Dear St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy Families,

Habemus Papam!

Congratulations and God bless to those children who received First Holy Communion last weekend and this upcoming weekend!

The Apostle John says, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God.” (1 John 4:7) This verse emphasizes the need to love one another without qualification or judgment. The ultimate example of love, aside from the great love of God, is the love a mother (or mother figure) has for a child. When we think of a mother’s love, we think of Mary, who is the perfect example of unconditional love for her child. As a mother, she walked the difficult journey of knowing the suffering and challenges that lay ahead for Jesus as the Son of God. Her great love for Jesus and for God allowed her to maintain the strength and faith needed to raise Him as God intended. This weekend, let’s take a moment to give thanks to all the mothers and mother figures in our lives and wish them a Happy Mother’s Day!

Today was also a truly historic day in the life of our Church and our school, as we paused to witness a moment that will be remembered for generations—the announcement of the first American-born Pope. Our students and staff had the opportunity to stop what they were doing and watch the news together as Pope Leo XIV was introduced to the world. What a beautiful and inspiring reminder of the universality of our Church, and a powerful moment of unity and faith for our community.

During the month of May, a month both named for and dedicated to Mary, our Blessed Mother, we honor her in many ways. One way is by holding a May Crowning, where our second grade students will lead us in this beautiful and reverent celebration. Parents of our 2nd graders are welcome to attend (Tuesday 5/20 at 11:00 AM), yet please note there is limited seating in the back of the church. We ask that parents and families remain seated or standing in the back of the church and refrain from coming up to take photos during the prayer service. At the end of the service, we will invite families forward for pictures of the children.

We are asking that all 2nd grade students come to school dressed in their Communion attire. Please send in a large shirt to wear over their clothing. All students should wear dress shoes. Please also note that May 20th is a ½ day for second grade students.

Dr. Christopher Scharbach
Principal

Next week students in Grades 5 and 8 will take the New York State Science Test on May 12th.

These assessments will be administered on Chromebooks using the computer-based format.

If you have any questions about the upcoming state assessments, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We are all set for our annual Spring Carnival on Friday, May 16th. We are hoping for a sunny day. These are just a few reminders to help everyone have a fun and safe day. All students in Nursery-Grade 5 are asked to bring a $1 in for the Carnival, please send them in with it before Friday morning.

All students in grades N-8 can dress down on Friday. Just a reminder that Dress Down Rules are in effect and that no tank tops, flip flops, or short-shorts are allowed. Lunch will be a regular schedule for grades PK-4 on Friday, and our 5th to 8th grade will eat lunch at 12pm. Snacks can be purchased for $1.00 each. (water bottles, bags of chips, and ices.) Please send your children in with $1 bills to avoid any change.

Finally, just a reminder to our 6th-8th grade students who are helping to run Friday's carnival that the schoolyard will be open at 7:30 am on Friday morning to drop off any materials. All students including our 6th-8th graders are still required to be in homeroom by 7:55 am. The schoolyard will be closed from car traffic please keep this in mind when dropping your children off on Friday. If you can walk, please do so.

Thank you for all your assistance in helping us have a fun day!

Starting on Monday, May 12th students can begin to wear their summer uniforms. Please see below for more information.

This year’s State of the Academy presentation will be held on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00 PM in the Small Hall. We invite all members of our school community to attend this important evening where we will reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and look ahead to the exciting future of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy.

Our Board Members will be sharing detailed updates across several key areas of the Academy’s operations. Topics will include a review of our financial position, updates on facilities improvements and upcoming projects, highlights from our academic programs, and ongoing progress related to our strategic plan, DeSales 115. We will also share updates on enrollment, technology integration, and community engagement initiatives.

This event is a great opportunity to better understand the vision and planning that guide our Academy, and how we continue to remain rooted in our Catholic identity while pursuing excellence in all that we do. We hope you can join us as we celebrate our school’s growth and share the goals that will shape the next chapter in our journey.

On the morning of Tuesday 5/13, the DOH will visit our school to screen our Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st-grade students for vision issues. They will follow up with written notification to those students' families that they screen for a possible vision issue.

On Thursday, May 15th, we will celebrate Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. This special day is a chance for us to recognize the incredible dedication, passion, and care that our teachers, aides, and staff bring to our school community each and every day. We are grateful for their tireless commitment to nurturing the minds and hearts of our students, and we look forward to honoring them with small tokens of appreciation throughout the day.

Just a reminder that next week on Thursday, May 15th the final tuition payment is due for the 2024-2025 school year. We do ask that all tuition arrears are settled over the next few weeks. We will continue the payment schedule of tuition for the 2025-2026 school year from August 2025-May 2026. Any tuition questions please contact our bookkeeper Marguerite Kazalski at mkazalski@stfrancisschoolbh.net.

If any child is transferring from St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy for the 2025-2026 school year, most likely their records will need to be sent to their new school. Please request that as soon as possible yet no later than the end of May as many schools are closed for the summer and ask for that information before we break for summer.

Get ready to dive under the sea and into the world of Bikini Bottom as St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy presents SpongeBob The Musical: Youth Edition on Saturday May 31st at 1:30PM and 6:30pm (Less then 100 tickets remain) and Sunday, June 1st at 2:00 PM (Less then 100 tickets remain). Tickets are on sale now for $5 each and can be purchased by clicking the link below.

