June Newsletter

At the end of this school year we give thanks to God
For all the teaching and learning that has taken place in our school,  
For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced. We give thanks for our friendships, for our faith that has grown, for the hope that has lifted our hearts and for the love that has kept us going. Bless all our students, staff and families; may our time together leave us with memories to cherish.
Amen

FOLLOWING IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS
VIRTUE AWARDS FOR SELF-CONTROL:                                                                          
Self-Control – Having self-control means you make yourself do the right thing.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7
Levi Acker, Gretta Rewolinski, Lucy Feuerhelm  

4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Self Control – Breelyn Krause

CONGRATULATIONS to our fifth grade students who will be crossing over to the middle school next year. We ask God’s blessings for you, and want you to 
know that you will be missed!

WALK FOR VIRTUES:  My thanks to each person who helped to make our Walk for Virtues a great day for our school!  The children put forth amazing effort as they worked to achieve their goal and were encouraged along the way by our fantastic group of teachers & parents, family & friends!  Even with the chilly weather, it was still a wonderful event!  Thank you!  We raised $10,059.99 through this fundraiser!!  On Thursday, May 20th we announced our top pledge winners.  The feet were distributed on that same day!                                                                                                        
Grade 5:        $2,605.00                   Grade 1:        $1,147.00
Grade 4:        $1,024.00              Kindergarten:   $988.33      
Grade 3:        $1,257.33              Grade 4YK:    $1,723.00
Grade 2:        $1,265.33            Preschool:     $50.00

FAREWELL - THREE STAFF TO RETIRE: Mrs. Penton and Miss Miller will both be retiring from classroom teaching this year.  Mrs. Kulow will be retiring again! While Mr. Buckel left in November, we have hope that he will be able to join us for an official goodbye before the end of the year. We are extremely grateful for the immense contribution these wonderful teachers have made to St. Francis through their years of service. Their dedication will never be forgotten and they will be dearly missed. We will be honoring these four at a cupcake gathering for staff and students and they will receive their retirement certificates at our last day Mass, on June 2.  If you would like to personally thank any or all of them, please send your personal acknowledgement to school by June 1.

THANK YOU TO OUR UNPAID STAFF:  During this crazy year, we have depended heavily on a group of unsung heroes--our unpaid staff (or “volunteers” in a non-Covid year).  Volunteers usually come in to make copies and do projects in the work room, or sometimes read with students who need more attention.  Not this year--this year they were filling the many staff “gaps” created when we had to cohort our classrooms, lunches and recesses.  Without this group of women, we wouldn’t have made it through the year.  A million thanks to: Mary Augustine, Vicki Poole, and Shari Turvaville. We hope you enjoy a relaxing summer and will be back as a “volunteer” again next year!

EAGLES NEST PROGRAM:  Our Before School Eagles Nest will run through Wednesday, June 2nd and the last day for After School Eagles Nest for this year is Thursday, May 27. Monthly statements will be sent home today and on Friday May 28th (for accounts with a negative balance). Please make sure you have sufficient funds in your account to finish out the school year.  Watch for Eagles Nest registration information for next year in early August.

EAGLES NEST THANK YOU! Thank you to our amazing volunteers who worked and stayed late to insure we were in compliance with always having at least 3 people present at all times.  Shari Turvaville, Vicki Poole and Kathy Swanson, we couldn’t have done it without you.  Your dedication to our Eagles Nest program is very much appreciated!

2021-2022 CALENDARS AND SUPPLY LIST:  Please watch for an email with our school calendars and supply list coming soon.

LAST DAY EARLY RELEASE FORM FOR GRADES K-5:   In your monthly envelope is a form to let us know how your student(s) will be going home the last day of school.  All families need to complete and return the form by Wed., May 26. 

LAST CHANCE!  2020-2021 YEARBOOK ORDERS:  Yearbook Online Ordering closes on Wednesday, June 2.  Visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com to order. Our ID code is: 1934621. Check payments need to be made by Friday, May 28.

