May 29th, 2019

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                May 28, 2019

5th Grade Class Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank you for our teachers, our friends and the education we have received. Thank you for the opportunity to praise Jesus at our school and for Father Eric as he helps us praise Jesus and find the right path for our school. Thank you for allowing our school to continue to thrive with great food, successful fundraisers, safe and fun field trips, and technology.  Amen

Please join us in prayer for our 5th Grade Class
 
We all need to seek God in prayer with our joys, worries, and thankful moments.  Thank you for being a prayer partner for our school.  This week we will be lifting up our 5th Grade Class in prayer.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.   Jeremiah 29:12

PRAYER PARTNERS:  Next week, we will join together in prayer for the end of the school year.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.


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
Ryland Hines, Lane Rohl, Oskar LaFave, Evan Beissel, Jianna Jean

WALK FOR VIRTUES UPDATE:  Congratulations on the Walk for Virtues!  We held our all-school assembly was this morning to hand out the feet and recognize top achievements. Our new total is $9,105!  Thanks, everyone, for your great support.  This is a great fundraiser to get involved in as 100% of the funds raised stay at our school, and are used for annual technology costs.  Our top student for highest donations raised is Evie Peterson, grade 3, at $510.00, followed by Walker Loberg,  1st Grade, at $420.00.  Awesome job!!! The fifth grade met my challenge of raising at least $100 per student and walked to Dairy Queen on May 24 for a treat on me.  I am very grateful for their leadership. The energy put forth by the students in walking is simply amazing! Many students tied the school mileage record for their grade.  Students - you are the best!

SUMMER EAGLE’S NEST PROGRAM:  We are excited to offer a summer care program for our St. Francis Families. Registration materials are included in your weekly envelope today.

ST. FRANCIS PRESCHOOL:  St. Francis School will be offering 3-year-old preschool starting this fall 2019.  Please help us spread the word by giving the information card included in your weekly envelope last week to someone who may be interested.

FOOD SERVICE ACCOUNTS:  Please check your family’s food service account to make sure you have enough funds in it to finish the year.  Report cards will not be issued to anyone with a negative balance. Please call if you have questions  (715-273-4391), or need help accessing your account balance.  Thanks.

GR. 5 – MASS OF COMPLETION AND TREE PLANTING – WEDNESDAY, MAY 29:  Our fifth grade Mass of Completion will be at 8:30am. on Wednesday, May 29.  After Mass, our fifth grade students will be planting a tree in memory of their class. Following the Tree Planting, we will have a light brunch reception for the fifth grade class with their parents.

GR. 2 & 3 - CARPENTER NATURE CENTER – FRIDAY, MAY 31:  Second and Third Grade students will take their field trip to the Carpenter Nature Center Friday, May 31.  Students will depart at 12:00pm. and return by 2:45pm. Parent chaperones are asked to please come to the office to check-in by 11:50am.

Grade 2: Elise Gregory, Ben & Megan Hines, Adriana Holst, Angie or Bob McHardy, Andy Murphy, Tom O’Neil, Casey Oricchio, Katy Truttman  Grade 3:  Katie Acker, Maria Dopp, Angie Marks, Vicki Nelson (Kate)

MASS SCHEDULE CHANGE:  We will have school Mass on Thursday, June 6 instead of Wednesday, May 5 for our Awards Ceremony

ORDER FORM FOR LAST DAY PICNIC LUNCH:  An order form is included in today’s packet for those families who would like to order food for the last day of school, June 6, rather than bringing their own picnic lunch.  Please include payment with your order form and return no later than Wed., May 29. Make checks payable to St. Francis Youth Group.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – THURSDAY, JUNE 6:  It has been decided that the last day of school for St. Francis will remain on Thursday, June 6 with our students being dismissed at 12:30pm.  PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO bus service at that time so every student in K – 5th grade will need to be picked up. (4YK busing that day will remain the same)

LAST DAY EARLY RELEASE FORM FOR GRADES K-5:   In today’s envelope is a form to let us know how your student(s) will be going home the last day of school.  We need all families to complete the form and return by Wednesday, May 29.  

