Parent Connection

Thanksgiving is

a time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider,

whose guidance and care go before us...

and whose love is with us forever.

Thanksgiving is

a time to reflect on the changes,

to remember that we, too, grow and change

from one season of life to another.

Thanksgiving is

a time of changing seasons, when leaves turn golden

in Autumn's wake, and apples are crisp

in the first chill breezes of fall.

Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

As we see the beauty of Autumn,

let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours...

let us think of our families and friends..

and let us give thanks in our hearts.

- Author Unknown

Merry Moose Holiday Shop will be at DeSales Catholic School on December 3rd through December 5th! The shop will offer a variety of gifts and price ranges to suit all your student's shopping needs. Each class will be assigned a date and time to shop during school hours. Cash or checks are gladly accepted. We need a number of volunteers to make this fun shopping event run smoothly, please consider signing up to help!

Sign up to Volunteer Here

Your child should be bringing home an enevlope to help them create their shopping list. If they are shopping for a sibling, please include their age so we can help them find the right gift.

On Election Day, our student voters headed to the polls to make a very important decision…
Which dress-down day would rule them all?

After a close and spirited race, the winner was…
🥁 COMFY CLOTHES DAY! 🥳

So get those fuzzy socks, cozy hoodies, and comfiest outfits ready!
On Monday, December 1st, all students may come to school out of uniform and wrapped in comfort!

11/20 Suzanne Junke

11/21 Michelle Luce

11/22 Nishara Dawes

11/23 Linda Conlin

11/24 Kim Lockie

11/25 Bill Martin

Last call to register for this fun program!

Get ready for the holiday season with a Parent’s Morning Out hosted by DeSales National Junior Honor Society on Saturday, December 6th from 9 - 11:30am. Drop your student(s) off for a fun morning while you shop, wrap, and/or enjoy some time out for brunch or selfcare before the busy holiday season. NJHS members will run some fun, festive games before students enjoy a classic holiday movie.

Who: DeSales students PreK 4 yr old - 4th grade *Limited spots available*

Date: Saturday, December 6th, 2025 Time: 9am - 11:30am

Location: DeSales Catholic School - Use Gym Door Entrance

To sign your child up, please return this form to the Main Office.

Yesterday we held our annual DeSales Turkey Trot, and what a beautiful day it was! Our students enjoyed a lively fun run in the November sunshine, making memories and sharing lots of smiles along the way.

A special thank you to our amazing volunteers, the parents who joined us on the run, The Veggie Van, Niagara County Sheriffs and of course Mrs. Connie Hornquist for organizing this wonderful event. We’re grateful for all who helped make this morning so special for our school community!

Congratulations to our winners:

Grades 6-8

Noah Oliveri, Joseph Morello & Jonathan Cordle

Lucy Gaskill, Elizabeth Madow & Annie McCabe

Grades 3-5

Cameron Grabowski, Jack Stockton, RJ Lockie

Arianna Haseley, Adalynn Reynolds & Vivianne Bonville

Grades K-2

Sam Wizner. Logan Falk & Max Manning

Alice Pittman, Amelia Reynolds, Savannah Saxton & Astra Denman

Dear Families,

The National Junior Honor Society is pleased to announce a clothing drive to benefit the Salvation Army. We are collecting new underwear, socks, pajamas, as well as gently used clothing items. Your generous donations can be sent into school and will help provide essential clothing to those in need within our own Lockport community. The last day to donate is December 5th.

Thank you for your support and generosity.

Sincerely,

National Junior Honor Society Members

Celebrate the season with a fun night out!! Please return your RSVP and payment to DeSales no later than December 5th.

Click here to print an RSVP Form

The next HSA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9th at 6:30pm in the DeSales Cafeteria.

Just for attending, your child (grades K thorugh 8) will earn a free dress down day and you will be entered to win a gift card! Earn extra entries by bringing a donation for our Annual Spring Auction - anything new goes! (bottles of wine, gift cards you won't use, new toys, kitchen items, beauty items etc)

No babysitter? No problem! We will have a few quiet activities for children to play.

Our Musical Director, Ms. Madison Long, has uploaded several behind-the-scenes videos from our Newsies, Jr. rehearsals! 🎬✨

Check them out on YouTube using the link below — you won’t want to miss these talented performers in action!

📅 Catch the full production live on stage at the Historic Palace Theatre on January 30th & 31st (tickets will go on sale in early January)!
Get ready to “Seize the Day!” 📰✨

December breakfast menu

December lunch menu

Lunch extras are available daily. To review the prices of these extras, please review this page.

Please note there has been a change to the DeSales School Calendar. There will be no school for students on Wednesday, November 4th for Parent Teacher Conferences.

In July 2023, DeSales Catholic School was granted the status of Candidate for Accreditation by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA).

The MSA accreditation process helps schools, and essentially students, continuously grow and improve.

What is MSA?

The Middle States Association is a worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 125 years, the Middle States accreditation process has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development and advance student achievement.

The Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association accredited early-childhood through post-secondary, non-degree granting public, private, faith-based educational institutions including special purpose schools, and learning services providers.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a self-evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards. The standards examine schools in a holistic way, supplementing student-testing data to provide a more complete measure of a school’s performance and chart a strategic and realistic course for continuous school improvement.

The MSA Standards for Accreditation

When it comes to evaluating schools and school systems, the Middle States Association looks at the whole school- not just test scores. We realize that improving outcomes requires a comprehensive approach. When we assess whether a school should be accredited we look at how the school performs in MSA’s accreditation process and evaluate your institution holistically, focusing on five core areas that ensure excellence and continuous growth. These are:

● Foundations: Align your mission, core values, and goals with the needs of your school community to create a clear vision for success.

● Governance and Organization: Establish effective leadership, governance structures, and policies to guide decision-making and promote ethical practices.

● Student Well-Being: Create a safe, inclusive environment that prioritizes the physical, emotional, and social development of all students.

● Resources: Optimize financial, human, and physical resources to ensure sustainability and support for educational goals.

● Teaching and Learning: Deliver a rigorous, mission-aligned curriculum that promotes student achievement and prepares learners for future success.

To learn more about The Middle States Association, visit: https://www.msa-cess.org

Vision Statement

• DeSales students will be well-equipped to successfully meet the challenges of modern day society with faith, dignity and integrity.

Mission Statement

• Is a center of excellence that inspires individual students to reach their greatest potential inside and outside the classroom.

• Is a nurturing community dedicated to advancing the highest academic standards and an exceptional faith-based education rooted in the values of love, compassion, mercy, sacrifice and justice as taught by St. Francis DeSales.

• Provides students with the fundamental building blocks to be innovative, critical-thinkers, and responsible future leaders.

Email: Knuutilak@desalescatholicschool.org
Website: http://www.desalescatholicschool.org/
Location: 6914 Chestnut Ridge Road, Lockport, NY, USA
Phone: (716)433-6422
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeSalesCatholicSchool