Great job science fair participants!

St. Francis Xavier School E-Newsletter: March 10, 2017

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Dear Families,

We had a very busy first week back from winter break, but our students were able to get right back into the school routine. Remember that this weekend will be one hour shorter than usual as we need to spring forward with the clocks on Sunday Morning.

Last night we celebrated our annual Science Fair. Our 4th through 8th graders have been working for the past few months to get ready for this night. It was an exciting day as the students presented to judges and an amazing night as the students shared their projects with the public. I am always so impressed when I look out over the room from the stage at the number of family and friends who come to support our students. I want to thank Mrs. Varhue, Mrs. Brandes, and Mrs. Dufresne for all of their work and effort in supporting their students and getting them ready for this big project. Their commitment to excellence sets such a great example for our students and your children always rise to the occasion.

This week we had a change in our staff. Our Spanish teacher, Ms. Elizabeth Caron, has decided to step away from St. Francis to pursue another opportunity. We want to thank her for her work for us over the last two and a half years and her commitment to the Spanish program. I am happy to share that Mrs. Jackie Becker will be stepping in to continue Ms. Elizabeth’s work. Mrs. Becker -- no relation, by the way!-- comes with a wealth of teaching experience and a strong faith. I look forward to the students meeting her and getting to know her.

A week from today we will be at the end of the second trimester and report cards will go home two weeks from today. It is hard to believe we are starting the home stretch of the year. Please know that if you have any concerns about your student at any time, you are welcome to reach out. We will always make time to talk with you about your child’s progress.

Stay warm this weekend!

God Bless,

Eric Becker

,HOME AND SCHOOL UPDATES:

Yearbook: Photos Needed - Please Upload by March 17th
If you have taken photos at a SFX event (with regular camera or cellphone) please upload your photos so we can use them in the yearbook. The yearbook committee will use their best judgement on which photos are selected to go into the yearbook.

To upload your photos, go to our yearbook website: https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/index.asp
Login using the account you created last year or create a new account (you will also use the above link to purchase your yearbook online).
Search for our school by typing: St. Francis Xavier School
Click on the blue "upload photos" button on the left side
Select the photo category you want:
- First Day of School
- International Night
- Christmas Pageant
- Bowl-A-Thon
- Halloween Party
- Science Fair
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
"Select" your photos and "Begin Upload"

Yearbook: Shout Outs for only $5 each!
Put a special message in the yearbook for your favorite student(s). A sample message could read: "Fred and Sue, we're so proud of how hard you worked this year. Love Mom and Dad."

All orders must be turned into Ms. Nancy by April 7th. Click here to access the form: https://goo.gl/forms/2nNIqhUz1uXZ2r4l2

Please follow these steps:

Fill out one form per student.
Before you hit the blue "submit" button, right click and print out each form.
Send all printed forms into school with the correct fee.
Make checks payable to SFX Home and School Association.

Yearbook: Reserve Your Copy Today!
You can now purchase your yearbook online for only $15.00. Once the yearbooks are shipped (beginning of June) you will no longer be able to purchase them online. After June, if we have any books left, they will be for sale for $20. We are only ordering a certain amount of books so reserve your copy today! To buy a yearbook go to: https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/index.asp Login using the account you created last year or create a new account.

Yearbook: Sponsor Pages
It is yearbook time and we are looking for families to sponsor some of the yearbook pages. Please reach out to Emily Richards @ erichards520@gmail.com. You can sponsor a whole page for $100 or a partial page.

Spring Book Fair March 13th - 17th

Monday, March 17th: 12:30 - 3pm & 3pm - 5:30pm
Tuesday, March 14th: 12:30 - 3pm
Thursday, March 16th: 12:30 - 3pm
Friday, March 17th: 3pm - 5:30pm

Mar. 13 - 17:
Scholastic Book Fair

Mar. 17:
Second Trimester Ends

Mar. 24:
Report Cards Go Home

Apr. 13:
Holy Thursday - 1/2 Day

Apr. 14:
Good Friday - No School

Apr. 17:
Easter Monday - No School

Contact Information

Eric Becker
Principal
ebecker@sfxvt.org

Eileen Barendse
Assistant Principal &
Director of Early Education
ebarendse@sfxvt.org

Stacey Zierak
Home and School President
zieraks@comcast.net

Jami Daigle
Home and School VP
mrandmrsd77@yahoo.com

Sue Lajeunesse
Home and School Treasurer
lajeunessefamily@comcast.net

Home and School Secretary
sfx.hs.secretary@gmail.com

If you would like to submit
an article for the weekly
e-newsletter, email sfx.hs.secretary@gmail.com by Wed. at 12pm.

Past E-Newsletters can be found on our website under Parent Resources.

Like Us On Facebook

Home and School is on Facebook!

Catholic Schools: Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is on Facebook

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Do you love to sing? Then you should join our First Communion Choir! $C:\Users\noreen\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\1N1MKY8A\MC900417330[1].wmf$

This choir will sing before Mass and well as lead the music at the Mass, May 7th.

We will be meeting on Mondays right after school until 3:15pm.

Dates for rehearsals:
March 20 & 27
April 3 & 10
May 1st

Where? In the music room. 4th grade – 8th grade are welcome!

Please contact Mrs. Pelchat for more information. See you there!

Letgo Your Mind STEM Programs

Location: Saint Francis Xavier School
Date: August 7-11, 2017
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Discount: $25 off for SFXS students Passcode SFXS2017
Register at www.letgoyourmind.com

Build it BIG: Superstructures, Motorized LEGO Cars & Stop Motion Animation: Ages: 6-9 $310
Become a Master Builder and join us as we create a city of super structures. Using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) principles students will build towers and castles. They will create ways to keep the structures safe from enemy forces by designing hidden walls, trap doors and drawbridges. Children will engineer ways to protect themselves by constructing catapults, battering rams, mobile assault towers and more! Students will use gears and motors to learn about mechanical devices such as levers, wheel and axles, pulleys, inclined planes and screws. In addition students will build and race many types of motorized LEGO cars throughout the week.

