notes of interest 2005-06

June 4, 2006

Graduates of St. Frances Academy, Class of 2006

Mother Mary Lange Award (highest GPA):  Shamira Franklin

Principal's Award (second highest GPA): Denita Hill
The Sonia Huguley Huddleston Memorial Award (school spirit): Ashley Missouri
The Ginger Goodridge Award (overcoming personal obstacles): Shawtez White

May 30, 2006
Families on the Reading Edge Summer Camp at SFA opens June 26th

The Families on the Reading Edge Summer Camp is back!! Starting June 26th, the summer camp will begin for rising 3rd and 4th graders from the local elementary schools. Five days a week, the camp provides breakfast and lunch, classroom instruction, arts and crafts, sports, swimming and weekly field trips to area attractions. The summer camp gives kids a chance to prepare for school in the fall while having a fun time inside the community center. The camp runs until the beginning of August.

March 15 , 2006

Career Day

 

On Wednesday, March 15th, St. Frances students participated in Career Day and had the opportunity to hear from 18 different professionals about their careers and the fields they work in. There was a wide variety for the students to hear about, including an entrepreneur, doctor, cosmetologist, lawyer, culinary artist, and many more. The afternoon provided educational but fun activities for the students with the freshmen and sophomores watching A Piece of the Action, and the juniors and seniors playing the Game of Life.

February 25, 2006

St. Frances is front page news . . . again:

The Baltimore Sun article about SFA's Jewish Studies program is the most recent feature on St. Frances Academy to achieve front page status.

• 2006 February 25 - The Baltimore Sun
  by Matthew Hay Brown
  Catholic school's Jewish life
  
• 2005 April 11 - The Baltimore Sun
  by Liz Bowie
  School finds success amid life's worries
  
• 2005 April 5 - The Baltimore Sun
  by Laura Loh
  School serving the poor gets $2 million donation
  
• 2001 May 3 - The Catholic Review
  by George Matysek, Jr.
  St. Frances fulfills dream of gym, community center
  
• 2000 May 8 - The Baltimore Sun
  by Kurt Streeter
  A team playing from the rough
  
• 2000 January 14 - National Catholic Reporter
  by Rhetta Blaney
  St. Frances Academy: Showing that children of hardship can succeed if someone gives them a chance
  
• 1999 February 2 - The Baltimore Sun
  by Mary Maushard
  Against the odds students succeed
  

February 19th, 2006 - week of
Basketball championships for Varsity Girls & JV Boys

Lady Panthers win !!!! Lady Panthers win !!!! Lady Panthers win !!!! Lady Panthers win !!!! 4th consecutive championship, 5th championship in 6 years, 7th crown for Coach Shelton    article & photos Boys JV wins MIAA & BCL championship Panthers revenge Homecoming loss by defeating Loyola Blakefield on their court in overtime for MIAA championship.

February 10th, 2006
Homecoming

Homecoming February 10, 2006 view photos

February 3rd, 2006
1st Semester Honor Roll

Dwayne Allen	Darrell Burrell	Shamira Franklin	Brittanee Gross	Denita Hill	Maya Newman	Shandriel Scille	Marquia Eaddy
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	sophomore	freshman

Lauren Caudle	LeShanta Clark	Ashlee Greer	Roberto Cartwright	Shawtez White	Tiffany Wright	Devin L. Brown	Chanaye Jackson	Mi-Khida Hawkins	TaShea Hawkins
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	junior	junior	junior	junior
Dawnae Roberts	Morgan Russell	Dominique Spencer	Deonte Tuggle	Jimmy Works	Danielle Parker	Andrew Rogers	Charnelle Towler	Jasmine Wright
junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore
Christina Simmons	Alesha Robinson
freshman	freshman

Michelle Ash	Dishawn Bradshaw	Travis Case	Jernae Davis	Miagra Haines	Ashlee Missouri	Tiffany Williams	Shanique Winfield
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior
Qieron Bowie	Aric Brooks	Daniel Cook	Daavon Cox	Ryan Green	Sharice Hedgepeth	TaNika Jeffers	Athena Jomo	Brittany Massey
junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior
Destiny Morris	Kevin Rankins	Sidney Smith	Lakisha Walker	Danielle Branch	Glenn Bullock	Jon Burns	Ayrielle Goodman	Angel Holmes
junior	junior	junior	junior	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore
Lynia Ligon	Kiara Mack	Brandan Randolph	Travis Johnson	Denzel McCoy	Taavon Monroe	Raquel Montgomery	Janay Newman	Shampain Page
sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman
Iesha Robinson	Shateara Ward
freshman	freshman

