Newsletter - March 25, 2019

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                                       
 
Please join us in prayer for our Country.
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 all of our Country in prayer. 
 
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 Families.
 
EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY:  Beginning Monday, April 1 we will be extending our school day by 15 minutes. We will be starting the school day 5 minutes earlier at 8:00 a.m. and ending the day 10 minutes later at 3:35 p.m.  Parent pick-up will be at 3:25 p.m.  Please see the letter included in your weekly envelope from Barry Cain, Superintendent for the Ellsworth School District.
 
SUMMER CHILD CARE SURVEY:  Included in your weekly envelope today is a Summer Child Care Survey.  We are asking all of our St. Francis families to fill out our Summer Child Care Survey and return it by Wednesday, April 3 so we are able to determine the level of need for a summer program.  Thank you in advance for your input!
 
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR:   Please send in your registration forms and tuition payment plans as soon as possible.  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.
 
ST. FRANCIS PRESCHOOL:  St. Francis School will be offering 3-year-old preschool starting this fall 2019.  More details coming soon! If you’d like more information please contact our school office at 715-273-4391.
 
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL CLOTHING ORDERS:  We will be placing an order for St. Francis School clothing.  Order forms are included in to your weekly envelope today.  Please make checks payable to St. Francis School.  *Order forms and payment are due by Monday, April 8th.
 
SERVICE PROJECTS FOR LENT:  St Francis School will be collecting items to benefit First Choice Clinic now through Wednesday, April 10.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!  
 
Though all items are appreciated, our greatest needs at this time are Baby monitors, Outlet covers, Toddler beds, Preemie clothes, Size 9 mo. pajamas, Size 4 diapers, and Overnight diapers. 
 
GR. 4 & 5 - CARPENTER NATURE CENTER – MARCH 25:  Our Fourth and Fifth Grade students went on their field trip tothe Carpenter Nature today.  Thank you to the following parent chaperones for joining us!
   
     Grade 4: Steve Kaufer, Anne Matzek, Tricia McGrath, Caitlin Turner
     Grade 5: Angie Marks, Angie McHardy, Rick Moldenhauer, Gary Nelson (Ian’s Grandpa), Tony Vogel
 
CARPENTER NATURE CENTER PARENT CHAPERONES:  Thanks to these parents who have offered to help with our Carpenter Nature Center field trips.  Chaperones are listed in order of event.
 
Kindergarten – Monday, April 29th   (Office check-in 8:20)
Maria Dopp, Ron Francis, Elise Gregory , Megan Hines, Sandra Loew (Griffin’s Grandma), Lisa Murphy, Ashley Nelson
 
Grade 1 – Monday, April 29th   (Office check-in 8:20)
Ron Francis, Amy Loberg, Scott Riester, Shari Turvaville, Jenny Tweet
 
4YK – Monday, May 20th    (Office check-in 8:05)
Ron Francis, Elise Gregory, Adriana Holst, Amy Loberg, Natasha Thoner, Katy Truttman
 
Grade 2 – Friday, May 31st   (Office check-in 11:50)
Elise Gregory, Ben and Megan Hines, Adriana Holst, Angie or Bob McHardy, Andy Murphy, Tom O’Neil, Caitlin Turner, Katy Truttman
 
Grade 3 – Friday, May 31st (Office check-in 11:50)
Katie Acker, Maria Dopp, Angie Marks, Vicki Nelson (Kate’s Grandma)
 
ST. FRANCIS PARISH FELLOWSHIP: We're holding a St. Francis Parish Fellowship to thank the Parishioners for supporting our school. This will occur after each mass the weekend of Sat., March 30th and Sun., March 31st. We'll need the help from our school families to make this happen. Please review the attached link and sign up for a spot! http://signup.com/go/CcjCBeD 
Contact Jolene Wittenberg with any questions - jowitt612@gmail.com. Thank you for your help!
 
SPRING PICTURES – APRIL 4:  Students will have an opportunity to have a spring photo taken on Thursday, April 4. PLEASE NOTE:  ONLY THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREPAID OR RETURN THEIR ORDER FORM BY OR ON 4/4 WILL
BE PHOTOGRAPHED!  Younger brothers/sisters may be photographed, beginning at 8:00 a.m.  If you wish to have a group photo taken of your children, please send a note indicating that by Wednesday, April 3.  Blue is the only background choice for sibling & family pictures. We plan to take pictures in this order for families that have prepaid:  individual photos of younger siblings, any group photos, then individual photos of St. Francis students. The flyer with background choices was included last week in your weekly envelope.  Each child needs one form with your choice of background marked for
that child.  You may also order online @ http://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/pictureDayId/MI428790Y0
Questions should be directed to Lifetouch at 1-866-955-8342.
 
END OF THIRD QUARTER – APRIL 4:  Our third quarter ends Thursday, April 4.
 
2018-2019 YEARBOOK ORDERS:  Orders are being taken for this year’s yearbook.  As in the past, the yearbook will be delivered next September, allowing us to include photos through the last day of school!  The price for the all-color, 28 page, soft-cover yearbook is $20.00.  You can order your yearbook online at YBPay.lifetouch.com with the Yearbook ID Code: 1934619. You may also send your payment to school.  Please make checks payable to St. Francis School.
 
ST. FRANCIS YOUTH MINISTRY: We are practicing the Beatitudes (Feeding the Hungry!) by taking a trip to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, MN on Thursday, April 4th.  Plan on meeting in the Parish Hall around 4:30 pm to eat Pizza before the bus leaves at 5:00 pm.  We will pack food from 6-7:30 pm and then return to St. Francis by 8:30 pm.  St. Francis School does NOT have school the next day.  Parents/grandparents and friends are welcome to join this event either by completing paperwork and riding the bus with our group or meeting us at the Eagan FMSC site. This is a FREE event hosted by St. Francis Youth Ministry.  Please contact Cheryl Kaufer for questions goshawk@bevcomm.net or 651-308-8576 and to sign you up!!!
 
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.  
 
SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGES:
 
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 IS NOW A SCHOOL DAY:  St. Francis students will now have classes on Friday, March 29 (due to the
many snow days this winter.)
 
TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - APRIL 5:  Although the public school has made this a student day, St. Francis students WILL NOT have classes on Friday, April 5 as our teachers will be attending the Diocese Faith In-service that day.
 
EASTER VACATION SCHEDULE:  There are no classes on Good Friday, April 19.
 
MONDAY, APRIL 22 IS NOW A SCHOOL DAY:  St. Francis students will now have class on Monday, April 22 (due to the many snow days this winter.)
 
JUNE 5 & 6 ARE NOW SCHOOL DAYS: St. Francis Students will now have class on Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6.  June 6 will be a half day of school.  Tuesday, June 4 will now be a full day.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Mar. 25 - Carpenter Nature Center Field Trip for Grades 4 & 5
Mar. 27 - Forgiveness Virtue Awards following Mass
Mar. 29 - Regular School Day (Snow Make-up Day)
Mar. 30 & 31 - St. Francis Parish “Appreciation Fellowship”
Apr. 1 - Extended School Day Begins (8:00 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.)
Apr. 4 - End of 3rd Quarter
Apr. 4 - Spring Picture Day
Apr. 4 – Feed My Starving Children (St. Francis Youth Ministry)
Apr. 5 - Diocesan Teacher In-Service (No School)
Apr. 19 - Good Friday (No School)
Apr. 22 - Regular School Day (Snow Make-up Day)
 
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