Dear God, be with each of us this day. 
Help us take a moment to feel your presence,
and the strength and courage you provide. 
May your presence lift our hearts and our souls
and enable us to direct all our actions toward you. 
Help us be faith-filled people
as we carry out your great work today.
Amen
 
Dear St. Francis School Families,
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – SAVE THE DATE:  Save the date for this year’s St. Francis School Gala on November 3, 2018!  The theme for the Gala this year is Moonlight Masquerade: Unmask a Child’s Future.  The event will once again be held at the Ridgetop Pavilion in Prescott, WI.  Doors open at 4:30 pm for our adult community event that includes hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live music, and silent and live auctions.  Mark the date on your calendar and invite your family and friends to do the same! We’re looking forward to a magical evening celebrating our beloved school!   
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM – TODAY:  The Ellsworth Fire Department came to St. Francis this morning for the annual Fire Safety presentation to our 4YK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classes. Second grade students had the opportunity to go through the “smoke house.”  Thank you Ellsworth Fire Department!
 
ELLSWORTH SPIRIT DAY – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18:  Students are encouraged to show their Ellsworth Panther Pride by dressing up on Tuesday, September 18.  Choose Panther purple or dress in neon colors to fit the
Homecoming Theme “Let’s Glow Crazy” Beat the Blackhawks at Homecoming!  Face paint & hair color are acceptable, but please no wigs, shoulder pads, cleats, etc.  The EHS football players and dance team will be visiting St. Francis tomorrow as they lead up to their Homecoming on Friday, September 21. Although we do not have school on Friday, everyone is encouraged to take in the festivities beginning with the parade at 5:00 pm, the chili feed starting at 5:00 pm and varsity football game at 7:00 pm. 
 
DIOCESAN TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21:  St. Francis students will not have classes on Friday, September 21 as our teachers will be attending a Diocesan Teacher In-service in Eau Claire.
 
GR. 4 - PIERCE CO. FARM & RURAL SAFETY DAY - THURSDAY, SEPT 27:  Fourth grade students will have the opportunity to join with other fourth grade students in Pierce County for Farm & Rural Safety Day, held at the Pierce
County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 27.  The permission slip was sent home last week. Lunch options form is included in today’s envelope for our fourth grade families.  Please return both forms by Wednesday, September 19.
 
GRADES 4YK & K - FIELD TRIP TO THE RUSH RIVER ORCHARD – SEPTEMBER 28:  4YK and Kindergarten students were recently given the opportunity to take a field trip to the new Rush River Orchard; W4616 Cty Rd. G Ellsworth, WI. on Friday, September 28.  The permission slip with additional information is included in today’s envelope for our 4YK and Kindergarten families.  Please return the permission slip with payment by Wednesday, September 19.
 
SCHOOL COLORS DAY/CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS/PET BLESSING - THURSDAY,OCT. 4: The feast day of our school and parish patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, is Thursday, October 4.  This day is always one of great celebration for our entire parish!  We will attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Thursday (we will not have school Mass on Wednesday) and students are encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing in school colors: blue and white.  We do not permit face paint or hair color on any school color days.
            We will have a special blessing of animals, following the Mass, on the grassy area east of our church.  This will include our 4YK students.  There is a special sign-up sheet included in your weekly envelope asking for parents or grandparents who would be willing to bring an animal or pet to be blessed after Mass and taken home again immediately following.  Please, no pets or animals in classrooms.  Please return this form by Wednesday, Sept. 26.
 
4-H AWARDS – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10:  Ann Webb from the Pierce County 4-H office will be at St. Francis School on Wednesday, October 10 starting at 12:30 to distribute and cash checks for premiums that 4-H members earned at the Pierce County Fair.
 
GRADE 5 - FIELD TRIP TO THE MN ZOO – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12:  Fifth grade students will take a field trip to the MN Zoo on Friday, October 12.  The permission slip and lunch option form are included in today’s envelope for fifth
grade families.  Please complete both forms and return with payment by Wednesday, October 3. 
 
GR. 5 BAKE SALE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19:  Our fifth grade class will hold a bake sale Friday, October 19.  Items will be sold for 50 cents each.  The proceeds of this sale will be used toward the cost of the fifth grade class trip to Valley Fair.
 
