Monday, January 30th, 2012
Principal's Message
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Principal's Message for February
Dear Parents and Students,
After two years of preparation, Saint Francis High School will welcome, on March 11-14, 2012, members of the visiting committee from the Western Catholic Education Association and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WCEA/WASC). During this visit, we will present our 2012 Self-Study document to the visiting team. During their four-day visit, the team will observe classrooms and talk to teachers, staff, students, parents and Board members, verifying and affirming our report.
The WCEA/WASC Self-Study and visit is part of the accreditation process that certifies high schools as accredited institutions. Every six years, Saint Francis High School undergoes this certification process where the academic, spiritual and social state of school is affirmed through a collaborative self-study. The current self-study began in 2010 when focus groups of faculty, staff, students, parents, and Board members began meeting to examine the school's organization and governance structures, the curricular programs, the support programs for student academic, social, and spiritual growth as well as its financial planning and resources. To gather input from the wider community, parents, alumni and students participated in the October 2010 survey that was used for both the school profile and data for the focus groups. From these focus group meetings emerged the 2012 Self-Study, a report on the effectiveness of the academic, social, spiritual programs of the school and its financial stability. The report concludes with an Action Plan that envisions the future goals for Saint Francis High School. A copy of the final report will be available to the community in February.
Over our fifty-seven year history of Holy Cross education at Saint Francis High School, we have consistently received full six-year accreditation terms, and we anticipate that this year will bring the same reward to our school. We are blessed with talented and enthusiastic students, a dedicated teaching and support staff, and a committed parent and alumni community. We give special thanks to Father Anthony Mancuso, our WCEA/WASC Site Coordinator, and the WCEA/WASC Leadership Team for their hard work over these last two years. I also thank the faculty and staff, our students and our parent and alumni communities for participating in this important accreditation process.
May this new year continue to bring blessings on our students and school community.
Spotlight
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February Events
Jan. 31: Multicultural Prayer Service (liturgy dress)
Feb. 1: Registration Begins for Summer at Saint Francis
Feb. 1: National Letter of Intent Day
Feb. 1-3: Senior Retreat
Feb. 2: Freshman/Sophomore Parent College Night, 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center
Feb. 8: A2 Theme Day
Feb. 8: Joint Men’s/Women’s Club Parent Ed Night, 6:30 p.m., Malcolm Center
Feb. 14: Hearts of Steel Concert, 7:30 p.m., Malcolm Center
Feb. 15: Junior Parent College Night, 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center
Feb. 16: End of 6 Week Grading Period
Feb. 17-20: No Classes
Feb. 22: A2 Liturgy (liturgy dress)
Feb. 22: Parent Club Ash Wednesday Retreat, noon, Brothers’ Chapel
Feb. 26: Mother/Daughter Mass and Brunch, 10 a.m., Performing Arts Center and Raskob Gym
Feb. 27-28: Junior Retreat
Feb. 27: Spring Sports Talk, 7 p.m., Raskob Gym
Feb. 29: Junior Service Due
Feb. 29: AIM Dinner
Feb. 29: Choir Concert, 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center
Student Life
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A2 Theme Day: Feb. 8
Our school will continue to celebrate this year's theme of Bringing Hope with the "What Makes You, You" discussion, which will take place in homerooms. Students will reflect on their own qualities and values as well as recognize people that have had a positive and lasting effect in their own life.
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Catholic Schools Week: Jan. 29-Feb. 5
January ends and February begins with the celebration of Catholic Schools Week. This year the theme is Catholic Schools: Faith. Academics. Service. For generations, Catholic schools have educated the faithful in the founding principles of our Church: becoming conscientious citizens grounded in social justice and high moral fiber. Catholic schools are also invested in the highest level of academic training, preparing our students for college and the world
beyond. Since its foundation in 1955 by the Brothers of Holy Cross, Saint Francis High School has educated thousands of students in the Holy Cross, Catholic educational tradition, preparing them to be become citizens of the world, ready to serve and lead their communities. Join our Bay Area dioceses as we celebrate all Catholic schools during this week! -
Scheduling Presentations Begin Feb. 1
Scheduling for next year’s classes to begin Feb. 1 for juniors and will continue through mid-February. See Counseling Section below for details. -
Graduation 2012
- The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2012 will be held on Brother Fisher Iwasko, C.S.C. Field at Saint Francis High School on Saturday, May 26, 9 a.m.
