​Dear St. Francis of Assisi students and families,
 
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Please allow me to embrace Advent in the way the Church intends: as a way to prepare for Your arrival. May everything I do - every gift I send, every party I attend, every meal I share - remind me to prepare space in my heart for You.
Amen.
 
Explore Program 
What is EXPLORE?  
Explore is an intensive French-immersion program that is offered during the spring and summer. If you are interested in learning or improving French and travelling to a new part of Canada, then Explore might be the perfect program for you.  You do not have to have any experience or previous knowledge of French to participate in this program.   
Key Reasons Why People Love Explore

• Learning French
• Experiencing francophone culture and way of life
• Connecting with others from across Canada and making friends
• Traveling to another part of the country
• Opportunities to continue learning French in a professional context with the Languages at Work program.

Exploring language and culture through social and travel experiences has never been this rewarding. For some, it’s life-changing!
Program Length 
For high school participants 16 and older, Explore institutions offer summer sessions, which last between 31 and 33 days. For 13- to 15-year-olds, three-week summer sessions are available.  
FOR MORE DETAILS AND INFORMATION, GO TO: https://englishfrench.ca/explore/?lang=en 
If you have specific questions, contact Mme Hamel at sylvie.hamel@yesnet.yk.ca 
DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15, 2023
 
Liturgy – For an End to Gender-Based Violence
On December 6, we remember the women killed at the École Polytechnique de Montréal 33 years ago, but also all the women who are still victims of violence today. Every woman and every girl has the right to a life free of violence. This is a time to further our collective action to end violence against women and girls for good. This takes all of us working together in our own countries, regions and communities, at the same time, towards the same goal. It is time for united action from all, so that women and girls around the world can live free from harassment, harmful practices, and all other forms of violence.
 
Christmas Wrapping Grad Fundraiser
The grad class will be wrapping presents at Walmart on December 10/11th and 17/18th from 10:00am –6:00pm. You can drop off gifts and have them wrap them up for you, and you can also return later in the day to pick up your wrapped gifts. The cost is by donation. Grad 2023 thanks you for your support!
 
Basketball Gear
https://urstore.ca/group/st-francis-assisi-pop-up-shop
All items can be customized with a last name (there is no charge for this on the bag) and if you select the option to ship to the school, there is no shipping cost. A portion of sales will go towards supporting St. Francis Athletics, so feel free to share with friends and family. Orders must be in by December 11th. Let Mr. Cassidy know if you need any assistance.
 
St. Francis Clubs

• At Alpha we gather and discuss some of life's big questions with food, fellowship, and fun! We are watching a 7-part series called "The Search". The Search leads people to the deepest questions of the human heart, exploring the meaning and purpose of life with a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating approach. The episodes cover topics such as life and death, sorrow and happiness, and science and faith. Fridays at Lunch: see you there!
• In the Learning Commons, students can play chess or board games any lunch hour of the week. On Wednesdays, there tends to be more chess players.  Also, there are opportunities to learn new board games each week from a fellow student. In this club, students learn valuable skills, such as winning and losing with grace, sportsmanship, planning and team spirit, while having fun!
• St Francis’ Wednesday lunchtime carpentry Skills Club is sponsored by Skills Yukon. The club’s focus is to prepare students to compete in the Carpentry event at the Yukon Skills Competition, held each year in April. Students build their own doghouses working from a set of plans all in metric. No prior experience is necessary, and anyone can join, whether you want to compete, or just want to learn some new skills and build yourself a doghouse.
  • Welding has been happening in the Metal Shop on Tuesday lunchtimes, and this too is in process of becoming a Skills Club sponsored by Skills Yukon.
  • In the new year, we hope to add a Wood Carving Skills Club on Thursday lunchtimes in partnership with the carvers at the Northern Cultural Expressions Society. Stay tuned!

