February Newsletter

Second Grade Class Prayer
Dear God, We thank you for our grandparents, parents, friends, pets, shelter, food, water, and air. We also thank you for the sun, our lives and the world.  Thank you for creating everything we see! Thank you for the life we live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 
PRAYER PARTNERS:  Please join us as we lift up Mrs. Koch and our Second Grade students in prayer during the month of February.  
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 March, we will be lifting up Miss Miller and our First Grade students in prayer.

VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING HELPFUL:                                                                         
Helpful – You find things that need to be done and do them.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Evan, Ellyse, Lane, Eian, Vander, Lucy, Shelby 

VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING HONEST:
Honest – You tell the truth
Honest people will lead a full, happy life.  Proverbs 28:20

Samantha, Levi, Gretta, Darien 

4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Helpful - Cedrec 
Honest - Easton 
 
WELCOME WEDNESDAYS:  We are inviting interested families to tour our school during one of our upcoming ‘Welcome Wednesday’ events to see first-hand what their child will experience as a student at St. Francis School. Welcome Wednesdays take place Wednesdays, February 5 through April 8, from 10am-11am. This is an opportunity for them to meet the people and see the spaces that inspire children to dream big and do right. Our current school families are our biggest fans and best advocates! Enclosed in your monthly envelope you will find a “Welcome Wednesday” information card. We are asking you to help us spread the word by passing along one of these cards to anyone you think may be interested. If no one comes to mind, get creative as to where you could ask to leave a card (salons, local businesses, area churches, banks, etc). Thank you for helping to promote our great school!

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR:  We begin taking registrations for next school year today, and will continue through Wednesday, February 12.  Each child who will attend St. Francis School next year will need to have a completed Registration Application Form and Tuition Payment Plan on file.  These forms are included in today’s envelope for those families who will have children in grades K-5 next school year. Please complete and return them as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, February 12.  A 4YK registration packet will be mailed to incoming families.  The price break for parish members, when originally established, was intended to recognize the financial commitment these families were already making to St. Francis Parish.  Each family who claims parishioner status is asked to review their financial contributions to St. Francis Parish and make an increase where appropriate. For the 2020-2021 school year, tuition will NOT increase for parish families or non-parish families!  See the enclosed Tuition Payment Plan for more specifics. 

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 the school office for more information about tuition assistance for next year; all inquiries will be kept confidential.

ST. FRANCIS PRESCHOOL:  St. Francis School will be offering two 3-year-old preschool classes next year; one class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and one class on Tuesday and Thursday.  More details coming soon! If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  Congratulations to our second grade students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Wednesday, January 15.

Levi, June, Tate, Ben, Walker, Markus, Anna, Aaron, Lane, Zachary (Grace at St. Mary’s.)
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1:  We will join in the National Observance of Catholic Schools Week January 26 - February 1.  A complete schedule of activities and dress themes for Catholic Schools Week was previously sent home with your child.

“BEACH” PICNIC LUNCH – MONDAY, JANUARY 27: Ms. Dougherty has planned a “beach” picnic lunch for us on Monday, January 27.  Students are encouraged to bring a beach towel to sit on! 
BOOKS WITH BREAKFAST - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29:  Parents and grandparents are invited to join us for Books with Breakfast in the parish hall on Wednesday, January 29 following Mass.  Light refreshments will be served.

SCREENING DAY - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29: Our 4YK students will not have class on Wednesday, January 29 due to District Screening that day. All day Wrap Around Care will be provided for our 4YK students.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK OPEN HOUSE - FEBRUARY 2:  Catholic Schools Week is January 26 - February 2. We will conclude the activities with an Open House on Sunday, February 2. Students in grades 1-5 are asked to sing in the choir for the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  Fifth grade students will be selected for the role of lector, and fourth and fifth grade students for servers. 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 St. Francis Youth Ministry will be serving cinnamon rolls on this morning as well.
SERVERS FOR MASS ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2:
Servers - Shelby, Amelia, Emmie
Readers - Bethany, Gavin, Atlanta (welcome)
Greeters - Evie, Bentley
Petitions - Atlanta

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR  JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 5:  It’s Scholastic Book Fair Time!  We will be having a book fair starting Monday, January 27 and ending Wednesday, February 5. Students will be able to shop during the school days.  On Tuesday, January 28, the book fair will be open prior to the Home and School Meeting. On Wednesday January 29, parents can shop with their child during Books with Breakfast. On Sunday, February 2, the book fair will be open during our Open House. Can’t find a book you are looking for? Want to purchase items online? Please visit https://www.scholastic.com/bf/stfranciselementaryschool3.

HISTORY IS ALIVE - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2:  Once again, our 5th grade students will present their historical biography research projects at our Catholic Schools Week Open House on Sunday, February 2nd.  Come enjoy these presentations as our students “become” George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and many more! Through their hard work and creativity, history truly is “ALIVE”!

SCHOOL COLOR DAYS - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 and MARCH 6: Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Friday, February 7 and Friday, March 6.  Show your school pride! 

FIRST COMMUNION PARENT MEETING - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12:  A Parent Meeting for 1st Communion will be held on Wednesday, February 12 from 5:45pm - 7:00pm.

