School News

Best of the Best 2022

We are pleased to share that St. Finn Barr Catholic School has won Gold for the Best Private Elementary School and Gold for the Best Private Middle School in San Francisco/Marin!

Thank you to everyone who voted for SFB in the Bay Area Parent Family Favorite 2022 and especially to our amazing faculty, staff, and families who make St. Finn Barr Catholic School so special!

School Supplies and Summer Assignments

You may find links to your grade's school supply list and summer assignment(s) by clicking here.

End of Year Prayer

At the end of this school year we give thanks to God:

For all the teaching and learning that has taken place in our school, in our classrooms, and in our homes;

For the talents and gifts that have been shared, and the challenges that have been faced;

For the burdens that have been lifted, and the hurts that have been healed;

For the respect and care that has been given.

We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun, and for those that have grown;

For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles;

For the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days, and for the love that has kept us going.

We give thanks for the community that we are, and we ask you Lord to bless our families as we begin our time apart from each other.

May our time shared together leave us with memories to cherish.

Pour out your love on us that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀! ☘️

8th Grade Graduation

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮! We could not be more proud of your achievements during your years as St. Finn Barr Shamrocks and look forward with great anticipation to the good news that is yet to come from you in your new role as alumni.

We are keeping you and your families in our prayers as you transition into high school. We pray that you are compassionate children of God, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners and that you will always remember that the St. Finn Barr community is here for you!

Kindergarten Graduation

Congratulations to our youngest Shamrocks on your graduation from Kindergarten! You have learned and grown so much this year and we are very proud of you all!

Last Day of 8th Grade

Last day of school for our 8th graders! We are so proud of you for all the remarkable things you have achieved in your time at St. Finn Barr Catholic School.

We look forward to celebrating you at Graduation tomorrow!

Uniform Exchange This Week

We're proud to provide pre-loved uniforms from and for our SFB Community. There are a range of sizes available. First-come first-received. No payment necessary. Help us Recycle, Reuse and Return the Kindness!

The Uniform Exchange Task Force will be partnering with our Merchandise team on the dates below. Pick up pre-loved uniforms and purchase spirit wear at the same time!

Interested in volunteering for this event?
Please click here for volunteer opportunities!

Questions? Contact our Uniform Exchange Task Force:
Wendy Venegas wenleung28@gmail.com
Elaina Ford elainaacostaford@gmail.com
Maite Aijon maiteaijon2003@yahoo.com

In Response to the Events that Occurred at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas

Dear St. Finn Barr Families,

To share that I am grieved by the events that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, is a significant understatement, and to say that our hearts are with those affected by this tragedy seems not enough. Yet, as I am writing this message to you, I understand that we are all facing a broad range of emotions, and I understand that this will impact all of us in various ways in the coming weeks as we finish up our school year. With that being said, though there are just a few weeks remaining, we are committed to supporting every member of our community as we process what occurred. In hopes of supporting you at home, I have attached two resources that you may find helpful.

We remain committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on our campus and continue to have strong security measures in place to ensure the safety and security of all of our students and staff members.

When we gathered together this morning as a school community in our Morning Assembly, we paused and took a moment to reflect on The Prayer of St. Francis, also known as the Prayer for Peace. During a tragedy like this, we can turn to this prayer as it reminds us of our role as we are in communion with others. When there are no words left, we can lean on this prayer and pray for peace beyond our understanding for all of those affected by this tragedy.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

I pray for each of you and your children that this peace reaches deep within your hearts.

Best,

Resources

• Tips For Talking With And Helping Children And Youth Cope After A Disaster Or Traumatic Event A Guide For Parents Caregivers And Teachers
  
• Talking To Children About The Shooting

Books to help kids of all ages manage their worries:

• What to Do When the News Scares You
• Something Bad Happened: A Kid's Guide to Coping With Events in the News
• Most People
• When You Worry Too Much: 25 Books to Help Kids Overcome Anxiety, Worry, and Fear

Uniform Exchange Program

Our 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 is getting a big jump on keeping previously used uniforms in full use. If you have outgrown, gently used uniforms ready to pass along please drop them off in the bin in our school lobby.

