Newsletter - April 1, 2019

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                                                         
 
Please join us in prayer for our Families.
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 all of our Families 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 our 4YK students.
 
VIRTUE AWARDS FOR FORGIVENESS:                                                                           
Forgiveness – When we forgive, we choose to love and forgive others.
 
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32
 
Cooper Moldenhauer, Anna Puhrmann, Gretta Rewolinski, Cayman Anderson, Jack McMahon, Ian Nelson
 
4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Forgiveness – Cedrec LaFave
 
EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY BEGINS TODAY:  Beginning TODAY Monday, April 1 we will be extending our school day by 15 minutes. We will be starting the school day 5 minutes earlier at 8:00 a.m. and ending the day 10 minutes later at 3:35 p.m.  Parent pick-up will be at 3:25 p.m.  PLEASE NOTE:  Arrival time will still begin at 7:45 a.m., please do not drop off your child before 7:45.
 
SPRING PICNIC LUNCH – TUESDAY, APRIL 2: Mrs. Brooks has planned a spring picnic lunch for us on Tuesday, April 2. Students are encouraged to bring a beach towel to sit on!  
 
SUMMER CHILD CARE SURVEY:  We are asking all of our St. Francis families to fill out our Summer Child Care Survey and return it by Wednesday, April 3 so we are able to determine the level of need for a summer program. The survey was included in your envelope last week. Thank you for your input!
 
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.
 
ST. FRANCIS PRESCHOOL:  St. Francis School will be offering 3-year-old preschool starting this fall 2019.  More details coming soon! If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391.
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL CLOTHING ORDERS:  We will be placing an order for St. Francis School clothing.  Order forms were included in to your weekly envelope last week.  Please make checks payable to St. Francis School. 
*Order forms and payment are due by Monday, April 8th.
 
SERVICE PROJECTS FOR LENT:  St Francis School is collecting items to benefit First Choice Clinic now through Wednesday, April 10.  Thank you for your generosity!  
 
Though all items are appreciated, our greatest needs at this time are Baby monitors, Outlet covers, Toddler beds, Preemie clothes, Size 9 mo. pajamas, Size 4 diapers, and Overnight diapers. 
 
SPRING PICTURES – APRIL 4:  Students will have an opportunity to have a spring photo taken on Thursday, April 4. PLEASE NOTE:  ONLY THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREPAID OR RETURN THEIR ORDER FORM BY OR ON 4/4 WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHED!  Younger brothers/sisters may be photographed, beginning at 8:00 a.m.  If you wish to have a group photo taken of your children, please send a note indicating that by Wednesday, April 3.  Blue is the only background choice for sibling & family pictures. We plan to take pictures in this order for families that have prepaid:  individual photos of younger siblings, any group photos, then individual photos of St. Francis students. The flyer with background choices was included last week in your weekly envelope.  Each child needs one form with your choice of background marked for
that child.  You may also order online @ http://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/pictureDayId/MI428790Y0
Questions should be directed to Lifetouch at 1-866-955-8342.
 
 
END OF THIRD QUARTER – APRIL 4:  Our third quarter ends Thursday, April 4. Report cards will be sent home in your child’s daily folder on Wednesday, April 10.  Please sign and return by Monday, April 15.
 
GR. 2 - FIRST COMMUNION PRACTICE & BANNER MAKING - APRIL 24:  Second grade families whose child will receive their First Communion at St. Francis Parish this year are reminded of our practice and banner making evening on Wednesday, April 24, beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the parish hall.
 
GR. 2 FIRST COMMUNION - APRIL 28:  Our second grade students will receive their First Communion Sunday, April 28 at the 10:30 p.m. Mass.  Please keep these students in your prayers as they continue to prepare for this important day!
 
GR. K & 1 - CARPENTER NATURE CENTER – APRIL 29:  Kindergarten and First Grade students will take their field trip to the Carpenter Nature Center Monday, April 29.  Students will leave at 8:30 and return by11:00.  Parent chaperones are asked to please come to the office to check-in by 8:20.
 
