Parent Newsletter Archives
Principal’s Newsletter 4/28/23
Dear St. Francis Families,
As we prepare for Junior Prom and Senior Ball parties this weekend, I would like to ask that you have a frank conversation with your daughters about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. I know this topic can be a bit taboo, but I’d rather know our students will be safe because you took the time to have this conversation with them. Unfortunately, over my two decades of experience, I’ve come to realize that many parents are unaware of the choice/s their daughters are making with regards to these substances. At this time of year, we are asking for your assistance in reminding your daughters about saying “No” to any controlled substance. This is not only for their safety today, but to protect them from repercussions that may affect their health and safety, as well as any inappropriate social media postings that may surface in the future.
Let us pray that with all of us working together as a team in support of our Troubies, all of our children will be safe during this prom, ball, and graduation season.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 4/21/23
Dear St. Francis Families,
Welcome back, and I hope you all had a blessed Easter! The week after Easter break can be a bit stressful and intimidating for some of our students, as the realization the semester and academic year is quickly coming to an end. Please reassure your daughter/s there is still time to meet their goals, and finish the year strong.
As you look at the calendar, keep in mind there are only 27 calendar days left until graduation, and 11 school days left before final exams. Additionally, AP Exams begin on Monday, May 1st, and I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers as they approach the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 3/31/23
Dear St. Francis Families,
As the Easter Break officially begins this afternoon, I hope all of our Troubies are able to enjoy a restful and relaxing break. I know the next two weeks will most likely fly-by and the return to school on Monday, April 17th, will bring some trepidation, as our students realize the academic year is only a few weeks away.
The coming week embraces the holiest days of the year for all Christians: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Pope John Paul II wrote in 1986: “We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”
So together we pray, no matter how far or close we may be to one another:
Draw us forth, God of all creation.
Draw us forward and away from limited certainty
into the immense world of your love.
Give us the capacity to even for a moment
taste the richness of the feast you give us.
Give us the peace to live with uncertainty,
with questions, with doubts.
Help us to experience the resurrection anew
with open wonder and an increasing ability
to see you in the people of Easter.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 3/24/23
Dear St. Francis Families,
The month of March has felt quite long, and your daughters have probably expressed some comments about when Easter Break is going to get here. Well, after this week, that well-deserved break is only one week away!
We know that during this time of the second semester, emotions run high due to a multitude of reasons, and the realization that the end of the school year is fast approaching does not help. Please encourage your daughters to seek help if they need it from a teacher, academic Counselor or Wellness, as well as our Administrative team.
We look forward to the sunny weeks ahead and beginning the transition of promoting our underclassmen, as our seniors prepare to graduate.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 3/17/23
Dear St. Francis Families,
Last month I announced that we were beginning the visionary work of strategic planning as part of an ongoing effort to ensure St. Francis Catholic High School remains strong and vibrant. As you know, to optimize this long range planning process for our school we engaged the services of Meitler, a national Catholic school planning firm. An important part of our planning involves hearing from families who currently have daughters enrolled at St. Francis High School.
That’s why I’m asking you to complete this short survey; it should take less than ten minutes, and will influence areas across campus including educational programs, enrollment and facilities. All responses are confidential; one survey per household. The survey link will be open until Monday, March 27.
All of your daughters are helping me too – they completed their own strategic planning survey in class earlier this week with the incentive of free dress going to the class with the highest response rate. To keep things fair, we are also awarding free dress to the class with the highest parent participation rate (again, only one survey per family please regardless of your level of enthusiasm for your daughter!). I knew there would be a way to make this fun – a skill I learned from our Troubies!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum,
Dr. Fadia Desmond
President
Principal’s Newsletter 3/10/23
Dear St. Francis Families,
This week we hosted the Class of 2027 for Freshman Welcome Night on, appropriately enough, International Women’s Day. Our brand new Troubies learned interesting things about their class, like they come from 53 different schools and the names Ava, Grace, Lily and Sophia are well represented.
They also learned that we have a vibrant community of students and parents who are excited to be a part of their St. Francis journey. From the parent volunteers who greeted them and handed out folders and t-shirts to the members of the five parent groups staffing tables, it was evident that the St. Francis community is welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and enthusiastic.
Parents are truly our best brand ambassadors, and it was wonderful for our new families to see how invested St. Francis parents are, not just in their own daughters’ education, but in all St. Francis students, and our community. We so appreciate you sharing your positive St. Francis experience with friends, neighbors, and colleagues and helping us to grow the next class of freshmen and transfer students. Our new parents are proud to join your ranks, and we are grateful for your support.
We have another special ask of our current parents coming your way next week. Please keep your eyes open for the parent survey supporting the long range visioning process of our Strategic Planning work. We rely on and appreciate your input and insights in the survey that will appear in next week’s newsletter.
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum,
Lisa Wilkins
Director of Enrollment Management