Friday, February 26th, 2010
Spotlight
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Important Dates
- March 11 (A3 Day)
- March 17 (A2 Day)
- March 31 (A3 Day)
- Computer Literacy Test, March 3, 7:45 a.m.
- Blood drive, March 3
- Jazz Dinner Dance, March 6, Malcolm Center
- Choir Concert, March 9, 7:00 p.m., Performing Arts Center
- Parent/Teacher Conferences, March 11, 1:15-3:15 p.m.
- Junior Prom, March 13
- Holy Cross Liturgy, March 17 (liturgy dress)
- No Classes, March 18-19
- ASB Elections, March 24
- Joint Men’s and Women’s Club Meeting and Parent Education Night, March 24, 6:30 p.m., Malcolm Center
- Annual International Showcase, March 26, 6:00 p.m., Raskob Gym
- Royal Lancer Auction, March 27
- End of 12-Week Grading Period, March 31
- Sophomore Service Due, March 31
Parent Events
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Important Parent Survey - Due Feb. 26
We are conducting a survey to help us understand what media issues matter most to you so that we can offer information that will be interesting and helpful. The survey should take about ten minutes. Complete Survey
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Joint Men’s/Women’s Club Meeting: March 24, 6:30 p.m., Malcolm Center (please note date change)
- Ana Homayoun ’97, our guest speaker, recently published a book entitled, “That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week.” Ana will share her experiences and provide guidance for parents in helping their children be organized so that they will succeed.
- A light supper will be served.
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Royal Lancer Auction “Safari Knights”: March 27
- Save the date: The 27th Annual Royal Lancer Auction will be held Saturday, March 27, at the Cabaña Palo Alto Hotel. This dazzling event will include a silent and live auction, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a gourmet dinner. Dress for the evening is “Black Tie Optional.” Proceeds from this event will benefit Phase III of The Campaign for Saint Francis High School.
- Buy your tickets: Tickets for the Auction are on sale now. Every reservation made before March 5 qualifies for a drawing for a stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Reservations can be made online or by returning your invitation response card.
- Make a donation: There is still time to make a gift to the Auction. A cash donation to help underwrite expenses is an easy and helpful way to make a gift. Tickets for events, wines, dinners, services, collectibles and vacation homes make great auction items, or you can put a creative basket together that will entice a high bid. Your donation is tax deductible.
- Be a lucky winner: The Auction will also be the setting for this year’s Grand Raffle where three lucky winners will take home cash prizes of $10,000, $2,500 or $1,000. If every family purchases a book of tickets, $120,000 would be raised. Go online to purchase your tickets using your credit card or send in your check and tickets. You do not need to be present to win.
- Be a volunteer: Sign up to help by visiting the volunteer link on the Men’s Club page or the Women’s Club page.
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Emergency Notification System
- We have subscribed to ParentReach, an Emergency Notification Service created for schools. The system allows us to send a recorded phone message and email to parents and guardians in the event of an emergency.
- Please expect to receive a test phone call and email from the system by March 15.
- When the system calls you, the Caller ID will display “411-411-4111.”
- Please be sure to answer the call as normal and then be silent. The system needs to “hear” you say “Hello” in order to deliver the message. Answer as you would normally, but do not continue to say, “Hello, hello, hello…,” as the system will begin delivering the message only after it detects a pause.
- Please do not phone us back or reply to the email. During an emergency, we will continue to send updates as information becomes available.
- Every parent and guardian phone number and email address on file has been entered into the system. You will likely receive the message at more than one phone and email address, as we feel it is better to err on the side of caution, especially during a real emergency.
- As a reminder, it is your responsibility to notify us when you change your contact information. Please email any updates to Mrs. Gosalvez (debbiegosalvez@sfhs.com).
- If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Deans’ office, 650 968-1213, ext. 475.
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Graduation Tickets
- Saint Francis holds its graduation ceremony at the Flint Center at De Anza College, May 29, 10:00 a.m. Each senior will be given five graduation tickets for family. These tickets will be distributed during graduation rehearsal, May 28.
- Although there are no additional tickets available, there is a non-ticket line at the Flint Center. If you would like information on how the non-ticket line works, please contact Simon Raines, Director of Activities, at 650 968-1213, ext. 248.
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Annual Giving
- If you have not yet returned your Annual Giving Pledge Card, please do so.
- Remember, Saint Francis High School receives no financial support from the government or the diocese. The school is dependent on the support of our parents, alumni and benefactors to enhance programs and facilities.
