St. Francis Xavier School
234 Pleasant Street
South Weymouth, MA 02190
781-335-6868

saintfrancisx@comcast.net

IMPORTANT DATES

Please review the monthly calendar on this web site thoroughly. There are many dates that you will need to mark down on your home calendars regarding "Back to School Nights", Open Houses for Pre Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes, Liturgy Schedule, Early Releases, No School date, Bake Sales, Paperwork that is due, etc.

Also we are asking for parents to please attend the "Back to School Night" that pertains to your child/children's grades. We will be having a total different format this year and we need ALL parents' attendance at this night.

Students in Pre Kindergarten and Kindergarten do not need to attend these evenings, as you have your information sessions at your Open Houses.

STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK

The Student/Parent Handbook contract which is located on the school web site, last page of the handbook, must be turned in on your child/children's first day of school. EACH child must turn in to their individual classroom teacher. Thank you.

START TIME ~ DISMISSAL TIME ~ ABSENCES

Please review in the handbook regarding the changes in start time, filing in time as well as policy on drop off times as well as policy on dismissal time. Please review the REVISED Attendance Policy as well. Thank you.

CHAIR BAGS, ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS AND BIBLES

Please review your child/children's supply lists, posted on web site, regarding monies that may be due on their first day/week. Students in Grades 1 and 4 are all issued a chair bag. These are $10 and we ask that they turn in their monies on the first day of school. Student in Grades 1 purchase their chair bag and it carries them through Grade 3. Grade 4 purchases the larger one and that will carry them through Grade 8. Thank you.

Assignment notebooks are required for students in Grades 4 through 8 and are purchased through the school so the students are all using the same assignment notebook. These are $4 and we ask again for the students to turn this in on their first day of school to their individual classroom teacher. Thank you.

Bibles are required for students in Grades 6 through 8 and are purchased through the school so the students are all using the same. Once purchased in Grade 6 they will continue to use it through Grade 8. These are $15 and we ask that students to make this purchase the first week of school. If your child/children have already purchased or have a sibling that has graduated this past year and no longer uses, they do not need to purchase again. Thank you.

Student in Grade 5 will need to turn in their "paint monies" that is listed on the supply list for Mrs. Bell's Art class. Thank you.

We ask if you could send these monies all in separate envelopes for collection purposes, this is a huge help to the teachers.

MILK ORDERS

Milk order forms are now available on the web site under Monthly bulletin section. These order forms must be turned in by Thursday, September 2 so we may place the yearly order. Also, we ask that you submit individual forms for EACH child to their individual classroom teacher as orders are placed by classroom. Thank you.

EMERGENCY CONTACT FORMS

The Emergency Contact Forms are now available on the web site under Monthly bulletin section. These forms must be turned in the first day of school. Again, these are INDIVIDUAL forms for EACH child.

Please note that we had to add a section for your child/children's ethnic race to the form this year due to state health forms and state academic forms. There are sections in these reports that require us to. We must comply with the state forms each year. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

HOT LUNCHES

Please review the monthly calendar for the hot lunch schedule. The month of September we will ONLY offer Pizza Lunch on Tuesdays. The full lunch program will begin in October. Lunch will now be offered to be purchased all five days. Again, the schedule is on the monthly calendar on the web site.

LUNCH AND LUNCH RECESS PROGRAM

A program that offers us the opportunity to assist our children is the Lunch/Recess Program. It is in place Monday through Friday during the school year from approximately 12:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. for Grades 1 through 8. You may volunteer for one or several days a week. During recess, volunteers provide a safe atmosphere for children, while stationing themselves around the playground. At lunch, the volunteers provide assistance as needed and help clean the tables upon completion of the lunch period. There is a teacher on duty at both recess and lunch, and the volunteers help provide added support. The sign-up sheets will be located downstairs on a table set up in the lobby during the Parent Information Nights. This is an extremely worthwhile program, and we are appreciative of all who volunteer.

If you have any questions about the program or require additional information, please contact Paula Cronan via email at jplcronan@verizon.net.

BAKE SALES

Our bake sales will begin on Wednesday, September 15, starting with Grade 3A. Please review the monthly calendar for your child/children's scheduled date.

MAGAZINE DRIVE

The SFX Magazine Drive will begin on Wednesday, September 15. The students will attend an assembly during the school day and will be bringing home their Magazine Drive packets. Again, please check the school calendar for information on due dates, ending date, etc.

FACULTY RETREAT

There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, September 24 as the faculty will be attending a Fall Retreat.

GOLF CLASSIC

Reminder of the Fall Golf Classic is being held on Monday, September 20, 2010. Please refer to their web site for more information, www.sfxfallclassic.com.