Uniforms will be collected through the end of the school year!

Questions? Contact our Uniform Exchange Task Force -
Wendy Venegas wenleung28@gmail.com

Elaina Ford elainaacostaford@gmail.com

Maite Aijon maiteaijon2003@yahoo.com

Spring Night Out - Thank You!

Heartfelt thank you to our dedicated volunteers, generous auction donors and attendees! We raised over $8,000 and had so much fun spending a beautiful Spring evening with you!

Saints Project

In preparation for Confirmation, the 8th Grade class conducted a research project on one of our saints. Students studied who this saint was and the work that they performed.

8th graders shared what they learned, including why their saint was inspiring, with the 6th Grade class. Great work, 8th Grade!

First Holy Communion

This is the day that the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Congratulations to our First Communicants! We are so excited for you as you reach this next step in your faith life.

Thank you to everyone that helped prepare the children for this special day!

SFB Times

Our 6th graders have been hard at work creating a digital newspaper for Writer's Workshop. We are excited to share the 𝐒𝐅𝐁 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 with you!

Happy reading! ☘️

Click below to read...

The SFB Times by 6th Grade

Spring Break Testing Reminder

Support Ukraine

Our 8th grade class has organized two opportunities to support the humanitarian needs in Ukraine.

Please see below for details. Thank you for your support! 🇺🇦

Click image to place ribbon orders. Orders will close on Friday, March 25th

7th Grade Science

Exploring what happens to air particles when a volume of air is heated and cooled.

Second Trimester SLE & Honor Roll Recipients

Congratulations to all of our SLE and Honor Roll award recipients for the second trimester! Great work, Shamrocks!

Student Learning Expectation (SLE) Award Recipients

December - Demonstrate curiosity, confidence and innovation.

January - Communicate and collaborate meaningfully with others.

February - Analyze situations, solve problem effectively, and apply strategies to real life.

Honor Roll

6th Grade

First Honors
Wesley Adams, Natalia Barajas, Connor Brady, Kayla Bullach, Bradley Chu, Jay Danaher, Angel Esqueda, Adaline Gortaire, Michael Griffith, Sofia Lagomarsino, Aoife O'Dwyer, Micah Ontiveros, Mateo Parra-Bautista, Natalia Razo, Madeline Roine, Christopher Sanchez, Rika Thompson, Camilo Vasquez, Solomon Zumbado

Second Honors
Jessica Chan, Jelena Serrano

Third Honors
Genevieve Choate, Xavier Guerra, Eric Jimenez, Mateo Razo, Jordan Wall

7th Grade

First Honors
Anthony Caires, Klara Cardenas, Abigail Coston, Tatiana Deanda, Valentino Delgado-Schaumberg, Aurelia Duverge, Liliana Flamenco, Camila Garcia, Dylan Garcia, Lola Guandique, Indira Maurille, Alec Schneider, Aiden Weyer-Jamora, Sean Wong, Kayley Yang, Harrison Yip

Second Honors
Cristina Bolts, Peyton Diaz, Aida Donahue, Isabella Maestas, Chloe Ramirez, Ileana Taschek, Mateo Trujillo

Third Honors
Dylan Chemla, Leela Merlos, Jackson Padilla

8th Grade

First Honors
Isaiah Camps, Clarke James Canta, Julian Davis, Riley Guajardo, Parker Gumm, Hazel Nagata-Rampata, Jonathan Nepomuceno, Martin Novoa, Soffi Parra-Bautista, Alejandro Siopack, Antonio Siopack, Violette Walenne

Second Honors
Lucian Cheung, Noah Hudon, Sophia Klosterman, Antonio Moreno, Aaron Vanegas, Mateo Villarin, Jasmine Hernandez, Benjamin McClure, Sophie Rivadeneyra

Third Honors
Anastasia Anderson, Niko Escudero-Faba, Elena Navarro, Dylan Choi

Prayer for Peace

We ask you to pray for all our families who have family and friends in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland. We pray for peace each morning and as we enter our second week of Lent, we ask that you set a special intention for the people of Ukraine and everyone who is effected by the invasion in Ukraine.

