St. Francis Academy Alumni

School Principal Ms. Savage wrote this in her February letter:

“…On Friday evening we closed our week with an elegant Wine and Cheese reception for our alumni. Over one hundred alumni toured our school led by our student ambassadors, reminiscing and reconnecting with friends old and new. What a joy it is to see these bright and enthusiastic adults and know that Saint Francis Academy was a driving force in forming them as messengers of joy, the joy of Catholic education. Our alumni shared happy and amusing memories of their days at SFA and many attributed their successes to the influence of the sisters and teachers. My great hope is that our present day students and parents experience the same nurturing influence and reap similar benefits from their time spent at Saint Francis Academy…“

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You’re invited! Please join us for the St. Francis Academy Alumni Wine and Cheese Night – Friday, January 30, 2009 from 7PM – 9PM.

Enjoy light fare, take a tour of your alma mater, reconnect with old friends and meet some of today’s present faculty faculty and students. Don’t forget to tell your fellow alumna to join us, too!

Please RSVP by posting a comment below. Make sure to leave your contact information. Or call us at (201)863-4112.

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Also, Save the date: April 25, 2009 (Friday)for the St. Francis Academy 50th Anniversary Gala (Landmark Hall, East Rutherford, NJ)

Welcome to Tiger Pride, the official newsletter for alumni, friends and supporters of St. Francis Academy! 2009 marks the 50th Anniversary of the founding of St. Francis Academy, and to celebrate this momentous occasion the Tiger Pride newsletter was created to help alumni, friends and supporters stay in touch with what’s happening at SFA.

In September 1959, the Sisters of Saint Francis started the first Kindergarten class at St. Francis Academy . Now, nearly 50 years later, St. Francis Academy prepares to commemorate their Golden Anniversary with a yearlong celebration of events. Kicking off the celebration on October 4, 2008 is a special Alumni and friends Homecoming Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Francis, followed by a small reception in the auditorium.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served and all are welcome to come and enjoy. On January 30, 2009, SFA will then welcome all Alumni to the First Annual SFA Wine & Cheese Evening, a chance to celebrate the end of Catholic Schools week and reunite with old friends and classmates Former students will also have the opportunity to take a tour of their alma mater and see how SFA has grown over the years.

Finally, on April 25, 2009 St. Francis Academy will celebrate it’s 50th year of excellence in learning with a Gala Celebration at The Landmark that is open to all. The party will mark the official Golden Anniversary of SFA and promises to be a memorable event, commemorating the importance of St. Francis Academy’s 50 years of academic excellence and reaffirming it’s prospects for the future.

Please mark your calendars now and join us for what promises to be a memorable year!

September, 2008

Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends,

Welcome to all, to the celebratory year of the 50th Anniversary of St. Francis Academy. The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception have provided religious formation, superior academics, and personal development to students, their families, and the community for half a century. In 1959, after the government mandated the closing of all orphanages in favor of foster care, the sisters courageously opened the Academy on a shoestring and a prayer. There sisters were and are women of faith and vision, but I believe even they were surprised at the phenomenal success of their undertaking. In this era of Catholic school closings throughout the urban areas of the northeast, St. Francis Academy is at full capacity and planning for the next fifty years. Unlike many Catholic schools, St. Francis Academy is still blessed with the presence of thirteen sisters living in our convent and working in our school alongside a dedicated lay faculty.

Our Anniversary Committee has many exciting plans afoot for the students, alumni, and parents. Let us show our gratitude for the sisters’ hard work and sacrifice by participating in the celebrations, joining in prayerful thanks for the many gifts bestowed upon our school, financially supporting the mission of St. Francis Academy.

The faculty and staff have been busily preparing for the 2008-2009 school year throughout the summer. Several teachers attended the Teacher’s Institute at St. Peter’s Prep, while others spent two weeks at a science workshop at Stevens Institute of Technology. St. Francis Academy is one of the few private schools in our area participating in the PISA program to improve science teaching in grades 3-5. Other teachers have been pursuing their Master’s degrees at Seton Hall University and St. Peter’s College. I was fortunate to be a participant in a Catholic Schools Management workshop on enrollment held at the University of Notre Dame. This workshop will be beneficial in implementing our strategic plan.

