January 22, 2018

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                                                 
 
Dear God, we thank you for the wonderful students we have here in our school.
May we help them learn to recognize the gifts they possess and to never underestimate their potential.  May we give them the confidence and knowledge they need to achieve their dreams.  Amen
 
Thank you for being a Prayer Partner for our school!
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 4th Grade Class in prayer ~ Nora Feuerhelm, Connor Flanigan, Jianna Jean, Alexis Marks, Maggie McHardy, Lori Moldenhauer, Ian Nelson, Maggie Pechacek, Carter Plummer, Evie Puhrmann, Oliver Truttman and Daniel Vogel.
 
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
MASS ON WEDNESDAY:  Father Eric will be out of town on Wednesday, January 24.  Our students will have a Special Service in the Parish Hall starting at 8:30.  Please join us!
 
SAFE ENVIRONMENT:  If you received a packet in your weekly envelope regarding Safe Environment, please complete it by Wednesday, January 31.  Please look for the name at the top of the form.  It is required by the Diocese and we must be in compliance.
 
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING VIDEO – TUESDAY, JANUARY 30:  We will be offering the Safe Environment Video Training following our Home and School Meeting on Tuesday, January 30 in the Parish Hall.  If you are in need of this requirement please plan to attend.
 
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR:   Please send in your registration forms and tuition payment plans as soon as possible. 
 
There is tuition assistance available to help those in need of financial support.  An anonymous donor does not want the cost of tuition to inhibit your child from attending our school and may be able to help cover part of your tuition amount.  Please contact Mr. Buckel for more information about tuition assistance for next year; all inquiries will be kept confidential.
 
FIRST RECONCILIATION:  Congratulations to our second grade students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation
for the first time on Tuesday, January 16.
 
Ava Acker
Amelia Dopp
Lucy Feuerhelm
Marley Halverson
Shawn Huppert
Aubrianna Marks
Merrick Mason
Regan Nelson
Evelyn Peterson
 
CARNIVAL:  The carnival would not be a success without the involvement of each family! In order to cover the nearly 100 positions for our many games and activities, we ask that both parents sign up for a shift. An online form open for sign ups at this time: http://signup.com/go/QsYBWFd
 
CARNIVAL DECORATING: Come Help Decorate! SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/DQTUZYv
Thursday, February 22 from 3pm-9pm
Friday, February 23, 8am-11:00am
 
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK OPEN HOUSE - JANUARY 28:  We will join in the national observance of Catholic Schools  Week January 28 – February 3, and kick off the week with an Open House on Sunday, January 28.  Students in grades 1-5 are asked to sing in the choir for the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Our Open House on Sunday will begin at 9:15, following the 8:30 Mass, close during the 10:30 Mass, and continue again after the 10:30 Mass until 1 p.m.  The Knights of Columbus will serve a pancake breakfast on this morning as well. A complete schedule of activities and dress themes for Catholic School Weeks is included in your weekly envelope today.
 
SERVERS FOR MASS ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 28:
Servers - Jianna Jean, Maggie Pechacek, Daniel Vogel
Readers - Karli Gutting and, Austin Peterson
Greeters - Anna Puhrmann and Grace Turvaville
Petitions and The Prayer of St. Francis - Sam Hines
 
BOOKS FOR BREAKFAST:  Parents and grandparents are invited to join us for Books for Breakfast in the parish hall on Wednesday, January 31 following Mass.  Light refreshments will be served.  
 
SCHOLASTICS BOOK FAIR  JANUARY 25 – FEBRUARY 1:  It’s Scholastics Book Fair Time!  We will be having a book fair starting Thursday, January 25 and ending Thursday, February 1.  The book fair will be available to students daily and during our open house on Sunday, January 28 and Books for Breakfast on Wednesday, January 31.  A Book Fair Packet was sent home last week.
 
HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEETING – TUESDAY, JAN. 30:  The Home and School Association will hold its third meeting of the year at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, January 30 in the parish hall. Invite a fellow school parent 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, Becky Beissel: beckybeissel@hotmail.com or 651-231-8698.  It’s important to plan the agenda ahead of time, so that the meeting can move along efficiently.  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!
 
GR. 5 PARENT & STUDENT MTG - “GROWING IN LOVE” - FEB. 5:       Wonder how you’ll talk with your child about his/her body changes as he/she approaches puberty?  Alice Heinzen and Jeff Arrowood, of our diocesan Office of Family Life, have a presentation, entitled “Growing in Love”, for fifth grade parents and their child that conveys the information children need to know, integrated with appropriate humor and a deep respect for God’s gift of sexuality.  Fifth grade students and their parents will meet for this presentation on Monday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall.  Because of the sensitive nature of the puberty topics that will be covered, no child may attend without his/her parent present.
 
GR. K-5 ROLLER SKATING TRIP:  Our skating party has been set for Thursday, February 15 for Kindergarten–Fifth Grade at Wooddale Recreation Center in Woodbury!  As always, we need the help of many parents to make this activity possible! The sign-up sheet for parent chaperones, as well as the student permission slip, will be sent home closer to the date.  Parents are reminded of the need to have all three components of the diocesan Safe Environment Program completed prior to chaperoning.  This includes the background check, online completion of Safe Environment training, and completion of the Confidential Questionnaire.  Also, required by the diocese for all parents that chaperone is the Adult Comprehensive Medical Release & Permission Form.  Please remember that we are being asked to allow two weeks prior to the event to receive the results of the background check from the diocesan office.  Forms are included in your weekly envelope for those who have not completed their safe environment requirements.
 
NO SCHOOL - FEBRUARY 16:  Students will not have class on Friday, February 16.  This is a district-wide in-service day.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan. 23 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
Jan. 24 - Special Service in Parish Hall at 8:30am
Jan. 24 - 4YK No School – Child Development Screening
Jan. 28 - Catholic Schools Week Open House 9:15 - 1:00 (Students in Grades 1-5 will sing at 10:30 Mass)
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 – Catholic Schools Week
Jan. 30 - Home and School Meeting at 6:00
Jan. 31 - Books For Breakfast (following Mass)
Feb. 5 - “Growing In Love” Grade 5 and parents (6:30 - 8:30)
Feb 12 - Grand Raffle Tickets are Due
Feb 14 - Ash Wednesday
​Feb 15 - Roller Skating Trip (Grades K – 5)
Feb. 16 - Teacher In-Service (No School)
Feb. 21 - First Communion Parent Meeting at 6:00pm
Feb. 25 - St. Francis School Carnival
 
Have an awesome week!  Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 or cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
 
Chuck Buckel