January Newsletter

St Francis School ~ January Newsletter

Third Grade Class Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the new year. In the New Year help us to listen and obey our parents and teachers.  May we be thankful for what we have, and continue to love one another as God loves us. Wherever we are, help us to be kind to everyone around us. Amen. 

PRAYER PARTNERS:  Please join us as we lift up Miss Schmitt and our third grade students in prayer during the month of January. Claire Bergman, Nathaniel Huppert, Adelyn Loberg, Natalie Matzek, Hailee Thoner, Deni Truttman.

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 February, we will be lifting up Mrs. Brockman and our First Grade students in prayer.

FOLLOWING IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS 
VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING CONTENT:                                                                    
Content – You are not greedy or always wanting things

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Stevie Kolosky, Mason Thoner, Grace Baker, Deni Truttman, Samantha Augustine, Walker Loberg

VIRTUE AWARDS FOR BEING OBEDIENT:
Obedient – Doing what you are told and doing it right away

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow his commands given today, the Lord your God will set you high above the nations on Earth.  Deuteronomy 28:1

Trystan O’Neil, June Feuerhelm

3YK and 4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Content - Quincy Groth-Olson, Davis Ryman
Obedient - Raleigh Birkel, Nettie Brunner

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Many thanks to Mrs. Wescott and our students who performed a beautiful Christmas program - The Christmas Chronicles. You can view the program anytime on the St. Francis Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/live/K4BCRiMk6mc?feature=share

KC CHRISTMAS POSTER WINNERS: Congratulations to these students whose entries won top prizes in the Knights of Columbus Christmas Poster Contest.  The posters of the first place winners in grades 1-4 are eligible for the diocesan level of the contest, and will be sent to La Crosse.

                  Kindergarten        Grade 1                     Grade 2     Grade 3       Grade 4                        Grade 5
1st Place    Axel Bergman      Mabel Loberg               Fallon Brenner     Adelyn Loberg      Cooper Moldenhauer    Walker Loberg
2nd Place  Andi Molberg        Ettalane Jean               Cedrec LaFave    Natalie Matzek     Julia Schmidt                Markus Lorentz
3rd Place   Payslee Calleja    Christopher Wisnioski  Trent Acker          Claire Bergman    Walter Rewolinski        June Feuerhelm
                Grace Turvaville

FIFTH GRADE THANK YOU!:  The 5th grade class at St. Francis School has spent the Fall learning about local food insecurity and the challenges many people face trying to earn enough money to feed their families.  Today, our fifth grade students delivered 176 pounds of food and $268.22 to the Ellsworth Food Pantry and learned that they get 225 visits each month which includes over 100 children.  Thank you St. Francis School Families for your generosity!  You have made a difference in many lives this Christmas! 

GIVING TUESDAY:  Thank you to all the school families who helped make Giving Tuesday a huge success, whether by contributing monetarily, sharing Facebook posts, forwarding on emails, or spreading the word by other means. Because of your engagement, we raised a record breaking $6,050. THANK YOU!!!

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, 2023, 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 contact the school office 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!

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

FIFTH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO THE FOOD PANTRY – MONDAY, DECEMBER 19:  On Monday, December 19 our fifth grade class will be delivering your donated items to the food pantry.  

PRESCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM - MONDAY, DECEMBER 19:  Our Preschool Christmas Program will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, December 19 in the Parish Hall. 

4YK  WINTER PROGRAM - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20:  Our 4YK Winter Program will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 20 in the Parish Hall. 

PAJAMA DAYS:  Grades 4YK-5 will have pajama day on Thursday, Dec. 22.
                             3K will have pajama day for each section-Wednesday, Dec. 21 and Thursday, Dec. 22

CHRISTMAS VACATION:  Christmas vacation will start on Friday, December 23.  Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 3.

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 2022.  For St. Francis students, you will need to use:  St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 264 S. Grant Street, Ellsworth, WI 54011.   Reminder: In order to claim tuition expenses on your 2022 tax return, payments must be received by the school office no later than December 31, 2022.

TUITION STATEMENTS:  Tuition Statements can be printed from JMC for tax purposes or contact the office to have it printed for you.  End of the year statements will be mailed at the beginning of January.

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY PRAYER SERVICES:  In Fr. Olson's absence there will not be weekly school Mass. There will be weekly prayer services at 8:30am held in the school led by the students.  Watch for our Prayer Service Schedule coming home soon. Everyone is welcome to attend.

