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Saints and Scholars Open House

office@sfr-school.org — 2012-01-12T09:30:26-06:00

Save the date for Saint Frances of Rome's Open House, which will be held on Thursday, February 2nd during Catholic Schools Week from 6:00-7:30 pm. Come visit each classroom and watch as our students demonstrate how they are saints and scholars through various curriculum activities. Registration for the 2012-2013 school year will also begin on this night. Come take advantage of the $150 early registration fee. We look forward to seeing you there.

St Frances of Rome Celebrates Advent

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-12-07T13:56:58-06:00

St Frances of Rome students participate in many reflective activities leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Classrooms hold Advent prayer services, students create Advent calendars detailing kind actions and prayerful thoughts, and we will celebrate the Immaculate Conception and Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe at mass on December 8 and December 12 respectively.

In addition, the lighting of an Advent wreath is a long-standing tradition. The wreath symbolizes Christ’s unending love and light in our lives. The circular shape of the wreath has no beginning and no end, and parallels God’s eternity and the everlasting life that is found in Christ. The evergreen from which the wreath is made is also a symbol of immortality. The four candles, three purple and one rose, represent the four weeks of Advent. The purple candles signify hope, love, and peace. The rose candle, lit during the third week of Advent, shows our joy. We light one candle each week of Advent, and display our expectant hope as we draw closer and closer to Christ’s light in the world.

Third Grade studies El Dia de los Muertos traditions

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-11-08T18:20:58-06:00

In preparation for The Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos, the third grade gathered with the third grade classes from Our Lady of Charity and St. Anne schools to learn about the significance of this important Mexican holiday. Together they created many crafts including painting skulls and constructing an altar for a deceased loved one. On All Saint's Day, the students dressed-up as a saint that they had been researching and shared their findings with their classmates.

Catholic High School Information Night

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-25T10:25:42-05:00

All 7th and 8th grade students and their families are encouraged to attend a high school information night on Thursday, November 3rd in the school auditorium. The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Representatives from various local Catholic high schools will be there to share information and to answer any questions you may have. Also, an admissions expert will give an informational talk on how to apply to a Catholic high school. This is an important decision in the life of your middle school student. We hope to see you there.

Fifth Grade Pen Pals

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-21T12:42:32-05:00

The fifth grade students from St. Frances of Rome and St. Anne in Barrington are getting to know each other through being pen pals. Recently the students met for the first time and were very excited. They shared stories and experiences. They decorated piñatas and learned about their history. The visit concluded with a field trip to the National Museum of Mexican Art. Students from both schools couldn’t stop talking about their trip and the wonderful experience of meeting each other!

Literacy Night

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-21T12:31:55-05:00

On Wednesday, October 19th, students and parents in Preschool through Grade Four participated in an evening of fun and games to promote reading. The evening started with various activities and strategies designed to help parents encourage children to become better readers and concluded with the reading of “Looking for a Place to Live” by Rogelio Sanchez. This is a bilingual book that teaches the students the importance of taking care of the planet and learning a new language. The children were extremely excited when the book’s character, Picaboo, made his appearance and danced with the students. What great fun!

New Planned Giving Newsletter Posted

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-12-13T14:04:42-06:00

The December, 2011 edition of The Faithful Steward planned giving newsletter has been posted. Look for it in the Alumni area of the website

Congratulations, Ms. Kelly!

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-13T14:39:39-05:00

On October 13th, our seventh grade teacher Ms. Kelly received quite the surprise when representatives from Office Max came into her room with $500 worth of classroom supplies. Her students erupted in applause. Overwhelmed with joy, Ms. Kelly learned that she had been chosen as a Day Made Better award winner from Office Max. As an award recipient, Ms. Kelly joins a select group of deserving teachers from across the nation who have been recognized for their tireless dedication to education.

Ms. Kelly is an excellent teacher who continually demonstrates a strong commitment to her students and the school. She volunteers her time and many talents on several committees that strengthen our school community and make Saint Frances of Rome a great place for children. Last year she won the "Heart of the School Award" in the "Rising Star" category. . We are thankful for Ms. Kelly for her dedication and steadfast faith in God. Our school benefits tremendously by having such a caring, committed, and talented teacher instructing our junior high school students.

Fourth Graders Raise Monarch Butterflies

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-12T07:39:19-05:00

Our fourth graders are currently engaging in an exciting inquiry-based learning unit on monarch butterflies. The students have learned about the butterflies' life cycle, their adaptations and migrations, and the challenges they face. They've learned that monarch butterflies spend the winter months in the mountains of Mexico and that there are current threats to their habitats. Each day, our students care for their caterpillars and record their observations in their scientific journals. By working collaboratively and sharing scientific observations, the students have seen the value of teamwork and cooperative learning first-hand. Once the caterpillars have grown into adult monarch butterflies, they will be tagged and released to begin their migration.

