December Newsletter

Weeks of Advent:
Week 1, Hope
Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us to slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen. 
Week 2, Peace
Dear Jesus, you entered our world on Christmas as the Prince of Peace. This Advent, as we strive to become the-best-version-of-ourselves, fill us with a deep and abiding peace. Help us share that peace with everyone we encounter, especially those who need it most. Amen.
Week 3, Joy
Dear Jesus, help us focus on you during this busy season. May we stay aware of the joy you bring into our lives. We want to find you in the everyday moments and come with hearts of gratitude to your manger on Christmas. Amen.

Week 4, Love
Dear Jesus, may the light of your love always shine in our hearts. As Christmas draws closer, we marvel at your great love for us. Let your love transform every aspect of our lives and touch everyone we encounter. 
Our hearts are open to you, Jesus. Amen.

                   FOLLOWING IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS
**Please help us continue to celebrate our virtue awards winners at home 
and in your prayers.  We will celebrate them at Masses when Father returns
from Poland in December.

VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING ATTENTIVE:                                                                      
Attentive – I watch and listen carefully.
My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.   Proverbs 4:20
Jaxson, Deni, Samantha, Ben, Emmie,  and Kaia Jacobson

4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Attentive – Mabel 

MR. BUCKEL’S RETIREMENT: Many people have asked how we will celebrate Mr. Buckel’s retirement.  The truth is, that is yet to be determined.  Mr. Buckel has some upcoming appointments that he needs to remain Covid free for, and will not be joining us until after those appointments in mid December. Any cards that you would like to share with Mr. Buckel can be sent to the office and we will be glad to forward them to him.  We hope to celebrate his amazing years of service in a healthier time.  We will keep you posted!

CHRISTMAS CARDS:   Send us your Christmas Cards!  We would love to add your family to our St. Francis Families Christmas Card Display.  You may send your card to school with your child or mail it to: 
St. Francis School
PO Box 250
​Ellsworth WI, 54011
 
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
 
POTENTIAL INCOMING 4YK STUDENTS AND REGISTRATION FOR NEXT YEAR:  We will begin our registration process for next year in early January with a mailing to potential 4YK students.  If you have a child who will be 4 years of age by September 1, 2021, and would like to receive registration materials for St. Francis School, please send me your child’s name and birth date as soon as possible.  If you know of a family in our area who might like to receive registration information for any grade, please send me or call me with the contact information.  Registration materials will be sent home with our current students and to potential 4YK students in January.  Thank you for your help in spreading the good news about our school!
 
THANKSGIVING VACATION - NOVEMBER 25-27:  There will be no school on Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving Vacation.  Classes will resume again on Monday, November 30.

HOME AND SCHOOL MEETING - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3: Our next Home and School Meeting will again be held virtually on Thursday, December 3 at 7:00pm.  See link on next page.

SCHOOL COLORS DAY - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, December 4.  Show your school pride!  

NO SCHOOL - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8: Students will not have classes on Tuesday, December 8 as we observe a holy day of obligation, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM FILMING - DECEMBER 9 AND 10:  Please avoid making any unnecessary appointments on these days.  We really want to have all of our students in our 2020 Christmas Program.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM:  In the spirit of remaining healthy and yet upholding our Catholic School traditions, your children who are in grades K-5 will rehearse and perform a Christmas Program, but unfortunately, there will be no live performance or reception.  Our videographer will record individual classroom performances as well as the dialogue portions of the play, and then creatively join those pieces together to make it appear as if all the children are performing together.  Rehearsals and filmings will be only with their classmates.  As has been our practice during Covid 19, children in all grade levels will not be performing together. 
The performance will be streamed to parents.  We will send you the specifics as soon as we know them. You will also be given the opportunity to purchase our concert DVD.
As with everything this year, this is new territory.  We will do our best to keep you abreast of what is happening and when you can expect to see the program. The important thing for us is that our children will have a Christmas Program.  Covid 19 or not, Christmas is coming and will be celebrated to the best of our ability at St. Francis Catholic School.

SCHEDULE CHANGE - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11: The public school will again be giving their teachers an extra inservice day without students.  St Francis IS NOT taking this day off.  We will be counting Friday, December 11 in our attendance. 4YK and Preschool WILL be in session.  Eagles Nest Before School Care and Wrap Around Care and WILL be available. Eagles Nest After School Care WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE that day and all students will need to be picked up by 3:30pm on Friday, December 11. Unfortunately, there will be NO BUSES running those days.  You will need to provide transportation for your child or set up a virtual day with your child’s classroom teacher. I’m sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.  We are trying to put less stress on all of you by staying in school. Thanks for helping us with this schedule change. 