GR. 5 - DARE GRADUATION, MASS OF COMPLETION, BRUNCH AND TREE PLANTING-THURS., MAY 27:  All of these wonderful 5th grade activities will be held on Thursday, May 27th.  Parents please mark your calendars!
9:00     Brunch in the Parish Hall (including breakfast, and 5th grade memory slideshow)
9:45     DARE Graduation (reading of DARE Essays and presentation of certificates)
10:30     Mass of Completion
11:00     Tree Planting at St. Francis Cemetery
12:00    Return to School for lunch and lessons

MEMORIAL DAY – MONDAY, MAY 31 - NO SCHOOL:  Students do not have classes Monday, May 31, due to our observance of Memorial Day

GRADES K-5 AWARDS MASS - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2:  Awards Mass for Grades K - 5 will be held on Wednesday, June 2 at 8:30AM.  Students in grades K-4 will receive their certificates of promotion. Parents are encouraged to attend.

LAST DAY OF CLASSES, 5TH GRADE KICKBALL GAME,  AND ALL SCHOOL PICNIC - WED., JUNE 2:  Our last day of classes for kindergarten through fifth grade students will be Wednesday, June 2nd. Our fifth grade class will take on their parents in a kickball game, and we will have a “bring your own lunch” picnic. There will NOT be any food available this year like past years.  Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm.
We will use the following schedule:
8:05     Classes begin, as usual.
8:30     Mass for grades K-5 and Awards Ceremony
9:30     Recess for K-2
9:50     Recess for grades 3-5
10:05   Return to classrooms for cleaning, final projects.
11:00   Kickball game - Fifth grade students versus their parents.
11:45   Picnic lunch grades K-5
12:25   Return to classrooms for report cards & summer farewells
12:30   Dismissal for those students going home with parents

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE:  Ellsworth Community School District is excited to announce that we are once again planning to offer summer food service to our district families. This survey is for the month of June only. Another survey will go out toward mid-June to plan for the months of July and August.
Please note that during the June Summer School session from 6/7-6/25, all students enrolled will have the opportunity to get a daily breakfast and lunch. This information is provided because if your child is enrolled in Summer School, that may impact your response for June. 
Meals will again be distributed through the "Grab and Go" process with the same three pick up locations.  These include:
      -Bay City Post Office Parking Lot
      -Our Saviors Church Parking Lot
      -Senior High School Cafeteria Entrance
Meals will be distributed on Monday and Wednesday each week from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Monday's pick up will have 2 days of meals and Wednesday's pick up will have 3 days of meals. June dates are the 7th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 21st, and 23rd.
Please complete the survey by Friday, May 28th at noon, so our food service team can prepare for the needed meals. 
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/Dqy6Dy8urcHgCXDX7

HOME AND SCHOOL NEWS
HOME AND SCHOOL MEETING MINUTES AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:  You will find our meeting minutes and  committee assignments in your monthly envelope today.

FIRST ANNUAL ST. FRANCIS GOLF TOURNAMENT: Come join us for this fun new fundraiser on Friday, August 20th at Ellsworth Country Club. Please see all the details on the enclosed flyer and mark your calendars for this day of fun and fundraising for our school! For any further questions please contact Mark Matzek- markdmatzek@gmail.com  

PARISH NEWS
SAVE THE DATES: This summer TOTUS TUUS “Totally Yours” will be coming to St. Francis!  Totus Tuus is a fun and energetic parish based summer Catholic youth program put on by a team of 4 college students or seminarians who will be staying at St. Francis for one week.  Our Totus Tuus program for children going into Grades 1 - 6 will be held Monday - Friday, June 28 - July 2, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.  Please mark your calendars!  A Registration Form is included in your monthly envelope today (Current K - 5th Grade).  (The Totus Tuus Program will replace the Vacation Bible School - VBS which we have held at St. Francis during past summers.)

COMMUNITY NEWS
CAMP PEPIN: Camp Pepin is open for business in 2021! Day Camps, Family Camps and Summer Resident Camps are being offered.  We know that every child can benefit from the experience of camp and many families need the support of scholarship dollars. Click here to learn more about programs and scholarships. YMCA Camp Pepin is proud to serve the children in the local communities. 

EHS DANCE TEAM YOUTH CLINIC:  Please see the enclosed flyer from the EHS Dance Team about their upcoming clinic.

DATES TO REMEMBER: 
May 27 - Self-Control Virtue Awards following Mass (8:30 am)
May 27 - 5th Grade Dare Graduation, Brunch, Mass of Completion (10:30 am), and Tree Planting
May 27 - 5th Grade walks to Dairy Queen
May 31 - Memorial Day (No School)
June  1 - Last Day of School for 4YK
June  2 - K - 5th Grade Award Mass (8:30am) and Last Day of School (Half Day for K-5)