The Weekly Howl

It was wonderful to have all the students back this past week at SFCS! Everyone seems to be back into the routine and ready to have a successful 2019! In this edition of the Howl there are many pictures of our winter sports program. We are in the height of basketball and cheer seasons. Check out the schedule below and come and see our Wolves in action. Also don't forget to stop by the concession stand :)

You will see on the schedule that we will be dismissing the students a little earlier on Friday at 2:30pm. We ask that you pick your child up at that time. If you cannot pick up your child at that time then please let the office know and they will go to Extended Care free of charge until 3:15pm. If you pick up your child after 3:15pm then the regular policies of Extended Care will apply and you will be charged for the day.

We are dismissing early so the many school families and faculty members that wish to attend the funeral for Mr. Tom Brino can do so. Tom Brino was a long time member and volunteer of the St. Francis School Board. Tom's son Christopher graduated last year and his wife Jackie worked for many years on the FSA to build the Gala to the successful fundraiser that it is today. People who knew Tom had the blessing to encounter and experience his warm and kind heart. When you met Tom you instantly knew you had made a new friend. Our prayers are with the Brino Family. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding in regards to the earlier dismissal on Friday.

MAP Testing will continue next week. Please review the schedule below to see when your child(ren) will be testing. We also have our next Spirit Day on Thursday. Students may bring 2 dollars or 2 canned goods to wear Spirit Wear for the day. Also come out to Chick--fil-A between 5:30 - 7:30pm for dinner and some fellowship that night. Canned goods will be donated to the Sharing-Thy-Bounty Ministry and any monies collected got to support student activities.

It is also Gala planning time. Its time to bring in your donations and purchase your sponsorship. More information is below. If you have any questions feel free to contact the school or email gala@sfcshhi.com.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Sincerely in Christ,

Brian Pope

Principal

Sunday, January 13th

• The Baptism of the Lord
• 2:00 - 3:00pm: Family Rally for Life at Thrift Shop
• 4:00 - 5:30pm: Youth Group

Monday, January 14th

• 8:00 - 9:00am: MAP Testing 5th grade
• 10:00 - 11:30am: MAP Testing 3rd grade
• 3:00pm: Cheer Practice (Playground) 5:00pm Performance
• 3:00 - 3:30pm: Spirit Club
• 3:15pm: FSA - Family Faith Formation Meeting
• 4:00pm: Girls (Jr.) Basketball Game (Home) vs. SGGCS
• 5:00pm: Boys (Jr.) Basketball Game (Home) vs. SGGCS
• 6:15 - 7:15pm: (Sr.) Boys Practice

Tuesday, January 15th

• End of 2nd Quarter
• 7:30am: STARS
• 8:00 - 10:30am: MAP Testing 5th, 2nd & 4th grades
• 12:00 - 1:30pm: MAP Testing Kindergarten
• 3:00 - 4:30pm: Baking Club (Group A)
• 3:15pm: Girls (Jr.) Basketball Practice
• 4:00pm: Girls (Sr.) Basketball Away vs. Cross Schools
• 4:30pm: Boys (Jr.) Basketball Practice
• 5:00pm: Boys (Sr.) Basketball Away vs. Cross Schools

Wednesday, January 16th

• 7:45am: Bank in School
• 8:00 - 10:00am: MAP Testing for Middle School
• 10:00am: School Mass (4th grade confession)
• 1:00pm: Sasha the Comfort Dog
• 1:30pm: FSA Board Meeting
• 2:30pm: Gala Committee Meeting
• 3:15pm: Girls (Sr.) Basketball Practice
• 4:30pm: Boys (Sr.) Basketball Practice
• 5:00pm: Girls (Jr.) Basketball Game Away at Cross Schools
• 6:00pm: Boys (Jr.) Basketball Game Away at Cross Schools
• 6:00 - 8:00pm: Youth Group