Saint of the Month

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-11T13:50:41-05:00

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, is the Saint for the month of October. As a family read her biography and pray together her prayer. May her example and prayers help us to follow “the little way of trust and love” in spiritual childhood, abandoning ourselves completely to the love of God and the good of souls. St. Therese of the Child Jesus... Pray for us.

Wish List Updated

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-07T09:09:25-05:00

If you’d like to help make St Frances of Rome School even better, please consider contributing to make our wishes come true. For more information click on the Wish List link in the menu at the left. Thank You!

Eucharistic Adoration / Prayer for Peace

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-07T09:05:40-05:00

On Monday, October 10, St Frances of Rome School will be joining with schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago in a prayer for peace. We will have the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament as part of a prayer service at 1:00 p.m. Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about these special prayer services and are welcome to attend.

Student Council Elections

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-10-07T08:57:25-05:00

Student Council elections were held recently. Students did an awesome job delivering their campaign speeches. We had the closest election in recent memory. Three of the races were decided by less than five votes. Here is this year’s election results:

President
Melanie Toscano

Vice President
Juan Ruiz Mendoza

Treasurer
Victoria Garcia

Secretary
Nayelli Baca Juarez

Athletic Commissioner
Samuel Pupo

Social Commissioner
Jimmy Stastny

International Day of Peace

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-09-22T06:16:59-05:00

On September 21 we celebrated the International Day of Peace. This is a worldwide celebration to promote peace and non-violence. All around the world, people are spread peace in different ways. The third graders worked on a peace project to show that even as children, they have the power to spread peace and love to others. They made necklaces with the word peace written in different languages, and passed them out to different classes. They asked students to keep one necklace to wear and ask Jesus to fill their heart with peace and to give another necklace to someone who needs peace.

Share peace with those around you by being kind and loving. With Jesus’ help, each one of us has the power to bring peace to our world.

Saints and Scholars!

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-09-07T21:01:36-05:00

This year, our school’s theme is “Saints and Scholars: Disciples of Christ and Leaders in the Community.” Our goal is for the students to grow in their sainthood as they use their gifts and talents to achieve academic excellence, serve others, and love God. We encourage you to talk to your children about how they are called to be saints and scholars.

Back To School Grant Submission

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-08-29T18:48:29-05:00

Our school has submitted a video application for a Back to School grant offered by Coupon Cabin. We will find out next week if we have been selected as one of the finalists. Watch our video submission below.

Welcome Back

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-08-27T07:20:49-05:00

The new school year has gotten off to an excellent start. It has been wonderful to see familiar faces in addition to the many new ones that have joined us this school year. We look forward to watching the spiritual and academic growth of the students in the months ahead.

School Registration

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-07-07T12:53:59-05:00

Registration for the 2011-2012 school year is ongoing. There is limited space available in both the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms. The school office is open Monday- Thursday if you would like to visit the school and meet with the principal. Saint Frances of Rome offers a dynamic curriculum that provides students the necessary educational and moral foundation to be successful in the future. Come see the wonderful opportunities available for children at Saint Frances of Rome.

Summer Office Hours

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-07-07T12:53:19-05:00

The school office is open throughout the summer from Monday – Thursday. Hours are from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Appointments for registration may also be made apart from these times by contacting Ms, Huizar.

Supporting Our Troops

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-05-27T16:01:44-05:00

1st Lt. Thomas Schueman of the United State Marine Corps came to visit Ms. McBride's third grade classroom on Friday, May 27th. Lieutenant Schueman just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The third grade students have been supporting him with their letters and prayers throughout the school year. Thank you for your service, Lt. Schueman!

Congratulations to the Class of 2011

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-05-26T11:21:51-05:00

Jovany Aceves
Alexandria Aguirre
Pedro Almazan
Gabriel Cardenas
Angelica Castro
Miguel Castro
Catherine Covarrubias
Salvatore D’Anca
Robert Dove
Joy Edgeson
Andres Farina
Bianca Gama
Ivan Garcia
Stephanie Garcia
Eduardo Gutierrez
Jasmine Hernandez
Yulissa Ibarra
Stephanie Jaimes
Kennedy Mistretta
Sandi Murtic
Evely Olvera
Patricia Osiecki
Angel Perez
Damaris Ramirez
Christian Rivera
Luis Salas
Liliana Trejo

We Believe, We Achieve, We Succeed!

Academic Honors Breakfast with the President

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-05-17T17:12:00-05:00

Every year two eight grade students are invited to have breakfast with the Cicero Town President. The students that are nominated have shown academic excellence, service to others and good leadership. This years nominees are Yulissa Ibarra and Ivan Garcia. Congratulations!

Cicero Spelling Bee Winners

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-05-17T16:59:08-05:00

The Town of Cicero held their annual Spelling Bee last Wednesday, May 11th. Our students competed against students from Cicero’s public and private schools. Congratulations to our Spelling Bee finalists.

