Wyvern Weekly eNews
Downtown Campus
The Chess Club meets after school.
Downtown Campus Weekly Calendar
Click here for the 2013-14 SFS All-Campus Calendar at a Glance
   
Saturday, January 18th
10:00 a.m. Quick Recall Tournament @ Sacred Heart Academy
1:00 p.m. Boys' Varsity Basketball @ Williamstown
3:00 p.m. Girls' Varsity Basketball vs. Beth Haven

Monday, January 20th
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

Tuesday, January 21st
4:00 p.m. Boys' and Girls' Bowling vs. Manual @ Vernon Lanes

Wednesday, January 22nd
6:00 p.m. Girls' Varsity Basketball vs. Brown (All "A" Tournament @ KCD)
8:00 p.m. Boys' Varsity Basketball vs. Brown (All "A" Tournament @ KCD)
Notes from Suzanne
Suzanne Gorman, 
Head of Downtown Campus
 Head of Downtown Campus
 
A big thanks to our Parent Association for helping make possible the three-day visit this week of Rodney Poole, an educator from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD).  Substance use among adolescents is a problem that is neither new nor easily addressed, so as a School we are committed to this kind of education.  Rodney met with our 9th and 12th graders each once and our 10th and 11th graders twice, in addition to being available for additional discussions with students as desired.  He also had a session with the faculty and staff, and conducted two parent discussion groups.  Thanks to the 30 parents who attended either the morning or evening meetings with Rodney.  

During the meeting with the faculty and staff, Rodney shared a few pieces of promising news from his observations of our students over these past three days:  one, that many St. Francis students say they are not using substances and do not plan to; two, many also talk about the strong bonds they have with their parents and their parents' influence over them; and three, they say they feel supported by the faculty and staff here and know they can talk to us.  These are all very positive signs and we will continue to work with our students and alongside our parents to promote healthy ways of socializing and reducing stress. Look for more information on how to talk to your students about drugs and alcohol from Director of Student Services Terri White in an upcoming Wyvern Weekly. 

Monday marks the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and there are some at-school events planned in honor of the day, which I'll share with you next week.  Enjoy the long weekend!
Athletic Happenings
Tony Butler, Athletic Director
This Week in Wyvern Athletics

Boys' Bowling

The Wyvern boys' bowling team opened the new year with great vigor as we entertained an experienced Eastern team on Wednesday, January 8th.  This would mark the second time this season the Wyverns and the Eagles squared off.  In the initial matchup the Wyverns lost 7-0, but they came into the second matchup ready to compete.   St. Francis' team #1 of Ryan Petiprin (126 & 104), Forrest Wourms (90 & 94), Luca James (158 & 116) and Sam Edwards-Kuhn (185 & 123) won their first game 469-400 with stellar play throughout, but could not mark in the end of their 2nd game and lost by 44 pins, 367-232.   St. Francis team #2 of Nizar Kamar, Jonah Goodman, Charley Drew-Wolak and J.D. Lanier were unlucky as the splits were many and the marks few.  They competed well but fell in both games.  Undaunted, the Wyverns won the first baker game 161 - 118 but fell short in the second 145 - 85. Eastern won the overall pin count and pulled out a 5 - 2 victory. The following Saturday, the team competed against some of the top teams in the state at the PRP Tournament.  Though St. Francis was not victorious in their matches, the growth of the team is evident. Experiences like these will help our young players develop into a solid, competitive team.  


This week, they battled Fern Creek on Monday.  The #1 team struggled but the #2 team of Charley Drew-Wolak, Nizar Kamar, and Forrest Wourms pulled out a win in the second game. Sam Edwards-Kuhn notched a double strike in the 10th frame to nearly pull out a win in one of the baker games, but ultimately the team fell 6-1.  PRP visited Vernon Lanes on Tuesday after finishing second in their own tournament, and gave the Wyverns a tough match.  Showing grit, the St. Francis bowlers hung on and won the second baker game to put a point on the board in the 6-1 loss.  


