OCTOBER 21, 2020

SFX School Community Presented with Congressional Record Statement


Our sincerest appreciation to Congressman Dan Lipinski for presenting a Congressional Record Statement, honoring St. Francis Xavier School, LaGrange, IL on being named an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School for 2020. 

Principal Sharon Garcia and Assistant Principal Janice Carr received the Congressional Record Statement on behalf of the Faculty, Staff, Students and Families of St. Francis Xavier School on Friday October 16th.
Dr. Brian Waterman, Principal at Lyons Township High School D204 Congratulates St. Francis Xavier School, LaGrange, IL on being awarded a 2nd National Blue Ribbon Award. 

SFX is proud to be one of 27 private elementary schools and 4 private high schools in the state of Illinois to receive this national honor more than once. Thank you Dr. Waterman and the faculty and staff at LTHS for the fine work that you have done to educate many of our #SFXLGfalconalumni!
2021-2022 RE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Re-registration for the 2021-2022 school year will once again be an online form for students currently in grades PS3 – 7th. The online form will be emailed to families through Family Communications Monday, November 2 and a link will be posted on the school website at sfxlg.org. Please complete and submit 1 form for each of your students currently in grades PS3-7th no later than Friday, November 20th. A per student nonrefundable re-registration fee will be charged to all families’ FACTS accounts in the first two weeks of February. If you replied “no” or “uncertain” on your student’s re-registration form you will not be assessed the re-registration fee nor will a seat be reserved for your student in the 2021-2022 grade level count.

NEW SIBLING REGISTRATION

If you have a child ready to enter Saint Francis Xavier for the first time next year, please request a New Student registration packet by completing the appropriate questions on the online re-registration form. New student paper registration forms will be sent home beginning Monday, November 9th and we ask that they be returned with original birth and baptismal certificates by Friday, November 20th. Original certificates will be returned to parents. All re-registration questions should be directed to Mrs. Evans at pevans@sfxlg.org. 
Halloween is almost here! This year Halloween will be on a Saturday, so we will be having a Virtual Halloween Parade! We ask that all families send one picture of your children dressed in their costumes on Halloween. We will send home a link the week before so that you can upload your pictures. We will put together a special video to share. 

The link is open now! CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD ONE PHOTO PER FAMILY of your goblins! Photos uploaded before 5 pm on Monday November 2nd will be included in our "Virtual Halloween Parade"!

1st through 8th Grade: At school on Friday 10/30, students grades 1st – 8th will have an Orange & Black Dress Down Day! Due to the lack of space in the classrooms and all of the protocols we have to follow students in grades 1st – 8th will not be wearing costumes at school. No treats will be allowed to be sent to school to be shared with other students. We will have some Halloween fun on that day.  

PS3, PK4 and Kindergarten: Early childhood students will be able to wear costumes on Friday, 10/30. This decision was made as there is more space in those classrooms, and teacher assistants available to help students. More information will be coming from the early childhood team.
Our "FLOCK" is growing!

Please join the St. Francis Xavier School Community in congratulating the following Falcon families on their new 2020 additions!

Martinez Family

Wharton Family

Do you have a new bundle of joy? Please contact Mary Tassi mtassi@sfxlg.org. We have a Future Falcon bib as a gift for your baby!
SFX SILENT ART AUCTION
NOVEMBER 4TH - 10TH
This November, St. Francis Xavier School is excited to host a Silent Art Auction, featuring the class art projects created for the April Auction event. We dusted off the quarantine vault and retrieved these priceless treasures. These class art projects – our Treasures – will be made available on a bidding platform 32auctions.com for one week only, beginning November 4 and closing at noon on November 10.

Many, but not all, classes created class art projects. It will be a while before children can again create such group projects. In this continuing global pandemic, we know the intangible value of a collaborative piece of art. We know they are priceless, but to support St. Francis Xavier and help our school close the gap in these unprecedented times, we will be asking you to put a price on this art and bid to win.

Stay tuned for more details about a fun auction week to celebrate art and our children!
We love our St. Francis Xavier School, Faculty & Staff! They have worked tirelessly over the summer and this school year to bring quality in-person and remote learning to families during this unprecedented time.

To recognize the fantastic work our Catholic schools are doing, the Office of Catholic Schools is excited to announce the #SchoolHero program that will highlight the educators and staff who have gone above to ensure a safe and productive learning environment.

Would you like to nominate a Faculty, Staff or Administrative Team member from St. Francis Xavier School?

