Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                    
 
Advent
Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  In all circumstances
give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.  Refrain from every kind
of evil.  May the God of peace make you perfectly holy.
 
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23

Prayer Partners
 
PRAYER PARTNERS:  During the rest of the month of December, we will join together in prayer for Advent and Christmas.
 
MASS LOCATION CHANGE:  Mass will be held in the Parish Hall during the week of December 17-21
 
POTENTIAL INCOMING 4YK STUDENTS:  We will begin our registration process for next year in early January with a mailing to potential 4YK students.  If you have a child who will be 4 years of age by September 1, 2019, and would like
to receive registration materials for St. Francis School, please send me your child’s name and birth date as soon as possible.  If you know of a family in our area who might like to receive registration information for any grade, please
send or call me with the contact information.  Thanks for your help in spreading the good news about our school!
 
HOLIDAY FOOD AND FUNDS DRIVE:  Please keep your food donations coming in for the Ellsworth Food Pantry!  We have a few more boxes to fill for our friends and neighbors in need. Remind your friends and family to please bring a non-perishable food item to either of the performances of our Christmas Program Dec 12th or 13th.  We will have a bin for collection at the church both days!  On December 14th, our 5th grade class will box your donations, and ride a school bus to the food pantry to deliver this amazing gift!  Thank you for being part of this life-changing effort! Mrs. Swanson and the Fifth Grade Class
 
FIFTH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO THE FOOD PANTRY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14:  On Friday, December 14 our fifth grade class will be delivering the donation items to the food pantry.
 
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13:  Grades K-5 will present our annual Christmas Program on Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. in our church.  We will have a reception in the parish hall immediately following
the program.  Each family is asked to bring some type of food (cookies, bars, cheese & crackers, etc.) for this reception.  A dress rehearsal will be held Wednesday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m.  This is open to anyone who would like to attend.
 
Our main focus these two weeks will be making the final preparations for our K-5 Christmas Program!  Mrs. Penton and our children have been working hard, and are very eager to share their efforts with you!
 
Christmas Program Reminders were sent out last week.  Time correction: Our Christmas Program is at 6:00pm
             
 
CHRISTMAS/SPRING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON DVD:  Our Christmas and Spring Programs will be recorded and placed on a DVD.  If you’d like to purchase a copy of the DVD ($25 each), please complete and return the order form that is included in your weekly envelope last week, along with your payment.  DVDs will be sent home prior to the end of the school year. 
 
4YK WINTER PROGRAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20:  Our 4YK students will present a Winter Program to their parents and guests on Thursday, December 20.  Our 4YK students and their parents are invited to join us for breakfast before the program.  Following breakfast, 4YK students will return to their classrooms to get ready for their program. Grandparents and any other guests are asked to arrive between 8:15 and 8:25.  The program will be presented in the parish hall, and will last approximately 15-20 minutes.  Following the program, parents are asked to join their child in the classroom.  We will conclude our activities at 10:00.
 
HOME & SCHOOL MEETING MINUTES:  The meeting minutes from last week’s Home & School Meeting are included in your weekly envelope today.
 
SHUTTERFLY FUNDRAISER:  Do you purchase items from Shutterfly?  By using the following URL at any time during the year to make your purchases, Shutterfly will donate 8% back to our school.  Thank you in advance for your support of St. Francis School.  stfrancisschoolellsworth.ShutterflyStorefront.com
 
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS POSTER CONTEST:    Students in grades 1-5 have been invited to participate in the annual KC Christmas Poster Contest.  First place entries from grades 1-4 are eligible to be sent on to the diocesan level contest.  Students will complete these posters at school.   Winners will be announced at our
Christmas program on December 13.
 
PIERCE CO. HERALD ACTIVITY - GRADES K & 1:  Kindergarten and first grade students have been invited to participate in the Pierce County Herald letters and wish lists to Santa activity.  The letters will run in a special edition of the Pierce County Herald on December 19.  Students will complete these letters/lists in their classrooms.
 
CHRISTMAS VACATION:  Students will be dismissed at 3:25 on Friday, December 21 for Christmas vacation. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 3.
 
