the church's efforts in serving their impoverished neighborhood. The church serves 200 families every Saturday through their food and clothing bank. They also provide education for many families new to the US, have outreach programs, and provide other resources to the neighbors they serve. 

Students in our Italian classes volunteered this past weekend at the Columbus Italian Festival. Several students participated in cooking demonstrations in the cultural tent, while other students dressed as Romeo and Juliet to help spread this year's theme of "An evening in Verona." We also had SFD students volunteer their time in the children's area, and others lead the rosary in Italian in the church. Thanks to all those who volunteered! A fun time was had by all. 

Fall Sports in Post Season Action

Congratulations to our girls golf team and boys soccer team on winning CCL championships!

Visit https://www.stallionpride.com/announcements/2023-fall-postseason-information to check out the upcoming post season events for all the fall sports teams still in action.

Boxes Needed for Upcoming Canned Food Drive

We are looking for good packing boxes for our upcoming canned food drive. Please bring boxes to the main office. *Boxes can be broken down for easy transport to school, and we will put them together.

October is recognized as Depression Awareness Month 

Depression can affect people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and genders. It is a serious mental illness which may include any of the following signs and symptoms: 

• Continued feelings of sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, emptiness
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Anxiety, irritability, restlessness
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Loss of interest or joy in hobbies and activities
• Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
• Poor school performance
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or making decisions
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Thoughts of death or suicide or self-harm behaviors

To be diagnosed with depression, symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks. While depression is one of the most common and treatable mental disorders, there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment. Finding the treatment that works best for an individual may take trial and error. In addition to clinical treatments, healthy lifestyle habits can help.

Here are some tips for communicating with and helping a teen who has depression: 

• Use a gentle but persistent approach: Depression can be difficult to talk about. Don’t give up if your teen shuts you out at first. Emphasize your concern and willingness to listen. If they won’t open up, consider turning to a third party such as a school counselor or mental health professional.
• Focus on listening: Resist the urge to lecture, criticize, pass judgement, or ask a lot of questions. Simply acknowledging feelings can help them feel supported and understood.
• Encourage social connection: Set aside time each day to talk with your teen face to face without distractions or trying to multi-task. Encourage them to go out with friends or invite friends over. Suggest activities that cater to your teen’s interests and talents. Help your teen find a volunteer cause to support as doing things for others can provide a sense of purpose. 
• Prioritize physical health: Encourage exercise and plenty of sleep. Setting limits on screen time can boost physical activity and face to face time with others. Provide nutritous, balanced meals. 

Fall ACT Prep Course - Deadline to register October 18

To help prepare for the National Test given on December 9th and other tests offered throughout the year

We are offering an ACT prep course to seniors, juniors, and sophomores (in Geometry or higher) to help them prepare for the upcoming tests. Please fill out the registration form (link below) and return the form with the payment ($175) by October 18th to Mrs. Garrick in room 114. Class size is limited to 30 students.

The Diagnostic test will be given on Saturday, October 21 here at St. Francis DeSales High School from 7:45am to noon.

Please contact Mrs. Garrick with any questions: garrickj@desales.co

Link for registration and course specifics

Serra Club Men's Luncheon - Sign Up by October 30

On Tuesday, November 7, DeSales will be sending a group of young men to the Josephinum for half a day to learn more about the many ways that God might call them to a vocation in the Church, including marriage, the priesthood, and religious life. Please have RSVP and permission slip in to either your son's theology teacher or Mr. Brayden Steller by Monday, October 30. Contact bsteller@desales.co with questions.

Mothers Club Bake Sale 

Our Halloween Bake Sale is approaching and we need your baked goods! The sale will be held during all lunch periods on Tuesday, October 24th. Popular treats are CAKE POPS, BROWNIES, RICE KRISPIE TREATS, COOKIES, and CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS.

We ask that treats be individually wrapped and dropped off by you or your student on the cart in the front lobby the morning of the sale. Please use the link below to sign up to donate or work the sale!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844AFA728A3F85-42500791-mothers#/

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Karey Gabrielli (KareyGabrielli@yahoo.com) or Kristin Figliola (the3littlefigs@sbcglobal.net).

Interested in participating in a Winter or Spring Sport?

The Winter and Spring Sport Registration periods are now open in FinalForms! If you have a child who intends to try out or participate in a sport this school year, please log into your FinalForms account and click +Add Sports/Activities next to your student's name and grade.

If this is your child's first sport of the school year, additional OHSAA Forms will need to be completed after you have made your sport selections. If your child later decides not to try out or participate, you may remove the sport selection in FinalForms at any time before the registration window closes.

Click here for registration deadlines:  www.stallionpride.com/announcements/2023/9/26/winter-and-spring-registration-windows-now-open.

Discovery Nights for Future Stallions

Designed specifically for 6th, 7th and 8th grade prospective Stallion families, each informational session will focus on a unique strength of our St. Francis DeSales High School community. Visit https://www.sfdstallions.org/visit-sfd to register.

BE WHO YOU ARE AND BE THAT WELL

October 24, 2023, 7:00-8:30pm

Your four year journey should be filled with experiences and opportunities that are unique to your passions and purpose. No two students are alike...nor should be their experience. What will YOUR St. Francis DeSales High School experience look like?

THE VALUE OF A ST. FRANCIS DESALES HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION

November 15, 2023, 7:00-8:30pm

We believe the value of a St. Francis DeSales High School education is priceless and we partner with our families to ensure affordable Catholic education for their children. In this November Discovery Night, we will discuss tuition, scholarships, and tuition assistance opportunities for families, as well as the lifelong dividends associated with a St. Francis DeSales High School education.

Early Voting On Issues 1 & 2

Below is information shared by the Catholic Conference of Ohio. The Catholic Conference of Ohio is the official voice of the Catholic Church in Ohio on public policy, advocating for the dignity of life at all stages, immigrants, Ohioans in need, and Catholic education.

Catholics are called to faithful citizenship, which means we must act when a moral question confronts our society by praying and fasting, educating ourselves and our neighbors, and making our voice heard when it’s time to vote. Click here to learn more on early voting on Issues 1 & 2.

Nurse's Notes

2023-2024 Sick Policy 

Sick children often expose other students and school staff members to illnesses and germs. These illnesses are disruptive to the educational process and to other children and their families. Students who are ill should be kept home to help control the spread of germs. Please follow the guidelines linked here to help keep our school safe and healthy.