- All graduates will receive four tickets for reserved on-field seating. There will be limited seating on the field for handicapped guests and will require an on-field ticket. Additional open seating will be available in the bleachers. Please note there is no covered seating and no children’s play area.
- If you have any questions, please contact Simon Raines, Director of Activities at 650-968-1213 ext. 248.
Parent Events
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Financial aid applications: Due Feb. 2
- Financial aid applications for 2012-2013 are available in the Business Office or by calling 650 968-1213, ext. 440.
- Only applications received by Feb. 2 will be considered.
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Joint Men’s/Women’s Club Parent Education Night: Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m.
- Our speaker is Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. She is one of the leading happiness researchers in the world and the author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. Dr. Lyubomirsky is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside where she currently teaches courses in social psychology and positive psychology. More information on her work is available.
- There will be a light dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by the speaker at 7 p.m. and a Q and A session at 8 p.m.
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Parent Club Ash Wednesday Retreat: Feb. 22, Brothers’ Chapel
- This retreat will include ashes at the beginning and end of the retreat and is a drop-in event. Everyone is welcome. More details to come in February. -
Spring Sports Talk: Feb. 27
- All spring sport athlete parents must come to a mandatory meeting on Feb. 27. If your son or daughter did NOT play a fall or spring sport, please arrive at 7 p.m. in Raskob Gym for a presentation from the athletic director. If they did play a fall or winter sport, you can arrive at 7:30 p.m. for our individual program meeting with the head coach.
- Locations TBD. Any questions, please contact the Athletic Office.
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“A Knight in the Big Easy” Royal Lancer Auction: March 24, Cabana Palo Alto Hotel
- Reservations: Invitations will be mailed shortly. Make arrangements with fellow parents to enjoy a fun night out together while supporting Saint Francis High School, or we can seat you with other parents from your child's class. The Auction is a fantastic evening with unique items for every taste and style. Take advantage of the early-registration discount by making your reservation before March 4, and you will receive a chance to win a weekend in Monterey! Reservations can also be made online.
- **NEW** Tuition Grand Raffle: The top prize in this year's Grand Raffle is tuition for the 2012-13 school year or $10,000 cash! Tickets are $25 each or five for $100, and you do not need to be present at the Auction to win. Raffle purchase forms are being mailed or you may purchase online. Raffle tickets will be filled out for all orders received.
- Donations: An Auction Gift Donation Form and an Auction Underwriting Form can be found online. Please consider making an item or monetary donation to this key fundraising event. Proceeds from the Auction and Grand Raffle benefit the Library/Student Center Project. We need all Saint Francis families to participate!
- Volunteers: If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Development Office at 650 968-1213, ext. 282 or email aureadefranco@sfhs.com. -
Annual Giving Reminder
- The Development Office would like to remind all families who have not yet done so to return their Annual Giving pledge cards at their earliest convenience. Our annual Phone-A-Thon will take place in late February, so please make our job easier and return your card today. Remember your gift benefits the students of Saint Francis High School and is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. Thank you for your support!
- Download the pledge card or give online.
Academics
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Six-week Grading Period
- The six-week grading period for Semester 2 ends Feb. 16. Progress reports will be sent to you the following week. -
Parent-Teacher Conferences: March 1, 1:15 - 3:15 p.m.
- These meetings are by appointment only.
- Schedule appointments online beginning Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. Instructions will be posted online and emailed home.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences are optional. If your child is struggling in a class (i.e. receiving a C- or lower for the first six weeks), you are strongly encouraged to attend the conference to determine what your child can do to improve or what you can do to assist.
- As conferences are scheduled in ten-minute increments, we encourage you to send an email or leave a voice mail for the teacher if your concern requires a more lengthy discussion. Contact information can be found online. -
Chilean Exchange
- For many years we have had an exchange program with our sister school, Saint George, in Santiago, Chile. The students from Saint George visit our school in February and March, and our students visit Saint George from the end of June to the beginning of August.
- Applications are available in the Main Office. If you have a student who is currently enrolled in Spanish 3 or higher and is interested in this opportunity, please encourage him or her to apply.