D.A.R.E. STARTING FEBRUARY 13:  Police Officer Chad Koranda, Pierce County D.A.R.E. School Resource Officer, will begin teaching the D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum at St. Francis on February 13. The primary goal of D.A.R.E. is to teach effective peer resistance and refusal skills, so that adolescents can say “no” to drugs and to their friends who may want them to use drugs.  The secondary goals of the program are to build students’ social skills and enhance their self-esteem, as these are believed to be linked to adolescent drug use.
The curriculum is concentrated in the fifth grade with a 45 minute class once a week for 10 weeks.  Grades K-4 will meet with Officer Chad as time permits.
NO SCHOOL - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14:  Students will not have class on Friday, February 14.  This is a district-wide in-service.
GR. K-5 ROLLER SKATING TRIP – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21:  Our skating party has been set for Friday, February 21 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 and the student permission slip are included in your monthly envelope today and are due back by Wednesday, February 12.
GR. 5 - MUSIC CLASS – Why Bats Fly at Night FOLKTALE – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27: As part of our music curriculum, our fifth grade students study a folktale, and incorporate a variety of musical instruments into the telling of the tale.  Fifth grade parents are invited to attend one or both of the presentations of the folk tale in the lunchroom: Thursday, February 27 at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.  The presentations will last approximately 15 minutes.  
DR. SEUSS DAY – MONDAY, MARCH 2:  We will celebrate Dr. Theodore Seuss’ Birthday on Monday, March 2.  Please wear comfy clothes or pajamas. We will read together as a school at 8:30 a.m.
SCREENING DAY - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4: Our 4YK students will not have class on Wednesday, March 4 due to District Screening that day. All day Wrap Around Care will be provided for our 4YK students.
SPRING BREAK – MARCH 9-13:  Students will not have classes during the week of March 9-13 due to Spring Break.
FIRST COMMUNION PARENT MEETING - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18:  A Parent Meeting for 1st Communion will be held on Wednesday, March 18 from 5:45pm - 7:00pm.
CARPENTER NATURE CENTER:  Each class will take a field trip to the Carpenter St. Croix Nature Center this spring as part of our science curriculum. Permission slips and the request for parent chaperones will be sent home with the March Newsletter.
The schedule is as follows:  Please mark your calendar!
4YK – Monday, May 18                         Second & Third – Friday, May 15
K & First – Tuesday, May 12               Fourth & Fifth – Thursday, March 19 

2019-2020 YEARBOOK ORDERS: Yearbook Online Ordering is open!  Visits https://ybpay.lifetouch.com to order. Our ID code is: 1934620.  Additional ordering options will be open at a later date.
HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS

HOME & SCHOOL MEETING - TUESDAY, JANUARY 28: Our next Home and School Meeting is Tuesday, January 28th at 6:00. There will be only snacks provided that night. All are welcome!! 


“FUN IN THE SUN” CARNIVAL:  Thank you to all the family members, students, teachers and staff that put in their time to make this Carnival successful! We could not pull this off without everyone's involvement.  Please be sure to see the list of donors listed in the newsletter and thank these sponsors when you shop locally! We do not have any totals yet but we'll get them out to everybody as soon as we have them.  
THANK YOU to everyone for helping and making this Carnival successful!!  

GRAND RAFFLE
1st: $4000 Cash - Rhonda Jensen
2nd: $1000 Cash - Chuck Buckel
3rd: YETI Cooler with $100 Gift Card - Dominic Harris
4th: Milwaukee Battery Operated Weed Whip - Michael Gaustad
5th: Samsung Tablet - Cory Dodge
6th: Two Oversized Folding Club Camp Chairs - Chad Wittenberg
7th - 10th: $100 Cash - Chad Conroy, Emily Rohl, Emily Loberg, Linda McConn

TRADITIONAL RAFFLE
1st: $500 Cash - Holly Hasting
2nd: Roomba - Aaron Rohl
3rd: FitBit Versa - Hattie Graetz
4th: Altec Lansing Life Jacket XL Jolt Portable Speaker- Quinn Myrick
5th: $100 Cash - Larry Wiskerchen
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – APRIL 18, 2020:  Plans for this year’s “Glory Days” Gala are now in full swing and we can’t wait to celebrate with you on April 18, 2020 at 5 pm at the Ridgetop Pavilion!  Enclosed in your white envelope please find a parent letter that outlines the details of the event and ways that you can help make it a success! We are asking each school family to volunteer their time, become a sponsor, make a monetary donation, or donate an item for the auctions.   If you haven’t had a chance to check out the auction wish list please visit https://signup.com/go/rQACpCg.  Many items on our auction wish list are linked to an Amazon wish list, which allows you to easily purchase the item through Amazon and have it shipped directly to our school.  Please return the enclosed “Family Donation Form” to the school office.  More information about the Gala can also be found at www.stfrancisellsworth.org/gala. The next Gala committee meeting is scheduled for February 18 at 6 pm at Clyde’s Corner.  All are welcome to attend to share your ideas and assist with planning! 

DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Jan. 26 - Feb. 1 – Catholic Schools Week
Jan. 27 - Feb. 5 – Scholastic Book Fair
Jan. 28 - Home and School Meeting at 6:00pm
Jan. 29 - Virtue Awards for being Honest and Helpful (4YK awards will be given out on Thursday)
Jan. 29 - Books with Breakfast (following Mass)
Jan. 29 - Child Development Screening (No School for 4YK only)
Feb. 2 - Catholic Schools Week Open House 9:15 - 1:00 (Students in Grades 1-5 will sing at 10:30 Mass)
Feb. 2 - History is Alive (5th Grade)
Feb. 7 - School Color Day
Feb. 12 - 2020-2021 Registration Forms due
Feb. 12 - First Communion Parent Meeting (5:45 - 7:00 pm)
Feb. 14 - No School - Teacher In-Service
Feb. 19 - Virtue Awards for being Patient and Kind
Feb. 21 - Roller Skating Trip
Feb. 26 - Ash Wednesday 
Feb. 27 - Fifth Grade Folktale
Mar. 2 - Celebrate Dr. Seuss
Mar. 4 - Child Development Screening (No School for 4YK only)
Mar. 6 - School Color Day
Mar. 9-13- Spring Break

May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!  Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
Chuck Buckel - Principal