 
St. Francis Activities
Share the Spirit Activities continue....
Monday, December 5            

• Grade 8 and 9/10 boys basketball - 3:30 - 5:00 pm
• Senior boys basketball - 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Tuesday, December 5

• Student Government Mtg - rm 11 @ 12:15pm
• December 6 ceremony - block 3, period 4, 11:00 - 11:30 pm. 
• Workout Club - 12:15 to 12:50pm
• Science Fair Club @ 3:45 pm at FH in Room 224
• Grade 8 and 9/10 girls basketball - 3:30 - 5:00 pm      
• Senior girls basketball - 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Wednesday, December 7

• Carpentry Skills Club @ 12:15 pm In Wood Shop      
• Chess / Board Game Club @ 12:15 pm in the LC        
• PLC / Early dismissal 
• Grade 8 and 9/10 boys basketball - 3:30 - 5:00 pm
• Senior boys basketball - 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Thursday, December 8

• GSA Club in Room 20 @ 12:15 pm.     
• Grade 8 and 9/10 girls basketball - 3:30 - 5:00 pm      
• Senior girls basketball - 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Friday, December 9  

• Amnesty International Write for Rights @ LC all day long.      
• Noon band concert @ small gym, 12:15 - 1:00 pm      
• Alpha Mtg @ 12:15pm

 
Please do not hesitate to call the school at 667-5901 if you have any questions or concerns.
 
Blessings,
The St. Francis of Assisi Admin Team,
Alethea Wallace, A/Principal; Mia Ouellette, A/Vice-Principal; Janet Clarke, A/Vice Principal

Extended absences from St. Francis 
If you are considering taking your student on an extended vacation from classes, please read the following:
  
- please contact the office via email at sfacss@yukon.ca, or phone 667-5901 as soon as trip dates are known.
 
- the student must speak to each of their teachers as soon as trip dates are known.   

- it is the teacher's discretion as to whether they are able to provide material to support content that will be missed in class. Our teachers do an amazing job of trying to accommodate student plans but if the course is designed to be delivered primarily in person, the student will not pass the course if they are away.  

- all St. Francis teachers have a Teams page for their class. This online presence is meant to supplement class activities, not replace them.  Assignments information appears but the accompanying lesson does not. This teaching can only be provided if the student is at school.  

- exam weeks are posted far in advance on the school website (http://www.sfacss.ca/). Parents should make every attempt not to plan a trip during this time. Note: our main exam week is January 9 to 13, 2023 but several teachers have major assessments prior to Christmas during the week of December 12 – 16, 2022.  

- at St. Francis of Assisi, we value equally academics and family relationships. We realize that families live far apart from their relatives. Please work with us so that we can help your student successfully balance these two parts of their life. 
 
 
Mahal Naming Mga Magulang ng St. Francis
  
Kung kayo po ay nagbabalak magbakasyon ng matagalan kasama ng inyong anak, mangyari lamang po na basahin at unawaing mabuti ang mga sumusunod: 
 
- Ipagbigay alam agad ang petsa ng inyong pag-alis sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng email sa sfacss@yukon.ca o kaya’y  tumawag sa 667-5901. 

- Kinakailangang kausapin at ipaalam ng inyong anak sa kanyang mga GURO ang  petsa ng pagliban. 

- Nasa diskrisyon ng GURO kung siya ay bibigyan ng gawain/materyales na ipapadala sa inyong anak habang siya ay wala. Lahat ng mga guro ay sinisikap na maturuang mabuti ang inyong  anak sa loob ng klase. Ang pag-aaral, paliwanagan at talakayan ay nagaganap sa loob ng silid aralan. Malaki ang mawawala sa inyong anak kapag hindi siya makakapakinig sa mga talakayang ito at baka maging sanhi pa ng pagbaba o kaya ay pagbasak ng kanyang marka na kapwa ayaw nating mangyari. 

-Lahat ng mga guro ay gumagamit ng TEAMS. Ito ay paraan upang maipaalam ang mga takdang aralin, proyekto at petsa ng pagpapasa ng mga gawain. Ngunit ito ay hindi sapat sa dahilang  araw araw ay mayroong nagaganap na pagtuturo, paliwanagan at mga pagsasanay sa loob ng silid aralan. 

