Weekly Letters from the Principal

Dear SFdA Families,

Happy Monday! As we begin November, my heart is full of gratitude for this wonderful community. One of the blessings of Catholic school life is that we get to grow together in so many ways: through prayer, learning, service, and, yes, a whole lot of fall fun!

What a fabulous evening we shared at “Trunk or Treat” and Fall-O-Ween! A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped bring it to life. From the first ideas and planning conversations to the preparations, “decorated trunks” aka tables in the upper room (thank you for pivoting and being so flexible), activities, and helping hands throughout the evening, so many people shared their time and talents. The laughter, smiles, and joy of being together were such a gift. Whether you helped behind the scenes or right in the middle of the festivities, please know how grateful we are. We truly could not have done it without you! What a beautiful example of using the gifts God has given us to bring joy to others.

Dear San Francisco de Asis Families and Friends,

Our San Francisco de Asis Mission Statement: San Francisco de Asis Catholic School provides a culture where all can encounter the living Christ. Through the example of our patron, Saint Francis, and all the saints, we become faithful disciples. We live this by Following Christ and His Church, Acquiring Knowledge, Inspiring Daily Conversion, Taking Responsibility, and Helping Others. Through lifelong learning, we grow closer to Jesus and are guided toward Heaven.

Every day, our children learn something about Jesus through us. They see how we welcome others, respond to difficulties, speak about our faith, and care for those who need help. Today, I invite us to reflect on a shared responsibility: helping our children encounter the living Christ through the way we live.

The joy of learning belongs to all of us, children, and adults alike. As Catholic educators, we continue to learn both for the beauty of discovery and to better meet the needs of every student entrusted to our care. At San Francisco de Asis Catholic School, our goal is to nurture and educate the whole child, supporting each student’s intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional growth. Two recent professional development opportunities helped our teachers deepen this important work.

Dear San Francisco de Asis Catholic School Families,

This week, we celebrate our student altar servers and the beautiful gift of service they offer to God and our parish community. Our students serve at daily Mass, school Mass, weekend Masses, and holy days, assisting our priests and helping our community enter more deeply into worship.

Serving at the altar is a meaningful commitment that encourages reverence, responsibility, and a growing love for the Eucharist. Through their presence and dedication, our altar servers live out our F.A.I.T.H. expectations by Following Christ and His Church, Taking Responsibility, and Helping Others.

We have just finished the first quarter of the school year. This week, we look forward to meeting with you during parent-teacher conferences to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate growth, and identify areas where encouragement and support may be needed.

These conversations strengthen the partnership between home and school. Together, we help our students grow academically, deepen their faith, and develop perseverance to keep trying when learning becomes challenging. Your observations and questions are an important part of that conversation.

This week, as we prepare for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we have a special reason to celebrate. St. Francis is the patron saint of our parish and school. His life helps guide the way we teach our children to pray, care for one another, serve those in need, and give thanks for God’s creation.

One of the things that makes a Catholic school special is that it is more than a place our children come each day for an education. It is a community, and each of us has something to offer that community.

At San Francisco de Asís, we often talk about stewardship as giving of our time, talent, and resources. Sometimes the word stewardship can sound like something big, but most often it happens in very ordinary ways. It is giving an hour of your time, helping with lunch, chaperoning a field trip, coaching a team, supporting a fundraiser, or simply stepping in when an extra set of hands is needed.

It is hard to believe we are already five weeks into the school year!

The first few weeks always seem to fly by. There is so much excitement, a touch of nervousness, new routines, and plenty of things to remember. Five weeks in, things are starting to feel familiar again. Students know where they are going, classrooms have settled into their routines, and we are finding our rhythm as a school community.

The survey link is only available through the Constant Contact sent out on Mon, Sep 7.

As we continue preparing for our WCEA accreditation visit in February 2027, we are asking for your help with an important part of our self-study: our WCEA Parent Survey.

Last spring, we invited families to complete this survey, and we are grateful to those who participated. If you completed the survey last spring, your responses have been received and are already included in this accreditation cycle. You do not need to complete it again. Thank you!