The end of the third quarter is only 3 weeks away on Friday, March 9. Please encourage your student to make use of Tutorial and to keep up on their day to day work and studying. Success is usually the result of consistent, proactive work!
Topics included in this article are:
- WCEA Accreditation Week
- First Semester Honor Roll
- Graduation Requirements for Class of 2018
- Planning Ahead for 2018-2019
- PSAT and Khan Academy
- Junior Parent Night
- AP Exams
WCEA Accreditation Week
As a Catholic school our accreditation process follows the WCEA (Western Catholic Education Association) Ensuring Educational Excellence (E3) protocol. Accreditation through that process earns St. Francis High School accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
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 in the early spring of 2016. The E3 protocol expects St. Francis to evaluate itself based on data collected for the required Data Library in the areas of:
- Catholic Identity,
- School Governance,
- Teaching and Learning,
- Student Support, and
- Materials Stewardship.
It is exciting to state that the accreditation Self Study writing process is almost complete! The finishing touches are being put on the Self Study and the Data Library. The Chairperson of our Visiting Team was on campus on Friday, February 9. He had the opportunity to meet our community and get to know us before returning to spend four days with us during the week of March 12.
As part of the WCEA Accreditation Self Study process, the St. Francis High School Shareholders spent a considerable amount of time reviewing the St. Francis High School Mission Statement, Philosophy, and the Integral Student Outcomes (ISOs). We are pleased to share with you the updated documents.
Mission Statement
St. Francis High School: Salesian College Preparatory expresses the educational philosophy of reason, religion, and loving kindness of the Salesians of St. John Bosco and works to create a community that fosters emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth. In partnership with families, St. Francis High School provides students with the foundations of lifelong learning: logical and creative thinking skills, promoting awareness of social justice and peace, and appreciation and respect for others.
Philosophy
St. Francis High School: Salesian College Preparatory recognizes the importance of a high quality, holistic education for a rapidly changing world. Guided by St. John Bosco’s educational philosophy of reason, religion, and loving kindness, and in the spirit of St. Mary Mazzarello, foundress of the Salesian Sisters, St. Francis High School provides a college preparatory education for students from diverse abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The faculty and staff actively seek to provide students with an experience of home, where they feel welcome; school, where they learn 21st century skills for life; church, where they find meaning; and playground, where they celebrate life and others.
Embracing St. John Bosco’s vision of community as family, St. Francis High School collaborates as a total Salesian family--students, parents, administrators, teachers, and staff--to achieve the goal of preparing young people to be outstanding citizens of this world and the next.
Integral Student Outcomes
St. Francis High School: Salesian College Preparatory graduates are guided by St. John Bosco's Salesian philosophy of life. They are committed to...
Reason: As creative, critical thinkers and life-long learners who...
- Express themselves and collaborate with superior communication skills;
- Master the arts and sciences for success in college and life beyond high school;
- Utilize talents and abilities while choosing safe, healthy, and well-balanced life decisions; and
- Understand the potential of technology and use it responsibly.
Religion: As responsible, spiritual people who...
- Understand the teachings of the Catholic faith and are respectful of all faiths;
- Behave in a way consistent with the belief that they and all others are created "in the image and likeness of God"; and
- Develop and share their spirituality.
Loving Kindness: As involved citizens of their communities who...
- Value individual and group diversity and act with compassion toward others;
- Demonstrate authentic leadership with integrity and humility;
- Make their local communities more loving, just, and sustainable through responsible moral decisions and voluntary service; and
- Demonstrate active and informed citizenship to support regional, national, and global communities.
First Semester Honor Roll
Congratulations to all of the honor roll students. I had the privilege to read every single final exam. St. Francis High School students have the opportunity to learn a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum. Earning first or second honors is an impressive accomplishment!
Students who earned a 4.0 or better were also invited to celebrate at the 4.0 Luncheon. They were treated to lunch, served by the administration, and given their 4.0 certificates and a pin that can be worn on their gown during graduation.
Here is a summary of our student body’s successes.
Fall Semester Honor Roll
51 students total
4.0 and above
highest GPA = 4.8333
57 Students
First Honors
51 students total
Second Honors
Graduation Requirements for Class of 2018
Dear Parents of Seniors, please help your student remain engaged in the St. Francis High School campus and learning opportunities! Looking ahead to college and the difficult decisions that go with planning the future can be an exciting distraction, but the skills and content taught during the spring semester of senior year are also important.
Please also confirm that your student has all hours for the Christian Service Program submitted. Additionally, if they have taken any courses at a school other than St. Francis, it is worth the time to ensure the grades have been submitted to St. Francis and have been added to their transcript, where applicable.
Finally, each year I have worked in a high school, I or one of my peers have had a student whose college acceptance(s) was revoked. I personally know of examples where it was the result of students who did not pass a second semester class or two, students who posted inappropriate pictures/messages on social media, or who for one reason or another were no longer eligible for admission to that particular college. There are so many good reasons to share regular reminders with your son or daughter about the importance of finishing their high school career strong!
I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2018 Commencement Exercises with the St. Francis High School community in May!
Planning Ahead for 2018-2019
The Academic Departments have begun conversations regarding the course catalog, textbooks, and courses to be offered during the 2018-2019 school year.
- The course catalog for 2018-2019 will be available to students and parents in March. Class selection for returning students will also begin in March.
- Stay tuned for information regarding the process.
- All paperwork (both hardcopy and electronic) for the 2018-2019 school year will be due prior to Easter Break which begins on Friday, March 30.
PSAT Results & Khan Academy
The Counseling Department is in the process of sharing the PSAT results with students. Please take time to look at the information provided by the College Board regarding the PSAT. They have a tremendous number of resources to help you and your student understand the data provided with the test results. They have also joined with Khan Academy to focus students’ practice on the skills where they need the most assistance to reach mastery. There are many examples of students who took advantage of the dedicated and FREE practice available and significantly improved their scores on subsequent PSAT tests or the SAT.
Junior Parent Night
Thank you to the Counseling Department for hosting the Junior Parent Night. The night included representatives from Santa Clara University, UC Santa Cruz, and CSU Monterey Bay, as well as a student panel of SFHS Seniors who want to help the juniors prepare for the college process.
AP Exams
If your student is taking an AP course, they are highly encouraged to take the exam. Many colleges have even stated that they expect students who take the courses to also take the test and submit their exam scores. Tests will be ordered in the next few weeks. The cost of the exam is $94 per exam. While that may sound high, many colleges allow students to skip courses expected of all freshman. So $94 now may save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in college tuition later!
Exams take place May 7-17. The College Board is very strict about attendance and behavior during the exams. In the coming week, students taking an AP course will receive a Student and Family Bulletin that provides all the necessary information. Please look ahead on your calendars and reschedule any appointments or other obligations that conflict with the AP exams. It is very difficult for the school to approve a retake of the exam for students who miss the regularly schedule exam time.
Finally, the spring semester goes very quickly, thanks for all you do to help students remain engaged. Also important is their ability to stay healthy, so please do not let them underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep and healthy meals.
Go Sharks,
Ms. Colleen Eagleson
Associate Principal