- Maagang Inilalagay sa website ng paaralan (http://www.sfacss.ca) ang petsa ng PAGSUSULIT. 
Kami po ay buong pusong nakikiusap  na hanggat maaari ay huwag sanang isabay ang planong pagliban sa panahon ng pagsusulit. Sa taong ito, ang pagsusulit ay gaganapin mula Enero 9-13, 2023. Bukod po dito, karamihan sa mga guro ay hinati nila ang mga pagsusulit at magsisimula na silang magbigay ng kanilang panimulang pagtataya/pagmamarka mula sa Disyembre 12-16, 2022.  
​
- Pinahahalagahan po ng ating paaralan kapwa ang mga  aralin at ang kahalagahan ng bawat pamilya. Batid namin na karamihan sa inyo ay malayo sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay at sabik na sabik na kayong sila ay makita. Ang pakiusap po namin ay tulungan  ninyo kami na maibigay ng lubusan ang mga sapat na kaalamang  ito sa ipagtatagumpay ng inyong  anak. 
 
Maraming, Maraming Salamat Po! 
 
Janet Clarke
A/Vice-Principal, Teacher - Librarian
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary
867-667-5901
 
Without libraries, what have we? We have no past and no future.
                                                                                Ray Bradbury
 

EXPLORE PROGRAM: DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15TH 

What is EXPLORE?  

Explore is an intensive French-immersion program that is offered during the spring and summer. If you are interested in learning or improving French and travelling to a new part of Canada, then Explore might be the perfect program for you.  You do not have to have any experience or previous knowledge of French to participate in this program.   

Program Length 

For high school participants 16 and older, Explore institutions offer summer sessions, which last between 31 and 33 days. For 13- to 15-year-olds, three-week summer sessions are available.  
FOR MORE DETAILS AND INFORMATION, GO TO: https://englishfrench.ca/explore/?lang=en 
If you have specific questions, contact Mme Hamel at sylvie.hamel@yesnet.yk.ca 

​

Dear St. Francis of Assisi students and families, 

Prayer 
Heavenly Father, 
Heal my heart during this season of Advent. 
Help me to love more fully. To forgive more generously. To wait more patiently for Christmas, embracing each day and hour knowing the joy that awaits. 
In your name I pray, Amen. 

Catholic Education Prayers of the Faithful for December 2022 
† For Catholic education: that during this season 
of Advent we may prepare our heart, minds and 
lives to welcome the Baby Jesus. 
† For Catholic teachers: that their witness to hope in 
the Lord will be manifest daily, we pray to the Lord. 
† For Catholic education: That each one of our 
Catholic school communities will seek to build 
Bethlehem in our schools and our hearts, we pray 
to the Lord. 
† For Catholic education: That JOY may be manifest 
in our every word, action and thought, we pray to 
the Lord. 

Liturgy – Advent 
Yesterday, November 27, was the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a season of waiting and expectation for Christmas – the birth of Christ, the Nativity of Our Lord. We prepare our homes and hearts for four weeks before Christmas. Advent gives us time to prayerfully remember Jesus’ birth. Today our staff and students will participate in-class in our advent liturgy. Classrooms will be arranged into peaceful, prayerful, and reflective environments. 

