Opening Day Tomorrow!

Please take a moment to review a few details pertaining directly to our Opening Day.

Start time: 7:44am - Students will report to Homeroom.

Students are permitted to be out of uniform on the first day of school (see “out of uniform” policy in Family Handbook); however, they will receive a free (lightweight heather gray) t-shirt upon arrival to school, and are expected to wear the shirt during the day. Freshmen received their t-shirts at Orientation day; if they did not attend Orientation, please pick up a t-shirt when arriving at school. T-shirts will be distributed in the Little Theater Lobby.

Lunch will be provided at no charge for each student.

CHANGE IN DISMISSAL TIME: Dismissal is at 1pm. Dismissal time was adjusted due to the current traffic pattern and the need to use the Saint Matthias Parking Lot for pick up.

Students who ride Columbus City School buses will need to find another ride home at the early dismissal time. The Gahanna-Jefferson Public School bus will be here to transport students at the 1pm dismissal time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips to start the year

Please click here to view a few reminders on how to report absences, what to do for early dismissals, lunch account information and more! You can also find this information in our Family Handbook: https://www.sfdstallions.org/family-handbook.

Plus: Protocol for All Visitors (Parents, Alumni, Coaches, Volunteers, etc.)

A reminder message from Tim Shockcor, SFDHS Resource Officer:

• All visitors must enter the school through the main entrance (entrance closest to Karl Road). 
• Visitors will receive an ID badge upon entry at the Welcome Kiosk. 
• Visitors are required to check out at the Welcome Kiosk before departing to return their ID badge.

Traffic Pattern for Beginning of the School Year

Please click here to review the traffic pattern our community will follow when arriving and leaving from school grounds during the construction to Franciscan Loop.

In order to help assist with the traffic flow, members of the Saint Francis DeSales High School staff as well as Columbus Police Officers will be present the first several days of the school year.

PowerSchool Portal Now Open

The student and parent PowerSchool Portal opened this afternoon. We appreciate your patience as we worked to ensure balance in all class sizes across the curriculum. The process of balancing the numbers will continue throughout the first few days of the school year. In the event that there is an error to a core course for your student, members of our Guidance Team will make those changes right away. If a student wants to change an elective course, he or she will need to wait until Friday of this week. All schedule changes will be final as of Wednesday, August 30th. See below for more information regarding potential schedule changes.

Schedule Change Requests 



Beginning Friday, August 25th, students may request a change to their schedule by visiting their School Counselor to receive a Schedule Change Request Form and subsequently collect teacher and parent signatures. Prior to August 25th, students may only request a schedule change if they believe an error was made in scheduling their core course classes. No other schedule change requests will be considered prior to August 25th. Additionally, please note that all schedule change requests must be resolved by Wednesday, August 30th.

Stallions in the Spotlight: Share Your News

We love to promote the wonderful things our students are involved in, and we’d like your input too! Please share your news with us by emailing Karen Cofojohn at cofojohn@desales.co -- include student’s name, class year, their achievement, and if possible, a photo. Then be sure to keep your eye out for your news in the Weekly DeTales or on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram.

Great information is shared on our social media accounts @SFDStallions (like the photo here from our Freshman Orientation) so remember to like us and follow us!

We would like to give a warm welcome to our new faculty and staff members! Be sure to say hello to them tomorrow on Opening Day!

Row 1 (L to R): Reverend Sesu Maria Crescensis Panguraj - Chaplain, Tim Eckert - Testing Room, Hannah Shoemaker - Science, Nick Byerly - Science, Stefania Bertolini-Puckett - Italian, and Carolynn Heinmiller - Campus Ministry; Row 2 (L to R): Steve King - Science, Abby Wickerham - Social Studies, Jack Baird - Math, Julie Lutz - Theology, and Braden Shimp - Science.

Class of 2024 Parent Presentation

Senior Parents: The presentation from the college meeting that took place on Senior Spirit Day is included here. Please reach out to your child's counselor with any questions about the college application process. 

Save the Date for Homecoming Weekend

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

• Traditions Mass and Breakfast: Help us kick off Homecoming weekend by joining us for Traditions Mass and Breakfast on Friday morning. We encourage students to invite a family member or family friend who has graduated from DeSales to share in this special morning. Please RSVP here!
• Homecoming Assembly: The Homecoming Court will be recognized at this all-school assembly, and the King and Queen will be announced.
• Homecoming Game: The Stallions will take on Bishop Ready at 7pm in Alumni Stadium on Friday night. Let's fill the stadium with Purple Pride!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

• Homecoming Dance: We look forward to a night of fun in our school's gymnasium from 7pm to 9pm. *HOCO tickets will go on sale September 5.

PARENTS: We are also looking for parent volunteers to help at the dance on Saturday, September 16. Click here to sign up.

Friends in the Courtyard 2023

Join us on Saturday, October 14 for Friends in the Courtyard! Support our students and their co-curricular programs by getting involved with THE social event of the year! 

We are looking for volunteers to help support our event in a variety of ways. Information on different volunteer opportunities are available here. Reach out to Sarah Evans, Director of Alumni, Events & Family Engagement at sevans@desales.co with any questions. 

Looking for another way to support Friends in the Courtyard?

Live Auction items are donated by generous supporters like you! If you have a unique experience vacation home or something else of note to share as a live auction item, please contact Sarah Evans. Each co-curricular program will receive 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of live and silent auction items which were procured by that co-curricular program.

Score Big With Your Chance to Win Two Tickets to the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Game on September 23rd in South Bend

Winner will receive: 

• Parking for the game at St. Mary’s College, with shuttle service, or a short walk, to Notre Dame
• Friday and Saturday night hotel accommodations, including breakfast, just minutes from Notre Dame Stadium. 

How to purchase your tickets:

• Raffle tickets can be purchased here for $50 each and all proceeds support St. Francis DeSales High School! Hurry, there are only a limited number of tickets available - act fast! 

The drawing will take place at the DeSales home football game against Bishop Ready on Friday, September 15th, one week prior to the big game in South Bend! *Winner need not be present, tickets will only be transferred to the registered winner and may not be transferred to a third party.

Nurse's Notes

All Class of 2024 students are required to submit verification of a second dose of the Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine prior to the start of their senior year. It is a requirement for all incoming seniors in Ohio. Families can email the verification information to school nurse Kelli Fitzpatrick at fitzpatrick@desales.co or bring in a hard copy to school.