Monday, October 3 - Thursday, October 6 (7 am - 6 pm): Book Fair in the Cafeteria
Wednesday, October 5 @ 9 am: Picture Day
Friday, October 7 @ 8:30 am: Blessing of the Pets Chapel in the Barnes Gym
Monday, October 10: NO SCHOOL
Friday, October 14 @ 8:30 am: Chapel in the Barnes Gym
Saturday, October 15 (6 pm - 10 pm): Parents' Night Out
Thursday, October 20 (6 pm - 7 pm): High School Night
Friday, October 21 @ 8:30 am: Chapel in the Barnes Gym
Saturday, October 22 (4 pm - 7 pm): The HOWL
Thursday, October 27 (8:30 am - 11 am): Open House
Friday, October 28 @ 8:30 am: Awards Chapel
Saturday, October 29 (7 pm - 10 pm): UMS Dance
Monday, October 3, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Coming Down the Pike: May
Saturday, May 7 (6 pm - 10 pm ) - Parent's Night Out
Wednesday, May 11 - Thursday, May 12 - 7th Grade @ McKinney Roughs
Friday, May 13 - Field Day
Saturday, May 14 (8 pm - 11 pm) - UMS Dance
Saturday, May 14 - Sunday, May 15 - 8th Grade Lock-In
Wednesday, May 18 (6 pm - 8 pm) - Theatre Production
Thursday, May 19 (6 pm - 8 pm) - Theatre Production
Friday, May 20 @ 2:30 pm - Chapel
Friday, May 20 @ 6 pm - Sports Banquet
Friday, May 20 through Tuesday, May 24 - UMS Finals
Thursday, May 26 - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, May 26 (8 am - 5 pm) Parent/Teacher Conferences
CHILDCARE AVAILABLE, No Hot Lunch
Friday, May 27 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, NO HOT LUNCH, NO CHILDCARE
Friday, May 27 - Awards Day! (3rd grade - 7th grade @ 10:30am)
Friday, May 27 @ 4 pm - 8th grade Graduation
Wednesday, May 11 - Thursday, May 12 - 7th Grade @ McKinney Roughs
Friday, May 13 - Field Day
Saturday, May 14 (8 pm - 11 pm) - UMS Dance
Saturday, May 14 - Sunday, May 15 - 8th Grade Lock-In
Wednesday, May 18 (6 pm - 8 pm) - Theatre Production
Thursday, May 19 (6 pm - 8 pm) - Theatre Production
Friday, May 20 @ 2:30 pm - Chapel
Friday, May 20 @ 6 pm - Sports Banquet
Friday, May 20 through Tuesday, May 24 - UMS Finals
Thursday, May 26 - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, May 26 (8 am - 5 pm) Parent/Teacher Conferences
CHILDCARE AVAILABLE, No Hot Lunch
Friday, May 27 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, NO HOT LUNCH, NO CHILDCARE
Friday, May 27 - Awards Day! (3rd grade - 7th grade @ 10:30am)
Friday, May 27 @ 4 pm - 8th grade Graduation
2011 PSIA State Meet Results
We are extraordinarily proud of this year's PSIA State Meet competitors. Please join us in congratulating them on a job well done!
Miles Dvorak: 4th Place , 1st Grade Creative Writing
Max Stewart: 1st Place, 2nd Grade Creative Writing
Joey Valdez: 3rd Place, 8th Grade Dictionary Skills
Cassie Pennell: 5th Place, 5th Grade Vocabulary
Tejas Karuturi: 2nd Place, 5th Grade Maps, Graphs & Charts
Akshara Anand: 2nd Place, 5th Grade Music Memory
5th Place, 5th Grade Ready Writing
Ari Tolany: 6th Place, 7th Grade On-Site Drawing
Hannah Winslett: 3rd Place, 8th Grade On-Site Drawing
Miles Dvorak: 4th Place , 1st Grade Creative Writing
Max Stewart: 1st Place, 2nd Grade Creative Writing
Joey Valdez: 3rd Place, 8th Grade Dictionary Skills
Cassie Pennell: 5th Place, 5th Grade Vocabulary
Tejas Karuturi: 2nd Place, 5th Grade Maps, Graphs & Charts
Akshara Anand: 2nd Place, 5th Grade Music Memory
5th Place, 5th Grade Ready Writing
Ari Tolany: 6th Place, 7th Grade On-Site Drawing
Hannah Winslett: 3rd Place, 8th Grade On-Site Drawing
Spring Break In Italy
Each year, the graduating 8th grade class at St. Francis School takes a trip to Italy. Please enjoy Zoe Watts' account of this year's trip...