ELLSWORTH FOOD PANTRY FOOD DRIVE:  Thank you for your support thus far, but we need a LOT more food to give our friends and neighbors in need of a hearty holiday meal. Monetary donations are accepted as well. 5th grade will be delivering our donations to the Ellsworth Food Pantry on Friday, December 11th. Keep those donations coming!

FIFTH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO THE FOOD PANTRY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11:  On Friday, December 11 our fifth grade class will be delivering the donated items to the food pantry.  A permission slip for this trip is included in the monthly envelope for those students.  Please complete the permission slip and return it by Wednesday, December 2.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS POSTER CONTEST:  Students in grades 1-5 have been invited to participate in the annual KC Christmas Poster Contest.  Students will complete these posters at school.   Winners will be announced as soon as we know.

CHRISTMAS VACATION:  Christmas vacation will start on Wednesday, December 23.  Classes will resume on Monday, January 4.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SCREENING - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13: Early Childhood Screening is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13.  Our 4YK students will not have class that day.

END OF SECOND QUARTER - THURSDAY, JANUARY 14: The second quarter ends on Thursday, Jan. 14.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES – FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 (NO SCHOOL): Parent-teacher conferences are not mandatory and are requested by a teacher or parent. Teacher requests will be sent out closer to the date.  Information for parents that wish to request a conference will be in next month’s newsletter.
Please remember that you can view your child’s grades (Grades 3-5) in our JMC program.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6:  We will join in the National observance of Catholic Schools Week. While we usually kick off this week with a special Mass and Open House, those events aren’t in the cards during this year of Covid 19.  We will have a wonderful, Covidly responsible, Catholic Schools’ Week celebration at school with many fun activities February 1 - 5.

TUITION STATEMENTS:  Tuition Statements can be printed from JMC for tax purposes.
WI TAX SCHEDULE PS - PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION:  WI tax Schedule PS is used to claim the subtraction for tuition paid for your dependent child to attend a private school.  The subtraction is available for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.  The form requires the name, address, and federal employer identification number (FEIN) of the private school where your child was enrolled during 2017.  For St. Francis students, you will need to use:  St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 264 S. Grant Street, P.O. Box 839, Ellsworth, WI 54011.   Reminder: In order to claim tuition expenses on your 2020 tax return, payments must be received by the parish no later than December 31, 2020.

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS

HOME AND SCHOOL MEETING-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3 at 7pm: This meeting will be virtual. The meeting link is: meet.google.com/gxq-fymi-xdh
 
HAVE A SPORTING GOOD TIME CARNIVAL UPDATE:  Hello Families!! The carnival committee has been working hard!  The raffle tickets are at the printer as you are reading this!  Look for them to come home very soon!!  They will come home in your oldest child's daily folder so please be checking that next week or the week after.  We are asking all families to sell 2 Grand Raffle tickets and 5 booklets of Traditional Raffle tickets again this year.  Please turn the ticket stub and payment into the office.  We are adding something new this year: Classroom Baskets!  There will be an email coming to you regarding the baskets so please look for that too.  The classroom baskets were created in hopes that we can replace our lost income from not being able to sell game tickets.  We are asking families to donate items to the basket (there will be a list of items to choose from) and then the baskets will go on our live auction.  If all the things in the basket are selected, please feel free to add something of that theme of your choice.  We appreciate and THANK YOU for your support in this year's carnival!     - Carnival Committee

CHURCH/COMMUNITY NEWS
 
RECONCILIATION: This year there will not be an "in person" parent meeting for those parents with children in 2nd grade who will be receiving their First Reconciliation. As soon as plans are made for a different kind of presentation regarding this Sacrament we will let you know.  First Reconciliation is scheduled for Thursday, January 14, 2021. 
 

 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Nov. 25-27 - Thanksgiving Vacation
Nov. 26 - Happy Thanksgiving!
Dec. 3 - Home and School Meeting (7:00 Virtual)
Dec. 4 - School Colors Day
Dec. 8 - Holy Day - No School for St. Francis
Dec. 9 - 10 - Christmas Program Recording
Dec. 10 - Food Drive Donations Due
Dec. 11 - Fifth Grade Field Trip to Food Pantry
Dec. 23 - Jan. 1 - Christmas Vacation
Dec. 25 - Merry Christmas!
Jan. 4 - Classes Resume
Jan. 13 - Early Childhood Screening (No School for 4YK ONLY)
Jan. 14 - End of Second Quarter
Jan. 14 - 2nd Grade First Reconciliation
Jan. 15 - Teacher In-Service/ Parent-Teacher Conferences (No School)
Jan. 18 - Beginning of 3rd Quarter
Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 – Catholic Schools Week
May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!  Please call or email if you have questions: 715-273-4391 or
Chuck Buckel - Principal cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org  
Kathy Swanson - Lead Teacher kswanson@stfrancisellsworth.org