From the Associate Principal

This article includes information regarding:

• Class Schedules
• AP Exams
• Pre-Administration Session
• Exam Schedule
• Semester Courses
• Textbook List
• Summer Reading
• Panetta Institute Student Lecture Series
• Academic Awards Assembly - Thursday, May 17
• Online Classes
• Study Day - Saturday, May 19 from 9am-12pm
• Semester Exams - Tuesday, May 22 - Thursday, May 24
• Baccalaureate Mass - Friday, May 25
• Graduation - Saturday, May 26
• Fun Photos

Final exams are approaching quickly!  Make sure your student begins to look ahead...not to summer just yet, but to finals.  Spending time to review the quizzes and tests and ensuring the content has been learned is tremendously helpful.

Students’ Schedules will be distributed before dismissal in May.  The textbook list will also be provided in late May or early June

AP EXAMS - May 7th - May 18th - All students who have signed up to take AP Exams must report to the Heritage Room (B4) for their exam at the time listed below.  Check with your AP teachers, Ms. Eagleson, or Mrs. Gutierrez if you any questions regarding the format and timing of your particular test.  

Make sure to:

• Get as much sleep as possible the night(s) before the exam(s)
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Arrive early
• Bring pens (2 blue or black of the same color)
• Bring pencils (3-4 sharpened #2)
• Pack a snack and something to drink
• Plan ahead - you will need to leave your backpack and phone quite a distance away, so have what you need from your backpack with you
• ATTEND the Pre-Exam Meeting to complete your contact info on all the exam paperwork
• Wednesday, May 2nd from 2:45-3:30 PM
• Bring your student ID and TWO #2 pencils
• Know your social security number if you use it on your College Board paperwork

The exam schedule is as follows:

Week #1 - May 7th - May 11th

Monday, May 7th - AP Chemistry  (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Tuesday, May 8th - AP Spanish Language (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Wednesday, May 9th - AP English Literature  (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Thursday, May 10th - AP US Government  (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Thursday, May 10th - AP Chinese  (arrive by 11:45 AM)

Friday, May 11th - AP US History  (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Friday, May 11th - LAST DAY TO SUBMIT AP STUDIO ART PORTFOLIO

Week #2 - May 14th - May 18th

Monday, May 14th - AP Biology  (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Tuesday, May 15th - AP Calculus AB and BC (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Wednesday, May 16th - AP English Language  (arrive by 7:45 AM)

Wednesday, May 16th - Macroeconomics  (arrive by 11:45 AM)

Semester Courses - Next year multiple departments will offer their courses as semester courses.  

• Semester courses will allow for:
• Student schedules can change at the semester break.  
• Students will be able to choose their courses and the order of the courses
• Additional courses can be added to the list of choices - choices can be thematic and of high interest for young adults
• English Department   2018-2019
• AP Language (11th) and AP Literature (12th) will continue as year long courses.
• All other juniors and seniors will take the same two semester long courses.
• The English teachers are redesigning the upper division courses.
• This summer the English teachers will review and update the freshman and sophomore courses so the entire department is aligned vertically.
• Theology Department 2018-2019
• All freshmen will take a semester of Introduction to Christianity.
• All seniors will take a semester of Christian Values in Today’s World.
• The other six semesters every student will be required to take a semester long Theology course, but the students will be able to rank their course choices.

The 2018-2019 booklist in nearing finalization.  Families will again be able to utilize ESCO Books for purchase of books or use other online sellers as they so choose.  An optional book exchange will occur in early June.

Summer Reading - In an effort to increase participation and engage the students at a higher level, the English Department has prepared a completely re-envisioned version of a summer reading program. Stay tuned for more information regarding summer reading.

Panetta Institute Student Lecture Series - In March and again in April, Mr. Ausman has coordinated St. Francis students to attend the Panetta Institute Student Lecture.  The theme for the series is Is the American Dream Alive and Well? The topic for April was The American Presidency and the American Dream The Role of Leadership.  The topic in March was Global Crisis and the American Dream America First or America as a World Leader?

AWARDS ASSEMBLY - Thursday, May 17th at 1:00 PM, Borina Athletic Center

The Awards Assembly is time to recognize and celebrate the academic achievements of St. Francis High School students.  Academic departments in conjunction with the St. Francis Administration will identify and celebrate the top student in each course offered at St. Francis. While grades certainly play a factor in these awards, they are not the only determining criteria. Students are also chosen based on their contributions to the classroom, their promotion of the learning environment, and their overall exemplification of the spirit of St. John Bosco.

We will also announce Class of 2018 awards including: Senior Career Achievement awards, Valedictorian, the Sr. Laura Goedken Award, the Dominic Savio Award, and other scholarships and honors during this assembly.

Parents of award recipients will be notified prior to the event.  All parents are welcome to attend. Seating will be somewhat limited for this event and we ask parents and other family members to sit in the bleacher section closest to the doors of the BAC.

The attire for this day will be communicated separately.

ONLINE CLASS END DATE - Thursday, May 17th

All online classes should be completed by this date.  This includes taking the final exam. Any student who is concerned about their online course should discuss the concerns with Mr. Castaneda or Ms. Eagleson ASAP.

STUDY DAY - Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM on campus

All students are encouraged to attend study day!  Students will have the opportunity to work with teachers and fellow classmates to prepare for final exams.  The students of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation are hosting this event. Bagels and hot chocolate are provided along with hourly raffles for students in attendance.

SEMESTER EXAMS - May 22nd - May 24th

Students only need to be present when their exams are occurring, however they may not leave campus and return.  Students on campus who do not have exams occurring must report to the LRC for study hall.

The semester exam schedule will be distributed separately.

Students who are ill or otherwise absent must make up their final exams on Friday, May 25th. Seniors must complete all semester exams prior to graduation.

BACCALAUREATE MASS - Friday, May 25th, 6:30 PM at Our Lady Help of Christians Church

The evening before graduation, the St. Francis community comes together to worship and give thanks for the Class of 2018.  The Liturgy begins at 6:30 PM.  

All those attending Baccalaureate Mass are asked to refrain from taking pictures during the Mass.  Pictures may be taken after Mass in front of Our Lady Help of Christians Church. Seating within the church for family and guests is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

GRADUATION - Saturday, May 26th, 10:00 AM in the Borina Athletic Center

All members of the St. Francis community are welcome to attend this event.  Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Doors will open at 9:30 AM, with no reserve seating allowed prior to 9:30 AM. Parking will be limited. We ask that you carpool as much as possible. Any parking across the street at the church will be limited to the unpaved area behind the Kennedy Center. There are several baptisms happening that same day and the parking lot directly in front of the church needs to be reserved for the parishioners.

Fun Photos - There are so many amazing lessons and activities happening in St. Francis High School classrooms.  Take a look at some of this week’s highlights.

Mrs. Fenker explains the class activity to the Chemistry students.

Mrs. Alonzo demonstrates using a ceramics wheel.

Mr. Ausman has Modern World History class re-enact the D-Day invasion.  

(Those standing are the soldiers who jumped over the sides of the ship.  Those sitting are the ones who tried to walk down the ramp toward the beach and were shot.)

(The students “falling” are those who died because their packs were too heavy to swim with or those who did not know how to swim.)

Seniors in Ms. Hill’s classroom during All School Study.

This week is Quadrilaterals Week in Mr. Falcone’s Honors Geometry class.  One of the activities included building kites. Ashley Raich won the Aviator Award - her kite is the one flying in the first picture.