March 30, 2012

ALL SCHOOL NEWS

Reminder: No School Today or Monday
St. Francis will be closed today and Monday, April 9, in observance of the Good Friday and Easter holidays. See you Tuesday!

Congratulations to These Art Contest Winners!
Congratulations to the following students, who had their artwork accepted into the Celebrating Art Book in fall 2011:

Dominic Adamo
Veronica Bayon
Kendall Blalock
Walker Bruce
Madison Corredor
Katelyn Cutter
Catherine Dale
Dakota Dalton
Lila Henningsen
Ryan Jones
Thomas Light
Caroline Nelson
Julia Nguyen
Conner Peebles
Catherine Perea
Lily Rassoli
Joshua Shipley
Ian Stinneford
Kate Tidwell 

One Man’s Trash…
The MS art room is seeking donations of the following items:

• School-appropriate magazines (specifically need Sports Illustrated or other boy-focused magazines, although other magazines are also welcome.)
• Storage containers—coffee cans, butter containers, yogurt cups, etc.
• Anything else that might be useful in an art room

Thanks!
Amy Chandler

Reminder About Adult Lost and Found
St. Francis has a lost and found for items misplaced by our adult community members, so if you have lost something on campus or at an off-campus, school-related event, please check with Rose Ann Gregory at the front desk. She can let you know if the item has been turned in.

Specifically, someone turned in a ring that was found at the recent Parents Association Spring Luncheon. If the ring is yours, please let Rose Ann know.

Calling all Cooks (and Shoppers!)
Calling all Bridge and Primary School chefs and shoppers! The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon will be held on April 18, and we need YOUR help. Please consider helping us cook or shop for food items. We also will need volunteers to help staff the two-hour lunch shifts. The shifts are from 9–11 a.m., 11 a.m.–1 p.m., and/or 1–2:30 p.m. Please e-mail Rhonda Vining at rcvining@hotmail.com if you are interested in volunteering. Our faculty members love these luncheons!

Thank You From the Parents Association!
A BIG thank-you to Pam Rundle, Meredith Barineau, and Lisa Tidwell for such an outstanding Parents Association Spring Luncheon! The decorations, food, and fellowship were all fabulous, but Lysa TerKuerst, the speaker, was truly inspirational. (There wasn’t a dry eye at Houston Country Club!) Due to these three ladies and all their hard work, it was one of the best luncheons ever!

An Evening Interlude With the School of Music
On April 10, at 7:00 p.m., the teachers from the School of Music will be performing a spring concert in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Santuary, with reception to follow. The program is about an hour long and children who are old enough to attend an evening program are more than welcome.  Instructors will be on hand during the reception to meet and talk with families, and they will have instruments for the children to examine. We hope you will be able to join us!

Missing a Blazer? Check Lost and Found!
If your child is missing a school blazer, please be sure to check Lost and Found, as several have been left. The blazers will be kept in Lost and Found until the end of the school year, and then will be sold at the Uniform Resale. 

Scrapbook Pickup Is Tuesday, May 1
The 2010–2011 scrapbook pages will be ready for pickup on Tuesday, May 1, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of the FAC. This is a one-day event! We still have some pages from the 2009–2010 school year that can also be picked up. Contact Christy Dull at christydull@hotmail.com with any questions.

Buy Wolf Wear at Festival
Whoops! We made a mistake and planned our last "First Friday" Wolf Wear sale of the year for today. However, since it is a school holiday, we won’t be selling this week. Instead, please look for our booth at the St. Francis Festival to make your next Wolf Wear purchase. See you at the Festival!

Next Dad’s Club Breakfast Is April 13
The St. Francis Dad’s Club is holding its next breakfast on Friday, April 13, at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held in the Hogan Board Room and will focus on “Protecting Your Family, Part II.”

Summer on the Point 2012: Register Online Now!
Registration for Summer on the Point is now open, and planning is under way. It’s going to be an exciting year, loaded with classic summer fun and all new adventures! Click here to view the catalog and to register online.

