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Important Dates
2020 - 2021
School Year

Nov
23-27
Thanksgiving
Break
Dec 21 - Jan 3
Christmas Break
Jan 18
No School -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 15
No School -
Presidents' Day
Mar 15
Spring Conferences
Apr
2-9
Easter Break
May 31
No School - Memorial Day
Jun 11
Last Day of School Preschool/PreK
Jun 18
Last Day of School K-7

November 25, 2020

Dear St. Francis of Assisi School Parents and Guardians,

What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?  What food or dish do you most look forward to having on the Thanksgiving table?  Who says the prayer for the Thanksgiving meal?  My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is going to a friends house two days before Thanksgiving to help her make dozens of pies for friends and family.  She is an amazing baker and I have much to learn in this area.  I most look forward to seeing homemade cranberry sauce and creamy mashed potatoes on the Thanksgiving table.  There is never a shortage of fun carbohydrates for all to enjoy.  On Thanksgiving, my husband typically blesses our meal, our family, and our home.

With a 2020 Thanksgiving before us, I believe it is important to hang on to the traditions we are able to enjoy and celebrate.  Our families need consistency and ritual to draw us closer together.  The traditions tie us to our ancestors and the love that is shared between generations.  Even if we are unable to be together with our loved ones, we always hold them near and dear to our hearts.  Gratitude fills our tables, homes, and souls with the knowledge that God continues to shine his light even in the darkest of times.

Last week, a parent shared a message of gratitude with their child's teacher.  It included a video that was then shared with all of our staff and faculty.  The video was created to express appreciation for all of the essential workers, who give of their time, talent, and treasure in these unprecedented times.  I firmly believe that our St. Francis of Assisi School parents are essential workers!  Together we can celebrate the completion of our First Trimester.  Because of your support for your children at home, in their faith, their education, and their emotional well-being, we see the fruit here in the smiles (behind their masks), in their laughter, and in their overall growth amidst the challenges we all face.  Tonight I share the video with you so that you may you know just how much you are loved and appreciated!

From my family to yours,

Jeannette Lambert
Principal 
SCHOOL NEWS
Teacher & Staff Monthly Recognition
On behalf of our SFA Community, in an effort to support our hard working SFA teachers and staff during this challenging year, we are launching a "Recognition of the Month" program. Classes are coupled together for a designated month to do something special for all of our teachers and staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty this year. Room Parents have been given the details and will be reaching out to you to either solicit participation or inform you of what is being done. If you are interested in helping, please contact your Room Parent.

Thank you to the 6th and 7th grades parents who lovingly expressed their gratitude and shared Thanksgiving treats with all the staff and faculty. 4th and 5th grades are up next in December.

If you have any questions, please contact tracyfoye@gmail.com.
SEEDs Parent Workshop in Partnership with CHOC
St. Francis Counselor, Kelli McCarty, will be co-hosting a workshop for St. Francis parents in partnership with Children's Hospital of Orange County. The topic will be "Building Resiliency in Youth" and the presentation will be broken into two (Zoom) talks; one for Pre-K through 3rd Grade and another for 4th Grade through 8th Grade.

Building Resiliency in Youth will focus on good mood hygiene, building strong relationships, and improving communications skills for youth and families.  Parents will be provided actionable steps to help children take on challenges, bounce back from difficulties, feel confident, and promote wellness.
 
The date is still to be determined.  Please stay tuned for more information!
Spirit Wear Sales - November 20th - December 4th
SFA Spirit Wear is available for sale November 20 - December 4! Take advantage of this opportunity to purchase those SFA sweatshirts or a SFA hydro flask to fill with a warm drink for cold mornings in our Outdoor Classrooms.  SFA branded items also make great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers.  The link will remain open until December 4th so we can deliver orders before Christmas Break.  

Buy Your Yearbook Today!
Just in case you lose your phone or the cloud vanishes, you will be glad you order printed pics of this school year bound together in the yearbook! Order TODAY for $45!


 
Click 
here tplace your order!   