You may use this link to submit your nomination! https://schools.archchicago.org/nominate-your-school-hero
All Saints’ Day Celebration! 😇

To celebrate All Saints’ Day, SFX is organizing a virtual All Saints’ Litany and Parade. We want you to join us! There are two easy ways to participate:

📸 Take a picture with artwork related to a Saint whom you love or has impacted your life. The artwork can be homemade, an icon, a book, anything you would like! Or....

🎥 Take a quick video (landscape filming preferred if using a phone) of you/your family saying your Saint’s name and “pray for us!” (ex: “St. ___, pray for us!”)

✅ THEN: send your picture or video to mmcmahon@sfxlg.org (with the name of your Saint in the subject line) by October 28.

We can’t wait to see how the Communion of Saints is walking with, loving, and praying for our SFX community in so many different ways!
SFX Parent Rosary

DATE: Thursday, 10/22
TIME: 8:20am

JOIN US IN-PERSON & SOCIALLY DISTANCED:

PLACE: Mary Garden on the Spring Ave side of the church
(inclement weather? We will gather in the church.)

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, coffee, & rosaries. The littlest pray-ers are most welcome. And bring your special intentions...goodness knows we have a few. Covid precautions will be in place: masks & social distancing.

If you know in advance that you will be joining us, please register on the parish website for: "Rosary--Thursday."
If your schedule changes, or the morning routine goes smoother than expected, or you realize it's Thursday, or you just forget to register? No problem! Join us! We'll mark your info when you arrive. (required by Archdiocese for contact tracing, if necessary)

JOIN US VIRTUALLY:

If you are interested in praying together virtually, click on the zoom link:

Questions? Contact Katie Kanzer at k.f.kanzer@gmail.com
Do YOU Euchre?

Join the virtual fun the first 3 Fridays of November! 18 years or older - Register today at https://www.givecentral.org/location/218/event/27832
Visit Playing card site at https://playingcards.io/game/euchre

REMEMBER TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS!


This year's Ice Cream Social is for the WHOLE school, not just the little ones!

Don't forget to play games and face paint! Here are some suggestions of the carnival games that are typically played at the ice cream social that your family can play at home:

  • Lollipop Pull
  • Can Stack (knock down the cans)
  • Duck Pond / Pick a Duck
  • Disk Drop (Plinko)
  • Ring Toss
  • Bowling
  • Bean Bag Toss (Bozo Buckets)

Questions? Contact Kristin Janisewski kristinjuice@hotmail.com or
Katy Casamassimo ktcass9410@gmail.com
SFX Virtual Falcon 5K Run/Walk

THANK YOU! WE SMASHED OUR SHIRT GOAL WITH 352 PARTICIPANTS!

Please feel free to contact Meghan Fijal at falcon5ksfx@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Are you subscribed? If your family is not subscribed to the Archdiocese of Chicago OCS newsletter, you may subscribe here to receive the latest communications from the Office of Catholic Schools. For previous communications, please visit: bit.ly/AoCCatholicSchools
Please send in your Box Tops and help SFX earn money! 
The deadline for the Fall collection is Friday, October 23rd
Our next Boxtops submission is coming up. Help us earn money for the school by sending in your clippings, and uploading your grocery receipts through the mobile app.

With families staying at home and eating at home more, grocery spending is up. Now is the perfect time to download the Boxtops App and get in the habit of uploading receipts. Every little bit adds up. Last year, our clipping added up to $1000 for the school!

We are also still accepting any old clippings that have not yet expired. Those can be sent into the school office in an envelope labeled "Boxtops." Please submit clippings before our next deadline: October 23rd! 

Be sure to download the new app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Register, enter your zip code and Select St. Francis Xavier School!
What's for dinner TONIGHT? St. Francis Xavier School Restaurant Fundraising Night with MAK's House TONIGHT Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 4:00 – 8:00pm

Order from MAK's House anytime between 4 - 8pm on Wednesday, October 21 and MAK's will generously donate 25% of all pre-tax/tip sales to St. Francis Xavier School!

The fundraiser is valid for dine-in and carry out. Orders can be placed in-person, by phone or via their website (Toast) - just be sure to tell them that your order is for the SFX/St. Francis Xavier fundraiser. If you order online, please note that you will have to tell them to count your order towards the fundraiser when you pick up. Also, please note that orders placed through Grub-Hub will not be eligible for the fundraiser.

Take a night off from cooking and enjoy their burgers, chicken sandwiches, melts and wings! MAK's is located at 46 South La Grange Road, by phone at 708-469-7264; and online at https://www.makshouse.com/

Thank you for supporting our local businesses and for supporting our school!
Support SFX while you shop!


Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases.
How do I use the Shop SFX program?