We are grateful to NYC Councilwoman Joann Ariola and the Diocese of Brooklyn Superintendent's Office for sponsoring this vibrant and enriching musical theater experience for our students.

Join us for a sponge-tastic adventure that proves the best day ever is the one we make together!

Please save the date of Friday, May 30th for our annual Msgr. Geraghty Golf and Tennis outing. This is a great day to get out on the course and courts to support our great Academy. Tickets and Sponsorships are on sale now by clicking on the link below.

Come and see our brand new online school store. We have some great items with our school name and Franny, our Mascot.

Choose your own designs! These are great items to wear on dress-down days, weekends, Blue and Gold Day, or just around the house.

Great brands (Nike, North Face, Under Armor, Puma, and more) and great quality. All orders are shipped directly to your home.

Friday, May 23rd, students are invited to participate in a $1 Dress Down Day by wearing purple in recognition of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.

Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common genetic diseases, impacting the lungs and digestive system. It occurs when a person inherits two defective CFTR genes – one from each parent. Roughly 1 in 25 people in the U.S. are carriers of a mutated CFTR gene, often without even knowing it.

Let’s raise awareness and show our support by wearing purple Friday 5/23! 💜

Please save the date for Monday May 26th and join the Academy community and Franny our Mascot Franny to march in the Memorial Day Parade. We start the day off with mass at 10am which is followed with a short march to 121st street. We would love to see everyone come out for this special event.

The Class of 2026 (7th graders) will receive their class rings and pins in St. Francis de Sales Church on Tuesday 5/27 at 7pm. A small reception will follow in the Gym. All 7th graders are asked to report to the Gym at 6:40pm.

Please join us on June 4th at 5:30pm for our annual Art Show! Mrs. Troia and Mrs. Mangano and our students have worked tirelessly in preparation for a truly superb art gallery display. We hope to see many of you there.

Members of the Paul Effman Band, please save the date! Tuesday, June 10th at 7pm is our annual St Francis de Sales School Band Spring Concert.

On Wednesday, June 4th at 6pm, we will invite our incoming Nursery parents to join us for the Nursery Information Night. On Monday, June 9th at 6pm, we will be hosting a Pre-K information night followed at 7pm by a Kindergarten Information Night. On both evenings, the early childhood teachers will be sharing all the details of what is in store for children who are entering their early childhood years. Parents will be receiving supply lists and summer ideas during this meeting as well. We hope to see everyone there.

Summer Tech Mini-Chat!

A half-hour webinar focused on trends and tips to assist your family in finding a healthy balance with a live chat to follow!

Friday 6/6 at 9:30am

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81021314889

Tuesday 6/10 at 7pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85827551170

Thursday 6/12 at 12pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83253791405

🎓✨ You're Invited to Celebrate Our Youngest Learners! ✨🎓

Join us at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy as we proudly honor the incredible growth and achievements of our Early Childhood students at their Step-Up Ceremonies!

📍 Location: School Gym
📅 Dates & Times:
👶 Nursery A – Monday, June 16th at 8:30 AM
🌼 Pre-K Step Up – Monday, June 16th at 10:30 AM
🧸 Nursery B – Monday, June 16th at 12:30 PM
🎒 Kindergarten – Tuesday, June 17th at 10:00 AM

Let’s celebrate the joy of learning and the journey ahead for our little ones! 🎉💛

🎉⚾️ SAVE THE DATE: SFDSCA School Spirit Night at the Brooklyn Cyclones! ⚾️🎉

On Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy is hosting a SCHOOL SPIRIT EVENT at Maimonides Park during the Brooklyn Cyclones game! The Cyclones will be taking on the Jersey Shore Blue Claws, with first pitch at 6:40 PM and gates opening at 5:30 PM.

👕🎓 Students, faculty, staff, families, and friends of SFDSCA are all invited to join us for a night of baseball, fun, and school spirit!

🎟️ Tickets are only $20 EACH!
➡️ For every ticket purchased, $2 goes back to support St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy!

💥 Want to upgrade your experience? Choose the $25 ticket option, which includes a Dr. Chris Scharbach and Mr. John O'Brien Bobblehead—part of the Brooklyn Cyclones Catholic Schools Night celebration!

🧢 PLUS: Everyone in attendance will receive a FREE Brooklyn Cyclones hat!

If you have any questions about the event, feel free to reach out to Helen Endall at (718) 634-2775 or via email at hendall@stfrancisschoolbh.net.

🎟️ To purchase tickets, please click the link below:
👉 https://www.gofevo.com/event/Stfranciscsn

Let’s pack the park with SFDS blue and gold spirit! 💙💛

The Last Day of School will be on Monday June 23rd We will celebrate an End of the School Year Mass at 10am which will be followed by an 11am dismissal. All Report Cards will be posted via Email at 11am for Grades 1-7. Any issues please contact the teacher at their email address by Tuesday June 24th.

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy

Asst. Principal: Mrs. Maureen Hayes

Email: admin@stfrancisschoolbh.net
Website: https://stfrancisacademybh.org/
Location: 219 Beach 129 Street Belle Harbor, NY 11694
Phone: (718) 634-2775
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SFDSCA