Normally, when you ask a typical 8th grader how their spring break went, you’re not expecting an answer like, “I went scuba diving in Australia!” or “I went floating down the Amazon and got attacked by a crocodile!” or “I went half way across the world and saw a bunch of ancient temples and churches!”. But that's what I did, and I can tell you it was a lot more fun than staying home and playing video games for a week. For my 2011 spring break, most of my fellow 8th grade class members and I went to Italy. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. Not a lot of thirteen and fourteen year old kids get to go to Italy. I can tell you, it's an amazing feeling, getting on a bus in the morning and thinking about the trip ahead of you. Knowing that you won't have your cell phone, or mom, or TV is exciting but daunting. You don't even use the same type of money, electrical plugs or bathrooms in Italy. There are new sights, food, sounds, customs and language to see. A whole new world awaits.
I did a lot of things on this spring break, that I haven't done before. I ate cow stomach sandwich, walked through thousand year old churches with gold mosaics, stood in St. Marks Square and listened to the bells, saw a bunch of diseased saints in a crypt at the Vatican and got yelled at in a German airport. When you land in the Venice airport, you meet your guide and gather your luggage, but it takes time, (sometimes days) to register the fact that you're half way across the earth from home. You really gain a sense of independence, which stays with you when you come back home. Walking with four friends, in a “strange” country, alone with no adults around helps you to be more responsible and independent. Shopping, trying new foods and exploring the ancient temples is exciting and educational. Italy is a maze. You'll be walking down a Venice street, and come across a square. You pass shops, pigeons, people, street vendors, and then suddenly, a beautiful old church, randomly situated next to a gelato store appears.
The three most unique things about Europe and the U.S. are the daily life, food and culture. First of all, 9:00 pm in America is 4:30 am in Rome. If you’re looking for jet-lag, the other side of the world is the place to be. (Curse you science!) The food, gelato, pasta, pizza and even soda are different from the U.S. Authentic Italian pizza and gelato are a lot better than the American style. (It's also only 2.50 euros for three giant scoops of gelato plus whipped cream!) The pasta and pizza have their own original taste too. The pasta is the best ever. (I could honestly tell you, for a page, about how amazing Italian pasta is). Unfortunately, the three euro per can soda was more costly than what we're used to paying.. Lastly, the culture is so much different. Although most of it's in Italian, you hear snatches of conversation, and it dawns on you how different life in Europe is from the U.S. You meet new people, and make stronger bonds with the ones you already know. Italy is a very inspiring place.
The architecture in Italy is gorgeous. Venice is the epitome of the stereotypical Italy. In Venice the houses are tall, old, and beautiful. The streets are narrow, but you never know when you'll turn the corner and come across a magnificent canal or bridge. Then, of course, you can't go to Venice without taking a gondola ride. The places we went to were all unique. They almost had their own “personalities”. Ravenna, Florence (Firenze, known for the leather) and Rome (Ravenna on steroids). Rome is know for the temples, Roman ruins, and the Vatican City, but they were all special. Then there's Assisi. Down in the town, there is no speed limit or side walks, but there are stray dogs and shops. Then you'll turn a corner and see an ancient church. On my trip, the group and I traveled to a hermitage, where St. Francis prayed. The only noise is bird's chirping and if you sit quietly and listen, you can feel at one with nature and yourself. It sounds incredibly corny but its really serious. It's honestly the most peaceful place I've ever been. No cars or other city noises. (It sure beats my bedroom at home).
If you ever get the chance to go to Italy, choose it over staying home and playing “Call of Duty”. You may not think it at the time, but about a week after you return, you start thinking about a lot of things. The memories, the feelings, the friends you made, the lessons you learned, and that special feeling you had, as the plane took off... “I'm leaving my country, my language, my home, to explore something new in Europe...” . You learn a lot from the culture, surroundings and the country. Its one of those experiences you look back to, five years later and think, “I remember that!” or “Remember when...” then burst into tears. (It's more emotional then you think). Overall, my spring break was pretty awesome. I'll never forget any part of it, the memories, food, feelings and the friends.
~ Zoe Watts, 8th Grade
Normally, when you ask a typical 8th grader how their spring break went, you’re not expecting an answer like, “I went scuba diving in Australia!” or “I went floating down the Amazon and got attacked by a crocodile!” or “I went half way across the world and saw a bunch of ancient temples and churches!”. But that's what I did, and I can tell you it was a lot more fun than staying home and playing video games for a week. For my 2011 spring break, most of my fellow 8th grade class members and I went to Italy. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. Not a lot of thirteen and fourteen year old kids get to go to Italy. I can tell you, it's an amazing feeling, getting on a bus in the morning and thinking about the trip ahead of you. Knowing that you won't have your cell phone, or mom, or TV is exciting but daunting. You don't even use the same type of money, electrical plugs or bathrooms in Italy. There are new sights, food, sounds, customs and language to see. A whole new world awaits.
