The Weekly Howl
St. Francis Catholic School - Saturday, February 29th
Dear Parents & Friends of SFCS,
Right now a lot of information regarding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is being communicated and covered in the media. In this edition of the Howl there is a wealth of information about how we are maintaining our safe environment at SFCS. I have included information from reliable sources to keep accurately informed and up-to-date in our community. We will continue with our safe environment procedures in keeping a clean, safe and healthy school environment.
There is only two weeks left before the FSA Golf Tournament and Casino Night Gala on Saturday, March 14th. Tickets, sponsorships and donations are still available and welcomed. More information is below in the FSA section. It is going to be a fun day in support of St. Francis Catholic School. Hope to see you there.
As the year has progressed the amount of tardiness has increased. It is so important for our students and children to begin the day well and on time. Please remember that the school day begins at 8:00am. You may drop your child(ren) off at school beginning as early as 7:15am. Thank you for your support.
Have a great remainder to your weekend!
Sincerely in Christ,
Brian Pope
Principal
Week of 3/1 - 3/7/2020
- 10:30 - 11:45am: Religious Education, Kindergarten & Communion1
- 12:30pm: Palmetto Ocean Conservancy visit
- 3:00pm: Yearbook Club
- 3:30pm: Girls Soccer Practice at Chaplin Park
- 3:00pm: Bake Club Group A
- 3:30pm: Girls Soccer Practice at Chaplin Park
- 6:30pm: Confirmation 2 - Youth Group
- 9:15am: 5th Grade Backpack Buddies
- 10:00am: School Mass
- 1:00pm: Zoara the Comfort Dog
- 3:30pm: Girls & Boys Soccer Practice at Chaplin Park
- 6:00pm: Youth Group - Sixth Grade and Confirmation 1
- 12:00pm: Lions Club Vision and Hearing Screening
- 3:30pm: Girls Soccer Practice at Chaplin Park
- 8th Grade Science Fair in Family Center (Schedule TBA)
- 2:00pm: Beta Club (8th grade members) visit to Bloom
- 3:30pm: Boys Soccer Practice at Barker Field
Upcoming Events
3/8: 10:15am, Family Bible Study (School Library)
3/10: 1st Grade Field Trip
3/11: 3:15pm, Faculty Meeting
3/12: 8:00am FSA Meeting
3/14: FSA Casino Night Gala and Golf Tournament
3/15: 9:00am School Family Mass
3/15: 10:15am, Family Bible Study (School Library)
3/15: HHI St. Patrick's Day Parade
3/20: Last Day of the 3rd Quarter
3/22: 10:15am, Family Bible Study
3/24: Report cards emailed home
3/27: 1:30pm, Assembly
3/29: 10:15am, Family Bible Study
4/1: 3:15pm, Faculty Meeting
4/2: 8:00am, FSA Meeting
4/5: 10:15am, Family Bible Study
4/6: School Closed, Diocesan teachers CIP Workshop, Virtual Make-Up Day
4/8: 12:00 - 3:00pm, FSA's Grandparents' Day
4/9 - 4/19: Easter Recess, School Closed
Prekindergarten
4th Grades
This week the 4th graders celebrated Mardi Gras with mask- making. We also took a break from our regular reading lessons and began a novel. Students discuss the novel in their Literature Circles.
5th Grade
5th graders did an experiment to check how fast their reflexes are. They have been studying the nervous system in science. One student tried to catch the ruler while another student dropped it through their fingers.
5th Grade
The 5th graders have been working on making comics on their iPads. Mrs. Safe showed them how to use a program to create their own comics after we read the story, ”Lunch Money.”
7th Grade Science
The 7th grade had two great experiences with the Greeenwood Genetics Lab. First, we extracted DNA from peas. Before they could do that they needed to learn a few basic lab skills. They learned that there is a correct way to use a pipette, to pour liquids, and how to mix them properly. They used a salt containing buffer to break up chains of protein that bind the DNA together and add dish soap to dissolve nuclear membranes. After a short time the membranes were destroyed and cold alcohol allowed the DNA to precipitate out of solution and revealed the DNA which they were able to collect on pipettes.
In our second session, they learned to be molecular detectives to determine which food contained peanuts and caused a severe allergic reaction in a diner. They needed to learn a few more lab skills before they could solve this mystery. Micro-pipettes are delicate scientific instruments which are used in labs to get a very small and accurate sample size. After they mastered this skill, they learned to load small samples of substances into an agarose gel. These are very fragile and are easily torn but they all successfully completed the task. A few minutes were needed to allow the samples to move through the electrophoresis chamber and during that time they learned that the molecules move based on their size and electric charge. Small molecules move faster than large ones and the electrically charged molecules move to the opposite electrical pole. Two of the samples were the controls and they used them to compare the samples and determine which contained either peanuts or canola oil. Once the samples were ready they were all successful in "reading" the agarose gel and determining the peanut containing dish.
