St. Francis High School Admissions Newsletter-10/6/2022

Homecoming 2022

A joy-filled week of activities from window decorating to a pep rally to numerous athletic contests. Go Spartans!

Join Us On The SFHS Path

“What is it that stands higher than words? Action.

What is it that stands higher than action? Silence.”

Saint Francis of Assisi

Welcome

“Resist Roadblocks to Discover More from School Than You Can Even Imagine”

Many parents ask me how to switch streams from public to Catholic schools, and believe me, I understand. I understand the anxieties of leaving a comfortable, tuition-free situation. I also understand firsthand the promise of “more” from a school, which is why I advise parents to resist roadblocks and follow their curiosity. Because more than they can even imagine may lie on the other side of a little investigation. Here are some ways to resist roadblocks and evaluate a new school for your child.

1. Name your roadblock. “Change” was the biggest fear of now happy families whose children came from public schools to St. Francis. Because leaving the comfort of a familiar group takes a certain amount of courage and independence, these families suggest gathering information to reduce stress and see the situation more broadly.

2. Take initial steps without making a decision. I like to remind parents that it’s perfectly fine to explore our school without making a decision. Attending an Open House like the ones St. Francis is hosting on October 20 and November 6 is a great start. I also meet with families to discuss their individual situations and show them the school while classes are in session. Taking these initial steps can spark insight and boost confidence.

3. Shadow, learn more, then apply. If you like what you’ve learned, it’s time to learn more. Sign your child up to shadow a current student. Read about a school’s specific college prep advantages (click here for the viewbook). Look into costs as well as scholarships. Know important dates and read the 2022 resource for Catholic High School admissions. And register for the December 3 Entrance Exam.

In the end, walking through a roadblock is the only way to fulfill a promise of “more” like St. Francis High School offers. Parents of public middle schoolers cite the benefits of SFHS as strategic and attentive guidance, a college-minded and spiritual student body, a beneficial student: teacher ratio, a 97 percent participation rate in activities, and cutting-edge Microsoft technology. Attend our October Open House for prospective families on October 20 or November Open House on November 6 You also may register your child to shadow a St. Francis student for a day here. Call me any time for a personal appointment to discuss the transformative impact of a St. Francis High School College Preparatory education (630) 668-5800 x1120.

Sincerely,

Maureen Isphording, Director of Admissions

Only at St. Francis High School

Experience the SFHS difference, which offers distinct advantages that provide students with a well-rounded education to prepare them for a successful future.

This Issue’s Feature:

COLLEGE PREP – COURSES

The SFHS College Prep Difference

The highest quality coursework, strategic guidance, and academics are planned with college in mind. These are some of the hallmarks of the college prep difference at SFHS, where opportunity allows students to reach their personal goals.

According to Director of Counseling, Bridget Buckley, “Our curriculum is built to allow our students to succeed in college (and beyond college). Our coursework itself is elevated, and we hold our students to very high standards. We help students learn practical skills to advocate for themselves and begin college and career counseling at the beginning of the student's high school careers.”

An example of college counseling is to assist students with course selection. Students receive guidance from counselors and teachers to plan schedules with college in mind, starting freshman year. According to Principal Huhn, “Freshman year, we place students in classes according to scores from the entrance exam and proficiency tests. Schedules reflect academic strengths, and we allow students to jump to higher-level classes. We prepare students to present their most competitive college applications by senior year. No matter where students begin, we challenge them, support them, and raise them up to the next level.”

Sample Schedules Show Paths to College; SFHS Helps You Get There.

St. Francis High School provides countless combinations of excellent academic courses. These examples pair sample student schedules and colleges with similar requirements to which current SFHS now attend.

For more information on all courses and departmental information, click here to access our curriculum guide, also known as the Program of Studies.

"I Am St. Francis"

The Student Perspective:

How have CLASSES at SFHS impacted your life?

The SFHS curriculum is designed to prepare students for admission to leading colleges and universities. Coursework is available at the College Prep, Honors, and Advanced Placement (AP^®) levels, and students work with their counselor on their 4-year plan to map out their academic journey.

