The Jaguar Journal
Volume 3 | Issue 20
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Dear SFX Family,
Thank you so much for a great day of conferences this past Friday. It is such an important time to for parents and teachers to connect and work together for the students. If you were unable to make it to conferences, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher to schedule a time to talk.
After a long weekend, we have a busy week ahead. Tomorrow we have School Mass at 9:00 A.M. and a basketball game. On Thursday evening, the Men's Club has a meeting with Italian on the menu! And Friday is the busiest day of the week. We will take Class Pictures in the morning, so please make sure the students are picture-ready. Friday is also the deadline for New Student Applications, Returning Student Re-enrollment, and purchasing tickets for Mother/Son Bowling. We also have another basketball game and Fun Friday that evening!
More details about everything are below. Please be sure to read through this week's newsletter.
I hope you have a great rest of the week!
May God bless you and keep you,
Jessica
Jessica A. Dwyer, M.Ed.
Principal
P.S. To ensure you are able to receive our Parent Alert texts, please text START to 31706 from your mobile device. Any text alerts from our school will begin with SFX-LA.
FR. JOE'S MESSAGE
The Email Update for today is attached. Special thanks to everyone who helped with Children's Chapel and the "Bread Mass" for 2nd graders this past weekend.
We pray for Fr. Andrew and our youth who are headed by bus to Washington D.C. today for the National March for Life on Friday. They will return Sunday. May they have a blessed and enriching trip.
Tonight we have the Praise Him! Prayer Group at 7 pm in the Parish Center. Tomorrow we have That Man is You at 6 am in St. Joseph Hall. The Chosen Episode 3 begins tomorrow evening at 6 pm in St. Joseph Hall.
On Thursday evening we have meetings of the St. Joseph Altar Society and the Men's Club. Walking with Purpose for Women resumes this Friday morning at 8:30 am in the Parish Center.
Have a blessed week,
Father Joe
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
- January 19 - Men's Club Meeting, 6:30 P.M.
- January 20 -
- Class Pictures
- New Student Application Deadline
- Re-enrollment Deadline
- Deadline to order Mother/Son Bowling Tickets
- January 25-26 - SFX Days at Mark Twain's Pizza
- January 28 - First Reconciliation, 10 A.M.
- January 29 - February 4 - Catholic Schools Week
- February 2 - 1:30 P.M. Dismissal & No ASC
- February 4 - Mother/Son Bowling, 10 A.M.
- February 5 - 2nd Grade Sponsoring Parish Mass, 10:00 A.M.
NOTE: The most up-to-date information is on the school Google calendar.
BASKETBALL THIS WEEK
Come out and support the Jags!
- Tuesday, January 17 - Team G Basketball Game vs. St. Elizabeth W, 5:00 P.M. @ St. Clement of Rome
- Wednesday, January 18 - Team W Basketball Game vs. St. Rita, 5:00 P.M. @ St. Rita Harahan
- Friday, January 20 - Team G Basketball Game vs. St. Edward, 5:00 P.M. @ OLPH Kenner
FUN FRIDAY
Just a reminder that we will have our first Fun Friday of 2023 THIS COMING FRIDAY (Jan. 20th) from 6-10 pm in the gym! Please see attached flyer for more information. If you plan to attend, please send in your permission slip & payment by tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18! If you have any questions please let us know! Looking forward to a fun filled Friday!
Mrs. Lauren and Mrs. Kelly
RE-ENROLLMENT FOR 2023-24
In preparation for the start of the 2023-2024 school year, please take time to complete your child's re-enrollment for next year by Friday, January 20, 2023 at 11:59 PM.
To complete our online re-enrollment process, you will log on to our FACTS Family Portal through your existing login. Within the online enrollment packet, you will complete payment of the Registration Fee ($150 + $10 FACTS Processing Fee) & Payment Plan Selection for tuition. The $350 Non-Support Fee per child (if applicable) & $15 Clarion Herald Fee (per family) will be billed upon completion of online packet and must be paid within 10 days of receipt.
If your child is not returning for the 2023-2024 school year, please log in and click "Will Not Enroll" so that we have accurate records.
PLEASE NOTE: The Enrollment Packet and Payment must be completed by Friday, January 20, 2023 at 11:59 PM or your child's spot will not be held. A $100.00 late fee per student will be applied to any submission after this time.
NEWS AROUND SFX
- Mother-Son Bowling - Saturday, February 4 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
- Tickets are on sale through this Friday, January 20th and can be purchased through our online spirit shop. We can't wait to see everyone at Colonial Lanes!
Questions? Email Home & School at homeandschool.sfx@gmail.com.
