"I Am St. Francis"
The Freshman Student Government Perspective: Six Questions for Freshman Student Officers Isabella J., Gracie R., Elizabeth W., and Lauren W.
1. What grade school did you attend? Why did you choose SFHS for your high school experience?
Isabella: I attended All Saints Catholic Academy. I choose SFHS for my high school experience because it felt the most welcoming and offered so many opportunities to get involved.
Gracie: I went to Rotolo Middle School in Batavia. I chose SFHS because I wanted to try something new and challenging.
Elizabeth: I attended St. John the Baptist and I chose St. Francis because the sense of community always stood out to me every time I walked through the doors. Whether I was visiting for a tour or watching a game, I was given a warm welcome by the students and teachers every time.
Lauren: I attended St. Michael School in Wheaton. I chose SFHS for my high school because of the welcoming students and teachers, the size of the school, and what classes and extracurriculars they offered.
2. What co-curricular (after school) activities have you been a part of so far? And plan to be this year?
Isabella: I have been part of the fall Dance Team, Student Government, and Arts and Crafts Club. I plan to do the winter season for Dance Team and continue participating in different clubs.
Gracie: So far, I have been on the tennis team and have gone to ping pong club a couple times. I plan on trying out for the softball team and joining clubs such as culinary club and art club.
Elizabeth: So far, I have been a part of SADD Club, Math Team, Student Government, and tennis. I also plan on doing a sport during the spring.
Lauren: I am currently involved in Student Government and basketball. I do plan on being involved in lacrosse this spring.
3. What is your most challenging class? Most enjoyable? Why?
Isabella: My most challenging class is Biology because of the many concepts and the material we need to understand and memorize. My most enjoyable class is English because I enjoy writing and analyzing literature.
Gracie: My most challenging class is Biology because it’s a lot of information to keep track of. My most enjoyable class is world history because I am very interested in how everywhere in the world used to function.
Elizabeth: I have found the workload from my Honors English class to be the most challenging, but this has also taught me the importance of good time management. I’ve enjoyed Honors Spanish II the most because my teacher always makes sure we have fun and understand what we’re learning.
Lauren: My most challenging class is Biology because of the material that we learn, and I am not really familiar in science in general. My most enjoyable class is Spanish because of the fun stuff we do to learn.
4. What has been most surprising about your SFHS experience so far? What have you most enjoyed?
Isabella: What has been most surprising about my SFHS experience so far is how easy it was to make friends and connect to my peers. What I have most enjoyed is having the opportunity to have classes and do after-school activities with my friends.
Gracie: Something that has been surprising for me at St. Francis is how involved everyone is. I see a lot of spirit and pride among students which you don’t see as much of at other schools. One thing I have most enjoyed here at SFHS has been the welcoming and helpful community.
Elizabeth: I have been most surprised by just how committed all of the teachers are to making sure their students are able to thrive. All of the staff cares so much, and they are willing to help you with whatever you need to succeed in their class. I have really enjoyed getting to know the students and teachers through clubs and after-school activities.
Lauren: My most surprising experience is how welcoming the upper classmen were on Orientation Day and the 1st Day of School. I have enjoyed meeting new people in my classes and my extracurriculars.
5. What is your advice for current 7th and 8th graders deciding about high school?/Why should they pick SFHS?
Isabella: My advice for current 7th and 8th graders on deciding about high school is to pick a place where you feel you will be set up for success and not based on where others are going, which is exactly how I picked SFHS.
Gracie: I think that 7th and 8th graders should choose SFHS because it has a lot of fun opportunities like retreats and clubs.
Elizabeth: My advice for 7th and 8th graders deciding where to go for high school is to pick the school that feels right for you. Learn about the environment and values of the school and choose the one that stands out because you feel that it is a place where you will be able to thrive and succeed. It is because of these reasons that I chose SFHS. I knew that this was a place where I would be academically challenged while still being supported and uplifted by the students and staff.
Lauren: My advice is to shadow and attend open houses to see which school is right for you. Explore different options of extracurricular activities and sports that you are interested in. SFHS is a great school to choose because there is something for everyone to be involved in plus the welcoming and loving community of the students and teachers.
6. What is one word you would use to describe your feeling toward St. Francis?
Isabella: One word I would use to describe my feeling toward St. Francis is simply “joy.” I feel the school spirit of SFHS every day and the love of the kind, supportive people in the community here. When some days are challenging and stressful, all the teachers and students from different class levels are always so encouraging and helpful, which motivates me to do my best every day.
Gracie: One word I would use to describe my feeling towards SFHS is inspiring. I chose this word because the student involvement here really inspires younger kids to participate in school activities.
Elizabeth: One word I would use to describe my feelings towards St. Francis is uplifting.
Lauren: Welcoming.
