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Service Learning

St. Finn Barr Catholic School has an extensive service-oriented outreach to the Church and the civic community. Each grade learns about and supports a local or international community service organization. In the middle school, service field trips are included in the excursion planning and students reflect upon their experiences in religion and language arts classes.


Community Service Projects

St. Finn Barr students and their families are highly enthusiastic in their support of school-wide service opportunities. Each year, the parent and school community builds an annual calendar of school-wide service activities for families.


NOVEMBER

Holiday Giving Tree

Help spread the gift of joy and the holiday spirit by providing a gift for a San Francisco foster youth. SFCASA will hold their annual holiday party for foster youth in early December. For most foster youth, the party has become their only holiday tradition. They look forward to getting together, playing games (the BINGO table is always full), sharing a hot meal and taking home a gift, perhaps the only one they will receive for Christmas.

Once again, St. Finn Barr School will be hosting a giving tree in the school foyer. The tree will be up for the month of November. If your family would like to participate, please have your child select an ornament (or two) from the tree in the foyer, fulfill the request and return the gift card in a sealed envelope marked “Giving Tree” to Mrs. LaChon by Friday, December 1st. (Envelopes will be collected in the classroom or you can drop off at office).

The gift request from the foster youth is in the form of a gift card donation. The gift card allows the youth to shop and make their own choice, something they rarely get to do, and it also provides for a special outing with the youth and their CASA volunteer. The giving tree will once again have ornaments for gift requests and BINGO prize requests.

SFCASA thanks the SFB community for your continued support and generosity in helping to make a child’s holiday wish come true.

Questions: Please email Renee Esplnoza (SFB Parent) - sofia660@yahoo.com.

For more information about SFCASA please visit sfcasa.org.

CASA Holiday Gift Drive Dates: Monday, November 6 - Friday, December 1

Students who participate may wear Free Dress on Friday, December 1st.


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.

Thank you for your generosity! Students who participate may wear Free Dress on Friday, December 1st.

Food Drive Dates: Monday, November 6 - Friday, December 1

Collection barrels located in the school lobby.

Most needed items are:

  • Tuna, canned meat
  • Peanut butter
  • Soup, chili
  • Beans
  • Cereal
  • Canned fruit and vegetables
  • Rice, pasta & oats

Some general guidelines:

  • Only donate items that you would eat.
  • Make sure items are still within their “Use before” date.
  • No glass items, which can break.
  • Avoid perishable items like dairy, meat, chicken, fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • We can only accept unopened items.
  • Please do not donate pet food. We recommend donating those items to your local animal shelter.



DECEMBER

St. Anthony's Coat Drive

Coat Drive dates: Monday, November 27 - Friday, December 15


All gently worn coats/jackets should be clean and wearable. No holes or stains, please. Donated items will be distributed in our local community, via St. Anthony's Foundation.

Students who participate may wear Free Dress on Friday, December 15th.



SFFD Toy Drive

Toy Drive dates: Monday, November 27 - Friday, December 15

St. Finn Barr Catholic School is proud to partner with the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program each year. The San Francisco Firefighter’s Toy Program is the city's largest and the nation’s oldest program of its kind and believes that no child should be without a toy during the holiday season.

Toy Guidelines: toys must be new and unwrapped (serving ages infant through 12yrs).

Students who participate may wear Free Dress on Friday, December 15th.





FEBRUARY

American Heart Association - Jump Rope for Heart

Spread the Love Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive - St. Francis Living Room
Contact: Nancy Rechsteiner - rechsteiner@stfinnbarr.org



Peace Parade

During Catholic Schools Week each January, the school celebrates service with a “Peace Parade” through the neighborhood – each grade creates signs/hats/floats that celebrate and share the news of a service organization they support.


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