First Place

Elissa Flores (3rd grade)
Karime Sanchez (4th grade)

Second Place

Andres Farina (8th grade)

Third Place

Vince Galvan (5th grade)

Cicero Catholic Schools Summer School Program

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-04-28T08:14:52-05:00

This year Cicero Catholic Schools are excited to announce that we will again be offering a full-day summer program that will begin on Monday, June 20 and finish on Thursday, July 28. The program will be held at Our Lady of Charity, 3620 S. 57th Ct. The program will run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In the morning, the program will focus on the development of literacy and math skills. Afternoons will include a variety of components (science experiments, sports, computers, arts and crafts, cooking) that will change each day. Each Thursday, a field trip will be scheduled to different attractions throughout the Chicagoland area. On Thursday, hours might be extended to accommodate the individual trip. There is a limit of 250 students accepted. Before- and After-Care programs will be available for an additional fee.

The registration fee for the summer program is $25 per child. The registration fee is non-refundable. The full cost of the program (not including registration fee) is:

$250.00 - 1 child
$425.00 - 2 children
$525.00 - 3 children
$600.00 - 4 children

This fee includes all daily meals and field trips. This fee must be paid by the first day of classes on June 20. To register, please contact Ms Huizar at 708-652-2277 or Ms. Olson at 708-652-0262.

Rotary Club of Cicero and Berwyn

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-04-15T13:03:00-05:00

On Friday, April 15 two members of the Rotary Club of Cicero and Berwyn, Rosa Ibarra and Edgar Montiel, visited Ms. McBride's 3rd grade class. They presented each student with a dictionary to use at home and at school. Each year, the Rotary Club gives dictionaries to many of the 3rd graders in Cicero. Thank you so much!

Holy Week Services Schedule

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-04-21T08:53:59-05:00

Holy Thursday, April 21
7:00 pm: Evening Mass o the Lord's Supper, bilingual, in church
8:30 pm - 1:00 am: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Annex 1
8:30 pm: Visit to 7 churches. Sign up in the Church office ($10 donation requested for bus).

Good Friday, April 22
12:00 pm: Living Stations, outdoors, bilingual, followed by Rosary in honor of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother, bilingual, in Church.
3:00 pm: Celebration of the Lord's Passion with Veneration of the Cross: English, in church.
6:00 pm: Celebration of the Lord's Passion with Veneration of the Cross: Spanish, in church.

Holy Saturday, April 23
1:00 pm: Blessing of Easter Baskets in the Annex, 1st Floor
NO 5:00 PM MASS
8:00 pm: Easter Vigil Mass, bilingual

Easter Sunday, April 24
Mass Schedule:
8:30 am (Spanish)
10:30 am (English)
12:30 pm (Spanish)
6:00 pm (Spanish)

Heart of the School Award

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-04-21T08:43:49-05:00

The Heart of the School Awards from the Office for Catholic Schools seek to recognize outstanding teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication. This year, St Frances of Rome had three teachers nominated: Ms Kelly (7th Grade) was nominated in the “Rising Star” category; Ms McBride (3rd Grade) was nominated in the “Catholic School Identity and Mission” category; Mr Kretz (Art/Physical Education) was nominated in the “Behind the Scenes” category. Ms Kelly was chosen as the winner in her category. We are honored to have such great teachers on our staff. Congratulations to our winner and nominees!

5K Walk & Run Results

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-04-13T16:04:34-05:00

Our first annual 5K Run/Walk was a great success! Over 250 people pariticipated in the event!! Thanks to all who attended, volunteered, or came to cheer the runners on to victory.

In a special way, we thank the Corey Steel Company for their sponsorship of this event. THANK YOU!! Also, special thanks are due to the Town of Cicero Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works, Health Department, and Senior Services. THANK YOU!!

To see race results and photos click here.

Cicero Catholic Schools 5K Race

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-03-18T13:36:13-05:00

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the first annual Cicero Catholic Schools 5K Run/Walk. Join school families and members of the community as we race from St. Frances of Rome to Our Lady of Charity in support of both schools. The event will take place Saturday, April 9 at 8am. The cost of registration is $10 per person, or $30 per family, all of which will count towards your family's flex-fundraising obligation. Click here to register.

Special thanks to Corey Steel Company, our sponsor for this event. Their support is helping to make our schools stronger and our community healthier. Thanks...Corey Steel Company!!

Mardi Gras Gala Ball Success

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-03-09T16:21:58-06:00

The 2011 Mardi Gras Gala Ball was a huge success thanks to all those who sold raffle tickets, donated to the silent auction and attended the event. We had a sell-out crowd this year – more than 330 people enjoyed a great evening at our school. Special thanks to Cuerdas Clasicas who gave a wonderful performance to our guests. Thanks also to our guest Master of Ceremonies, Alba Mendiola, from Telemundo Chicago who kept the evening flowing smoothly. Finally, thank you to Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield, our honoree and recipient of the first St. Frances of Rome Education Award for his words of support and encouragement for Catholic education—a great gift we can give to our children.