Thursday, January 17th

• Memorial of St. Anthony
• Happy Birthday Ms. Bergreen!!!
• Spirit Day
• 7:30am: STARS
• 8:00 - 10:30am: MAP Testing for K, 3rd & 5th Grades
• 4:00pm: Girls (Jr.) Basketball Game Away at HHCA
  
• 4:00pm: Girls (Sr.) Basketball Game Away at JPII vs. JPII 2
• 5:00pm: Boys (Jr.) Basketball Game Away at HHCA
• 5:00pm: Boys (Sr.) Basketball Game Away at JPII vs. JPII 2
• 5:30 - 7:30pm: Chick-fil-A Spirit Night

Friday, January 18th

• 7:55am: Parents in Prayer
• 8:00 - 10:00am: MAP Testing for Middle School
• 8:30 - 10:30am: K & 1st Grade Field Trip to HHIHS for Snow White production
• 1:30pm: Geography Bee
• 2:30pm: Early Dismissal
• 3:00pm: Tom Brino's Funeral in the Church
• 3:15pm: Girls (Jr.) Basketball Practice (Cancelled)
• 2:30 - 4:00pm: Boys (Jr.) Basketball Practice

Saturday, January 19th

• 6:00pm: Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner

Upcoming Events

• 1/21 - School Closed - MLK Day
• 1/23 - Report Cards Emailed Home
• 1/23 - Faculty Meeting
• 1/25 - PreK & K Parent Social
• 1/27 - 9:00am: Catholic Schools Week Mass
• 1/27 - 2/2: Catholic Schools Week

The PreK had a great week back starting to learn their Sight Words, practicing handwriting and embracing their creative building skills in the centers! They also got to investigate an exoskeleton from one of their horseshoe crabs!

The Kindergarten students were working hard on their handwriting and sentences this week.

The Second Grade students had a special visitor this week: Bill Dengler. He is a Hilton Head High School graduate and a freshmen at Swarthmore in PA. He is a computer whiz, a wonderful speaker, and a most entertaining guest. Bill also happens to be blind since birth. His enthusiasm and positive attitude was most inspiring for all of us. And Bill left the class with this thought: “Never give up and never let anyone tell you that you can’t follow your dream!"

4th grade is magnetic now! The 4th grade students are investigating how magnetism and electricity work in science.

The 5th graders are studying the body systems. They built models of the different body systems during center time. Another center students were working on this week was a math center called Let’s Go Shopping.

The 5th grade took some time out of their busy schedule this week to assist the volunteers of the Back Back Buddy Ministry.

Check out the Seat of Success recipients in Middle School Social Studies. All these students show a great love of learning, set high expectations for themselves, and use great manners and kindness to everyone.

January is square dancing month in Music! Check out the pictures of the PreK and 2nd graders below. Also check out the video of the 8th Grade learning a new dance. How fun!!!

In addition to the paperwork sent out over the break, and again this morning please remember to make your hotel reservations. Aiken is very busy this particular weekend with at least one other large group in town. Therefore, finding a large group of rooms in Aiken was very challenging. While you are free to stay anywhere you prefer, we have secured 40+ rooms at the TownePlace Suites. This is next door to the hotel we stayed at the last time we were in Aiken. We have been told that when these rooms run out there are NO more rooms at the hotel for us to add.

The information and booking link are below. Two important things to remember.

1. PLEASE help out and utilize the KING rooms (with pullout sofa) as much as possible as are far more of those available than the double queen rooms.

2. All reservation need to be made by Jan 20th and on the 21st they will charge a full deposit for your stay. They will not allow any changes after the 21st.

Location:

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Aiken Whiskey Road / Address: 1008 Monterey Dr, Aiken, SC 29803

Room Rates:

For the basketball tournament February 22 and 23rd, $139 + tax, per night for King-bed Studio Suites, and $149 + tax, per night for Two-Queen suites. The suites accommodate up to four guests in either a king bed with a full pullout sofa, or two queen beds.

