Hello, St. Francis Xavier School Families!  We hope you are well!

Tomorrow, Friday, October 22 is Data Day for our Kindergarten through Grade 8 teachers.  There will be NO SCHOOL for Kindergarten through Grade 8 students on Friday, October 22.  3K and UPK will be in session as usual.

Our Catholic tradition has always affirmed the dignity of the human person as created in the image and likeness of God.  Every person with whom we come in contact deserves to be seen by us with the eyes of God.  We know that ministry with children and youth in particular is a sacred trust.  We at St. Francis Xavier School are committed to preserve, at all times and in all places, this sacred trust which is rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ.

In 2002, the United States Bishops approved The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in an effort to protect the children and youth from sexual abuse at all levels of Church life and to restore trust in a Church scarred by the scandal of clergy sexual abuse.  Article 12 of the charter directs all dioceses to create programs and proceses to teach children and youth about sexual abuse and its prevention.  In the Archdiocese of New York, this training will be integrated into the religious education program each year in all schools and parishes.

There will be one age-appropriate lesson integrated into the Religion lesson on Friday, October 29.  This lesson has been prepared by the Archdiocese of New York and will be presented by the faculty exactly as it has been written.  If you wish to see the lesson that is planned for your child, please feel free to contact me.

We thank you for your support as we partner with you to give our children the safest possible environment to grow in faith in our parish, school, and in our homes.

Progress Reports are available on TADsEducate.  Last week, an email was sent to the email address you provided on TADsEducate with your user name and password.  Please note we will not be providing paper copies of Progress Reports.  You can log on to TADsEducate at your convenience and check your child’s progress.  Please be sure to let us know if you experience any difficulties logging in to TADsEducate.  You can email me at marieoshea@sfxschool.net.

Gentle Reminder—Wearing Winter Uniforms begins on Monday, November 1.  Please go to
Liebman's Uniforms for your child’s uniform needs.  Remember, we must keep windows open and the ventilation fan on, so be sure your child has enough SFX sweaters and sweatshirts to keep warm during the winter months.

Here is a list of our upcoming events at St. Francis Xavier School:

Our Grade 3 Students are sponsoring our October Pet Drive to honor St. Francis of Assisi.  We are young women and young men for others; as such, we take care of all God’s creatures. Thank you for your kindness and your generosity. 

Friday, October 22

NO SCHOOL for Kindergarten through Grade 8 students.  Teachers will participate in Data Day.  3K and UPK ARE IN SESSION.

Feast Day of St. John Paul II. 

Sunday, October 24

Last Day for Grade 8 students to register for the TACHS exam.

Tuesday, October 26

UPK--Individual Student Photos

Thursday, October 28

Kindergarten through Grade 7--Individual Student Photos

Friday, October 29

Safe Environment Lesson--Kindergarten through Grade 8 during Religion Class

Halloween Dress Down Day

• NO COSTUMES
• NO HALLOWEEN MASKS
• Halloween Celebrations in the classroom will be limited to the LAST half hour of the school day.
• COVID masks must be worn at all times.
• Students CANNOT circulate around the room.
• Students may bring an extra small snack from home, provided there is  a SIX FOOT social distance circle around each student.  If there are too many students in your child’s class to allow for a six foot social distance circle, then the students WILL NOT have snacks in the classroom during the class Halloween Celebration.

 Friday, October 22 is the Feast of St. John Paul II.  Please join me in a prayer to this special saint:

Prayer to St. John Paul II
Oh, St. John Paul, 
from the window of heaven, 
grant us your blessing! 
Bless the Church that you loved and served and guided, 
courageously leading her along the paths of the world 
in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. 
Bless the young, who were your great passion. 
Help them dream again, 
help them look up to the heavens again 
to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.
May you bless each and every family! 
You warned of Satan’s assault
against this precious and indispensable divine spark 
that God lit on earth. 
St. John Paul, 
with your prayer,
may you protect the family
and every life that blossoms from the family.
Pray for the whole world,
which is still marked by tensions, wars, and injustice. 
You opposed war by invoking dialogue
and planting the seeds of love: 
pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace.
Oh St. John Paul, 
from heaven’s window, 
where we see you beside Mary, 
send God’s blessing down upon us all.
Amen

School Notes--K--8

Summer Uniform (September/October and May/June)

Girls     K-4 

• white blouse or white polo shirt
• khaki skort
• white knee socks/tights
• plain white sneakers.  
  • **No other  white shoes are permitted.**

• white polo shirt
• light blue skirt
• white knee socks or tights
• white skippys or Keds.  
  • **No other white shoes are permitted.**

• white uniform polo shirt
• khaki uniform pants or khaki shorts with SFX on leg
• black/white socks.

Boys can wear plain white sneakers or boat shoes with the summer uniform (shorts only).  Boys MUST wear a black belt.

Gym Uniform

The gym uniform for warm weather will be the gold St. Francis Xavier T-shirt and navy shorts with the Xavier logo.

Thank you for choosing St. Francis Xavier School to partner with you to provide your child with the finest Catholic education possible.  It is always our pleasure to serve you!

God bless you and your family.

All the best,
 
Ms. Marie O’Shea
Principal
St. Francis Xavier School—A School You Can Believe In!
marieoshea@sfxschool.net