St. Francis Middle School is still hosting 6th Grade Orientation sessions this week. If you have not attended one, and would like to, here is the link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjR8usNnDcZ1lfiq_-s44ePC_BKUFey1noj9mG-F8Kf65-fQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Please note, today, August 21, the front parking lot is being resurfaced. Please park along the south sidewalk near the Transportation Building. Use the sidewalk to enter Door #1 (front door).
Vote for our own Grady Brunn for the Prep Redzone Preseason 5A Player of the Year in Minnesota.
https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/vote-minnesota-5a-preseason-player-of-the-year/
2023 Fall sports are back in action! #GoSaints
St. Francis Area Schools is committed to providing high-quality education that equips each student with the knowledge and skills they need to reach their full potential. We believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things, and we are committed to providing them with the classes, programming and tools they need to succeed.
However, our district faces significant challenges in meeting these goals as funding for education has not kept pace with the educational needs of our students.
As we prepare for the school year, our district is also looking ahead to the November special election, where district voters will be asked to consider a proposed plan that would provide additional funding for our schools. This funding would allow us to:
• Enhance vocational education and trade programming to prepare students for high-demand careers.
• Expand hands-on learning for STEAM programming.
• Provide supplies and materials across all grade levels.
• Ensure access to up-to-date technology.
• Attract and retain quality staff.
Over the past nine years, our district has reduced our budget by $11 million to deal with a budget shortfall due to inadequate state funding.
St. Francis Area Schools receives $1,347 less funding per student than the state average, placing our school district among the region’s lowest for per pupil funding. Over 70% of school districts in Minnesota rely on voter-approved operating levies to provide additional funding to support the day-to-day operations of schools, including curriculum, materials and supplies, student programming and services, and staff compensation. St. Francis Area Schools does not have a voter-approved operating levy. This means we spend hundreds of dollars less per student than area school districts.
On Tuesday, November 7, St. Francis Area School District voters will consider two ballot questions - a 10-year, $325 per student operating levy and a 10-year, $880,000 annual capital projects levy - to increase funding for our district and provide a strong future for our students, staff and schools.
This is an important community decision. We want residents to have the information they need to learn about our challenges, the proposed plan to address them, and the tax impact on local property owners. We encourage you to explore our new website, www.sfStrongFuture.org, for detailed information about the referendum.
School supply lists are located at the following links:
St. Francis High School: https://sfhs.isd15.org/o/sfhs/page/school-supply-list
St. Francis Middle School: https://sfms.isd15.org/o/sfms/page/school-supply-list
St. Francis Elementary: https://www.isd15.org/o/sfes/page/school-supply-lists-elementary
East Bethel Elementary: https://ebes.isd15.org/o/ebes/page/school-supply-lists-elementary
Cedar Creek Elementary: https://cces.isd15.org/o/cces/page/school-supply-lists-cces
JAZZ BAND REGISTRATION OPEN
Jazz Band registration is now open for 7th and 8th graders. The first rehearsal will be on Monday, September 11th. The registration website can be found here: Jazz Band Registration (https://stfrancis2054a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/?p=2890)
If you have any questions, please contact Band Director: Michael Werner or our Activities Director: Colten LaChance
Volleyball registration is now open for 7th and 8th graders. Please submit your registration forms by Friday, August 25th. The first practice will be on Tuesday, August 29th. The registration website and forms can be found here: Volleyball Registration (https://stfrancis2054a.cf.affinetysolutions.com/?p=2890)
If you have any questions, please contact our Activities Director: Colten LaChance
Dear Parents and Guardians of 2023-24 6th Graders:
At St. Francis Middle School, we are excited to welcome our new 6th graders into our learning community. Starting in August, we will be offering numerous 6th grade orientation sessions for students, parents, and/or guardians. At these meetings we will help you and your student understand what a middle school day looks like, how to be successful as a middle school student, give a tour of our school, and, most importantly, answer your questions.
If you already registered for a session, please do not register again. For those of you who have not, please register for one session by using the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjR8usNnDcZ1lfiq_-s44ePC_BKUFey1noj9mG-F8Kf65-fQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
We are limiting the number of people at each session to make sure we can spend time with each of our students and their parents/guardians.
If you have any questions, please contact me at heidi.critchley@isd15.org or Kayla Buzzel at kayla.buzzell@isd15.org. We look forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Heidi Critchley
SFMS Principal
heidi.critchley@isd15.org
There is an informational meeting for those who are interested in joining the St. Francis High School Debate Team August 3 at 6:30 pm at the SFHS room D221.
The SFHS National Honor Society is sponsoring a blood drive at the St. Francis American Legion July 26 from noon to 6 pm.
Appointments are needed and can be made online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. To make an appointment online, go to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=55070 and select the St. Francis American Legion “SEE TIMES” button.
This blood drive is hosted at:
St Francis American Legion
3073 Bridge Street
Saint Francis, MN 55070
The Summer 2023 Saints News digital version is now available at chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3183/ISD15/3171163/Saints_News_Summer_2023.pdf
The SFHS Marching Band performed today at Valleyfair.
Upcoming performances to catch the marching band are in Blaine, Saturday, June 24 at noon; in Forest Lake, Tuesday, July 4th at 10 am; and in Isanti, Thursday, July 6 at 5pm
Beginning June 20, and continuing through June 30, you may be contacted by the Morris Leatherman Company to complete a survey about St. Francis Area Schools. This survey is authorized by the SFAS School Board and your responses will help determine priorities for a possible operating referendum.
Because this is a research-based survey, you may still be contacted even if you are on a do not call list.
The SFAS District Office Summer Hours are as follows, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The St. Francis Learning Center, Saints Academy, Saints Online graduation ceremony is today at 6 p.m. Doors will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. for the ceremony.
If you are unable to attend in person, the link to watch the graduation live stream is: https://vimeo.com/event/3449982/4835b58a53
The stream is scheduled to go live at 4:45 p.m.
The SFHS media team's final project was to create broadcast and web story about 15 Saints in District 15 who have made a difference from the Class of 2023.
https://youtu.be/Au_Q8TrKWXI
The final edition of SFHS today for the 2022-23 school year is out now! Keep up with all things, St. Francis. You can watch the broadcast here: https://youtu.be/Flz6D1udqcE
The SFHS Art Show is now live (digitally). Check out the student art work at https://jenniferclose.wixsite.com/sfhsartshow
For teens, and businesses looking to hire teens, an online job board is now live for businesses within the St. Francis, Oak Grove, East Bethel, Bethel, Cedar, Nowthen and Crown areas. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/TeenOnlineJobBoard
The latest edition of SFHS today is out now! Keep up with all things, St. Francis. You can watch the broadcast here: https://youtu.be/Pk56Cf25tcg
