From the Associate Principal

Greetings St. Francis Families,

 

The first semester is complete. Congratulations!

 

Topics included in this article are:

Final Exams - I had the pleasure of reading each and every final exam proctored at St. Francis in December. Your sons and daughters have amazing teachers and have the opportunity learn a phenomenal curriculum here at St. Francis.

The English teachers provide opportunities for critical thinking and student reflection while analyzing literary works from a number of genres. The social studies and theology teachers are tying in the content of their courses to the current events of our world and the content of other courses. Math teachers provide a combination of standard math lessons and interactive real-world practice. The Spanish teachers wrote exams that reinforce the skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking in a language other than English - and that is a difficult task - so students can master Academic Spanish! The Science Department provides regular hands-on and interactive activities and labs. The Physical Education and Visual and Performing Arts Departments challenge students to find talents they may not have previously known and push themselves to excel beyond their comfort level.

If you are able to spend some time with your student and ask them to find their first semester’s final exam study guides, I guarantee you will find content and skills that are quite impressive for high school curriculum! Thank you to all the faculty who spends countless hours preparing lesson and assessing students!

Report Cards, Transcripts, and Honor Roll - Semester one report cards will be printed and distributed on by January 19th. They will also be available for viewing on RenWeb. Please note that the beginning of the third quarter represents a completely new grading period. Grades earned during semester one do not carry over to semester two. Also, semester grades are entered on to the students’ permanent St. Francis High School transcript.

 

After the report cards are finalized, the honor roll and student recognition awards will be determined and shared with the St. Francis High School community. Stay tuned!

 

Textbooks and Supplies - Please take some time during this long weekend to assist your student in gathering or purchasing school supplies. In class this week, many students were without pens, pencils, paper and textbooks! Nightly charging of their iPad, having supplies, and completing the required assignments for class are imperative for academic success. Please remind your son/daughter that they have the opportunity to start fresh academically. Their commitment to work to the best of their ability every day will ensure they have multiple opportunities for their future!

 

Accreditation Process - Our school continues the self-study process for our accreditation through the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Our accreditation visit will occur March 12-15, 2018. More information will follow.

 

College Acceptances - Seniors, be sure to check your emails frequently and keep careful track of dates. College acceptance “letters” have begun to arrive in student inboxes. Read the instructions that come with these notices and keep a file and calendar of deadlines.
Please remember to forward a copy of any college acceptance notice to Mrs. Gutierrez so that they can be acknowledged for Graduation and at our monthly All-School Assemblies. Please also forward any scholarship information from colleges or outside agencies. It is important that we celebrate our students’ success!

College Financial Aid - As you review your acceptances, consider the Financial Aid Award Package that will have been sent after you filed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Consult the financial aid officer at the college of choice if you have questions or special circumstances regarding your ability to pay. These officials are in a position to consider, verify, and help you with special needs.

 

If you haven’t yet filed a financial aid application via the FAFSA website, do so as soon as possible.

College Research - Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, if you have not begun the college search process, now is the time to begin. Websites, including www.collegeboard.org/bigfutures and www.Search4College.com www.assist.org CSUmentor.edu, and www.stfrancis.net/Naviance offer a variety of resources to begin your college search. If you are planning a vacation during the summer or on any school break this year, be sure to check out the colleges in that area. Start researching, visiting, and planning now! Don’t wait.

PSAT Results - If they have not yet arrived, PSAT results should arrive via email. They will also be distributed to students and families in hard copy by St. Francis in February. Students and families should spend some time reviewing the results. The College Board website has a tremendous amount of resources available to students so they can evaluate what skills need to be improved prior to taking the SAT. Students with an interest in doing so, can significantly improve their SAT scores by using PSAT results.

 

Congratulations again to all students for the completion of semester one.

 

Thank you for all you do to assist St. Francis students in reaching their potential.

 

Sincerely,
Ms. Colleen Eagleson