St. Francis will play host to Manual next Tuesday, January 21st before heading into the city tournament on Saturday, January 25th.  


Girls' Bowling

The girls' bowling team also found themselves amongst some of the state's top teams on Saturday at the PRP Invitational.  The Wyverns started strong in the opening round, bowling a 628, good enough for the 12th seed in the 16-team event.  St. Francis lost to Daviess County, the 5 seed. in the first round, but bounced back to defeat Jeffersontown in a consolation match.  After a match with PRP, the Wyverns finished in the top 8 in the tournament field of 16.  


On Monday, the Wyverns played host to Fern Creek.  Aliya March led the Wyverns in the loss with a team high of 146 and a turkey (her first of the season) in the 10th frame of the baker's match.  Tuesday's match was against PRP and the Wyverns fell 6-1 but won the second baker's match with one of their top performances of the season.  Grace Riely led St. Francis with a season-high 150.   


The team will have a week to prepare for the end of the season City Tournament scheduled for next Saturday, January 25th.  Following that, both teams will enter the state's Regional Tournament the week of January 27.  The Regional champions will have a chance to bowl in the State Championship the following week.  


Boys' Basketball

The Wyvern boys' basketball team faced off against Collegiate last Friday night at St. Stephen's Family Life Center.  St. Francis came into the game with an overall record of 7-3 and looked to improve on that with a victory.  The game started off pretty evenly through the first quarter but a poor shooting slump by the Wyverns allowed the Titans to balloon their lead to 15 points at halftime.  


Unfazed by the deficit and energized by one the largest crowds ever to attend a regular season game, St. Francis continued to fight in the second half.  Though the Wyverns' shooting woes continued, they were able to make big stops with the help of their newfound 6th man in the stands.  Collegiate went on to win the game with a final score of 72-60 but the night was still considered a success by most.  Head of School Alexandra Thurstone '84 commented following the game that "it was fun, exactly the type of atmosphere you would hope to find at a high school basketball game."  


With little time to dwell on the loss, the boys were back in action on Saturday afternoon, traveling 1.5 hours up the road to take on Burgin.  The team bounced back with a 15-point win. Jaylon Hall scored a season-high 19 points to go along with seven assists, five rebounds and four steals. The Wyverns improved to 8-4 on the season, already matching their win total from last year with several weeks still to go in the season!


The boys' JV team, which has cancelled most of its schedule due to a lack of available players, was back in action against Collegiate Tuesday night for the first time since December 14th.   After a slow start, the Wyverns turned up the intensity and pulled away to win by 16. Sparked by Jabrell Moore's three steals off the bench and James Risley's two 3-pointers in the 4th quarter, St. Francis turned a two-point halftime lead into a runaway victory.


The boys' team will travel to Wililamstown tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. varsity match with the Demons.  Next week the boys will play in the All "A" 7th Region Tournament at KCD.  They will open on Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. versus familiar foe Brown.  A win would put them in the semifinals on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. against Collegiate.  The Wyverns faced Brown this season in the finals of the Portland Christian Holiday Classic, making easy work of the Bears 65-36.


Girls' Basketball

The girls' basketball team hosted a JV match with Collegiate last Friday night.  The Wyverns fell but played hard every minute of the game.  Last night, they traveled to Christian Academy, IN to play a game rescheduled due to weather earlier in the season.  While they did not emerge victorious, they again fought hard.  Their improvement is noticeable and the team seems to be in good spirits.  The girls' team will play host to Beth Haven tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Family Life Center.  Next week the girls will also participate in the 7th Region All "A" Tournament at KCD, taking on Brown in the opening round on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m.  A win would place them in the semifinals of the event against top-seeded Collegiate.
Admissions Office News
Lucy Wathen 
Director of Admissions
Downtown Campus
Notes from the Director of Admissions

 

Merit Scholarship Competition 
The Merit Scholarship Competition will be held on January 26th from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Merit Scholarships are available for rising 6th and 9th graders. You can register for the competition by emailing us. Find out more information about Merit Scholarships by visiting our website. 

