Dear Alumni, Friends, and Families of the Academy,
A new school year has started and there are seventy smiling freshman faces walking the halls. We had a huge “make-over” this summer so there are many improvements. The library has been refurbished and has become a Learning Resource Center with study alcoves, a smart tv, and other technology. Our classrooms have been upgraded with 21st-century learning technology and resources. All students and teachers will have iPads available, so the wiring in the building was brought up to speed for Wi-Fi and other connectivity needs. We are preparing to start construction on a new Bio and STEM lab. This initiative is being led by architectural firm, Gaudreau INC., and supported by several other corporate sponsors. As you can see, we’ve been busy this summer and we need your continued support to allow the Academy to thrive.
Now that you know a bit about the updates we are making to the school, we’d like to feature a student for you to get to know! Mi’Chael Ward, a junior, is continuing a family legacy of St. Frances attendance, following in the footsteps of her mother and aunt who are proud SFA graduates. Mi’Chael is a recipient of a Sister Mary Joseph, OSP scholarship, funded by one of our wonderful benefactors, and a member of the Explorers program, which connects our students with the local police and is taught daily by a member of the Baltimore Police Department. This is a unique program, which fosters positive relationships between the police officers and our teenagers while teaching the basics of law enforcement. Mi’Chael spent a week in Arizona this summer at a conference with other Explorers from across the country. She remarks on how much of a difference the Academy has played in her development inside and outside the four walls of the classroom.
Our football team played Paramus Catholic at the University of Michigan stadium on national TV (ESPNU). The boys will be featured again in November when they go to Florida to take on IMG Academy, a nationally ranked team. This will be a wonderful experience for our young men and is sponsored by one of our benefactors.
We have instituted a VAMP program (Visual Arts Mentoring Program) which will occur twice a week during our extended days. Music, fashion, spoken word, theatre, African drumming, jewelry making, Jewish cooking, dance and stepping are just some of the mini course options that our students will be offered. We are excited about this new venture and think that this will provide a wonderful learning experience outside of the typical course curriculum.
These are new and exciting times at SFA and your support plays a MAJOR role in the education of our students. Every year our Annual Fund, known as the Mother Lange Fund, helps us close the gap between what our families pay and what it actually costs to educate each child, which is typical of most private schools. Our goal is to raise about $350,000 every year to this fund. The Mother Lange Fund goes directly to the operations of learning and teaching, allowing us to educate as many kids as we can and is exclusive of any other funding. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers!
SFA Alumni, we would love to stay in touch with you. Please send your email address to Development@sfacademy.org!
In Providence,
Sister John Francis, OSP
*188 year legacy of Faith, Scholarship, Opportunity, and Character
