I am very pleased to report that we have had a very successful start to the new school year. Our students are happy to be back in school full time. They are learning and achieving; student participation in extra-curricular activities and sports are thriving.

The month of October was very busy. We celebrated the Feast of St. Francis with a beautiful liturgy, recognizing significant milestones for faculty and staff members. Our freshmen students participated in Foundations Day, which focused on building community, emphasizing the value of faith, inspiring involvement, and celebrating the Eucharist together. While the 9^th-graders were doing great work with Foundations Day, our sophomores and juniors were sitting for the PSAT.

October is the month that we spread the good news of SFP to future Terriers through our Open House. Although we needed to restrict the number of visits because of Covid regulations, we continue to give tours through November.

Please keep in mind that Friday, November 12^th, has been designated as a Fully Remote Instruction Day. We do this in preparation of any instance that prevents us from being in the building for in-person classes. Because of the positive feedback we received last year, our Parent-Teacher Conference will be fully remote. Our Technology Team will be distributing instructions to you in the near future!

Our students continue to grow and develop physically, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Mr. McLaughlin

Girls Cross Country

At the EJJ Bowes Invitational, the Varsity won the Championship Race. Grace Hughes, Cristina Stanescu, Sydney Morgan, Theresa O'Connor, Anaya Raymond, Morgan Donaldson and Kaelyn McNamara comprised the championship team.

At the Sophomore B-Q Champs, Ashira Robinson placed 12^th

January Regents Exams

Any students who wish to re-take a Regents exam in January for an exam they previously failed must see Mr. Castellano in the Faculty-Staff Room by 4 November. Students are not permitted to re-take a Regents exam in order to improve their grade. Re-taking an exam is only for those students who want to pass an exam to qualify for the Advanced Regents diploma. Students who are missing one of the required exams will be contacted by Mr. Castellano.

Open House and West Wing Addition

2022 San Fran Staff is geared up and ready

The 2022 San Fran Staff is geared up and ready to steal the show with their journalistic abilities. Help us document this year by submitting photos through: https://images.jostens.com/upload.jsp

(SFP User ID is: 416926031) God Bless the Prep!

The St. Francis Prep Parents' Guild

"The St. Francis Prep Parents' Guild is back up and running. We need your help to bring this organization back to the successful level that was achieved for many, many years. Please check our page on the SFP website to stay informed about upcoming meetings and events. Our next general meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, at 7:30 pm. We also have an exciting "Sip and Paint" event planned for Saturday, November 13. We look forward to seeing you!"

Franciscan Youth Movement went on their first retreat of the year!

We feel blessed to be able to meet under normal circumstances. This year, we will continue to live out our Franciscan mission inspired by Br. James McVeigh through our Franciscan values: to live lovingly, care for creation, proclaim joy and hope, and be living instruments of peace.

FYM encourages all SFP students to embrace the spirituality of the school and get involved with campus ministry!

Alumni can also get involved. Email our Coordinator, Ms. Christine Glynn [email protected]for more details!

Saint Francis Prep Art Students Take part in the Congressional Art Competition

This year marked the forty-first anniversary of the Congressional Art Competition. Since this competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students throughout the United States have participated; thousands have showcased their artistic talent in our nation’s capitol. Based on the showings provided by Flushing Town Hall, the district has selected three winners for this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Kaitlyn Murphy took second place, and Emilio Espinal Santiago received third place. Emilio is a current senior at Saint Francis Prep with incredible drawing and painting skills. Kaitlyn Murphy graduated SFP this past June with a keen knowledge of digital photography and graphic design. Both SFP art students attended the Congressional Art Competition awards ceremony on August 5th, 2021. Their artwork was celebrated by Congresswoman Grace Meng, parents, and friends. The Saint Francis Prep community would like to extend a thank you to Grace Meng and congratulations to Emilio and Kaitlyn for a job well done!