I did a lot of things on this spring break, that I haven't done before. I ate cow stomach sandwich, walked through thousand year old churches with gold mosaics, stood in St. Marks Square and listened to the bells, saw a bunch of diseased saints in a crypt at the Vatican and got yelled at in a German airport. When you land in the Venice airport, you meet your guide and gather your luggage, but it takes time, (sometimes days) to register the fact that you're half way across the earth from home. You really gain a sense of independence, which stays with you when you come back home. Walking with four friends, in a “strange” country, alone with no adults around helps you to be more responsible and independent. Shopping, trying new foods and exploring the ancient temples is exciting and educational. Italy is a maze. You'll be walking down a Venice street, and come across a square. You pass shops, pigeons, people, street vendors, and then suddenly, a beautiful old church, randomly situated next to a gelato store appears.
The three most unique things about Europe and the U.S. are the daily life, food and culture. First of all, 9:00 pm in America is 4:30 am in Rome. If you’re looking for jet-lag, the other side of the world is the place to be. (Curse you science!) The food, gelato, pasta, pizza and even soda are different from the U.S. Authentic Italian pizza and gelato are a lot better than the American style. (It's also only 2.50 euros for three giant scoops of gelato plus whipped cream!) The pasta and pizza have their own original taste too. The pasta is the best ever. (I could honestly tell you, for a page, about how amazing Italian pasta is). Unfortunately, the three euro per can soda was more costly than what we're used to paying.. Lastly, the culture is so much different. Although most of it's in Italian, you hear snatches of conversation, and it dawns on you how different life in Europe is from the U.S. You meet new people, and make stronger bonds with the ones you already know. Italy is a very inspiring place.
The architecture in Italy is gorgeous. Venice is the epitome of the stereotypical Italy. In Venice the houses are tall, old, and beautiful. The streets are narrow, but you never know when you'll turn the corner and come across a magnificent canal or bridge. Then, of course, you can't go to Venice without taking a gondola ride. The places we went to were all unique. They almost had their own “personalities”. Ravenna, Florence (Firenze, known for the leather) and Rome (Ravenna on steroids). Rome is know for the temples, Roman ruins, and the Vatican City, but they were all special. Then there's Assisi. Down in the town, there is no speed limit or side walks, but there are stray dogs and shops. Then you'll turn a corner and see an ancient church. On my trip, the group and I traveled to a hermitage, where St. Francis prayed. The only noise is bird's chirping and if you sit quietly and listen, you can feel at one with nature and yourself. It sounds incredibly corny but its really serious. It's honestly the most peaceful place I've ever been. No cars or other city noises. (It sure beats my bedroom at home).
If you ever get the chance to go to Italy, choose it over staying home and playing “Call of Duty”. You may not think it at the time, but about a week after you return, you start thinking about a lot of things. The memories, the feelings, the friends you made, the lessons you learned, and that special feeling you had, as the plane took off... “I'm leaving my country, my language, my home, to explore something new in Europe...” . You learn a lot from the culture, surroundings and the country. Its one of those experiences you look back to, five years later and think, “I remember that!” or “Remember when...” then burst into tears. (It's more emotional then you think). Overall, my spring break was pretty awesome. I'll never forget any part of it, the memories, food, feelings and the friends.
~ Zoe Watts, 8th Grade
8 Days Across the Ocean
Each year, the graduating 8th grade class at St. Francis School takes a trip to Italy. Below are Katerina Libera's memories of this year's trip...
March 9, 2011. That's the day we packed up and flew across the ocean. That's the day we were introduced to new culture. That's the first day I'd ever been out of the U.S. That one day held so many adventures, who would have thought? To everyone else, March 9th was just another Wednesday. But not to me. No, March 9th was the day that everything changed for me.
My spring break started off a little funky. An atypical spring break in my eyes. Being new to St. Francis, I hadn't truly been waiting long enough for this. Some kids have waited, are waiting for this day for years and for some, years to come. Nothing can truly prepare you for such an event. No words of advice can even begin to prepare you for what was going to happen. It would be different than any other spring break. The next week would be unusual beyond description. And it all started on March 9, 2011.