Campus Ministry
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Retreats
- Space is available on the March and April Senior Retreats and the April Junior Retreat.
- Get retreat applications in Campus Ministry or online. -
Holy Cross Service Program
- Junior service is due February 29.
- Sophomore service is due March 30.
- Freshman service is due April 30.
- Students must schedule an appointment and may not arrive at an agency without an appointment. Sometimes agencies do not have time to return all phone calls. Keep trying or call a different place.
- Check the school website for suggestions of places to do service. The agencies we list are places where our students have worked.
- Students are not limited to the agencies we list.
- Remember: all hours must be working directly with people who are disadvantaged. -
Liturgies
- Collaboration Morning Liturgy will be celebrated in the Brothers’ Chapel Feb. 28, 7:45 a.m.
- Students will celebrate Ash Wednesday with a class-level liturgy on Feb. 22. -
Reconciliation
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered to students during Lent through their religious studies class period March 5 and 6.
Dean's Office
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Media Literacy Program Updates
Being a good digital citizen can be challenging! The media and technology that runs through the middle of our children’s lives is evolving at a dizzying pace. Many of us, parents and educators alike, are struggling with how to guide our students through the positives and negatives of this 24/7 media world. -
Online Media Literacy Program resources available
- If an effort to provide you with practical parenting tips about how to help your child manage the media in their lives as well as, resources for other teen issues, we have a collection of online resources. -
Parking Registration
- Any student who drives to school must first register their car for a parking permit online. Your child should print the form and bring it along with a check for $25 (payable to Saint Francis) to the Dean’s Office on or before the first day that he or she drives to school.
- Please be aware that because the portable classrooms are located in the Raskob student parking lot while we have construction on campus, there will not be enough parking for everyone. Please help by carpooling when possible (not for students with the California Provisional License) or continue to drive your student to school. We support the California provisional license law and its contribution to fewer teenage accidents.
- This situation is only temporary, but please know that this can be a very stressful situation for students who are running late in the morning and think that they’ll be able to find parking. -
Parking Lot Security Reminder
- Please tell your student not to leave valuables in the car while on campus. During the school day, we continue to have faculty supervision and security on our campus. We also make announcements to remind students not to leave anything of value visible in their cars. -
Items Left on Campus
- Our Lost and Found is often inundated with unclaimed books and clothes. Please remind your child to check the Lost and Found in the Dean’s Office for any missing items. Unclaimed items are donated to charity every two months.
- Please talk to your child about keeping valuables, like laptops, cell phones, calculators, cameras and wallets, safe. Backpacks should not be left unattended while students are on campus or go across the street to the shopping center. -
Emergency Phone Contacts
- It is important to keep the school updated with current telephone contact numbers and emergency phone numbers. Please send any changes to debbiegosalvez@sfhs.com. When a student is ill, he or she will be released from school only when the Health Office or Attendance Office is able to reach a parent or emergency contact.
Guidance and Counseling
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Course selection information night for freshman and sophomore parents: Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center
- Guidance counselors will talk about course placement policies at Saint Francis. Guest speakers will cover the following topics: applying to private colleges and preparing to pay for your child’s college education. -
College Information Night for Junior Parents: Feb. 15, 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center
- Guidance counselors will present information about course placement policies at Saint Francis. Guest speakers will cover the application process for the University of California and California State University systems and for private colleges. -
Classroom Presentations by Guidance and Counseling
- Junior Class – The first of three academic advising sessions will take place during junior English classes on Feb. 1 and 2. The Schedule Process and Standardized Testing presentation includes the following information: reminders about Family Connection and summer enrichment, course scheduling, and the PSAT, SAT and ACT standardized tests.
- Sophomore Class – Academic advising for the sophomore class will take place on Feb. 7 and 8 during religion classes.
- Freshman Class – Academic advising for the freshman class will take place on Feb. 9 and 10 during religion classes. -
Communication from the Counseling Department
Reminders of parent nights and upcoming events and activities sponsored by the Counseling Department will be included in the following publications that are emailed to each parent and posted on the Saint Francis website: the weekly Parent Newsletter emailed on Mondays, this monthly Parent Newsletter and the “Counseling Connection” quarterly newsletter. -
Upcoming SAT/ACT Test Dates
Register early to secure your first choice test center:
- Feb. 11: ACT test off-campus
- Mar. 10: SAT test at Saint Francis
- Apr. 14: ACT test off-campus
- May 5: SAT test at Saint Francis
- June 2: SAT test off-campus
- June 9: ACT test off-campus
Holy Cross Parent Clubs
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Women’s Club Letter from Pam Klaus
Upcoming Events
Women's Club/Men's Club Joint Meeting and Education Night: Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. See above for more information.
