Our K-6 Waiver Has Been Approved! Campus will be reopen with a phased in restart for in-person instruction on September 14th

Greetings! Although surprised about the expedited nature of this waiver approval, we are overjoyed to know our students are coming back to campus. While it would be wonderful to throw open the gates and welcome you all back as usual, this pandemic is anything but usual. That said, my goal is to do whatever I can to help ensure we return safely and for the long haul.  With that in mind, we plan to bring students back to campus in a gradual progression. Distance learning will continue as we work to phase in a full return of all students. In the meantime, please do not make any changes to your current child care arrangements as we will not likely have all students on campus every day for at least a few weeks. Details will be provided next week. A new survey regarding your preferences for learning as we make this transition back to campus, is linked below. Please respond ASAP. Your choices are an important part of our planning process. Kern County is still in the purple tier with a widespread outbreak of COVID-19.  Please continue to take all the proper precautions by wearing your masks and keeping physically distant from others not in your household. The health of our community on campus depends on each and every one of us to do our part.  Masks will be required for all students at all times.  Start practicing now, especially with the Labor Day Weekend before us. We appreciate your support as we prepare for the safe return to campus combined with the continuation of distance learning for those who choose that plan. We continue to pray for our families as we navigate this unprecedented set of circumstances together. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me here:  Principal Kelli Gruszka. Have a safe and blessed holiday weekend!

Learning Plans After Sept 14th

Parent Feedback

Dinner to Go - Thursday, September 10th

Order Now

We Need Your Help

Star Testing

As you may know, we use Star Assessment to help teachers understand what students know and are ready to learn. Students take the Star tests 4 times in a school year. Because we are unable to be at school, students will be taking the Star test while at home. Your child's teacher will schedule a time for the assessment and will monitor your child while they test using Zoom. An adult should be available during this testing time (depending on the age of your student) to help your child log in and ensure they are on task and trying their best. We ask that you avoid helping your child answer test questions -the best help is no help.This test is not a grade in the grade book. Results from this assessment helps us understand what students know and how we can help them learn what they need to grow. In order for your child to log in to take the test, your child's teacher will make sure your child has this information. Renaissance URL Student username Student password Name of test student is taking (Star Math or Star Reading) Please be sure to check out this guide for families to learn more about how you can support your child as they take the Star test. This link is to a short video that explains more about the Star assessment and how to administer it.  We truly thank you for your assistance.

Preschool September News From Mrs. Baker Mrs. Cullor Mrs. Ortega Mrs. Chaidez Mrs. Sexton Mrs. Nolasco

From Mrs. Othart - Our Counselor

St. Francis Parish School Counseling Services Hello St. Francis Families! We are so happy to be getting back in our school routine. While we wish that we were all here on campus together learning and building friendships, we work now to be patient and do our best to use distance learning. We know that there are long-lasting effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, that not only affect people physically but also emotionally. Most children are struggling with missing their friends, teachers, and making connections with others. Please see the link below to access the counseling permission form and information on services available for our students this year.

Counseling Permission Slip

Pope: peace with Creator, harmony with creation

Want to know what the PTO is up to? Click this link to view directions to the PTO website and how to volunteer. Thank you for your support! How to Access PTO Homepage & Volunteer Website

SFPS Christmas Tree Sale - Pre Order Get in the Holiday giving spirit early this year with a new type of fundraiser for our school! Please plan to purchase a beautiful Noble Fir tree grown in the Willamette Valley of Oregon by the Noble Mountain Tree Farm. Noble firs have long been considered an excellent Christmas tree because of its aroma, beauty, stiff branches and long keep ability. Trees will be 5 to 6 ft tall and will cost $90.00 each. They will be available between December 4th to the 6th for pick up or home delivery. All Sales Final. Click below to place your order now! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Noble Mountain Tree Farm Info

Order Now

Dress Up Day! St. Francis will be celebrating International Dot Day on Tuesday, September 15. Make Your Mark! Show your spirit by wearing clothing with DOTS! Send pictures to your teacher by Wednesday, September 16 @ noon.

LIBRARY NEWS COMING SOON Follet Book eFair September 14- September 18

Book Fair Flyer

Prayer

Prayer of Petition From fifth grade Christ In Us  A prayer of petition is a meek and humble, earnest plea to God for a certain specific need or needs for you or someone else. Leader: The Gospel of Matthew teaches us which commandment is the greatest. A reading from the Gospel of Matthew (22:36-39): “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Leader: God’s love requires a response. One way we can respond is guided by 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 . Reader 1: Because love is patient, help us to be slow to judge but quick to listen, hesitant o criticize but eager to encourage. Reader 2: Because love is kind, help our words to be gentle, and our actions to be thoughtful. Remind us to smile and be polite to all. Reader 3: Because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, help us to be a refuge for those around us. When the world outside is harsh and cold, may our hearts be a place of kindness and acceptance. Reader 4: Finally. Because love endures all things, may our hearts continually beat with love for you and others. Leader: Dear God, thank you for showing us what the word love really means. Amen. All: Amen.

St. Francis Parish School is pleased to announce that we will have Chess Club again this school year. The plan this year is to have the club meet twice a week: once for younger students and chess beginners and once for older more experienced players. The club will meet remotely until circumstances around the pandemic allow other options. If your student is interested, please email our Chess Coach William Milliken (Mr. Bill) at debbillmilliken@gmail.com. In your email please indicate the age/grade of your student, their experience level in playing chess, and which days they are available after school.

Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and Western Association of Schools and College (WASC)

This year our school is completing a self study as part of our accreditation process. This requires our staff to collaborate to write reports on what we are doing to ensure all students are learning. Teachers will be spending a great deal of extra time working on this report. A visiting team will be here in the 2021-2022 school year to validate what we have written and what we are doing. There are several half days scheduled throughout this school year to allow teachers the time to collaborate on this important document. Friday, September 4, 2020 is a minimum day with the school day ending at 12:00. Thank you for supporting our teachers and St. Francis Parish School!

Charger Spirit Day!

Every Friday is Charger Spirit Day- Students and Faculty show their St. Francis Charger spirit by wearing any  St. Francis t-shirt (does not have be their uniform shirt). GO CHARGERS! View Slide Show Here

2020-21 School Calendar