Join us on the St. Francis path
"Happy is he who attributes all he has to God. 
Saint Francis of Assisi
Welcome
" Entrance Exam This Saturday Opens Doors of Opportunity for Future Spartans"

Just for fun, let's coin this Saturday "Testing Saturday"-the day of testing for Catholic high schools. "Testing Saturday" is about taking the first step on a path of exceptional college prep at St. Francis High School. I encourage you to test at St. Francis High School for priority admission consideration and potential scholarships. Although we will welcome walk-ins, we encourage pre-registration. The test begins at 8:00 a.m. this Saturday, December 2 - click here to register.

How does St. Francis High School College Preparatory help students thrive? The community & academic structure create a path that develops the individual student. This helps students work to their academic potential without tracking, join in extracurriculars, and ultimately mature to earn excellent college placement. The path has already begun for an 8th grader at Holy Cross in Batavia, who comes to SFHS for 1st period each day to take Honors Geometry. Emery Carlson will be "Testing Saturday" here at St. Francis. Her mother, Elizabeth, shares, "We chose St. Francis for Emery because we felt she could be challenged and thrive in the strong academic environment." Emery's sister, Ava, is a current SFHS sophomore. (For more Parent Perspectives, see "I Am St. Francis" below.)

Academic Culture & Community. Rigor & Joy. Catholic Education & Franciscan Service. Accessible Teachers & Successful Students. They all combine to form one great high school & many well-rounded young people. Does St. Francis feel like the right fit for your child? Students who enjoy school thrive by taking advantage of the opportunities here, then graduate ready to excel in college. We look forward to seeing you for "Testing Saturday" and the Entrance Exam this Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Please call me with questions or to meet for coffee and a tour while school is in session.

-Maureen Isphording, Director of Admissions
                                                                                                                                                  

"I Am St. Francis"
The Parent Perspective: 5 Questions for Veteran Parents Toby and Megan Zeman and New Parents Keith and Susan Glab


1.

Number of years at SFHS? What grade school did your child(ren) attend?

Mr. and Mrs. Zeman:  This is our sixth year at St. Francis. Our first year was 2012 when our oldest son, Tom '16, entered as a freshman after we moved here from Nashville, Tenn.  Katie '18 and Julia '20 attended Edison Middle School in Wheaton.  Jackson is presently in 4th grade at Whittier Elementary School in Wheaton.
Mr. and Mrs. Glab:  This is our first year at St. Francis. Our son, KJ '21, attended All Saints Catholic Academy in Naperville.


2.  What activities does your child(ren) participate in at SFHS?  As a parent, have you been involved in activities as well?

Mr. and Mrs. Zeman: Tom played Football, Basketball and participated in Blue Crew. Katie participated in JV Cheerleading, Tennis, Track, Ping Pong Club, Math Team, Student Ambassador Leadership Team (SALT), National Honor Society (NHS), and Marion Park Tutoring. Julia enjoys Soccer, Ping Pong Club, and Marion Park Tutoring. As parents, we've been involved in the sports our children have played in as well as Mother's Club and Father's Club.  We like to help out with other committees when we can, like the auction committee and senior celebration.  And, of course, we love attending many St. Francis "friend-raiser" events, such as Wine Tasting, Fight Night, Fashion Show, and the spring Auction.
Mr. and Mrs. Glab: KJ was on the Sophomore Golf Team and participates in Intramural Volleyball and Ping Pong Club. Our whole family enjoyed attending football games in the fall. I attended several Mother's Club events and also helped at a faculty luncheon.

 

 

3. Why did you choose SFHS for your child(ren)?

Mr. and Mrs. Zeman: When our oldest Tom toured St. Francis, he felt very comfortable.  We knew we wanted him to attend a Catholic high school, and we looked at multiple schools. The St. Francis atmosphere and community feel stood out and made it the obvious choice. Our daughter Katie initially wanted to attend Wheaton Warrenville South because all of her (newly made) friends from Edison Middle School were going there.  We wanted her to attend SFHS but were reluctant to force her because we'd recently moved her from Nashville, Tenn. (She was entering 7th grade.)  Whereas she had a fine experience her freshman year, she decided that St. Francis was a better fit for her because it "felt like family." She transferred to St. Francis sophomore year and was warmly welcomed. Julia knew from the start she wanted to attend SFHS despite the vast majority of her middle school friends going to public school.  She already felt comfortable with the SFHS community because of her older brother and sister attending.
Mr. and Mrs. Glab: We chose St. Francis because we knew it offered our child the opportunity to receive an excellent education in a caring and supportive environment. We also were impressed that SFHS really encourages their students to pursue a variety of activities so they can become well-rounded individuals. Starting from the very first open house and continuing through every interaction we had with SFHS teachers, staff, coaches, students, and parents, we consistently felt the humble, genuine, and caring spirit of this school. St. Francis is a great fit for our family.


