Hello, St. Francis Xavier School Families! We hope you are well and looking forward to a lovely Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.  We wish you and yours a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving! Please join me in this Thanksgiving Prayer:

Father in Heaven, 
Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, 
please look kindly upon us 
and receive our heartfelt gratitude 
in this time of giving thanks.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings 
You have bestowed upon us, 
spiritual and temporal: 
our faith and religious heritage. 
Our food and shelter, 
our health, 
the love we have for one another, 
our family, and friends.

Dear Father, 
in Your infinite generosity, 
please grant us continued grace
 and blessings throughout the coming year.
This we ask in the Name of Jesus, 
Your Son and our Brother.
Amen.

In our Catholic faith, the month of November is dedicated to the souls in Purgatory whose feast is celebrated on November 2.  With the exception of the last two days of November, the entire month of November falls during the Liturgical Season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green.  Green is a symbol of hope and the sprouting seed and arouses our hope of reaping the eternal harvest of Heaven, especially the hope of a glorious Resurrection.  The last portion of the liturgical year represents the time of our pilgrimage to Heaven.  The last Sunday of November marks the beginning of Advent, a time of penance and preparation for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here is a prayer we can say throughout the month of November:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
 

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Thank you so much for your kindness and your generosity. Thanks to YOU, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal are able to provide non-perishable food items to those who are experiencing food insecurity.  “If you lavish your food on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom shall become like midday.”  Isaiah 58:10

Christmas Pageant Ticket Information

Our St. Francis Xavier Christmas Pageant is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14 for Kindergarten through Grade 4 and Grade 8 and Thursday, December 15 for Grades 5 through 8.  Just like last year, tickets for the Pageant will be available on eventbrite on Monday, November 28 at 8:00 a.m.  Each FAMILY can order FOUR tickets for a performance.  Here’s what you need to get your tickets:

 

• Wednesday, December 14–Kindergarten through Grade 4
  • St. Francis Xavier School Christmas Pageant, Kindergarten through Grade 4
  • Password is:  SFXAdvent2022
  • This event goes LIVE on Monday, November 28 at 8:00 a.m.
• Thursday, December 15–Grades 5 through 8
  • St. Francis Xavier School Christmas Pageant, Grades 5 through 8
  •  Password is:  SFXChristmas 2022
  • This event goes LIVE on Monday, November 28 at 8:00 a.m.

 

We look forward to sharing our Christmas joy with you!

Uniform Requirements

All students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 will be required to wear their winter school uniform as outlined below.  Please note there are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE RULES.

Any child who wears makeup to school will have to wash it off immediately upon entering the school.

Please note NAIL POLISH may not be worn at school.  Please be sure it is removed before your child comes to school.  Gel manicures must be removed as well.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Dress Code–Page 22 & 23 in the Parent Student Handbook

The St. Francis Xavier School uniform confirms your attendance at our school and is a symbol of unity within the school community. It minimizes distractions in the learning process. It is important that you take pride in your appearance by wearing your complete uniform, always remembering that by wearing it inside and outside the classroom and the school you are representing the school and your behavior should be a credit to both you and the school community.

The uniform dress code is for Grades K to 8. Each teacher has the authority to enforce the rules listed below. Repeated violations of the code by the student will result in the parent/guardian being contacted and/or the student being sent home.

Uniform items, including approved uniform shoes, may be purchased at Liebman’s, 518 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY, 914-632-2770, Liebman's  Items to be purchased at Liebman’s:

School Uniforms

Winter (November through April)

Girls: K-4 *Winter*
Blue plaid jumper
Long-sleeve or short-sleeve white blouse
Navy blue knee socks/tights
Navy blue cardigan school sweater  NO OTHER COLORS OR HOODIES ARE ALLOWED
Solid navy oxfords or solid black sneakers (including soles) or tie-on shoes.  NO LOGOS, COLORS, ETC.
**No boot type shoes, regardless of color. **

5-8 *Winter*
Blue-checked skirt
White long-sleeve or short-sleeve polo shirt
Blue long-sleeve or short-sleeve polo shirt
Navy blue knee socks/tights
Navy blue cardigan or pullover school sweater  NO OTHER COLORS OR HOODIES ARE ALLOWED.
Solid navy oxfords or mary-janes or solid black sneakers (including soles) or tie-on shoes.  NO LOGOS, COLORS, ETC.
**No boot type shoes, regardless of color. **

Miscellaneous Regulations – Girls:
Only plain white T-shirts may be worn under uniform and must be tucked in.
Uniform shirts must always be tucked into skirts.
ONE small post earring per ear may be worn. Hanging or hoop earrings of any size are NOT permitted.
Cartilage earrings are prohibited.
NO RINGS ALLOWED.
NO BRACELETS ALLOWED.
NO NOVELTY JEWELRY OF ANY KIND.
Only ONE necklace with a religious medal/cross will be allowed. NO OTHER • NECKLACES OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED.
Make-up may NOT be worn.
NO decorative hair accessories – only dark, solid color headbands, clips, etc.
Artificial nails of any kind are NOT permitted.
Nail polish of any kind is NOT permitted.
Skirt length no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
**If the skirt is deemed too short, parents will have one week to lengthen the skirt. No folding or rolling of skirts is permitted. **

These regulations remain in effect even when students are permitted to dress down.

