St. Francis Catholic School Newsletter #28
P.O. Box 22199 Barrigada, Guam 96921 •
Telephone: (671) 789-1270/1351 Fax: (671)
789-3900 • Website: www.sfsguam.com •
P.E.A.C.E. “Preparing Everyone for Academic and Christian Excellence”
From the Desk of the Principal
Mar. 06 - 10, 2017
LOOKING AHEAD
Mon. Mar 06: No Classes – Guam
History & Chamorro Heritage Day
rd
Tues – Fri. Mar. 7-10: 3 Qtr. Exam
Review
rd
Mon – Fri. Mar. 13-17: 3 Qtr. Exams
th
Mon. Mar 20: 4 Qtr. Begins
th
th
Wed. Mar. 22: ACRE Testing 5 & 8
grade
th
Thur. – Fri. Mar 23 – 24: 8 Grade
Grad Pictures, Spring Pictures for all
students (More Info. Forthcoming)
Mon – Thur. Mar 27-30: Chamoru
Week Festivities
Fri. Mar. 31: No Classes – PTC
RENWEB PARENTSWEB
Progress Reports have been
emailed to all parents/guardians.
If you have not received it, please
contact the main office to update
your email address in our
system. You may print a copy
for your record. Announcements
and Newsletters are posted
weekly.
LUNCH MENU
Dear Parents & Guardians:
Earlier this week, I sent a letter home regarding my resignation to retire
after 50 years of service with school children due to health issues. I would
certainly miss these children, the faculty and staff members, and all of you. I
prayed that I would be able to finish this school year, but my cardiologist and two
neurologists have highly recommended that I spend whatever time I have with my
family. I will assist the new school principal for a smooth takeover of the school.
Thank you for your understanding and support to the school.
SFCS-Writing Objectives
Generally, reading fluency is much emphasized by most teachers as
opposed to writing fluency. However, both skills are inseparable. Students could
not just read and let go of writing development. It must be practiced daily. Both
must be stressed simultaneously across the curriculum. The standardized test
called ACT-Aspire tests for writing fluency as opposed to the SAT Testing.
Therefore, in the development of writing fluency, St. Francis Catholic School has
three major objectives in terms of writing fluency:
1.
Students will be able plan what to say in their writing prior to
the actual writing.
2.
Students will be able to write down what their plans are.
3.
Students will be able to review what they have written. The
more students write, the more opportunity for them to review. This objective will
foster students to improve their writing fluency.
No Classes - Please take note of the following day in which St. Francis School
will have no classes.
Date
Monday, March 6, 2017
Event
Observance of Guam History and
Chamoru Heritage Day
Friday, March 31, 2017
Parent-Teacher Conference
(Menu Subject to Change without Notice)
Mon. Mar 06: No Classes – Guam
History & Chamoru Heritage Day
Tues. Mar 07: Rice, Ground Beef
w/cabbage, Fruit, Drink
Wed. Mar 08: Rice, Honey Chicken,
Salad, Fruit, Drink
Thur. Mar 09: Hamburger Sandwich,
Fries, Fruit, Drink
Fri. Mar 10: Rice, Fish Sticks w/Tartar
Sauce, Corn, Fruit, Drink
Quarter Exam & Quarter Exam Review
Date
Activity
March 7-10, 2017
3rd Quarter Reviews
March 13 –17, 2017
3th Quarter Exams
Communication with Parents & School
All faculty members are encouraged by the school to communicate with parents
and guardians in terms of children’s progress in their classroom. Likewise, the
school urges parents and guardians to continue communicating with the
classroom teacher of your child’s academic progress and other matters that may
affect your child’s learning environment. Encourage also your child to talk to you
about what he/she is learning and having difficulty with in school.
Eligibility for Membership into the NJHS Organization
Students in the middle school who have met the first requirement for possible induction into the National Junior Honor
Society will be getting a letter notifying the student of meeting this first requirement. A form will also be given to the respective
student which he/she needs to complete. Should your child get one, please ensure the information is accurate and secure the
necessary signatures of supervising adults of those activities that your child participated, appointed, or hold leadership position.
The information will be reviewed by the faculty council members of the school and will submit to the school principal their
recommendation for either induction or not to be inducted. Your child must meet the criteria set by the NJHS Organization,
which is listed in this form. For more information, please call the school and ask for Ms. Jolynn Roberto who is charged with this
responsibility.
Faith Corner
By: Bill M. Paulino
Question: Is there anything that a Catholic may be forbidden to receive Holy Communion?
Answer: A person who is a Catholic and has received the Sacrament of Holy Communion would have the right to receive our
Blessed Lord not unless there is an imposition or penalty of excommunication has been declared. Secondly, a person may be
forbidden to receive the Blessed Lord if the person continues obstinately to commit grave sin or mortal sin. The Church has the
obligation to inform or advise the person. Canon 915 is clear about this matter. It states, “Those upon whom the penalty of
excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be
admitted to Holy Communion.
Source: Code of Canon Law Annotated, 2nd ed. revised and updated of the 6th Spanish Language Edition
“Kids
are so Lovable”
By: Bill Paulino
Children are just so precious. We can never really tell what is going on in their hearts. Here is an example: An
th
elementary student came up to me and told me that the 4 Commandment of God “is not a simple honor of your parents, but
one must truly love his parents, no matter what the situation may be”. I looked at the child and I said, “Son, you are indeed a
child who understands what it means to be a child! Continue this commitment for the rest of your life”. The child looked at me
and said, “With the grace of God and your prayer and all others, I have no doubt that this would be possible.” Indeed kids are
lovable!