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

“My teacher for Honors Economics has helped me better understand how economics affects our real lives. We have a semester-long group project in which we calculate financials for an imaginary family. This project helps students develop various real-world skills like calculating taxes, budgeting our savings, and learning how to interact with others in a professional manner.” – Charlotte R. ‘24

“My favorite course within the Business & Technology Department was AP Computer Science. I loved the projects that we did and the detail that we went into about programming topics. My teacher was very friendly and an excellent resource for all of my questions and learning.” – Matt M. ‘23

ENGLISH

“My sophomore year English teacher continuously went out of his way to help me become a better student. He would always listen. This helped me become a better student because it taught me that it is okay to advocate for yourself and you should not be ashamed.” – Taylor D. ‘24

“My English teacher helped me to develop grammar skills quickly. She would go out of her way to hold grammar sessions after school to make sure that we understood the material.” – Brooks C. ‘25

MATHEMATICS

“The Math Department does an amazing job helping students understand and apply math to the real world. They always are ready to help before or after school, and they make sure to take time out of their days for their students.” – Katherine G. ‘23

“The math department at SFHS is one of the best. All the teachers are always willing to help you and help you learn the material in such a way that it just makes sense.” – Graham E. ‘25

PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS

Art

“My favorite course in the Art Department is AP Art 3-D. It is personalized, and I can express myself creatively through my own ideas and projects. It is rigorous enough for college credit, but the art teachers help inspire me.” – Vivian P. ‘23

Band

“I have been a part of the band program for all three years of my time at St. Francis and I can confidently say it has changed me for the better as a person.” – Alec K. ‘24

Choir

“If anyone is a role model, it's Mrs. Schroeder. She goes out of her way to make sure we always understand what we are doing in class, and she offers extra help to anyone who needs it. She makes people excited to go to class every day.” – Amelia J. ‘25

Theatre

“In this amazing community, I have found a home. I believe that anyone could find a good group and feel welcome here. It's such an amazing experience which has brought me so much joy throughout my high school career.” – Gaby R. ‘23

P.E. & HEALTH

“My Health teacher was understanding and truly made me believe that I mattered in his class. He taught me how to become mentally and physically healthy.” – Rosanne M. ‘23

“My favorite lesson in PE was golf because of how interactive it was. We played golf almost every day (throughout the unit) and always got a chance to hit the golf balls. My teacher cared to correct each one of us and our forms individually.” – Diya K. ‘25

RELIGION

“I had a teacher in Religion who inspired me to become a Eucharistic Minister, but I was unable to make the scheduled date because of other conflicts. She set aside time in her day to help me get that training and help me through that individually.” – Victoria T. ‘25

“My favorite course within this study was Body of Christ. In sophomore year, we learned all about the Paschal Mystery and how to connect Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection to our daily lives. I found this course very informative, and it helped me grow in my faith immensely.” – Coco R. ‘24

“My teacher is very kind and always goes out of his way to help us. He teaches valuable lessons. Personally, I am not Catholic, but his teachings apply to everyone.” – Kris T. ‘25

SCIENCE

“My teacher once stayed after school for almost an hour in order to help me understand an AP Physics topic -- he also then stayed an extra 20 minutes because we were having a conversation on theoretical applications of physics that had nothing to do with anything we were learning, but was just something I had expressed interested in.” – Elise W. ‘23

“My teacher has done an incredible job this year. He has a real passion for it, and it shows in his lessons.” – Cooper W. ‘24

SOCIAL STUDIES

“My favorite class in the Social Studies Department is AP US History. I like AP US History because we can analyze what is going on in the history of America.” – Lauren W. ‘25

“My history teachers have helped me learn and grow in my knowledge of history. They have been there if I needed help in the class.” – Jonathan Y. ‘25

WORLD LANGUAGES

Chinese

“Chinese is a unique language offered here at St. Francis. The class is very intriguing and beneficial. The classroom dynamic is very active, by facilitating daily conversations and constant practice.” – Colin K. ‘23

French

“Ms. Roulo has helped me better understand French because outside of class we talk in French, and she asks me questions that can help me better understand French. This happens during school and even during theater dinners.” – Spencer M. ‘24

Spanish

“My teacher helps me understand topics through numerous methods. She didn’t just stay with one teaching method. She did many things to involve your speaking, writing, and listening skills. She was also very understanding and willing to help you whenever you needed. It was always a goal for her to make sure everyone understood and felt comfortable in the class, especially since it was a fast-paced class.” – KK D. ‘24