PE/Athletics Lost and Found Location Change
Lost and found items that turn up in PE/Athletics areas (Field, OAC, Gymnasium, Locker Rooms) are now being housed in the school’s lost and found location just off of the Fine Arts Center (FAC). These items are primarily clothing along with a few assorted items. The only lost and found item still being stored in the PE/Athletics area is jewelry. If your child loses any jewelry, contact Leslie vanArsdale, department assistant, at 713.458.6456 or lvanarsdale@sfedshouston.org. Please also feel free to stop by to visit with her. If you have any questions or concerns about lost and found items in the PE/Athletics area of the school, contact Don Hicks, director of physical education and athletics, at 713.458.6135 or dhicks@sfedshouston.org.

Annual Fund—It matters. Every dollar. Every family. Every year.
Annual Fund provides unrestricted funds that essentially allow us to hire and maintain quality faculty members, enhance educational resources if needed during the year, and aid in the implementation of programs and/or technology. Please help us continue the advancement of our school by contributing, and know that your gift—no matter the size—makes a huge difference!

Click here to make your gift today.

Questions? Contact Stacy Grace at sgrace@sfedshouston.org or call 713-458-6129

Update Your Contact Information Online!
St. Francis parents may now update their contact information online. You will need to log in to the Parent Portal to do so, and we recently sent you an e-mail that provides your username and password. Please take a few moments to ensure that the information we have on file for you is accurate and up-to-date by following the steps outlined here. If you experience any technical difficulties while updating your information, please send an e-mail to technology@sfedshouston.org and we will be happy to assist you.

Calling All Volunteers: Safeguarding God’s Children Training
At St. Francis, we take the safety and security of our students very seriously. One way we ensure student well-being is by requiring all of our employees and volunteers to participate in the Safeguarding God’s Children training program, a nationally mandated and certified child-abuse prevention course provided by the Episcopal Church. Volunteers must take the course prior to beginning their volunteer activities, and must retake it every five years. Training is offered on the school campus throughout the year and is free of charge.

The remaining 2011–12 Safeguarding God’s Children date is as follows:

• Friday, April 13, 1–3 p.m.

Classes are held in the early afternoon. For specific times and to sign up for the course, please contact Rose Ann Gregory at 713.458.6101 or rgregory@sfedshouston.org.

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ST. FRANCIS COMMUNITY NEWS

Fourth Annual St. Francis Crawfish Boil, May 19
Let's start the summer off right with some hot and spicy fun! Join us for a Crawfish Boil on May 19 from 3:30–7:30 p.m. We'll have plenty of food, beverages, live music, and activities for the children.

Tickets are on sale now in the church office and will be available on Sunday mornings or at the event. You may also buy tickets online. (Questions about online payments? Call the church office.)

Adults—$25
Children—$15
Family Max—$75

Please RSVP even if you haven't purchased your tickets. We need to try to get as firm a number as possible so we can order the right amount of crawfish.

Hotdogs will be available for anyone who doesn't enjoy a good mudbug!

Be a Mud Buddy!
Sponsor a "bag of bugs" and get some great benefits at the boil!
The cost is $100 per bag, and includes a family pass to the event,
name recognition on a banner, VIP parking, and a Crawfish Boil cap.
Please contact Hollie Coerver at hcoerver@sfch.org or 713.458.6305
if you would like to be a Mud Buddy.

BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

Walk to Calvary:
A Good Friday Celebration for Young Children and Families
Good Friday is such a special day in the church calendar, yet Good Friday services are not always appropriate for or accessible to our young children and families. St. Francis Church is excited to offer a brief, interactive service that helps our young people feel that they have observed and participated in this holy day. If you would like more information, please contact Father Wismer at bwismer@sfedshouston.org or at 281.253.6739.

Upcoming Lenten Events
Good Friday, April 6—Join us for A Children’s Walk to Calvary at noon in the Wheatcroft Parish Hall. Father Wismer will take the children on a journey that allows them to better understand and experience Christ’s last days.

Easter Sunday, April 8—Join us at 9 a.m. for our Family Service. An Easter Egg Hunt will follow immediately in the courtyard between the church and the Wheatcroft Parish Hall. There is also a service at 11 a.m.