“Chat in Chamoru”
By: Bill M. Paulino
“Chat in Chamoru” can be found on the website, www.learningchamorro.com under the “Schools section - St. Francis School”, Log
on for audio lessons!
Hu li’e hao nigap, Maria, na manayuyuda hao gi bisinu-ta.
(I saw you, Maria, yesterday helping our neighbor.)
Maria: Huggan nai, sa’ manhahatsa si bisinu-ta as Joaquin sade’gani para gima’-niha.
(Yes, because our neighbor, Joaquin, is building a shack for their house.)
Jose:
Maolek nai Maria, lao eskera un yama atension-hu na para un fanayuda.
(Good Maria, but at least you could have called my attention that you
Palabra Siha
were going to help.)
Maria: Hu hasso ha’ enao, lao hu tungo’ ha’ na gof tinane’ hao nigap.
bisinu-ta
our neighbor
(I thought about that, but I knew you were very busy yesterday.)
Jose:
Pues po’lo ya i Sabalu na bai fanayuda gi bisinu-ta.
manhahatsa
to build
(Then, okay, I would help our neighbor on Saturday.)
eskera
at least
Jose:
yama
mention
tinane’
busy or detained
Students’ Writing – From the Class
of
Ms. Doring Jesus
Introduction: One of our major goal is for students to appreciate the development of skills in speaking, listening, and reading
and writing. Last week’s assembly, a couple of middle school students read a section from the Gospel of Matthew 5:13-16.
Students were asked to listen carefully to the passage as part of our prayer. Ms. Doring Jesus, 5 th grade teacher, integrated this
passage into her Language Arts curriculum. As a result of this process, her students wrote the following essays:
I Am the Salt and Light
By: Damian Mafnas
I was made by the hands of God. He is the reason I’m here on earth. I’m the miracle he created for my parents. Gods
message when He put me on earth is that I need to honor His creation. God also wants me to bring people together to rejoice in
His light and love. God said that I am the salt and light of the world, I am like salt in food because I have free will to put my life
in God’s hands. I am also like light because I light the way for those who were taken by darkness. I can be the salt and light of
the world by obeying Gods commandments and by being kind to others but how I can really be the salt and light is by making a
difference in other people’s lives and showing that there are more reasons to believe God is still with them.
I Am the Salt and Light
By: Parisofia Camacho
God created me because He loves me. He made me in his image. I am God’s masterpiece. God wants me to bring His
love to people who need Him. He wants me to help those who do not have faith in Him. Jesus wants me to be the salt of the
world. It’s my job to bring the truth to the world so everyone can know that God loves them. Jesus also says that we are the light
of the world. First, we start out like a small candle lighting the way so people can follow towards God. I can be the salt and light
by helping each other and following the Ten Commandments. I can also help by doing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of
Mercy. We all should be the good example by helping other people who don’t have God in their lives.
I Am the Salt and Light
By: Alana Mesa
God the Father loves me which is why He created me. He is the only reason I’m alive right now. I feel that God wants
me to share His love. He wants me to follow His ten commandments. God wants me to honor, serve, and worship Him. God
created me and put me on this earth because He loves me. He wants me to be the salt and the light of the world. I can be the salt
and the light by setting good examples. I will respect my teachers and everyone else. I will stand up to bullying and donate to the
poor. I will do the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. I will pray for everyone who needs prayers. I will teach others who
don’t have God in their hearts.
I Am the Salt and Light
By: KhiAna Manibusan
I was made by God. God made me because He wanted me to have a life and because He loves me. He gave to my
parents to bring them joy, faith, and love. Without God nothing but darkness would exist. God wants me to live a life of faith
towards Him. I feel He wants me to love and care for everything and everyone He created. God said that I am the salt and light, I
will carry Gods light everywhere I go. I can be the salt of the world by being good and kind to others. I can be the light by
bringing the truth of God to the world so everyone can know that God loves them.
I Am the Salt and Light
By: Abigayle Orallo
God created me to share His love to people. I live my parents, my family, and my friends. I feel that God is telling me
to share His love and the truth. It is my job to bring the truth to the world so that everyone can know that God loves them. I am
the salt and light of the world because I can spread Gods love to all. I can do this by being a good Christian. I can be the salt and
the light by lighting a path to God. I can also be the salt by showering goodness to others by being peaceful and kind.
More of students’ writing will appear in our next bullet. The school prays that you would enjoy our students’ production.
My First Holy Communion Experience
Writings from the Students of the 3rd Grade Class
Mrs. Becky Martinez
On the morning of my First Holy Communion, I was very excited. The day had finally come for me to receive the Body
and Blood of Jesus Christ. As the time got close to meet at church, my family and I got ready and we were on our way. As I
walked into the church and sat on the pews, I felt nervous because there were a lot of people.
Before mass started, my teacher told my friends and I that we were going to be ushers. Walking down the aisle with a
basket to collect donations is fun. My favorite part of the mass was when I received the Body and Blood of Christ. I am very
happy to have Him in my life now.