Weekly Howl-4.24.23

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a joyous Easter and a fantastic spring break, perhaps filled with travel, golf, relaxation, and rest. Our students were a bit tired on the first day back after the break, but quickly adjusted to the school routine.

We are in full throttle as we close out April this week and welcome May next week! I do not know where the time has gone to this school year, as it seems like yesterday, I was unpacking boxes from my Houston move to the Island, and welcoming students from the carline on the first day of school. Now they've grown a few inches and it's almost time to say, "Have a safe summer!"

Today the students in grades K-8 will begin their final phase of MAP testing for this academic year, with Spring MAP testing. Your teacher(s) should have communicated the MAP testing schedule for your student's class as to when the math and reading testing will take place. Please be sure your student(s) gets a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast the morning of testing. Their brains need good rest and nutrition for optimal functioning every day, but especially on testing days.

If you have not purchased your tickets for the Salty Dog Sunset Cruise scheduled for April 29, limited tickets are still available. The weather forecast for Saturday evening is beautiful and 70s, so come join the community for a wonderful fundraising event. (Please see feature below for the link to purchase tickets.)

Please mark your calendars for the first annual "Celebration of Catholics in Science and Math" - STEM Fair! On Friday, May 19, students in Middle School will present on Catholic scientists and mathematicians. Students in grades PreK-5th will create and play with STEM projects. On Monday, May 22, students will interact outside launching and watching stomp rockets, and competing in the Rain Gutter Regalia. Which boat will win? Please save and bring in empty and clean 2-liter bottles to help the students with their stomp rocket projects. We are also in need of a good supply of tape, both scotch and masking. We will be grateful if you would drop these donations off at the School Office. Thank you!

Wishing you a fabulous week ahead!

Blessings,

Andrea

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Principal

We have now completed our virtues for the year. Perseverance was our last virtue which we focused on, practiced, and prayed for throughout the last week. Thank you for joining us on our virtues journey during this academic year. We will begin our virtues program again in the fall.

This calendar is subject to change. Please check this space weekly.

• Monday, April 24 - Spring MAPS Testing
• Tuesday, April 25 - Bake Club
• Friday, April 28 - Egg Drop
• Saturday, April 29 - Salty Dog Sunset Cruise
• Monday, May 1 - Student Principal Day!
• Monday, May 8 - Teachers Appreciation Week begins
• Friday, May 12 - Pizza Friday (more details to come); International Day Presentation

• Wednesday, May 17 - Athletic Banquet
• Friday, May 19/Monday, May 22 - Celebration of Catholics in Science and Math - Stem Days
• Wednesday, May 24 - May Crowning
• Friday, May 26 - 8th Grade Graduation
• Tuesday, May 30 - Talent Show
• Wednesday, May 31 - Last Day of School - half day - early dismissal; 4Q Awards Presentation; Move Up Day!

It is time to check our Lost & Found inventory before we clear out the items at the end of the month.

Please contact Mrs. Jennifer Kelly (jennifer.kelly@sfcshhi.com) for information or an admissions packet.

Join the St. Francis Catholic School community at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church for School Family Sunday Mass on the following Sundays:

May 21, 2023

We hope to see our families at each monthly Family Sunday Mass! Students should wear their Mass uniforms and dress code shoes. If your student would like to sing in the choir, please meet Mrs. Sweeney by the piano no later than 8:40 a.m. We'd love to have your student participate!

On Saturday, April 29 we will be setting sail on the Salty Dog Sunset Cruise! All proceeds from the cruise will go directly to the St. Francis Catholic School Annual Fund. The cruise will feature: passed hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, live music, beautiful sunset and dolphin views, and a drawing for gift baskets. Purchase your tickets by clicking on this link: https://sfcshhi.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/4?access_code=b5d811f95ce9f78f279d765be97525c5293165bf

Tickets are limited, so purchase yours today!