- NEXT MEETING - Thursday, January 19
- Italian Night! Social, 6:30 P.M.; Meeting, 7:30 P.M.
Questions? Email the Men's Club at sfxmensclub@gmail.com.
GRANDPARENTS' CLUB
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, February 15
5:30 P.M.
in the Mansfield Auditorium
UNIFORM UPDATE
We heard you and worked to make a change! The overwhelming feedback the past year or so has been that Schiro's SchoolTime was difficult to work with. Therefore, Mrs. Jessica Welty and I spent time interviewing other uniform providers. Inka's Uniforms, located at 1617 Hickory Avenue in Harahan, will be the uniform provider for St. Francis Xavier starting with the 2023-2024 school year. We are thrilled to switch to this local company that prides itself on top-quality garments. Many of the garments manufactured by Inka's incorporate a unique UpScale feature which allows you to actually increase the size of the garment using only scissors or a seam ripper. They make this possible by sewing in double seams with generous extra fabric. By ripping out the innermost seam, the garment grows. Inka's will be at the HSA Meeting this evening with a display board and samples!
We also decided to take this opportunity to update some of the uniforms. The 2023-2024 school year will be a transition year for all uniform changes. These include:
- Pre-K2
- Girls will now wear a maroon gingham smock dress and bloomers with the SFX monogram on the collar.
- Boys will now wear a maroon collared shirt with the SFX logo.
- Pre-K3 and Pre-K4
- Girls will now wear the navy gingham smock dress and bloomers with the SFX monogram on the collar for both Pre-K3 and Pre-K4.
- Boys will now wear a navy collared shirt with the SFX logo for both Pre-K3 and Pre-K4.
- K-4th
- Girls will now have a choice of our school plaid drop-waist jumper instead of the bib jumper, shorts, or pleated skort.
- Boys will now have the option of a maroon performance knit collared shirt with logo or a maroon pique knit collared shirt with logo.
- 5th-7th
- Girls will now have a choice of our school plaid skirt, shorts, or pleated skort.
- Girls will now have a navy knit collared shirt with banded bottom and logo.
- Boys will now have the option of a navy performance knit collared shirt with logo or a navy pique knit collared shirt with logo.
- Boys will now have the option of performance wear khaki uniform shorts/pants or classic khaki uniform shorts/pants.
- Outerwear and Socks
- A full-zip performance-wear jacket with logo will now be available as an outwear option.
- Inka's will sell the SFX monogram socks.
All other uniform items will remain the same. Please note that Inka's does not currently have our uniforms. Later this semester, we will send out information regarding sale dates and St. Francis days at Inka's. We are very excited about partnering with Inka's Uniforms for all of our uniform needs!
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
- Notification - Please be sure to notify your child's teacher and/or Mrs. Denise Secrest of an absence, a late arrival, or an early check-out.
- Tardies - The school day begins at 8:00 A.M. sharp. Students who arrive after will receive a tardy. Please be reminded that per our handbook, "Students will be marked as absent from one day of school for every 5 tardies that they receive during the school year."
- Absences -
- Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education – to benefit from teacher-led and school activities, to build on the previous day’s learning, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, families should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.
- A doctor's note must be provided when a student is absent for three or more days.
WE ARE NOW ON AMAZON SMILE!
Who doesn't love and use Amazon? You can now earn money for the school each time you place an order! Follow the link below to choose St. Francis!
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL REMINDERS
- Please be respectful of our neighbors, driveways, and thru traffic!
- Do not line up more than 10 minutes prior to dismissal time.
- There is no direct turn onto Avenue B from Metairie Road.
- Cars must only enter Betz via Avenue B.
- We also ask that you share them with anyone who may drop off or pick up for your family.
COVID-19 GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS UPDATE
We received the following from Dr. RaeNell Houston and will be following this update:
In accordance with the most recent guidance published by the CDC, as of August 17, 2022, at minimum the following updated COVID protocols shall be observed in our schools and parish schools of religion. In addition, please keep in mind that we must follow any future mandates, especially those that are more restrictive, that may be set forth by state and/or local civil authorities. Each school and/or parish community may impose more restrictive policies based on the conditions present in their community.
GENERAL REMINDERS
- All volunteers must be up-to-date with Safe Environment training and background check. You can take the class or renew online at www.virtus.org.
- Early check-outs are not allowed past 2:30 PM on a regular day or 1:00 PM on an early dismissal day. Please only use early check-outs when absolutely necessary.
- If anyone in your immediate family tests positive for COVID-19, please notify Ms. Dwyer immediately. You can call the school, 833-1471, or email if after hours.
- Students should be kept home if they have any symptoms and their doctor should be consulted. Please do not assume it is allergies or a cold or send them to school after giving medication.