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AQUINAS AWARD 2025

This year’s Aquinas Award Recipient for 2024-2025 is Madison Dorsey!

The Aquinas Medal is named for St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of Catholic schools and students. St. Thomas had a love of learning and an all-embracing love for God. The Aquinas Medal commemorates his dedication and service to God. It is presented each year to the one student from each school who embodies the qualities of Catholic School education: excellence in learning, faithful discipleship, leadership, and service to the school, parish, and community. The Aquinas Award Recipient at St. Francis de Sales School for the 2024-2025 school year is Madison Dorsey. She started at St Francis in 3rd grade with Mrs. Perry (who she credits for the great start in her education here). While she has not spent her entire elementary years at St. Francis, the time she has spent here she has always been pleasant, helpful, and always smiling at students and staff. Each morning she comes in and greets teachers in the hallway, which is greatly appreciated. She is passionate about her studies and excels in her learning. She plans to further her education in private school and attend WVU School of Law after her undergraduate studies locally. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Bethanie Dorsey. She also has a younger brother, Parker, who attends St Francis.

Madison enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends. She is a bright light in the eyes of those she spends time with. Congratulations Madison!

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Knights of Columbus Award 2025

This year’s Knights of Columbus Award Winner for 2024-2025 is John Fernald and Laurn Fernald!

The Knights of Columbus is an organization founded on the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. It was established in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney at Saint Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut. The core values of this organization include:

Integrity: Firm adherence to ethics, honesty, and a moral code.
Professionalism: Promoting the highest standards in all they do.
Excellence: Leading by example and constantly striving to be the best.
Respect: Treating each other with the highest regard.

Every year for the past fifteen years, our Knights of Columbus local organization recognizes two Saint Francis de Sales Eighth grade students who exhibit these same core values. Just like the Aquinas Award, this award is based on longitudinal performance and interactions. We consider how involved the students were in assisting with service projects; the leadership roles they have in school sports, clubs, and activities; and, whether or not they unify their peer group and maintained positive interactions with everyone. We consider how they represent our school in the community and beyond and if they are role models for the other students in our school and community. There is a great deal of consideration that happens before any student is chosen.

For the 2024-25 school year, the recipients for the Knights of Columbus Awards at St. Francis de Sales School are Lauren Fernald and John Fernald.
Lauren Fernald has been an exemplary student academically throughout her years at St. Francis. She makes the Principal’s List each semester. She has been involved in the cheer program at our school since the Third grade. She has been the squad leader as well. She is a member of the Middle School Art Club and Girl Scouts. She is Treasurer of the Student Council. Lauren loves to dance and has taken classes for many years. She is learning to play the guitar too.
John Fernald has been an exemplary student academically throughout his years at St. Francis. He routinely makes the Principle’s List. He has been involved in the basketball program at our school since the Third grade. He has been a team captain and has led the team at home games as they break through the Saints’ banner to enter the court. John is a member of the Middle School Art Club. He is the President of the Student Council. For many years John has been involved in the scouting program and has earned many badges. John has represented the school a few times at the Raleigh County Math Field Day.

Throughout their time at St. Francis Lauren and John have represented the school at county, regional, and state competitions. Again this year, they will travel to Charleston on March 10th with their Science Fair project on Backyard Pollinators to represent our school.

Lauren and John live with their parents, Cindy and John Fernald. They have two dogs: Olaf and Teddy. We are very proud of their accomplishments and commend their good efforts!

Our Mission

St. Francis de Sales Catholic School exists to provide a safe, nurturing environment for our students in their pursuit of academic achievement, moral development, and spiritual growth in Our Lord, Jesus Christ. This combination builds character and creates responsible citizens.