Every few weeks, I reload both my Mariano’s card & my Amazon account so that I get credit for all of those groceries and the Amazon packages that we just can’t seem to get enough of! And more often than I’d like to admit, I find myself waiting in line at other stores (or shopping online) and I check the RaiseRight App to see if I can purchase a digital gift card so that I can use it immediately on my purchase.

How do you use the Shop SFX program?

There are so many ways! You can pay by connecting your checking account, by check (sent into the school) or by credit card! Yes, even credit cards! And so many vendors to choose from! Amazon.com, Starbucks, Apple & iTunes, Gap & Old Navy, Target...Just to name a few!

Not sure what Shop SFX is all about? We are here to help! Email us at ShopForSFX@sfxlg.org for more information.

Orders due this Friday, 10/23, will be distributed on Wednesday, 10/28.

A special thanks to all of the families that already support Shop SFX!
UPCOMING SHOP FOR SFX DUE DATES / FILL DATES

You can find a current Order Form on the SFX School Website at
Wednesday 10/21
MAK's Restaurant Fundraiser 4-8 PM

Friday 10/23
Virtual Ice Cream Social

10/26 - 10/30
Red Ribbon Week

Monday 11/2
20-21 RE-REGISTRATION begins for SFX Students currently in PS3 - 7th
Online form will be emailed. (More info to come)

Thursday 11/5
Restaurant Fundraising Night with Aurelio's LG

11/6, 11/13, 11/20
Virtual Euchre League

11/1 - 11/7
Virtual Falcon 5K
Visit sfxfalcon5k.com to register for this virtual run/walk!

11/4 - 11/10
SFX SILENT ART AUCTION

Monday 11/9
20-21 NEW SIBLING REGISTRATION begins
(Paper) Forms will be sent home to current school families requesting a packet
(More info to come)

Friday 11/20
20-21 Re-registration and New Sibling Registrations are DUE

Thursday 12/3
Restaurant Fundraising Night with Aurelio's LG

Monday 12/7
2020-2021 NEW FAMILY
OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS
Please note:
Friday 12/18/20
NOON Dismissal
Let an individual Teacher, Staff or Administrative Team Member know that they are appreciated!

Click & Clap is our year-round positive recognition program allowing families to acknowledge special moments, and thank a SFX Faculty or Staff member for something they have done that has left a positive impression on a student or on your family in a special way.
The following is shared community news. Content shared is informational and does not serve as a recommendation or endorsement by SFX School or Parish. 
Are you an alumnus of SFX? CLICK HERE rb.gy/mgq9pt to create your SFX alumnus profile today!
News from THE WELL CSJ Spirituality Center
HFS Chicago Scholars

Financial assistance to attend top Chicago private high schools. Academic Directors dedicated to each high school class and one-on-one mentors. Four-year written commitment specifying performance expectations. College visits, selection, and admissions support.



Leader/Scholar Award
Nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, November 3rd 2020.
Full details on the award are available at stlaurence.com/leaderscholaraward
Shop for SFX !
a SCRIP Fundraising Program


Place your order today at www.ShopwithScrip.com or on the RaiseRight App

Need to enroll? Visit www.ShopwithScrip.com; click on Join a Program; enter our enrollment code: 291486155575L

Questions? Email us at ShopforSFX@sfxlg.org

Bookmark the link! Your purchases can make a difference!
St. Francis Xavier Family Ministry 

This year brings many challenges to volunteering and giving back to others in our St. Francis Xavier Community. We have met and decided that we will find the best way to minister to people who need our help. We came up with three opportunities and hope you can join us.
We are excited to share the following service opportunities! SFX families are invited to participate in these service events. The idea behind the Family Ministry is to give families a chance to have fun and work together while serving others in need. Please help us make a difference.


October

On Friday, October 23rd, SFX is going to deliver 35 goody bags to seniors at Bethlehem Woods. We need people to write notes and jokes for the seniors. We can ask our younger members of the parish to draw pictures and contribute a candy bar, socks, or lotions. If families would please reach to Ana at apd3@core.com with questions and please feel to contribute items. The collection will be the week of October 12th.

December

We wanted to work with an organization that would bring cheer during the holiday season. We are going to be working with Cards of Hope. This is an organization that mails cards to people affected by cancer. Please reach out to Rachel Peterson petersonrtw@sbcglobal.net and she will provide you with the information on how to help. We will be participating in this event from December 1st through December 16th.

October through May

Some of you may already be aware that the guests of the BEDS program are not staying at St. Francis Xavier due to COVID-19 concerns. The guests are staying at various locations, so for now, please drop all dessert donations on Monday mornings before noon at the BEDS Plus facility on the corner of East Avenue and Ogden Avenue but please contact Theresa Sullivan at thsully28@yahoo.com to sign up.