february newsletter

First Grade Class Prayer
Thank you God for Jesus, family, pets, water, food,
 shelter, friends, school, books, and teachers.
We pray for the people in our lives to try their best and be happy.
Amen
 
PRAYER PARTNERS:  Please join us as we lift up Mrs. Brockman and our First Grade students in prayer during the month of February. Shay Behnam, Ettalane Jean, Jack Loberg, Mabel Loberg, Beckett Platson, Boyer Rohl, Henry Schmidt, Mason Thoner, Christopher Wisniowski.
 
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 Ms. Avery and our Kindergarten students in prayer.
 
FOLLOWING IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS
 
VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING HONEST:
Honest – You tell the truth.
 
Honest people will lead a full, happy life.  Proverbs 28:20
 
Kwintyn Wisniowski, Christopher Wisniowski, Fallon Brenner, Theodore LaFave
 
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
 
Mabel Loberg, Claire Bregman, Walter Rewolinski, Markus Lorentz
  
3YK and 4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Honest - Landon McCabe, Zoey Molberg
Helpful - Bevyn Harris, Dayla O’Neil

 
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR: We begin taking registrations for next school year today, January 30, 2023, and will continue through Friday, February 17.  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 as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, February 17 so we can budget the curriculum.  4YK registration information will be available to incoming families. 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. Matzek or Fr. Olson for more information about tuition assistance for next year; all inquiries will be kept confidential.
 
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.  Classes are held from 8:05-11:00 AM with Wrap-Around options for the afternoon. Registration will open up Monday, January 30. If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391. Priority will be given to families who choose the 5 day class as well as families who are parish members. Choice of days will be honored on a first come basis so please register early. Enrollment numbers will be capped in order to ensure adequate staffing and programming to meet student needs.
 
LEARN WITH FRIENDS PROGRAM: Any family who brings a new student to our school will receive $1,000 off their annual tuition and their friend (new student) will also receive a reduction of $1,000. Any current family can bring up to two friends. The tuition discount will be good for as long as the existing student and new student are enrolled.
 
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. 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 and is the preferred method of the administration.
 
CONSERVATION POSTER CONTEST WINNER: Congratulations to Grace Baker who won the Conservation Poster Contest in the 2nd & 3rd grade division for our county!  Her entry will represent our county at the area contest on February 1st.  Good luck at the next level Grace!
 
D.A.R.E. STARTING FRIDAY, JANUARY 27: Brette Huppert, Pierce County D.A.R.E. Officer, will begin teaching the D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum at St. Francis on Friday, January 27. 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 12 weeks.  Grades K-4 will meet with Officer Brette as time permits.
 
SCHOOL COLOR FRIDAYS: Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Fridays. Show your school pride!
 
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY PRAYER SERVICES: In Fr. Olson's absence there will not be weekly school Mass. There will be a weekly prayer service at 8:30am held in the parish hall led by our students. 
 
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 5, 2023: Catholic Schools=FAITH, EXCELLENCE, SERVICE. Through Catholic Schools Week we will focus on the value a Catholic Education provides and its contributions to our church, our community, and our nation. 
 
A complete schedule of activities and dress themes for Catholic Schools Week was sent home last week and is attached to this email for your reference.
 
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR: THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3: St. Francis is holding an in-person book fair in the school meeting room, Thursday, January 26-Friday, February 3. The classroom teachers will let students know which day their class will attend the fair. There will also be daily opportunities for students who bring money to shop during recess. On Saturday, January 28th, the Book Fair will be open after the 5:00pm Mass and on Sunday, January 29th, during the Catholic Schools Week Open House. On Wednesday, February 1st, the Book Fair will be open during Books and Breakfast beginning at 8:30am.
 
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: Mid-year parent-teacher conferences are not mandatory and are requested by a teacher or parent. Teachers will be contacting parents directly if a conference is needed. Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 pm.
 
Please remember that you can view your child’s grades (Grades 3-5) in our JMC program.
 
BAKE SALE - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10: Be sure to bring your sweet tooth to the 5th grade Bake Sale to be held February 10, 2023. February’s theme will be Valentine’s Day!  Please remember to send money with your child to purchase goodies.   Each bake sale item can be purchased for 50 cents.  Thanks for supporting our graduating class and their end of the year celebration!
 
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 - NOW A SCHOOL DAY: Students will have class on Monday, February 20 due to our multiple snow days.
 
GR. 5 - MUSIC CLASS – FOLKTALE – TUESDAY, MARCH 21: 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 the presentation of the folktale Apple Dumplings in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, March 21 from 2:30pm. The presentations will last approximately 15 minutes.
 