Mother/Daughter Mass and Brunch Sunday Feb. 26:
- Please join us for "Hats Off To You: A Celebration of Mothers and Daughters"
Mass will be at 10 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center. All faiths welcome.
Brunch to follow in Raskob Gym
$27.50 per person, $55 per mother/daughter couple.
- Invitations coming soon! Contact co-chairs Barbara O’Rourke, barbara@orourke.com or Therese Kristensen, torben@aol.com if you would like to help with this all girls day. Mothers of sons are encouraged to help out so that moms and their daughters can enjoy the day.
Auction Work Days are currently being held every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Andre House Conference Room. You are welcome to drop in whenever you have some time. This is a great way to meet new people while helping out with a great event. Some weeks we'll work on mailings, and sometimes we'll be putting together the gift baskets. Contact Laurie Tinker ltinker@sbcglobal.net or Kate Whiting bsvkeke@yahoo.com if you have any questions. -
Women’s Club Thank You
Jeanette Budenholzer, Lynelle Sigona, Deb Bell and their terrific committee held a medieval themed Faculty/Staff Appreciation lunch on Jan. 3. They collected contributions for an array of wonderful prizes for our faculty. The faculty and staff had a great time and were very appreciative!
Nikki James and Joanne Macdonald organized and led our Jan. 18 Women’s Club Meeting, a business networking event for Saint Francis women. This Women’s Club business mixer was a fun opportunity to exchange ideas and learn more about the talents and professions of women in our Saint Francis community.
Amanda Weitzel and Karlynn Lyon led a hard working group of volunteers to successfully host the Mother/Son Casino Night on Jan. 29. Hundreds of moms and their boys attended the event, and everyone had fun winning raffle tickets at the casino tables, eating a great meal, and dancing.
Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who worked on these events!!! -
Women’s Club: Important Notice
Nominations will soon open for participation in the 2012-13 Women’s Club Executive Board. This is a great way to get to know many wonderful members of the Saint Francis community and to participate more fully in the Women’s Club. Please consider nominating yourself or someone you think would be an asset to the organization. All Saint Francis parents are members of the Men’s and Women’s Clubs, and parent participation strengthens our school community. We welcome anyone who is willing to help. Watch for details coming soon, or contact Rose Ann Woolpert at rwoolpert@sbcglobal.net for more information.
Warm Regards,
Pam Klaus
Women's Club President 2011-2012 -
Men’s Club Letter from Ed DelFierro
Men’s Club: Volunteers
Thanks to all of the fathers and mothers who have volunteered for the concession stand at Lancer Basketball Games and Wrestling Matches. We still need your help in next few weeks! -
Upcoming Concession Events (Volunteers Needed)
Friday Feb. 3 – Boys Basketball vs. Saint Ignatius. Volunteers please contact Steve Miro at Steve.Miro@gmail.com
Saturday Feb. 11 (All Day) – SFHS hosts the WCAL wrestling league final at Raskob Gym. Volunteers can contact Jose Contreras at lancerdads@gmail.com
Friday Feb. 10 – Boys Basketball vs. Riordan. Volunteers please contact Steve Miro at Steve.Miro@gmail.com
Saturday Feb. 25 (10 a.m., Noon, and 2 p.m.) – SFHS hosts CCS soccer at Calcagno Field. Volunteers can contact Jose Contreras at lancerdads@gmail.com -
Men’s Club: Upcoming events
- Women’s Club/Men’s Club Joint Meeting and Education Night, Wednesday February 8 – See above for more information.
- Royal Lancer Auction – Saturday March 24, 2012. For more info, please visit this link: http://www.sfhs.com/giving/auction/index.aspx
- 2011/2012 Final Men’s Club Meeting: April 17, 6:30 p.m., Malcolm Center
Thanks for your ongoing support of your student and the Saint Francis community,
Ed DelFierro
Men’s Club President
Pete Pazmany
Men's Club Vice-President
Parent Reminders
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Scrip
- Valentines Day will be here very soon so don't forget to order Scrip for gift cards you’ll need for your loved ones!
