St. Francis Weekly Email

St. Francis Update

Week of August 22 to August 26

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
 
Saint Francis of Assisi was a Catholic friar who gave up a life of wealth to live a life of poverty. He developed a deep love of nature and animals during his life, and is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals. In October, we will celebrate the changing of our school name – more details to come in the upcoming weeks!
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].

Grad
The new 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.

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.

Picture Day
School photos are on September 1st and 2nd. More details to come on Monday!

Welcome to Our New and Returning Staff

• Alethea Wallace is Acting Principal this year;
• Mia Ouellette is Acting Vice-Principal;
• Janet Clarke is Acting Vice-Principal and Teacher-Librarian;
• Annie LaFleche is our new Religious Education Coordinator;
• Michelle Olejarz is Scimatics and Information Technology while Mr. Caudle is away;
• Amanda Cann has is back as Learning Assistant Teacher;
• Carrie Kaskiw is back (formerly known as Ms. Spence);
• Meaghann Morrison has also returned (formerly known as Ms. Meadowcroft);
• Ben Craigen has returned from leave;
• Mike Gallant has returned from leave;
• Jolene Campbell is back as our Transitions Teacher and Counsellor;
• Rodelyn Pineda is back as our Financial Administrator; and
• Ben van Klaveren – 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, A/Principal; Mia Ouellette, A/Vice-Principal; Janet Clarke, A/Vice Principal