May Newsletter

2nd Grade Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, please hear our prayers: 
For our Parish, the people who have died, our families, the sick, the poor, and for World peace. We thank you for: Jesus, our friends, our homes, food, clothes, pets, St. Francis School, and our teachers. Father, please hear our prayers.

PRAYER PARTNERS:  Please join us as we lift up Mrs.Koch and our 2nd grade students in prayer during the month of May: 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

FOLLOWING IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS
 
VIRTUE AWARDS FOR PERSEVERANCE:                                                                        
Having perseverance means you keep trying, even when it’s tough.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Enoch Nelson, Easton Rohl, Adelyn Loberg, Samantha Augustine, Emmie Pechacek, Charlie McMahon

3YK and 4YK – CAUGHT SHOWING CHARACTER:
Perseverance– Zoey Molberg, Ruston Huggett, Andi Molberg



FIRST COMMUNION:  The second grade students will receive their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 1 at the 10:30 Mass.  Thank you to Mrs. Koch, Mrs. Foley and parents who helped them prepare for their special day!

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 8:30-11:00am with Wrap-Around Care options for the morning and afternoon. Registration is now open. More details can be found on our website! If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391. 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. Currently there are no openings in the MWF/M-F section and 3 openings in the TTH section.

EAGLES NEST PROGRAM:  Our Before School Eagles Nest will run through Thursday, June 2nd and the last day for After School Eagles Nest for this year is Wednesday, June 1st. Monthly statements will be sent home on Friday May 27th. If you plan to utilize the last 3 days of Eagles Nest before summer break, please make sure you have sufficient funds in your account.  Please watch for Eagles Nest registration information for next year in early August.

LAST CHANCE! 2021-2022 YEARBOOK ORDERS: Yearbook Online Ordering is open! Visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com to order. Our ID code is 1934622.

SPRING PICTURES:  Spring Pictures are here and will be sent home in your monthly envelope today. If you did not place an order you still can.  Ordering information is on your proof sheet.  Please remember that St. Francis School receives 10% of the sales. 

WALK FOR VIRTUES - PLEDGE FORMS DUE WEDNESDAY, MAY 4:  Student pledge forms (not the money) are due next week, Wednesday, May 4.  The committee will copy them that evening.  A copy will be sent home with students on May 6, after the Walk, so that they are able to collect their pledges and turn in their money on Monday, May 9. 

WALK FOR VIRTUES - FRIDAY, MAY 6:  We’re very excited to walk together for this great fundraiser.  This year’s goal is $13,000! We will gather at school to begin our walk at 8:30am. We will walk from school to the Ellsworth High School Track. All students grades 4K-5 will be walking. 3YK students will not be officially walking but will be going over to the track at 8:30. They will return to school no later than 10:30.  All parents and siblings are welcome. Younger siblings need to be under the direct supervision of a parent at all times. While strollers may be used for younger siblings walking to the track, strollers of any kind are not allowed on the High School track. 4K-Grade 2 will walk from 8:30-11:00 and Grades 3-5 will walk from 8:30-11:30.  There are MANY more details about this wonderful annual event included in the forms enclosed in todays’ monthly envelope.  Thanks for making this family event a successful fundraiser!

SCHOOL COLOR DAY - FRIDAY, MAY 6:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue and white, on Friday, May 6.  Show your school pride! 

SPRING PROGRAM/ART SHOW - THURSDAY, MAY 12:  We will present our Spring Program & Art Show on Thursday, May 12 at 6:00pm in the parish hall.  Our 4YK students will present their songs at the beginning of the program, and will then be invited to join their parents in the audience for the remainder of the concert. The kindergarten students will also have a symbolic graduation at the end of the program.

Each family is asked to bring some type of food (cookies, bars, cheese & crackers, veggies & dip, etc.) for the reception that will follow.  Weather permitting, we will hold the reception outside!

We will have a K-5 dress rehearsal Wednesday, May 11 at 1:00pm.  This is open to anyone who would
like to attend. 

SPRING PROGRAM VIDEO:  Our Spring Program will be recorded and a youtube link will be sent out as soon as it’s available.

CARPENTER NATURE CENTER:  Each class will take a field trip to the Carpenter Nature Center this spring as part of our science curriculum. Permission slips and requests for parent chaperones are included in the monthly envelope for our 4YK students.  Please return the forms with appropriate fees by Wednesday, April 27th. The cost is $10.00 per student. There is no cost for parent chaperones.
The schedule is as follows:  Please mark your calendar!

4YK – Monday, May 23 (Turtles)
Second & Third – Monday, May 9 (Food Chains)
K & First – Tuesday, May 10  (Flowers & Pollination)      

GR. 5 - DARE GRADUATION, MASS OF COMPLETION, BRUNCH & TREE PLANTING-WEDNESDAY, MAY 25:  
All of these wonderful 5th grade activities will be held on Wednesday, May 25th.  Parents please mark your calendars!
8:30 am - Mass of Completion, followed by Tree Planting at St. Francis Cemetery
Brunch in the Parish Hall (including breakfast, and 5th grade memory slideshow)
DARE Graduation (reading of DARE Essays and presentation of certificates)
12:00pm - Return to School for lunch and lessons

5TH GRADE TRIP TO VALLEYFAIR:  Our Fifth Grade students will take their class trip to Valley Fair on Thursday, May 26.  

MEMORIAL DAY – MONDAY, MAY 30 - NO SCHOOL:  Students do not have classes Monday, May 30, due to our observance of Memorial Day.

