From the Associate Principal

Dear St. Francis Families,

 

Topics included in the is section are:

The end of the grading period is quickly approaching. Most classes have had at least one major assessment or will be having one very shortly. If you have not heard your daughter/son talking about writing papers, completing projects, or studying for tests, please ask! Set aside some time to sit with your daughter/son to review RenWeb and/or Google Classroom and discuss upcoming assignments and earned grades to date. Proactive conversations about upcoming assignments are always beneficial and she/he may need your assistance with time management and prioritizing commitments.

Please do all you can to ensure your daughter/son is getting a solid night’s sleep and eating a healthy meal in the morning. Studies have repeatedly shown that spending time on electronic devices and on social media can be detrimental emotionally, socially, and academically to young adults - it also impacts the amount of sleep they get which can in turn impact them emotionally, socially, and academically.

 

1) Math Help - Saturday, September 30 Algebra 1 students have the unique opportunity to get extra help from an experienced math teacher who has offered to meet with students on Saturdays and during Tutorial. All Algebra 1 students are encouraged to take part! The next one is Saturday, September 30, Room H43 from 11 am-1:00 pm (before the Freshman VITA event). Make a day of it by supporting your child’s success in the classroom and then encouraging them to fully participate in the amazing social life of St. Francis.

 

2) Parents of Seniors - Public colleges (UC and CSU) in the state of California begin accepting applications now! Ms. Gutierrez has countless resources to help you and your student through the application process. She is also an experienced freshman admissions officer for the CSU/UC system so please take full advantage of her expertise and experience. Make sure to keep up to date and ask questions when they arise!

 

3) College Application Workshop (for Seniors - parents may accompany the students as well) On Saturday, September 30th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in Room H32, Ms. Gutierrez will be hosting a College Application Workshop. The workshop is intended to directly assist students, so parents are welcome to attend to support their student but the student must be present to go through the actual process.

Students should initiate the application process prior to arriving on Saturday.

(Don’t forget to save your username and password! Hint…. put it in your phone!)

Saturday Workshop Schedule:

-10:00 to 11:00 am: UC's - To create a UC application account click here
-11:00 to 12 noon: CSU's - To create a CSU application account click here
-12 noon to 1:00 pm: Common Application - To create a Common App application account click here

Ms. Gutierrez will also be providing students and parents with dedicated time on:

-Wednesday, October 18 - College Application Assistance (during Tutorial)
-Monday, October 23 - College Application Assistance (during Tutorial)
-Wednesday, November 8 - Financial Aid Information Night (evening event)

 

October 11th - Seniors will have the day off on Wednesday, October 11th to work on college applications and visit colleges! (Students who are very behind in earning Community Service Hours will be expected to earn hours that day. More information from Mr. Croghan to follow.)

 

Financial Aid - Scholarships are currently available for senior students. Be sure to keep track of dates and deadlines--be sure to apply if you are eligible. Every year, scholarship money goes unused because students fail to apply and submit their applications. Sign up at niche.com and collegeexpress.org for more opportunities!

 

 

Start working on the FAFSA application NOW! The FAFSA website is open and allows you to apply using your current year taxes--no more estimating needed. Go to the www.fafsa.ed.gov site and the the first step by creating your FSA ID (Personal Identification Number) on the FSA ID link. One student and one parent must have an FSA ID to legally sign documents for college, loans, FAFSA forms, etc. Keep your ID safe…it is your identity.

 

Letters of Recommendation - Seniors should have started to complete their profile/resume, they should start quickly! That is the document they will hand to their teachers as they ask teachers and school employees to write their letters of recommendations. The letters are quite time consuming to write so the more information the student provides, the easier it is for the person to write a strong letter.

3) Parents of Juniors - It is widely said that junior year is the most important year for high school students. It is often also the most difficult year for young adults. Their increased interest in independence, their access to driving and other freedoms increases their distractions and can make it difficult for them to focus. It is important to talk with your daughter/son regarding your hopes for the future and her/his options for college and after high school programs. Also of great importance is taking the opportunity to listen to your daughter/son regarding their goals for the future. The earlier those conversations take place, the earlier you can begin researching colleges, programs, scholarships, and the steps needed to make goals a reality.

 

If you are interested in knowing about the college process, you are always welcome to attend the Senior Parent Meetings. In the spring, the Counseling Department will host a Junior Parent Meeting, so stay tuned.

Tuesday, February 6 - Beginning the College Process Meeting (In the past known as the Junior Parent Meeting - an evening event)

 

4) Parents and students of all grades are encouraged to attend College Fairs. Begin researching college options and programs now! Here are a couple local college fairs
-Sunday, October 8th, 2017 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm - STEM NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR in Silicon Valley
-October 11th - 2-4pm - Live Oak High School
-October 26th - 5-7pm - San Benito High School
-October 30th - 6-8pm - Cabrillo College Fair
-November 2nd - 5-7pm - Gilroy High School

5) National Testing Day - Wednesday, October 11
-Students expected on campus from 7:50 until approximately 11:30pm
    -Students will be dismissed as their testing group finishes
-Students wear regular school dress
-Attendance is required for all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students
-All students should get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast
-Students should be spend time familiarizing themselves with the format of the test
    -The Counseling Department has distributed a PSAT practice test booklet
    -Additional problems can be found on the CollegeBoard website
-9th grade students will take the PSAT 8-9
-10th and 11th grade students will take the PSAT/NMSQT
    -This tests parallels the SAT
    -Provides information regarding their skill level relative to other students locally and nationally
    -Results indicate which skills are strengths and which need improvement
-11th graders achieving the 99%tile become eligible for Merit Scholarship recognition

 

6) Friday, October 13 marks the end of the first academic quarter. It is important that any missing work (due to illness or other absence) be made up prior to the end of the first quarter. Please note that report cards are not mailed home at the quarter. Report cards will be available for viewing on RenWeb beginning Friday, October 20.

 

7) Parent-Teacher Conferences will be take place on Wednesday, October 25. All teachers will be available from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Parents have to schedule appointments to meet with teachers - "drop ins" are not available. Please schedule through Ms. Nereida Madrigal in the main office by phone (831) 724-5933 x201 or by email at [email protected].

 

8) Accreditation - In March 2018, St. Francis will be hosting a WCEA Accreditation Visiting Committee. The Faculty, Staff, and a number of volunteers from the Board, parent and student communities began working on St. Francis’s Self Study during the 2016-2017 school year. If you are interested in joining one of the “Home Groups” as we review and finalize the Self Study Process, please contact me. Home Groups focus on the areas of:

A) Catholic Identity
B) School Governance
C) Teaching and Learning
D) Student Support
E) Materials Stewardship

 

In the coming weeks, parents, students, and all other shareholders will be asked to complete an online survey. The surveys provide data for the Data Library which is part of the Self Study process. Thank you in advance for taking the time to thoughtfully complete the survey.

 

9) WCEA Accreditation Work Day - Friday, October 27 is a Faculty/Staff work day. Students are not expected on campus. It is, however, the perfect opportunity for students to complete Community Service Hours!

 

Thank you for all you do to help St. Francis and the young adults who spend their high school years as Sharks!