  

Important Upcoming Dates

January 28th - Kindergarten Try-On Day for current SFS students 

January 24th - Re-Enrollment Contracts available online

January 26th - Merit Scholarship Competition for rising 6th and 9th grades

February 7th - Kindergarten Try-On Day for new students 

February 15th - Financial Aid Applications due

 

Looking Now for Host Families for the 2014-15 School Year!

Who Can Host?

One thing that unites all host families is a strong sense of the importance of cross-cultural understanding in today's world. Host families are curious, open-minded, caring, and willing to help a young student adjust and thrive in a new environment.

German exchange student Simon Spengler (left) with his host brother Joe Harlan '14.

As A Host Family You:

  • Welcome a student into your home as a family member for ten months.
  • Provide a bed and bedroom (can share with same gender close in age)
  • Provide appropriate place to study
  • Provide three meals a day
  • Provide necessary transportation

Benefits of Being A Host Family:

  • Broaden someone's horizons - share all that your family, your community, and the U.S. have to offer a young person
  • Learn about the world - open your family's eyes to cultures and languages from all over the world
  • Globalize your community  - your student will bring the world to your community

If you are interested in becoming a host family, please contact Lucy Wathen for more information.


China: Beijing, Xi'an, Jiujiang, Shanghai

A Student Travel Tour  

May 31-June 11, 2014

St Francis School/Louisville Collegiate School

 

St Francis School has received funding that has enable us to lower the cost per student for this unique opportunity to visit one of the world's most dynamic and ancient cultures. A grant from the Confucius Institute allows us to reduce the cost to $3953 (exclusive of passport, visa and insurance) per participant. The last day for making a deposit of $500 is Jan. 31, so please send in your check as soon as possible. This is a rare opportunity for students to experience home stays, school visits and monuments, ancient and modern.

 

We invite students to join us on this adventure to see some of China's most exciting sites. In Beijing, we will tour the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square; climb the Great Wall at Jinshanling; in our sister city Jiujiang, students enjoy Home Stays with Chinese families. In Xi'an behold the Terra  Cotta Army and bike the City Wall. Learn martial arts, visit local markets, and meet Chinese high school students, try the regional culinary tastes of China; and be dazzled by the Shanghai Acrobats. These are among the many exciting happenings on the St Francis and Collegiate student tour of China, May 31 to June 11, 2014.

Also in the itinerary: Enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner, visit the Temple of Heaven and Tian'anmen Square;  make dumplings at a rural village; enjoy a pedicab tour of Old Beijing;  visit a cave village in Shaanxi Province; tour the Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque; a dumpling banquet and puppet show in Xi'an; teach Chinese  students English as part of service activity in our sister city  Jiujiang.

The cost, including land and air fare, is $3953 per participant, based on double occupancy and a minimum group of 12 participants. This does not include passport or visa fees or supplemental medical or evacuation insurance.   For inclusions and exclusions, see the other side of this paper.   
To book a student on a tour, a deposit of $500 is required.   You will need to book your air as early as possible, since airfares prices are notoriously fickle. For questions about the tour, please contact Chinese teacher Bob Jones at 502-736-1018 or email him at  bjones@stfrancisschool.org.    Included in this tour:

  • International airfare Louisville-Shanghai and Beijing-Louisville
  • Hotel accommodations on twin sharing basis
  • One English-speaking tour guide for each destination visited (except for Jiujiang)
  • A bus and driver for all land transfers indicated in the itinerary
  • Overnight soft sleeper train from Xi'an to Beijing
  • Economy one-way flight from Nanchang to Xi'an
  • Economy flight from Shanghai to Nanchang
  • Shanghai maglev train ticket with luggage transfer to hotel
  • Airfare and tax as indicated in the itinerary
  • Admissions fees to all places and for all activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • All meals indicated on the itinerary
  • All gratuities for drivers, guides and local support staff
  • All relevant trip taxes, local duties and surcharges
  • Water and tea during meals

Not Included in This Tour:

  • United States passport fees
  • Chinese tourist visa fee
  • Personal communication and laundry charges
  • Travel insurance
  • International SOS Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance
January 17, 2014
In This Issue - Quick Links
Weekly Calendar
Notes from Suzanne
This Week in Athletics
Admissions Office News
Notes from the PA President
Announcements

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY for this fiery event!