GRADES K-5 - LAST DAY OF CLASSES/MASS/AWARDS CEREMONY – THURSDAY, JUNE 2:  Our last day of classes for kindergarten through fifth grade students will be Thursday, June 2.  This day will include our all-school Awards Assembly in our church immediately following the 8:30am. Mass.  Our fifth grade class will take on their parents in a kickball game, and we will have a picnic lunch with grilled hot dogs or hamburgers.  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, an announcement would be made in church at the end of the Awards Ceremony regarding adjustments in the schedule for the remainder of the day.  

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS
Congratulations to our new Home and School officers! I appreciate everyone's willingness and acceptance to take on these new roles! Also included in today's envelope is the committee sign up sheet for the 2022-2023 school year. Please return by Wednesday, May 4th.
 
2022-2023 Home and School Officers
President: Elise Gregory
Vice President: Ashley Soley
Secretary: Emily Loberg
Treasurer I: Tom Wisniowski 
Treasurer II: Ladonna O’Neil
 
The next Home and School meeting will be held Thursday, April 28th at 7:00pm.  Please note there will be no daycare or meal available. Hope to see you there! 
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – THANK YOU!!!!!!
The St. Francis School Gala Committee would like to extend a very special thank you to school families for your outpouring of support during the “Ein Prosit” Oktoberfest Gala! With your help, we raised a record-breaking $87,388 for our school!!!! This money will fund parking lot repairs, new flooring, updated curriculum, and engineering kits for the new STEM/STEAM lab. We would like to extend a special thank you to Brickner Oil, Coordinated Business Systems, Loberg Law Office, and Quinn Motors for their Hefeweizen sponsorships. If you weren’t able to participate in the gala and would like to donate, the fund-a-need and pledge drive are still open at www.stfrancisellsworth.org/gala. Thank you so much for your support! Prost!!
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ST. FRANCIS GOLF TOURNAMENT:  The 2nd Annual St. Francis School Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, August 19th at Ellsworth Country Club with a shotgun start at 2:30pm. Cost is $50/person and $10/cart rental per person. The cost includes green fees, gift, and dinner. Dinner and raffle will follow the conclusion of your round. Registration information will be available soon.
Questions should be sent to Mark Matzek, markdmatzek@gmail.com
 
PARISH/COMMUNITY NEWS
TOTUS TUUS "Totally Yours" is coming to St. Francis again this summer! 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, July 25 - 29, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.  We also have evening sessions planned for youth going into 7th - 12th grades on Sunday - Thursday, July 24 -28, from 6:00 - 8:45 pm.    Please mark your calendars!  More details and sign up will be coming later in the month of May.    Any questions please contact Joan Foley 715-338-1199 or joan@stfrancisellsworth.com.
 
TASTE OF TUSCANY: The Ellsworth Community School District Foundation is hosting its annual Taste of Tuscany on Friday, June 3, 2022 at Vino in the Valley. You are invited to enjoy live music, wine tasting, wagon rides, a silent auction, and buffet meal. Social hour begins at 4:30 pm and dinner is served from 5-8 pm. Tickets cost $40 and are available to purchase in the St. Francis School Office. Proceeds from the event fund the Foundation’s EXCEL grants, which St. Francis is eligible for and has been awarded in the past. 

DATES TO REMEMBER: 
WED. APRIL 27: 4YK Highway Department Field Trip 
THURS. APRIL 28: Home and School meeting
SUN. MAY 1: 10:30 AM Mass-First Holy Communion
Mon-Fri.MAY 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
TUES. MAY 3: Teacher Appreciation Brunch
TUES. MAY 3: 5th grade to Middle School-in the afternoon
FRI. MAY 6: All School Walk for Virtues @ High School Track
MON. MAY 9: 2nd and 3rd grade Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip
TUES. MAY 10: K and 1st grade Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip 
WED. MAY 11: 1:00pm Spring Program Rehearsal-in the Parish Hall
THURS. MAY 12: 6:00pm Spring Program/Art Show in the Parish Hall: Kindergarten ‘graduation’ at the end
FRI. MAY 13: All School Walk for Virtues rain date (to be held at St. Francis School)
MON. MAY 19: 3rd and 4th-Cheese Factory/History Center Field Trip
MON. MAY 23: 5th grade Day of Reflection
MON. MAY 23; 4YK Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip
MON. MAY 23: Last day of 3YK for MWF section
TUES. MAY 24: Last day of 3YK for TTH section
TUES. MAY 24: 5th grade Graduation Rehearsal 
TUES. MAY 24: 3YK ‘graduation’ 6:00 PM
WED. MAY 25: 5th grade Graduation Mass, Brunch, DARE Graduation, Tree Planting, Creamery Trip
THURS. MAY 26: 5th grade to Valley Fair Field Trip - Weather permitting
FRI. May 27: Ellsworth Graduation Day/St. Francis Alumni Senior Walk 9:30 AM
FRI. MAY 27: 3rd and 4th Grades Field Trip - Old Gem Theater Charlotte’s Web
MON. MAY 30: No School Memorial Day
TUES. MAY 31: Regular School Day
WED. JUNE 1: Regular School Day
WED. JUNE 1: LAST DAY OF 4YK;  Last day for Wrap-Around and Last day for after school Eagle’s Nest
THURS. JUNE 2: Last day of school K-5; Half-day/Early Release
FRI. JUNE 3: Teacher Inservice

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