Kindergarten: Maria Dopp, Ron Francis, Elise Gregory, Megan Hines, Sandra Loew (Griffin), Lisa Murphy, Ashley Nelson Grade 1:  Ron Francis, Amy Loberg, Scott Riester, Shari Turvaville, Jenny Tweet
 
WALK FOR VIRTUES PLEDGE FORMS:  Our Walk for Virtues pledge forms are included in your weekly envelope today.  This provides an opportunity to request pledges from family & friends when getting together for Easter celebrations.  Please see the letter with the pledge form for more information.  The remaining Walk forms (permission slip, request for parent helpers, etc.) will be sent home closer to the date.
 
2018-2019 YEARBOOK ORDERS:  Orders are being taken for this year’s yearbook.  As in the past, the yearbook will be delivered next September, allowing us to include photos through the last day of school!  The price for the all-color, 28 page, soft-cover yearbook is $20.00.  You can order your yearbook online at YBPay.lifetouch.com with the Yearbook ID Code: 1934619. You may also send your payment to school.  Please make checks payable to St. Francis School.
 
ST. FRANCIS YOUTH MINISTRY: We are practicing the Beatitudes (Feeding the Hungry!) by taking a trip to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, MN on Thursday, April 4th.  Plan on meeting in the Parish Hall around 4:30 pm to eat Pizza before the bus leaves at 5:00 pm.  We will pack food from 6-7:30 pm and then return to St. Francis by 8:30 pm.  St. Francis School does NOT have school the next day.  Parents/grandparents and friends are welcome to join this event either by completing paperwork and riding the bus with our group or meeting us at the Eagan FMSC site. This is a FREE event hosted by St. Francis Youth Ministry.  Please contact Cheryl Kaufer for questions goshawk@bevcomm.net or 651-308-8576 and to sign you up!!!
 
A TASTE OF TUSCANY: The Ellsworth Community School District Foundation will once again be hosting their largest fundraiser of the year, A Taste of Tuscany, at Vino in the Valley on May 31st from 4:30-8pm.  The evening includes a buffet dinner, wine tasting, live music, school art exhibition, and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 and are available to purchase at the St. Francis School Office, the Ellsworth School District Office, Nilssen’s Foods, Vino in the Valley and from any Foundation member.  A portion of the funds raised at this event are used to finance the EXCELLS grant.  St. Francis School is eligible for this grant and has been awarded it in the past to purchase materials, supplies, and equipment to implement innovative projects.  
 
SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGES:
TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - APRIL 5:  Although the public school has made this a student day, St. Francis students WILL NOT have classes on Friday, April 5 as our teachers will be attending the Diocese Faith In-service that day.
 
EASTER VACATION SCHEDULE:  There are no classes on Good Friday, April 19.
 
MONDAY, APRIL 22 IS NOW A SCHOOL DAY:  St. Francis students will now have class on Monday, April 22 (due to the many snow days this winter.)
 
JUNE 5 & 6 ARE NOW SCHOOL DAYS: St. Francis Students will now have class on Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6.  June 6 will be a half day of school.  Tuesday, June 4 will now be a full day.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Apr. 1 - Extended School Day Begins (8:00 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.)
Apr. 2 - Spring Picnic Lunch!  (Please bring a beach towel to sit on)
Apr. 4 - End of 3rd Quarter
Apr. 4 - Spring Picture Day
Apr. 4 - Feed My Starving Children (St. Francis Youth Ministry)
Apr. 5 - Diocesan Teacher In-Service (No School)
Apr. 19 - Good Friday (No School)
Apr. 21 – Happy Easter!
Apr. 22 - Regular School Day (Snow Make-up Day)
Apr. 22 – Perseverance Virtue Awards following Mass
Apr. 24 - First Communion Banner Making and Rehearsal (2nd Grade)
Apr. 28 - First Communion at the 10:30 Mass
Apr. 29 - Carpenter Nature Center (Grades K and 1)
May 2 - Home & School Association Meeting (6:00 p.m.)
May 3 - Walk for Virtues
 
May God’s Grace Be With You! Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 or cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
Chuck Buckel  - Principal