Vote for SFB

Men's Club: Father-Daughter Dance

It is that time of year again for the SFB Men's Club annual Father-Daughter Dance on March 19th from 6:00PM - 9:00PM in Goode Hall. To RSVP and to pre-pay, please use this link: http://evite.me/EhrNmCpaF7.

You can also pay at the door the day of the event but please RSVP so we can get an accurate headcount for the food and beverages. It's $35 per couple and $5 each additional child.

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me at mensclub@stfinnbarr.org.

Thank You,

Eric Klosterman
Men's Club President

Scholastic Book Fair

We are so excited to bring the Scholastic Book Fair back to campus this year! Our in-person, student-only, Book Fair will be open from Tuesday, March 1st - Friday, March 4th during school hours (and half an hour past dismissal) in Goode Hall as part of our Reader's Week celebration.

Student "Wish Lists"
Your children will have an opportunity to visit the Book Fair with their class, where they will fill out a "wish list" form that they will bring home for you to review and approve. You may send them to school with the appropriate amount of money (please remember to include tax) or load their eWallet to buy the books on their next visit to the Book Fair.

Staff "Wish Lists"
We will display class wish lists at the Book Fair. This is a great opportunity for our school community to help our educational team build their libraries! Inside every book that you donate to a teacher, we will place a labeled sticker that gives you special recognition as the donor of the book. Book Fair volunteers will deliver the books to the teacher's mailbox. Some teachers may also build an online wish list. Information on finding teachers' online wish lists here. If you purchase from a teacher's online wish list, you can include a personalized message to the teacher at check out and your donated books will ship for free directly to the school.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed for various tasks: setup, school day sales, and take down/pack up. Please see here for details and to sign up.

Online Book Fair
SFB's online book fair will run from Tuesday, March 1st - Monday, March 14th, but you can purchase books year round here.

eWallet
You can allow your students to pay for their Book Fair purchases with a cash-free, secure, digital option. It’s free, easy to set up, and allows you to authorize a set amount of funds or add funds at any time. eWallets from previous years can be used. Any unused funds will remain in your eWallet for future Scholastic purchases. Set up one eWallet for each of your students from Tuesday, February 8th through Friday, March 4th. Click here for how to set up eWallet.

Our last book fair raised $3,647.40! Funds raised from the book fair directly benefit our students by allowing us to buy new books that the school community can enjoy.

Thank you for supporting our annual Scholastic Book Fair!

☘️ Click here to view the virtual Book Fair flyer!

☘️ Book Fair Parent Info Letter

☘️ Volunteer for the Book Fair

Hugo Altamirano (Faith, Kinder)
Book Fair Coordinator
bookfair@stfinnbarr.org

Janice Buera (Faith, Kinder)
Book Fair Co-coordinator
bookfair@stfinnbarr.org

2022 SFB Book Fair Parent Info Letter

SFB Movie Night

This Friday, February 25th is our next movie night! We will be featuring a PG-rated movie appropriate for the Middle School students, but everyone is welcome to attend. The movie info link is provided for your review. Parents are encouraged to enjoy the film with their students.

Movie: The Sandlot (PG, 1hr 41mins)
Date: Friday, Feb 25th
Gates Open: 6:30pm
Movie Time: 7:15pm (1hr41 mins)
Volunteer Times: 5:30pm - about 9:30pm

• Please RSVP online by 3:00pm, Friday, Feb 25th at this RSVP SUG

• Sign up online to help at this Volunteer SUG - Help is needed at movie night as well as shopping in advance of the movie for concessions.

