january newsletter

Third Grade Class Prayer

 Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of the new year, and for our friends and families. 
We pray that everyone may have a fun and blessed New Year. We pray that everyone will be healthy, and travel safely during this winter season. Lord, help us to grow closer to you each day. In Your name we pray. Amen.


PRAYER PARTNERS:  Please join us as we lift up Miss Schmitt and our third grade students in prayer during the month of January. Samantha Augustine, Adeline Dopp, Ryland Hines, Theodore LaFave, Cooper Moldenhauer, 
Ella Murphy, Ellyse Nelson, Trystan O’Neil, Walter Rewolinski, Kate Rohl, Julia Schmidt, 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 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
 
Sophia Oricchio, Levi Acker, Ellyse Nelson, Deni Truttman, Jordy McHardy, Mabel 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
 
Bentley McHardy, Ben Johnson, Lyla Soley, Boyer Rohl
 
3YK and 4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Content - Colton Hannegraf, Payslee Calleja
Obedient - Mariella Petersen, Lane Mewes
 
 
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Many thanks to Mrs. Wescott and our students who performed a beautiful Christmas program - The Mighty Messengers. 
 
You can view the program anytime on the St. Francis Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/3xNZL_swhrQ
 
 
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.
 
                   Grade 1               Grade 2                  Grade 3                 Grade 4                   Grade 5
1st Place   Fallon Brenner      Natalie Matzek     Samantha Augustine     Anna Puhrmann       Gretta Rewolinski
2nd Place  Cedrec LaFave     Adelyn Loberg       Ella Murphy                   Ben Johnson            Taelyn Hines
3rd Place   Macy Rohl            Hailee Thoner        Ellyse Nelson              Levi Acker          Bentley McHardy
 
BAKE SALES IN THE NEW YEAR:  Be sure to bring your sweet tooth to the 5th grade Bake Sales to be held January 14, 2022 and February 11, 2022.  The theme for January will be “Snow” and February’s theme will be Valentine’s Day!  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!
              
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, 2022, 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!
 
REGISTRATION FOR NEXT YEAR:  Registration forms for our present students will be sent home in January.
 
FIFTH GRADE THANK YOU!:  The 5th grade class at St. Francis School has spent the Fall learning about the challenges many people face trying to earn enough money to feed their families.  After learning how many of our friends and neighbors use the Ellsworth Food Pantry helps each month, the students decided to have a Holiday Food Drive to benefit this program.  On December 17th, our fifth grade students delivered 454 pounds of food and $519.59 to the Food Pantry.  We could not have done this without your generosity!  You’ve made a huge difference in the lives of so many this Holiday Season!
 
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY PRAYER SERVICES:  In Fr. Olson's absence there will not be weekly school Mass. There will be weekly prayer service at 8:30am held in the school led by the students with the following schedule:
Wed. January 5, 2022 - 3rd grade
Wed. January 12, 2022 - 4th grade
Wed. January 19, 2022 - 5th grade
Wed. January 26, 2022 - 2nd grade
Thurs. Feb. 3, 2022 - 4th grade/Feast of St. Blaise - in church with Deacon Marty Kulak
Wed. Feb. 9, 2022 - 3rd grade
Wed. Feb. 16, 2022 - 2nd grade
Wed. Feb. 23, 2022 - 5th grade

SCHOOL COLORS DAY - FRIDAY, JANUARY 7:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, January 7.  Show your school pride!

4YK SCREENING - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12: There will be no school for our 4YK students on Wednesday, January 12 due to Early Childhood Screening.

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

NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, JANUARY 17:  Students will not have class on Monday, January 17.  This is a district-wide in-service day.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: Parent-teacher conferences are not mandatory and are requested by a teacher or parent. Teacher requests will be sent out in January. Conferences will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 from 4:00-6:00 pm. Please remember that you can view your child’s grades (Grades 3-5) in our JMC program.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 6, 2022: 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.  We will kick off this week with a special Mass and Open House on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Open House will be held from 9-10:00 AM and 11:30 AM-1:00 PM,
Sunday, January 30, 2022: 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 31, 2022: Celebrate Our Community!
Tuesday, February 1, 2022: Celebrate the Students!
Wednesday, February 2, 2022: Celebrate the Nation!
Thursday, February 3, 2022: Celebrate Vocations!
Friday, February 4, 2022: Celebrate the Teachers, Staff, and Volunteers!
Saturday, February 5, 2022: Carnival preparation
Sunday, February 6, 2022: Celebrate Families! CARNIVAL
 
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR: THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3:  St. Francis is holding an in-person book fair in the school meeting room, formerly known as the KC room, Thursday, January 27- Thursday, February 3. Students will be able to shop during the school day. The classroom teachers will let students know which day they are going to the book fair.   On Saturday, January 29th, the Book Fair will be open after the 5:30 Mass and on Sunday, January 30, during the All School Open House. On Thursday, February 3, after the celebration of St. Blaise, the Book Fair will be open during our Books and Breakfast. The book fair will also be open prior to the Home and School Meeting on February 3rd from 6:00-6:45pm.