Did I deserve this? I certainly hadn't waited as long as most people. I definitely didn't prepare months in advance. I was going across the ocean for 8 days! Why was I getting to do this while other people were in school and others at work? There was something off about the way I was feeling. Sure, I was lucky and VERY grateful, but something beyond that. Maybe I felt guilty. To be honest, I wasn't excited. Any other kid could have taken my spot, but I was going to another country and I wasn't excited!? I could have been scared or homesick (before I had left home..?), maybe I wasn't comfortable with change. I can't really tell you, because those all may be excuses for my lack of excitement. Whether I was excited or not, nothing would have helped me foresee the crazy events that would happen in the days to come.
I knew that I'd get to learn more about a completely different culture. I'd get to "live" there for 8 days. I knew that there would be things I missed about America. I knew I'd be exhausted and tired. I knew what just about everyone else knew. But it didn't hit me, it was too surreal. I had fun watch my friends learn along with me. Everything that was talked about before the trip was right in front of me. I touched the Doge's Palace, climbed the Spanish Steps, saw the home of St. Francis. I was in Italy, and nothing could ever be so awe striking. To me, nothing would ever be impossible again.
Today, I wear a different smile, a different attitude. Today, I walk a little differently and see things in a different view. Why me? March 9, 2011. The first day of the next 8 across the ocean in another country.
~ Katerina Libera, 8th Grade
March 9, 2011. That's the day we packed up and flew across the ocean. That's the day we were introduced to new culture. That's the first day I'd ever been out of the U.S. That one day held so many adventures, who would have thought? To everyone else, March 9th was just another Wednesday. But not to me. No, March 9th was the day that everything changed for me.
My spring break started off a little funky. An atypical spring break in my eyes. Being new to St. Francis, I hadn't truly been waiting long enough for this. Some kids have waited, are waiting for this day for years and for some, years to come. Nothing can truly prepare you for such an event. No words of advice can even begin to prepare you for what was going to happen. It would be different than any other spring break. The next week would be unusual beyond description. And it all started on March 9, 2011.
Did I deserve this? I certainly hadn't waited as long as most people. I definitely didn't prepare months in advance. I was going across the ocean for 8 days! Why was I getting to do this while other people were in school and others at work? There was something off about the way I was feeling. Sure, I was lucky and VERY grateful, but something beyond that. Maybe I felt guilty. To be honest, I wasn't excited. Any other kid could have taken my spot, but I was going to another country and I wasn't excited!? I could have been scared or homesick (before I had left home..?), maybe I wasn't comfortable with change. I can't really tell you, because those all may be excuses for my lack of excitement. Whether I was excited or not, nothing would have helped me foresee the crazy events that would happen in the days to come.
I knew that I'd get to learn more about a completely different culture. I'd get to "live" there for 8 days. I knew that there would be things I missed about America. I knew I'd be exhausted and tired. I knew what just about everyone else knew. But it didn't hit me, it was too surreal. I had fun watch my friends learn along with me. Everything that was talked about before the trip was right in front of me. I touched the Doge's Palace, climbed the Spanish Steps, saw the home of St. Francis. I was in Italy, and nothing could ever be so awe striking. To me, nothing would ever be impossible again.
Today, I wear a different smile, a different attitude. Today, I walk a little differently and see things in a different view. Why me? March 9, 2011. The first day of the next 8 across the ocean in another country.
~ Katerina Libera, 8th Grade
Monday, April 18, 2011
Book Fair Carnival ~ Your Ticket to Read!
Book Fair Carnival ~ Your Ticket to Read, opens Saturday, April 30th, from 10:30 am-1:30 pm, in the Cafetorium. (Use the doors from the parking lot into the gym.) Step right up, one and all, to enjoy free hot dogs, lemonade and carnival games. There will be plenty of supervision and prizes awarded hourly for game winners. So, come with family and friends to leisurely shop for all your summer reading.
The Book Fair will also be held Monday, May 2nd through Thursday, May 5th, in the Cafetorium from 7:45 am to 6 pm. We will have offerings for the entire school with an expanded selection of adult reading materials, just in time for Mother's Day and a table for each grade's summer reading list.
Your child will visit the Book Fair with his or her class. You may send money with your child to spend then or send it on another day to be spent before or after school. Teachers will have recommendations and wish boxes for you to select items for their classroom.
For a sneak peak of titles: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/stfrancis-school
The Book Fair will also be held Monday, May 2nd through Thursday, May 5th, in the Cafetorium from 7:45 am to 6 pm. We will have offerings for the entire school with an expanded selection of adult reading materials, just in time for Mother's Day and a table for each grade's summer reading list.
Your child will visit the Book Fair with his or her class. You may send money with your child to spend then or send it on another day to be spent before or after school. Teachers will have recommendations and wish boxes for you to select items for their classroom.
For a sneak peak of titles: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/stfrancis-school
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