• Sign up to donate for movie night at this Donations SUG

We need sidewalk chalk and Scrip e-gift cards (to purchase concessions - contact Lynda at Scrip@stfinnbarr.org to donate e-gift cards).

* Reminder of SFB's standard volunteer hours policy: 10 hours max given per family, including a combination of working and donation hours *

Please contact Renee (chair@stfinnbarr.org) or Lynda (vicechair@stfinnbarr.org) with any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you at movie night!

Happy Birthday, Ms. Kimble!

Please join us in wishing a very 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 to our amazing principal, Ms. Kimble! 🎈

May God bless you on your special day for all the good you do for our school and the important role you play in our community.

Important Update Regarding COVID Testing and the Return to School

Dear St. Finn Barr Families,

I hope you are having a restful and healthy holiday break. Since the last time I contacted you, the COVID cases in the Bay Area and across the nation have increased. However, through communications with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and the Archdiocese, we know that schools remain a safe place for students as we will continue to follow all of the procedures we have had in place such as morning health checks, masking, and asking that students remain at home if they are not feeling well.

We ask that you continue to be vigilant and honest in our daily health checks and that if there is any inkling that your child may have been exposed to or displays any symptoms, your child stays home until they can receive a negative test result.

In line with communication prior to the holiday, the safest option for all families is to test two days prior to January 4 through a PCR or rapid antigen test administered by a health professional or an at-home test even if you did not travel outside of the Bay Area. However, knowing that many pharmacies are short-supplied and testing centers are booked, it is important to think about where you have been, who you have been in contact with, etc., and do not hesitate to keep your child at home if you believe they may have been exposed. As always, the teachers will communicate with students who are working from home and their parents in the younger grades through email.

We are grateful for the care and responsibility you continue to take to keep our students, staff, and teachers safe so that we can continue to educate the whole child.

Blessings on the remainder of your break, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022.

Please continue reading for two messages from SFDPH from the Superintendent of Archdiocesan Schools, Ms. Pamela Lyons.

A message from the SFDPH:

SFDPH REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING DESPITE PRESENCE OF COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT
Health and safety protocols have kept schools open despite the pandemic and are further encouraged as students and staff return to school following the holidays

As families prepare for a return to school following the holidays, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) reaffirms its support for the resumption of in-person learning despite rising COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. Multiple layers of health and safety protocols have kept school settings open this year despite COVID-19, and SFDPH urges families and schools to continue following these recommendations to allow for a safer return to school.

“San Francisco has remained vigilant and beat back four surges, and we are well-positioned with a highly vaccinated population to do the same with this current surge due to Omicron,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco Director of Public Health. “Throughout the pandemic, San Francisco schools have remained low-risk settings by following proper safety protocols – let’s work together to keep it that way.”

Getting vaccinated and boosted, testing after travel and gatherings, staying home when sick, and wearing well-fitted masks are key to keeping schools open for in-person learning.

“I appreciate this guidance from our public health experts on the importance of keeping our students safely in the classroom,” said Mayor London Breed. “We know how hard the last two years have been on our kids, and we need to focus on what’s best to support them, while also putting policies in place to ensure that everyone in our schools is protected.”

When rates of COVID are high in our communities, cases will appear at schools, just as they do in other settings. However, with effective health protocols in place, the data shows that these multiple layers of defense can stop the spread of COVID in school settings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced its support for an additional valuable tool in school settings as part of its layered prevention strategy called Test to Stay. Test to Stay combines contact tracing and COVID-19 testing that is repeated at least twice during a seven-day period post-exposure to allow asymptomatic school-associated close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and do not test positive for COVID-19 to continue in-person learning. Students who participate in Test to Stay should consistently and correctly wear masks while in school and should stay home and isolate if they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.

