The Weekly Howl
St. Francis Catholic School - Saturday, November 30th
Dear Parents & Friends of SFCS,
One change you will see is that in the morning at arrival the lights will be out in the school hallways with Christmas music playing over the PA system for the next three weeks. We ask that everyone enters the school in silence in quiet prayer and reflection about what the Advent season means and to draw us closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Student volunteers will be standing in the hallway with candles (battery powered). This now well established and wonderful tradition for our school was first introduced to us by Mrs. Gaherty many years ago from her previous school in New York. Thank you Mrs. Gaherty!
Good luck to our SFCS Wolves who will be playing in the season opener Knights of Columbus, St. Francis Catholic School Tip-Off Classic basketball tournament this week. Many local school teams from our community are participating in this traditional tournament for our school. Come and check out the games. If you are not already a member of the Booster Club tickets are $6.00 a day for adults and $3.00 for children (under 12)/Seniors/ Military. Go Wolves!!!
This week Mrs. Sweeney has invited professional children's book illustrator, Michael P. White to our school once again. He has a new book that is being released and the order form to purchase it is included below. Mr. White's visit was made possible by the funds raised by Mrs. Sweeney and the FSA with this year's Pottery Jam.
On Monday, December 9th the students will be shopping at the St. Francis Thrift Shop for Christmas gifts for their family and friends. Keep an eye out for the Permission Slip coming home this week and please provide students enough money in a sealed envelop with their name and amount written on the outside. Included below is a digital copy of the permission form. Items typically range between $3 - $10.00.
Make sure to mark your calendars for the following dates:
- Saturday, December 14th, 8am - 12:00pm - FSA's Reindeer Run & Christmas Festival: The race will begin at SFCS and and the festival will be in the front loop.
- Sunday, December 15th, 9:00am - School Family Mass: Let us celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Advent and the last School Family Mass of 2019 together!!!
- Thursday, December 19th, 6:00pm - Advent Concert: The students have already begun working hard and preparing for our traditional Advent Concert. The concert will be in the gym.
- Friday, December 20th, 8:15 - 10:30am - FSA's Breakfast with Santa: Students at this wonderful event will be treated to a pancake breakfast with Santa. Parents are welcome to come with their child and thank you to the Knights of Columbus for cooking. Students can come to school in Christmas flare, meaning red, white, green or other Christmas themed shirts, socks, hats with their uniform pants, shorts, skorts and/or skirts.
I hope the above will help you keep track of some of the things going on this Advent Season. I anticipate that the next three weeks will be busy for everyone. Have a wonderful remainder to your weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday.
Happy Advent!
Brian Pope
Principal
Week of 12/1 - 12/7/19
- 1st Sunday of Advent
- 10:00am - 12:00pm: Parish Fellowship Sunday in Family Center
- 8:30 - 10:00am: Advent Wreath Blessing
- 2:00pm: Beta Club Meeting
- 3:00 - 3:45pm: Jr. Girls BB Practice in Courtyard
- 4:00 - 8:00pm: KOC SFCS Tip - Off Classic
Tuesday, December 3rd
- St. Francis Xavier
- Michael P. White - Guest Illustrator Visit
- 8:15pm: FSA Golf Tournament and Casino Night Meeting (Conference Room)
- 2:00pm: JPIICS Principal Meet & Greet (Library)
- 3:00pm: Bake Club (Group A)
- 3:00 - 3:45pm: Jr. Girls BB Practice in Courtyard
- 4:00 - 8:00pm: KOC SFCS Tip - Off Classic
- 6:00 - 7:30pm: Confirmation 2 - Youth Group
- 8:15am: FSA Reindeer Run Meeting (Conference Room)
- 10:00am: School Mass
- 1:00 - 2:30pm: Zoara the Comfort Dog (Conference Room)
- 3:15 - 4:00pm: Faculty Meeting
- 4:00 - 8:00pm: KOC SFCS Tip - Off Classic
- 4:30 - 6:00pm: SAC Meeting (Conference Room)
- 6:00 - 8:00pm: Youth Group - Sixth Grade and Confirmation 1
Thursday, December 5th
- Students should bring an extra shoe to school for the Feast of St. Nicholas
- 4:00 - 8:00pm: KOC SFCS Tip - Off Classic
- Feast of St. Nicholas
- FSA Operation Morale Support and No - Sew Blanket Donations Deadline
- 2:00pm: Beta Club 7th Grade Members to Bloom
- 4:00 - 8:00pm: KOC SFCS Tip - Off Classic
- St. Ambrose
Upcoming Events
12/9: Thrift Shop Christmas Shopping
12/12: 8:00am - FSA Board Meeting
12/14: 8am - 12pm - FSA Reindeer Run & Christmas Festival
12/15: 9:00am - School Family Mass
12/16 - 12/19: Advent Concert Rehearsals (Schedule TBA)
12/18: 3:15 - 4:15pm: Faculty Meeting
12/19: 6:00pm - Advent Concert
12/20: FSA Breakfast with Santa
12/20: Regular Dismissal - Christmas Recess begins after school
1/6: School Open - 1st Day Back in 2020
1/6 - 1/24: MAP Winter testing window
Kindergarten
5th Grade
Discovery Lab - 4th Grade
Last week the 4th grade students looked at the differences between weight and mass. They looked at spring scales and balances and compared the weight and mass of a known item. They learned to use a triple beam balance and measured the mass of several classroom objects. They massed fifty pennies and calculated the average mass of a penny to be 2 grams. Finally, they looked at a digital balance and learned how sensitive, accurate, and easy to use they are. Thank you Mr. Roy for your generosity in donating the digital balances!
