February 9, 2021
Stallions in the Spotlight
Congratulations to all of our participants in this year's Poetry Out Loud competition!  We are so proud of you for committing to do this in a very different format from last year. A special thanks to our judges Mr. Garrick, Mr. Dvorak, Dr. Wallace, and Ms. Arnett, and to Mrs. Pickens for working with her students and holding classroom competitions.

The 2021 winner of the All-School Poetry Out Loud Competition is senior Monserrat Tlahuel-Flores, and our Runner Up is freshman Ella Steiger. Monserrat will move on to the regional competition (in the event that she cannot compete, Ella will move on).
Employment Opportunity at SFD

St. Francis DeSales High School is looking for a new team member in the Advancement Office. This opportunity is for the Director of Alumni and Family Engagement. Interested candidates should contact Tim Jewett, Director of Advancement at jewett@desales.co for more information.
Stallion WishBook

We look forward to a great new opportunity to support our co-curricular programs in 2021. The Stallion WishBook is an online, interactive way for you to get behind the programs you value and help fund exactly what each program needs most.  Stay tuned for more details, and save the the dates for this exciting new event: Monday, March 1 through Sunday, March 14.
Nurse's Notes

Please keep your child home if they present with any of the symptoms listed below and contact the School Nurse, Kelli Fitzpatrick at (614) 267-7808 ext. 435 or email fitzpatrick@desales.co.

Any of 1 the following:
  • Fever (100.4°F or higher)
  • New or worsened cough
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose

Two or more of the following:
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • New or worsened fatigue
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

If a household member is being tested for COVID-19, students and siblings must stay home until results are received.

Keep your child at home until the following criteria are met:
Vaccination of Faculty and Staff

Click here to read a letter from Mr. Adam Dufault, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, on the recent vaccination of faculty and staff members.
SFD Scholarships Available for 2021-22 School Year

Below are links to the scholarship applications available to current freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Deadline is March 15, 2021.

Reminder: the application process is not finalized until the school receives a completed online recommendation from a non-family member. The recommendation form can be found at https://www.sfdstallions.org/sfdscholarships.

APPLICATIONS
Please note: some scholarships have required criteria and/or an additional essay question.
Spring Activity Registration

We are excited about the upcoming spring sports season and look forward to working with your student. Prior to the first day of tryouts/practice, every student athlete must complete the Spring Activity Registration. This simple online form conveniently streamlines all necessary paperwork to ensure your student's safety and a successful season.

The Spring Activity Registration is located in your PowerSchool Parent Portal under the "Forms" tab. To log in, visit the SFD Website or go to desales.powerschool.com. This must be completed through a web browser; the PowerSchool Mobile App will not work.

If you have forgotten your username or password, the Enrollment or Athletic Office can assist you with recovery.

The registration is made up of 7 parts, please make sure you complete all of them (A-G). Students will need to log into their student portal to sign off on parts F and G. Part E will remain "pending" until processed by the Athletic Department. All physicals must be uploaded or turned into the main office prior to the first day of practice or tryouts.

If you have any questions, you may contact the Enrollment Office at admissions@desales.co or the Athletic Office at sports@desales.co.
Upcoming Events

Mid-Term Week
When: February 8 - 12

Mothers Club Valentine's Bake Sale - NOW Wednesday and Thursday due to snow day!
When: February 10 and 11
If you plan to send in treats, please remember to wrap them individually in clear packaging and drop them off on the cart in the front lobby the morning of the sale. Please use this link to sign up to donate or work the sale.

President's Day - No Classes
When: February 15

Ash Wednesday Lenten Journey (Mass and Activity)
When: February 16 and 17

Women’s Morning of Prayer and Reflection at St. Paul Parish
When: February 20 from 9:30am - 12:30pm
Click here for more information and to register. Event is free.

College Credit Plus Informational Meeting
When: February 23 at 7pm
We will hold a Zoom meeting to highlight the College Credit Plus program and discuss the steps necessary for St. Francis DeSales students to participate in this state funded program. Rebecca Hillman, Director of College Credit Plus at The University of Findlay, will lead the discussion. Zoom link for this meeting will be forthcoming.  
  
World Cultures Assembly
When: February 25 and 26

Parent-Teacher Conferences (Virtual)
When: February 25 from 6pm to 8pm
A sign up link will be emailed to families.
Grandparents Day Photos

We will hold our spring Grandparents Day Mass on March 4 and 5. As we did this past fall, we will display photos of our students with their grandparents on our Grandparents Day webpage; if you have a photo to share, please email a copy to cofojohn@desales.co. Note: if you already shared a photo this fall, we will include it again this spring; no need to resend.

Please submit photo by March 1, 2021.
Spiritual Reflection
God, bring our hearts close to you. There is much in this world that makes us feel steady and in control, but we know that ultimately our strength will fail and our grasp on the things in our lives will not stand the test of time. Only you, Lord, are unmoving, solid and sure.

And yet, you give us an example that is flexible and open, a witness that loves through thick and thin and will not become calcified or rigid. Soften our hearts to love in that way and bring our hearts close to you. Amen.