- We need all families to participate at whatever level they possibly can. Make a tax-deductible gift to Saint Francis High School and help our students!
- Reminder: The President’s Club Dinner will be held May 13.
Academics
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Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thursday, March 11, 1:15 – 3:15 p.m.
- These meetings are by appointment only and are optional.
- You may schedule an appointment with a teacher online beginning Friday, March 5, at 9:00 a.m. Instructions will be posted.
- We encourage you to send an email or leave a voice mail for the teacher if your concern requires a lengthy discussion. Locate contact information here.
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2010 AP Exams: May 3-14
- College Board Advanced Placement examinations will be given for English, US history, US government, biology, European history, physics, foreign languages, calculus, statistics, chemistry, psychology and computer science.
- If your child is enrolled in an AP class, the test has already been ordered.
- The fee is $86 per exam. An invoice has been given to your child. Payment is due March 15.
- AP exams will be administered off-campus. To view the AP schedule, visit the school calendar posted online.
Counseling News
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College Financial Aid Deadline: March 2
- If your child does not file by the deadline, he or she will most likely be ineligible for financial aid for the 2010-2011 school year.
- Call or write the colleges your child has applied to if you have specific questions regarding financial aid filing deadlines.
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Scholarships
- Seniors looking for scholarships should check the scholarship binder in the Counseling Center or the scholarship listing on the Guidance and Counseling website.
- If your child has received a scholarship from a college or organization, please notify your child’s counselor immediately and bring a copy of the scholarship to the counseling office. We would like to recognize all our scholarship recipients at school and in the graduation program.
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College Freshman Placement Tests
- Seniors planning to attend UC or CSU campuses in the fall and who do not meet the established SAT test scores may be asked to take a placement test in English, math or both. Public colleges use these tests to determine course placement for incoming students.
- If your child needs to take the ELM (Entry Level Math) or EPT (English Placement Test) for CSU or Subject A Exam for UC, specific campuses will notify you by mail.
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SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests
- The SATs will be conducted May 1 and June 5.
- Juniors should take this test once in the spring and again in the fall.
- Freshmen or sophomores who are currently enrolled in Biology H or Biology should consider taking the Biology E test in June. If you have questions regarding this test, please contact your child’s guidance counselor.
- Juniors who plan on applying to the UC system should plan to take two SAT Subject tests this spring.
- Colleges also accept the ACT test as a substitute for the SAT Reasoning test. ACT test dates are April 10 and June 12.
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Course requests for 2010-2011
- The course request process for 2010-2011 is underway.
- You will receive confirmation of classes for next year from the Academic Office in the spring, after counselors have approved the course selections.
From the Dean's Office
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Dress Code
- The dress code can be found in the Saint Francis Student-Parent Handbook.
- When choosing clothes for warmer weather, please note the very specific guidelines given to reflect the “Christian and academic atmosphere of the school” (pp. 37-39). Much of what is labeled “fashionable” is not appropriate for Saint Francis.
- Items made of denim or denim-like material that are blue or look like "traditional" blue jeans are not allowed on regular dress code days. Also, any pants of any color that are tattered, bleached or frayed are not in the dress code. Crew-neck T-shirts or T-shirts of any kind are not acceptable for school dress code.
- If there is any concern about an item of clothing, we make this recommendation to students: stand in front of the mirror at home and raise a hand, put on a backpack or bend as you would at a locker. Students can determine how appropriate an item is very quickly by taking this precaution before leaving home, and they can avoid detention.
- Encourage your child to bring in any questionable articles of clothing to the Dean’s Office to be checked out before wearing them to school.
Campus Ministry
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Retreats
- Space is still available for the March Senior Retreat. Applications are online or in Campus Ministry.
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Liturgies
- There will be an all-school liturgy on March 17 in honor of our Holy Cross heritage.
- There will be a Collaboration Morning Liturgy on March 23, 7:45 a.m., in the Performing Arts Center. All are invited to attend.
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Holy Cross Service Program
- Sophomore service forms are due March 31.
- Freshman service forms are due April 30.
- A list of agencies is online. Please note all students must schedule an appointment
- Turn in verification forms to Mrs. Bostrom as soon as the service is complete.
Student Reminders
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Paper Cookies for Haiti
- During the Lenten season, Lancer Café is raising money for Haiti. Students are encouraged to purchase a paper cookie to show their support. All proceeds will go to rebuilding efforts in Haiti.