In the afternoon, students will build their own mini movie set and create an animated movie using LEGO mini figures and other objects created at camp. The students will also learn how to edit their movies and add titles/credits using Professional Stop Animation software. From your friends at Letgo Your Mind Summer STEM Programs.

Build it BIG: EV3 Robots, Minecraft & Stop Motion Animation: Ages: 9-14 $310
Come and join us as we use engineering concepts to build tall towers and skyscrapers. In this class students will create a city of super structures. They will apply the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) principles and build several versions of EV3 robots that the students will use to navigate through the city and complete numerous missions. The students will learn to examine situations and calculate various solutions to discover ways to solve these missions. They will learn C-based programming and use problem-solving skills to help the robots solve the different challenges. Students will use mine craft to build superstructures and castles filled with traps and defenses to protect them from enemy attack. They will learn how to use Command Blocks/Redstone to create traps and other defenses.

In the afternoon, students will build their own mini movie set and create an animated movie using LEGO mini figures and other objects created at camp. The students will also learn how to edit their movies and add music, narration and titles using Professional Stop Animation software. In addition students will build and race many types of motorized LEGO cars throughout the week. From your friends at Letgo Your Mind Summer STEM Programs.

SPORTS NEWS:
7th/8th Grade Girls
The 7/8 Girls lost a tough game to a very good St. Pius team on Sunday. The team played hard throughout the game creating high percentage scoring chances and playing great defense. Anna was strong on the boards, boxing out taller girls and grabbing several rebounds leading to fast break opportunities. Mel was stifling on defense creating many turnovers and frustrating the opposition. Larissa dropped in a three points to lead all scorers. Ashleigh, Anna, and Mel each had two points, and Cassidy rounded out the scoring connecting on one of two free throws.

5th Grade Boys
On February 26, 2017 at 3pm, the St. Francis 5th grade boys took on Christ the King in a pre-vacation match up. In a close competition the whole way, SFX fought a hard battle eventually falling short 24 – 19. Dallas St. Peter led the team with 10 points (making 6 of 8 free throws), Caleb Kruger with a BREAK-OUT game scoring 2 baskets and going 1 for 2 at the line (his first points of the season)! Coleton Merchant added 4 points and 6 rebounds for the cause. Other tally marks included 2 rebounds for Colton Fay, and 1 rebound recorded for Elijah Wood, Shane Mobley, and Stosh Zuk. Missing for the game were: John Ahonen, Owen Messineo, Mason Griffiths, and Sam Parris.

Last Sunday, March 5th, the SFX 5th boys’ team faced off against Mater Christi at 2pm at EMS to conclude the regular season. After losses to this team earlier in the season of 21 and 16 points, most would think a victory would be out of reach. However, the scrappy squad of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders went into the 4th quarter with a one point lead! This was the result of an 11-point 3rd quarter for SFX. Regrettably, the young squad was unable to continue the torrid pace and only managed 1 point in the closing quarter, falling in the end 25 – 18. Dallas St. Peter ended with 9 points including a 3-pointer during the 3rd quarter rally. Owen Messineo dropped in 5 points including a free throw in the final session. Coleton Merchant (4th grade) was a beast in the paint and on the boards scoring 2 points and almost completing a 3-point play in the 3rd quarter. Samuel Parris finished out the scoring with a 2-point bucket (also in the 3rd quarter). Some other outstanding plays to be noted included steals by Caleb Kruger and Shane Mobley, a rebound-assist by Elijah Wood, and solo rebounds from Stosh Zuk and Colton Fay. Missing from the game: John Ahonen and Mason Griffiths.

Play-offs come next…. LET”S GO SFX 5!!!!!

6th Grade Boys
It was the last regular season game and we won! We are sad it is almost over! The boys played Christ The King, the final score was 41-18. Carter Blanchard had 17 points; Seth Richards had 10 points; Jaidyn LaFond had 6 points; Luke St. Peter, Logan Rivait, Ayden Johnson, and Seneca Duroscher, all had 2 points each. We are ready for playoffs. Come out and support our SFX teams!!

7th Grade Boys
Boys 7 team defeated Mater Christi B 32-20 to record first win of the season. Inspired team effort led by Kayden Burke 15 points, Michael Stockbridge 6 points, Imanni Mbayu 5 points, Josh Reil 4 points, Xavier Hess 2 points. Team receives #8 seed for the upcoming CYO State Tournament, they will meet Mater Christi A in the quarter final round, Saturday March 11^th 10:30 at Winooski High School.

8th Grade Boys
Boys 8 team wraps up regular season with win over St. Albans Catholic 40-12. Carson Corrigan lead the way 8 points, Deon Mitchell 7 points, JJ Stockbridge 6 points, Saladi Mayange 5 points, Chris Prim 4 points, Zachary Roy 4 points, Max Gordon 4 points William Burke 2 points.Team receives #2 seed for the upcoming CYO State Tournament, they will meet Mater Christi B in the quarter final round, Saturday March 11^th 11:30 at Winooski High School.

REMINDERS:

PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING - SFX H&S is still looking for parent volunteers for planned activities/events throughout the school year. Stop by and see Ms. Nancy for the Volunteer Signup Book!
DONATIONS Needed - Snow pant donations needed for Pre-Kindergarten - grade 5.
RETURN to LOST & FOUND - If your student has borrowed items from the lost and found please return them and make sure they are laundered!
CHECK LOST & FOUND - Please check lost and found for lost items!