April Newsletter

Jesus is alive!  He has risen from the dead!  What amazing news we have to share!

Kindergarten Class Prayer
God, Jesus, and Mary help us make good choices every day. 
We pray that our pets and families stay safe and healthy. 
We pray that the people at the doctor get better. 
We pray that everyone is able to stay healthy and keep trying to do their best. Amen

PRAYER PARTNERS:  Please join us as we lift up Mrs. Wescott and our Kindergarten students in prayer during the month of April.  Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Philippians 4:6

During the month of May, we will be lifting up Mrs. Karlstad and our 4YK students in prayer.

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
 Grace B., Nathaniel, Walter, Lane, Oskar, Evie 

4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Forgiveness - Christopher 
      
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR: Just a reminder to please send in your registration forms and tuition payment plans as soon as possible.  We are making plans for next year and would love to know how many of your kiddos will be joining us! 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 Mrs. Swanson for more information about tuition assistance for next year; all inquiries will be kept confidential. 

TUITION PAYMENT REMINDER: Tuition statements are being sent home today for families who have a remaining balance this year and are not already set up on a payment plan.  Thanks for your prompt attention to this financial responsibility.

ST. FRANCIS PRESCHOOL: St. Francis School will be offering three choices for our 3-year-old preschool classes next year; Mon - Fri, Mon/Wed/Fri and Tues/Thurs. Please continue to share the information that was emailed to all of our families and posted on Facebook!  If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391.
 
BOOK FAIR THANK YOU: Thank you to all who helped make our Virtual Scholastic Book Fair a big success. We are able to get over $550 of materials from Scholastic for our Media Center.

DRESS CODE REMINDERS: As the warmer weather approaches, please remember our school dress code.  Many students have grown significantly since last fall and their summer shorts are now too short for school attire. 

• Shorts may be worn but the length must be at least fingertip length.
• Spaghetti straps may be worn only if a t-shirt or tank top is worn underneath.
• Bare midriffs, halter tops, excessively open tank tops, off the shoulder tops, very tight clothing or sheer clothing may NOT be worn.  Please use good judgement for your child.
• Torn clothing may not be worn, especially clothing torn at the knees.
• Tennis shoes, with a closed back, that tie or fasten are required for all recesses and phy-ed classes. Students will be allowed to change into tennis shoes before recesses and phy-ed, if needed.
• Flip-flops should not be worn for school.

WALK FOR VIRTUES PLEDGE FORMS: Our Walk for Virtues pledge forms, permission slips and request for parent volunteers are included in your monthly 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. Please complete and return by Wednesday, April 14.    

Each student needs a signed permission slip and at least one pledge to be able to participate in our Walk.  Student pledge forms (not the money) are due on Wednesday, May 5.  The Committee will copy them that evening.  A copy will be sent home with students on May 7, after the Walk, so that they are able to collect their pledges and turn in their money on Monday, May 10. (Inclement Weather Date - Friday, May 14)

SERVICE PROJECTS FOR LENT: Serving and giving thanks to those in our community and school is the focus of our Lenten Service Projects this year. Our projects will include making thank you cards for our bus drivers and Gala Donations, creating Gala items for the auction, and helping out around our school.

STUDENT MASS DURING HOLY WEEK: Our students will be attending Mass on Wednesday, March 31, NOT Thursday, April 1st.

SCHOOL COLOR DAY - THURSDAY, APRIL 1: Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Thursday, April 1.  Show your school pride! School colors day has been moved to Thursday due to Holy Week with no school the first Friday of April as we observe Good Friday.

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, APRIL 2 AND MONDAY, APRIL 5: There is no school on Good Friday, April 2 or Easter Monday, April 5.

SPRING PICTURES – THURSDAY, APRIL 8: Students will have an opportunity to have a spring photo taken on Thursday, April 8. PLEASE NOTE:  ALL STUDENTS WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHED THIS YEAR!  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 7.  The flyer with background choices is included in your monthly envelope today.  You may also order online @
 http://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/pictureDayId/EVTTDCZPF

 GR. 2 FIRST COMMUNION - APRIL 11: Our second grade students and those 3rd graders who were not able to receive last spring due to Covid, will receive their First Holy Communion on Sunday, April 11 at the 12:30 p.m. Mass.  Please keep these students in your prayers as they continue to prepare for this important day!  

GR. 5 & 4 PARENT & STUDENT MTG - “GROWING IN LOVE” - MONDAY, APRIL 12:  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 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 and Fourth grade students and their parents will meet for this presentation on Monday, April 12 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Church. Because of the sensitive nature of the puberty topics that will be covered, no child may attend without his/her parent present.

NO SCHOOL - FRIDAY, APRIL 16: Due to the Covid 19 vaccinations (and possible after effects) of all staff in Ellsworth, WI there will not be any school on this day.  

4YK - NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, APRIL 26, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, AND MONDAY, MAY 10: Our 4YK students will not have on Monday, April 26, Wednesday, May 5 (Child Development Screening) and Monday, May 10.