Save the Date! Vacation Bible School 2012
Will Be Held June 18–22
Mark your calendars for St. Francis Episcopal Church’s Vacation Bible School 2012, which will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on June 18–22. Open to three-year-olds through rising fifth graders, this year’s VBS is themed “Operation Overboard: Dare to go deep with God!” Participants will explore God's underwater universe and what it means to live a life of deep faith.

Registration information will be available after Spring Break, but it's not too early to volunteer to be a part of this great week. Middle school– and high school–aged helpers will receive service hours. Adults are also needed to teach and help with registration.

For more information, visit us online at http://www.sfch.org/sf_children or contact Hollie Coerver at 713.458.6305 or hcoerver@sfch.org.

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PRIMARY SCHOOL
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Upcoming Dates in Primary School
April 6—Good Friday Holiday
April 8—Easter Sunday
April 9—Easter Monday Holiday
April 11—PI Motor Celebration; “Bugs on Wheels” Presentation for PII/Bridge (Student Only)
April 13—Young Audiences, Insects (Student Only)
April 16–20—Hunger Heroes Ingathering
April 18—PII/Bridge Motor Celebration
April 20—Bridge Field Trip (Student Only)
April 26—T/Th Pre-Primary Pep Rally (Student Only)
April 27—PS Pep Rally (Student Only)
April 29—St. Francis Festival Day
April 30—School Starts at 9 a.m.
May 1—T/Th Pre-Primary Mothers and Others, 7:30 a.m. (Pre-Primary Building)
                Bridge Mothers and Others, 9:30 a.m. (Chapel) & 10 a.m. (PS Dining Hall)
May 2—M/W/F Pre-Primary Mothers and Others, 7:30 a.m. (Pre-Primary Building)
May 3—PII Mothers and Others, 1:30 p.m. (Parish Hall)
May 4—PII Field Trip (Student Only)
May 7—PI Sings in Chapel, 9:30 a.m. 

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LOWER SCHOOL
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A Note From the Head of Lower School
The fourth quarter of the school year is upon us! The students have recently experienced a very exciting day. World Water Day was a fabulous culminating activity to many weeks of study about one of the earth’s most precious resources—water. Students discussed water in every subject area. Many of you have commented on your children coming home singing the water cycle song or sharing their experiences Skyping with students around the world. It was a truly memorable experience. If you are on campus, please feel free to stop by the Dining Hall and read the students’ reflections on what World Water Day meant to them.

Students aren't the only ones having wonderful experiences on campus. Recently, a team of teachers was able to visit three independent schools outside of the Houston area. We know that we have to actively prepare our students for the 21st century and beyond. This means that we have to train them to be wonderful communicators and collaborators; to be creative as well as critical thinkers; and at the same time and most importantly, to develop strong character. One way our teachers can stay informed of the current trends in education is to observe the way other schools are addressing this generation’s evolving educational needs. Our teachers came back from their hands-on trip eager to share their observations! They will soon present at an upcoming division meeting. If we want our children to be able to collaborate, it must begin with us!

In addition to the trip, our teachers have a summer reading assignment geared toward the 21st century student. (See, your children aren’t the only ones who are required to read during the summer! J )  The book is called Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World. I look forward to wonderful discussions with our teachers in the fall and to the impact the lessons in this book will have on our students’ educational experiences here at St. Francis.

Have a blessed Easter break!

Sincerely,

Elisse Hayes
Head of Lower School

The Fourth Grade Musical Is Just Around the Corner!
The fourth graders have been working hard to write and produce their spring musical, and they'd love it if you'd join us for this special one-hour event. "A Kids Life…Technology Rules" will premiere on April 12 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.

Don’t Miss the Grade Level Spring Concerts
Please join us for the Lower School spring concerts this month. Please remember, students are required to wear dress uniform on the day of performance. All concerts start at 1:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.

Kindergarten—Monday, April 16
First Grade—Tuesday, April 17
Second Grade—Wednesday, April 18
Third Grade—Thursday, April 19

Please remember that while concerts are taking place, meaningful instruction is also occurring in the grade levels that are not performing. We ask that sibling not be removed from class to attend other grade-level performances.

The teachers are not responsible for making up missed class work or assignments with students who miss instruction while attending sibling concerts.