Congratulations to our Grand Raffle winners:

First Prize – Efrain Perez
Second Price – Huver Franco
Third Prize -– Rosa I. Rivera

6th Grade Class Honors

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-03-08T14:09:38-06:00

As a part of their inquiry-based genetics unit, Ms. Smith's 6th grade class recently created a video to persuade the community to buy mixed breed dogs from shelters. Many people prefer pure breed dogs for aesthetic reasons, not realizing that pure breed dogs have weaker genetics and many come from puppy mills. Students began their study of genetics by identifying the difference between mixed and pure breeds. They learned about DNA, heredity and the passing on of dominant and recessive traits. All of this information was included in the persuasive video.

The final video was created using a combination of Keynote slides and live video footage. Once the video was assembled in iMovie, the 6th grade class added voice-overs and music as a final touch! The video was then submitted to the Anti-Cruelty Society's Animal Expressions Art Contest. After all of that hard work, the 6th grade recently received the news that they won First Place in the contest! Ms. Smith and a small group of students attended an award ceremony on March 5th at the Anti-Cruelty Society.

Congratulations, Ms. Smith and 6th grade!

Appalachian Hikers Visit SFR Third Grade

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-02-22T18:35:55-06:00

On Wednesday, February 16, the third grade had the pleasure of meeting two gentlemen who are about to set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Mike Healy and James Gower will begin hiking the Appalachian Trail on March 1st. Before starting the hike, they decided to take a practice hike to SFR to meet the third graders. Mr. Healy and Mr. Gower talked about the hike and gave both a geography and math lesson. They told the students about the different states they'll be hiking through. As a class, they figured out how long the 2,175 mile hike would take them with a multiplication lesson. The gentlemen also discussed their purpose for the hike. They are doing this to raise money to build a hospital in the Mufindi region of Tanzania, Africa. Mr. Healy along with Miss McBride's brother visited this region last year. Upon returning, Mr. Healy knew something had to get done to help these people and thus the Mufindi Hospital Hike was born. The third grade is very grateful to both Mr. Healy and Mr. Gower for coming in to share their story. They also look forward to another visit next year to hear about the 2,175 mile journey. We offer them many prayers and blessings. Happy hiking!

The Cicero Life joined the hikers to report the story. Pictures can be found at http://tinyurl.com/mufindi-hikers

Box Tops for Education February Sweepstakes

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-02-07T10:48:09-06:00

Help SFR School win 1,000 bonus boxtops! See www.boxtops4education.com for more details. Also, please save Box Tops for Education certificates for SFR school. Our goal this year is to raise $500 in boxtops. Thank you!

Mardi Gras Gala 2011

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-01-31T15:41:09-06:00

Preparations are well underway for the 2011 Mardi Gras Gala, and you're invited! Ticket sales will begin after all Masses at St. Frances of Rome Church on the weekend of February 5th and 6th, and continue each weekend until the Mardi Gras Gala. During the week, tickets will be available for sale in both the rectory and school offices. More information is available at the Mardi Gras website. Be sure to check back for updates.

For more information, contact Tom Byrne

School Open House

office@sfr-school.org — 2011-01-13T18:06:22-06:00

SFR is hosting its annual Open House on Thursday, February 3rd beginning at 5:30 P.M.. You will have the opportunity to tour the school, register for the new school year, meet the teachers, and ask any questions you might have about Catholic education. You also can visit every classroom and see the students in action as they conduct different science experiments.

Light refreshments will be servedand the evening will end about 8:00 P.M.

In addition, the annual SFR Blood Drive will take place from 2:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on this day. Please consider donating. The need for blood is great.

Any questions please call the school office at 708-652-2277.

Alumni Visit

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-12-07T16:02:01-06:00

On Tuesday, December 7th, Mrs. Martin's fifth grade classroom had a special visitor. Mr. Robert Deering graduated from St. Frances of Rome School in 1938 and, for the last few years, has come by for an annual visit to our school. Mr. Deering spoke to our students about what it was like attending St. Frances of Rome School and St. Ignatius High School before going on to serve in World War II. The fifth grade students had many good questions for Mr. Deering. If only a bottle of pop still cost a nickel!

Immaculate Conception Feast

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-12-07T15:58:28-06:00

The third grade has been preparing to celebrate the Mass of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This special feast celebrates God’s choice of Mary to be the mother of Jesus. God granted Mary no original sin from the moment of her conception. Today is the day that Mary began her growth as a baby inside of St. Anne. This feast is celebrated on December 8th and is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Scavenger Hunt for the Hungry

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-12-01T12:27:21-06:00

St. Frances of Rome students helped to feed the hungry this year. In the spirit of service, SFR students collected food for the Catholic Charities food pantry that distributes bags of groceries to many needy, local families. Catholic Charities was overwhelmed with the quantity of the food that our students delivered, which filled up their whole store room. ¡Juntos podemos! Together we can!

