Dear St. Francis Families and Friends,
We have successfully returned from a life-changing trip to Oregon with our football and cheer teams. Students made new friends at La Salle, bonded through the course of competition, prayed together in a prayer service and after the games, and visited local colleges and professional stadiums. All returned exhausted but happy. The parent turnout for cheer and football was amazing, and this turnout was only topped by the appearance of 2017 alumnus, Sandor-Renee Rodriguez showing up to support the Sharks! The trip mirrored, in a lot of ways, the reading our seniors are doing in their literature classes of – Beowulf. This British epic story has important life lessons buried within its themes: courage, loyalty, finding your identity, faith struggles, tradition, and good versus evil. Pretty much everything a growing teenager experiences daily but is heightened due to travel, exhaustion, and adversity.
Prior to my life as a principal, I made a small living peddling my ideas as an English and Art History teacher. In graduate school I became a hopeless Medieval British Literature fan, and that increased exponentially with my international trips overseas. Seeing our students prepare, perform, and execute in Oregon far away from home was inspiring. Though we came up a little short on the win side, all battled hard and represented themselves and the school very well.
This week we celebrate Triduum, an important Salesian celebration. In all of our pre-K through University schools we wash of the sins of summer fun off and embrace prayer and celebration of the liturgy. Again, this Friday we will have over 1,000 adults and students here to feel our Salesian spirit. It allows us to continue to partner in mission with our local parochial schools. This year we even have guests from the elementary school leadership team at Ann Soldo joining us. We are excited to welcome all of our guests and give them a true Salesian high school experience. Students and staff are encouraged to wear Sharkwear this day, September 15th. It is not considered a holiday for our students; rather, it is one of our 4 Salesian pillars and gives all of our students practical leadership and service experience. Therefore, all students are expected to be in attendance and to participate in this regular Salesian school day.
The following week is Homecoming Week and this, along with Battle for the Paddle, are the most important spirit days of the year. Mr. Monroy will share the schedule in this newsletter and we hope to see all students and staff fully participate in the food, the dress up themes, and the games for the week. I also hope to see you at the Homecoming Breakfast for current and alumni students + parents on Saturday, September 23rd. The game and dance follow through the day and evening.
As we move closer to the end of the first quarter, we are at the transition between the summer and fall seasons of weather and sport. Though the humidity and heat have been high, the teaching and learning is happening at a very high rate, too. This is the time when 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 are fascinating. They can sleep with their eyes open, laugh out loud for unexpected reasons, argue passionately about a topic, or even advocate for their Giants to pull off a miracle win against the Dodgers...and they do it all with a love for their school and each other that is not matched.
This year, as a Principal Goal, I am meeting with 8 randomly selected students each month (2 from each class). The goal is to listen and accompany them, our Salesian worldwide theme, and give them a chance to both ask questions of me and provide input on how to make the great school of St. Francis even greater! Common themes from the student interviews:
- Schedule questions? Why the break? Not enough time – too short to be of any value? Many of the students interviewed don’t eat breakfast and don’t have time to eat during the break so a later lunch makes it harder to stay awake and concentrate? 3 classes before lunch is long? The checking in to homeroom after lunch is dumb? No one really using tutorial yet because it is not that busy and the year just started…1/2 of the students didn’t eat the lunch that Lina and I provided them and then went to class
- Food questions? Lunch truck lines too long? Too many people ordering more than 2 meals? Food choices limited – they want another food truck or another option? More than ½ brought lunch and more than ½ bought from the lunch truck? This means some bring lunch and order more food? Time and sleep were the reasons for not making or bringing snacks or food for lunch
- Rules questions? Why can’t they wear their cheer uniforms and the boys wear football uniforms on Sharkwear days? Why does it have to be blue jeans? Why on class color days can they not wear other clothing with that color on it? Why skirts on dress uniform days and it is cold outside? Why can’t they wear leggings or tights under their skirts? Why only the mandatory ties and not the individuality of wearing their own choice of ties?
- Environment and culture? We have a safe school; it is welcoming; no issues between people; social media is not active with negative stuff; about 1/3 couldn’t hear the announcements, 1/3 didn’t care to listen to the announcements, and 1/3 said they could hear and it was quiet in the room; the seniors spoke about guest speakers – do they have a topic or speaker suggestion? Too many politicians; liked the DUI court; would like more professionals to share what they do – like a career talk about the real world for all school assemblies?
The lunch meeting was very productive and I hope that as more students are invited and participate the more they will comfortable eating and opening up with their opinions.
I want to remind you that we have a Suggestion Box in the front office and we are always looking at ways to improve everything we do. Suggestions have led to enhanced communications, events, and calendaring. Please use it. I address your suggestions in the following month after I get the suggestion. All of our administrators subscribe to an open door policy. We are here to listen and we are here to help. Don’t be afraid to share your opinions and observations. In all of my experience with any of our Salesian high schools in California I have never witnessed, or even heard of, any backlash or retaliation against a student or family for sharing their observations and opinions. Like our theme states, “I AM ST. FRANCIS!” This means that each one of us is individually responsible for the success of the St. Francis family as a whole.
All 9th-11th grade students and their parents should sign up for 2 excellent, and free, resources: info on colleges, majors, locations, and scholarships. Reach out to take interest surveys and then get personal messages and personal contacts from the top local and national universities. If you have questions contact Ms. Gutierrez or Ms. Haydee Lemus for assistance.
Homecoming Football Game and Homecoming Dance tickets will be sold online. Look for the email and text message for their availability!
It takes a Village…How Can Families Help Grow St. Francis?
The first week of October we hope to see all of you at our 6th annual Burgundy & Gray Gala. This is the signature community building and fundraising event for the SF Parent Association. After this event the holidays are coming fast. We are asking each family to invite families and friends to visit us at our annual Open House. We are asking you to invite potential incoming 9th grade and/or transfer students to experience our St. Francis Salesian Family on November 12th.
For the 2018-2019 school Year, St. Francis High School will be offering a Student Referral Discount of $150 for referring an incoming (non-sibling) 9th grade/transfer student. This is a one-time credit off your tuition account balance and is subject to administrative review/approval. This one-time credit will be applied on the October 2018 tuition statement and it will be evenly distributed across the remaining tuition payments, with one credit per family.
Annual Fund and the Class Competition!
Saint Francis High School provides a strong foundation for all of our students to pursue their dreams. Our students get admitted to, and study at, some of the best universities in the country. I ask today that you consider a donation to the St. Francis Fund – the Annual Appeal. Our goal is 100% participation by all families this year. The class with the most parent participation %, not dollars given, will win a free dress day and free lunch this spring before Easter Break
Saint Francis High School will mail the annual fund letters home in October. As part of the annual fund this year we will be participating in a 24-hour online giving for the feast of St. John Bosco in January of 2018.
The Feast of SJB online giving is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Your gift directly helps all of our students with programs and services as well as specialty projects like completing the final classroom HVAC installation and LED light renovation for each classroom.
Yours in Christ,
Mr. Patrick Lee