February 3rd, 2006
2nd Quarter Honor Roll

Dwayne Allen	Lauren Caudle	LeShanta Clark	Shamira Franklin	Brittanee Gross	Denita Hill	Maya Newman	Shawtez White	Shandriel Scille	Christina Simmons
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	sophomore	freshman

Michelle Ash	Darrell Burrell	Roberto Cartwright	Travis Case	Jernae Davis	Ashlee Greer	Miagra Haines	Ashlee Missouri	Shanique Winfield	Tiffany Wright
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior
Aric Brooks	Daniel Cook	Chanaye Jackson	Brittany Massey	Dawnae Roberts	Morgan Russell	Dominique Spencer	Deonte Tuggle	Jimmy Works
junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior
Glenn Bullock	Angel Holmes	Lynia Ligon	Danielle Parker	Andrew Rogers	Charnelle Towler	Jasmin Wright
sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore
Marquia Eaddy	Christopher Iverson	Travis Johnson	Shampain Page	Shateara Ward
freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman

Jasmine Barkley	Dishawn Bradshaw	Brandon Hall	Yarharbrough Roberts	Tiffany Williams
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior
Devin L. Brown	Mi-Khida Hankins	TaShea Hawkins	TaNika Jeffers	Destiny Morris	Joshua Taylor	Lakisha Walker	Chantelle Chaney	Sharice Hedgepeth	Kevin Rankins
junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior
Jon Burns	Ayrielle Goodman	Kandice Green	Destiny Bennett	Kyonna Lucas	Denzel McCoy	Janay Newman	Alesha Robinson
sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman

January 23, 2006
Two Legends cross paths in the SFA gym

(left) A baseball legend meets an education legend: Cal Ripken, Jr. attended the SFA / St. Paul's JV basketball game and met Br. Edward Gallagher, FSC.
(right) The future baseball Hall of Famer conversed with SFA student Tanika Jeffers while watching the game.

January 16, 2006
SFA hosts 4th MLK Day of Self Help & Service



The Martin Luther King Day of Self Help and Service, held at St. Frances Academy Community Center for the fourth time, was a good day for all who participated.  It will be an even better day if a good portion of the 210 job seekers who showed up will get hired.  121 job seekers attended classes in resume writing, interviewing and developing attitudes and behaviors to be successful in the workplace.  Ninety-one job seekers walked in and talked to employers without having taken classes.  Also, there were over 80 volunteers who were present to do everything from teach, cook and serve meals, get petitions signed, register everyone and lead us all in prayer.

Dan Rodricks of The Baltimore Sun, was our keynote speaker for the day.  He reflected on some of his work with ex-offenders and current drug dealers who are looking for a second chance to get back into the mainstream.  Chris McCabe, the state secretary of the Department of Human Resources stopped by.  Father Tim Brown, SJ, the Provincial of the Maryland Jesuits and Sister Alice Chineworth, OSP, former Oblate superior led us in prayer before lunch.

Job seekers were able to hear presentations on expungement of criminal records, child support and disability law as part of the newly offered legal advice segment of the day.  Individual conferences with volunteer attorneys were also held. 

In all, it was a good day for self-help and service.  It was all done to honor Martin Luther King and others who struggled for social justice.

• 135 job seekers were pre-registered for the morning classes.
• Approximately 100 volunteers signed up to help carry out the day, including lawyers.
• 77 volunteers showed up, several volunteered beforehand.
• 31 pre-registered job seekers came in that morning for the classes.
• 88 not pre-registered job seekers dropped in for the morning class.
• 119 job seekers took the morning's classes.
• 32 persons signed up to be neighbors/mentors/ job coaches for 101 job seekers.
• Approximately 200 lunches were served.
• There were 13 lawyers present to give legal presentations and advice.

The annual St. Frances Academy Junior Ring Mass takes place each December 8th. The following presentation was shared by Chanaye Jackson, president of SFA class of 2007:

Good afternoon. Today I stand here proudly and in awe of what we have accomplished so far, as individuals and as a class.  We have all had personal obstacles to overcome, and we all have a story to tell. This is especially true for those of us who experienced OPRAH moments in Sisters class.

For some of us, our obstacles have been as big as coping with pain or death; maybe it has been acceptance of others or simply trying to complete the homework in a subject that challenges us.  Whatever the obstacles have been and still are, our diligence and consistency have led us to this point. We hope and pray that we will continue to meet those challenges and overcome those obstacles.  WE ARE THE CLASS OF 2007. 