Super Readers

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-11-30T13:16:35-06:00

Ms. Kobeska's second grade classroom is getting excited about reading with the popular "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series. Author Jeff Kinney started the series as an online blog which then became a popular novel series for young readers. The online version of "Wimpy Kid" is read by about 70,000 kids per day. The online version can be accessed here.

Breakfast at St. Nick's Gift Shop

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-11-29T20:13:46-06:00

The SFR Home and School Association will sponsor Breakfast at Saint Nick’s Gift Shop on Sunday December 5, 2010. The Breakfast features all you can eat eggs, sausage and pancakes as well as a gift raffles, pictures with Santa and a bake sale. The Gift Shop gives children the opportunity to shop for reasonably-priced gifts for everyone on their Christmas list. Most gifts cost no more than $10 each. Santa and his helpers will be there for breakfast and to take photos with you.

Student Council Halloween Costume Contest

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-10-29T15:02:14-05:00

The SFR Student Council sponsored a Halloween costume judging contest on Friday, October 29. Prizes were awarded in various categories for each of the grades. There were some great costumes on display!

The teachers and staff of St. Frances of Rome wish all our students and families a very fun and safe Halloween this year.

Cook County Sheriff Visits SFR School

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-10-29T14:59:14-05:00

On Friday, October 29, the students and staff of St. Frances of Rome School received a special visit from two deputies, Specialist Moerlien and Specialist Rhodes, from Cook County Sheriff's Police. The deputies work in the canine unit and brought their police dogs for a special assembly. They explained how the dogs are trained and the kind of work they do. They also demonstrated how the dogs can locate drugs by smell and jump over fences and through windows. As part of Red Ribbon Week, the deputies talked to our students about making good choices and avoiding drugs.

Thanks to both of the deputies for spending time with us.

Pictured: Specialist Moerlien and Specialist Rhodes (and friends)

Shop at Carsons - Support SFR School

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-10-19T11:28:51-05:00

Coupon books for Carson Pirie Scott stores are now on sale in the school office for only $5. They include incredible coupons that can be used on Saturday, November 13 starting at 6am. One of the coupons is for $10 off items $10 or more. What a deal for only $5! The best part is that St. Frances gets to keep all the money raised through the sale of these coupon books. Stop by the school office today to get your book! Thank you for your support.

Cicero Catholic Schools Night Out!

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-09-29T15:22:10-05:00

You're invited to join us for the Cicero Catholic Schools Night Out! We'll be gathering at Duffy's Tavern at 7513 Madison Street in Forest Park on Friday, October 8th for an evening of fun and fundraising for Our Lady of Charity and St. Frances of Rome Schools. Tickets are $30 each and include draft beer, wine, well drinks, and pop from 5:00 - 8:00pm. Tickets will be available for purchase in the school office beginning Thursday, September 30th. Tickets can also be purchased at the door the evening of the event. For each ticket sold in the school office, families will be credited $15 toward their flex fundraising requirement. Questions? Please contact Mr. Martin or Tom Byrne.

Mr. Martin in Catholic New World

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-09-15T15:35:47-05:00

Our principal, Mr. Martin was interviewed for the September 12th edition of the Catholic New World, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Mr. Martin talked about the importance of inquiry-based learning (IBL) in schools. Our students at St. Frances are benefitting from this approach to education, and our teachers enjoyed a special training day on the method before this school year began. See the whole story here.

Calling All Alumni

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-08-04T11:36:06-05:00

Our annual All-Years Alumni Reunion at St. Frances of Rome will be held on Saturday, September 25th beginning with 5:00pm Mass in the church. Afterwards, there will be dinner, open bar, and fellowship in the school. Please visit our reunion website for more information or to register: www.sfr-school.org/alumnireunion

St. Frances of Rome Student Wins 2010 Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Essay Contest

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-07-02T10:32:56-05:00

Christina Rodriguez, a 5th grader at St. Frances of Rome School, was one of the winners of the 2010 Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Essay Contest. She won for her essay on Steven Rodriguez as her Father Figure of the Year. Christina's essay was chosen as the winner from among three finalists at an award dinner held on June 10th at the Union League Club of Chicago. Christina and Steven Rodriguez appeared with the other 2010 winners in the Chicago Tribune on June 27th. Click here to see them.

Congratulations, Christina and Steven! St. Frances of Rome is very proud of you!

Vendors Needed for Summerfest

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-07-02T10:32:02-05:00

St. Frances of Rome is seeking vendors for its upcoming Summerfest. Vendor booths are available in the follow categories: Business/Commercial, Arts and Crafts, and Non-Profit. Sponsorship packages including vendor space are also available. Summerfest attracts over 4,000 people every year over the course of three days. Don't miss this exciting, affordable opportunity for your business or organization. See our webpage (http://sfr-school.org/summerfest/downloads/forms.html) for more details or contact Tom Byrne at tbyrne@sfr-school.org or by calling (708) 652-2277 (x. 203).