Please mark your calendars for the first annual "Celebration of Catholics in Science and Math" - STEM Fair! On Friday, May 19, students in Middle School will present on Catholic scientists and mathematicians. Students in grades PreK-5th will create and play with STEM projects. On Monday, May 22, students will interact outside launching and watching stomp rockets, and participating in the Rain Gutter Regalia. Please save and bring in empty and clean 2-liter bottles to help the students with their stomp rocket projects. We are also in need of tape, both scotch and masking. Please bring these items to the School Office. Thank you!

Our Summer Reading Program for grades K-5th will kick off on May 31! Here is the link to the reading log:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1i3xchpw2krvrlh/summer%20reading%20log.jpg?dl=0

Read 20 or more books before August 14, 2023 and draw a picture of your favorite book, including the title and author on the back of your reading log. Turn in your reading log with the titles of 20 or more books and drawing on the first day of school, August 14, 2023. Please contact Mrs. Amanda Keefer with questions (amanda.keefer@sfcshhi.com).

Congratulations to Cynthia Gudaitis (SFCS '19) for being named Valedictorian for HHIHS Class of 2023! We are so proud of you, Cynthia! Cynthia's brother, Nathan, will graduate from SFCS in May!

The SFCS students poured their love into creating cards, writing notes, and drawings to be sent to the Covenant School of Nashville. A huge thank you to Mrs. Katelin Chapman for collecting and mailing off the package of love. Over the spring break, Mrs. Chapman mailed everything directly to the school. The package will be presented to the teachers of the Covenant School of Nashville when they return to their campus.

We are so grateful to Mike Rudy, Grand Knight, and the Knights of Columbus for overseeing and funding the repair of our flagpole. You may have noticed we have not flown our flags for a month or so, due to issues with the lines. The Knights were in touch with a flagpole company to repair and replace the parts needed so we can proudly fly our American and State flags once again! Thank you, Mike, and the KOC, for your dedication and support of SFCS!

Our official Facebook page is "St. Francis Catholic School". In an effort to consolidate communication, and have one central Facebook page for SFCS families to find announcements and learn about upcoming school events, the "St. Francis Families (St. Francis Catholic School, Hilton Head Island)" Facebook page is now inactive. As a reminder, the use of St. Francis Catholic School, or St. Francis by the Sea names, logos, etc., must be approved before associating any group with either name or SFCS. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership with this important policy and ask you to contact Mrs. Smith for school related requests, and the SFBTS Parish office for church related requests. Please join our school Facebook page! (scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter and click on link)

The School Calendar for 2023-2024 is now available! To view the most recent calendar, please click on the link below. Please note the revision date on the bottom right corner for the most up-to-date calendar as the calendar is subject to change.

Students in 4th grade used toy cars to understand motion and forces.

Mrs. Brewster's Fifth Grade class welcomed, Mrs. Tina Rohr. who is known in the medical field as Dr. Tina Hawkridge, MD. The students were introduced to the many layers of education needed for different fields for becoming a doctor. The students also learned about the different practices of medicine, as well as the support professionals who make doctors successful. Mrs. Rohr also discussed why individuals choose to enter into the medical field. The students asked very thoughtful questions and were able to listen to their heartbeat with stethoscopes brought in by Mrs. Rohr. Thank you, Mrs. Rohr, for a very informative presentation!

Middle school students made their STEM project fun today by creating catapults. Students learned about the Law of Conservation of Energy, as well as kinetic and potential energy. Seventh graders assisted sixth graders in completing the project. Pompoms were a fun projectile and next the students will learn about how changing variables affects the function of the catapult.

The 8th Grade "engineers" are making great progress in designing and constructing exciting and safe rollercoasters. They've incorporated turns, funnels, drops, and hills into their structures. We look forward to showcasing their work in our first annual Celebration of Catholics in Science and Mathematics - STEM fair in May.

4/24-4/27 - Middle School Championships @ Cross

If you would like to be a part of the FSA community, please contact fsa.sfcs@gmail.com to learn how you may get involved!

Please be on the lookout for information from the FSA regarding Teacher Appreciation Week. Information will be sent home this week.

https://www.facebook.com/sfcshhi

Email: school@sfcshhi.com
Website: sfcshhi.com
Location: 45 Beach City Rd, HHI, SC 29926
Phone: 843-681-6501
Facebook: facebook.com/sfcshhi