PICTURE RE-TAKES – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23: Our picture re-take day is scheduled for Tuesday, October 23. Students who did not have their picture taken during our Back-to-School Night will need to have theirs taken on October 23 so that we have a photo for the student permanent records and the yearbook.  Let me know if your need another copy of the picture form which illustrated your background and pose choices.  This was originally mailed to you in August.
      If you wish to have your child’s photo re-taken, please return the complete original package to the office by Wednesday, October 10.
 
FIRST RECONCILIATION PARENT MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24:  Please plan to attend this parent meeting at 6:00pm if you have a second grader who will receive the sacrament this year.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Sept. 18 - Ellsworth Spirit Day ~ Wear Purple and White/Let’s Glow Crazy (Neon Homecoming Theme)
Sept. 20 - Cubs Scout Sign-up for K-5th (see enclosed flyer)
Sept. 21 - No School – Diocesan Teacher In-Service
Sept. 21 - EHS Homecoming Parade, Chili Feed and Football Game
Sept. 22 - EHS Fall Dance Clinic
Sept. 27 - Pierce County Farm & Rural Safety Day (Grade 4)
Sept. 28 - Field Trip to Apple Orchard (Grades 4YK & K)
Oct. 4 - Feast of St. Francis ~ Mass and Pet Blessing
Oct. 10 - 4-H Fair Premium Distribution
Oct. 12 - Fifth Grade Field Trip to the MN Zoo
Oct. 19 - 5th Grade Bake Sale
Oct. 23 - Picture Retake Day
Oct. 24 - First Reconciliation Parent Meeting at 6:00 (Grade 2)
Oct. 26 - Parent-Teacher Conferences from 12:00-7:00 (No School)
Oct. 31 - End of 1st Quarter       
Nov. 3 - St. Francis School Gala ~ Save the date!!
 
 
May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!  Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
 
Chuck Buckel
Principal
 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:16
 
Dear St. Francis School Families,
 
It is hard to believe but we are starting our second full week of school already.  We had a wonderful start to the school year.  I would like to thank both students and staff for all of their hard work.  Thanks to the parents for the prompt return of all the many forms and for completing the online registration process.  As you will note in this week’s newsletter Homecoming 2018 is upon us.  As you will see there are many fun activities planned for our students. 
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – SAVE THE DATE:  Save the date for this year’s St. Francis School Gala on November 3, 2018!  The theme for the Gala this year is Moonlight Masquerade: Unmask a Child’s Future.  The event will once again be held at the Ridgetop Pavilion in Prescott, WI.  Doors open at 4:30 pm for our adult community event that includes hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live music, and silent and live auctions.  Mark the date on your calendar and invite your family and friends to do the same! We’re looking forward to a magical evening celebrating our beloved school!   
 
HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEETING – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13:  The Home and School Association will hold its first meeting of the year at 6:00 pm on Thursday, September 14 in the parish hall.  Please join us to learn how you can be a part of the excitement of our school.  Invite a fellow school parent, or one of our new families to come with you!  If you have a question or topic that you would like addressed at the upcoming Home and School Association meeting, please submit it to President, Katie Feuerhelm, katiefeuerhelm@gmail.com or 612-232-6983.  
All parents or guardians are encouraged to attend.  Child care will be provided.  By attending, you earn a reward certificate for your child, and you also help your child's class earn a special prize.  New this year! We will be serving a meal from 5:30 to 6:00- bring the kids for dinner and stay for the meeting! Hope to see you there!
 
HOME AND SCHOOL DUES REMINDER:  As with being a member of an organization, there are dues.  As a member of the Home and School Association, each family is asked to pay $10.00.  This money is divided among the teachers to be used to purchase items such as stickers, incentives, student prizes, materials for students to make their parents’ Christmas gifts, Mother’s Day gifts, etc. throughout the year for their students.  Thank you!

SCHOOL PICTURES:    Student school pictures have arrived and are being sent home with students today.  If you are not pleased with your child’s photographs, you may return the entire package for a re-take.  Picture re-take day will be
Tuesday, October 23.  The class composite will be sent after re-takes are completed.
 
