The Jaguar Journal
Volume 3 | Issue 23
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Dear SFX Family,
Happy Tuesday! Thank you to the 2nd Grade for a the wonderful job they did sponsoring Mass on Sunday. All admissions notifications for the 2023-2024 school year were sent out yesterday. Thank you for being cheerleaders for SFX! We can't wait to welcome our new Jaguars to the family.
Tonight the 2nd Grade parents have a First Communion Meeting at 6:30 P.M. in the church. Tomorrow we have school Mass at 9:00 A.M. with the blessing of the throats. On Thursday, the Men's Club has a meeting at 6:30 P.M.
We are looking forward to having our grandparents and special friends on campus this Friday! Please see the reminders below and communicate them with the grandparents and special friends who are attending. There is also a permission slip below that must be filled out if students will be checked out. It was also emailed earlier today. Students do not have to be checked out as it is a full day of school.
Next week we have Middle School Exams, the end of the 2nd Trimester, and the Krewe of Kindergarten Parade with an 11:15/11:30 dismissal. There is a special invitation below!
More updates and important information are included in this week's newsletter, so please take a minute to read through it all. 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
Below is the Email Update for Tuesday, February 7 - Visionary, Baby Bottles, “Super Bowl Mass,” Cajun Bus Tour, and ‘Cemetery Run.'
Have a blessed week,
Father Joe
St. Joseph Altar Cookie Workshops are BACK!
Come join us and learn how to roll and make Italian specialty cookies for our St. Joseph Altar here at St. Francis Xavier Church.
The workshops are held in the St. Francis Xavier School cafeteria from 9 a.m. to noon.
If you can help us set up the cafeteria with the cookie supplies, please feel free to join us at 8 a.m.
Dates of the Cookie Workshops:
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Saturday, March 4, 2023
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to our JANUARY Students of the Month who were recognized for the quality of PATIENCE! We are proud of you!
Throughout FEBRUARY, we will be focusing on JUSTICE.
GRANDPARENTS' DAY REMINDERS
- The Lodrigues Yard will be open for parking following 8:00 A.M. Parish Mass.
- Pre-K2 will have three sessions in the classroom only.
- There will be an activity and a snack for the students and the grandparents/guests. Your child’s guest may check out your child directly from the classroom.
- The sessions for PK2 are as follows:
- If they have an older sibling enrolled at St. Francis Xavier, last names A-K will be 8:30-9:00 A.M.
- If they have an older sibling enrolled at St. Francis Xavier, last names L-Z will be 9:00-9:30 A.M.
- If they do not have an older sibling enrolled at St. Francis Xavier, their session will be 9:30-10:00 A.M.
- Pre-K3-7th grades will have two different sessions with prayer service followed by a school tour led by the students.
- Students whose last names begin with A-K will begin with a prayer service in the church at 9:00 A.M. The students will meet their grandparents in the church.
- Students whose last names begin with L-Z we will begin with a prayer service in the church at 9:30 A.M. The students will meet their grandparents in the church.
- Following each prayer service, the students and their guests will have an hour to
- get refreshments, have a picture taken by Loupe Photography, and browse the Spirit Shop in the Mansfield Auditorium;
- see the school, including visiting the classroom. We encourage the students to bring their guests to see the music and art rooms, the newly renovated library, the new sensory walk, and the STEM lab.
- Grandparents with grandchildren in two different prayer services should consult with family and choose ONE prayer service to attend. Please notify homeroom teachers of all grandchildren before Friday.
- If your child’s guests would like to check your child out for the day, they will check your child out with your child’s homeroom teacher. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW TO GIVE PERMISSION.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
- February 6-10 - Admissions Notifications Sent
- February 7 - First Communion Parent Meeting, 6:30 P.M.
- February 9 - Men's Club Meeting, 6:30 P.M.
- February 10 -
- Grandparents' Day
- Candy Gram Orders Due
- February 14-16 - Middle School Exams
- February 15 -
- Grandparents' Club Meeting, 5:30 P.M.
- Deadline to sign up for MG Holiday Care
- February 17 -
- 2nd Trimester Ends
- Krewe of Kindergarten Parade, 9:30 A.M.
- 11:30 A.M. Dismissal
- February 20-24 - Mardi Gras Holidays
NOTE: The most up-to-date information is on the school Google calendar.
The Krewe of Kindergarten will host a wagon parade on the streets of our neighborhood on
Friday, February 17! Please see the map below for the route and where to stand.
We hope you can join us!
All students can wear Mardi Gras shirts/colors with jeans and tennis shoes.
CANDY GRAMS
The Student Council is sponsoring the sale of Valentine’s Day Candy Grams! You can treat your child, grandchild, friend, teacher, or staff member to a special candy gram delivered to their classroom or office on Tuesday, February 14, 2023!
You will have two options of candy to send - Starbursts or Kit Kats. Each candy gram is $0.50. You can pay by check or by an incidental charge to your FACTS Account. If you pay by check, please make it payable to St. Francis Xavier School with "candy gram" in the memo and send to the school office by Friday, February 10th.
Please complete this form to place your order. The Student Council Members will assemble orders to include your message and the candy, as well as deliver them to the recipients on February 14th.
All orders are due by Friday, February 10th.
Moderators:
Ms. Fournier, mfournier@stfrancisxavier.com
Ms. Lebeuf, mlebeuf@stfrancisxavier.com
MARDI GRAS HOLIDAY CARE
We will be offering Holiday Care on Thursday, February 23rd and Friday, February 24th. You may choose one day or both days. The time will be from 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. The cost will be $70 per day for the first child and $60 per day for each additional child. Your child will need to bring a lunch with a drink and a water bottle. We will provide a morning and afternoon snack. Drop-off and pick-up will be behind Mansfield Auditorium (gym) by the teachers’ parking lot in the back.
We will have outside and inside play, games, and a movie on the big screen. Your child may bring any hand-held electronics, games, toys, etc. on these days; however, we are not responsible for loss or damage. Please send a change of clothes and nap mats for the younger children. Please label all items with their first and last names. We are not responsible for lost items. Pick-up will be promptly at 4:00 P.M. There will be a $1.00 per minute charge for anyone not picked up by 4:00 P.M.
This is available to all children in PK2 – 7th grade who attend St. Francis Xavier School. Please fill out this registration form by Wednesday, February 15th. You can pay by check or via an incidental charge to your FACTS account. Indicate your preference on the form. If paying by check, please make it payable to St. Francis Xavier School and return by Wednesday, February 15th in an envelope marked Holiday Care – Front Office.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday and Friday!
Mrs. Renee, Ms. Megan, Mrs. Penny, and Mrs. Denise
JAGUAR ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Wednesday, February 8 - Team G Basketball Game vs. St. Ann W, 5:00 P.M. @ St. Clement of Rome
Thursday, February 9 - Team G Basketball Game vs. St. Matthew, 5:00 P.M. @ St. Angela Merici
NEWS AROUND SFX
- Follow this link to see the minutes from our January HSA Meeting which includes notes from Detective Anna's talk about internet and technology safety.
- The Father Daughter Dance will be held on Saturday, March 4th from 6:00-9:00 P.M. in SJH. Tickets are on sale on the Spirit Shop website through Friday, February 24th. See the flyer below for more information!
Questions? Email Home & School at homeandschool.sfx@gmail.com.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 9
6:30 P.M. Social
7:30 P.M. Meeting
Questions? Email the Men's Club at sfxmensclub@gmail.com.
GRANDPARENTS' CLUB
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, February 15
5:30 P.M.
Mansfield Auditorium
Jambalaya will be served
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.
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.