As August ends, we are at the transition between the summer and fall seasons of weather and sport. Though the mornings bring a cool, wet fog and afternoons warm to a mild mid-’70s, the teaching and learning at St. Francis is happening at a very high rate.
This is the time when fall sports kick-off, freshmen run for ASB Office, and seniors frantically start applying to college and taking/re-taking their college tests (ACT/SAT); this is also the time I can stop to both observe and talk with students. They still really fascinate me, even after 30 years in education. They can sleep with their eyes open, laugh out loud for unexpected reasons, argue passionately about a topic or whether their Giants will ever beat my Dodgers again, and they do it all with a love for their school and each other that is unmatched. They are also very inspirational. Watching the upperclassmen welcome the transfer students and freshmen at the start of the year, students and staff welcoming all of our parents for a very busy Back to School Night, and ASB providing the freshmen with their first-class lunch to facilitate them getting to know each other better and to host their class first real meeting. Every day, I am reminded about how special a school and community we have.
This will be a busy month –
Wednesday, September 4: Cafecito at 8:30 AM for parents and community members to meet with me and the Advancement Office to share a pastry, coffee/tea, and discuss our school community. This is a direct line to the school’s administration, and all are welcome. The event will be held in B4, the Heritage Room.
Friday, September 6: Grandparents & Grand-Friends Day with continental breakfast at 10 AM and Mass at 11 AM. Early dismissal; students may go home with their grandparents at the end of mass.
Friday, September 20: Triduum Fun Day for our Monterey Diocese “feeder schools”. Also, if there is a sibling of a current student at one of our local public, charter, or private schools and s/he can be accompanied by an adult, then we want to invite you to attend this day, too. Please RSVP to Ms. Lina Silva [email protected] if you plan on attending from outside of our diocesan Catholic feeder schools.
Wednesday, September 25: Two events this day…the first is the 10thGrade ASB Sponsored Lunch/Class Meeting and the second is the St. Mary’s School Information Night. If you have a child in South San Jose, Morgan Hill, or Gilroy, this is your night to collect information on Early Commitment and Presidential Scholarships for the Class of 2024. Contact Ms. Haydee Lemus ([email protected]) if you can help invite guests, setup or coordinate that night, or if your current student can be an ambassador for St. Francis and speak that evening. Parents and students get service hours on these critically important recruiting nights.
Thursday, September 26: Academic Counseling provides a “College Information Night” in the Art Room for all grades, 6 PM.
Friday, September 27: The Freshmen Tailgate before and at the Pacific Grove Football Game.
Saturday, September 28: Campus Clean Up Day for any family member, students included, who can help beautify the campus for service hours. It is also a chance for those families who have missed a Friday Night Bingo shift to make up hours. Contact Mr. Nick Guerrero: [email protected]
As part of my Presidential duties, I shared with the freshmen and transfer parents on August 12th that one of my goals is to nurture and support a life-long relationship between St. Francis and you. It is because of you that we have the great school we have! I firmly believe this. I also firmly believe in the value of data to drive educational decisions and educational reform to provide the best experiences for our young students.
St. Francis is intentionally smaller than other schools, yet we have higher graduation rates, college acceptance rates, and college academic and athletic scholarships. We believe in better, not bigger. You and your child will not regret the decision to be an active member of our Sharks Family. We hope to see all of you at our events this September. God bless, and Go SHARKS!
President and Principal