MASS SERVING SCHEDULE: Our Mass Serving Schedule through December is included in today’s envelope.
 
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM:  Welcome to St. Francis Catholic School New Families and Welcome Back Returning Families!  We are excited to share our new mentor program with you, where seasoned St. Francis parents share helpful information with our newer families.  We’ve learned that there is a lot to take in when your child first arrives at St. Francis so we’re here to help!  In today’s envelope, you will find a letter from one parent to another regarding what you can expect to happen in your child’s grade this year.   This is our first year beginning this program so your feedback is very welcomed and we’d love to hear whether or not this is helpful to you.  Blessings on a wonderful year to come!
 
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOOD SERVICE: Calling all Local Foodies!  This week our school lunch on Friday (September 14) will be composed of all local ingredients.  The menu is still in the planning stages, so if you or someone you know grows or produces food items that would fit our menu, please let me know!  There is money in the budget for purchasing local foods, but we will always welcome donations, too!  Specifically, we're looking for a meat choice for the day, fresh fruit, and vegetables (fresh or to be cooked).  We typically serve about 50 children for lunch.  (Parents are always welcome--just give me a few hours' notice, please!)  Please let me know if you have ideas or contacts.  And be sure to check with me before dropping off items at the school.  You can reach me by phone:  715-273-4391 or e-mail: nbrooks@stfrancisellsworth.org.  Thanks for your help in planning our LOCAL LUNCH!  Nancy Brooks, Food Service Manager
 
YEARBOOK SIGNING – SEPTEMBER 14:  Our 2017-2018 yearbooks have arrived!  We will have a yearbook signing activity on Friday, September 14.  We’ll have some autograph sheets available for those who do not have a yearbook to be signed.  We have several extra yearbooks on hand for anyone who would like to purchase one at this time.  Cost is $20, and checks should be made payable to St. Francis School.
 
PACKER/VIKING DAY – SEPTEMBER 14:  In a spirit of friendly rivalry, students are encouraged to dress in either Green Bay Packers or Minnesota Vikings colors on Friday, September 14.  Hair color and face paint are acceptable,
but please, no shoulder pads, wigs, cleats, etc.
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17:  The Ellsworth Fire Department will be at St. Francis at 8:30 am on Monday morning September 17 for the annual Fire Safety presentation to our 4YK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classes. Second grade students will have the opportunity to go through the “smoke house.”  We ask that your permission slip be returned by Wednesday, September 12 to allow your child to ride the fire truck (Grades 4YK - 1st).  Also, the Child Comprehensive Form needs to be on file at school for your child to participant in this event.
 
ELLSWORTH SPIRIT DAY - SEPTEMBER 18:  Students are encouraged to show their Ellsworth spirit by dressing in Panther colors (purple and white) on Tuesday, September 18 for Homecoming Week. Face paint & hair color are acceptable, but please no wigs, shoulder pads, cleats, etc.  The EHS football players and dance team will be visiting St. Francis that day as they lead up to their Homecoming on Friday, September 21.  Although we do not have school on Friday, everyone is encouraged to take in the Homecoming parade at 5:00 and the football game at 7:00. 
 
DIOCESAN TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21:  St. Francis students will not have classes on Friday, September 21 as our teachers will be attending a Diocesan Teacher In-service in Eau Claire.
 
GR. 4 - PIERCE CO. FARM & RURAL SAFETY DAY - THURSDAY, SEPT 27:  Fourth grade students will have the opportunity to join with other fourth grade students in Pierce County for Farm & Rural Safety Day, held at the Pierce
County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 27.  The permission slip is included in today’s newsletter for fourth grade families.  Please return the permission slip by Wednesday, September 19.  Thanks.
 
ELLSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING ITEMS FOR SALE – MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY:  Ellsworth High School will celebrate homecoming Friday, September 21.  Several EHS students will come to St. Francis during lunch on Monday, September 10 through Friday, September 14 to sell Homecoming items.  Homecoming items included t-shirts, pom-poms, tattoos, beads, buttons, etc.  A price list was sent home with each student last Thursday. 
Please make checks payable to “The Panther Den”.
 