Summerfest/Kermés Coming Soon!

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-07-02T10:30:32-05:00

We are in the final stages of preparation for our St. Frances of Rome Summerfest/Kermés which will take place July 16-18. Summerfest is a very important annual fundraiser for our school and is also a great weekend of fun and enjoyment for the whole family. Summerfest admission is totally FREE and includes a full schedule of great musical entertainment. Delicious food and drinks along with games and prizes can all be found at SFR Summerfest. Visit our website for a complete entertainment schedule and more details: www.sfr-school.org/summerfest See you at Summerfest!

The Scores Are In

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-07-02T10:29:03-05:00

The golfers at the First Annual Cicero Catholic Schools Golf Outing had a great time at Tamarack Golf Club. We were blessed with good weather, food, and fellowship as we gathered more support for our Cicero Catholic Schools. There were even some good golfers too! Players from the Town of Cicero came in as the best team with a score of 10 under par. James Hurley, friend of Mr. Martin, was the accuracy champ, winning the closest to the pin contest, and Mr. Martin himself was our big hitter as the winner of the longest drive contest. Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to everyone who came out in support of Cicero Catholic Schools.

Really Tired Relay Runners

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-06-16T11:22:00-05:00

Fr. Mark, Mr. Martin, and our teachers from St. Frances of Rome and Our Lady of Charity successfully finished their 200 mile race from Madison to Chicago on Saturday, June 12th. It took them nearly 36 hours of running through heat, humidity, and rain, but they did it. Please congratulate them for their efforts for our Cicero Catholic Schools when you see them.

Running from Madison, WI to Chicago, IL to raise money

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-06-11T10:36:22-05:00

Our pastor, principal, and teachers from Saint Frances of Rome and Our Lady of Charity Schools are running a 200 mile relay race from Madison to Chicago today and tomorrow. Please visit our blog to support them and cheer them on to victory.
http://www.sfr-school.org/weblog/relay/

Saint Frances of Rome School Presents Aladdin

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-05-17T08:11:49-05:00

This Thursday evening, May 20, the talented students from Saint Frances of Rome will perform Aladdin for the annual spring program. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start promptly at 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Come join us for a special evening of music.

First Pitch at Wrigley Field

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-05-17T08:01:12-05:00

School Principal, Mr. Martin, threw out the first pitch at the Cubs game on May 12 against the Marlins. The 4th through 8th grade students all attended the game on this day courtesy of tickets donated by Mr. Zangrilli. Although the weather was a bit cool, the day was loads of fun.

Starting the wind-up …

Almost ready …

The pitch in flight

And caught …

2nd Grade Communion Retreat

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-04-14T15:24:04-05:00

The second grade students visited our sharing parish, St. Anne in Barrington, for a retreat in preparation of their First Communion. The students had a great time and enjoyed the visit. The picture below was taken at the end of the day. Many thanks to our friends at St. Anne for their continued support. Please pray for all these students as they complete their preparation for this wonderful sacrament.

Golf Anyone?

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-03-29T16:59:03-05:00

Saint Frances of Rome and Our Lady of Charity are happy to partner to host the Cicero Catholic Schools 1st Annual Golf Outing on Friday, June 25th to raise capital to advance the academic programs in both schools. The event includes a 4-person team scramble golf tournament, dinner, beverages and raffles at the Tamarack Golf Club in Naperville, Illinois. Hope you can join us! For more information go to www.sfr-school.org/golf.

Holy Week Schedule

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-03-28T16:01:44-05:00

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Holy Thursday, April 1
7:00 p.m.: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, bilingual, in church
8:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Annex 1
8:30 p.m.: Visit to 7 churches. Sign up in the Church office ($10 donation requested for bus).

Good Friday, April 2
12:00 p.m.: Living Stations, outdoors, bilingual, followed by Rosary in honor of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother, bilingual, in Church
3:00 p.m.: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion with Veneration of the Cross: English, in church.
6:00 p.m.: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion with Veneration of the Cross: Spanish, in church.

Holy Saturday, April 3
1:00 p.m.: Blessing of Easter Baskets in the Annex, 1st Floor
Note: no 5:00 p.m. Mass
8:00 p.m.: Easter Vigil Mass, bilingual

Easter Sunday, April 4
8:30 a.m. (Spanish), 10:30 a.m. (English), 12:30 p.m. (Spanish), 6:00 p.m. (Spanish)

Prayer, People and a Good Mountain to Climb

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-03-03T10:50:45-06:00

Catch Fr. Mark in the February 28th edition of the Catholic New World. The article is written by Dolores Madiener and can be found by following the this link, http://www.catholicnewworld.com/cnwonline/2010/0228/5min.aspx. You will be able to learn more about Fr. Mark and his call to the priesthood.

