September 27th, 2024

Dear SFX Families, 


I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of you who took the time to attend our recent virtual school safety meeting. I encourage you to watch the presentation if you were unable to attend the session Tuesday night. You'll find the recording, slide deck, and answers to questions here in the Howl.  


Your participation underscores the shared commitment we have to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, staff, families, and all who visit our campus. At SFX, maintaining a secure and supportive environment is a top priority, and your involvement is crucial in achieving this goal. By staying informed and engaged, we can continue to build a safer and stronger community for everyone. Thank you again for your time and attention. We look forward to ongoing collaboration and support.


Have a great and safe weekend.


Peace,


Ryan Watson 


Zoom recording

Safety presentation deck

Q&A from Zoom meeting

Anonymous reporting form

Important Dates


Sunday, Sept 29th

Family Mass (7B)

9:00am | SFX Church


Tuesday, October 1st

Parenting Together

6:00pm | Zoom


Wednesday, October 2nd

General PA Meeting

8:15am | Library

See details below


All School Mass

9:30am | SFX Church

Magis leading; for the intention of  Donna Ehmann, mother of SFX alums, Molly, Isabelle, and Jack


Helpful Links


24-25 Planning Calendar

24-25 Google Calendar

Family Handbook

Safe Environment

Health History Form

FACTS Family Portal

Uniform Policy

Important Updates

Special Blessing: Next Friday, October 4th StuCo will have a blessing of animals at Pledge & Prayer in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Students may bring a picture of their family pet (pictures only!) to have blessed that morning.


Family Handbook: Please note, we have updated the Family Handbook to reflect our updated safety policies. You can view it here.


Auction Parties: Are you interested in hosting a party in support of our Auction this year? A variety of parties for both parents and children are encouraged. Please reach out to Stephanie Carrell. We can provide a tax donation letter for anyone who offers to host.

News & Events

Students Head to the Polls!


At St. Francis, we believe that teaching our students about the democratic process is essential to their education. As a school rooted in Jesuit values, we seek to form young people who are committed to justice, service, and the common good. Our democratic process, with its focus on civic responsibility and the importance of every voice, aligns perfectly with our desire to educate students who are thoughtful, engaged, and respectful of diverse perspectives.


While we recognize that this year’s presidential race is highly charged, we also see a unique opportunity to engage our students in a meaningful way. Therefore, on Tuesday, November 5th, SFX students will have the opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand through a special Kids Voting Activity. Students in grades Pre-School through 8 will head to the polls to select their favorite theme for Catholic Schools' Week.  


This activity will allow our students to exercise their voice in a manner that is both age-appropriate and educational. In the lead-up to the election, teachers will guide students in understanding the importance of civic responsibility, the value of voting, and the principles of civil discourse. This will be done in a developmentally appropriate way, ensuring that even our youngest students grasp the significance of their participation. Through this activity, we aim to instill in our students a respect for the democratic process and an appreciation for the role they play in their community. 


Jesuit education has always placed a strong emphasis on the development of students as active and engaged citizens who are committed to the common good. By participating in this Kids Voting Activity, our students will begin to understand how their voices matter, how to engage in discussions with others respectfully, and how to contribute to the shaping of their community. These are lessons that will serve them well throughout their lives, whether in their future roles as citizens or in their everyday interactions with others.


We look forward to seeing our students at the polls in November and to the valuable lessons they will learn through this experience. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to educate the leaders of tomorrow. Please reach out to Mrs. Jemsek or Ms. Behring with any questions. 

Join Us! General PA Meeting


Please join us for the first General Parents’ Association meeting of the year, taking place in the Library on Wednesday, October 2nd, immediately following pledge and prayer. This meeting provides a valuable opportunity to stay informed, engage with our school community, and participate in a Q&A session with Mr. Watson.


As an added bonus, parents who attend will earn 5 gym game tickets for Fun Fest! Hope to see you there!

Parenting Together


In case you missed the in-person sessions the past few weeks, you can join Mrs. Garlick for a Zoom presentation on Tuesday, October 1st at 6:00pm.


Backed by research, Mrs. Garlick will share healthy and helpful ways you can react to your child to help them internalize confidence and security.

Parish Italian Dinner


The Knights of Columbus is hosting a family friendly Italian dinner this Saturday, September 28th at the Parish. It will be a fun evening with delicious food and even better company. Hope to see you there! Download the flyer here.

Boo! Fun Fest 2024


Looking to get rid of some extra clutter at home? We're looking for stuffed animal donations that can be used as prizes. Please drop off any gently used stuffed animals to the Front Office. We're also in need of some 2 liter soda bottles as well. Thank you for your support!

Save the Date!


We're excited to have an SFX Day at a GCU Women's Soccer Game on Sunday, October 6th. All are welcome to attend! For FREE TICKETS, visit gculopes.com/promo and enter the code: WS9. This will be a fun afternoon for our families to enjoy, plus we can cheer on Mrs. Cissell's husband and his team! Lopes up!

Announcements

Sports Announcements

5th-8th grade students who are planning on playing a winter sport (girls softball and boys basketball) and DID NOT participate in a fall sport, their forms must be submitted by Monday, October 21st. You can find all the forms that need to be filled out here

Hungry Wolf Cafe


The October menu is here! Please log onto the FACTS Family Portal to place your child's lunch order. Please place your order by the Wednesday before the following week.

The Wolf Den


We're channeling fall weather in The Wolf Den! Check out our new tumblers, perfect for those chilly mornings that are hopefully coming soon! We also have samples of the sweatpants for PE if you want to stop by and check them out. We've extended the online ordering through October 10th.

Weekly Highlights

Spanish Heritage Month


To honor Hispanic heritage month, our 4th and 5th graders have been working on researching the twenty one Spanish speaking countries and learning about their culture, location and food.

Families for Others

The Coffee & Donut Ministry needs our help!


Is your child looking for service hour opportunities? We’re looking for cheerful volunteers to help serve coffee and donuts to our parishioners after the 9am and 11am Masses. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people, share in the fellowship, and contribute to making our church community even more welcoming! Click here to sign up.

SFX Families Serving our Neighbors in Need at St. Vincent de Paul


Sign up to volunteer downtown in the main dining hall at St. Vincent de Paul from 3:30-6:30pm. This is a great opportunity for families with kids 9 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.


New this year! SFX families can access all volunteer opportunities and pick a date and time that works best for you instead of just Mondays.


For more information or to sign-up, click here. Questions? Email SFX parent volunteer Megan Garvey.

Community Events

Catholic Night at Chase Field


Tonight!! Join the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and Tucson on Friday, September 27th for the second annual Catholic Night at Chase Field. On this special night, the Arizona Diamondbacks will take on division rivals the San Diego Padres.


Click here for tickets

Quick Links

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