Knights of Columbus and St. Francis Catholic School Tip - Off Classic
2019 Tournament Schedule
Monday, December 2
4:00 pm – Game #1 – Sea Pines Montessori Girls’ vs St. Francis Catholic School Girls’
5:00 pm – Game #2 – Sea Pines Montessori Boys’ vs Hilton Head Christian Academy Boys’
6:00 pm – Game #3 – Riverview Middle School Girls’ vs Hilton Head Christian Academy Girls’
7:00 pm – Game #4 – Riverview Middle School Boys’ vs Cross School Boys’
Tuesday, December 3
4:00 pm – Game #5 – Holy Trinity School Girls’ vs. Hilton Head Prep Girls’
5:00 pm – Game #6 – Holy Trinity School Boys’ vs Hilton Head Prep Boys’
6:00 pm – Game #7 – John Paul 2 Girls’ vs Cross School Girls’
7:00 pm – Game #8 – John Paul 2 Boys’ vs. St. Francis Catholic School Boys’
Wednesday, December 4
4:00 pm – Game #9 – Winner Game #3 vs Winner Game #7
5:00 pm – Game #10 – Winner Game #5 vs Winner Game #1
6:00 pm – Game #11 – Winner Game #4 vs Winner Game #2
7:00 pm – Game #12 – Winner Game #8 vs Winner Game #6
Thursday, December 5
4:00 pm – Game #13 – Loser Game #3 vs Loser Game #7
5:00 pm – Game #14 – Loser Game #5 vs Loser Game #1
6:00 pm – Game #15 – Loser Game #4 vs Loser Game #2
7:00 pm – Game #16 – Loser Game #8 vs Loser Game #6
Friday, December 6
4:00 pm – Game #17 – Loser Game #10 vs Loser Game #9 (3rd Place – Girls’)
5:00 pm – Game #18 – Loser Game #12 vs Loser Game #11 (3rd Place – Boys’)
6:00 pm – Game #19 – Winner Game #10 vs Winner Game #9 (Girls’ Championship)
7:00 pm – Game #20 – Winner Game #12 vs Winner Game #11 (Boys’ Championship)
The second team listed on the tournament schedule will be the designated as the HOME team.
Please note whether your teams should wear light color jerseys (HOME) or dark color jerseys (AWAY).
The teams will play six minute quarters and have a five minute half time. Each overtime period will be 2 minutes long.
Bottle Cap Collection Update
Pizza with the Principal
Tell Someone You’re Thinking About Them: Send a Candy Cane Gram!!!
The Beta Club is taking orders for Candy Cane Grams! These will be delivered to the teachers to be handed out on Friday, December 20th.
For just $1.00 you can send a holiday greeting to your child or your child can send one to a friend or anyone in the school.
In order to fulfill your order, your order, message, and payment must be received in the office by Friday, December 13th.
Please include the recipient’s first and last name and grade, along with the sender’s name and personal message on the die cut cards provided. Additional cards are available in the office, or feel free to make your own card.
Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards school service projects and school related activities.
Thank you, and happy holidays!
School Pictures Order Update
Thrift Store Christmas Shopping Permission Slip
FSA Newsletter
Family Community Service
Deadlines Comming Up
Parish Info
St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island In Need of Donations
The St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island is seeking the following winter clothes for children:
- Sweaters/Sweatshirts
- Long Sleeve Shirts
- Jeans
- Shoes
Since you have to make room for the new clothes that the children will receive at Christmas time, get a jump start on cleaning out the closets! Sr. Canice and Sr. Marcine will gladly take your donations! Please drop them off at the school’s front office or feel free to make a trip out to the center at 85 Mattis Dr, St Helena Island, SC 29920.
You can also “like” the St. Francis Center on Facebook at
- Saturday, November 23rd - (Zoara the Comfort Dog, MS Dance, Ext. Care Projection, Michael P. White Order Form, JPIICS Prin. Meet & Greet, Confirmandi Reminder, eProve Survey, FSA Newsletter, Christmas Festival Tickets, FSA Partners Info, JPIICS News, Community Info)
- Friday, November 17th - (Flu Vaccine Clinic, Updated Uniform Policy, Washington DC, WOSF Cookbook, Spirit Day, JPII Meet & Greet, eProve Parent Survey, Pottery Jam Pictures, Reinder Run Update, FSA Community Service Flyer, Community Info)
- Friday, November 8th - Pottery Jam, WOSF Cookbook, Spirit Day, DC Trip Info, School Pictures, Advent, JPIICS Principal Meet & Greet, eProve Survey)
- Saturday, November 2nd - (Booster Club Info, Trunk and Treat Pictures, Bottle Cap Update, Parent Teacher Conference Sign up, Parent Resources, Parent Survey, Candy Bounce Back, Pure Barre Info, Belk Charity Sale, Parish Info)