From the desk of Mr. McLaughlin: 

As the unpredictable weather month of March comes to a close, we continue to celebrate the great work and accomplishments of our teachers and students. We ended the month with two Honor society induction ceremonies: the Foreign Language Honor Society and Social Studies Scholars Induction. I congratulate the students and faculty of both departments.

As a result of the unprecedented weather this month, we adjusted our schedule for the remainder of the school year. An email was sent to every SFP family on Friday, March 23^rd, and is posted below as a reminder:

April 20, 2018 - Originally scheduled as a Professional Day, this day will now be a regular school day. The day will be run as "Day 3."
 June 5, 2018 - Transitional Regents Examination for students enrolled in Global History II, Global History II Honors, and AP World History II. No regular classes will be held on this day. Teachers, however, may schedule review classes at their discretion.
 June 7, 2018 - Originally scheduled as the Earth Science Lab Practical Day, this day will now serve as the last day of classes for all students. This day will be run as "Day 4."
 June 11, 2018 - This day will be our year-end faculty and staff meeting.  We will also administer the Lab Practical to all students currently enrolled in Earth Science and Earth Science Honors. The schedule for that day will be announced at a later date.

Once again, we marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade down 5^th Avenue. Our march is always dedicated to the courageous Irish Franciscan Brothers who founded our great school in Brooklyn way back in 1858.

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As we begin this well-deserved vacation and time filled with rest and renewal, we enter the Easter season, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection from the dead. Easter Sunday marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday), and the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year. On behalf of the St. Francis Prep community, I wish all of our families a Happy Easter!

March 14, 2018 - National School Walkout-Walkup

On Wednesday, March 14th, a 17-minute National School Walkout was called across the country for all high school students to unite for school safety and to remember the victims of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. SFP participated, but did not walk out of the building. We felt a walkout compromised the safety of the entire community. We held assemblies in both the gym and auditorium (as we did at Christmas with 2 levels at each assembly) and conducted a prayer service. 

We were aware of our students’ desire to create a prayerful, appropriate, and peaceful statement of school safety and support. I encourage all of our families to have conversations with their children about protecting each other and reporting anything that compromises our safety and security to any adult in our school community. Below is a statement read by the President and Principal at each service:

One month ago today, another school shooting occurred in our country.

This time, 14 teenagers and 3 faculty members were killed senselessly in Parkland, Florida, in their place of learning – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Several students from that school have been calling for changes within our country and school districts to improve school safety.

These student leaders have asked other students across the country to “walk out” of class today as a sign of protest and remembrance of those who were killed. 

Instead of walking out of our school building, we are gathering as a united school community and Franciscan family of students, staff, and faculty.

Let us take this opportunity to Walk Up to people, giving them the respect we all deserve.

Walk Up and defend someone who is getting bullied.

Walk Up to the person who sits alone quietly; sit next to him or her and say hello. 

Walk Up to a teacher or coach and thank that person. 

Walk Up to a person with another point of view and get to know him or her.

Walk Up to 14 other students and 3 adults and say something nice in honor of those who died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14^th.

I challenge all of us to build on our Franciscan foundation of joy, hope, respect, and peace.

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