February Newsletter

St. Francis School ~ February Newsletter

A Message from the Principal

Happy February! This month brings so much hope and joy to our lives as we begin to prepare for the season of Lent. With Ash Wednesday being on the 17th, we have some time to prepare our hearts, our minds, and our spirits to receive the wonderful gift of renewal. Undoubtedly, this year has been a tough year for all of us. So many changes, unexpected trials and tribulations, and even moments of uncertainty in our faith. Nevertheless, I know that our Lord is still on the throne and will lead us through all doubt and sadness. I have witnessed God’s love, smiling down on our children, staff, and community as they have come to school and Mass with positive attitudes and hopeful intentions. We have all learned to adapt and to survive. Now, I am asking that we find ways to live out our traditions as we once did. Our feelings of joy, gratitude, and love for the life that Christ has given us is still there, even if things seemingly look different. Our hearts have not changed and for that we are blessed. My first week on the job as principal of St. Francis School has been wonderful; I am truly grateful! Thank you all for the warm welcome. I look forward to celebrating our Catholic Faith with the students and community during Catholic Schools Week. I am here to serve. Please let me know how I can support our St. Francis Community.

In Christ,
Dr. Clausell

Second Grade Class Prayer
Thank you God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for all of the people you have given to us: Our grandparents, parents, families, friends, and teachers. We are also thankful for our pets, and the food and shelter that we have. We would like to pray for the people that have COVID, and for the people in Heaven. 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.  Samantha Augustine, Adeline Dopp, Ryland Hines, Theodore LaFave, Cooper Moldenhauer, Ella Murphy, Ellyse Nelson, Trystan O’Neil, Walter Rewolinski, Kate Rohl, and Lyla Soley 
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.
                   FOLLOWING IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS

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

Trent Acker, Adelyn Loberg, Trystan O'Neil, June Feuerhelm, Kate Nelson 

​VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING HONEST:

Honest – You tell the truth.
 
Honest people will lead a full, happy life.  Proverbs 28:20
 
Matthew Gaard, Kate Rohl, Holt Jacobson, Carter Moldenhauer, Landyn Gaard
 
4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Honest - Alton Matzek

REGISTRATION UPDATE FOR NEXT YEAR:  Registration forms for our present students will be sent home soon.

ST. FRANCIS PRESCHOOL:  St. Francis School will be offering three 3-year-old preschool class options next year; 3 day class M/W/F, 2 day class T/Th or a 5 day class M-F.  Registration will open up Monday February 1st. More details can be found on our website! If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391.

REMINDER ABOUT ABSENCES, APPOINTMENTS, LATE ARRIVALS:  If your child will be absent due to illness or arriving late due to an early appointment, etc., please call the school office by 8:30 am. on the morning of the absence/late arrival. Because the answering machine is on 24 hours a day you will be able to call any time before 8:30 am. In addition, you are also required to send a dated and written note explaining the reason for the absence with your child on the day they return. According to diocesan directives, we must have a written excuse, indicating the date, reason for absence, and parent signature from the parent/guardian kept on file for each absence/late arrival or tardy. An email will also suffice.

TUITION PAYMENTS DUE:  Tuition statements are being sent home today for families who selected Plan 2, reminding you that payments were due January 15.  If you haven’t sent your January payment, please do so by Wednesday, January 27.  Thanks for your prompt attention to this financial responsibility.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Many thanks to Mrs. Penton and our students who performed a beautiful Christmas program called The Last Noel.
We have DVD’s available to order: Christmas Program DVD copies are $15 each and Blu-ray copies will be $20 each. Christmas + Spring Programs DVD $25 and both on Blu-ray will be $35 Order forms were included in your monthly envelope in December.  Please return by Wednesday, January 27th.

NO 4YK CLASSES ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 or FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26:  Our 4YK students will not have class on Friday, January 29 or Friday, February 26 as they will be following the district schedule for those days.

SCHOOL COLOR DAYS - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 and MARCH 5: Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Friday, February 5 and Friday, March 5. Show your school pride! 

