St. Francis Catholic School Newsletter #15
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
Nov. 21-25, 2016
LOOKING AHEAD
Wed. Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Mass &
Food Drive at 8:30am, Luncheon (FDU)
Thur. – Fri. Nov. 24-25: Thanksgiving
Break
HONOR CHOIR PRACTICES:
WEDNESDAY 3:15pm – 5:30pm
EVERY
HOLIDAY COOKIE ORDERS
Cookie orders can be picked up on
Wednesday, Nov. 23rd no later than
3:00 p.m.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING!!
nd
MINISTRY DRIVE
The 2 grade ministry drive will be on
th
Sunday, November 20 at Chuck E.
Cheese’s from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Come and support your St. Francis
School!
Please see flyer attached!
BUY-YOUR-CHANGE &
FULL DRESS SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Nov. 22: BYC
Wednesday, Nov. 23: FDU or
pilgrim/Indian style.
LUNCH MENU
(Menu Subject to Change without Notice)
Mon. 11/21: Lasagna, Corn, Fruit, Drink
Tues. 11/22: Baked Chicken, Vegetables,
Fruit, Drink
Wed. 11/23: Special Luncheon
Rice, Turkey, Gravy, Ham, Corn Parmesan
Thurs. 11/24: Gobble, Gobble,
Gobble! Happy Thanksgiving!
Fri. 11/25: Thanksgiving Break!
Dear Parents & Guardians:
While waiting for the buses to arrive for students’ departure, I observed a
student doing his homework. I went over to the boy and I said, “Oh, I see you are
doing your homework”. He said to me, “Because when I get home I want to spend
time reading a book and do some studies that I have yet to really understand”. I
said to myself, “This boy makes great sacrifices to achieve academic success”.
As the boy was walking out to the bus, I said to him, “Do you get help
from your teacher?” He said, “Mr. Bill, yes I do, but I cannot just depend upon my
teacher or my parents. I need to do my part because like you said, God has plans
for us and I am accountable in preparing for his plans for me”. This is indeed
heartwarming for me, and all I could think as I was driving home was the word
“sacrifices”, which means we need to put aside things that are not as important
and dwell ourselves in things that really matters in our lives. This boy knew what
really matters in his life.
In closure, I just want to note here, an obstacle that may cause students
from reaching academic excellence. If students wait to do homework nearing due
dates or wait to study or review the day before the test, academic excellence is
compromised. When this becomes a habit, the proclivity is to memorize
information. The problem of this strategy, which many students use, presents the
tendency to the learner to forget information because the brain did not have enough
time to store and process effectively the amount of information in the long-term
memory. When information is processed properly, it is stored and becomes prior
information necessary to learn new information.
Therefore, continue to encourage your child to complete assignments or
homework ahead of time over spending time on screens i.e., watching television or
on Facebook. Students get tempted to say, I will only watch for 15 minutes or just
to check my Facebook and get back to my homework or study. Fifteen minutes may
multiply four times on screen time. This is called “trapping”. When students are
trapped on screens, they lose the amount time for academic learning.
Thanksgiving Break for Students
Students will begin Thanksgiving Break on Thursday, November 24, 2016 and
resume classes on November 28, 2016. The school prays that God will continue
to keep us all safe at all times.
Thanksgiving Mass-Luncheon
Our Thanksgiving Mass is on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 8:30 A.M. at St.
Francis Church. It is full-dress uniform for all students or you may opt to dress
your child in a pilgrim or Indian style for this day. On this day, the school has a
special luncheon for students and parents who wish to join our celebration. The
cost is $5.00 for students and $7.00 for parents and other guests. Please
purchase your luncheon ticket on or before November 21, 2016. Tickets are
available with your child’s teacher. This would help the school prepare for the
number of people eating with us.
Thank you for your support and
understanding.
2nd Quarter Progress Report
Academic Progress Report for 2nd quarter will be sent home through your
child on Friday, November 18, 2016. If you did not receive your child’s progress
report, please do not hesitate to contact the school at 789-1270.
First Confession
First Confession for our First Holy Communicants is scheduled for November 30, 2016. These candidates will receive their First
Holy Communion on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at the 5:00 P.M. Mass here at St. Francis Church. Let us continue to pray for
these children as they move closer to the day they would receive the sacrament.