The cost for a 2020-2021 yearbook was included in class fees for 8th Grade students.  It is not necessary to purchase a yearbook for students in the class of 2021!
Turn Off Heaters in Morning Carline
As the temperature has dropped, we have noticed an increase in students registering high in temperature during morning drop off. This increase is primarily due to the toasty interiors of your cars. Please be sure to turn off your car heaters as you wait on Eastside Circle to avoid having to park and have your child's temperature retaken.  Thank you!
Shared Responsibility Reminder
As a reminder, St. Francis requests that families screen their students for symptoms of COVID-19 at home before arriving at school each and every day. Anyone with a fever of 100.4° F or greater within the past 24 hours must stay home as well as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, new loss of taste or smell, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, fatigue, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose, nausea and vomiting. In addition, anyone with recent close contacts within the past 14 days with known or suspected COVID-19 positive cases must stay at home. Personal illness, quarantine, COVID-19 illness, and symptom-related absences will be excused. 

This shared responsibility is critical to our ability to keep our school open for hybrid learning. In support of this partnership, the school will send out regular reminders to families periodically. Please report your student's illness with details of all symptoms to their school Covid Coordinator. A school staff member will follow up on all students that are at home with COVID-19 symptoms. 

Please also keep this shared responsibility in mind as you gather with extended family and make travel arrangements over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Lastly, it is important to note that a student who is sent home, stays home, or has been exposed to COVID-19 and is at home in quarantine, will be able to access live classroom instruction from home if they are healthy enough to participate. Thank you in advance for your commitment to this shared responsibility.
Air Filtration System - Final Call!
While we continue to finalize the installation of all components of our air filtration system, we would love to ask all families to participate in any way that they are able.This endeavor cost the school an additional $66,000.  The remaining balance will come from fundraising savings.  The air scrubber removes or destroys up to 99% of all surface and airborne contaminants.  Please fill out this hyperlinked form to indicate what your family would like to contribute.
Extended Care Registration
Families that plan to utilize our after school Extended Care Program must complete their registration prior to the first day they attend Extended Care.  The 2020-2021 Registration Form can be downloaded here or from the Extended Care page at sfayl.org.

Extended Care questions or concerns can be sent to our Extended Care Directors Eric Walswick (ewalswick@sfayl.org) and Ben Jansen (bjansen@sfayl.org).
6th Grade Families - Immunization Requirement
TDap immunization is needed before your child enters 7th grade.  Once this requirement has been met, please be sure to forward documentation to the SFA office.  We will need this information prior to the start of the 2021 - 2022 school year.
Outdoor Classrooms - Bring Your Sweatshirts & Water Bottles
As the weather begins to cool down in the mornings it would be beneficial to have students wear sweatshirts to school, especially those students learning in our Outdoor Classrooms.  Please make sure your child's sweatshirt is clearly labeled with his or her name on the tag.  When temperatures are very low, students are also allowed to bring a blanket to stay warm in our outdoor classrooms!

We have also noticed many students coming to the front office to request water after lunch.  Please be sure to pack a refillable water bottle for your student as we are running low on disposable water bottles.  Thank you!
FUNDRAISING NEWS
Virtual Santa's Secret Shop November 30 - December 4!

Click here to begin shopping!
Poinsettia Fundraiser
$5 Candy Cane Leis - Theater Fundraiser
We will be spreading holiday cheer and raising funds for our fledgling Theater Department at SFA by selling candy cane leis!  Leis will be available for $5.00 each during the week of December 14th - 18th.  Students that wish to purchase a lei can bring $5.00 to the front office.  Thank you for your support!
SFA Face Mask Buddies for Sale!
Scrip Program
The St. Francis of Assisi Scrip Program is a major fundraiser used to reduce tuition costs for families at SFA. The scrip program provides families the ability to purchase retailer gift cards through various providers. Those retailers then rebate a percentage back to the school to pass on to each buyer.

The SFA Scrip Program will run on a yearly basis from April 1 through March 31 and will operate weekly throughout the school year with minor deadline and delivery changes due to holidays and vacations. Participants must check the school newsletter for updated order and pick up schedules.

Please download and return the attached Scrip delivery form.
Shop with Scrip
Great news!  Shop With Scrip has a new feature and families can have orders shipped directly to their home. 

Watch this brief video to learn more about the Shop With Scrip.

If you have any questions regarding the scrip program please contact Michelle at scrip@sfayl.org.

Thank you for supporting our school by using the scrip program.

 
Amazon Smile


AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support our school every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School.  Simply click here to begin shopping through AmazonSmile.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Mater Dei High School - Early Admissions

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School | 714-695-3700 | webmaster@sfayl.org | http://www.sfayl.org
5330 Eastside Circle
Yorba Linda, CA 92887