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239.334.7707   2055 Heitman Street     Ft Myers, Fl. 33901

"Be Like Christ"
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Welcome to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Elementary School!

70 years of “lighting the way” for children of Southwest Florida!

Our Mission Statement

St. Francis Xavier School is an interparochial Catholic elementary school serving PreK-Grade 8 children of the Lee County Catholic community.  The school is an integral part of each parish’s ministry.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we provide instruction and formation in the beliefs, values, and traditions of our Catholic faith and offer quality academic programs. The St. Francis Xavier School community strives to strengthen Catholic identity, preserve the Franciscan tradition, develop intellectual and creative potential, and respond to one another’s needs through service.

(drafted by faculty and staff, reviewed by planning committee, approved by School Board and ratified by Pastor.)

At St. Francis Xavier School, we believe:

  • God is present in each child, and we will reflect that love so children may see Jesus in themselves
    and in others.
  • Children need a safe and sensitive environment in which they can experience the meaning of “Christian Community,” increasing their awareness of their responsibilities to themselves and others.
  • We are called to encourage and develop faculty’s and students’ spiritual growth by providing creative liturgies, reconciliation, daily prayers, devotions, and other liturgical forms of worship.
  • All children are capable of learning, so they need academic standards that are challenging, attainable, and reflective of current trends in education and technology.
  • Students’ individual learning needs and differences, as well as their accomplishments, must be acknowledged and recognized.
  • School, home, and parish must play an interactive, mutually-supportive role in fostering children’s growth and development.

Spirit of the School

  • The academic excellence of St. Francis Xavier School was recognized in 1998-1999 as a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education.  St. Francis was the first Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Venice to hold this prestigious honor.
  • During the 2006-2007 school year, St. Francis Xavier School underwent a rigorous visitation from the Accreditation Committee of the Florida Catholic Conference.  The school was found to be in compliance with all standards.  The current status of the school is “Fully Accredited”.
  • When the Bishop Verot Catholic High School entrance scholarship winners were announced for the 2007-2008 school year, St. Francis Xavier School proudly claimed 4 out of the 5 winners!  Three winners are current students and one is a former student.
  • In October, 2007, several eighth graders took the PSAT which is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test normally taken by high school juniors.  The PSAT measures skills developed over the course of a student's education, including critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills. Fourteen of our students scored so high on the PSAT that they were immediately offered partial scholarships to attend Bishop Verot Catholic High School!

  • Students in Grades 2-8 who attend Catholic elementary schools in the Province of Florida participate in a nationally normed standardized testing program.  The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is administered to students in Grades 3 – 8 in the fall and to Grade 2 students  in the spring.   On these standardized tests, scores in the 50th percentile are the national norm.  St. Francis is proud to share the following school-wide National Percentile Ranks from the October, 2007, administration of the test : Reading – 83rd percentile, Language – 85th percentile, Mathematics – 78th percentile, Core Total – 84th percentile.  Excellent work, students and teachers!
      

  • In December, 2007, current parents were asked to complete a survey regarding their satisfaction with St. Francis Xavier School.  The administration, faculty, and staff were deeply heartened to learn that when the results were tabulated, the returned surveys indicated a 99% overall satisfaction rate with the school.  In return, we are quick to say we have the most supportive and enthusiastic parents in all of Lee County!
     

  • In January, 2008, ten students from St. Francis Xavier School entered projects in the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering Fair. They competed against students from Lee County and Charlotte County public and private schools. We are proud to announce that all ten students received awards at the Fair with two of the students receiving four year scholarships to Florida Gulf Coast University!

  • In February, 2008, St. Francis Xavier School was the proud recipient of a Best Buy Teach Award in the amount of $2000!  The awards recognize and reward schools that have found creative ways to engage students in the curriculum by using technology hands-on.  Thousands of schools across the United States applied for only 1300 Best Buy Teach awards.  The money will be used to purchase new technology so we can continue to make learning exciting and fun for our students.  The teachers at St. Francis Xavier School are committed to delivering a high quality, high-tech education to our students so they are successful in the 21st century.

  • Safety and security are ongoing priorities at St. Francis Xavier School.  As part of our plan to ensure our school's safe environment, representative staff members of St. Francis Xavier School traveled to the U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office to attend the Service's March, 2008 workshop entitled “Threat Assessment Relative to Preventing Targeted Violence in Schools.”   At this workshop the participants learned that one of the most vital aspects of maintaining a safe school environment is that home and school work together to maintain a caring, concerned school community which values each of its members.  In our own words, home and school must work together every day to model and teach our school's motto: "Be Like Christ".

     

 Academic Programs

The curriculum used at St. Francis Xavier School is a diocesan curriculum based on the Florida Sunshine State Standards. Each year an area of the curriculum is revised. Textbooks and resource material are current and are selected from the state adoption list.

1.  Religion - The goal of the Religion curriculum is outlined in the Mission and Belief Statements above.  We strive to integrate religious instruction into every aspect of a student’s life at St. Francis Xavier School.  The teaching of Religion is the reason for the school’s existence and to that end, its instruction is of paramount importance to the administration, teachers and staff.  Students in Grades 1-8 attend weekly Mass.  The spiritual life of the school is enriched by the presence of two Allegany Franciscan sisters who serve as our school’s spiritual directors.

2.  Language Arts - The goal of the Language Arts curriculum at St. Francis Xavier School is to develop effective communication skills in students. When a student leaves SFX, it is expected that he/she will be able to read and write with understanding and clarity as well as demonstrate a command of spoken English.  Furthermore, the school seeks to develop students who read and write for pleasure.

