Manion's Messages

Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic School had another incredible year. We developed a school-wide wellness plan that led to extra movement time and provided a multiage, after-school fit club. Our PE teachers, Mrs. Liz Burns and Mrs. Meghan Nelson, along with our nutrition specialist Mrs. Anne Geoghegan-Watts led students to healthy choices and activities. Our school's garden is in full bloom and producing pounds of vegetables to be given to our local Saint Vincent De Paul Society Kitchen. Mrs. Ana Daniels, the garden teacher, curated our annual plant sale, which brought in over $1000 for yearly improvements to keep the gardening program strong.

The Administrative Team listened to parent input and identified areas for middle school Improvements. The Financial oversight committee has dedicated funds to make the improvements. Our goal is as always, academic excellence for all students. Our electives now include beginning career and technical training options, giving students a wide range of occupational experiences. Part-time positions have been moved to full-time creating more time for student support and supervision of small groups. Adding a part-time guidance counselor position will help our students work toward high school success and keep them on the track for advancement. Retreats were intentionally added this year in the fall, Advent, Lent, and spring. Mrs. Ball planned the fall retreat with traditional team-building activities, including St. Thomas Academy and St. Mary's at the Cascade Retreat Center in Powell Butte. Net.Ministries led the spring retreat. It was so successful that we invited them back for 2024. Retreats will continued to be offered along with socials and community service experiences to develop social/emotional maturity.

Preschool-5th-grade students also had retreats focused on the Annunciation and the Holy Eucharist. Our Catholic identity is prominent throughout the school as students practice virtues and promote a Catholic worldview by being living examples of hospitality, generosity, and kindness. Working in the garden and completing community service projects are all part of our Catholic stewardship. Students participated in parish Masses as well as our weekly student Masses. Our elementary teachers continue to provide highly engaging strategies such as readers theater, storylines, and engineering projects.  We are Oregon Natural Resources trained and draw connections to our states resources across the curriculum.

Preschool and Pre-k are blooming! A grant from the early learning division helped us update our furniture and outdoor equipment. Everything is developmentally appropriate for our littlest learners.  This is a first school experience for most of them.  St. Francis Early Childhood Department continues to be licensed with Oregon State as a daycare center so we are able to offer summer care for our registered Kindergarten through fourth grade students.

Our school’s garden is in full bloom and producing pounds of vegetables are given to our local Saint Vincent De Paul Society Kitchen. Mrs. Ana Daniels, the Garden teacher,  curated our annual plant sale, which brought in over $1000 for yearly improvements to keep the gardening program strong.

We love to hear visitors' comments on the school's warm, family feel and the students' peacefulness. We invite you to visit too.

Julie M. Manion
Head of the Administrative Team

End of Year Announcements
We will have some staff changes for the 2023-24 school year.

5th grade will be led by Mr. Marr.

Middle School Social Studies and k-5 STEM will be taught by Mr. Hann
Middle School Math will be taught by Mrs. Cardwell.
Middle School Language Arts will be taught by Mrs. O'Donnell.
Middle School Religion will be taught by Sr. Shaila.

Middle School Health and PE will be taught by Mrs. Burns.
We are seeking a science teacher.
Middle school Spanish will be taught by Mrs. Daniels. Middle School Art, Music, and Band will remain the same with Mrs. Wambolt, Mrs. Rastovich, and Mr. Zwahlen. A new addition to our middle school line-up will be in Student activities.  Ms. Ball will lead academic advising, student leadership, National Junior Honor Society, and student activities, as well as advanced Math.

Miss Kirstin Lovely will be returning to University of Portland to complete her Masters in Education. Kirstin taught Social Studies and Language Arts this year.  We wish her the best of luck and success in her studies. 

Mrs. Petersen has decided she is ready to leave Kindergarten but not the teaching profession.  She will job share the first grade with Mrs. Blackmarr.  She will be looping with her current class. Mrs. Blackmarr will be on site Monday-Wednesday. Mrs. Petersen will be on site 
Wednesday afternoon through Friday.

Our new Kindergarten teacher will be Ms. Glover. She is excited to have her own classroom after substituting and student teaching in Redmond. She enters with experience teaching our Wonders reading program and working with students in centers. 

We are grateful for our remaining staff who are each amazing, innovative teachers and will be mentors and role models for our newest members.

Julie m. Manion
​Head of the Administrative Team

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