 

Get your tickets now to join us on Friday, January 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Henry Clay for this year's Imagine! Art Auction and Scholarship Fundraiser. 

 
100% of the funds raised go directly toward the School's need-based scholarships. 

Click IMAGINE! to get your tickets, preview the art, make a donation, and even purchase a VIP raffle ticket.  Only 25 tickets will be sold for a chance to win a week at the Maison Rose, an incredible French villa.  We sold out last year, so get yours now!
 
And we still need a few live auction items and some volunteers for the event.  So if you have any travel destinations or tickets to great events you are willing to part with OR if you have some time you can donate on Wednesday (1/29), Thursday (1/30), or Friday (1/31), please email Emily Carter-Essex. 
 
Check out the Voice-Tribune's article about our upcoming event! 

Free College Readiness ACT Test Prep Workshop II

  • TEST TAKING STRATEGIES
  • ENGLISH, READING, MATH & SCIENCE PRINCIPLES
  • ASSESSMENT OF STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

DATE: Saturday, January 25, 2014

TIME: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Louisville Central Community Centers, Inc.

1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Louisville, Kentucky 40203

Purpose: to engage prospective high school graduates of the classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016 in a series of motivational informational and skill development activities to support their preparation for the upcoming ACT exam, which is scheduled for SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014.

 

Girl Scout Cookies for Sale!

 

 It's Girl Scout cookie time!  If you would like to order cookies, please consider ordering from our St. Francis Girl Scouts.  The 3rd and 5th grade troops are selling cookies, and orders from SFS families  will be split between the two troops.  To place an order, please email Sarah Dewberry.  Cookies are $3.50 per box and will arrive in mid-February.  Cookies considered nut-free are Trefoils, Samoas, Thank U Berry Munch, and Thin Mints.  Other options include Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, and Savannah Smiles.

Wyvern Gear!

Wyvern gear is available via the website and on campus from Bobby Steurer's office. 

A list of items is available by clicking here, or you may email Bobby

with your order.

IMPORTANT: Please indicate which items you are buying and your child's name and grade when you place your order.

Announcing "A Taste of St. Francis"!

The St. Francis Athletic Committee is pleased to announce the creation of a brand-new book that will bring together the whole SFS community in support of our athletic programs! This attractive collection of recipes, artwork, and poetry that celebrates all things St. Francis is titled, appropriately,"A Taste of St. Francis!" We are now soliciting contributions for "A Taste of St. Francis" from everyone in the SFS community which will be sold to raise funds to benefit athletic programs on both campuses in the coming years.  

We need YOU!  Please submit your family's favorite recipe, a drawing, or a poem to us for potential inclusion in the "Taste of St. Francis".  We want students, parents, alumni, teachers, and friends of St. Francis to be represented! 

Submissions requested by January 31, 2014.  Please send electronically to Cassandra Zimmerman.  

Parent Association News
Message from the PA President 
Sarah Harlan Photo
By now I hope everyone has had a chance to reply to two important emails from your stellar grade reps.  One is asking for help with Imagine!, coming up on Friday, January 31st.  Even if you only have an hour to spare, your energy will be greatly appreciated. And speaking of appreciation, the other email call is for our fantabulous Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon on February 12th. Please let your grade rep know what you'll be bringing and sign up to help - it's a great event!! And, of course, use your Kroger card when you're shopping for your ingredients!!
Happenings at the Downtown Campus
  










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