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS:  We are looking for volunteers to help with the book fair. Volunteers are needed on Sunday, January 30 from 9-10 AM and 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM during the All School Open House. We will also need volunteers during the week for a couple of hours at a time. Please contact Sandy Karlstad at skarlstad@stfrancisellsworth.org 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 30th (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”!

SACRAMENTS: 2nd grade students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion this school year. There will not be a Parent Reconciliation Meeting but parents will be receiving a parent guide for Reconciliation. First Reconciliation will be held on March 31, 2022. There will be a First Communion Family Meeting on April 20, 2022. First Communion will be on Sunday, May 1, 2022. 

NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21:  Students will not have class on Monday, February 21.  This is a district-wide in-service day.

GIVING TUESDAY: Thank you to everyone who has donated through Giving Tuesday. The original cause was an updated copier for the workroom. This is now being donated by Coordinated Business Solutions/The Oricchio Family. Thank you very much to Coordinated Business Solutions for this generous donation.

YEARBOOK: Yearbook Online Ordering is open! Visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com to order. Our ID code is 1934622.

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS

INFORMATION FROM  NOVEMBER 22, 2022 MEETING: A draft of the minutes from the November 22, 2021 meeting is included in today's envelope. 

UPCOMING HOME AND SCHOOL MEETING -THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM.: This meeting will be held both at school and through Google Meet. 

‘TRAVEL THE WORLD’ CARNIVAL UPDATE: Hello families!  We hope everyone enjoys their Holidays. As is tradition, families are asked to sell raffle tickets. The tickets are not included in today’s monthly envelope but the ticket packet will be sent home with your child soon. You will be notified through a JMC text the day the tickets go home.  Thank you for your efforts in selling these raffle tickets.  Be ready for classroom sign-ups  when arriving back from Christmas break.

MORE CARNIVAL UPDATES: Please be sure to save the date of Sunday, February 6, 2022 for the Carnival. This is at the end of Catholic Schools Week so it will be a fantastic way to end the celebration. The Carnival is in need of additional committee members and volunteers. Help is needed for calling sponsors, and the decorating committee. This is a fantastic opportunity and follows along with the survey questions of: St. Francis School has many different ways for me to be involved; Parents can volunteer in many ways in the school; The school helps families get to know other families within the St. Francis Community. Please let the school office know you are interested in helping with the Carnival. 

CARNIVAL NEEDS: We still need board games and gift cards for prizes.  Please keep the Carnival in mind as you are shopping after-Christmas sales. 
 
CHURCH/COMMUNITY NEWS
Ellsworth School Foundation Murder Mystery Dinner: The Ellsworth School Foundation is hosting the “Till Death Do Us Part” Murder Mystery Dinner on January 29 at 7 pm at the Ellsworth High School Cafetorium. Tickets are available for $40 at the Ellsworth High School Office. Proceeds from the event help to fund the Foundation’s EXCEL grants. These grants are awarded to teachers throughout the district to provide innovative learning opportunities to students, including right here at St. Francis School.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Dec. 22 - Virtues Awards for Obedient and Content
Dec. 23 - Jan. 2 - Christmas Vacation
Dec. 25 - Merry Christmas!
Jan. 3 - Classes Resume
Jan. 12 - 4YK Screening - No School 4YK ONLY
Jan. 14 - 5th Grade Bake Sale
Jan. 14 - End of Second Quarter
Jan. 18 - Beginning of 3rd Quarter
Jan. 26 - Virtues Awards for Honest and Helpful
Jan. 30 - Catholic Schools Week Mass and Open House
Jan. 30 - Feb. 6 - Catholic Schools Week
Feb. 3 - Home and School Meeting
Feb. 6 - Carnival
Feb. 10 - Parent-Teacher Conferences by parent or teacher request 4:00-6:00pm
Feb. 21 - No School - Teacher In Service
Feb. 23 - Fifth grade Growing in Love for all fifth grade students and parents 6:00-8:00pm
Mar. 7 - 11 - Spring Break
Mar. 31 - 2nd grade First Reconciliation
Apr. 20 - First Communion Family Meeting
May 1 - 10:30am Mass- 2nd grade First Communion

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