Thank you for understanding and allowing the students to have quality instruction without interruptions.

Declamation Is April 23–26
St. Francis established the Lauren Angel Watson Declamation Program in 1987 in memory of this St. Francis student. Every student in grades one through four participates. Coinciding with National Poetry Month in April, students will study, create, publish, and recite various forms of poetry. The week will culminate with a Declamation celebration where each student recites an original work for parents, faculty, and classmates.

Declamation will be held in the Crum Library on the dates and at the times listed below. Please note that dress uniforms are required for students on their Declamation day.

First Grade—Monday, April 23
Grantham—8:45 a.m.
Pettiette—9:30 a.m.
Masini—11:30 a.m.
Symonds—12:15 p.m.

Third Grade—Tuesday, April 24
Smith—8:15 a.m.
Zauft—9:00 a.m.
Blair—1:15 p.m.
Partridge—2:00 p.m.

Second Grade—Wednesday, April 25
Barras—8:45 a.m.
Pickett—10:05 a.m.
Kasischke—11:35 a.m.
Cire—2:00 p.m.

Fourth Grade—Thursday, April 26
Porter—10:05 a.m.
Powell—12:00 p.m.
Plaia—1:00 p.m.
Kochel—2:00 p.m.

Lower School Birthday Chapels
Birthdays for the remainder of the year will be celebrated in Chapel on the following days:

Wednesday, April 11—For birthdays from April 1–14
Monday, April 16—For birthdays from April 15–21
Monday, April 23—For birthdays from April 22–28
Wednesday, May 2—For birthdays from April 29–May 5
Monday, May 7—For birthdays from May 6–12
Monday, May 14—For birthdays from May 13–19
Monday, May 21—For birthdays from May 20–31 & June birthdays
Wednesday, May 23—For birthdays during July

*August birthdays will be celebrated when school resumes in August.

It's a Fact! Mythology 101 
Want to learn more about Greek and Roman mythology?  If so, join us in the library on Thursday, April 12, from 7:15–7:45 a.m.  Hope to see you there!

Lower School Parent Lunch Dates
Lower School parents are invited to join their child for lunch on the first Tuesday of each month throughout the school year. The remaining Lower School Parent Lunch date for 2011–12 is Tuesday, May 1.

Congratulations, Lower School Students, on
Your District PSIA Recognition!
The District PSIA Meet occurred this past Saturday, March 24, at St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Catholic School.  St. Francis had an excellent showing, with many students qualifying for the State PSIA Meet in April.  As a school, St. Francis placed first overall in the Elementary Division (Grades 1–5) and second place overall in the Middle School Division.  We are very proud of each student for doing his or her best and for being excellent representatives of our school.

The following students qualified to compete at the State PSIA Meet at TCU on Saturday, April 28:

STATE QUALIFIERS—LOWER SCHOOL—2012
Art Memory (4/5)—Parker Vining
Creative Writing (1)—Catherine Chen
Dictionary Skills (4/5)—Ria Shani
Dictionary Skills (4/5)—Quint Adamo
Maps, Graphs, & Charts (4)—Spencer Powers
Poetry Interpretations (4)—Annabel Skubisz
Ready Writing (4)—Denise Pan
Spelling (2)—Sophia James
Storytelling (2)—Ainsley Powers

STATE ALTERNATES—LOWER SCHOOL—2012  
Dictionary Skills (4/5)—First Alternate—Rohan Shani
Spelling (4)—First Alternate—Quint Adamo
Storytelling (1)—First Alternate—Margaret Hardison
Storytelling (3)—Second Alternate—Piper Edwards

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MIDDLE SCHOOL
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End of Year Exam Information
As you begin to prepare for the end of the school year, please note the following information concerning the last week of school:

• May 21–24 are early dismissal days for Middle School, with classes ending at 12:15 p.m.
• Fifth grade (all core subjects) and sixth-grade Spanish, history, and science do not take final exams. Rather, they will have regular tests as they would during the course of the school year.
• Exams will be conducted in Grade 6 English and math, and in Grade 7 and 8 English, math, Spanish, history and science.
• Please see pages 65–68 of the handbook for further information.
• More details will be coming in the next several issues of Wolf Watch.
• Here is the schedule, with more details to come:
• Monday, May 21: English
• Tuesday, May 22: Science and history
• Wednesday, May 23: Math and Spanish
• Thursday, May 24: Make-ups and Middle School field day (last day of school for Middle School students)
• The exact times and schedule for the day will be published in Wolf Watch soon.