Wood Street Centre 
Wood Street Centre will be hosting their Open House on Thursday, December 1st @ 7:00 pm.  It will be in person for the first time in a few years. 
There will also be a Virtual Open House on Tuesday, December 6th for rural students and those that are unable to make it on December 1st.  The Zoom link and time will be sent later this week. 
Teachers will be on hand on December 1st to answer questions students and parents may have, they are encouraged to visit each program that they may be interested in applying to. 
Students can visit the Programs page:  http://woodstreetcentre.yukonschools.ca/programs.html and do some exploring before attending the Open House. 
Program Applications are due on Friday, January 20th   
·         applications can be emailed to: applications-WSC@yukon.ca 
·         or mailed to:  411 Wood Street – Whitehorse, YT – Y1A 2E9 
·         or hand delivered to:  411 Wood Street – Whitehorse, YT 
Timelines: 
December 1st     Open House 
December 6th     Virtual Open House 
January 20th        Applications Due 
February 10th      Interviews to be complete by 
February 17th      Program offer letters out (email) 
February 23rd      Students must accept or decline offer by 
March 1st             Information out to schools regarding who will be in WSC programs for 2023-2024 
If you have any questions or need clarification please don’t hesitate to contact kris.bruneau@yukon.ca 

SWIS Weekly School Visit 
The final day for SWIS services before the holidays will be on Thursday December 8, 2022. SWIS services will resume on January 19, 2023. If any students require assistance or study space during exam week, the MCY Youth Centre will be open.  

St. Francis Clubs 

• Workout Club meets every Tuesday and Friday at Lunch for students in grade 9 to 12. If your student is a fitness enthusiast, is looking for some time to work out independently or with friends, and would like to meet their personal fitness goals, encourage them to come workout in the fitness room! See Mrs. Morrison for more information. 

• Japan Trip 2024, had a tri-high (all three high schools participating) meeting last week. If your student is in grade 9 to 11, and would like more information about this trip to Japan during the spring of 2024, please contact Ms. LaLonde. 
• If your student is interested in participating in the science fair this year, Science Fair Club will be hosted at FHC for all Riverdale schools. For more information, please contact Mr. Cassidy. 

 
St. Francis Activities 
Share the Spirit Activities start. Basketball practices begin after school.  
Monday, November 28 

• Morning anthem, announcements, prayer on intercom 
• Advent Liturgy, period 7, block 3 @ 11:00 am. 

Tuesday, November 29 

• Student Government Mtg - rm 11 @ 12:15pm 
• All school bands performing at the Legislature @ 12:00 - 1:00 pm 
• Workout Club - 12:15 to 12:50pm 

• Choir - 3:30 - 5:30pm 

Wednesday, November 30 

• Carpentry Skills Club @ 12:15 pm In Wood Shop  
• Chess / Board Game Club @ 12:15 pm in the LC 

• X = 1 

Thursday, December 1 

• GSA Club in Room 20 @ 12:15 pm.  

Friday, December 2 

• Lipsync Extraganza - period 4, block 3  
• Alpha Mtg @ 12:15pm 
• Bball games with visiting Haines team. Schedule TBA 

 
Christmas Caroling Contest 
Sacred Heart Cathedral is organizing a Christmas Caroling Contest. If you are interested, Please see the attached registration form.  
christmas caroling contest.docx 
 
Cold and Flu Season  
For several years, pandemic restrictions and social distancing helped keep a variety of bugs away. As you know, cold and flu season is upon us again, and we have many students who have been ill lately. Please follow the traffic light poster to determine if your child can come to school: https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/hss/hss-can-your-child-go-to-school-regular-activities.pdf  

Students may wear a mask if they feel comfortable doing so and there are some at the front office. In addition, we still have rapid antigen tests here at the school. If you would like some for your family, please let us know.
  
Please do not hesitate to call the school at 667-5901 if you have any questions or concerns.  

Blessings, 
​
The St. Francis of Assisi Admin Team, 
Alethea Wallace, A/Principal; Mia Ouellette, A/Vice-Principal; Janet Clarke, A/Vice Principal 

Wood Street Centre will be hosting our Open House on Thursday, December 1st @ 7:00 pm.  It will be in person for the first time in a few years.

We will also be holding a Virtual Open House on Tuesday, December 6th for rural students and those that are unable to make it on December 1st.  The Zoom link and time will be sent later this week.

Teachers will be on hand on December 1st to answer questions students and parents may have, they are encouraged to visit each program that they may be interested in applying to.