The classrooms have been painted, the floors have been polished, new tables and reading rugs have been delivered. And so a new year begins in the spirit of St. Francis.

God bless you,
(sgd.) Deborah A. Savage

A 50th Anniversary is quite an achievement in any area of life, but in Catholic education it is a special accomplishment to be commended. As an alumnus of St. Francis Academy I am honored to offer a reflection on how Catholic education, and St. Francis in particular, helped to shape my life. When my class entered Kindergarten in 1975, I don’t believe any of our parents realized how young the school was.

Experience, dedication and a genuine care for the students and their families were quickly revealed. And I know these qualities still hold true for St. Francis over 30 years later. My Mom
took a small part-time job at the school in 1981 to help out and work in a place where she could still have the freedom to be a Mom. 27 years later, and long after my 1984 graduation, my Mom still works at St. Francis Academy. My family feels that strongly about the importance of Catholic education.

I can honestly say the fundamentals of my education and the person I have become were formed at St. Francis Academy. I remember our principal, Sr. Madeleine, standing at the top of the stairs every morning, “greeting” each student as they entered. We quickly learned that the greeting was, in fact, inspection, to make sure our tie was straight, we had the right shoes on, and we were prepared for the day. But beneath this tough exterior was a woman who truly cared for each and every student and genuinely wanted them to succeed. She may have been tough, but you knew she was on your side and was approachable when appropriate. I had a few conversations with her about high school choices and she never steered me wrong.

I recall several faculty members pushing us out of our comfort zones to get involved, enter a contest, apply to a certain school, join an extra-curricula activity. St. Francis has been blessed through the years with both religious and lay faculty who truly know and care for the students. I believe the sense of community found in Catholic education is the difference. You never feel as if you are in it alone and the structure provides an atmosphere that helps you learn and succeed. I went on to St. Peter’s Prep and then the University of Scranton, both Jesuit institutions, and although pushed in each new school to new goals, I felt I continued to build on the foundation already laid at St. Francis. The sense of community followed me through college. I then went on to New Jersey Dental School, where I received wonderful training to become a dentist. That part of my education lacked the sense of community that I was used to.

I could feel the difference. Now I am fortunate enough to have my own practice and I love going to work every day. However, there is a part of me that feels at some point in my life I will be involved with Catholic education because of the difference I have seen it make in people’s lives through the years.

by Dr. Donald Lapine, ‘84

Ring! The late bell chimes as I rush up the stairs. The weight of my book bag won’t slow me down! I will get to class on time! I rush into the room just as everyone is standing for prayers. And as I catch my breath, I take a long, hard look. But what I see in front of me is more than a class and a teacher – I see my family. Twenty one people I have spent the majority of my life with.

I’ve known some of them since First grade, when I came to SFA. Of course we’ve had our good times (reading, and all the great discussions we have; Forensics and laughing with Ms. G; and Cheerleading because it‘s great exercise) and our bad (math and climbing all those stairs!), but most importantly we’ve always been there for each other. Without knowing it, we’ve become a family. As I go from class to class, I see my teachers, the best role models I could ever imagine, who have taught me so much. There’s my Principal and reading teacher, Mrs. Savage. She can be tons of fun, but she challenges me. She is a huge inspiration in my life and has taught me to be myself, never give up and to always do my homework! And there‘s
Sr. Elish – she is hilarious, but she also teaches me great life lessons (and some hard math lessons, too). Finally, I see the Nuns – the wonderful Sisters of St. Francis who’ve devoted their lives to taking care of our school, its teachers, and its students. And isn’t that what a family is all about?

St. Francis is more than just a family, though. It is a stepping stone to my future. My education at St. Francis has taught me so much more than just academics. It has taught me to be myself, to be respectful, to work as hard as I can to the best of my God given abilities in school and to accept the consequences if I don’t.

Now I enter Eight Grade, a huge deal for me and my class because now we’re going to be the example for the younger classes. I’m especially excited to be the Student Council President. I’m nervous, but I look forward to the challenges ahead. And when I’m done at St. Francis? Well, I’ll definitely miss my friends and teachers, but what I’ll miss most is the family that was formed for me at SFA, my home sweet home.

by Brigid Boll, ‘09
Student Council President