ST. FRANCIS HOME AND SCHOOL SCHWAN’S CAMPAIGN:  Just in time for the Holidays!  Please show your support for St. Francis School by adding our new Schwan's Campaign Code (#42263) to all your purchases.  If you buy a $25 gift certificate, $10 automatically comes back to St. Francis School, plus 20% of all purchases!  This is for both new and existing customers.  If you've used before, just switch to the new code.  All of your purchases will give back to the kids!  We appreciate your support!  Thank you!!
 
ORDER ONLINE
1. Visit https://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/42263-st-francis-school 
2. Click "Shop Now". 
3. Select team member (if applicable). 
4. Start Shopping 
 
ORDER BY PHONE:
Call 1-855-870-7208 and provide Campaign ID:  42263 - The Campaign runs until February 1, 2019.
 
WI TAX SCHEDULE PS - PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION:  WI tax Schedule PS is used to claim the subtraction for tuition paid for your dependent child to attend a private school.  The subtraction is available for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.  The form requires the name, address, and federal employer identification number (FEIN) of the private school where your child was enrolled during 2018.  For St. Francis students, you will need to use:  St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 264 S. Grant Street, P.O. Box 839, Ellsworth, WI 54011. 
 
Reminder:  In order to claim tuition expenses on your 2018 tax return, payments must be received by the parish no later than December 31, 2018.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Dec. 12 - Dress Rehearsal (Christmas Program) at 1:30pm
Dec. 13 - Christmas Program at 6:00pm
Dec. 19 - Obedient and Content Virtue Awards following Mass
Dec. 20 - 4YK Winter Program at 8:30am
Dec. 24 - Jan. 2 - Christmas Vacation
Jan. 3 - Classes Resume
 
God’s Grace Be With You and please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
 
 
 
Chuck Buckel
Principal

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                                  
 
Advent
 
Yesterday we began a new church year (liturgical year) with the season of Advent.
Advent is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second comingat the end of time and also the anniversary of our Lord’s birth on Christmas.

There are many online resources available that you might find helpful during these days of preparation.

Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
                                                                                    - Psalm 85:8
 
Prayer Partners
 
1st Grade Prayer
Dear God, We pray for all workers to be kept safe on their jobs. We pray that the students in the school use Advent as a way of getting ready for the coming of Jesus. We pray for a successful Christmas Program. Amen
 
Please join us in prayer for our 1st Grade Class
 
We all need to seek God in prayer with our joys, worries, and thankful moments.  Thank you for being a prayer partner for our school.  This week we will be lifting up our 1st Grade Class in prayer.
 
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  
1 John 5:14
 
PRAYER PARTNERS:  Next week, we will join together in prayer for Advent and Christmas.
 
VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING ATTENTIVE:                                                                      
Attentive – I watch and listen carefully.
My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.   Proverbs 4:20
Kate, Markus, Brielle, Ava, Reese, Atlanta, Maggie 
 
4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Attentive – Hailee 
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL CLOTHING ORDERS:  We will be placing an order for St. Francis School clothing.  Order forms will be emailed with this newsletter.  A black and white copy has also been added to your weekly envelope
today.  Please make checks payable to St. Francis School. 
*Order forms and payment are due by THIS Thursday, December 6.
 
HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION:  Thank you to all who attended the Home and School Association meeting on Thursday night!  There was some interest expressed in forming a committee of people who would organize promotional/recruiting activities and events for St. Francis School.  Examples could include walking in parades, having a booth at the Pierce County Fair, sharing information about our school at other area churches, etc.  If this sounds like something you would be interested in learning more about, please contact Katie Feuerhelm. (612)232-6983 or katiefeuerhelm@gmail.com  We will get all who are interested connected for more discussion on the topic! Thanks!
 
POTENTIAL INCOMING 4YK STUDENTS:  We will begin our registration process for next year in early January with a mailing to potential 4YK students.  If you have a child who will be 4 years of age by September 1, 2019, and would like
to receive registration materials for St. Francis School, please send me your child’s name and birth date as soon as possible.  If you know of a family in our area who might like to receive registration information for any grade, please send or call me with the contact information.  Thanks for your help in spreading the good news about our school!
 
GR. 3-5 MID-QUARTER PROGRESS REPORTS - TODAY:  Students in grades 3-5 will receive mid-quarter progress reports today.  Parents of these students are asked to discuss the report with their child, then sign and return the report by Wednesday, December 5.  Questions should be directed to the child’s teacher.
            Our second quarter ends Friday, January 17, two weeks after we return from Christmas vacation.
 
