SchoolMessenger Opt-In Complete

Parents/guardians: if you haven't already done so, please complete the opt-in request by replying "Y" to the SchoolMessenger opt-in text message sent last week.

If you did not receive an opt-in text message, please send a text to 67587 with a "Y" to ensure you opt-in to receive any future St. Francis DeSales notifications via text. After you do this, you will receive a confirmation text.

*Notifications will also be sent via email and phone calls.

Three years ago, your generosity transformed the Student Services Center, creating a hub for academic counseling, wellness support, and Campus Ministry. Future plans include expanding STEM facilities to empower tomorrow's innovators.

Stallions in the Spotlight

Senior Dotun Olubowale is being recognized this week by the Columbus Dispatch for Student of the Week. Please take a moment to vote for him today! Vote Here.

Mr. Garrick had the opportunity to be on St. Gabriel Catholic Radio's Saint Gabriel Cafe program yesterday. He spoke about forming future leaders alongside Mr. Jim Lower, principal at St. Charles. Click here to listen to a recording of the show.

Wonderful job to our Choir and Band, under the direction of Mrs. Crumpler, for their performances at the Christmas Concert last week.

2024-25 Winter Sports Program

The 2024-25 Winter Sports program is now available online! Click here to view program. A link will also be on stallionpride.com throughout the entire winter season.

Our amazing maintenance team brought the Christmas season to life throughout the hallways and communal spaces. A special thanks to Mr. Andy Evans for his extra thought and care decorating the school building for our students, staff and visiting guests.

Chaplain's Corner

Praised be Jesus Christ! As we come to the end of our semester, let us be reminded of how we began our semester, with the words of the Letter of St. Paul to Titus: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:4-6) Together as a community, we have learned and grown through acts of charity and almsgiving, through service to others, and through lots of kindness. We must not forget why we do these things: because the second person of the Trinity, the Son, was born a man. In doing so, He saved us through His life, death, and resurrection, and modeled for us how to love. This Christmas, let us celebrate the great love with which Jesus Christ loved and still loves us!

~Father Johnstone

SFD Scholarship Applications Open for Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors

Below are links to the scholarship applications for all SFD scholarships available to current freshmen, sophomores and juniors. We encourage you to review the scholarship application over Christmas Break, and take advantage of the many scholarship opportunities offered! Deadline: January 31, 2025

Please note: 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/sfdhs-scholarships.

APPLICATIONS

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

Freshman Scholarship Application - Class of 2028

Sophomore Scholarship Application - Class of 2027

Junior Scholarship Application - Class of 2026

The links are also available at https://www.sfdstallions.org/sfdhs-scholarships.

Mark your calendars now for the Mother Son Dance on February 2, 2025. Tickets will go on sale in January!

Clean Out Your Closets Over Break

Our annual mission warmth clothing drive and student competition will be held from January 13-22. Mission Warmth is a non-profit organization that provides warming items directly to the unhoused of Central Ohio. Be sure to clean out your closets or look for deals over the Christmas break! Visit https://www.mission-warmth.org/ for more information on their organization, or click here for an informational video.

Book Reboot -- Gently Used Book Sale

The SFD Battle of the Books team will be having a used book sale in the library at the end of January. If you have gently used books to donate to our sale, please drop them off in the library anytime before January 22nd.

Accepted Books 

• high interest fiction
• middle grade & picture books
• Biographies, Sports, self help for teens, prayer for teens
• Please donate no more than 10 books at a time; we do not have a large staff to sort these books. If you have lots of books to donate that we won’t accept, please donate to your local library sale, Goodwill, or a charity of your choice.

Please do not donate

• Set(s) of encyclopedias
• Books that you or your friends wouldn’t want to read
• Books that are really stained, torn, missing pages
• Copies of the school common read books (we have them!)  

Traffic Reminder Stallion Way is for student drivers only

All students being dropped off by a parent, grandparent, neighbor, etc. are reminded that all students are to be dropped off and picked up via Franciscan Loop. Stallion Way (off of Ferris Road) is for student drivers only, as it is one-way in the morning and one-way in the afternoon.

March for Life Bus Trip -- Waitlist

We have started a waitlist for students interested in joining us for the March for Life Bus Trip to Washington, D.C. on January 23-24, 2025: 2025 March for Life Bus Trip Waitlist. The trip will include tickets to the two-day Life is VERY Good events sponsored by the Diocese of Arlington, dinner Thursday evening, breakfast and lunch Friday and a one-night hotel stay. You will be notified if/when a spot opens on our bus. The registration fee is $210 and is non-refundable, but we do not want the cost of the trip to be a deterrent for those interested in attending the March for Life, so financial assistance is available upon request. You can fill out this form to request financial aid after you complete the waitlist form: Scholarship Application | 2025 March for Life Bus Trip. Contact Molly Kraker at (614) 353-5686 or mollykraker@columbus.rr.com, Colleen Mascarin at 614-378-7266 or mascarin@desales.co or Beth Mitevski at 614-327-2923 or mitevski@desales.co with any questions regarding the trip.

French Exchange Program This February -- Host Families Needed!

Our annual exchange program with our sister school in Normandy, France -- Institution Saint Joseph in Le Havre -- will be taking place this year from February 1 - 15, 2025.

We are currently looking for families who are willing to host a student (or two) in their home during their visit. Students do not need to be enrolled in French at DeSales in order to host a student, as all students have a good proficiency in English. 

In addition, there is no fee associated with hosting a French Exchange student; all that needs to be provided is a place to stay, meals with your family and a sack lunch on most days. The exchange students will report each day to DeSales with your student and depart with them at the end of the day.

This is a wonderful opportunity for your student and your family to make a connection and learn about another culture. Please contact Mrs. Heather Evans if you are interested in hosting a student at evans@desales.co or your student can see her in room 121 to receive the necessary paperwork.