News from St. Francis

Dear St. Francis of Assisi students and families,
 
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
 
Welcome back! It has been a wonderful few days welcoming our students back into the building, and we have had a smooth start to the school year. Our priorities have been focused on ensuring students feel safe and supported, and building a sense of welcoming community within each class. Throughout this year, we will try to email all our families at the start of each week with events and relevant information.
 
Course Changes and Classes
We have been making schedule changes for students to ensure grade requirements and student interests. Most teachers have set up their class in MS Teams and students should be able to access those in the next few days.
 
Parking
A reminder to parents and students regarding parking, morning drop offs and afternoon pickups. The drop off loop is on the north side of the building; the first turn off when travelling on Duke Rd from Lewes Blvd. We are asking everyone to use this location to ensure safety (the staff parking lot is not designed for drop offs). We would also like to remind students to park their cars in the student parking lot. Thank you all for your cooperation in this matter.
 
Attendance Procedures
Attendance in classes is the biggest contributor to student success and we take attendance tracking seriously. It is the responsibility of all Parent/Guardians to inform the office of all excused absences from school. The office will call home for unexcused students missing first block. Automated phone calls are generated to call home for any unexcused absences after the school day has finished.
Please inform the office of any absences by calling 667-5901 and speaking with any office staff, if you call after school hours you can leave a voicemail. Or, if it is more convenient, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
 
Cafeteria
Our cafeteria is closed for this week. If students could bring a lunch from home, that would be great. We will let you know when it is re-opening. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
 
St. Francis Clubs and Athletics
There are so many clubs and sports teams that you can join here at St. Francis. As mentioned in the assembly earlier today, volleyball is just around the corner (9/10 girls vball meet August 29 at lunch in room 13 for example), and some clubs are having their first meetings this week. Keep an eye out for posters in the hallways that will tell you what is happening and where. Details will also be posted on Microsoft teams in the St. Francis Hallway.
 
Grad
The grad website is www.stfrancisgrad.com. Grads, please visit this website to stay informed. Also grad parents, ensure that the school has a current email address for you on file, as that is how most grad related information will be sent out.
 
Student Tutoring
All St. Francis students can receive tutoring from other students for assistance in course work, assignments or organizational skills. The students requesting tutors are self-identified, or identified by their parents or teachers. To receive tutoring the student simply needs to fill in an application in the Skills Room (Room 3).
Students in Grade 10, 11, or 12 can apply to be a tutor. Tutors can earn either service learning hours or an hourly wage. Peer tutors are paid on a graduated scale, which increases with grade level and number of hours tutored. Potential tutors need to come in person to the Skills room and fill in an application. Students will be matched one on one by the Learning Assistance Teachers.
 
X-block
X-block schedules for the first semester will be shared in the next weekly email home, and on the school website. Tomorrow, August 23, x-block is 1.
 
Outstanding school materials
There are many students who have not yet returned textbooks, library resources and English novels which were used last year.  These items remain on a student’s record and may prevent them from having access to new resources.  We ask for your help in having these items returned ASAP.
 
Catholic Education Association of Yukon
CEAY is very pleased to announce that we are sponsoring a public screening at the theatre on Wood Street, in partnership with Yukon Film Society, of the documentary about Mother Teresa.
SUNDAY AUGUST 27 @ 1pm
Mother Teresa: No Greater Love
The film has no rating, but parental guidance for very young children is advised due to images of poverty and illness. Admission is pay-what-you-will.
Mother Teresa is a modern day saint who is universally recognized as a model of charity through her lifetime of dedicated service to the poor. As we are all called to be saints, the witness of St. Teresa of Calcutta is a beautiful example for our own lives and encourages all of us to show the face of Christ to everyone we encounter.
The trailer is available here: https://www.motherteresamovie.com/
We encourage all families in our school community to take advantage of this opportunity to build relationship and understanding through our shared vision of mission. – Katherine Williams, Executive Director
 
Invitation from Bishop Vila
In celebration of the start of this school year, I would like to personally invite you, your staff, parents and students to Holy Mass on Sunday September 10th, 2023, at 10:30am at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Whitehorse. The Mass will be followed by a ‘Beautiful Breakfast’ in the CYO Hall hosted by Sacred Heart Parish. You can find more details about the breakfast closer to the date at sacredheartcathedral.ca.  - Yours in Christ, Bishop Hector Vila.
 
Welcome to Our New and Returning Staff

• Alethea Wallace is Principal this year;
• Mia Ouellette is Vice-Principal;
• Janet Clarke is our Teacher Librarian;
• Michelle Olejarz is our new Religious Education Coordinator;
• Colleen Segriff is our School Counsellor;
• Ben van Klaveren is our Media Teacher;
• Shannon Boyce is joining us as a new Learning Assistance Teacher;
• JD Caudle has returned from leave;
• Rebecca Leslie will be returning from leave;
• Ken Burridge, Sophie Jacques, Nav Chahal, Krista L., and LeeAnne Henderson have returned as Educational Assistants - welcome back!

 
Please do not hesitate to call the school at 667-5901 if you have any questions or concerns. Join us on Instagram @stfrancisyukon.
 
Blessings,
The St. Francis of Assisi Admin Team,
Alethea Wallace, Principal and Mia Ouellette, Vice-Principal