As a class, just making it to this point shows that we are determined to produce a result.  When I say this, I mean that we are inevitably realizing that we will reap in proportion to what we sow.  We have all sown at least 11 years of education and we anticipate reaping the reward of graduation in 2007.  We are sowing hard work and we hope to continue sowing not just passing grades, but high grades.  When we sow determination and perseverance, we will reap success and fulfillment of our goals. 

In my 16 years of living, I have learned many things.  One of those things I have learned is the power of the tongue to speak good or to speak evil.  I have learned that my biggest friend or worst enemy is my mouth.  I truly believe that our lives can be improved or destroyed by the words we say.  Many times, when I have said in despair "I can't",  I found that I didn't because I said I could not, not because it wasn't in my power to achieve but because it was words that led my mind to not believe.  Other times when I said "yes I can", I knew that I could accomplish anything.  I could achieve because I did believe.

As the class of 2007, we have to believe and to know.  Believe that as African-American youth, we are the country's greatest natural resource.  Know that the worst thing to be without is hope.  The most crippling disease is "making excuses". The deadliest weapon is the tongue, for it can lead to hopelessness and despair.  And the most worthless emotion is self-pity.  And the two most powerful words are "I can".

Class of 2007, I say to you today that we are not just any class.  We are the class of '07, the number of perfection, the number of days in which God created the world and saw its goodness.  We are meant to be something good. 

Class of 2007, I say to you that "we can" because God made us able.  We will, even if society says we can't.  We must, because we stand on the shoulders of so many strong, ambitious, determined leaders who have opened the doors of education and opportunity for us. 

We are reaching our dreams, our limit is heaven, no other will be better than the class of '07. 

December 6, 2005
Sr. John Francis will cover Panther Basketball beat

Anyone who knows the president of St. Frances Academy knows that she is a sports fan with a particular love for basketball. For the last twenty years, Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP has been a counselor, teacher, principal, and president at SFA. She has also attended just about every girls and boys varsity basketball game, keeping score at each one.  Sr. John Francis embraced the opportunity to write a summary of each game for this website. "I always wanted to be a sports reporter," she recently revealed.  Check out the athletics page for Sr. John Francis' hoop reports.

November 19 , 2005
Backstage with Bill Cosby

Friends of St. Frances Academy spent time with Bill Cosby after his November 19th performance in Baltimore.
Seated (left to right): Sr. Virginie Fish OSP, Sr. Alice Chineworth OSP, Sr. Inez Theresa Dicks OSP.
Standing (left to right): Ralph Moore, Dana Moore, Bill Cosby, Sr. Magdala Marie OSP.

November 17 , 2005
SFA juniors tour synagogue

On Thursday, November 17, the entire eleventh grade of St. Frances Academy visited Chizuk Amuno Synagogue.  This visit, organized by Rabbi Gila Ruskin, is part of their Jewish Studies curriculum.  The students were accompanied by three parents, Rev. Pulley, Ms. Missouri, and Ms. Fitzpatrick. 

We arrived at  Chizuk Amuno at 10:15 a.m. and gathered in the Sanctuary.  Rabbi Ron Shulman greeted the students and explained the various purposes of a synagogue as a house of prayer, house of study, house of assembly.  Then Mr. Alex Weinberg, director of the religious school and youth programs, showed them the Holy Ark containing the Torah scrolls, the Eternal Light, and directed their attention to the symbols and ritual objects in the Sanctuary.  The students, faculty, and parents all had an opportunity to ask questions. 

Half the students proceeded to the Museum and half to the Timeline. After ½ hour, the two groups switched locations.

 Dr. Susan Vick and Jan Schein gave them a tour of the museum which contains numerous beautiful ritual objects that have been donated.  Ms. Schein told them about the history of the congregation from its early days in downtown Baltimore.  She also fielded questions about the demographics and the programming of the congregation.

The other half of the students were upstairs exploring the timeline of Jewish history.  They were greeted by Ms. Judy Meltzer, director of Adult Education.  Rabbi Ruskin gave them a brief overview of the timeline and directed their attention to the time period they have been studying in their Religion class.  Each student received a worksheet that they filled in based on their observations of the timeline and its art and artifacts.  Questions included: “by viewing the timeline, name an event that was going on in Jewish history at the time of the Civil War”, and “find the hologram that indicates that Rome destroyed the Temple and conquered the world”.  Two volunteer docents, Bruce Lewbart and Wendy Davis, provided guidance and information. 

