Parent Connection

Field Day t-shirts are available for purchase for $12 each! Orders will be accepted through the end of the day today, Wednesday, June 11. Shirts will be delivered to the school and sent home with students. Field Day, which is for students in grades 1–8, will take place on Tuesday, June 24. Don’t miss out—order your shirt today!

Order your Field Day Shirt

Dancers: You are welcome to wear your recital t-shirts to school on the Friday before your recital weekend! We know how hard each of you has worked, and we wish you the very best in your upcoming performances. Shine bright and enjoy your moment on stage Knights!

We are proud to announce our newest members of St. Francis Society:

Tessa Pytlik, Katherine Roth, Annie McCabe, Peyton Walk,

Lauren Frank, Delilah Harrer, Avery Tubinis,

Alexa DeFlippo, Lucy Gaskill,

Natalia Giansante & Allie Skrlin.

We are proud of their commitment to service and DeSales. Way to go Knights!

Congratulations to all the students recognized for demonstrating the character trait of optimism! These students were recognized before Mass this morning by Principal Rahill. Way to go Knights!

Congratulations to the newest members of the St. Francis de Sales Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society!

Rudy Brouillette, Jonathan Cordle, Evelyn Couturier, Alexa DeFlippo,

Skye Farmer, Ella Fritz, Lucy Gaskill, Brynn Mazurek, Avery Miller,

Joseph Morello, Zachary Parent, Cecelia Ramos, Katherine Roth, Gia Scapelliti

Vincenzo Scirto & Kiley-Marie Wozniak.

We are so proud to welcome this outstanding group of students who exemplify the five pillars of NJHS: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Citizenship, and Character.

On Friday, June 20th our friends at Aramark, our cafeteria food service provider, will be providing a free pizza lunch for all students, faculty & staff.

Now that spring sports are wrapping up, please return your child's jersey to Mrs. Hornquist in a bag labled with their name. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Connie Hornquist

Graduation Breakfast will be held on Thursday, June 26th at 8:30am. Please RSVP with your number of guests for breakfast by submitting your form to the Main Office or by emailing Mrs. Knuutila.

Friday, June 20th, students may dress down out of uniform for $1. All proceeds from this dress down will benifit Wild Kritters of Niagara County.Wild Kritters are a rehabilitation organization who rehabilitae injured and orphaned wildlife in Niagara county. Their goal is to get the animals back into the wild healthy as soon as possible.

Our parent organization, the DeSales HSA has an opening for the role of Vice-President for the 2025-2026 school-year. If two people are interested, they will consider having co-Vice Presidents. If you are interested in learning more about what this role entails, please contact Principal Rahill. or Mrs. Knuutila

Field Day for Grades 1-5 will take place this year on Tuesday, June 24. We have a lot of fun activities planned this year including a fun inflatable obstacle course and dunk tank to name a few! Each child will be provided lunch which will include 2 slices of pizza, a watermelon slice, and a drink box. The cafeteria will not be open for service, but children may bring a bagged lunch if preferred. Please send your child to school with sneakers, applied sunscreen, and a water bottle. In order to make this a fun day for all, please consider volunteering.

Field Day Volunteer Sign Up (Grades 1-5)

Grades 6-8 will be spending Tuesday, June 24 at the Lockport Country Club! They will have access to the pool as well as lawn games. Volunteers are needed to help supervise all the activities and pool area. You do not have to be Virtus trained to volunteer but it is preferred. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Middle School Field Day Volunteer Sign Up (Grades 6, 7, 8)

Please use the link below for information regarding the required summer reading for students entering grades 5-8.

Summer Reading Lists For Students Entering Grades 5-8

June Breakfast Menu

June Lunch Menu

*Please note: June 16th menu is now being served on June 23rd, and June 23rd will now be served on June 16th. *

Keep your child on track with summer learning! Each hour session will include math, reading, and writing instruction!

Starting in July on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00-3:00!

For more information, please contact Miss Blackley at blackleyr@desalescatholicschool.org ! Each hour session is $35.

Led by DeSales 5th grade teachers, Mrs. Mazurek & Mrs. Dingman, this program is designed to encourage and help DeSales students get a “jump” start for 5th grade, focusing on skills and strategies needed to succeed. There will be an hour of math instruction and an hour of ELA instruction to get a head start on 5th grade. For more information, please click here.

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.

Summer is the perfect time for children to explore new worlds, spark their imaginations, and strengthen their reading skills. That’s why Senator Ortt is proud to support the 2025 Summer Reading Program, themed “Color our World: Colorea Nuestro Mundo. This free program encourages children of all ages to read for fun and discovery all summer long.

How It Works:
Participating students can visit www.nyread.com to complete a reading log to track their progress throughout the summer. All children who submit their completed reading form by August 22, 2025, will receive an official Summer Reading Certificate from Senator Ortt, recognizing their dedication and achievement.

Why Participate?

• Supports families and educators in promoting literacy at home
• Helps prevent the “summer slide” and keeps students engaged
• Encourages a lifelong love of books and learning
• Offers a fun and meaningful way to spend summer break

Get Involved:
Teachers and librarians are encouraged to promote the program in their communities. You can request free promotional materials including flyers and color in postcards by emailing NYSenateServices@nysenate.gov or calling 518-455-2558.

Learn More:
To find out more about the Summer Reading Program, visit the Senator Ortt official website:
https://my.nysenate.gov/robert-g-ortt

The Start of Something Great!

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