- Check out the new Scrip form that reflects a variety of merchants. Online businesses include Amazon.com, iTunes and Shutterfly. For movie enthusiasts, Scrip is available for AMC Theatres, Century Theatres and United Artists. Those with home improvement projects can appreciate Scrip from Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Orchard Supply.
- Download the Scrip form to get started.
Traci Terluin and Eilly Hurlow
Scrip Coordinators -
eScrip Update
- Thank you to those who used eScrip and the eScrip mall over the holidays! Saint Francis automatically benefited and received a portion of each of your purchases.
- We have added a number of new families to eScrip since the beginning of the school year. Are you enrolled? If not, go to www.escrip.com and register your credit and grocery loyalty cards. Be sure to specify Saint Francis as the group you support (Group id: 137104866).
- If you have any questions please contact me at npcomstock@comcast.net -
Lancer Locker
- We have a wide assortment of polo shirts, hats, sweatshirts and sweatpants. In addition, we have a new assortment of jackets and ¼ zip pullovers, perfect to bridge the seasons.
- Valentine's Day is almost here, and we have leather strap bracelets with a silver charm, perfect for that special someone.
- Don’t forget, Lancer Locker has gift certificates that can be customized for any amount.
Lancer Locker Hours -
Summer Programs
- Saint Francis offers many academic and sports programs during the summer. The academic courses are geared to students in high school and middle school, and there is a program designed specifically for incoming freshmen. Sports camps are for children ages 6-12 and athletes with advanced skills.
- Registration for Summer at Saint Francis opens Feb. 1.
- Visit http://www.sfhs.com/summer for more detailed outlines of our programs. -
Academic Programs
- Contact Kelly Walsh at kellywalsh@sfhs.com or summer@sfhs.com for more information on academic programs. -
High School Academic Programs
- Semester 1: June 11-June 28; Semester 2: July 2-July 20 (July 4 holiday)
- In addition to offering classes for high school credit spanning all academic disciplines, we provide preparation courses for the SAT Reasoning exam, conducted by Compass Prep. -
Middle School Camps
- Session 1: June 11-June 22; Session 2: June 25-July 6 (July 4 holiday)
- Our middle school camps offer 6th, 7th and 8th graders an enriching and exciting way to spend the summer.
- Students enroll in one program per session. The curriculum is hands-on, project-based and engaging.
- We offer math/science/computers, language arts, ceramics and theater arts. -
Freshman Experience
- June 11 - July 6 (July 4 holiday)
- Specially designed for the incoming class of 2016, the Freshman Experience is the perfect opportunity for our newest Lancers to acclimate to social and academic life at Saint Francis.
- Whether enrolling for educational enrichment or for review, students have the chance to build a diverse and interactive course schedule, engage with our Saint Francis teaching staff and form friendships with their incoming classmates.
- Historically, over half of the freshman class has transitioned to Saint Francis through this program.
- Matriculation is limited to admitted and enrolled students. -
Sports Camps
- Registration for sports camps opens Feb. 1.
- Contact Chris Volta at chrisvolta@sfhs.com for more information on sports camps. -
Youth Sports Camps
Week 1: June 11 – 15
Week 2: June 18 – 22
Week 3: June 25 – June 29
Week 4: July 2 – 6 (No camp July 4)
- The camps are structured to provide youngsters ages 6-12 with a variety of learning experiences.
- Instructors give group and individual instruction in different sports, emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship.
- The sports camp staff works to provide an active learning environment that accentuates the positive development of each child’s self esteem.
- Campers may sign up for any number of weeks. -
Advanced Sports Camps
- Dates vary.
- Each advanced camp is run by the varsity coaching staff at Saint Francis High School.
- Advanced camps offer students the opportunity to sharpen skills and further their knowledge.
- All summer sports programs are dedicated to providing outstanding instruction in a fun and positive environment.
- Camps for boys: baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, strength & speed, swimming, tennis, track and field, water polo, wrestling, volleyball and cheer.
- Camps for girls: basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, strength & speed, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo and cheer.