Parents News
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Scrip Update
- Remember that Scrip makes a nice addition to Easter baskets. At this time, we are not participating in the Lucky SHARES program. If you shop at Lucky, why not order Lucky Scrip from Saint Francis?
- The Scrip order form is available online.
Traci Terluin
Eilly Hurlow
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eScrip Update
- eScrip gives Saint Francis an average of 3 percent of the amount you spend at no cost to you and brings in more than $2,000 per month.
- Register your grocery cards, department store and major credit cards with eScrip.
- Go to http://www.sfhs.com/parents/scrip.aspx and download the eScrip form or go directly to www.escrip.com and use our eScrip number, 137104866.
- Already registered? Be sure to update your major credit card numbers if they change.
- Registered with another school? Please consider changing to Saint Francis or splitting your registration.
- You can help Saint Francis by visiting the eScrip Online Mall at www.escrip.com.
- For more information about Scrip and eScrip, see us on the Web at http://www.sfhs.com/parents/scrip.aspx.
Bonnie McClory-Finn
408 379-0997
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Lancer Locker
- Spring is almost here, and Lancer Locker is ready. We have an assortment of clothing to bridge the gap between those cool mornings and sunny afternoons.
- Be sure to remember the incoming students and welcome them with school apparel.
- Lancer Locker is your on-campus store. We carry all sizes, from infant to 2XL.
Lancer Locker Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Men’s Club Update from Doug Gibson
Concessions
- Spring is in the air, so pick an event and support our spring sports. Whether it’s baseball, softball, boys golf, girls gymnastics, swimming and diving, track and field, lacrosse, or boys volleyball, check the schedules and come out and support our SF athletes in action. We need your continued support and enthusiasm, so please consider volunteering for concessions at the boys volleyball games or the March 20 track and field invitational. If you get a chance, attend an event with your family and friends and be a part of the legendary Lancer Spirit.
-As we conclude our Winter Sports programs, we give a huge thank you to all who helped work the concessions under the coordination of Martin Silver, John Madigan and Jose Contreras. Behind the scenes, George Lee, food services director, and Greg Calcagno, our Men’s Club moderator, provided tremendous support. Thanks everyone for a job well done!
You can always contact me at dgibson@Brocade.com or Greg Calcagno at 650 968-1213, ext. 293, or gregcalcagno@sfhs.com, for more information.
Thanks again for your continued support.
Doug Gibson, Men’s Club President
Greg Quigley, Men's Club Vice President
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Women’s Club Update from Helen Benedetti
Mother/Daughter Mass and Brunch: Sunday, Feb. 28
- Hope all of you moms are coming to enjoy a morning with your daughter(s). “Getting to Know You” is the theme, and it will be a fun morning with great friends and great food. Thank you to Holly Curley and her committee for putting together a special “girls day out.” Feel free to stop by Raskob gym tomorrow any time after 1 p.m. to help transform the gym into a beautiful setting for the brunch.
Recent Past Events:
- Many things have occurred in the past several weeks. Chris Stefanick, a youth minister from the Archdiocese of Denver, spoke to our parents on the Parent Education Night on Jan. 20, and he had many wonderful reviews.
- Our Ash Wednesday Retreat with Father Chad Wahl provided some peace and quiet for participants, which was a nice way to start the Lenten Season. Thank you to Ginny Hurley, our spiritual officer, for organizing the retreat.
- Amanda Weitzel and Nisha Advani were very busy with their Mother/Son Committee to make a memorable Casino night for all. Thank you for a great evening of fun and for making the gym look like a real cruise ship! Ahoy matey! Bella of Pizzeria Venti provided incredibly delicious food. Bella’s restaurant is across from the Shoreline movie theater, so be sure to stop by for a wonderful dining experience.
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Other Women’s Club News:
- Last Call for Women's Club Nominations The Women’s Club is now accepting nominations for the 2010-2011 Board. There are seven Women’s Club board positions, 5 slated each year. If you have any questions please call Cathy Avon, Women's Club Parliamentarian, at 510-651-9244 or email her at gomomgo123@sbcglobal.net. Submit your nomination online
- Honor and Installation Dinner
All mothers of Saint Francis students are invited to attend the Honor and Installation Dinner May 5 at the Del Monte House in Sunnyvale. We will honor the mothers of our graduating seniors and install the new Women's Club board members. This will be an evening to celebrate new beginnings.