CHESS CLUB

The St. Francis Xavier School Chess Club meets in five week sessions. There are five very important reasons why our children should learn to play chess. These five reasons also apply to real life situations like our daily interaction with one another, business, and leadership. The five reasons are:
1. Planning
2. Analysis - Logical Thinking and Reasoning
3. Decision Making
4. Time Management
5. Independence
Planning
In daily lives we need to plan our activities to give ourselves a chance to succeed in whatever it is we are involved. Without planning we will simply be groping and hoping we succeed. This skill can be learned in chess.
Analysis-Logical Thinking and Reasoning
In our daily lives situations come up that need total logical thinking and reasoning to analyze and understand the situation before the correct conclusion can be drawn. In the game of chess the position changes with every move and therefore logic and reason are constantly used to find a solution to the problem at hand. The game is therefore a good tool, in addition to mathematics, music, languages, and team sports to help our children develop this useful skill at an early age.
Decision Making
Only after a complete analysis of a problem or situation can we come to a reasonable decision. In the game of chess a player analyses the changing positions, draws up a new plan if need be and makes a confident decision about what his/her move will be.

Time Management
There are time management classes to help us manage our time efficiently in many schools today. A young child can learn time management by learning and playing chess.
Independence
Because a Chess player makes a plan, analyzes a situation, confidently makes a decision, and is responsible for his/her actions, it is safe to say that chess also teaches independence.

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PARENT ASSOCIATION

Mission

The Mission of the Parent Association is to support St. Francis Xavier School by coordinating fundraising efforts and to help promote the development of community through the sponsorship of school - related events. It is also a place to help facilitate and encourage volunteerism. All of you who have children enrolled in the school
are considered members.

September 2010

The Saint Francis Xavier Parent Association would like to welcome everyone back for a great school year. We hope everyone had a fun and relaxing summer. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce the philosophy and goals of the parent association. In addition, we would like to extend a warm welcome to all families in the hopes that you will be able to participate and be involved with the association.

We are happy to announce the addition of our two new members of the Parent Association Secretaries Cheryl Leary and Rita Cummings. They will be joining our current Vice Presidents Joan Best and Maura O'Keefe, Treasures Jim and Maryellen Barrett and our new Presidents Loretta Boutin and Kathleen Butler. As you may notice our positions are shared to involve more parents.

Most school systems have some form of parent organization to support the school, raise funds, and sponsor school activities. We are fortunate at St. Francis to have a parent association that is committed to building a supportive community, which encourages parents to come together, in order to establish a positive and healthy environment for our children. We have all chosen St. Francis as the foundation for our children's development. In order to build on this solid foundation, the St. Francis Parent Association needs everyone to be involved.

" The Parent Association Meetings will be scheduled for the 4th Monday of every other month at 7 p.m. in the McShea Auditorium. Parent Association News will be posted on the website.
" Events will be posted on the website.
" Volunteers will have the opportunity to sign up for each event at the Parent Information Nights held on Wednesday September 8th and Thursday September 9th at 7:00pm. Event chair people will make every effort to use all parents that have volunteered.
" Each event will be assigned a parent association board member to provide support and technical assistance as needed.

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Update of Events:
We would like to congratulate the winners of our Spring Raffle 2010

Calendar of Events ~ 2010/2011 School Year
More information will follow each month, in this newsletter, with regard to the events scheduled for the 2010/2011 school year.

Teachers' Luncheon August 31st
Magazine Drive September 15 Kick Off
Coffee Hour September 10
Golf Tournament September 20
Cold Stone Pie Sale October 13 Kick Off
Halloween Dance October 29th
Prize Calendar November Kick Off
Pancake Breakfast November 24
Valentines Dance February 11
Parents' Night Out April TBD
Spring Raffle April 15 Kick Off, drawing in May
Grandparents' Day May 6
Summer Sizzler June 3
Field Day June 13
Teachers' Luncheon June 16

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Magazine Drive kicks off Wednesday, September 15th. Liz Coyte and Prasanthi Wijayanayake are working hard chairing this event. Start your Christmas shopping early.

Coffee Hour is hosted by the Parent Association on Friday September 10th following first liturgy at 10:00 in the McShea Auditorium. This is a great opportunity to meet new families. Stop by for some coffee and munchies. All families are welcome.

SFX Fall Classic Golf Tournament- Monday, September 20, 2010
Scott, Ron and their committee have done a fantastic job organizing this year's golf tournament. Come join the fun and at the same time support our school.
South Shore Country Club
Hingham, MA
8:00 Golf Registration
9:30 Shot Gun Start
12:00 Bowling
1:30 Cocktail Reception
2:30 Dinner, Awards and Raffles
$125 per person
$40 per person for Bowling, Reception, Dinner and Awards if only interested in bowling,
Any questions, please contact Scott O'Keefe at 781-447-3534 or mccsokeefe@comcast.net or Ron Ciccolo at 781-335-7170.

VOLUNTEER SIGN UPS
At the Parents Information Nights September 8th and 9th there will be tables set up in the foyer of the school with sign up sheets for upcoming school events. This is a great way to help support our students and the school. Any amount of time you can give to volunteer is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to a very exciting school year. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact any of the board members.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Butler and Loretta Boutin - Presidents kathleenbutlersfx@comcast.net and loretta.boutin@comcast.net

Joan Best and Maura O'Keefe - Vice Presidents
jeb2767@comcast.net and mccsokeefe@comcast.net

Jim and Maryellen Barrett - Treasurers
jabarrett04@comcast.net and membarrett@yahoo.com

Cheryl Leary and Rita Cummings - Secretaries
cleary223@comcast.net and rcummingssfx@comcast.net

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