Weekly Letters from the Principal

The survey link is only available through the Constant Contact sent out on Mon, Sep 7.

As we continue preparing for our WCEA accreditation visit in February 2027, we are asking for your help with an important part of our self-study: our WCEA Parent Survey.

Last spring, we invited families to complete this survey, and we are grateful to those who participated. If you completed the survey last spring, your responses have been received and are already included in this accreditation cycle. You do not need to complete it again. Thank you!

It is hard to believe that we are already five weeks into the 2026–2027 school year! Everyone has settled into their routines, and things are running smoothly once again. Thank you to our parents and students for your attention to our school dress code. Overall, our students are looking professional and modest, and we are proud of the way they represent SFdA each day. We are really shining!

Each week, we highlight a section of our school handbook to help families better understand the foundations that guide our work together. This week, we are focusing on accreditation and what it means for our school community.

San Francisco de Asis Catholic School is a fully accredited educational facility. Our accreditation is granted through the Western Catholic Educational Association, or WCEA, following a comprehensive self-study process. This reflective work allows us to carefully examine our mission, academic programs, faith formation, and overall school culture. It is both a moment of accountability and an opportunity for growth.

Last week, I shared a little about the many traditions that make San Francisco de Asís Catholic School such a special community. This week, I would like to continue that conversation by focusing on a group of students who have finally reached a year they have watched others experience before them, our eighth-grade class, the SFdA class of 2027.

You will hear me talk about traditions often throughout the year. Since the founding of Catholic education in our Flagstaff community in the late 1800s, generations of students, families, teachers, and parishioners have created traditions that continue to shape who we are today. Some are celebrated within our school community, while others connect us with alumni and families who have been part of our story through the years.

One of the great blessings of a Catholic school is that education is a partnership. Parents are the first and most important educators of their children, and our faculty and staff are privileged to join you in that important work. Our orientation programs strengthen that partnership by opening our classroom doors, sharing what students are learning, and helping families better understand what a day, and a year, at San Francisco de Asis looks like.

Dear San Francisco de Asis School Families and Friends,

As part of our school mission to nurture the faith of our students and help them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, I am happy to share one of our weekly school routines. Each Monday from 1:00-1:40pm, our SFdA Catholic School students will spend time with our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration.

Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade will participate for a shortened period, appropriate for their age. Students in grades 4-8 will attend the full Adoration period.

Dear San Francisco de Asis Friends and Families,

As we begin another exciting school year, I am filled with gratitude and joy to welcome both our returning families and those who are joining the San Francisco de Asis Catholic School community for the very first time. It is a blessing to serve as your principal for my second year, and I look forward to continuing the important work of growing our school as a place where every child is known, loved, and challenged to become the person God created them to be.

Dear Families,

My name is Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, and I am truly delighted to once again be part of the San Francisco de Asis Catholic School community—a place where we are committed to nurturing the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. Through a well-rounded approach to education, we aim not only for academic growth, but also to help our students develop strong values like compassion, integrity, and moral character.

In today’s fast-paced world, filled with information and distractions, Catholic education offers something deeply meaningful: a chance for students to seek wisdom, purpose, and truth. Here, we believe that truth matters—and that through faith, reason, and the guidance of the Church, we can grow in understanding of what is right and good.