About Us
Our Mission
In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we are an inclusive school community that attentively nurtures love, understanding, faith, knowledge, and individuality.
"The Journey is Essential to The Dream"
St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is doubt, faith;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled,
As to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Prayer of St Francis
"‘When choosing a school, recommend scheduling a tour to meet the principal and teachers to understand the school environment and determine if the school is a good fit for your child. St. Francis Elementary School is more than a school...it's a community of supportive educators and families who give to the well being of each other. We are all in this together and supporting one another through our community is what we are all about. The relationships that are formed by both school mates, teachers and parents make the community one that I am proud to be apart of. Communication is excellent by teachers and supporting staff, who are passionate about the success of your children. The level of education is superior with well qualified teachers. This is our community and family. We are active, we believe in the St. Francis mission of serving others, and highly feel SFE is the best community for our 3 children to meet their educational, social, and development needs.’", Sean & Kim, 2022 (4th, 1st and TK parent)
Our Philosophy
St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School is the educational ministry of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish that is dedicated to our Catholic tradition and the values of inclusivity, love, understanding, faith, knowledge, and individuality. In the footsteps of our patron saint, we strive to be a community the nurtures the whole child, builds relationships, and maintains our place in Sacramento. As a community, we partner with one another for the well-being of every student, spiritually, academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. We are called to inspire and develop internationally minded young people who recognize our common humanity, care for God’s creation, and embody peace for our world. Walking the path of St. Francis, we continue to spread his legacy to Love, Inspire and Thrive, Together.
Our Vision
To be a thriving Franciscan community of loving, humble and compassionate learners that celebrate, cultivate and embody joy, worth, and dignity in our world.
The Crest
The SFES crest closely resembles the heritage of the Order of Friars Minor. The shield is a visual representation of the history, symbolism and message of Franciscan ideals. The San Damiano Cross represented in the crest is cherished by Franciscans as the symbol of Francis’s mission from God. It was said the St. Francis was in prayer before the cross when God commissioned him to “rebuild his Church.” The original cross still hangs in the Basilica of St. Clare in Assisi, Italy. As a school community, we pray Francis’ Prayer Before the Crucifix of San Damiano every morning.
In the Franciscan coat of arms, the traditional element of the right unclothed arm of Christ passes over the left arm of Francis that is sleeved in a friar’s habit. Both hands bear the stigmata, the wound marking the crucifixion of Jesus.
The traditional embattled line at the top of the shield represents the history of St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School and is a tribute to the foundation and building dating back to the school’s establishment in 1895. The crest colors represent the spiritual heritage of SFES. The blue symbolizes peace, tranquility and harmony, values St. Francis cherished and highlighted in the opening line of the Prayer of St. Francis - “Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace…”. The gold represents the joy, the hope and the light the community of SFES embraces and sends out through its students. The sunburst in the background of the SFES crest pays homage to St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun in which he praises God and gives thanks for all God’s creation.
"We chose to send our children to St. Francis after meeting with the principal, Mr. Hrga. He impressed us with his commitment to the students, families, and community. His vision for the characteristics of students who graduate from St. Francis Elementary matched what we wanted for our girls and we saw it reflected in the 8th grade students we met. We have been at St. Francis Elementary for almost 4 years now and I know we made the right choice. Our children have been nurtured and supported by Mr. Hrga and the amazing teachers and staff at this school, both academically and as they grow as good citizens. We love this community!", Elisa, 2020 (2nd and TK parent)