CARPENTER NATURE CENTER - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28: Carpenter Nature Center will be bringing us an “un” field trip on Wednesday,  April 28.  We will learn about Raptors in two assemblies tailored to the participating age groups.  The cost per child is $5.00 and we ask that you send this to school with your child (cash or check made payable to St. Francis), by Wednesday, April 21. An envelope for payment has been included in your monthly envelope for your convenience. Our 2nd - 5th grade students will attend the assembly from 9:00 - 9:45 & our 3K - 1st grade students will attend the assembly from 10:00 - 10:45

SCHOOL COLOR DAY - FRIDAY, MAY 7: Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Friday, May 7.  Show your school pride! 

WALK FOR VIRTUES - FRIDAY, MAY 7: We’re very excited to walk together for this great fundraiser.  This year’s goal is $11,000! We will gather at school to begin our walk at 8:30 am. We will walk from school to the Ellsworth High School Track. All students grades 4K-5 will be walking.  If you wish to bring your Preschool student with you on the walk, please talk with Mrs. McHardy.  We strongly encourage parents of 4K students to walk with us. All parents and siblings are welcome.  Younger siblings need to be under the direct supervision of a parent at all times. While strollers may be used for younger siblings walking to the track, strollers of any kind are not allowed on the High School track. 4K-Grade 2 will walk from 8:30-11:00 and Grades 3-5 will walk from 8:30-11:30.  There are MANY more details about this wonderful annual event included in the forms enclosed in todays’ monthly envelope.  For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, please read all the literature.  Thanks for making this family event a successful fundraiser! 

SPRING PROGRAM - WEDNESDAY, MAY 12:  Mrs. Penton and all of your children are busy preparing to  record a Spring Musical Program to share with all of you. As we prepare, we will be taking the same Covid precautions that were taken with rehearsing and recording the Christmas Program.  The program will be recorded on Wednesday, May 12 and shared with you as soon as it’s ready.

CHRISTMAS/SPRING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON DVD:  Our Spring Program will be recorded and placed on a DVD along with our Christmas Program from last December, and the 5th grade Folktale!  If you’d like to purchase a copy of the DVD and haven’t already, please complete the enclosed order form, along with payment by Wednesday, April 28.  DVDs will be sent home prior to the end of the school year.   If you already placed your order for a DVD earlier this year, Thank You!  There will not be another order form in your envelope today.
MEMORIAL DAY – MONDAY, MAY 31 - NO SCHOOL:  Students do not have classes Monday, May 31, due to our observance of Memorial Day.

2020-2021 YEARBOOK ORDERS:  Yearbook Online Ordering is open!  Visits https://ybpay.lifetouch.com to order. Our ID code is: 1934621.

GR. 5 - RELEASE OF STUDENT RECORDS:  Fifth grade families are asked to sign and return the enclosed Release of Student Records by Wednesday, April 7.  This form provides permission to send copies of your child’s records to the Ellsworth Middle School.  Thanks.

IMMUNIZATIONS NEEDED FOR NEXT YEAR - AFFECTS CURRENT GRADE 5 AND GRADE 4YK STUDENTS: Parents of students currently in Grades 5 and 4YK are reminded of Wisconsin state immunization law which requires additional immunizations before next school year.  

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS

The next Home and School meeting will be on Wednesday, April 14th at 7:00 p.m. Please join us as we social distance IN PERSON in the parish hall. Please note there will be no daycare or meal available. I am excited to get together in a responsible way to have our last meeting! Hope to see you there! 
 
Thank you to all the people so far that were nominated who have agreed to be placed on the upcoming ballot for the 2021-2022 Home and School Board Association. The ballot will be coming out soon for voting. Thank you for your patience.
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – APRIL 13-17: 
Our 15th annual Gala “Readin’, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic’” is just around the corner! Please join us virtually to celebrate St. Francis School from April 13-17 on our website at stfrancisellsworth.org/gala and the school’s Facebook Page @stfrancisellworth. You can now register for the Gala on our website. This will ensure that you don’t miss any of the fun! While you’re on our website, be sure to purchase your meal packages to enjoy with family and friends during the Grand Finale. These meal packages will be available to pick up from The Ridgetop on April 17. 
 
The Gala committee is making final preparations for the event. To help make the Gala a success, please remember to bring all silent auction items and wine donations for the wine pull to the School Office by April 1. There is a wish list of auction items on our website if you are still looking for ideas. Thank you to all our school families for your contributions to our school’s largest fundraiser!! We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Mar. 30 - Beginning of 4th Quarter
Mar. 31 - Mass for Students
Apr. 1 - School Color Day 
Apr. 2 - No School Good Friday
Apr 5 - No School 
Apr. 8 - Spring Picture Day
Apr 11 - First Communion 12:30pm Mass
Apr 12 - “Growing In Love” Grades 4 and 5 and parents 6:00-8:30
Apr. 13 - 17 - St. Francis School Virtual Gala
Apr. 14 - Home & School Association Meeting (7:00 p.m.)
Apr. 16 - No School
Apr. 26 - 4YK ONLY - No School
Apr. 28 - Carpenter Nature Center Assembly
Apr. 29 - Perseverance Virtue Awards following Mass
May 5 - 4YK ONLY - No School
May 7 - Walk for Virtues
May 10 - 4YK Only - No School
May 12 - Spring Program Filming 
May 14 - Walk for Virtues (inclement weather date)
May 31 - Memorial Day (No School)
June 1 - Last Day of School for 4YK
June 2 - Last Day of School (Half Day for K-5)