SFDPH continues to support strategies that safely keep as many kids in schools, such as the CDC’s Test to Stay tool, which is similar to the modified quarantine guidance that SFDPH supported and allowed since the beginning of the school year. More information on the modified quarantine guidance is available here: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/isolation-and- quarantine.asp#school.

“We must do everything possible to keep students safely attending schools,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco Health Officer. “The mental health impacts on students due to social isolation far outweigh the challenges of in-person learning.”

Safer Return to School Recommendations

Testing

• All students and staff are recommended to get tested for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status 1-2 days before returning to school or work, even if they are asymptomatic.
• If families or staff have traveled over the holidays, SFDPH recommends testing 3- 5 days after returning from travel.
• If any students or staff test positive, please notify your school immediately and follow isolation and quarantine guidelines: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID- 19/Isolation-and-Quarantine.asp. Individuals who need assistance with isolation can connect with the COVID Resource Center at (628) 217-6101.
• COVID-19 testing sites and resources: https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid- 19-testing-options
• San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) specific testing resources: https://www.sfusd.edu/covid-19-response-updates-and-resources/covid-19- surveillance-testing-students/covid-19-testing-locations-and-dates
  
  Stay Home When Sick

• Students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as
  COVID-19 or the flu, should stay home and be referred to their healthcare
  provider for testing and care, regardless of vaccination status.
  
  Vaccination

• Everyone who is eligible (currently open to age 5 and above) for a COVID-19
  vaccine should get vaccinated and stay up to date with boosters (currently open to
  age 16 and above if enough time has passed since their initial vaccination).

• COVID-19 vaccination sites and resources: https://sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-
  covid-19
  
  Face Coverings

• A well-fitted mask that can be comfortably worn is most important.

• Double masking is an effective way to improve fit and filtration.
• A close-fitting cloth mask can be worn on top of a surgical/disposable mask to improve the seal of the mask to the face.
• Additional masking resources: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Get-the-Most- out-of-Masking.aspx

A message from the Superintendent of Archdiocesan Schools:

Dear Catholic School Families,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration and are enjoying a restful break.

Looking ahead to the return to school on January 4 and considering the recent news regarding the Omicron variant, we remain committed to the health of our community. We have faced similar situations in the past, and our goal is always to return to as close to normal operations as possible while keeping everyone safe. This remains our plan for next week. The following are actions you can take to ensure a smooth return to school:

• I strongly encourage all students to take a COVID test two days prior to the start of school. This can be a PCR or rapid antigen test administered by a health professional, or an at-home test.
• Most importantly, if students have symptoms, please have them stay home until they have taken COVID tests, and the symptoms have subsided.
• Upon our return to in-person learning on January 4, we will continue our existing and comprehensive safety protocols, including masking while inside, proper ventilation of classrooms, and hand hygiene.

We understand that situations such as these can evolve quickly based on local guidelines, and we will inform you of any changes if necessary. I greatly appreciate your patience as we work to keep the community safe and informed.

Christmas Blessings,

Pamela Lyons

Superintendent of Schools

Archdiocese of San Francisco

Best,

Holiday Service Drives

Our holiday service drives were a huge success! Many thanks to our generous community. Your kindness means so much!

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to collect 234 jackets/coats and cold weather accessories to help keep our neighbors warm this winter.

First Trimester Honor Roll & SLE Recipients

Congratulations to all of our Honor Roll and SLE award recipients for the first trimester! We are so proud of you!

6th Grade

First Honors: Wesley Adams, Natalia Barajas, Connor Brady, Kayla Bullach, Bradley Chu, Jay Danaher, Angel Esqueda, Adalina Gortaire, Michael Griffith, Sofia Lagomarsino, Aoife O'Dwyer, Micah Ontiveros, Mateo Parra-Bautista, Mateo Razo, Natalia Razo, Madeline Roine, Christopher Sanchez, Jelena Serrano, Rika Thompson, Camilo Vasquez and Solomon Zumbado.

Second Honors: Jessica Chan, Xavier Guerra, Eric Jimenez and Jordan Wall.