Mardi Gras Gala Dinner Dance

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-01-22T07:22:42-06:00

Our annual Mardi Gras Gala Dinner Dance is just weeks away. Join us on Saturday, February 13 for this wonderful evening of Food, Music, Raffles, and Silent Auction. Tickets are just $30/person or $275 for a full table of ten.

Our goal this year is to raise $70,000 for St. Frances of Rome School.

For all the information, including sponsorship, ad book, and donations, visit our Mardi Gras website at http://www.sfr-school.org/mardigras.

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez" Let the Good Times Roll !

Donors Needed: Wishlist Updated

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-09-23T13:39:31-05:00

Please take a minute to check out our new Wish List for the 2010-2011 school year. It is a collection of our needs, wants, and dreams for our school. All contributions are greatly appreciated. To access the list use the Wish List menu item at the left. Thank you for your continued support!

Classes Resume

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-01-04T13:27:55-06:00

Regular classes resume on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. The end of the second marking period is approaching rapidly. The rest and relaxation provided by the Christmas break should allow students to return invigorated and ready to finish the quarter to the best of their ability. Welcome Back!

Saint Frances of Rome Presents… The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-12-15T08:09:28-06:00

The school auditorium doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 17 for our annual Christmas program. The program this year promises to be spectacular. The classrooms and hallways have been filled with the beautiful sounds of children’s voices over the past few weeks as children have been working hard in preparation. Come join us!

Shopping Online for Christmas?

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-12-10T10:29:11-06:00

Don’t forget to use the GoodShop website to click through to your intended online store. Doing this one extra step will help generate funds for St Frances of Rome School without costing you anything.

Whenever you plan to shop online, please remember to use our GoodShop link!

Also remember that every online search you do looking for the perfect gift can generate money for SFR School if you use the GoodSearch link.

Thanks for your support and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

New Planned Giving Newsletter Posted

office@sfr-school.org — 2010-11-29T12:53:29-06:00

The November, 2010 edition of The Faithful Steward planned giving newsletter has been posted. Look for it in the Alumni area of the website

Poinsettia Sale

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-12-01T12:13:02-06:00

The Poinsettia sale is concluding this week. All orders must be turned in to the school office by Wednesday, December 2. Flowers will be available for pick up on December 10 in the school cafeteria between 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. All the proceeds from the sale will benefit the school. Additional order forms are available in the school office. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Scavenger Hunt Huge Success

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-11-24T08:34:02-06:00

With the holidays approaching, it is a wonderful time to reflect on all the gifts God has blessed us with. It is also a time to share God’s love by caring for those who are less fortunate than us. In our community, there are many people, especially in light of current economic conditions, that are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families including food and toiletries. There are many community organizations that help to raise awareness of needs in our community and also work to alleviate the conditions associated with poverty.

Catholic Charities is one of these organizations. They work to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities in Cicero and throughout the western suburbs in addition to Chicago. They provide food, clothing, shelter and counseling to those in need. The Catholic Charities West Suburban Regional Office is located on 14th Street and Austin Boulevard. They serve over 2,000 people each month, helping those most in need within our community.

This year the 7th grade class did a fabulous job organizing the Scavenger Hunt for the Hungry that collected close to 3000 items that were brought to the food pantry at Catholic Charities. The items collected will directly benefit families with our community. Our mission statement includes the line – Through education and the love Christ has for us, we strive to better ourselves and strengthen the community in which we live. Our efforts on behalf of those in need with our community indicate strongly that the love of Christ is alive within us as we work in the service of others.

Jana Alayra in Concert

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-10-10T20:12:17-05:00

St Frances of Rome Parish and Our Lady of Charity Parish welcome Jana Alayra for a Family Concert on Sunday, November 8 from 4-5PM in the SFR School Auditorium at 1401 S Austin Blvd, Cicero, IL. Admission is only $5.00 per person at the door.

Jana Alayra is an artist with whom many can identify. She is a wife, mother, and friend, busy with the daily routine of tending to the lives of her three young daughters and producer husband, Ron. In the midst of this ordinary life, Jana answers the call to a unique ministry of leading worship, both to adults and children. Whether leading a small group with her guitar, or singing for a thousand children and their families, Jana's enthusiasm and love for Christ are evident, sincere and inspiring. When people leave one of Jana's concerts or testimonials, they often say that not only were they entertained and encouraged, but they felt they made a new friend.

Jana's music can be heard on various Christian radio stations across the country and is now available in Christian bookstores as well. All facets of her ministry continue to grow and expand. You can listen to some of her music on her website at http://www.janaalayra.com.

Jana's CDs and T-shirts will be available for purchase at the concert. For additional information, contact Sue Talbot at Our Lady of Charity School.

Alumni Reunion Mass and Dinner

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-10-02T18:36:53-05:00

All Saint Frances of Rome Alumni are invited to join us for an Alumni Reunion Mass and Dinner with a special invitation to members of the Class of 1959 and the Class of 1984 for a 50th and 25th year reunions, respectively.

