newsletter- February 5, 2019

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                                               
 
PRAYER FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2019
 
Dear Jesus, thank you for all the blessings and treasures you have showered upon us.  Thank you for family, friends, knowledge, wisdom, and all your angels and saints who guide us in our journey of building up your kingdom.  We ask you, Lord Jesus, to bless our gifts, bless our lives, and bless this special week.  Amen 
 
Thank you for being a Prayer Partner for our school!
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.  During Catholic Schools Week we will be lifting up the following in prayer.
 
Sunday – Pray for our Parish
Monday – Pray for Community Workers
Tuesday – Pray for all our Students
Wednesday – Pray for our Nation and Families
Thursday – Pray for the Bishop, Father Eric and other Religious Leaders
Friday – Pray for our Staff and Volunteers
Saturday – Pray for our Families
 
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.   1 John 5:14
 
PRAYER PARTNERS:  Next week we will join together in prayer for our St. Francis Teachers and Staff.
 
Thanks to everyone who attended our Open House last week, and to all who participated in the 10:30 Mass!    We hope the dress themes and activities scheduled for this week provide the opportunity for students to  CELEBRATE the many wonderful aspects of our Catholic school!
 
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR:  We begin taking registrations for next school year today, and will continue through Wednesday, February 13.  Each child who will attend St. Francis School next year will need to have a completed Registration Application Form and Tuition Payment Plan on file.  These forms are included in today’s envelope for those families who will have children in grades K-5 next school year.  Please complete and return as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, February 13.   A 4YK registration packet will be mailed to incoming families.  The price break for parish members, when originally established, was intended to recognize the financial commitment these families were already making to St. Francis Parish.  For the 2019-2020 school year, tuition will increase $100 per student for parish families, and $100 per student for non-parish families.  See the enclosed Tuition Payment Plan for more specifics.  There is tuition assistance available to help those in need of financial support.  An anonymous donor does not want the cost of tuition to inhibit your child from attending our school and may be able to help cover part of your tuition amount.  Please contact Mr. Buckel for more information about tuition assistance for next year; all inquiries will be kept confidential.
 
BOOKS FOR BREAKFAST – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6:  Parents and grandparents are invited to join us for Books for Breakfast in the parish hall on Wednesday, February 6 following Mass.  Light refreshments will be served. 
 
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR EXTENDED JANUARY 25 – FEBRUARY 6:  It’s Scholastic Book Fair Time!  We will be having a book fair starting Friday, January 25 and ending Wednesday, February 6. 
 
FIRST COMMUNION PARENT MEETING – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6:  A First Communion parent meeting for second grade will be held at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, February 6. 
 
GR. 5 BAKE SALE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8:     Our fifth grade class will sponsor a bake sale on Friday, February 8. Items will be sold for 50 cents apiece, with the proceeds being used toward the cost of their class trip to ValleyFair.
 
NO SCHOOL - FEBRUARY 15:  Students will not have class on Friday, February 15.  This is a district-wide in-service.
 
GR. 5 PARENT & STUDENT MTG - “GROWING IN LOVE” - FEB. 20:     Wonder how you’ll talk with your child about his/her body changes as he/she approaches puberty?  Alice Heinzen and Jeff Arrowood, of our diocesan Office of Family
Life, have a presentation, entitled “Growing in Love”, for fifth grade parents and their child that conveys the information children need to know, integrated with appropriate humor and a deep respect for God’s gift of sexuality.  Fifth grade
students and their parents will meet for this presentation on Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall.  Because of the sensitive nature of the puberty topics that will be covered, no child may attend without his/her parent present.

 
GR. K-5 ROLLER SKATING TRIP – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22:  Our skating party has been set for Friday, February 22 for mKindergarten–Fifth Grade at Wooddale Recreation Center in Woodbury!  As always, we need the help of many parents to make this activity possible!  The sign-up sheet for parent chaperones and the student permission slip are included in your weekly envelope today and is due back by Wednesday, February 13.
 