SCHOOL COLORS DAY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on the first Friday of the month, December 7.  Show your school pride!
 
HOLIDAY FOOD AND FUNDS DRIVE:  Please keep your food donations coming in for the Ellsworth Food Pantry!  We have a few more boxes to fill for our friends and neighbors in need. Remind your friends and family to please bring a non-perishable food item to either of the performances of our Christmas Program Dec 12th or 13th.  We will have a bin for collection at the church both days!  On December 14th, our 5th grade class will box your donations, and ride a school bus to the food pantry to deliver this amazing gift!  Thank you for being part of this life-changing effort! Mrs. Swanson and the Fifth Grade Class
 
FIFTH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO THE FOOD PANTRY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14:  On Friday, December 14 our fifth grade class will be delivering the donation items to the food pantry.  A permission slip for this trip is included in the weekly envelope for those students.  Please complete the permission slip and return it by Wednesday, December 5.
 
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13:  Grades K-5 will present our annual Christmas Program on Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. in our church.  We will have a reception in the parish hall immediately following
the program.  Each family is asked to bring some type of food (cookies, bars, cheese & crackers, etc.) for this reception.  A dress rehearsal will be held Wednesday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m.  This is open to anyone who would
like to attend.
 
Our main focus these two weeks will be making the final preparations for our K-5 Christmas Program!  Mrs. Penton and our children have been working hard, and are very eager to share their efforts with you!
 
Please see the Christmas Program Reminder sheet included in the weekly envelope for Grades K – 5
             
CHRISTMAS/SPRING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON DVD:  Our Christmas and Spring Programs will be recorded and placed on a DVD.  If you’d like to purchase a copy of the DVD ($25 each), please complete and return the order form that is included in your weekly envelope, along with your payment.  DVDs will be sent home prior to the end of the school year. 
 
4YK WINTER PROGRAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20:  Our 4YK students will present a Winter Program to their parents and guests on Thursday, December 20.  Our 4YK students and their parents are invited to join us for breakfast before the program.  Following breakfast, 4YK students will return to their classrooms to get ready for their program. Grandparents and any other guests are asked to arrive between 8:15 and 8:25.  The program will be presented in the parish hall, and will last approximately 15-20 minutes.  Following the program, parents are asked to join their child in the classroom.  We will conclude our activities at 10:00.
 
SHUTTERFLY FUNDRAISER:  Do you purchase items from Shutterfly?  By using the following URL at any time during the year to make your purchases, Shutterfly will donate 8% back to our school.  Thank you in advance for your support of St. Francis School.  stfrancisschoolellsworth.ShutterflyStorefront.com
 

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS POSTER CONTEST:    Students in grades 1-5 have been invited to participate in the annual KC Christmas Poster Contest.  First place entries from grades 1-4 are eligible to be sent on to
the diocesan level contest.  Students will complete these posters at school.   Winners will be announced at our
Christmas program on December 13.
 
PIERCE CO. HERALD ACTIVITY - GRADES K & 1:  Kindergarten and first grade students have been invited to participate in the Pierce County Herald letters and wish lists to Santa activity.  The letters will run in a special edition of
the Pierce County Herald on December 19.  Students will complete these letters/lists in their classrooms.
 
CHRISTMAS VACATION:  Students will be dismissed at 3:25 on Friday, December 21 for Christmas vacation. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 3.
 
ST. FRANCIS HOME AND SCHOOL SCHWAN’S CAMPAIGN:  Just in time for the Holidays!  Please show your support for St. Francis School by adding our new Schwan's Campaign Code (#42263) to all your purchases.  If you buy a $25 gift certificate, $10 automatically comes back to St. Francis School, plus 20% of all purchases!  This is for both new and existing customers.  If you've used before, just switch to the new code.  All of your purchases will give back to the kids!  We appreciate your support!  Thank you!!
 
ORDER ONLINE
1. Visit https://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/42263-st-francis-school 
2. Click "Shop Now". 
3. Select team member (if applicable). 
4. Start Shopping 
 
ORDER BY PHONE:
Call 1-855-870-7208 and provide Campaign ID:  42263 - The Campaign runs until February 1, 2019.
 
