Weekly Howl-2.27.23

Happy Monday! I am always grateful to begin the week with the fresh start Mondays provide.

The students continue on their Lenten journey. They participated in Ash Wednesday Mass and did a fabulous job in a very crowded and longer Mass than our usual weekly School Mass. The 5th grade class began their Lenten journey by making crosses (see cover photo). We are grateful for Mrs. Brewster's spiritual leadership as the class continues to contemplate the Three Pillars of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving during Lent.

Over the weekend, our basketball teams participated in the Diocesan basketball tournament in Charleston. The St. Francis athletes and fans showcased our school so well! Congratulations to the coaches, players, families and fans for a terrific season! Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout the months of basketball practices and play. Scroll down the newsletter to see the photos from the weekend tournament.

If you have not yet placed your order for the new SFCS spirit wear, please click out the link below today! Orders close tomorrow, February 28! https://sfcsspiritwear2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/

As a reminder, students will not have school this Friday, March 3. The faculty and staff will be participating in an all-day Diocesan teachers' conference.

Finally, our 2023.24 Academic Calendar is now available! Please scroll down the newsletter and click on the link to download this important document.

Wishing you a peace-filled week of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Blessings,

Andrea

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Principal

Self-Control: Practice restraint in your words and actions

Our Prayer :

Dear Jesus,

Help me control my words and actions. Only you can

fill the desires of my heart.

Amen

We are approaching the end of the month with our lost and found inventory. Please remind your student to stop by the School Office and pick up their lost items today! Items are also brought to all lunches, so please ask your student(s) to check through the piles during that time. All items left at the end of February, will be donated.

The priority re-registration period for the 2023-2024 school year for families currently attending St. Francis Catholic School and for any siblings that may wish to enroll will close this Friday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m. A completed application for admission is required as soon as possible for any siblings who do not currently attend our school but wish to enroll for the '23-'24 academic year. Enrollment for new families begins on Monday, March 6, 2023. Many of our classes are currently at capacity which may result in a waitlist once open enrollment begins. Please contact the School Office if additional registration forms or information is needed.

Students should plan to get out their favorite green shirt, socks, and hat, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Friday, March 17. Students may wear their favorite St. Patrick's Day gear with jeans or uniform bottoms. Jeans may not have any holes, rips, or tears. Tops may have a St. Patrick's Day motif or a solid holiday color. Apparel should not feature any alcohol advertising.☘️

"The Reverend Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin Scholarship Application" sponsored by the Women of St. Francis is now available to all currently enrolled SFCS students in grades PreK through 7th. This is a need-based scholarship. Please contact the School Office for an application if interested in applying. The application deadline is March 24, 2023.

Beginning January 9, the School Office will close every Monday at 3:00 p.m. for a staff meeting. Please make note of this change.

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

March 19, 2023

April 16, 2023

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!

Two Music Opportunities for the Youth of our Parish!

Pueri Cantores is open to all children of the parish in grades three and up (or the equivalent if home schooled) and is a new ensemble of the Parish Music Ministry. Pueri Cantores will minister once monthly at a weekend Mass from September through June. All are welcome as there is no audition for this group. This choir will serve as principal ministers of music at their selected Mass.

Schola Cantorum

Schola Cantorum is an auditioned ensemble for students of any age, but music will be geared to two-part middle school choral literature. The ensemble will sing a variety of musical genres with a particular emphasis on Latin. Both ensembles will primarily minister at St. Francis Masses, but also will give concerts locally, regionally, and nationally along with tour opportunities. Schola Cantorum will follow the structure of the Royal School of Church Music and will also be members of the American Federation of Pueri Cantores.

Rehearsals for the youth in our parish interested in singing are weekly on Thursdays from 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm with pickup at 6:15 pm, at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church.

Student Cantors

Students interested in becoming a Cantor for regular weekend Masses also will have an opportunity to enter Cantor Formation! Children interested in becoming a Parish Cantor meet at 5 pm prior to rehearsal.

For more information, please contact Director of Music Ministries at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, Lisa Screeton at l-screeton@stfrancishhi.org for more information.

Please remember that on Friday, March 3, 2023, there will be no school for students while teachers participate in an all-day Diocesan professional development conference.

Middle school students are invited to the annual Middle School Dance. The theme, selected by the 8th grade class is "Black Tie". We look forward to hosting this fun event on campus for grades 6, 7, and 8! Tickets are $10.00 per person. Check in begins at 6:45 p.m. Lock-in will be 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Attendees should be in modest and appropriate attire. No low cut, spaghetti straps, strapless, or high slit dresses for the girls. Jackets and ties are optional for the boys but no t-shirts, jeans, or pants with holes, rips, or tears.

Save the date for our annual Grandparents/Grandfriends Day on April 5, 2023. This annual event will begin with Mass at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, followed by breakfast, and tours of the campus and classrooms. Don't miss this wonderful tradition! If you would like to preorder SFCS spirit wear, especially for grandparents, please click on the following link:

https://sfcsspiritwear2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The deadline to preorder spiritwear is February 28!

Tickets will go on sale soon!

A big thank you to the athletes on the SFCS Junior and Senior Basketball teams for helping to serve soup, chili, breads, cookies, and drinks at the annual WOSF Soup for Scholarships Event!

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! Please click on the link below to view:

Kindergarten celebrated Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras today! The class learned of the traditions and connections to our Catholic Faith as in preparation for Lent. Today they made Mardi Gras Masks and enjoyed King Cake. John was the big winner and he has promised to bring the King Cake next year!

The first grade enjoyed a Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday!

The 3rd grade has been studying South Carolina history. What a wonderful time to experience historic Beaufort!

The 3rd grade created and presented reports on famous people.

This past week the Bake Club prepared yeast rolls for the WOSF Soups for Scholarship Event. Over 360 rolls were made by the members of the Bake Club and helpers. Thank you for your hard work. The rolls were delicious!!

The SFCS Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Senior Girls, and Senior Boys Basketball Teams participated in the Diocesan Basketball Tournament over the weekend. The teams played with excellence! We are so proud of these fine athletes, and grateful to the coaches, parents, and fans for their support and encouragement throughout the season.

3/2 @ HHCA – 4G / 5B

3/6 @ Lowcountry Montessori – 4G / 5:15B - 12 Lupo Drive Beaufort Sc Meadowbrook Baptist Church

3/9 @ Calvary Day – 4G / 5:15B

3/14 @ JPII – 4G / 5B

3/16 @ Lowcountry Montessori – 4G / 5:15B - 12 Lupo Drive Beaufort Sc Meadowbrook Baptist Church

3/21 @ Bolden – 4G/ 5:15B

3/23 @ Cross – 4G / 5B

3/28 @ HHP – 4G / 5B

3/30 @ HHCA – 4G / 5B

4/17 @ JPII – 4G / 5B

4/18 @ Bolden – 4G / 5:15B

4/20 @ Cross – 4G / 5B

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

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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!

The FSA has secured some spiffy new SFCS spirit wear! Below is a sampling of what's available. Please click on the following link to order:

https://sfcsspiritwear2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Orders will be taken through February 28.

https://www.facebook.com/sfcshhi

The Lowcountry Alliance for Healthy Youth is sponsoring a Community Forum on Child/Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness on March 27 at Bluffton High School Auditorium. Please see details below.

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