mySFHS

Student Life

School Traditions

SFHS Traditions

Legacies and Traditions, Forming Since 1956

Click on each of the thumbnails below to get a glimpse of Spartan Life throughout the school year.

SENIOR PAINTED PARKING SPOTS

ROOTING FOR THE SPARTANS

JOINING A CLUB

SENIOR TRANSITION MASS & INSTITUTE DAY

SPIRIT WEEKS & SPARTAN OLYMPICS

MONTHLY MASS

RETREATS

COMMENCEMENT/GRADUATION

STATE SEND-OFFS

STUDENT TRAVEL

WATCHING LIVE ARTS PERFORMANCES

BLOOD DRIVE

DANCES

SENIOR PAINTED PARKING SPOTS

Each summer, rising seniors have the opportunity to spend time with their friends and family personalizing their spots with their original painted designs to mark the start of their last year of high school.

ROOTING FOR THE SPARTANS

We are excited for another year to show our school spirit and cheer our teams on! Our Spartan Athletics were named #1 in the Daily Herald Cup in 2024, and our teams have finished in the Top 10 in Illinois High School Athletics 109 times in the past 25 years.

JOINING A CLUB

Approximately 99% of our student body participates in at least one club. We offer dozens of clubs for students to join – you can even start your own!

SENIOR TRANSITION MASS & INSTITUTE DAY

The Senior Transition Mass is a heartfelt celebration where soon-to-be graduates don their college shirts, honoring their achievements as a class as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives. Following the Mass, Senior Institute Day offers a series of workshops designed to equip students with essential skills for college success, covering topics from financial planning and self-defense to health and wellness.

SPIRIT WEEKS & SPARTAN OLYMPICS

SFHS Spirit Weeks (Homecoming Week, Red Ribbon Week, Winter Spirit Week, Catholic Schools Week, Mental Health Awareness Week) and Spartan Olympics foster a vibrant sense of community, bringing awareness and camaraderie through engaging activities and friendly competitions.

MONTHLY MASS

The student body celebrates all-school Mass each month.

RETREATS

Retreats are integral to the SFHS experience. Retreats include time for recreation while taking advantage of natural surroundings conducive to personal reflection and an encounter with Christ through prayer, Mass, Confession, and praise and worship.

COMMENCEMENT/GRADUATION

The culmination of four transformative years comes in what may be SFHS’s most extraordinary tradition – commencement at St. Francis High School. Seniors and their families enjoy Mass and Commencement each year to celebrate their transition from high school to college.

STATE SEND-OFFS

State send-offs celebrate the hard work and dedication of our individual students and teams who qualify for state competitions, creating an unforgettable experience.

STUDENT TRAVEL

SFHS offers enriching student travel opportunities, from Christian Service trips organized by the Pastoral Ministry Department to international adventures in China, Francis, and Spain with the World Languages Department. These experiences not only enhance learning but also foster personal growth, cultural appreciation, and a commitment to service among our students.

WATCHING LIVE ARTS PERFORMANCES

The SFHS Arts Department offers six live productions throughout the year. There is never a month that goes by when you won’t have the opportunity to watch outstanding orchestral and choral performances, musicals, plays, and more! Plus, there are featured annual events such as the Jazz & Art Showcase and the Rock Show!

BLOOD DRIVE

Since 2001, St. Francis High School has hosted an all-school Blood Drive to help those in need. For the past several years, SFHS has been the number one high school in Illinois for total units donated at any high school drive.