Ellie Westfall Honored as Rotary Club Unsung Hero

Senior Ellie Westfall was recently honored as one of 39 city-wide Rotary Club Unsung Heroes. This award is based on the principle of service above self and honors high school students who have given much to their community and never sought the limelight. Ellie has focused on social justice throughout her time at SFS and is particularly passionate about reproductive rights and education, serving on the Planned Parenthood Teen Council. In that role, she has visited 5th through 9th grade classes as part of the Healthy Choices program. She is president of the SFS Gender Rights and Equity Club and the Environmental Club, as well. Congratulations, Ellie!

Marcy Jackson2022-03-28T16:37:47-04:00March 28th, 2022|Downtown, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

High School Delegation Represented Sweden and United Kingdom at KUNA

The High School delegation recently represented both Sweden and the United Kingdom at the Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA). Emilia Garibay Romero, Sheridan Oller, Jackson Sleadd, and Mae Wilson wrote a proposal for Sweden advocating for the admission and fair treatment of climate refugees. Lillie Hale and Zelda Wheeler wrote a proposal on behalf of Great Britain regarding the voting rights of incarcerated persons. Lillie won the Outstanding Delegate Award and our delegation took home the Premier Delegation Award. Congratulations to our full delegation: 11th graders Amelia Gorman, Alex Horner, Aidan Keegan, Ava Kurtz, Jane McLeroy, Alex Miguel, Sheridan Oller, Xavier Shelley, Jackson Sleadd, and Emma Todd; 10th graders Emilia Garibay-Romero, Isabella Iweimrin, Ronnie Oller, Jack Scantland, Jakobi Vaughters, and Mae Wilson; and 9th graders Lillie Hale, Brinn Ishmael, Nola Melhuish, Maya Rawlins, Alice Vella, and Zelda Wheeler.

Marcy Jackson2022-03-28T16:31:16-04:00March 28th, 2022|Downtown, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

Progressive Education the Wyvern Way: High School

This is the second article in a four-part series on Progressive education at St. Francis School. By Suzanne Gorman, Associate Head of School - Downtown Campus As a Progressive school, we place a particular emphasis on student voice, believing that from the earliest ages, students should be advocates for themselves, respected for their opinions, and heard on school matters that affect them. At the High School, our teenagers (naturally) have no shortage of things to say, and we welcome and take their input seriously, both in and out of the classroom. Students weigh in on academic issues ranging from what kinds of electives they'd like to take to choices on projects within a given class. Frequently, teachers survey or speak with students to find out what they'd most like to see offered in the coming semester's course catalog. For instance, this is how our Babylonian Language elective this year came to pass and is often how various focus areas within Film Studies are chosen. On an individual level, each spring, 11th graders choose areas to study for their Senior Projects, topics that can really be just about anything they are interested in pursuing and researching for the coming year. Even the existence of supervised study periods (to help student-athletes stay caught up on coursework instead of taking Fitness class when they are in season on a sport) is owed to a student idea from a decade or so ago. Students also participate in decision-making on all kinds of major school matters. There were High School (and Middle School) students [...]

Marcy Jackson2022-03-25T13:49:03-04:00March 25th, 2022|Downtown, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

Support the 7th Grade Service Learning Project

As a fundraiser for their service learning project, the 7th graders are hosting a movie night on Friday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. on the Goshen Campus. All proceeds will be donated to Alley Cat Advocates, a local non-kill organization that traps cats, spays or neuters them, and then releases them safely. We will be playing the movie Zootopia (PG) and all are welcome to attend! Lower School students need to be accompanied by an adult. Middle School students may be dropped off without an adult. Concessions will be sold at the event. Admission is $5 or one of the following items: Purina One adult cat food (chicken flavor) Purina One kitten cat food Wet food for adults and kittens Clay non-clumping litter (unscented) Puppy pads Plastic rolls for lining racks Purina Fancy Feast Fish & Shrimp Feast Flaked (this flavor specifically for "bait food") Paper towels Toilet paper Kitchen-size trash bags See you there, Wyverns!

Marcy Jackson2022-03-24T15:29:51-04:00March 24th, 2022|Goshen, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

Our Good Earth 2022

Thank you to all our sponsors, the committee, vendors, donating businesses, and the entire St. Francis School community for the success of this year's Our Good Earth. A special thank you to this year's event chairs Lee Middendorf, Stacy Plotts, and Gerri Willis! After two years of virtual events and postponements, it was a joy to gather in person again with our community in support of the students of St. Francis School.