News and Reminders From the Middle School Office

• Extra Academic Support
  Please know that all of our teachers are very willing to help support any academic needs. If your student is in need of extra assistance beyond study hall time, our teachers are available. Please contact the teacher directly, and they will be happy to set up a time that is convenient for the student and their schedule. We are very eager to help with any issues that arise.
  
  
• No School Reminders: Friday, April 6 (Good Friday), and Monday, April 9 (Easter Monday)
  
  
• If you have any questions about next year’s classes, please contact the department chair in that subject or any Middle School administrator.
  

• Announcements
  Please share with the Middle School office any news, awards, recognition, etc. that your student receives outside of school. We certainly would like to be able to support and congratulate them for these efforts.
  
  Congratulations to Cole Vicknair and Andrew Karcher for being selected to represent South Texas in Alabama this summer as part of an elite group of soccer players for Region III of the Olympic Development Program. The Olympic Development Program is a national program that selects players from 13 southeast states.  
  
  
• Service Council Gearing Up for Spring Project
  After a successful fall semester project, the St. Francis Service Council has again adopted Dakota Rescue, a no-kill animal shelter in Pinehurst, Texas. The council is creating “doggie bags” for adoptable rescues. The council needs old towels, leashes and collars, small bags of dog food, and treats to fill the doggie bags. Cleaning supplies such as Pine Sol or bleach are also useful. If you can help, please drop donations off at MS 235. Thank you!

Congratulations, Middle School Students, on
Your District PSIA Recognition!
The District PSIA Meet occurred this past Saturday, March 24, at St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Catholic School.  St. Francis had an excellent showing, with many students qualifying for the State PSIA Meet in April.  As a school, St. Francis placed first overall in the Elementary Division (Grades 1–5) and second place overall in the Middle School Division.  We are very proud of each student for doing his or her best and for being excellent representatives of our school.

The following students qualified to compete at the State PSIA Meet at TCU on Saturday, April 28:

STATE QUALIFIERS—MIDDLE SCHOOL—2012
Listening Skills (4/5)—Cade Moulton
Listening Skills (6–8)—Madison Grimes
Listening Skills (6–8)—Vitaly Bourenin
Maps, Graphs, & Charts (8)—Jake Vail
Mathematics (6)—Lauren Rice
Mathematics (8)—Madison Grimes
Music Memory (5)—Cade Moulton
Music Memory (6)—James Talbott
Poetry Interpretation (5)—Andrew Karcher
Poetry Interpretation (6)—Bella Ray
Ready Writing (6)—Katherine Berman
Ready Writing (8)—Maggie Sternberg
Science (7)—Austin Paull
Science (8)—Colby Gottschalk
Spelling (6)—Avery Edwards
Vocabulary (5)—Clare Bilek
Vocabulary (6)—Bella Ray

STATE ALTERNATES—MIDDLE SCHOOL—2012  
Maps, Graphs, & Charts (8)—First Alternate—Jack Ellington
Modern Oratory (7/8)—First Alternate—Pete Huggins
Music Memory (5)— First Alternate—Lauren Porter
Number Sense (6)— First Alternate—Lauren Rice
Poetry Interpretation (5)— First Alternate—Darcie Robert
Poetry Interpretation (6)— First Alternate—Cameron Dasher

It's a Fact! Mythology 101 
Want to learn more about Greek and Roman mythology?  If so, join us in the library on Thursday, April 12, from 7:15–7:45 a.m.  Hope to see you there!

Check Out the Middle School Buzz
Head of Middle School Steve Lovejoy is blogging each day about things going on around campus. Called The Buzz, you can read the blog by clicking here or by visiting the Parent Portal on www.sfedshouston.org, then selecting Middle School, then Middle School Buzz.

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