At St Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, NY, students discovered The Glass Ribbon Project online. They were moved to replicate it, in both method and mission, in their own glass studio. Art Teacher Jeanne Buccino explains:

"Students from Saint Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, New York, create glass ribbon projects inspired by Gary Rosenthal. Saint Francis Prep offers an introduction to glass fusion course. Students in Mrs. Buccino’s glass class learn the fundamentals of glass design and fusing. Covid has brought about a time of loss, gratefulness, and reflection. The class researched Gary Rosenthal and his foundation. They were amazed to learn about the Glass Ribbon Project and all of the people the glass work helped. Students created several glass pieces each. They discussed their own intentions. Each student created five to ten glass designs to share with a person or group in need. They fused and packaged their designs. Father Ralph, the Chaplin at Saint Francis Prep, met with Mrs. Buccino and the students to discuss their intentions and bless the stones. Students then shared their healing stones with their loved ones. It was a truly inspirational project. We would like to thank Gary for his strength and true courage. It was a pleasure and thrill to speak to Gary over the phone and personally thank him for his leadership."

Drawing and Painting Art retreat at Camp Alvernia

The Saint Francis Prep Art Department journeyed to Camp Alvernia for a special Art Retreat day. Campus Ministry, Mr. Sempowich, Father Ralph, and Mrs. Buccino and Ms. Shmerykowsky from the Art department led the art expedition. It was a gorgeous fall day in October. The weather was perfect. The Art students started the day with a reflection; they had time to get to know each other with activities. The young artists had time to create paintings on the beautiful property grounds. The sky was blue with wispy white clouds; the sun was shining bright with sailboats floating by. Students sat and sketched the scene with watercolors in the fresh sea air. The day concluded with a special jewelry exchange between the juniors and seniors. Father Ralph blessed the handmade glass-fused jewelry that the senior students made to pass down to the rising juniors. The Art students celebrated Mass together and headed back to school. It was a truly special day. Art work from the retreat day is displayed in West Lobby. Nature scenes will be fused in glass and entered in this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition.

Campus Ministry

This year, we had 11 seniors answer the call to become Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. These students trained with the Brooklyn Diocese on October 9th and are now eligible to serve in their home parishes. We are very proud of these seniors, and pray for them as they bring Jesus to their classmates and fellow parishioners.

On October 13, we held our second-ever Foundations Day for our first-year students. Following in line with the theme, What is My Place?, our 9^th-grade students journeyed through their retreat day focusing on three different rotations. Students listened to presentations from Mr. Hafker '86, and Mrs. McCabe '07, alumni of our school who made their way back here to teach. They also went to the cafeteria and heard from one of our seniors, Stephanie Mecir (411), about what it means to be a Franciscan. Joining in our Franciscan heritage, students spent time creating greeting cards for children in hospitals.

Students also went to the gym and participated in a relay race competition. The day concluded with Mass of the Holy Spirit, at which Father Ralph encouraged everyone to take the opportunities presented to them during their four years here. We hope that all of our students continually discover their place here in our SFP community.

Service has been in full swing this year. Our students have the opportunity to help clean up the park, prepare meals at Presentation Soup Kitchen, or go on a Midnight Run. Please check the Campus Ministry page on the website to sign up.

As always, Campus Ministry is here for our students and families. Please contact us if you are in need of support throughout this school year. God bless you!

Volunteers are back at the Soup Kitchen!

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Soup Kitchen.

Our students are so eager to live out our Franciscan mission by volunteering and helping those in need.

The Soup Kitchen is open every Thursday. Prep volunteers every week by preparing and serving food to those in need in the community.

Cross-Country Team Wins Brooklyn Queens Championship

Cross-country team won the Brooklyn Queens championship and placed third in all of New York City. The team was led by Michael Koenig who won the individual title. He was followed by Jack Cote (2nd), Matthew Vene (4th), Charles Meeghan (5th), and Robert Deck (9th).

The team resumes their season in two weeks at the varsity Catholic state championship.

Girls Varsity Tennis AA Team brings home the State Championship Title

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Tennis AA Team on their successful season. The team brought home the state championship title with the help of Coach John Brennan after their second undefeated season. The girls have been the definition of Terrier Tough. They are led by senior captain Tatiana Rao.

Varsity girls cross country team won the New York City as well as the Brooklyn Queens Championship

On Saturday October 30th the Varsity girls cross country team won the New York City as well as the Brooklyn Queens Championship. The Varsity Boys won the Brooklyn Queens championship and placed third in all of New York City.

Halloween at SFP

SFP Senior Halloween Dance

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