FALL DANCE CLINIC:  The EHS Dance Team will be hosting a Dance Clinic September 22nd from 1 – 3 pm.  Registration forms were sent home in your weekly envelope last week and are due on Tuesday, September 11th.
The clinic is offer to students in grades K-5th grade.
 
KIDS CHOIR REGISTRATION:  A registration form for the St. Francis Kid’s Choir is included in today’s newsletter. Any questions about this opportunity for children should be directed to our parish music director, Missy Kowalchyk, at 715-273–5484 or stfrancismusicellsworth@gmail.com
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Sept. 10-14 - Homecoming Items for sale during lunch
Sept. 11 - Dance Clinic Forms Due
Sept. 12 - Statement of Compliance Due
Sept. 12 - Home and School Dues Due 
Sept. 13 - Home and School Meeting at 6:00pm
Sept. 14 - Locally-Grown Hot Lunch
Sept. 14 - Yearbook Signing
Sept. 14 - Packer/ Viking Day
Sept. 17 - Fire Department Program (Grades 4YK – 2)
Sept. 18 - Ellsworth Spirit Day ~ Wear Purple and White
Sept. 21 - No School – Diocesan Teacher In-Service
Sept. 22 - EHS Fall Dance Clinic
Sept. 27 - Pierce County Farm & Rural Safety Day (Grade 4)
Oct. 23 - Picture Re-take           
Nov. 13 - St. Francis School Gala ~ Save the date!!
 
May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!
 
Chuck Buckel
Principal

Prayer for Beginning a New School Year
Father, we thank you for the opportunity
to begin the 2018-2019 school year,
and we ask that you bless
the faculty, the students, and the families of our students.

We pray that you will guide us in all ways,
and that we will seek your will
in everything that we do.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
- David Bennett

Dear St. Francis School Families,

What a start to the new school year!  Mother Nature once again proved that she had something up her sleeve.  The tree that was blown over knocked out power to the school, which in turn disrupted our phone service and internet access. It took most of the next day to get the phone and internet back up and running properly.  I would like to extend a big “Thank You” to all who attended Back-to-School Night, your attendance and support shows the dedication our families have to St. Francis School.  Special thanks to our Home & School officers for taking care of our refreshments! 

TEACHER EMAILS:  
4YK,  Mrs. Sandy Karlstad skarlstad@stfrancisellsworth.org
Kindergarten,  Mrs. Amanda Gates agates@stfrancisellsworth.org
First grade,  Miss Beverly Miller bmiller@stfrancisellsworth.org
Second grade,  Mrs. Dawn Koch dkoch@stfrancisellsworth.org
Third grade,  Ms. Tessa Davis tdavis@stfrancisellsworth.org 
Fourth grade,  Mrs. Sarah Matzek smatzek@stfrancisellsworth.org
Fifth grade,  Mrs. Kathy Swanson kswanson@stfrancisellsworth.org
Music,  Mrs. Kay Lee Penton kpenton@stfrancisellsworth.org

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE: Please review our Parent/Student Handbook on our school website and sign the Statement of Compliance that was provided in your weekly envelope on Back to School Night. http://www.stfrancisellsworth.org/resources

PARENT COMMUNICATIONS REMINDER:  This year we will continue to use the large white envelope as a weekly communication system. They will be sent home with the oldest child in your family who attends St. Francis School.  You, as parent/guardian, are asked to read the information enclosed, complete any requested forms, permission slips, etc., DATE AND SIGN THE ENVELOPE, and return it (along with any forms) with your oldest child by Wednesday of that week.  Please expect the envelope each Monday. If there is no school on a particular Monday, the envelope will be sent home the following day that we are in session.  Newsletters will also be sent via email.  Menus will be emailed and posted on our school website.
  
SCHOOL SAFETY:  The Parish Hall door will only be unlocked from 7:45 to 8:05 as students arrive.  Then, all doors will be locked.  If you arrive at school after 8:05 you are asked to ring the doorbell and someone will let you in.  If there is not someone in the office to unlock the door, please call us at 715-273-4391.

IF YOUR CHILD HAS A CHANGE IN WHERE THEY ARE GOING AFTER SCHOOL:  Please send a note, call the office or send an email to their teacher and Mrs. Matzek - amatzek@stfrancisellsworth.org.  We ask that if you have not received a reply by 2:15, please try again to be sure we received the message. 