Third Honors: Genevieve Choate and Geovani Lopez

7th Grade

First Honors: Cristina Bolts, Anthony Caires, Klara Cardenas, Dylan Chemla, Abigail Coston, Tatiana Deanda, Valentino Delgado-Schaumberg, Peyton Diaz, Aida Donahue, Aurelia Duverge, Liliana Flamenco, Camila Garcia, Dylan Garcia, Lola Guandique, Isabella Maestas, Indira Maurille, Jackson Padilla, Alec Schneider, Mateo Trujillo, Aiden Weyer-Jamora, Sean Wong, Kayley Yang and Harrison Yip.

Second Honors: Julian Alvarenga, Socorro Gonzalez-Eggert, Leela Merlos, Chloe Ramirez and Ileana Taschek.

Third Honors: Sofia Avalos- Gutierrez, Maliyah Cerda and James Graham.

8th Grade

First Honors: Anastasia Anderson, Clarke James Canta, Julian Davis, Riley Guajardo, Parker Gumm, Noah Hudon, Sophia Klosterman, Antonio Moreno, Jonathan Nepomuceno, Martin Novoa, Soffi Parra-Bautista, Alejandro Siopack, Antonio Siopack, Aaron Vanegas, Doroteo Villarin and Violette Walenne.

Second Honors: Isaiah Campos, Lucian Cheung, Dylan Choi, Niko Faba-Escudero, Jasmine Hernandez, Benjamin McClure, Hazel Nagata-Rampata, Elena Navarro, Kiara Solares and Jaeda Villasenor.

Third Honors: Sophie Rivadeneyra

Student Learning Expectation (SLE) Award Recipients

September - Demonstrate respect for family, the local and global community, and the earth through acts of stewardship

October - Live gospel values as Jesus taught us through prayer, study, and acts of service

November - Serve as builders of unity and instruments of reconciliation

Walk-a-thon Winners

Congratulations to the following Walk-a-thon prize winners! Thank you for helping us Raise Resources for Resource!

Distance Winners

Pledge Winners

Stretch Goal Earners (Raised $225, $75 over the $150 minimum): Over 50 students will be invited to an outdoor ice cream treat party!

Top Class (highest class participation by paying pledges and buyouts on time): 3rd and 8th grade (both over 71%) will get a catered lunch, free dress day, and no homework pass!

If you are still interested in supporting St. Finn Barr Catholic School, please check out our donation page. ☘️

Pancake Breakfast - Thank You!

𝘈 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘍𝘉 𝘔𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣: We set an all-time Men's Club event record at the Pancake Breakfast with Santa on Sunday. Thank you to all members of the Men's Club for your hard work and the SFB community for all of your support!

The Men's Club will hold their meeting tonight at 7:00pm @ Glen Park Station.

Opportunities to Give

During this season of giving, we invite you to consider participating in our current service projects -

• SFFD Holiday Toy Drive - please donate new, unwrapped toys to help brighten the holiday season for a child in need. Donations accepted until Thursday, December 16th and may be dropped off at the collection barrel in the school lobby.

• One Warm Coat Drive - accepting clean, gently used (reusable) coats, jackets, sweaters and cold weather accessories. Collection bins in the school lobby until Thursday, December 16th. Help us warm our neighbors in need! All coats and accessories will be donated to St. Anthony's Foundation.

All students who donate to either service drive will receive a Free Dress day on Friday, December 17th.

Thank you for your generosity!

Walk-a-thon - Thank You!

Thank you all for participating in our Walk-a-Thon this year! With your support we raised $25,000 and donations are still being counted!

At the morning assembly on Friday, December 3rd, we will announce all of the fundraising and walker winners.

If you are still interested in supporting St. Finn Barr Catholic School, please check out our donation page here.

Advent Prayer Book

Join us as we celebrate the season of Advent through prayer and reflection. We invite your family to participate in this special time daily.