Book your hotel rooms here:

https://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/group-corporate-travel/groupCorp.mi?resLinkData=St.%20Francis%20Hilton%20Head%20Catholic%20School%20Basketball%5EAGSTS%60SMBSMBA%7CSMBSMBB%60139-149%60USD%60false%604%602/22/19%602/24/19%6001/21/2019&app=resvlink&stop_mobi=yes

Hotel Amenities:

TownePlace Suites provides breakfast daily, daily housekeeping service, complimentary guest laundry, fitness center, and a full kitchen in each suite. A select number of pet friendly suites are available.

Hello all pre-k, kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade parents! School family mass is on every 3rd Sunday of the month, at 9 am, (4th Sunday in January and April this year) and we would love to have three families greet our parishioners and visitors as they arrive. Would your family be willing to greet for our school family mass? It is a great opportunity for your children to get the wonderful feeling of service as a part of our school and parish. Please email Suzanne Freisen, middle school social studies teacher, at sfreisen@sfcshhi.comif you are interested. In the subject line, please put the following:

Family name, grade of student, and date you wish to greet. Once all slots are filled, an email will be sent to participating families and one of the three families greeting will be assigned to present the gifts that Sunday as well. Thank you for being a part of a wonderful parish and school community, and a special thank you to the families who volunteered for the first semester! We welcome you to volunteer again!

The dates for school family mass are:

January 27 (Catholic Schools Week-4th Sunday)

February 17

March 17

April 28 (4th Sunday as Easter is the 3rd Sunday)

May 19

Congratulations to the 3rd Grade for winning the 1st semester portion of Guess the Saint activity! The are awarded with a class Pizza Party! We will be starting the 2nd round of competition on Tuesday so check out the bulletin board as you enter the building. The winning class will have an ice cream sundae party!

Did you see the Spirit Club greeting the students this week! What a way to be greeted in the morning!

Sgt. Washington this week visited the school and was able to visit with the Pizza with the Principal recipients and hang out with the PreK!

Did you see the awesome work produced by the Photography Club!!! Check out their pictures in the hallway between the Computer Lab and Library. Also a BIG thank you to the Bolchoz Family for the very generous donation for the club to purchase the software licenses so they can learn how to digitally edit their future pictures. Keep an eye out when the Photography Club will resume this winter!

Thank you Arbor Nature for becoming a Gala Sponsor!!! Check out sponsorship levels below if you are interested in a great way to advertise your business.

Well it is time to start planning for A Night at the Disco!!! This year the FSA's Gala is on March 23rd, 2019 and we are working now in getting sponsors and now donations!

School Donation Drive - 100% Participation

We need your help. This year for the gala we are asking that each family contribute at least one item for the silent auction for the Gala. We are now accepting donations. Once the school gets 75% family participation the students will receive a treat at lunch. Once we reach 88% we will have the Kona Ice truck visit all the students for a Kona Ice. When we reach 100% participation the students (and teachers) will be awarded an afternoon off with Mr. Pope and Mrs. McGlynn hosting a movie matinee with fresh popped popcorn in the gym!!! Students can even bring sleeping bags if they want to! Progress for the Gala Donation Drive can be seen at the bulletin board outside the school office.

Donations will be accepted at the front office. If you have any questions about what to donate or need to contact someone from the Gala committee feel free to email gala@sfcshhi.com.

Ticket sales will begin soon. Keep an eye out for that information which will be communicated soon.

Mark your calendars and join John Paul II Catholic School as we celebrate all First Responders and our current Military and Veterans for two great nights of basketball.

First Responders Night

Tuesday, January 15

vs Thomas Heyward @ JPII

JV Girls 4:00

JV Boys 5:00

Varsity Girls 6:15

Varsity Boys 7:45

Free admission for any first responder and their family

Military Appreciation Night

Friday, January 18 vs Bethesda @ JPII

MS Boys 5:00

JV Boys 6:00

Varsity Boys 7:30

Free admission for any current military family or veteran family

Check out these previous editions of the Howl if you need a document or reminder on any information.

January 5th, 2019

December 22nd, 2018

December 16th, 2018

December 9th, 2018