MASS SERVING SCHEDULE:  Our Mass Serving Schedule will be sent home next week.  This Wednesday we will have a prayer service in the Parish Hall at 8:30am.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

MASS WITH BISHOP CALLAHAN - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7  (GRADES 2-5):  We have been invited to St. Mary’s Catholic School in Durand to attend Mass with Bishop Callahan on Friday, September 7.  The parish will cover the cost of the buses, so there will be no charge for families, unless you chose to order a bag lunch for our picnic at the park after Mass.  The permission slip and lunch option sheet were included in your weekly envelope on Back to School Night.  Permission slips were due by Wednesday, August 29 and the lunch option sheet is by Wednesday, September 5.   If a bag lunch is not ordered from school, please send a bag lunch from home. Please have your child wear their “Sunday Best”.

Please Remember: Your student’s Child Comprehensive Form needs to be completed for them to participate.

ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL CLOTHING ORDERS: We will be placing an order for St. Francis School clothing. Order forms were available at Back to School Night and emailed out last week.  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 Friday, September 7.  

ST. FRANCIS HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION:  Each Catholic school in the Diocese of La Crosse has a Home & School Association whose purpose is to be a vehicle by which parents, teachers, pastor and school administrator are able to collaborate and enable one another to develop a faith community and teach the young by living witness.  Some schools in our area might call an organization like this their PTA (Parent-Teacher Association). According to our diocesan guidelines, the purposes of our Home & School Association include: 

1. To act as a support group for the school and its employees and students, 
2. To offer, through well-planned programs, information of special interest to parents which will assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities in the Christian formation of their children,
3. To provide opportunities to build community among parents, students, school employees, and the pastor,
4. To provide a setting in which parents may be of service to the school and where faculty may be of service to parents,
5. To offer a limited number of fund raising activities with the approval of the school administration for the support of the school.

As an organization, we meet four times during the school year.  Our first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 13 at 6 p.m. in our parish hall. 

HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER AND DUES:  Please see the enclosed Home & School Association Newsletter from HSA President Katie Feuerhelm which includes information regarding our Home & School Association and Dues.  An envelope is included in today’s packet for paying dues.  Please return by Wednesday, September. 12.  Thanks.

ALUMINUM CANS:  Our Home & School Association collects and redeems aluminum cans throughout the year.  We have a trailer for this purpose, parked in the parking lot behind our church.  You may place your bags of aluminum cans in the trailer at your convenience.  If the trailer has been taken to be emptied, you may leave your bags of cans in that area in the parking lot.  Please make sure that your bags are closed securely and DO NOT include other types of aluminum especially that with food in it, as our entire load is penalized if such items are found.  Thank you for saving your aluminum for our school! 

CARNIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  We will hold our annual Carnival Event and Fundraiser Sunday, February 24, 2019. Please mark your calendars!

YEARBOOK SIGNING – SEPTEMBER 14:  Our 2017-2018 yearbooks have arrived!  We will have a yearbook signing activity on Friday, September 14.  Your newsletter today will say the number of yearbooks that you ordered in the upper right-hand corner.  We’ll have some autograph sheets available for those who do not have a yearbook to be signed.  We have several extra yearbooks on hand for anyone who would like to purchase one at this time.  Cost is $20, and checks should be made payable to St. Francis School.

DIOCESAN TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21:  St. Francis students will not have classes on Friday, September 21 as our teachers will be attending a Diocesan Teacher In-service in Eau Claire.

DATES TO REMEMBER:  
Sept. 7 - Mass with Bishop Callahan (Grades 2-5) ~ Please wear your “Sunday Best”
Sept. 7 - St. Francis Clothing Orders Due
Sept. 11 - Dance Clinic Forms Due
Sept. 12 - Statement of Compliance Due
Sept. 12 - Home and School Dues Due
Sept. 13 - Home and School Meeting at 6:00pm
Sept. 14 - Yearbook Signing
Sept. 14 - Packer/ Viking Day
Sept. 21 - No School – Diocesan Teacher In-Service

May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!
Chuck Buckel
Principal