Father Raymond's Thanksgiving Message

Pancake Breakfast with Santa

Sunday, December 5th: 9:30am - 12:30pm

We are so excited to bring this traditional holiday event back this year! Every student that attends Sunday mass and the Pancake Breakfast will receive Free Dress on Monday, December 6th.

Dine-in and take-out options available. Note: Dine-in guests ages 12 and up are required to show proof of vaccination.

Online pre-orders will close at 8pm on Friday, December 3rd.

Volleyball Champions!

𝗖𝗬𝗢 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀! Congratulations to our 8th grade girls and coaches on a wonderful season! Go Shamrocks! ☘️

Holiday Giving

• Virtual Thanksgiving Food Drive - Help us celebrate the holidays this year by supporting our neighbors in need and making a donation to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Food drive dates: Sunday, November 14 - Wednesday, December 1.

Click here to make a donation! Thank you for your generosity!

• SFCASA Holiday Giving Tree - Give the gift of joy and brighten up the holidays for a child in foster care. Take an ornament from the giving tree in the school lobby, fulfill the wish on the ornament and return the gift to school by Wednesday, December 1st. Or shop directly from the SFCASA gift wish list here.

--> SFCASA Holiday Gift Drive Flyer

Volleyball Champions!

What an exciting weekend for our 4th grade girls volleyball team! 𝐂𝐘𝐎 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬! We are so proud of you!

Go Shamrocks! ☘️

Fall Postseason

Congratulations to all of our St. Finn Barr teams advancing to postseason!

Special recognition to Riley, who represented St. Finn Barr at the CYO Athletics 8th Grade Volleyball Achievement Game. In addition, our volleyball coaches - Eric Klosterman and Mike Guajardo - were chosen to coach the Achievement Game.

GO SHAMROCKS! ☘️

SFB Walk-a-thon

We can't wait to get our Shamrock community together for our 12th Annual Walk-a-thon on Saturday, November 13th! This year we will be "𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘". This is our first mandatory fundraiser of the year for participating families.

Funds generated will help support our amazing Resource Team, Ms. Patsy Bouvet and Ms. Kate Deaton-Gupta. The work they do supports not only the academic needs but also the social and emotional well-being of our students, especially as we transition from hybrid learning to full-time on-campus learning.

Friends and family are invited to attribute a gift to your student(s) through a pledge by clicking HERE!

Please refer to our Community Event tab to read all of the details about this fun event - including the information packet, FAQ sheet and volunteer opportunities!

Note: although this is an outdoor event, everyone is required to properly wear a face mask at all times except while eating and drinking. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in caring for the health and safety of our community.

Your participation will make this a fun and successful day! GO SHAMROCKS!

☘️ Click here for important reminders --> 2021 Walk A Thon Nov 13 Reminder

🎶 Music provided by DJ Toast!

Chipotle Fundraiser

7th and 8th Grade classes are hosting a Chipotle Fundraiser this Wednesday November 3rd, at the 1523 Sloat Boulevard location, to raise funds for their joint class Yosemite trip!

Order online for pickup using code: BTNJTJ2 or show the attached flyer in restaurant.

For details, please see instructions here.

Thank you for your support! ☘️

Halloween

We look forward to welcoming students in costume (optional, as always) for school Friday, October 29th.

Inflatable costumes will not be permitted on campus for the Halloween Celebration.

Other important notes:

• Dismissal will take place at 12:30pm.
• We will not hold class parties this school year (this includes no treats or trinkets).
• Costumes may not include fake weapons or depictions of violence/alcohol/drugs.
• Standard free dress guidelines regarding appropriate dress (ex. no short shorts, spaghetti straps, miniskirts, etc.) apply for costumes.
• Costumes that could be offensive or perpetuate a stereotype of someone's culture, gender, heritage, religion, etc. are not permitted.

Thank you for your understanding!

Science

Thank you, Mrs. Ula, for making science exciting and fun for our students!