Following these sessions, we walked down a long hallway.  A wedding was taking place in the chapel, so the students had a chance to see the wedding through the glass windows.  We gathered again in the Esterson Auditorium for lunch, donated by Lee Meyerhoff Hendler.  After grace was recited, both in the Christian and Jewish traditions, the students really enjoyed the pizza, carrots, grapes, ice cream bars and soda. 

After lunch, we walked through the school section of the synagogue building.  It was a professional study day, so unfortunately none of the hundreds of school children were present.  We then took a walk outdoors around the building to board the busses back to SFA.  The students were well-behaved, attentive, respectful, and engaged.  The staff at Chizuk Amuno was warm, hospitable, and professional.  A good time and an educational time was enjoyed by all.

November 12, 2005
After midnight, Panthers look to defend hoop crowns

The SFA Divas step between the girls and boys Midnight Madness games.


(Left) Senior Maya Newman is fouled. (Right) Sean Mosely shoots before a full House.


The 2005 campionship banners.

November 11, 2005
1st Quarter Honor Roll

Lauren Caudle	Shamira Franklin	Brittanee Gross	Denita Hill	Maya Newman	Qieron Bowie	TaShea Hawkins
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	junior	junior

Dwayne Allen	Dishawn Bradshaw	Darrell Burrell	Roberto Cartwright	LeShanta Clark	Ashlee Greer	Tiffany Wright	Aric Brooks	Mi-Kida Hawkins	Chanaye Jackson
senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	senior	junior	junior	junior
Brittany Massey	Destiny Morris	Dawnae Roberts	Morgan Russell	Sidney Smith	Dominique Spencer	Deonte Tuggle	Jimmy Works	Danielle Branch	Justin Brotherton
junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	sophomore	sophomore
Danielle Parker	Andrew Rogers	Shandriel Scille	Marquia Eaddy	Shampain Page
sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	freshman	freshman

Athena Jomo	Justin Maddox	Imani Martin	Shanique Winfield	Devin L. Brown	Daniel Cook	Daavon Cox	Marsha Groover	Sharice Hedgepeth	TaNika Jeffers
senior	senior	senior	senior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior	junior
Nathaniel Kosh	Kevin Rankins	Lakisha Walker	Glenn Bullock	Jon Burns	Samuel Butler	Ayrielle Goodman	Kandice Green	Rashawnda Hawkins	Angel Holmes
junior	junior	junior	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore
Lynia Ligon	Kiara Mack	Brandan Randolph	Charnelle Towler	Jasmine Wright	Destiny Bennett	Cristian Griffin	Taavon Monroe	Raquel Montgomery	Alesha Robinson
sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	sophomore	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman	freshman
Trawn Rogers	Christina Simmons
freshman	freshman

November 8, 2005
The Park School welcomes SFA students to an Appalachian Challenge Adventure


SFA students: Niya Buckman, Misha Jones, Nikia Goins, Adjana Ramirez, Girard Harrison, Andre' Shields, Tiego Murray, Glenn Bullock, and Sydney Smith. SFA teachers: Danielle Fitzpatrick and Blair Vaughan.

Nine members of the SFA Outdoor Club traveled to The Park School campus to experience an Appalachian Challenge Adventure.  SFA students worked as a team to complete various initiatives on the student constructed ropes course.  The Park School students taught members of the SFA Outdoor Club how to spot and protect one another, stressing the importance of trust.  These student leaders also demonstrated the importance of listening when organizing and developing a plan as a team.   After completing several initiatives, everyone shared cookies, hot chocolate, laughs, thoughts and reflections.  The SFA Outdoor Club looks forward to returning to The Park School for some more challenges. Thanks to Jim Howard, director of Park's Appalachian Challenge Adventure, and his cadre of Park student leaders for a fantastic afternoon.

November 6, 2005
Future engineers visit Charlotte for NSBE conference

Seated (left to right): Alexandra Johnson, Jazmine Carter, Trawn Rogers, Quionne Noble, Scott Brooks, Glenn Bullock. Standing (left to right): Angelisa Hicks, Samuel Butler, Robert Holder, James Boyd, Jordan Lambert, Dominique Spencer, Kevin Mackey, Joy Williams, Michael Georges, Jerrod Generette, and Torena Ward. (Carson Kelly did not make the trip due to illness.)

