Holy Week has names for the five special days in the week, beginning with Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The following day is called Holy Monday when Jesus cursed the fig tree, sent out the merchants from the temple, and responded to those who questioned His authority. On Holy Tuesday, some observe Christ foretelling his own death.

The next day is called Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday, which remembers how Judas arranged the betrayal of Jesus with the chief priests since he was a spy among the disciples of Jesus. Holy Wednesday is then followed by the ‘Triduum’ of Holy Week. Maundy (Holy) Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Deriving its name from a shortened form of the Latin word ‘mandatum’ meaning ‘command,’ Maundy Thursday (also called Holy Thursday) commemorates Christ’s “new commandment” that his disciples love one another as He has loved them (John 13:34). Maundy Thursday also marks the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples, the prediction of His death, His betrayal by Judas Iscariot, and His arrest at the Garden of Gethsemane. Maundy Thursday services also include an act of foot washing, commemorating how Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an act of service preceding His arrest. Good Friday remembers Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, His death sentence, torture, crucifixion, death, and burial. The Triduum of Holy Week concludes with Holy Saturday, the seventh day of the week when Jesus rested in the tomb. On this day, some observe a late-night two-part Easter Vigil service. Jesus’ resurrection on the eighth day, is celebrated as Easter, marking the beginning of the Easter week, and the season of Eastertide.

COVID TESTING UPDATE

Please follow recommended testing protocols for a healthy post-break school environment. We are grateful to have received an adequate number of COVID test kits from the county/state, allowing us to provide each student with a test to take before returning to school after Easter break. Please have your student complete their rapid test no earlier than Sunday, April 24, 2022. If your child/ren has a negative test there is no need to send confirmation to the office. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school site a healthy place to learn. The test kits should have come home with your child/ren today.

CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Please take some time to complete this survey so that we can continue to build on our mission statement and our Catholic Identity. Catholic Identity Survey

Reminders from the School Office:

Absences & Appointments during school:

If your child will be absent, the best way to report this is to email your child’s teacher and cc the school office ([email protected]). Please state the reason for the absence (illness, vacation, etc.) You may also leave a message with the school office before 8:00 and outside of office hours. A medical absence of three (3) or more days requires a note from your child’s physician per the Family Handbook.

For appointments during school hours, please give your child’s teacher and the office advance notice if possible, stating the date and time they will be picked up and if they will be returning to school. A medically excused absence is given for time spent at medical and dental appointments only if dated forms are brought from the doctor or dentist stating the time spent there.

Don’t Forget:

Minimum Day Dismissal 12:30, Thursday, April 14

Dine and Donate-Mooyah Burgers Tuesday, April 19

Easter Break- Friday, April 15-Sunday, April 24, 2022

THE PENNY BATTLE to lift up Haitian Youth a COIN at a time IS HAPPENING – SEND IN THAT CHANGE!!

Penny Battle

Two tubs will be placed in the courtyard starting March 28. One labeled “TK-4” and one labeled “5-8”. Those will be the teams for the competition. Students will place money in the tubs in order to add or take away points from the teams.

Counting the Points

When students bring in coins they will add the “positive points” coins to the bucket with their grades on it. They will add the “negative points” coins to the other bucket.

The team with the most points at the end of the battle wins! LET’S RAISE FUNDS TO HELP SUPPORT HAITI AND HAVE SOME FUN!

Calling all baseball fans!

Our school has worked with the Oakland A’s to access discounted tickets up to 50% off for 27 home games (including Giants, Red Sox, Yankees, and Astros). We have our own link that you can use to purchase tickets and share out with your friends and family. To purchase tickets visit this page here – click on buy discounted tickets and enter in the promo code: SFAFalcons.

In addition to offering a discount on the tickets, the Oakland A’s will also donate $5 per ticket sold back to our school at the end of the season. Obviously with the more tickets bought, the more they donate to the school, so we want this to get to as many people as possible! Please share this link with your friends and family and make sure to bookmark it for each access to purchasing your own tickets!

Dine and Donate

Our next dine and donate is set for Tuesday, April 19th from 12pm-9pm at Mooyah Burgers located in the Sports Basement shopping center across from Heather Farms Park. Address is 1815 Ygnacio Valley Road. Order must be placed through the MOOYAH app and the step by step directions must be followed in order for our school to get a donation.

Sign Up to Volunteer Here: Father-Daughter Dance

Sign Up to Volunteer Here: Mother-Son Bingo Night

Clicking on the image above will take you to the Volunteer Hours document.

Purchase your tickets NOW to the St. Francis of Assisi School Annual Auction & Casino Night on Saturday, May 21! The Auction is our biggest event of the year, and a whole lot of fun! Through bidding on items, making a paddle raise pledge or simply by attending and enjoying the event, you are supporting our school and kids! Join us for a great evening!

Dear Colleagues,

The FACE 44th Annual Gala is only 6 weeks away! It’s very important we have your support for our annual event. The funds received from the FACE Gala allows us to support the students at your school with tuition scholarships. You can help by purchasing tickets, or a table, inviting board members, and parents or give an auction donation. Please also share the FACE Gala on your social media!

We can’t do this without you!

The 44th Annual FACE Gala 2022, “An Evening of Scholarship” is back in person! Please join us on April 23rd, 2022 for dinner, performances, live auction, and tuition pops! To purchase tickets, make a donation, become an Underwriter, or to learn more about our Named Scholarship, please visit our FACE Gala Website.

The FACE Online Auction will open on Wednesday, April 20th at 9:00am and close on April 26th at 6:00pm.

Together, we are making a difference, one student at a time.

If you prefer to make a donation by check, please make it payable to Family Aid-Catholic Education(FACE) and mail it to:

FACE Family Aid-Catholic Education

For gifts of stock, please contact Terri Porter at [email protected].

Do you have something to share via the Falcon Newsletter?

Submit your request here by Monday afternoons.

Our Mission Statement

Inspired by our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, in collaboration with the Parish, community, parents, and students, our school celebrates an environment which is dedicated to providing quality faith-based Catholic education in a safe and nurturing environment for students in grades TK-8. Our value-centered academic programs empower the students with the skills to be faith-filled people, life-long learners and problem solvers, globally responsible citizens, and effective communicators.