The Jaguar Journal
Volume 3 | Issue 19
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Dear SFX Family,
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.
Second Trimester Progress Reports were emailed home on Friday. We apologize for the glitches on some of the reports! We look forward to seeing you this Friday at Parent-Teacher Conferences. If you have not scheduled your conference, please contact your child's teacher ASAP. Conference Care will be provided in the cafeteria while you meet with the teacher(s).
Tonight is the HSA Meeting featuring guest speaker, Detective Anna Thomas. The social begins at 6:30 P.M. with the meeting starting at 7:00 P.M. Inka's Uniforms will also be there with display boards and samples starting at 6:30 P.M. Parents who attend will receive "No Homework Passes" for their child/ren.
Please remember that Returning Student Re-Enrollment is now open. Given the new start date for the Archdiocese, we are extending the deadline to Friday, January 20, 2023 to ensure ample time for families. Any re-enrollment submitted after this date will incur a late fee per student. You can access re-enrollment through the FACTS Family Portal.
This coming Monday, January 16 is a school holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. May we all remember and share his courage to promote peace, equality, and justice among all of God's children.
Lastly, the deadline for Old Metairie Fest Sponsorships and T-shirt Orders is tomorrow. More information is below.
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
Please click the attachment below for Fr. Joe's Tuesday Email Update: Three Meetings Tonight, TMIY Resumes Tomorrow, Holy Land Pilgrimage is Filling Up
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
- January 11 - OMF T-shirt Order & Sponsorship Deadline
- January 13 - Parent-Teacher Conferences; No School for Students
- January 16 - No School for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 17 - Classes Resume
- January 19 - Men's Club Meeting, 6:30 P.M.
- January 20 -
- Class Pictures
- New Student Application Deadline
- Re-enrollment Deadline
- January 25-26 - SFX Days at Mark Twain's Pizza
- January 28 - First Reconciliation
NOTE: The most up-to-date information is on the school Google calendar.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to our DECEMBER Students of the Month who were recognized for the quality of GENEROSITY! We are proud of you!
Throughout January, we will be focusing on the quality of PATIENCE.
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!
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.
OLD METAIRIE FEST
T-SHIRT ORDER & SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE: TOMORROW, Wednesday, January 11.
All sponsorship information must be in by January 11, 2023 to ensure proper recognition.
NEWS AROUND SFX
- Our next HSA Meeting is TONIGHT at 6:30 pm in the Mansfield Auditorium with guest speaker Detective Anna Thomas.
Mother-Son Bowling tickets are on sale through January 20th and can be purchased through our online spirit shop. We can't wait to see everyone on Saturday, February 4th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Colonial Lanes!
Luv2Play Giveback Day is coming up on Thursday, February 2nd! Don't forget to add it to your calendar.
Questions? Email Home & School at homeandschool.sfx@gmail.com.
- Wednesday, January 11 - Removing Christmas lights from trees in front of the church, 6:00 P.M.
- Thursday, January 19 - Social, 6:30 P.M.; Meeting, 7:30 P.M.
Questions? Email the Men's Club at sfxmensclub@gmail.com.
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.