GRADES K-5 - LAST DAY OF CLASSES/MASS/AWARDS CEREMONY – THURSDAY, JUNE 6:  Our last day of classes for kindergarten through fifth grade students will be Thursday, June 6.   This day will include our all-school Awards Assembly in our church immediately following the 8:30 am. Mass.  Our fifth grade class will take on their parents in a kickball game, and we will have our usual picnic lunch (bring your own or order in advance from the St. Francis Youth Group).  Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm.
We will use the following schedule:

      8:05         Classes begin, as usual.
      8:30        Mass, and Awards Ceremony
   10:00        Recess (approximate time, 15 minutes of recess will follow the awards ceremony.)
    10:15           Return to classrooms for cleaning, final projects.
    11:00        Kickball game - Fifth grade students versus their parents.
    11:45        Picnic lunch
    12:25        Return to classrooms for report cards & summer farewells
    12:30        Dismissal

Please note: In the event of significant rain, announcement would be made in church at the end of the Awards Ceremony regarding adjustments in the schedule for the remainder of the day.  Most likely we would omit the kickball game, and move the picnic lunch to 11:00 in the lunch room. Students would then be dismissed at 11:30. This adjustment would be made so that the food ordered from the Youth Group would not be wasted.

LABEL COLLECTION:  St. Francis School continues to collect and send in product labels in return for cash.  See the enclosed flyer explaining what to keep collecting from Box Tops, Our Family, and Country/Village Hearth and remember to keep collecting labels this summer to turn in when school starts again this fall.

ST. FRANCIS FAIR STAND:  We would like to give you the opportunity to work at the St. Francis Fair Stand.  A list of all the days and times are included in the weekly envelope today. Look the list over and sign your name on the day and time you would like to work at the fair stand.  Please return the sheet in your envelope by Wednesday, May 29. We think you will have fun and you will get to meet some wonderful parishioners. Fair Committee

ST. FRANCIS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:  This year’s VBS is titled “SonTreasure Island” - where kids discover the treasure of God’s love through the truth found in 1 Corinthians 13. VBS is scheduled for Monday through Friday, July 22 - 26 from  9:00 am to 12:30 pm and is for children who have completed any of the grades 4YK through 4th. The cost is $35 per child with a $55 family maximum.  Youth (who have completed 5th grade and up) and adults are invited to sign up to volunteer for one of a variety of centers: Bible center, crafts, snacks, games & music as well as large assemblies and skits.  Registration and volunteer sign-up forms St. Francis website at each entrance to the church and on the wall near the Rel. Ed. Office in the Parish Hall.  Any questions contact Joan Foley, 715-338-1199, cfoley@dishup.us or Colleen Belland, colleen_belland@hotmail.com.

SAVE THE DATE:  World Youth Day 2019 at St. Francis Parish is being held on Thursday, August 1st ~1:00 pm to Friday August 2nd 10:00 am.  Please mark your calendar and “SAVE THE DATE”.  4th and 5th graders from St. Francis School are invited to attend!  This year’s theme: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your Word”, Luke 1:38 As always this will be a faith/fun filled day of praising God and activities for Kids!!  Cost $20/person.  Please complete the permission form and hand in your fee to save your spot!   (see the St. Francis parish website for forms and schedule of events)
 
A TASTE OF TUSCANY: The Ellsworth Community School District Foundation will once again be hosting their largest fundraiser of the year, A Taste of Tuscany, at Vino in the Valley on May 31st from 4:30-8pm.  The evening includes a buffet dinner, wine tasting, live music, school art exhibition, and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 and are available to purchase at the St. Francis School Office, the Ellsworth School District Office, Nilssen’s Foods, Vino in the Valley and from any Foundation member.  A portion of the funds raised at this event are used to finance the EXCELLS grant.  St. Francis School is eligible for this grant and has been awarded it in the past to purchase materials, supplies, and equipment to implement innovative projects.  

DATES TO REMEMBER:
May 29 - 5th Grade Mass of Completion and Tree Planting
May 31 - Carpenter Nature Center (Grades 2 and 3)
May 31 - A Taste of Tuscany
June 6 - Last Day of School (Half Day for K-5; 4YK regular day dismissed at 11:05 a.m.)

May God’s Grace Be With You! Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 or cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org
Chuck Buckel
Principal