CARNIVAL NEWS FROM OUR CARNIVAL COMMITTEE:
Carnival Meeting: Our Next Carnival Committee meeting will be Wed. Feb 6th at 7 PM at the School.
 
Carnival Raffles Update: Carnival Grand Raffle sales are looking great! Once families turn their tickets in, we may be sold out. A waiting list is started for those that can sell more, in case a few get returned. Nice work, everyone! There are more Traditional tickets available in the office.
 
Carnival Workers: The carnival would not be a success without the involvement of every family! In order to cover the 100+ positions for our many games and activities, we ask that BOTH parents sign up for a shift. We understand that you may have small children to tend to, but if possible, please make other arrangements to ensure that BOTH parents can participate in this event. You may also invite a friend or grandparent to take a shift, if you’re unable to. If you have questions, please contact Lisa Olson: larayolson76@gmail.com Thank you for your help!

This is the link to invite others to the SignUp page: Sign up for "Camp Out" 2019 Carnival Worker Signup (http://signup.com/go/dRjkVDB ) on @SignUpdotcom today! 
 
Carnival Decorating: We're using SignUp.com to organize our upcoming activity.  Please sign up for CAMP OUT! Carnival Decorating Help 2019!  Please see the carnival flyer in your weekly envelope for more information.
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps: 
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/login/entry/627017465948378013 
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp.com) 
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy! 
 
Advance Sale Game Tickets:  Enclosed in your weekly is the carnival games ticket information.  It is our hope that this saves you time on Carnival day,
 
Pop Donations For Carnival:  The kitchen committee is asking each family to donate pop for the carnival.  If you have more than one student, please choose a grade level, you do not need to buy more than one 2 liter bottle of pop.
4YK....................Root beer
Kindergarten......Coke
1st grade...........Orange
2nd grade..........Sprite
3rd grade...........Diet Coke
4th grade...........Mountain Dew
5th grade...........Coke 
 
SPRING BREAK – MARCH 4-8:  Students will not have classes during the week of March 4-8 due to Spring Break.
 
ST. FRANCIS HOME AND SCHOOL SCHWAN’S CAMPAIGN:  We are sad to inform you that this will be our FINAL Schwan’s Cares Campaign.  Schwan’s will be ending their Schwan’s Cares Fundraiser Program effective April 30, 2019. Our current Campaign, (Campaign Code #42263) will continue to run until February 10, 2019.
 
So, please, show your final support for St. Francis School by adding our Schwan's Campaign Code (#42263) to all your purchases.  All of your purchases will give back to the kids!  Thank you!! We appreciate your support!! 
 
ORDER ONLINE 1. Visit https://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/42263-st-francis-school 
2. Click "Shop Now". 
3. Select team member (if applicable). 
4. Start Shopping 
 
ORDER BY PHONE: Call 1-855-870-7208 and provide Campaign ID:  42263 - The Campaign runs until February 10.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb. 6 - Virtues Awards for being Honest and Helpful
Feb. 6 - Books for Breakfast (following Mass)
Feb. 6 - First Communion Parent Meeting
Feb. 6 - Carnival Committee Meeting
Feb. 8 - Fifth Grade Bake Sale
Feb.15 - Teacher In-Service (No School)
Feb. 20 - Screening Day - No School for 4YK ONLY
Feb. 20 - “Growing in Love” Grade 5 and parents (6:30 - 8:30)
Feb. 22 - Roller Skating Trip (Grades K - 5)
Feb. 24 - St. Francis School Carnival
 
Please check the schedule of events that have been planned for this week and set out in January. Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity for our students to gain an understanding of our community and to recognize those who support and serve.  I would also ask you to please continue praying for our parish without their support the school could not survive.  And as usual please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 or cbuckel@stfrancisellsworth.org 

Chuck Buckel
Principal