Fun in the Sun for Fitness & Health
This event is opened for all elementary and middle school children and their families. It will be held at Ipan Beach Park on
Saturday, November 26, 2016 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. All 8th graders who showed up for this event may be credited an hour
of service learning required for graduation.
First Sunday of Advent
The first Sunday of Advent is November 27, 2016. It is a time to prepare our souls to receive our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Our prayers are with you and the entire families of the world during this season of the Church.
“Chat in Chamoru”
By: Bill M. Paulino
Jose
Ai, sa’ matto hao tatte ginen Luta!
(Oh, so you came back from Luta.)
Maria
Hunggan, desdi nigap matto yu’. Gaigi i sini gi kareta-hu ni’ para hagu ni’ hu fahaniyi hao gi ya Luta.
(Yes, I came back since yesterday. The taros that I bought for you in Luta are in my car.)
Jose
Hafa adai na suni ilelek-mu?
(What taro are you talking about?)
Maria
Ai, Jose, dalai hao ya maleffa hao esta! Hagu na’i tumago’ yu’ para bai fahaniyi hao gi ya Luta.
(Oh, Jose, how can you forget so soon! You were the one who asked me to buy you (some taro) in Luta.
Jose
Esta fa’na’an dimasiao amko’ yu’ ya enao na guaha na ti hu hasso.
(I think I’m just too old and that is why sometimes I could not remember.)
Maria
Jose, singkenta anos hao ha’ ya guahu esta sisenta yu’. Debi Jose di un na’kalamten enao i ilu-mu!
Hohoben hao ha’!
Jose, you are only 50 years old and I am 70. Jose, you must get your head to work. You are still young!
Jose
Si Yu’os ma’ase’ adai i che’lu-hu ya bai chagi numa’kalamten i ilu-hu.
(Thank you, my sister, and I will try to let my head work.)
“Chat in Chamoru” can be found on the website, www.learningchamorro.com under the “Schools section - St. Francis School”, Log on
for audio lessons!
“Kids are so Lovable”
By: Bill Paulino
...A PreK child was dropped by Mom here at school. I asked the little one, “Where is God?” The girl
quickly replied “Here at St. Francis School!”
...A man was walking into the entrance of the school and saw his nephew in school uniform for the first
time. He said “Hi” to him and then added, “Oh, I see your school is St. Francis.” Quickly the little boy said
without hesitation “Pray for us!”
...I was making my way to upper elementary and saw a Kindergartener at the door. I said, sweetheart, what
is “nine and eight”? The Kindergartener replied, “It is ninety-eight!”
...I was standing near the counter of our Student Store and a little girl came up to me and showed me an
expired health insurance card and said, “Mr. Bill, can I charge?”
Faith Corner
By: Bill M. Paulino
Question: If a person is going to be baptized, does it require the person with some kind of instruction?
Response: The adult to be baptized must go through catechetical formation. The person has reached the “use of reason” (Canon
97) as opposed to an infant. This requirement is found in Canon 851 Paragraph-1. It states, “an adult who intends to receive
baptism is to be admitted to the catechumenate and, as far as possible, brought through the various stages to sacramental initiation,
in accordance with the rite of initiation as adapted by the Bishops’ Conference and with the particular norms issued by it”. This
Canon encourages the person to be baptized to receive the other sacraments but must meet canonical requirements.
On the other hand, it is very obvious that an infant who is going to be baptized would not be able to go through catechetical
formation. However, the parents take the special role of ensuring that the child is brought up in the teaching of the faith. The
sponsors of the child should also be instructed of the meaning of the sacrament and their roles. Paragrph-2 of Canon 85l sets these
requirements, “the parents of a child who is to be baptized, and those who are to undertake the office of sponsors, are to be suitably
instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attaching to it. The parish priest is to see to it that either he or
others duly prepare the parents, by means of pastoral advice and indeed by communal prayer, bringing a number of families
together and, where possible, visiting them.
Source: Code of Canon Law Annotated, 2nd ed. revised and updated of the 6th Spanish Language Edition
Weekend Events
Don’t forget to come out to Chuck E.
Cheese’s this Sunday to support the 2
grade’s ministry drive fundraiser.
nd
Guam Diabetes Association’s
Fun in the Sun for Fitness & Health Event
next Saturday, November 26, 2016 from 9am
to 2pm at Ipan Beach Park.