Boys: K-8 *Winter Only Uniform*
Gray slacks (no jeans or Dockers)
Shite shirt or SFX turtleneck
Long sleeve or short sleeve white/blue polo shirt
Vest sweater or plaid tie
Black/white socks (no other color socks are permitted)
Black oxford shoes or solid black sneakers (including soles) or tie-on shoes.  NO LOGOS, COLORS, ETC.
**No boot type shoes, regardless of color. **

Miscellaneous Regulations – Boys:
Only plain white T-shirts may be worn under the uniform.
Uniform shirts MUST be always tucked into pants.
A black belt MUST be worn with the uniform.
Socks must be black or white. NO OTHER COLORS ARE ALLOWED.
Boys are NOT permitted to wear earrings.
NO RINGS OR BRACELETS ARE ALLOWED.
NO NOVELTY JEWELRY OF ANY KIND.
Only ONE necklace with a religious medal/cross will be allowed.
NO OTHER NECKLACES OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED.
These regulations remain in effect even when students are permitted to dress down.

We thank you for ensiuring your child is wearing the proper uniform every day.

Here is a list of events for the upcoming week:

Tuesday, November 22

• K--8 Noon Dismissal
  • In-Personal Parent/Teacher Conferences starting at 12:30 p.m.
• SFX Thanksgiving Mass
  • 9:00 a.m.
  • SFX Church
  • Prepared by Grade 6

Wednesday, November 23, Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25

• ALL SFX Closed–3K, UPK, K–8
  • Happy Thanksgiving

 

Monday, November 28

• Wear Your Christmas Socks Day
  • $5.00 donation per student
• Christmas Pageant Tickets available on eventbrite.

Tuesday, November 29

• K--8 Academic Awards Ceremony
  • SFX Church
  • 2:00 p.m.
  • Parents Welcome!

Wednesday, November 30

• 3K, UPK, K--8–School Closed for Students–ADNY Conference Day

Friday, December 2

• K–8
  • First Friday
    • Mass at 9:00 a.m. sponsored by Grade 5.
      • Parents Welcome
  • Noon Dismissal

Saturday, December 3

• Feast of St. Francis Xavier
• New Altar Installation with Bishop Whalen
  • 4:00 p.m. Mass
  • SFX Church
  • Each SFX student who attends this special Mass in his/her school uniform will receive a special N.U.T. card and the end of Mass.

 

 

Of course, should you have any questions or concerns, please email me at marieoshea@sfxschool.net.  Or call the school office at 718-863-0531; it is always our pleasure to serve you!  God bless you and your family!

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

Uniforms

To purchase SFX uniforms, please go to Liebman’s Uniforms, 518 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801.  Here is the hyperlink:  LIebman's  PLEASE NOTE WE WILL STRICTLY ENFORCE ALL UNIFORM REGULATIONS THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

TENTATIVE School Calendar for the 2022--2023 School Year  

St. Francis Xavier School PARENT TENTATIVE Calendar 2022-2023 SY  Please be sure to check this, as it has been revised.  Please keep in mind we must be flexible going forward, as we may need to change the calendar as events unfold throughout the school year.

COVID Protocols

As you know, COVID protocols have been relaxed.  We look forward to a more normal school experience this year.

Our water fountain will be off limits to all this year, so please ensure your child brings a water bottle to school every day.

Masks are not required, except in the instances outlined in the protocol distributed by the Archdiocese of New York.  Of course, if you wish for your child to wear a mask, that is perfectly acceptable.

Students are not required to get COVID vaccinations.

There will be no social distancing, pods, or cohorts.  We will, as much as safely possible, be back to normal.

Classroom windows and doors will remain open, and ventilation fans will be utilized at all times.

There will be no need for a student to quarantine if he/she is exposed to COVID.  If your child is a close contact with someone who has tested positive, we strongly encourage, but don’t require, him/her to wear a mask.  

If your child is experiencing COVID symptoms, he/she must test.

In the event your child tests positive for COVID, he/she must isolate for five days and may return to school on the sixth day if the symptoms have subsided.  He/she must continue to wear a mask for an additional five days.  If your child tests negative on Day 6 and Day 7, a mask is no longer required.

All the best,
 
Ms. Marie O’Shea
Principal
St. Francis Xavier School—A School You Can Believe In!
marieoshea@sfxschool.net