 

 

4. What role have the teachers played in the learning process?

Mr. and Mrs. Zeman: The teachers have been fantastic.  They connect with the students, challenge them academically and push them to be good citizens with integrity.  Our children have respected their teachers.  And, importantly, the teachers have always been very approachable and accessible.  The teachers truly care and demonstrate a strong desire for students to succeed.  They strike a great balance with having high performance expectations but also enjoy interacting with the students in a less formal fashion.
Mr. and Mrs. Glab: The teachers at St. Francis provide a challenging and supportive environment to help each student achieve his or her success. The teachers are always willing to help, and they truly want their students to succeed.
 

 

5.  In your opinion, what is the best thing about SFHS?

Mr. & Mrs. Zeman: The "community feel" and that everybody has a place there. I AM ... GRATEFUL.
Mr. & Mrs. Glab: In our opinion, the best thing about St. Francis is the genuine kindness that exudes from the entire St. Francis community. It feels like family. I AM ... GRATEFUL for St. Francis.

   





Only at St. Francis High School

Alumni Visit with Current Students to Share Real-World Experiences and Enhance Collaborative Learning

When three St. Francis High School grads shared their college experiences last month, it was a welcome homecoming for students and teachers in the Business & Technology and English departments. St. Francis values collaborative classroom learning and also structures daily peer tutoring (by National Honor Society students) and organizes weekly student tutoring with our young neighbors (at Marion Park next door). So inviting alums to speak is not new, but it's always fun.     

Business & Technology Alum Speakers Share with Accounting and Business Classes  
Andrew Kinzler and Jared Valdez, both Class of 2014, took time from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University to discuss their experiences in the Business School, their accounting degree path, and the CPA examination. They are enrolled in the 3-2 program to earn their undergraduate degree and MBA in 5 years. "We are always interested in bringing guest speakers into our Business classes because of the value of real-world experience," says Jeff Gerdeman, SFHS Accounting Teacher and IT Director. The alums discussed details with current students in the Accounting I and Honors Accounting II classes. They also addressed the Business Communications class to discuss the increased importance of "soft skills" in the business world, which ties directly to the SFHS Business Communications curriculum.     

Says student John V., '18 , " It was really interesting to hear about their experiences at business school and also in the real business world.  Jared and Andrew were very relatable, and they definitely knew what they were talking about and had great stories to tell."  






Alum Actor and Director Speaks to English Students about Shakespeare
Alum Tommy Malouf, Class of 2009, now a Chicago actor and director, met two Senior British Literature & Composition classes last month. " I invited Tommy to Skype with us because I wanted to make a connection between our class work and the real world," explains Susan Fairhead, SFHS English Teacher. "We currently are studying the Renaissance in British Literature and reading/acting Macbeth aloud in class. I wanted students to see how a Shakespearean drama unit can apply to our current world and lives here in Chicagoland."   

Says student Grace C., '18: "Our 8th period English class had the amazing opportunity to Skype a graduate who is now working for the theatre community in Chicago. The class asked questions and Tommy gave us a better understanding of our lesson and even added some interesting facts. Macbeth is already a difficult text to comprehend, but after listening to a professional actor and director, it really helped me to understand the material better. This experience gave us reliable information about Shakespeare, plays, and even acting. Overall, Skyping with a Chicago actor and being able to come together and talk about the beauty of literature was an unforgettable experience."
  
  






 
Connect



 

Upcoming Events
 
Every Tuesday
Tuesday Tours
9:00-10:00 a.m.,Coffee
and School Tour,  Call
(630) 668-5800 for reservations


December 2
Entrance Exam, 8:00 a.m.

December 9
Boys' Basketball Game at United Center, 11:00 a.m. Click here for more information and tickets

December 16
Girls'/Boys' Basketball Middle School Night
6:00 p.m. Girls' Game, 
7:30 p.m. Boys' Game, 

December 16
Pep Band Middle School Night
Rehearse & play with SFHS students


2017-2018 Viewbook


Admissions Video



Feast of St. Francis
We hope you enjoy our talented choir singing the prayer of St. Francis




Thanks for reading 

 
Maureen
Isphording

Director of Admissions
Contact me at misphording@ sfhscollegeprep.org or (630) 668-5800x1120
 
St. Francis High School Fast Facts

COLLEGE PREPARATORY: 
Enrollment: 730
CLASS OF 2017-
100% of graduates were accepted to colleges or universities
Earned $30 million in college scholarships

ACADEMIC
80% of faculty have advanced degrees
Class of 2017 average ACT score = 26
117 Full year and semester course offerings
19 Honors courses
14 Advanced Placement (A.P.) courses (85% of last year's students scored 3 or better)

CO-CURRICULAR: ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS
98% student participation in at least one activity
24 sports programs
11th Place Division 2A State Math Team
65% of students participate in the performing arts
66% of students participate in athletic programs 

PASTORAL MINISTRY
Provides opportunity for prayer and worship, retreats, justice and service, ministry leadership formation, pastoral care, and community building

SFHS Bus Service This Fall

St. Francis High School offers bus transportation. The school provides two-way bus service in the northern, western and southern suburbs, with students arriving to St. Francis High School by 7:25 a.m. and departing school after the Activity Period at 3:15 p.m.   

For more information, fees, route schedules or questions, please contact Bob Gorski at (630) 668-5800 x1138 or at 





St. Francis High School, 2130 West Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone (630)668-5800 | Fax (630) 668-5893 | www.sfhscollegeprep.org