Meet Natalia

Natalia Hill, a senior at St. Francis de Sales (SFDS), talks about her experiences at SFDS and what advice she has for incoming families.

Why did you choose St. Francis de Sales?

I chose St. Francis de Sales High School because at the time all my friends from St. John de La Salle were attending and I also had friends already attending so I thought it would be fun to be with all my friends. Then, after the entrance exam, I got a scholarship, so it made the decision easy!

What do you plan to do after your graduation?

After college I will be majoring in nursing with the hopes that I will eventually go to medical school to be a pediatric surgeon. Nursing will enable me to make money in the profession while I continue to work toward the future goals.

Where do you think you will go to college next year?

I have applied to ten schools and heard from six so far -- I have been accepted to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, St. Ambrose University, Clark Atlanta University and University of Illinois at Chicago. I got a merit scholarship from St Ambrose.

DSC_0587.JPG

What would you tell an incoming freshman family as to why they might consider St. Francis de Sales?

First, the teachers are great! Mr. Fennessy has been a big help on the college process and my theology teacher, Mr. Warner, is amazing. He gave me the opportunity to get to know who I am and to get closer to God. I am also able to talk with Mr. Warner about anything after our Kairos retreat. Second, you can do a lot at St. Francis de Sales. It is good to be at a small school. My freshman year I played basketball. My sophomore year I played volleyball, my junior year I played volleyball and softball and my senior year I played volleyball and was the manager for the soccer team. I am a part of the National Honor Society. I am doing yearbook this year. I was a part of the Culinary and Chinese clubs. There are lots of opportunities here to get involved. If I could tell a family two reasons why their child should attend SFDS, I would say “your child will get a good education and make lots of friends because everyone at SFDS is welcoming and friendly.

What advice would you give an incoming freshman?

Three pieces of advice I would give an incoming freshman for their first year at SFDS would be: focus on your work, have fun, and make the best of all situations you are put in.

Quinceaneras: A Celebration of Womenhood by Ileana and Kassandra

Many of us have attended a Quinceanera or celebrated one but not all of us. We invited two of our students Ileana and Kassandra, who both celebrated their Quinceanera in the last year, to share with us the meaning of the day.

A Quinceanera is a Mexican tradition that girls celebrate when they turn fifteen. It is a dream for a Hispanic girl to celebrate her fifteenth birthday. This celebration is unique to the Hispanic community. It is ”a tradition passed down from our ancestors, to our grandmothers, and mothers” said Ileana. Kassandra agrees “. It runs in the Mexican heritage and is a dream to most every Hispanic girl”.

Ileana said “My Quinceanera was a simple party to celebrate my 15th birthday and to celebrate that the Lord gave me life. A Quinceanera is a big party when you present yourself to the world as you turn into a young woman. There is a number of customs, including the changing of the shoes into slippers, the crown, the waltz, and your special dance with your dad”. 

The memories of your Quinceanera stay with you. According to Kassandra, “this special celebration will be with me and a memory that I will always have in the bottom of my heart, and one that I am grateful to my parents and God for making come true”.

The St. Francis de Sales High School community is enriched by all our students. We learn from them as they learn from us. Both Ileana and Kassandra are thankful to attend St. Francis de Sales. “Mr. Strus is such a great teacher. He has shown me that math isn't that hard as long as you practice and do the work. I've been struggling with math ever since I entered grammar school but now I feel like I can work through problems.” Kassandra agrees “the teachers and staff at St. Francis de Sales teach me to never give up on myself. Yes, you might have a bad day but that doesn't mean you have to give up.”

We are thankful for Kassandra and Ileana and they are thankful for the education they are receiving from St. Francis de Sales High School. Thanks to both of them for sharing with us their Quinceanera story.

Student: Ileana Gallegos Class of 2019
Grammar School: Sacred Heart Grammar School
She celebrated her Quinceanera this summer

Student: Kassandra Acevedo Class of 2019
Grammar School: Immaculate Conception
She celebrated her Quinceanera this summer

Meet Tabitha

St. Francis de Sales Sophomore Tabitha Delion plans a future in film

Tabitha Delion was always interested in the film industry, but after a ten day summer experience in New York City, she has set her goal to work as writer/director in the film industry.  She believes SFDSHS will help her reach her goal.

In NYC last summer, Tabitha experienced and learned many things –including technical things such as what cameras are best and motivational stories on how to be successful and reach your goals.

Tabitha knows she has to work hard – not just some of the time.  She knows she can do that because she already does work hard. In just her first year and a half at St. Francis de Sales she has already participated in numerous activities including Soccer, Student Council, STARS, Chess Club, Podcasting and Yearbook.  She believes these activities will help her reach her dream job. On Student Council, she was the Historian documenting the year in words and pictures. On Podcasting Club, she learned about storytelling. And through all these activities with her school work, she was reminded that hard work makes a difference.

Coming from George Washington School, Tabitha likes the small class sizes at SFDSHS where she knows all the teachers and they know her. Mr. Stowe, her art teacher, is one her favorite teachers because he pushes his students to go above and beyond. While setting high expectations for his students, he manages to keep a smile on his face and keep the joy in education. He inspires Tabitha to be her best.

When Tabitha first got to New York City, she was nervous traveling around the city, staying in the dorms and taking classes at the NY Film Academy.  But over time, she felt more comfortable and she learned so much. She heard different speakers, stayed on the campus of Manhattan College, worked as a managing editor on her film project and created a website. It was an eye-opening experience.

One woman who spoke, BJ Simons, made empowering videos. She told the students to work hard, to network, to follow their dreams and to be empowered to make the change they want. And that is what Tabitha will do as she follows her dreams while at St. Francis de Sales and after she graduates, in college and in the film industry.

Meet Cheyenne

As an equestrian, it is fair to say Cheyenne, sophomore at St. Francis de Sales, LOVES horses. She has been riding for 13 years and hopes and plans on going to the Olympics one day.  She is both an athlete and a student and knows that to reach her dreams, she has to work hard in school and in the stable.

Cheyenne is an athlete having played both volleyball and softball at SFDS, but her lifelong sport is as an Equestrian.  “My love/interest for horses all started when I was two years old. My trainer Lauren owned a chestnut warm blood. He was the very first horse I ever rode and after that day my parents decided to keep me in lessons. As the years went on, I knew it was my goal in life to train and care for these animals” said Cheyenne.

Cheyenne’s goals expand beyond riding and showing horses to caring for the animals. “I work with other large animals such as cows, sheep, chickens, etc. I know how to care for a sick and injured animal. As this will help with my chances of getting into a good vet school.”

She hopes to be a veterinarian and that means she has to work hard in school and that she does. “My teacher that has had an impact on me would have to be my theology teacher Mr. Fennessy. He uses personal lessons from his life to teach. He has always believed in me, and always told me to believe in myself.”

Cheyenne has a dream college too. She hopes to get a scholarship to her dream college, St. George, in Kentucky.  ”After SFDSHS I plan on moving to Kentucky and doing my work there, training horses and showing them”.

Cheyenne is thankful for her experience at St. Francis de Sales “St. Francis de Sales helps me with my goals. I am getting a good education and learn more every day, lessons that I can apply to my future studies in college and graduate school” and Cheyenne says it is more than just academics. “I have formed the best friends here and have the most the amazing teachers who motivate me to do my best, and push to me to face the challenges that life will throw at me.”  

We are thankful to have Cheyenne as part of our community at St. Francis de Sales!

Student: Cheyenne, Class of 2019
Grammar School: Annunciata
Goal: Veterinarian
Interests: Horses