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.

SchoolMessenger Opt-In -- Tonight

Reminder that the Opt-In text for our SchoolMessenger service will be sent TONIGHT around approximately 5pm. The SchoolMessenger service will utilize your primary phone number that is listed in Powerschool under Parent/Guardian contact information.

Your donation to Be The Light of DeSales is transformational. The Holy Family Courtyard has been a peaceful sanctuary for prayer and reflection for three years. It's a gift that will endure for generations. Our Be The Light Campus Master Plan includes setting our sights on expanding the cafeteria to create a vibrant gathering for our students. Flexible seating and a view of the Senior Courtyard will make this space even more dynamic and welcoming.

Stallions in the Spotlight

Congratulations to senior Ty Neubert, who signed his National Letter of Intent last week to play football at Ohio University!

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

Christmas in the Courtyard was a huge success thanks to the love and joy the members of the senior class shared with the children of St. Stephen's Community House. They watched a play of the Nativity, shared a meal, met Santa, and made crafts. Christmas in the Courtyard is a cherished tradition based off of Dayton University's "Christmas on Campus" and we are so grateful to all who helped the tradition live on. 

Senior Abena Opoku-Kesse was recently honored at the Girls L.E.A.P. Gala for her involvement in the Youth Leadership and Advocacy Program. Pictured is Abena with her mentor Ms. Gaby Edon and Columbus Council Member Pricilla R Tyson.

Congratulations to junior AJ D'Costa who recently earned his Eagle Scout award. With the help of a few other Stallion Scouts, he completed his Eagle Scout Project, installing shelving for the closets at the Helping Hands Medical Clinic on Karl Road. Their staff greatly appreciated all the beautiful new storage that was created for them.

Thank you to everyone who supported the St. Francis DeSales athletic programs by purchasing a $10,000 raffle ticket. Congratulations to our winners Paul Hicks ($10,000), Annette Saveski ($1,000) and Bryan Bigelow ($500).

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.

Father Daughter Dance Photos

This year's Father Daughter Dance was a huge success! The energy everyone brought to the room was amazing and a perfect way to celebrate that special bond between the ladies and their guests. The link to a shared folder of over 400 professional photos was sent to all registered attendees in an email from the Mothers Club on December 3rd. Please check your spam folder if you cannot locate this email in your inbox.

If you cannot find the link, please send an email to mothersclub@desales.co so we can share these photos with you.

We offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the continued support of our Pastors and Associate Pastors who allowed our students to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation last Friday.

Chaplain's Corner

Praised be Jesus Christ! This week we celebrate Our Lady thrice: the Immaculate Conception (Dec 9), Our Lady of Loreto (Dec 10), and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12). With Advent being a time to prepare for the coming of Christ, we remember that Mary, Our Mother, always prepares us for Jesus, always points us to Jesus. Just as the Lord in His mercy prepared a gate (Mary, His Mother) for Jesus to come to earth, so do we ask for Mary's prayers to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus again. This week I would encourage you to entrust your heart to Mary, asking her to reveal a new aspect of her Son to you. Jesus loves His Mother very much, so we should not be afraid to love her too. Hail Mary, full of grace...

~Father Johnstone

Semester Exam Information

If you have any questions regarding Final Exams, please contact Vice Principal for Academics, Mr. Jim Jones.

Click here for the First Semester Exam schedule.

Other important items of note: 

• During Exam Week, students must be present each and every day. 
• Students will not be allowed to leave early. 
• If your second exam on a given day is a Study Hall class, you must use that time to prepare for future exams during the week. The only exception will be for those students who have Ninth Period Study Hall. These students may depart after the conclusion of their Eighth Period Exam provided they bring in a note from their parents. 
• Exams must be taken during the designated exam time. They are not allowed to be taken early or late. 
• There is no lunch service during Exam Week and students are encouraged to pack a snack. Our Marching Band will sell various items during the snack breaks each day (donuts, bagels, pizza, etc.) as well.
• Gahanna Jefferson Transportation will pick-up early each day at the specified times. 
• Columbus City Schools Transportation can’t pick-up early on Monday but will be able to do so on Tuesday through Thursday. Those students who depend on Columbus City Schools Transportation should plan for an alternate ride home on Monday, December 16th.

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.

Online Fair to learn about Summer Pre-College Programs for High School Students

Current high school students and parents/guardians are invited to register for the 2025 Summer Pre-College Opportunities Fair, to take place on December 11th from 7:00-9:00pm EST. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with representatives from leading US colleges and universities to learn more about Summer 2025 academic programs for high school students. 

• Visit virtual program booths, where you can chat 1-on-1 via text or video with summer program representatives. 
• Access program details before the event and up to 6 months after the event ends.

You can learn more and register at: https://app.brazenconnect.com/events/n35L7?utm_medium=University+Specific&utm_source=UCSC

Are you curious to first learn more about what happens at Summer Pre-College Programs, what topics and interests are explored, and how these opportunities might benefit you?  This youtube video, "Choosing A Summer Program", could be helpful to you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3wn_4Iqv3Q.

The Mother Son Dance will be held on February 2, 2025 at Villa Milano. Be sure to mark your calendars now for this special event!

Look for ticket sale information starting in January.

FACTS Grant & Aid

Families of current freshmen, sophomores and juniors are able to begin a FACTS Grant & Aid Financial Need Assessment for the 2025-2026 school year.

Data collected from the FACTS Grant & Aid Financial Need Assessment application is used to determine Diocesan Tuition Assistance awards AND St. Francis DeSales High School Tuition Assistance awards.  Any family currently receiving St. Francis DeSales High School Tuition Assistance AND/OR Diocesan Tuition Assistance, OR any family that has a new aid request for the 2025-26 school year, must complete a FACTS Grant & Aid Financial Need Assessment by March 15, 2025.  We recommend you start this process early to ensure proper submission. Please feel free to contact the St. Francis DeSales High School Enrollment Team at enrollment@desales.co if you have any questions. Start your application today!

March for Life Bus Trip

January 23-24, 2025

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. 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: 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. Register here.

Senior Graduation Announcements and Accessories

Class of 2025 Students and Parents: To celebrate your upcoming graduation, Herff Jones will be providing the “official” cap and gown, Graduation announcements and senior accessories. The school has provided all cap and gown information needed, however, you are invited to visit the Herff Jones website where you will find senior gear, the official school announcement and additional graduation items like tassel and diploma frames, and senior year shadow boxes to purchase. Please click here to view all the options for seniors and their families this year!

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.