7th Grade is working on cells - the building blocks of life!

"Nucleus with DNA"

6th graders made barometers which predict changes in the atmospheric air pressure.

Different Density: 6th Grade is also learning about density. These are solutions with different densities. The students had to figure out their density by layering each color in a straw so it would not mix with a different color (heaviest/most dense at the bottom).

School Tours

Families and Friends of St. Finn Barr - please share the 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁! In-person school tours are available on Friday mornings at 9:00am. 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥.

For details, please visit: https://stfinnbarr.org/admissions/apply-now

Feast of St. Francis

Our students were thrilled by our special visitors during morning recess yesterday - thank you to the San Francisco Police Department! A perfect way to celebrate the feast day of the patron of our city, St. Francis of Assisi. Students were also invited to bring stuffed animals and photographs of their pet(s) as we said a special prayer over them for the traditional Blessing of the Animals.

St. Finn Barr Feast Day

The Feast Day of St. Finn Barr will be celebrated at the 9:00am mass on Sunday, September 26th. We would like to host an outdoor coffee and donut social time afterward to celebrate St. Finn Barr's Feast Day.

We are in need of volunteers to help us host this event so that it is a safe and fun time for everyone!

Please sign up below if you are interested in helping!

• SignUpGenius to Volunteer
  
• SignUpGenius to Donate

Outdoor Movie Night

Save the date for St. Finn Barr Catholic School's first ever Outdoor Movie Night on Friday, September 24th, featuring the Disney & Pixar film - Luca!

This outdoor event will require masks, social distancing and an RSVP (since we are permitting a limited number of guests to ensure proper distancing).

Please look out for the RSVP link in Ms. Kimble's Sunday bulletin.

Fall Sports Update

If you have any questions, please contact:

Rosie Perieff
Athletic Director
ad@stfinnbarr.org

First Week

Thank you for an amazing first full week of school!

Back to School Mass

Reminders for Morning Drop Off

Welcome Back

Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year!

Lord, thank you for the unique gifts of every child as they transition into a new school year. Fill each student with fresh enthusiasm and a heart that is excited to learn and grow. Cover them with your enduring love, give them confidence and grace, and equip them with the ability to persevere through trials. Bless their teachers with wisdom, understanding, and a heart to serve, as they embark on the journey together.

Support the Middle School Classroom Library

Support the Middle School Classroom Library and get your hours by clicking here.

Any book donated to the class library will have a sticker that tells students who donated the book.

$10 = 1 hour

Thank you!

WASC/WCEA Accreditation

We are proud to share that the 2021 WASC/WCEA Accreditation process proved a great success for St. Finn Barr Catholic School! The self-study report developed by the faculty and staff in collaboration with school parents was affirmed by the visiting committee, who rated the school "highly effective" in nine out of ten accreditation factors.

As a result, the school was granted a 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝟲-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 status. For each year before 2027, the school will submit a report on the Action Plan generated by the 2021 self-study document.

May Crowning

May is the month of Mary! During May, throughout the Catholic world, special devotions honor the Virgin Mary. "May Crowning" is a traditional Catholic ritual that occurs in the month of May and recognizes Mary as Queen of heaven and earth.

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4th Grade Mission Projects

We are so impressed with the effort and creativity of our 4th graders' Mission Projects! Well done!

Here are just a few of the wonderful projects -

St. Finn Barr Catholic School: Rise Up (Isaiah 60:1-2)

It is hard to believe we are wrapping up Catholic Schools Week, but we had such a wonderful week celebrating the spirit, learning, and growing that occurs each day in our school.

Thanks to Gary Villegas (first and third-grade dad), we can share the beautiful testimony of how strong our community has been during a very unique school year through this awesome video to all of our families and friends of St. Finn Barr. We hope you enjoy!

Thank you for all of the ways you have supported us this year and always! ☘️

Music in this Video -
Song: Rise Up
Artist: Andra Day
Album: Cheers to the Fall