Students can visit the Programs page:  http://woodstreetcentre.yukonschools.ca/programs.html and do some exploring before attending the Open House.

Program Applications are due on Friday, January 20th  

·         applications can be emailed to: applications-WSC@yukon.ca

·         or mailed to:  411 Wood Street – Whitehorse, YT – Y1A 2E9

·         or hand delivered to:  411 Wood Street – Whitehorse, YT

Timelines:

December 1st     Open House
December 6th     Virtual Open House
January 20th        Applications Due
February 10th      Interviews to be complete by
February 17th      Program offer letters out (email)
February 23rd      Students must accept or decline offer by
March 1st             Information out to schools regarding who will be in WSC programs for 2023 – 2024

We have moved the application process earlier to accommodate school planning for the upcoming school year.
Any questions can be directed to Kris Bruneau - 667-8413 or kris.bruneau@yukon.ca 

Dear St. Francis of Assisi students and families,

Cold and Flu Season 
For several years, pandemic restrictions and social distancing helped keep a variety of bugs away. As you know, cold and flu season is upon us again, and we have many students who have been ill lately. Please follow the traffic light poster to determine if your child can come to school: https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/hss/hss-can-your-child-go-to-school-regular-activities.pdf 

Students may wear a mask if they feel comfortable doing so and there are some at the front office. In addition, we still have rapid antigen tests here at the school. If you would like some for your family, please let us know. 

St. Francis Clubs
The St. Francis music department has been busy this year. Students have been learning foundational music and instrument skills through performing their favorite rock music hits. While learning the fundamentals of their instrument, they are also playing with a band in a fun and positive atmosphere. We have many bands named as follows:

• Super Bass
• Thursday
• Speed Bumps
• Sentinel Army
• A Pinch of Jellyfish.

If you are available, all of the rock bands will be playing in the foyer at the Legislature Building on Tuesday November 29th between 12:00 and 1:00 pm.

St. Francis Activities

Tuesday, November 22

• Student Government Meeting in Room 11 @ 12:15pm
• Super Bass Band Concert @ 12:15pm in the small gym
• Workout Club - 12:15 to 12:50pm
• Choir - 3:30 - 5:30pm
• Volleyball Practice – Senior Girls @ 5:30-7:30 pm

Wednesday, November 23

• Carpentry Skills Club @ 12:15 pm in Wood Shop
• Chess / Board Game Club @ 12:15 pm in the LC
• PLC / Early dismissal
• Volleyball Practice –Senior Boys @ 5:30-7:30pm

Thursday, November 24

• GSA Club in Room 20 @ 12:15 pm.
• Pep Rally @ 2:40 - 3:13 pm in the large gym
• Yukon Championships - Seniors @ FH

Friday, November 25

• Thursday / Gr. 9 Band Concert @ 12:15 in the small gym
• Alpha Meeting @ 12:15pm
• Yukon Championships - Seniors @ FH

Please do not hesitate to call the school at 667-5901 if you have any questions or concerns.

Blessings,

The St. Francis of Assisi Admin Team,
​
Alethea Wallace, A/Principal; Mia Ouellette, A/Vice-Principal; Janet Clarke, A/Vice Principal

At this website, go to the Portal tab on the far right.
Click on “login” from the drop-down choices.  
Enter the student number followed by yesnet.yk.ca ie: 936452@yesnet.yk.ca 
If your student has forgotten their student number, call the school @ 667-5901 or email  janet.clarke@yesnet.yk.ca 

If your student is in grade 8 and went to CKES, their password is lime (Hanscombe) or kiwi (Mr. D). If your child went to Holy Family, the password is LastChance. 

If your student is in grade 9 to 12, they chose their own password. If they have forgotten this password, contact the school to have it reset @ 667-5901 or email  janet.clarke@yesnet.yk.ca 

All your student’s Class tiles will appear. This is the place that teachers post assignments, exam dates, and other important class information. 

Encourage your student to check Teams daily to stay on top of their work. ​