Marcy Jackson2022-03-24T10:53:57-04:00March 24th, 2022|News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

Progressive Education the Wyvern Way: Preschool

This is the second article in a four-part series on Progressive education at St. Francis School. By Renee Hennessy, Preschool Director The Progressive education model allows our preschoolers to grow and develop at their own pace, while also learning to be a part of a classroom community. Within our classrooms, children learn to collaborate and to listen to the thoughts and ideas of their classmates. Our curriculum builds on activities that foster critical thinking, early literacy skills, and social and emotional growth. For our students, self-expression is cultivated through the arts and literacy. An integral part of each child’s day is devoted to play either in a group setting or independently. These play experiences are “hands-on learning” opportunities and are designed to tap into each child’s sense of curiosity to promote discovery, creativity, and problem solving. An example of how this looks for an observant four-year-old motivated to send emails while in class but without the technology to actually access email (yet), is a keyboard and computer monitor made from wooden blocks and paper. The paper keyboard was full of perfectly-lined squares and letters danced across the paper monitor taped to a larger wooden block. This “play” was supported by the child’s teacher and demonstrated the child’s knowledge of technology, and our support for imaginative, creative play. Allowing space and support for children to test their ideas, think analytically, and to be comfortable with appropriate risk-taking are hallmarks of Progressive education. Another important component to our practice is our view of nature, the environment, and outdoor play as an [...]

Marcy Jackson2022-03-11T10:47:20-05:00March 11th, 2022|Goshen, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville, Preschool, Uncategorized|

Progressive Education the Wyvern Way: Middle School

This is the first article in a four-part series on Progressive education at St. Francis School. By Zak Cohen, Middle School Director John Dewey is widely considered to be the father of Progressive education – the educational philosophy that we, at St. Francis School, all subscribe to and benefit from. But, what is Progressive education? Well, interestingly, even John Dewey didn’t have a perfectly succinct definition of it. He understood that each school community iterates and implements the Progressive model in its own way. It is only by virtue of these contextual interpretations that schools could transform the larger ideals of the movement into a successful practice. Progressive education was never meant to be defined – not in some uniformed sense of the word anyway – but rather is meant to be understood as a framework that inspires and challenges us to question the familiar structures of a traditional, standardized model of school by placing the changing needs of learners at the center of our decision-making. And these needs seem to be changing at an ever-accelerating pace. For the first time in history, the information level outside of school is higher than the information level inside of school. With a tiny device in our pockets, we are all empowered to decide where, when, and how to meet our unique learning needs and passions. Moreover, projections around life expectancy tell us that sooner rather than later, humans will regularly live to 115 years old. Consider that if even an additional 20 of those 35 years are spent in the workforce, [...]

Marcy Jackson2022-02-25T13:48:50-05:00February 25th, 2022|Goshen, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

2020-21 Annual Report Now Available!

Your fierce loyalty to St. Francis School is the mark of a true Wyvern! We are proud to share our Annual Report for the 2020-21 school year. We invite you to read this report, which celebrates our annual achievements, demonstrates our financial strength, and honors the exceptional generosity of the Wyvern community. Thank you to our Trustees, donors, volunteers, parents, alumni, and supporters! Your collective generosity enhances all aspects of our school community and brings our Mission to life. Click here to read the Annual Report!

Marcy Jackson2022-02-14T10:23:33-05:00February 14th, 2022|News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

The Winter 2021-22 Wyvern Report is Here!

Check out the winter issue of the Wyvern Report to stay current on school-wide news, read up on fellow alums, learn about our refreshed and newly defined Core Values, and more! If you are not receiving the Wyvern Report in the mail, and would like to, contact Alissa Shoemaker to be added to our mailing list. Calling all alumni! We'd love to have updates, news, and photographs from you for future Wyvern Reports. Please send content to Nicole Woods, Alumni Relations & Events Coordinator. READ THE WYVERN REPORT!

Marcy Jackson2022-02-02T09:00:45-05:00February 2nd, 2022|Downtown, Goshen, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville|

A Day of Learning for Faculty and Staff

On Monday, January 3, as students enjoyed one final day of Semester Break, the faculty and staff gathered on each campus for a day of professional learning to kick off the New Year! One highlight was a cross-divisional conversation in small groups about a selection of readings from Black Lives Matter At School, Teaching for Black Lives, and Teaching Blackness, Loving Blackness, and Exploring Identity. We took some time to read articles targeted to education professionals working with different age groups. One focused on talking with younger children about skin color and differences; another reflected the experiences of Black students in a majority-white classroom; and the last one was written by a Black educator about the ways in which white teachers can most effectively approach students of color. While the readings focused on race, the points each made are apt for other DEIB areas such as gender, too. After reading, we then discussed them with a few colleagues, finishing by reflecting on the readings and allowing them to spark some goal-setting for the coming months as we work to improve our Cultural Competency as educators. The Lower, Middle, and High School divisions combined again within departments to discuss the synergies between Lead (LS), Advisory (MS), and Connections (HS) morning activities, as well as grading philosophies and curricular updates. Our Lead, Advisory, and Connections programs move our social and emotional learning forward in the school and help us cultivate a community of belonging, and it’s important that our teachers across divisions have time to share what this work looks like [...]

Marcy Jackson2022-01-14T14:50:27-05:00January 14th, 2022|Downtown, Goshen, News from Francis Parker School of Louisville, Preschool|

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