October 13, 2014

Dear St. Francis Families,

As the first quarter of the school year nears its end, I am ever reminded of how time gets away from us.  The clock-like patterns of a school year are ceaseless and before we know it, the seasons have changed and we are in a new grading period or semester.  On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration of St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic School, I want to thank each of you for continuing to entrust us with the care and education of your child.  I hope that your child(ren) has had a successful first quarter and more importantly, has had a positive feeling about coming to school each day.

The purpose of this letter is to be transparent and allow you to see where the student/family fees that you pay have been spent or allocated.  The focal point of school purchases is to enhance our school and the programs that we offer.  There have been numerous upgrades to our building over the past two years.  Though attempts are made to keep families informed with school improvements following fundraisers, there are times when we fail to communicate what has been done with the monies collected from the student/family fees.  The intent of this communication is to highlight the advancements that have been made, or are in process, for the 2014-15 school year as a result of student/family fees…….

Health & Safety Fee ($130 per student)

1- School nurse’s salary

2- Access control indoor Pre-K3 room

3- Access control indoor Pre-K4 rooms (2)

4- Access control indoor Pre-K hallway doors

5- Access control exterior Kitchen door

6- Access control exterior Gym door

7- Access control exterior Science lab door

8- Access control exterior Mechanical room door

9- Access control exterior Kindergarten room doors (2)

10- Access control exterior 1st grade room doors (2)

11- Exterior cameras on gymnasium parking lot side (2)

12- Emergency / all-call phone in addition to the one in the front office

*Access control refers to badge entry points that our faculty and staff have, in and around our building.  This eliminates the need for keys and ensures that only proper personnel can enter through access points, thus improving the security and protection of our children.     

Technology Fee ($100 per family)

1- Samsung 11.6” chromebooks for student use (108)

2- Device management licenses for school chromebooks (108)

3- iPearl cases for student chromebooks (108)

4- HP 14” chromebooks for classroom teachers (27)

*With the purchase of 108 chromebooks, we now have a 1 to 1 ratio for all  5th/6th/7th grade students.  We also have a mobile cart of 20 chromebooks that is shared among 3rd/4th/8th grade students.  Additionally, we are in the process of completing a technology grant project (due Nov. 1) that will potentially equip our school with 50 mini-iPads for our primary grades.  

Instructional Material Fee ($75 per student)

1- Harcourt Math textbook series (we are currently in year 3 of a 5 year adoption)

2- Consumable workbooks for students (all subjects)

3- Agenda books for students

4- Homework folders

5- Writing tablets for students

6- Service journals

7- Online books for middle school students in Literature

8- Materials for Science kits & labs

9- Teacher web pages

10- Accelerated Reader books for the school library

*The items from the instructional material fee are pretty standard from year to year.  

Furthermore, the recent Fall Book Fair at our school was one of the most successful we have ever had, generating nearly 9K for Scholastic.  We have two options regarding the amount:

1- Receive 55% of the 9K and be required to purchase items from Scholastic (typically

the items purchased through Scholastic have a tremendous mark-up)

2- Receive 25% of the 9K in cash and have the freedom to spend independently

For the past several years, the Book Fair proceeds have gone toward getting Smart Boards for the classrooms.  Every classroom is now equipped with a Smart Board!  However, we still have needs to be filled that can be compensated through the Book Fair proceeds.  Because Scholastic does not sell Religious books, we are opting to receive 25% in cash and to use that amount to upgrade our selection of Catholic identity books in our school library.  Although we are a Catholic school, we shamefully do not have a very wide selection of this category of books.  Elementary students visit the library on a weekly basis.  Offering them more of these selections will increase the opportunity for them to gain knowledge and understanding of our faith.  Moreover, our non-fiction literature extends as well.

I hope this email clearly articulates some current and upcoming expenditures, and allows you as a tuition-paying parent to understand what is being done with your hard earned dollars.  Once again, thank you for supporting our school and allowing us to continually expand our programs.  The academic formation, spiritual formation, and safety of our children remain pillars of this institution.  May God’s favor and peace reside upon you and your loved ones.