Fourteen students representing St. Frances Academy traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to attend the annual conference for NSBE Jr. (National Society of Black Engineers - Junior Chapter). The regional conference took place from November 4 to 6, 2005. SFA teacher Torena Ward, NSBE alumna Angelisa Hicks, and Robert Holder of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab also represented St. Frances. The theme for the weekend was “Committed to Excellence." 

The students started the conference by participating in the general session along with collegiate, alumni, and technical professionals.  This rousing session included chants and songs by various college chapters as well as acknowledgements of the pre-college chapters who were present.  There was much NSBE love in the room.  Region 2 was well represented.  Later that evening the students watched a step show in which NSBE chapters performed.   Saturday was an exciting day of engineering.  All of the pre-college students spent the day at UNC – Charlotte where they participated in several workshops.  There was an egg drop competition, “Shake it Up Engineering”, ‘Who want to be a Millionaire” –( where students had to market  a product).  They also had a chance to tour the campus and observe a college student panel  where college members answered questions about college life and engineering.)    The students ended the day with the closing gala.  The closing gala was sponsored by IBM.  The students dressed in their best semi – formal attire.  During the gala all of the awards were announced for the competitions.  The speaker for the evening inspired us all to strive for excellence.  The conference was a very worthy adventure.  The students learned a lot and had a chance to network with other from the region. 

St. Frances Academy representatives plan to participate in the national conference to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 29- April 2, 2005.

October 31, 2005
Halloween Fun at SFA


Children of all ages attended the 3rd annual SFA Halloween Party, held each October 31st.

Each year’s Halloween Party and Haunted House gets better attended and slightly more elaborate.  By our count of tickets taken, 1,061 children were in attendance.  Each was treated to a good scare in the house of horrors fashioned from the confines of the Sister Paul Lee Multi-purpose Room and all were able to enjoy games and refreshments in the gymnasium.  There was a goodie bag for each child who came that contained not only lots of sweets but a toothbrush and poetic reminder to take care of one’s teeth.  There were lots of volunteers (some in costume, others in uniform) and lots of parents here too.  Thanks are due to too many than this space will allow.  But, suffice it to say, it took a village to frighten and please a child.  Thanks to all.

October 17, 2005
Good report card earns a Ray Lewis discount

St. Frances Academy students earning a report card with all A's and B's will receive a 10% discount off their meal at Ray Lewis' Full Moon Bar-B-Que restaurant located at 2400 Boston Street in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood (21224).

October 14, 2005
Five students displaced from Hurricanes Katrina & Rita have enrolled at SFA
Five high school students displaced from two devastating hurricanes that hit the Gulf coast in August and September have enrolled at St. Frances Academy, four as recently as this week.

Four students hail from New Orleans and the other from Crystal Springs, Mississippi. Four of the students were impacted by both hurricanes after moving from New Orleans to Lake Charles, Louisiana.

SFA accepted these students knowing that their families and extended families would be unable to afford tuition this year. Tuition assistance donations are needed. Are you in a position to lend financial support to help St. Frances Academy help these displaced young people? Tuition is $6,300. Gifts of all amounts are deeply appreciated.

September 30, 2005
Rabbi Youlus helps SFA discover ancient scrolls


Rabbi Menachem Youlus explains his experiences retrieving and deciphering old testament scrolls.

Read The Catholic Review article published October 13th.

September 29, 2005
SFA biotech class partners with UMBI to find the bluprint of life


Melanie Folks was one of 18 SFA students who conducted DNA experiments in the UMBI lab.

St. Frances Academy and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) will partner throughout 2005-06 to benefit SFA students. The lab in the Academy's 135 year-old classroom building is inadequate for experiments and science equipment is dated.

Ms. Peg Prentice of the SFA science department searched for help and UMBI answered her call. Ms. Prentice's biotechnology class will utilize the state of the art labs at the UMBI Columbus Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor once a month this academic year and possibly into the summer as well.

In September, eighteen (18) St. Frances Academy seniors extracted DNA from salmon cells. Isolating "the molecule of life" is an amazing opportunity especially considering the structure of the DNA molecule was only discovered in the early 1950's.

October's trip will include an investigation into the molecular basis of sickle cell anemia through the use of gel electrophoresis technology.

September 24, 2005
SFA gets strategic


SFA class of 2000 graduates Laurence Bass (left) and Brian Boles (right) facilitated focus group discussions about the future of St. Frances Academy. Alumni, parents, teachers, staff, neighbors, and board members participated.

How would you like to spend a beautiful autumn Saturday morning and afternoon?  A group of thirty-eight people gave a recent Saturday to St. Frances Academy to talk about the high school’s future. 