SCHOOL COLOR FRIDAYS:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Fridays. Show your school pride!

END OF SECOND QUARTER - FRIDAY, JANUARY 13: The second quarter ends on Friday, January. 13.
NO SCHOOL - Monday, January 16, 2023.

BAKE SALES IN THE NEW YEAR:  Be sure to bring your sweet tooth to the 5th grade Bake Sales to be held January 20, 2023 and February 10, 2023.  Please remember to send money with your child to purchase goodies on those days.   Each bake sale item can be purchased for 50 Cents.  Thanks for supporting our graduating class and their end of the year celebration!
   
4YK SCREENING - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25: There will be no school for our 4YK students on Wednesday, January 25 due to Early Childhood Screening.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK MASS & OPEN HOUSE: We will kick off this week with a special Mass and Open House on Sunday, January 29, 2022. Open House will be held from 9-10:00 AM and 11:30 AM-1:00 PM.

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.  
● Sunday, January 29, 2023: Celebrate our Parish! The 10:30 Mass will center around Catholic Schools.  Everyone is invited to attend the St. Francis School Open House after Mass.
● Monday, January 30, 2023: Celebrate Our Community
● Tuesday, January 31, 2023: Celebrate the Students
● Wednesday, February 1, 2023: Celebrate the Nation
● Thursday, February 2, 2023: Celebrate Vocations
● Friday, February 3, 2023: Celebrate the Teachers, Staff, and Volunteers and Glow Dance

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR: THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2:  St. Francis is holding an in-person book fair in the school meeting room, Thursday, January 26-Thursday, February 2. 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 5:30 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 following Mass. 

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS:  We are looking for volunteers to help with the book fair. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, January 28 after 5:30 Mass, Sunday, January 29th from 9-10 AM and 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM during the Catholic Schools Week Open House, and Wednesday February 1st after the 8:30 Mass. We will also need volunteers during the week for a couple of hours at a time. Please contact Shari Turvaville at gusturv@bevcomm.net,  if you are willing to help. Thank you so much.

HISTORY IS ALIVE:  Once again, our 5th grade students will present their historical biography research projects during our Catholic Schools Week Open House on Sunday, Jan 29th (right after the CSW Mass).  During these presentations our students “become” George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and many more! We hope you’ll all come to view their projects. Through their hard work and creativity, history truly is “ALIVE”!

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: Parent-teacher conferences are not mandatory and are requested by a teacher or parent. There will be more information in our February newsletter.
Please remember that you can view your child’s grades (Grades 3-5) in our JMC program.  

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS

UPCOMING HOME AND SCHOOL MEETING -THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022:  Our next Home and School Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9 at 7:00pm

Save the date for the Glow Dance on Friday, February 3 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Carnival raffle prizes to be pulled at 7:00 pm. More information to come. 

CARNIVAL NEWS:  Grand raffle tickets will go home with students before Christmas break.  Please watch for them in your child’s backpack later this week.   There will be two tickets and information about this fundraiser in the envelope.  Each family is encouraged to sell two of the $100  raffle tickets. Family get-togethers over break is a great time to sell these! 

CHURCH/COMMUNITY NEWS

CHRISTMAS MASSES:
Christmas Eve: 4:00 PM
Christmas Day: 8:30 AM; 10:30 AM

DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Dec. 19 - Preschool Christmas Program at 10:00am
Dec. 19 - 5th grade to the Food Pantry
Dec. 20 - 4YK Winter Program at 10:00am
Dec. 21 - Virtues Awards for Obedient and Content
Dec. 23 - Jan. 2 - Christmas Vacation
Dec. 25 - Merry Christmas!
Jan.   3 - Classes Resume
Jan. 20 - 5th Grade Bake Sale
Jan. 13 - End of Second Quarter
Jan. 16 - No School
Jan. 17 - Beginning of 3rd Quarter
Jan. 25 - Virtues Awards for Honest and Helpful
Jan. 25 - 4YK Screening - No School 4YK ONLY
Jan. 29 - Catholic Schools Week Mass and Open House
Jan. 29 - Feb. 5 - Catholic Schools Week
Feb.   3 - Glow Dance
Feb.   9 - Home and School Meeting
Feb. 10 - Parent-Teacher Conferences by parent or teacher request
Feb. 21 - No School - Teacher In Service

May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!! Please call or email if you have questions: 715-273-4391  principal@stfrancisellsworth.org