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. A complete schedule of activities and dress themes for Catholic Schools Week is included in your monthly envelope today. 

NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15:  Students will not have class on Monday, February 15.  This is a district-wide in-service day.
 
SCHOLASTIC VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR  FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 4:  St. Francis will be continuing the Book Fair Tradition. However, this year the fair will be held virtually. The fair runs February 19 - March 4. More information will be coming Mid-February. Thank you so much for helping us bring books to our library and classrooms as well as your home.

D.A.R.E. STARTING FEBRUARY 18:  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 18. 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. 

DR. SEUSS DAY – TUESDAY, MARCH 2:  We will celebrate Dr. Theodore Seuss’ Birthday on Tuesday, March 2.  Please wear comfy clothes or pajamas.  

SPRING BREAK – MARCH 8-12:  Students will not have classes during the week of March 8-12 due to Spring Break.

FIRST COMMUNION PARENT MEETING - MARCH 3: First Communion Parent Meeting will be Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 5:45 to 6:45 pm in the St. Francis Church.  This meeting is for parents only, whose children will be making their First Communion on April 11, 2021. 

SPRING BREAK – MARCH 8-12:  Students will not have classes during the week of March 8-12 due to Spring Break.

2020-2021 YEARBOOK ORDERS:  Yearbook Online Ordering is open!  Visits https://ybpay.lifetouch.com to order. Our ID code is:  1934620. Last year there was a composite error that gave either a coupon or a yearbook to fix that error due to COVID. We are back to regular ordering.

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS
 
HOME & SCHOOL MEETING - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4: Please join us for the Home and School Meeting on Thursday, February 4th at 7:00pm on Google Meet. Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/ebr-saqf-sfx
 
HAVE A SPORTING GOOD TIME CARNIVAL UPDATE:  Please see the carnival informational sheets that are included in your monthly envelope today.  You will find the Carnival Schedule of Events and a list of dates that local restaurants will be supporting our fundraiser by donating a part of their proceeds to St. Francis.
 
Please send in to the office any pop, cereal or store bought desserts for the cake walk the kids will be doing in school the week of the carnival. 
 
Remember to register for the Medallion Hunt at https://one.bidpal.net/stfranciscarnival2021
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – APRIL 13-17:
You are invited to join us virtually for St. Francis School’s 15th annual Gala -  “Readin’, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithemetic!” From April 13-17, we will showcase guest speakers, student videos, and school pictures on our website at stfrancisellsworth.org/gala and Facebook page @stfrancisellsworth. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to bid on the silent auction, ‘live’ auction, and classroom projects or make a donation directly to the fund-a-need and pledge drive on our website. On April 17, we encourage you to gather in small groups to enjoy a meal package catered by The Ridgetop and watch our Grand Finale at 7pm on our Facebook page.
 
Enclosed in your white envelope today, please find a parent letter that outlines the ways that you can help make the Gala a success!  We are asking each school family to donate at least one bottle of wine for a wine pull. In addition, we are asking each school family to volunteer their time, become a sponsor, make a monetary donation, or donate an item for the auctions.  Please return the enclosed “Family Donation Form” in your child’s white envelope.  Thank you for helping with our school’s largest fundraiser!  
 
CHURCH/COMMUNITY NEWS

RECONCILIATION:   First Reconciliation has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 6:00pm.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Jan. 27 - DVD Orders Due
Jan. 28 - Virtue Awards for being Honest and Helpful - Location TBD
Jan. 29 - 4YK ONLY No School
Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 - Catholic Schools Week and St Francis School Carnival activities
Feb 4 - Home and School Meeting at 7:00pm
Feb. 5 - School Color Day
Feb. 15 - No School - Teacher In-Service
Feb. 19 - Mar. 4 – Scholastic Book Fair
Feb. 17 - Ash Wednesday 
Feb. 26 - 4YK ONLY No School
Mar. 2 - Celebrate Dr. Seuss
Mar. 3 - First Communion Parent Meeting
Mar. 5 - School Color Day
Mar. 8-12 - Spring Break