Parent Connection
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Middle School Christmas Dance
DeSales Robotics
🎉🤖 Way to go, DeSales Robotics! 🤖🎉
The DeSales Robotics Team delivered an impressive performance at the VEX Robotics Tournament held at LaSalle this past weekend. Competing against a field of skilled and determined teams, the DeSales students demonstrated focus, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills throughout the event.
Their hard work paid off in a big way. Team Fixit advanced all the way to the finals, ultimately securing an outstanding 4th place overall finish.
Adding to the celebration, Team Robotix67 was honored with the prestigious Judge’s Award, recognizing their perseverance, determination, and consistent effort throughout the tournament.
Come Support the DeSales Robotics Team!
Join us for an exciting home match right here at DeSales as our Robotics Team competes against local schools for a chance to qualify for the State Championship!
Our students have designed, built and coded their own robots to take on this year’s challenge—come cheer them on and see their hard work in action.
Date: Saturday December 13
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM - Teamwork Challenge Matches
Location: DeSales GymOur 8th graders will be selling Pizza and a variety of snacks to benefit the 8th grade trip to Boston.
Bring your school spirit and enjoy a great day of robotics competitions. We hope to see you there!
If you plan on attending Mass or the Christmas sing-along with your student, you may sign them out in their teacher’s classroom following the sing-along. Please allow your child to go with their class at the end of Mass.
If your child's dismissal plans are changed, a note or email must be sent to the Main Office no later than Friday morning.
Early Dismissal - Friday, December 19th
Just a reminder that Friday, December 19th is an early dismissal day.
Early dismissal times are as follows:
K-8 dismisses at 10:50am & Preschool dismisses at 11:30am.
Thank you to everyone who brought in donations for the National Junior Honor Society Salvation Army Clothing Drive! These donations will help people in our community!
Sweet smiles and even sweeter service! 🍪💙
Our Rotary EarlyAct members at DeSales Catholic School proudly showed off just a few of the 42 dozen cookies they collected and donated for the annual Salvation Army dinner.
A huge thank-you to Rotarian Mrs. Maria Biano for leading EarlyAct at DeSales and inspiring our students to serve with joy!
Christmas Spirit Week🎄
Polar Express Pajama Day - Tuesday, December 16th
💫 All Aboard the PJ Train!
All aboard! 🚂✨ Today is Polar Express Pajama Day! Come to school cozy and comfy in your favorite PJs!Grinch Day - Wednesday, December 17th
💚✨ Calling all Whos and Grinches! ✨💚
Today we’re celebrating Grinch Day, so dress up in your best Grinch-inspired outfit, Green clothes, silly smiles, fuzzy scarves, or even a little who-ville sparkle! Let’s make the day Seuss-tastically fun!
Christmas Sweater Day - Thursday, December 18th
🎄✨ It’s Christmas Sweater Day! ✨🎄
Kids can come out of uniform and rock their favorite holiday sweaters: ugly, sparkly, silly, or jingly! Let’s fill the day with festive fun and joyful sweaters of every kind!
Dress UP for Christmas Mass - Friday, December 19th
✨🎄 Dress-Up Day for Christmas Mass! 🎄✨
Students may come out of uniform today and dress in their Christmas best! Let’s celebrate the season with joy, reverence, and a little extra holiday sparkle as we gather for Mass.
January HSA Meeting
The next HSA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 13th 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.
Message for Our DeSales Volunteers - Virtus
We are incredibly grateful for each and every one of our DeSales volunteers. Your time and dedication make a tremendous difference in our school community. The Diocese of Buffalo has informed us that they will begin suspending Virtus accounts for anyone who is three or more bulletins behind by the end of this month. To avoid any interruption in your ability to volunteer, please be sure to stay current with your Virtus readings and bulletin reviews.
We truly appreciate your help and want to ensure you can continue supporting our students and staff without any delays.
Stop Attack on Catholic School Families - Sign the Petition
The New York State Board of Regents is proposing to take away critically important rights from Catholic school parents of children with special needs – while keeping these rights for public school families. Specifically, the proposal would prohibit Catholic and other private school parents from seeking an “impartial hearing” when they have a concern with the implementation of special education services provided to their child by the local public school district. Impartial Hearings have proven essential in ensuring that children get the special education services they need. Denying private school families this right while allowing it for public school parents creates a double standard which is clearly unfair and unacceptable. We urge you to add your name to this petition which urges the NYS Board of Regents to withdraw their proposal.
Cafeteria Menus
Lunch extras are available daily. To review the prices of these extras, please review this page.
Middle States Association Accreditation
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
DeSales Catholic School Vision & Mission Statement
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.
Happening in Our Community
Kenan Winterfest
Winterfest is almost here! Join us December 13 & 14 at the Kenan Center for two days of festive cheer, delicious bites, and holiday shopping with over 60 local vendors, including:
❄ Kaliope's: Shop Baklava, cannolis, and dairy free and gluten free items such as cupcakes, donuts, & more holiday treats for all! Kaliope's is owned and operated by DeSales parent, Kelly Cammarata! Learn more about their delicious offerings here.
DeSales Catholic School
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