WI TAX SCHEDULE PS - PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION:  WI tax Schedule PS is used to claim the subtraction for tuition paid for your dependent child to attend a private school.  The subtraction is available for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.  The form requires the name, address, and federal employer identification number (FEIN) of the private school where your child was enrolled during 2017.  For St. Francis students, you will need to use:  St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 264 S. Grant Street, P.O. Box 839, Ellsworth, WI 54011. 
 
Reminder:  In order to claim tuition expenses on your 2018 tax return, payments must be received by the parish no later than December 31, 2018.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Dec. 7 - School Color Day
Dec. 12 - Dress Rehearsal (Christmas Program) at 1:30pm
Dec. 13 - Christmas Program at 6:00pm
Dec. 19 - Obedient and Content Virtue Awards following Mass
Dec. 20 - 4YK Winter Program at 8:30am
Dec. 24 - Jan. 2 - Christmas Vacation
Jan. 3 - Classes Resume
 
God’s Grace Be With You and please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
 

Chuck Buckel
Principal

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                        

2nd Grade Prayer
Dear God, We thank you for Jesus, our Grandparents, parents,
brothers & sisters, friends, pets, shelter, food, water, and air.
Thank you for creating everything we see!
Thank you for the life we live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
 
Please join us in prayer for our 2nd Grade Class
 
We all need to seek God in prayer with our joys, worries, and thankful moments.  Thank you for being a prayer partner for our school.  This week we will be lifting up our 2nd Grade Class in prayer ~Taelyn Hines, Ellie Holst, Oskar LaFave, Bentley McHardy, Charlie McMahon, Carter Moldenhauer, Eian Murphy, Brielle O’Neil, Sophia Oricchio, Emmie Pechacek, Gretta Rewolinski, and Vander Truttman
 
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  
1 John 5:14
 
PRAYER PARTNERS:  Next week, we will join together in prayer for our 1st Grade Students.
 
SHUTTERFLY FUNDRAISER:  Do you purchase items from Shutterfly?  By using the following URL at any time during the year to make your purchases, Shutterfly will donate 8% back to our school.  Thank you in advance for your support of St. Francis School.  stfrancisschoolellsworth.ShutterflyStorefront.com
 
WEATHER RELATED SCHOOL CLOSINGS:  You will be notified by the St. Francis JMC system about school closings.  Also, the Ellsworth district will continue to publicize any school closing or delayed starts on these radio/television stations, as well as the district website www.ellsworth.k12.wi.us

KCUE   1250 AM           Red Wing                     
 KSTP    Channel 5          Mpls./St. Paul               WCCO  Channel 4          Mpls./St. Paul  
KARE   Channel 11        Mpls./St. Paul               KMSP   Channel 9          Mpls./St. Paul
           
St. Francis School may not be listed separately, but is included when the listing indicates Ellsworth Community School District.  In the event of a two hour delay, St. Francis 4YK students will not have classes.
 
POTENTIAL INCOMING 4YK STUDENTS:  We will begin our registration process for next year in early January with a mailing to potential 4YK students.  If you have a child who will be 4 years of age by September 1, 2019, and would like
to receive registration materials for St. Francis School, please send me your child’s name and birth date as soon as possible.  If you know of a family in our area who might like to receive registration information for any grade, please send or call me with the contact information.  Thanks for your help in spreading the good news about our school!
 
HOLIDAY FOOD AND FUNDS DRIVE: Our 5th Grade Class at St. Francis is sponsoring a Holiday Food and Funds Drive to benefit the Ellsworth Food Pantry. In October alone, our local pantry served 394 of our friends and neighbors. Please give what you can to help everyone in our community have enough to eat during this Holiday Season.
***Please encourage all your friends and family who attend the St. Francis Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 13th to bring a food item to place in the collection boxes at the church.
Thanks so much for your help!
Mrs. Swanson and the 5th Grade Class
 
INDOOR PICNIC LUNCH – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28:  Mrs. Brooks has planned an indoor picnic lunch for us on Wednesday, November 28.  Students are encouraged to bring a beach towel to sit on! 
 
HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATAION MEETING – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29:  The second Home and School Association meeting of the 2018-19 school year is Thursday, November 29. The meeting will be held in the Parish Hall and begins at 6:00pm.  Walking Tacos will be served starting at 5:30 and childcare provided during the meeting.  The agenda is included in your weekly envelope today.  All families are welcome. Thanks! katiefeuerhelm@gmail.com
 
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING VIDEO – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29:  We will be offering the Safe Environment Video Training following our Home and School Meeting on Thursday, November 29 in the Parish Hall.  If you are in need of this requirement please plan to attend at approximately 7:00.
 
CARNIVAL NEWS:  There will be a Carnival Committee Meeting on Nov. 29th after the H&S Meeting. Also, we are beginning to gather sponsorships for the Carnival. If anyone would like to be a Saint Level Sponsor for $400, they can have their business name printed on the Grand Raffle Ticket. The deadline for this is Monday, Nov. 26th.  Other sponsor levels are available later in December.  Please contact us if you're interested Email: donations@stfrancisellsworth.org
 
SCHOOL COLORS DAY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on the first Friday of the month, December 7.  Show your school pride!
 
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13:  Grades K-5 will present our annual Christmas Program on Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. in our church.  We will have a reception in the parish hall immediately following
the program.  Each family is asked to bring some type of food (cookies, bars, cheese & crackers, etc.) for this reception.  A dress rehearsal will be held Wednesday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m.  This is open to anyone who would like to attend.
 
4YK WINTER PROGRAM – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20:  Our 4YK students will present a Winter Program to their parents and guests on Thursday, December 20.  Our 4YK students and their parents are invited to join us for breakfast before the program.  Following breakfast, 4YK students will return to their classrooms to get ready for their program. Grandparents and any other guests are asked to arrive between 8:15 and 8:25.  The program will be presented in the parish hall, and will last approximately 15-20 minutes.  Following the program, parents are asked to join their child in the classroom.  We will conclude our activities at 10:00.
 
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS POSTER CONTEST:    Students in grades 1-5 have been invited to participate in the annual KC Christmas Poster Contest.  First place entries from grades 1-4 are eligible to be sent on to the diocesan level contest.  Students will complete these posters at school.   Winners will be announced at our Christmas program on December 13.
 
PIERCE CO. HERALD ACTIVITY - GRADES K & 1:  Kindergarten and first grade students have been invited to participate in the Pierce County Herald letters and wish lists to Santa activity.  The letters will run in a special edition of the Pierce County Herald on December 19.  Students will complete these letters/lists in their classrooms.
 
CHRISTMAS VACATION:  Students will be dismissed at 3:25 on Friday, December 21 for Christmas vacation. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 3.
 
ST. FRANCIS HOME AND SCHOOL SCHWAN’S CAMPAIGN:  Just in time for the Holidays!  Please show your support for St. Francis School by adding our new Schwan's Campaign Code (#42263) to all your purchases.  If you buy a $25 gift certificate, $10 automatically comes back to St. Francis School, plus 20% of all purchases!  This is for both new and existing customers.  If you've used before, just switch to the new code.  All of your purchases will give back to the kids!  We appreciate your support!  Thank you!!
 
ORDER ONLINE
1. Visit https://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/42263-st-francis-school 
2. Click "Shop Now". 
3. Select team member (if applicable). 
4. Start Shopping 
 
ORDER BY PHONE:
Call 1-855-870-7208 and provide Campaign ID:  42263 - The Campaign runs until February 1, 2019.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Nov. 28 - Attentive Virtue Awards following Mass
Nov. 28 - Indoor Picnic Lunch ~ bring a beach towel to sit on!
Nov. 29 - Home and School Meeting
Nov. 29 - Carnival Committee Meeting
Dec. 2 - Ellsworth Dance Team Holiday Clinic at the EES (Grades K-8th)
Dec. 7 - School Color Day
Dec. 12 - Dress Rehearsal (Christmas Program) at 1:30pm
Dec. 13 - Christmas Program at 6:00pm
Dec. 19 - Obedient and Content Virtue Awards following Mass
Dec. 20 - 4YK Winter Program at 8:30am
Dec. 24 - Jan. 2 - Christmas Vacation
Jan. 3 - Classes Resume
 
God’s Grace Be With You and please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
 
 
Chuck Buckel