Under the leadership of Sr. John Francis Schilling and the facilitation of John Moran and Christopher Helmrath of the Loyola College School of Business & Management, St. Frances Academy has embarked upon a strategic planning process to guide the institution over the next 5, 10, 25 years and beyond.  The activities took place on Saturday, September 24th at Loyola’s graduate campus in Timonium.

Some ideas presented during the gathering included a new academic building for science, technology, and fine arts, a structured program to support students planning to attend college, and an improved cafeteria experience.  The plan is still in the draft stage.  If you are interested in learning more or contributing to the effort, please email tnealis@sfacademy.org or call (410) 539-5794 x21.   

The following is a list of the participants with their SFA affiliation:

Laurence Bass - graduate; Sr. Elaine Bain - staff; Brian Barnes - graduate; Wendy Blair – advisor; Brian Boles – graduate / staff; David Bowles - faculty; Shante Bradshaw – graduate / parent of graduate; Dr. Jennifer Bunckley – advisor; Samuel Burns – parent of current student; Sue Donaldson – advisor; Br. Edward Gallagher, FSC - staff; William L. Gaudreau – advisor; David Gillece – advisor; Sr. Marcia Hall, OSP - principal; Nina Harper – graduate / advisor; Br. Brian Henderson, FSC – advisor; Kennedy Huddleston – faculty / parent of graduate; Jennifer Kennedy – advisor; Nillion Lambert – graduate / faculty; Mary Missouri – graduate / assistant principal; Ralph Moore – staff / parent of graduate; Richard Mosley – parent of current student; Tom Nealis - staff; Audrey Newman – parent of current student; David Owens - staff; Michael Posko - advisor; Peg Prentice - faculty; Doral Pulley – assistant principal; Sabra Reuter – staff / parent of graduate; Esther Sanders - faculty; Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP - president; Jerome Shelton – staff / parent of graduate; Michael Shumann - staff; Claymore Sieck - neighbor; Diane Thomas – parent of current student; Sr. Gabriel Walker, OSP – faculty; Mary Williams – parent of current student; and Rod Womack - advisor.

September 23, 2005
Cosby Scholarships Awarded

In April 2005 St. Frances Academy was awarded a $2 million donation from Dr. Camille Cosby to establish sixteen scholarships each year.  At the September 23rd opening school liturgy SFA president Sr. John Francis Schilling announced the names of the first Cosby Scholars.

Dr. Cosby is a product of a school operated by the Oblate Sisters of Providence.  She has learned the importance of giving back – a lesson the St. Frances Academy family encourages all students to embrace during their lifetimes.

The 2005-06 St. Frances Academy tuition fee of $6,300 will be waived for each student awarded this honor.  Each Cosby Scholar is in need of tuition assistance and has displayed outstanding potential to succeed as a student and as a person.  In accepting this honor, these students are expected to make every effort to meet their potential.  They will be expected to maintain good grades, display exemplary conduct, embrace community service opportunities, and serve as an outstanding representative of St. Frances Academy during school hours, outside of school hours, within the SFA campus and within the greater community.

The 2005-06 Cosby Scholars are: T’Essence Bessick, DiShawn Bradshaw, Jamen Brewster, Roberto Cartwright, Lauren Caudle, Shamira Franklin, Michael Georges, MiKhida Hankins, Sharice Hedgepeth, Denita Hill, Chanaye Jackson, Athena Jomo, Karrell Jones, Laicia Kenan, Morgan Russell, and Tiana Tobin.

September 23, 2005
Sr. Marcia accepts principal position by renewing a vow


Sr. Marcia in her office with family.

Official acceptance of principal's position

September 12, 2005
Students displaced from Hurricane Katrina find home at SFA

Two high school students displaced from the devastating August 29th hurricane have enrolled at St. Frances Academy. One student hails from New Orleans and the other from Crystal Springs, Mississippi. SFA accepted these students knowing that their families and extended families would be unable to afford tuition this year. Tuition assistance donations are needed.

August 1, 2005
Sr. Marcia Hall named principal
Sr. John Francis Schilling remains SFA president

Sr. Marcia Hall, OSP is the new St. Frances Academy principal. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the high school. Mary Missouri and Doral Pulley will continue to serve as assistant principals. Sr. John Francis Schilling, OSP will remain president of St. Frances Academy. Her office, email, and phone number will remain the same. Sr. John Francis will focus upon fundraising and strategic planning after handing principal duties to Sr. Marcia, a fellow Oblate Sister of Providence.