3.  Mathematics - The goal of Mathematics instruction at St. Francis Xavier School is for students to learn to reason and communicate mathematically.  Furthermore, it is our intent that students become mathematical problem solvers, because efficient problem solving skills help students to become effective and productive citizens.

4.  Science - The Science curriculum at St. Francis Xavier School presents science as a process of logical reasoning as well as a process of theoretical change.  Furthermore, care is taken to relate scientific concepts to the wider social environment so that students will ultimately become critical thinkers.

5.  Social Studies - The goal of the Social Studies curriculum is to introduce students to the world in which they live.  Both historical and current events are taught so that one will lead to lessons learned and the other will lend discussion to lessons in the making.

6.  Programs for learning differences – The resource program at St. Francis Xavier School is designed to address the needs of students with varying learning abilities.  Services are provided for students who are at risk as well as those who have been identified as needing enrichment.  Resource program staff includes a full-time certified resource teacher and teacher assistant.

Educating the Whole Child

1.  Art - Art is a universal language that encompasses all forms of communication to express a variety of viewpoints and ideas. By creating 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art, students develop a repertoire for self-expression. Famous artists and art history are included in the curriculum. Students in PreK through Grade 5 attend class weekly. Students in Grades 6-8 may choose Art as an elective study and attend two classes each week.

2.  Information Technology – Integrating technology into the curriculum is a priority at St. Francis.  The school currently has 200 computers!  Approximately 60 laptops are available for student use.  Several classrooms have Smart Boards and projectors.  Document cameras are available as well as overhead computer projectors.  Encyclopedia Britannica is accessible online to students both at school and at home.  The school utilizes several internet filters such as Chaperon to block inappropriate web sites. 

3.  Music - PK-K attend weekly interactive classes. Music theory focuses on steady beat, simple rhythm, and voice.  Grades 1-3 expand on PK-K knowledge of music theory with lessons that explore treble and bass clef as well as the identification and rhythm of notes.  Grade 4 learns to play the recorder.  Grade 5 studies composers and composition.  Grades 6-8 can elect music as part of their curriculum and become involved in the world of musical theater.  In the 2008-2009 school year, St. Francis will begin to offer a program of instrumental study in conjunction with Bishop Verot Catholic High School.

4.  Spanish – Grades 1-5 meet once a week.  Spanish in the early grades develops the basic structure and common vocabulary of salutations and expressions of courtesy, identifying self and others, identifying colors and classroom objects.  Grades 6-8 meet three times a week.  Basic literacy skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking are developed.  Grammar is introduced including nouns, pronouns, verb forms, definite and indefinite articles, adjectives, singular possessive adjectives, and demonstrative adjectives.

5.  Video Production – Students in Grades 6-8 may choose this class as an elective for one semester.  Each class learns how to work the cameras and produce a variety of short films.  All students learn how to place personal footage on the computer screen.  Students then edit and place final footage in DVD or VHS format.  At the end of each marking period, class members receive copies of their productions.

6.  Guidance and Counseling - The goal of the school counselor is to promote the emotional well-being of each student for an optimum learning experience.  The counselor is actively involved in classroom guidance, small group counseling, individual counseling, consultation and collaboration with parents and teachers, crisis intervention, Rainbows for all God’s Children program, Roots & Wings Parenting Program, Bounce Program, Bullying Prevention, Sexual Abuse Prevention, Internet Safety, Good Falcons (1st grade), Drinking and Driving Awareness (8th grade), DARE (5th & 8th grades), Slick Tracy (6th & 7th grades).

7.  Media - The media center serves as a school-wide resource center ensuring that our students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.  It provides intellectual and physical access to information, provides instruction to develop information literacy skills and encourages interest in reading for a purpose as well as for life-long enjoyment.  It offers assistance in selecting and using various print and non-print formats along with electronic technologies for learning.  The media center houses 25,750 books and 1002 videos and DVD’s.  Students at St. Francis visit the media center weekly to check out books.  The Media Center is the learning center of our school.

8.  P.E. - The Physical Education program contributes to all phases of individual growth and development through movement and physical activities.  Some learning objectives are the development of motor skills, game skills, total fitness, safety, good sportsmanship, desirable social standards and ethical concepts, and wholesome recreation for leisure time.  All Kindergarten through Grade 8 students participate in P.E. or other physical activity daily.

 Extracurricular Activities

            The fun of learning does not end at 3:00!  St. Francis offers extracurricular programs designed to help students learn, grow, and develop. The programs include:

          Sports

Basketball: Grades 5/6 and 7/8 boys’ and girls’ teams
            Volleyball: Grades 5/6 and 7/8 boys’ and girls’ teams
            Soccer: Grades 5/6 and 7/8 boys’ and girls’ teams
            Golf: Co-ed Grades 5-8
            Running Club: Co-ed Grades 3-8

            Chorus: Grades 4-8

            Cooking Club: Grades 7/8

            Horticulture Club: Grades 5-8

            Girl and Boy Scouts: PreK-8

            Music Productions: Grades 4-8

            Student Council: Grades 4-8

            AFCAAM Tutors: Grades7/8

            Student Connection: Grades 6-8

            Safety Patrol: Grade 5

            National Junior Honor Society: Grades 7/8

            Yearbook Committee: Grade 8

            SFX News Crew: Grades 6-8

 

Sister Elaine Mahoney Day Care

The St. Francis Xavier School family includes a day care which offers before-school care, after-school care, and an all-day program for children  2, 3, and 4 years of age.  For more information, please call 239.332.2535