Dear St. Francis School Families,

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

PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOKS:  The 2017-18 Parent/Student handbook was sent to parents at our Back-to-School night.  If you have not signed and returned the compliance form included in the handbook, please do so and return it to the school by Friday, September 29. 

SEPTEMBER HOME & SCHOOL MEETING:  Thank you to all parents who attended the Home & School Meeting last week. It was a productive meeting and full of positive vibes!  The minutes are included in today’s packet.

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 required 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.  If you have not turned in your Home and School dues, please take care of that this week.  Thank you!

CUB SCOUTS:  The representatives from the local Cub Scout troop will visit St. Francis Catholic Elementary School on Tuesday, September 19.  They will do a short presentation to our students.  

DIOCESAN TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - FRI., SEPT. 22: St. Francis students will not have classes on Friday, Sept. 22 as our teachers will be attending a Diocesan Teacher In-service that day.

FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM – MONDAY, SEPT. 25:  The Ellsworth Fire Department will be at St. Francis at 8:00 am on Monday morning September 25 for the annual Fire Safety presentation to our 4YK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classes.  We ask that your permission slip be returned by Wednesday, September 20 to allow your child to ride the fire truck.  Also, the Child Comprehensive Form needs to be on file at school for your child to participant in this event.

GR. 4 - PIERCE CO. FARM & RURAL SAFETY DAY - THUR., SEPT 28:  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 28.  The permission slip is included with next week’s newsletter for fourth grade families.  Please return the permission slip by Wednesday, September 20. Also, the Child Comprehensive Form needs to be on file at school for your child to participant in this event.

SCHOOL COLORS DAY/CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS/PET BLESSING - OCT. 4: The feast day of our school and parish patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, is Wednesday, October 4.  This day is always one of great celebration for our entire parish!  We will attend the 8:30 a.m. 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 was a special sign-up sheet included with next week’s newsletter 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. 27th.

GRADE 5 - FIELD TRIP TO THE MN ZOO - FRI., OCT. 6:  Fifth grade students will take a field trip to the MN Zoo on Friday, October 6.  The permission slip is included in today’s packet for fifth grade families.  Please complete and return with payment by Wednesday, September 27.  Also, the Child Comprehensive Form needs to be on file at school for your child to participant in this event.

4H AWARDS:  Ann Webb from the Pierce County 4H office will be at St. Francis School on Thursday, October 12 starting at 12:30 to distribute and cash checks for prizes students received at the Pierce County Fair.

​NO SCHOOL - OCT. 16 & OCT 27:  Students do not have classes on Monday, October 16 or Friday, October 27.  These are district-wide in-service days.

FIRST RECONCILLIATION MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 AT 6:00.  Please plan to attend if you have a second grader who will receive the sacrament this year.

PICTURE RE-TAKES - OCT. 24: Our picture re-take day is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24.  Students who did not have their picture taken on August 22 during our Back-to-School Night will need to have theirs taken on October 24 so that we have a photo for the student permanent record 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 11.

ALL-SCHOOL ASSEMBLY - OCT. 25:  The Windy City Players will perform at St. Francis on Wednesday, October 25.

DATES TO REMEMBER: 

Sept. 19 - Cub Scouts visit St. Francis
Sept. 22 - No School (Teacher in Service)
Sept. 25 - Ellsworth Fire Dept. Fire Safety presentation
Sept. 28 - Pierce County Farm and Rural Safety Day 
Sept. 30 - EHS Fall Dance Clinic
Oct. 4 - Feast of St. Francis
Oct. 6 - Fifth Grade Field Trip to the MN Zoo
Oct. 12 - 4H Fair Awards presentation
Oct. 16 - Teacher In-Service (No School)
Oct. 18 - First Reconciliation Parent Meeting (Second Grade)
Oct. 24 - Picture Retake Day
Oct. 26 - End of 1st Quarter
Oct. 27 - Teacher In-Service (No School)

Have an awesome week!  Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org

Chuck Buckel
Principal

Dear St. Francis School Families,

Good and Gracious God, 
we know that with faith and trust in you all things are possible. 
During this new beginning help us each feel your presence 
and your calming influence in our lives.
May the knowledge and awareness of your power 
assist each of us when we learn during this year.
Amen

NEW THIRD GRADE TEACHER: I am pleased to inform you that a third grade teacher has been hired.  After interviewing several fine applicants the position was offered to Tessa Davis, a graduate of Ellsworth Senior High School and recently the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Please take the time to stop by her room and introduce yourself.  Her email address is tdavis@stfrancisellsworth.org

THANK YOU:  I would also like to thank Mrs. Kathy Swanson for helping out as the search for a new teacher was conducted.  A big “Thank You” to Mrs. Swanson.   

HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEETING – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14:  The Home and School Association will hold its first meeting of the year at 6:00 pm this 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!  The agenda for this week’s meeting is enclosed. It’s sure to be an informative and fun meeting!  All parents or guardians are encouraged to attend.  Child care will be provided in a classroom, refreshments will be served and by attending you’re eligible for a door prize! 

ELLSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING WEEK: This week is Homecoming week which will culminate with the game on Friday night.  Students are encouraged to show their Panther Spirit by dressing in Purple and White Friday, September 15.

CUB SCOUTS:  The representatives from the local Cub Scout troop will visit St. Francis Catholic Elementary School on Tuesday, September 19.  They will do a short presentation to our students.  

DIOCESAN TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - FRI., SEPT. 22: St. Francis students will not have classes on Friday, Sept. 22 as our teachers will be attending a Diocesan Teacher In-service that day.

FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM:  The Ellsworth Fire Department will be at St. Francis at 8:00 am on Monday morning September 25 for the annual Fire Safety presentation to our 4YK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classes.  We ask that your permission slip be returned by Wednesday, September 20 to allow your child to ride the fire truck.

GR. 4 - PIERCE CO. FARM & RURAL SAFETY DAY - THUR., SEPT 28:  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 28.  The permission slip is included in today’s newsletter for fourth grade families.  Please return the permission slip by Wednesday, September 20.  Thanks.

FALL DANCE CLINIC:  The EHS Dance Team will be hosting a Fall Dance Clinic Sept. 30th for all students K-4th grade.  Registration forms were sent home last week and are due back by Wednesday, September 13.

SCHOOL COLORS DAY/CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS/PET BLESSING - OCT. 4: The feast day of our school and parish patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, is Oct. 4.  This day is always one of great celebration for our
entire parish!  We will attend the 8:30 a.m. 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 with this newsletter 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. 27th.

DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Sept. 14 - Home and School Meeting
Sept. 15 - Homecoming Dress Up Day
Sept. 19 - Cub Scouts visit St. Francis
Sept. 22 - No School (Teacher in Service)
Sept. 25 - Ellsworth Fire Dept. Fire Safety presentation
Sept. 28 - Pierce County Farm and Rural Safety Day 
Sept. 30 - EHS Fall Dance Clinic
Oct. 4 - Feast of St. Francis
Oct. 16 - Teacher In-Service (No School)
Oct. 24 - Picture Retake Day

Have an awesome week!  Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org

Chuck Buckel
Principal