DR. SEUSS DAY – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1: We will celebrate Dr. Theodore Seuss’ Birthday on Wednesday, March 1.  The actual day is Thursday, March 2nd but our K - 2nd will be on a fieldtrip that day. Please wear comfy clothes or pajamas on Wednesday, March 1. 
 
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FIELD TRIP (K-2nd Grade) - THURSDAY, MARCH 2: On Thursday, March 2nd our Kindergarten through 2nd Grade classes will be going on a field trip to the Minnesota Children’s Museum. Permission slips and requests for parent chaperones are included in the monthly envelopes for those classes. Please complete and return by Wednesday, February 8.
 
NO SCHOOL - DIOCESE INSERVICE - FRIDAY, MARCH 3: There will be no school on Friday, March 3. Our teachers will be attending a diocesan inservice that day.
 
SPRING BREAK - MARCH 6-10: Students will not have classes during the week of March 6-10 due to Spring Break.
 
PLANTMOBILE - MONDAY, MARCH 13: On Monday, March 13 the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will be coming to St. Francis to present their plantmobile to our students in K-2nd Grade.  Thank you to Emily Loberg for providing this educational experience for those students!
 
ELLSWORTH SENIOR CENTER - TUESDAY, MARCH 14: On March 14th St. Francis students in grades 3-5 will be going to the Ellsworth Senior Center to perform for them as part of their March Together Tuesday event.
Permission slips are included in the monthly envelopes for these classes. Please complete and return by Wednesday, February 8.
 
SACRAMENTS: 2nd grade students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion this school year. First Reconciliation will be held on March 16 and March 23. First Communion will be on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
 

 
HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS
 
UPCOMING HOME AND SCHOOL MEETING -THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023:  Our next Home and School Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9 at 7:00pm
 
CARNIVAL NEWS: Grand raffle tickets are currently being sold. Please continue to sell them.  If you need more tickets please contact the school office.  We would like to have all tickets sold and money turned in by February 1st.  The drawing will take place at the Glow Dance on February 3rd.  Please plan to join us for a fun evening!
 
GLOW DANCE - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3: Save the date for an evening of dancing, family fun, and memories of Marlee May! The Glow in the Dark Dance will be held Friday, February 3, 6:00-8:00 pm in the Parish Hall. Carnival raffle winners will be announced at 7:00 pm. Family admission $30 and individuals $10. Meals will be provided and are included in the cost. Ice cream floats and other goodies will be available for purchase. Everyone is welcome!
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – APRIL 22, 2023
I pledge allegiance to the band…of dueling pianos featuring Trey Grimm and Dan Satterburg that will be performing live during the “School of Rock” Gala on April 22, 2023 to celebrate St. Francis School’s 75th Anniversary! The School of Rock will be in session beginning at 5 pm in the St. Francis Parish Hall for an evening of live music, dining, raffles and games, silent and live auctions, and a moving pledge. We encourage you to abide by the school dress code of distressed denim, leather jackets, and rock t-shirts. Tickets are available online at stfrancisellsworth.org/gala and in the St. Francis School Office.
 
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 ($15 minimum) 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.  We are also looking for more parents to join the Gala Committee. All are welcome at our next meeting on February 23 at 6 pm at Common Man. Thank you!!!
 
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 - Catholic Schools Week
Jan. 26 - Feb. 3 - Scholastic Book Fair
Feb. 3 - Glow Dance from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Feb. 8 - Fifth grade Growing in Love for all fifth grade students and parents 6:00-8:00pm
Feb. 9 - Home and School Meeting
Feb. 10 - 5th Grade Bake Sale
Feb. 17 - 2023-2024 Registration Forms and Tuition Statements Due
Feb. 20 - Now a school day
Feb. 22 - Virtue Awards for Patience and Kindness
Feb. 23 - Parent-Teacher Conferences by parent or teacher request
Mar. 1 - Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration
Mar. 2  - Children’s Museum Field Trip (K-2nd)
Mar. 3 - No School - Diocesan In-Service
Mar. 6 - 10 - Spring Break
Mar. 13 - Plantmobile
Mar. 14 - Grades 3 - 5 to the Ellsworth Senior Center
Mar. 16 - 2nd Grade First Reconciliation (6:00pm) - First Choice
Mar. 20 & 21 - 5th Grade Folktale
Mar. 23 - 2nd Grade First Reconciliation (6:00pm) - Second Choice
Mar. 24 - End of 3rd Quarter
 
May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!  Please call or email if you have questions: 715-273-4391  mmatzek@stfrancisellsworth.org

Mr. Mark Matzek
St. Francis School Administrator