Thank you Greenwood Genetics Lab for these fun and valuable learning experiences. Thank you Dr. Burckart for organizing this wonderful opportunity for our students.
COVID-19, Flu and Strep
There has been a lot of information communicated lately about COVID-19 (coronavirus). St. Francis Catholic School is committed to keeping a safe, healthy and clean school environment. With that being said it is important that we all keep informed and prepared in case our community is impacted. There is a wealth of valuable and reliable information provided by SCDHEC. The Beaufort County School District sent a communication to parents and community members this past week. The BCSD Communication is embedded below. St. Francis Catholic School follows any school closures and delays of BCSD unless there is a unique situation isolated to our school community.
Regardless of our opinions of the current political climate in our nation and the role the media is playing, we should be knowledgeable of the facts and take obvious precautionary measures. Please review the information that is provided below and continue to be informed from reliable communications from official agencies. The Town of Hilton Head, Beaufort County School District, and the South Carolina Department of Heath and Environmental Control (DHEC) are all reliable sources of information and have already provided reliable information about being prepared. Other information and resources can be found with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mrs. Markey will be visiting each of the classes on Monday to talk with the students about proper hand washing and other information about preventing the spread of germs.
It is important that we all follow the Health Guidelines that are describes in the SFCS Parent & Student Handbook. They are listed below.
For the past month we have contracted an independent cleaning service to clean our classrooms daily. The maintenance department has taken extra measures in disinfecting areas and surfaces in the school. All faculty members are committed to keeping his or her classrooms clean and will continue in assisting the maintenance department in sanitizing surfaces in the classrooms.
If you have any questions or concerns about the above then please feel free to contact the school office.
SFCS Health Guidelines
The following guidelines are in effect:
- If a child is running a fever, has been vomiting, has diarrhea, or requires an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, please wait a 24-hour period prior to sending the child back to school. If a child has a contagious or communicable condition, please report this to the school health office. SFCS will not treat the mildly ill.
- A student that is found to have lice or nits will be sent home. The school’s health office designee must examine the student prior to returning to class. SFCS holds a “no-nit” policy.
- It is expected that the parents follow-up with their own doctor for any injury occurring at school. Parents will be notified of significant injuries when they occur.
- Please make arrangements to pick up your child as soon as possible after notification that they are sick and should leave school.
- Diocese of Charleston policy forbids us from providing any medication to any student unless the Diocesan Medication Permit Form is filled out and signed by the parent and the physician. All medicine must be prescribed by a doctor or dentist and must be in the original container and labeled with a current pharmacy prescription label. Antibiotics will not be given at school by school personnel.
- In the event that a student needs immediate emergency care 911 will be called. The child’s emergency contact will also be called immediately. If a child needs treatment in the Emergency Room then they will be transported by ambulance or by his or her parent. School employees will not transport students to the hospital.
- St. Francis Catholic School abides by the Child Abuse laws of the State of South Carolina. This law mandates that all cases of suspected abuse and/or neglect be reported to Child Protective Services.
Extended Care March Projection Form
Lion's Club Vision and hearing Screening
Spirit Day
Scholarship Opportunity for the 2020 - 2021 School Year
FSA Newsletter
Family Bible Study
We are starting a 5-week Bible study on Sunday, March 8th called "No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ's Passion" by Dr. Edward Sri. All families are welcome, and we meet in the school library from 10:15.- 11:15 a.m. The study is for adults, and we have faith-based activities for children in a separate area of the school library. Older children (middle school and up) are always welcome to participate in the study. This is a DVD series, and each participant will get a book AND your own workbook. The cost for the books is $10.
We will meet every Sunday from March 1 to March 29. If you have any questions, please email Laura at lauragracewolf@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Golf and Gala Sign Up Genius
Hello Parents and Friends,
Please sign up to volunteer at the Golf Tournament and/or Casino Night Gala. There are some spots for students as well. Their volunteer time will earn them service hours!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054BACA72CA1F49-golf
Megan Drescher
SFCS FSA President
Family Activities for March
St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church News
- Sunday, February 23rd - (DOCYBT Info, Re-registration, DC Fundraiser, Soup for Scholarship, FSA Gala Info)
- Saturday, February 15th - (Gala Info, DOCYBT Info, Soup for Scholarship, Homework Help, Brain Balance Assessment Flyer, Catholic Voter Guide, MS Parent Focus Group, FSA Info, No-Sew Blanket)
- Friday, February 7th - (Virtual Day Assignments, Graduate Night, Lowcountry Tournament Info, Soccer Info, Plaid About Reading, Soup for Scholarships, Middle School Parent Focus Group)
- Saturday, February 1st - (Re-registration Packets, CSW Pictures, Jr. Boys Tourney Info, Catholic IQ, Soup for Scholarship, DC Fundraiser, FSA Info)