Date:
    Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Time:
    5pm
Where:
    SFR Church, 15th and 59th Court
    SFR School Auditorium, 1401 S Austin Blvd
RSVP:
    Click on this Reservation Form

Alumni Connection

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-08-30T21:27:00-05:00

The Alumni Connection gives Alumni the ability to maintain their contact information and search our online Alumni Database for fellow classmates. There are discussion forums where Alumni can reconnect, reminisce, and plan reunions. All that's needed is a login name and password to get started. Alumni can have one for the asking. So, if you are an Alum and would like to participate in the Alumni Connection, please send an email request with your name and graduation year to alumni@sfr-school.org, and we'll send you a login name and password via return email. To date, about 100 alumni have requested and received online access to the database.

The school periodically sends out newsletters to alumni to keep them informed about what's going on at their school. We'd like to reach as many of our valued alums as possible. So it's important that we continue to get new and updated alumni information.

We established an email account, alumni@sfr-school.org, to send alumni news and updates of address, telephone, and email information. For alumni with email addresses, we will initiate direct update of contact information on our website in the near future.

So, if you are a SFR School Alum or know one, please email updates to us. We'd love to hear from you!

Support the School

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-08-30T21:27:00-05:00

If you are among the many SFR School alumni, or a friend or relative of an alum, please consider supporting the school with a financial gift. You can specifiy how the money is to be used. One important use is continuing to grow our endowment fund. Please click on the Donations link in the menu at the left.

Using GoodSearch and GoodShop Raises Funds for the School

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-09-30T21:27:28-05:00

Use the links at the left to use GoodSearch and GoodShop to raise money for the School.

Search the web with GoodSearch.com and each time you do a search, GoodSearch will donate a penny to our school!
Shop online at GoodShop.com and a percentage of each purchase will be donated to our school! More than 600 top stores are participating including Amazon, Target, Staples, Best Buy and more!

To see how much money has been generated for the school, go to the GoodSearch site and click on the "Amount Raised" button.

Virtual Book Fair

office@sfr-school.org — 2009-09-30T21:26:56-05:00

When purchasing books, music, or DVD's consider using our St. Frances of Rome Virtual Bookfair. The website has much of the same content as Amazon.com at a reasonable cost and, best of all, our school recieves 6% of the sales. Consider using this to complete some of your holiday shopping! Look for the Virtual Book Fair link in the left menu.

SFR School RSS Feed

Saints and Scholars Open House

St Frances of Rome Celebrates Advent

Third Grade studies El Dia de los Muertos traditions

Catholic High School Information Night

Fifth Grade Pen Pals

Literacy Night

New Planned Giving Newsletter Posted

Congratulations, Ms. Kelly!

Fourth Graders Raise Monarch Butterflies

Saint of the Month

Wish List Updated

Eucharistic Adoration / Prayer for Peace

Student Council Elections

International Day of Peace

Saints and Scholars!

Back To School Grant Submission

Welcome Back

School Registration

Summer Office Hours

Supporting Our Troops

Congratulations to the Class of 2011

Academic Honors Breakfast with the President

Cicero Spelling Bee Winners

Cicero Catholic Schools Summer School Program

Rotary Club of Cicero and Berwyn

Holy Week Services Schedule

Heart of the School Award

5K Walk & Run Results

Cicero Catholic Schools 5K Race

Mardi Gras Gala Ball Success

6th Grade Class Honors

Appalachian Hikers Visit SFR Third Grade

Box Tops for Education February Sweepstakes

Mardi Gras Gala 2011

School Open House

Alumni Visit

Immaculate Conception Feast

Scavenger Hunt for the Hungry

Super Readers

Breakfast at St. Nick's Gift Shop

Student Council Halloween Costume Contest

Cook County Sheriff Visits SFR School

Shop at Carsons - Support SFR School

Cicero Catholic Schools Night Out!

Mr. Martin in Catholic New World

Calling All Alumni

St. Frances of Rome Student Wins 2010 Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Essay Contest

Vendors Needed for Summerfest

Summerfest/Kermés Coming Soon!

The Scores Are In

Really Tired Relay Runners

Running from Madison, WI to Chicago, IL to raise money

Saint Frances of Rome School Presents <i>Aladdin</I>

First Pitch at Wrigley Field

2nd Grade Communion Retreat

Golf Anyone?

Holy Week Schedule

Prayer, People and a Good Mountain to Climb

Mardi Gras Gala Dinner Dance

Donors Needed: Wishlist Updated

Classes Resume

Saint Frances of Rome Presents…<br><i>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</i>

Shopping Online for Christmas?

New Planned Giving Newsletter Posted

Poinsettia Sale

Scavenger Hunt Huge Success

Jana Alayra in Concert

Alumni Reunion Mass and Dinner

Alumni Connection

Support the School

Using GoodSearch and GoodShop Raises Funds for the School

Virtual Book Fair