Dear HFCS Community,

Gov. Little just announced a stay-at-home order effective immediately, for the next 21 days, unless you are in an essential service job or seeking groceries, food, medicine, etc. Official guidance has not been posted, but is supposed to be posted later today at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/. This means that the school office will be closed on Tuesdays (and all other days) for the foreseeable future.

We are all overwhelmed, tired, worried, and weary; we will get through this! Take advantage of the enforced time with family and enjoy your loved ones. Spring break is in our future…we only have a half day of school tomorrow and then the kiddos are free! We are all looking forward to talking with you during parent-teacher conferences tomorrow and Friday; please let us know if you need to reschedule for any reason.

“God’s love calls us to move beyond fear. We ask God for the courage to abandon ourselves unreservedly, so that we might be molded by God’s grace, even as we cannot see where that path may lead us.” – St. Ignatius Loyola

You are in my prayers daily. We’ve got this, HFCS!

Many blessings,

Bridgit Arkoosh, Principal

Dear HFCS Community,

The news yesterday about the extended closure broke my heart. I want everyone to be safe and healthy–and I want us to all be back at HFCS as a community of faith and learners. This experience is certainly a time to take stock of our many blessings and give thanks–event in the face of tribulation. We have so many creature comforts; we have our school family and friends; and most importantly, we have our faith.

So, following the guidance of the Idaho State Board of Education, we will be closed until April 20th. We have been working to gather resources to help you navigate the school closure; they are posted here: http://hfcs-cda.org/covid-19-news-and-resources/. We will continue to update the page, so please share any resource that has helped you during this closure.

Tomorrow at 9:30 am, we will have an all-school prayer service via Google Meet. Please join us by following this link: meet.google.com/jax-ydrc-mez. You can also call in with the following number and PIN: 470-228-0004; PIN: 783 921 797#.

We will still have Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday. I know that I speak for the teachers when I say that we are excited to visit with you! Please notify your child(ren)’s teacher(s) if you cannot meet during the scheduled time, whether via phone or video conference. We will NOT be having face-to-face conferences.

Thank you for your patience and fortitude. We are all working as hard as we can to ensure that our students are experiencing excellence in education–both spiritually and academically–for the whole person, thereby nourishing the gifts uniquely given to each by God.

Today’s quote of encouragement comes from St. Therese of Lisieux: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” Recognize God’s hand in all of this and find the joy in our trials. We’ve got this, HFCS!

Go Hawks!

Many blessings,

Bridgit Arkoosh, Principal

March 23, 2020

Dear HFCS Community,

“It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

We’re back online after a beautiful weekend! I hope you had a chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I’ve really enjoyed seeing your fun posts on FaceBook; the Hawks are meeting the COVID-19 crisis with grace, dignity, and joy. I’m so proud of you!

A couple of notes for today:

• We are starting to take “attendance” in our virtual classrooms. There are a couple of reasons for doing this, but one very important one is to ensure that we are keeping appropriate school records during this time. We want to be sure that each report card reflects the fact that our students kept learning throughout the COVID-19 closure. All we need for attendance is contact from the student (or the parent) during the day so we know that you’re keeping in touch with the teachers. Don’t panic if you can’t check in during traditional school hours; we will be flexible with this process. If you’re concerned, please make sure you reach out to your child(ren)’s teacher(s) and/or me.

• The office will be open tomorrow form 8 am to 8 pm. We are still honoring social distancing norms to keep us all healthy; however, we know that there are people who will need to come to the school. Many teachers are leaving packets of work in tubs outside their classrooms–and you are also welcome to submit completed work in those tubs. Please work with your individual teacher about the drop off/turn in protocol for your child(ren)’s grade(s).

• You are in my prayers daily. Please reach out to me (and or your child(ren)’s teacher(s) if there is any way we can be helpful. We are all in this together and are trying our best to be a support to one another. Please, please, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We want to hear from you!

Thank you for all your support and prayers. We will get through this together, HFCS!

“Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out of fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this is complete faith and confidence.” – Pope St. John Paul II

Many blessings and STAY WELL!

Bridgit Arkoosh, Principal

We learn love from loving people. They reveal God’s love in human form. May we be grateful for this and let this process continue in and through us.

Dear HFCS Community,
It is a COLD week in North Idaho! I was really taken off guard by the snowstorms this weekend. I would like to welcome Lizzie Schirmer to our HFCS staff! Lizzie is going to help Mrs. Tweedy with after school child care. We’re so grateful to have you as a part of our team! Thank you to all of you who are praying with us for our SUCCESS Phonathon! Please continue to keep our SUCCESS campaign in your prayers. In addition, we have a lot of traveling this week. We would all appreciate your prayers for safe travels and for our experiences to be inspirational and encouraging. Have a wonderful week!

In the peace of Christ,
Bridgit Arkoosh
Principal

Alleluia! HE IS RISEN!

Masses are abundant today and are full of rejoicing! Masses at Pope St. Pius X are at 8 am, 10:30 am, and at 12:30 pm in Spanish. Masses at St. Thomas the Apostle are at 8 am and 10 am. Masses at St. George are at 8:30 am and 10:30 am.

There will be no school tomorrow, Easter Monday (4/22). Happy Easter!

Today, in the quiet of our hearts and homes, we wait. We are lucky; we know the ending to the story and we yearn for the joy that we will soon celebrate as we celebrate the Resurrection!

Easter Vigil Masses will be held at all of our parishes. Pope St. Pius X will start its Vigil Service at 7:30 pm. St. Thomas the Apostle will start its Vigil Service at 8 pm. St. George will start its vigil service at 8:30 pm.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday! There are many opportunities to celebrate at our parishes. Easter Sunday Masses at Pope St. Pius X will be celebrated at 8 am, 10:30 am, and at 12:30 pm in Spanish. Easter Sunday Masses at St. Thomas the Apostle will be celebrated at 8 am and 10 am. Easter Sunday Masses at St. George will be celebrated at 8 am and 10:30 am.

Today we fast. Today we abstain from meat. Today we pray.

The HFCS fourth grade will be leading us in prayer as the present the Shadow Stations of the Cross at 10:45 am. Please join us.

Services are available at all of our local parishes. At Pope St. Pius X, Stations of the Cross will be celebrated at noon and 3 pm. The Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion and Veneration of the Cross will be at 6 pm.

St. Thomas the Apostle will celebrate the Divine Office at 8 am, Stations of the Cross at 12:10 pm and the Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion and Veneration of the Cross at 7 pm.

St. George will celebrate the Stations of the Cross at 12:15 pm and the church will remain open until 3 pm. The Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion and Veneration of the Cross will be at 7 pm.