Reminder: Christmas Break begins Saturday, December 20, and ends after Sunday, January 4. When students return on Monday, January 5, it is an In-Service Day with noon dismissal for students. The school offices and building are closed

December 24-January 4. Merry Christmas to all!

Celebrations or news to share? Please contact Jamie Lavigueur at jlavigueur@sfhscollegeprep.org.

After our All-School Liturgy on Monday, we recognized the recent accomplishments of our amazing students and student-athletes! Among those celebrated were:

• Our December Students of the Month: See the graphic below!
• Anya Talwar for winning the VFW Voice of Democracy Contest
• Natalie Webb, Renee Ebersole, and Livia Donofrio for organizing a schoolwide effort to create fleece blankets for veterans
• The cast and crew of A Christmas Carol
• The Rock Band, who rocked the ISU Redbird Arena as the House Band at the IHSA State Finals for Girls Volleyball. 
• Everyone who participated in the annual Blood Drive and organizers Mike Lynch and Patty Dahle. More than 130 people donated and 107 units were collected (saving up to 321 lives!). 
• Everyone who participated in the Food and Funds Challenge. Over one-and-a-half tons of food was collected and $900 was donated!

To all our fall athletes: thank you for your dedication, your effort, and the pride you bring to SFHS. You inspire our entire school community! Among those recognized at the liturgy Monday were:

All-Conference student-athletes: these are the top competitors in their conference based on coach nominations. All-Conference athletes were asked to stand to be recognized.

All-State student-athletes – coaches may nominate any players, and then nominations are reviewed by the Illinois Coaches Association for each sport:.

• Flag Football: Allie Sheldon – All-State 1^st Team
• Football: Dario Milivojevic – All-State; Jaylen Torres – All-State; Zach Washington – All-State Honorable Mention 
• Girls Volleyball: Addi Samolinski – All-State 2^nd Team; Kenzie Krzus – All-State Honorable Mention; Holly Muisenga – All-State Honorable Mention
• Girls Cross Country: Elena Mamminga – All-State; Erin Hinsdale – All-State
• Girls Tennis: Elle Steffen – All-State

Girls Cross Country Team: Finished 2^nd in the State! This group of 10 outstanding runners demonstrated grit, focus, and unity all season long. You are a shining example of what it means to be a Spartan!

SFHS Football Team – 5A State Champions! Their playoff run began on November 1 and they defeated four teams to reach the title game – two of which were previously undefeated. With remarkable determination, resilience, and composure, the Spartans secured the title with a thrilling 39-35 victory over Providence Catholic. To our players – you competed in freezing temperatures, pushed through every challenge, and won the title in the final seconds of the game – an ending we will not forget. Congratulations to the best in the state and a source of enormous pride for the SFHS community!

ABC7 Chicago highlighted our celebration on the 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 8, broadcast. Click here to watch a recording of the segment!

Junior and senior students are invited to attend our Spartan Alumni Panel at 12:05 p.m. Monday, January 5, in the Rosmonowski Room! The panel begins after our early dismissal and lasts until approximately 1:00 p.m. Please note this is the first day back from Christmas Break.

Recent Spartan grads will share about their college experience during this informal gathering. Lunch is provided and student questions encouraged!

Limited space! RSVP here by January 2 to claim your spot!

Senior Girls – Limited spots for January Kairos are open! Register by going to the Pastoral Ministry tab in mySFHS within the Resource Board. If the fee is a concern, please email mpage@sfhscollegeprep.org.

The 2025-2026 semester one final assessments are Tuesday, December 16, through Friday, December 19. Assessments are administered by academic discipline as outlined below. For more details, you can access the email sent Monday in mySFHS within the Resource Board in the Newsroom Tile.

The online registration has closed; however, if you wish for your freshman to attend, please bring in $20 cash/check to Ms. Fairhead by end of day Monday, December 15.

All freshmen students are invited to join from 10:40 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, in the Student Union.

This freshman tradition is a way for students to celebrate their first semester together. Festivities include games, lunch (pizza and hot cocoa bar!), and freshman fellowship.

We invite all members of the SFHS community to participate in our 25th annual Toy Drive and Gift Card Collection to benefit our friends and neighbors in need. Nurturing relationships and serving others are a beloved part of our holiday tradition and essential to following the Francis Way. 

Students can bring new, unwrapped toys and games and place them under the school tree in the Atrium from December 1-15. We are also collecting $10 and $25 gift cards from Aldi, Jewel, Meijer, Target, and Walmart; and $25 Visa and Mastercard gift cards. Please place gift cards in the collection bin near the tree. 

You may also bring your donation to the Christmas Concert Sunday, December 14; and girls and boys home basketball games December 11-12.

3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 14, Slantdome. Enjoy the holiday stylings of the SFHS bands, choirs, and orchestra - admission is free!

Looking for the perfect gift? The Spartan Spirit Store is open before, during, and after the Christmas Conert on Sunday, December 14, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Stop by for some stocking stuffers and warm winter gear for the Spartan or Spartan enthusiast in your life!

View the recap of our Project Park Safely meeting in our email here.

Out of appreciation for current parents making a major gift commitment, we are offering the following options to ensure your child has an onsite parking space during the school day at the following levels:

• $3,000: Spot for one year
• $5,000: Spot for two years
• $10,000: Spot for three years

Parents may indicate they wish to reserve the spot on the pledge or online donation form. We will share more detailed information via email after the Thanksgiving holiday related to the logistics of future parking at SFHS. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to a member of our Advancement Team.

Nurturing Wisdom Tutoring offers an ACT Prep Class specifically for SFHS students. The class consists of 15 sessions with an instructor via Zoom from 7:00-8:45 p.m. on most Mondays and Thursdays starting Thursday, January 8.

The class is $775, which includes test prep materials, practice tests, and detailed score reports. Click here for more information and to register.

Our Annual Ensuring Our Future Auction, is Saturday, February 28! This is the biggest fundraising event of the year for our school and we need your support.

• Attend: Purchase tickets and view sponsorship opportunities
• Win up to $7,500: Buy raffle tickets here
• Donate auction items
• Support financially: make a donation

The Glenbard Parent Speakers Series offers a free, open to all resource featuring world-renowned authors and clinicians who present relevant, research-based teaching to empower and strengthen families, individuals and communities. No registration, no subscription! Click here for more information.

Service Opportunity: Please consider committing to cook individually packaged meals with family or friends for those who access DuPage PADS Interim Housing Center. Residents do not have access to full kitchens and rely on volunteers to provide meals. To learn more and access a calendar to sign up for a day to cook, click here.

Opt-In for Text Messages: In the event of an inclement weather schedule change or emergency, we send text message notifications to parents in addition to an email and phone call. Parents must opt-in to receive text messages, but the process is simple! Just text "Yes" to 79041 and then save the number as SFHS in your contacts so you don't miss the message.

Mothers' Club Volunteers: See all Spartan Store volunteer shifts and Mothers' Club committee volunteer opportunities here.

2025-26 School Year Calendar: Access all calendars in mySFHS within the Resource Board in the Dean's Tile.

Lunch Menu: Visit fdmealplanner.com and search for "St. Francis High School". The link is also posted in mySFHS within the Resource Board in the Food Service tile.