Newsletter - May 6, 2019

Dear St. Francis School Families,                                                                                              

2nd Grade Class Prayer

Dear God, We thank you for Jesus, our Grandparents, parents, brothers & sisters, friends, pets, shelter, food, water, and air. Thank you for creating everything we see!  Thank you for the life we live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
 
Please join us in prayer for our 2nd 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 2nd 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 our 3rd Grade Class.
                       
ALL SCHOOL PICTURE:  We have a wonderful idea for our all school picture this year!  We will need every student to have a plain white shirt - no logos, no designs, no color.  They will wear the shirt as is and it will not be colored or altered in any way.  Please send a white shirt to school by Wednesday, May 8.  Be sure to put your child's name on the tag.  Thank you in advance for helping make this photo project a success!
 
WALK FOR VIRTUES - PLEDGE MONEY DUE TODAY!  Student pledge forms were sent home with students last Friday after the Walk.  Money is due today.  If you have not yet sent in your money, please do so as soon as possible.  Thanks You!
 
SPRING PROGRAM/ART SHOW - MAY 9:  We will present our Spring Concert & Art Show Thursday, May 9 at 6pm. 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.  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 8 at 1:30pm.  This is open to anyone who would like to attend. 
 
CHRISTMAS/SPRING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ON DVD:  Our Spring Program will be recorded and placed on a DVD along with our Christmas Program from last December.  If you’d like to purchase a copy of the DVD ($25 each) and haven’t already, please complete the order form that was sent last week, along with payment by Wednesday, May 8.  DVDs will be sent home prior to the end of the school year. If you already placed your order for a DVD earlier this year, Thank You! 
 
STAFF APPRECIATION BRUNCH - MAY 10:      Thanks to all who have offered to help in some way with the Staff Appreciation Brunch on May 10, and thanks to Katie Acker, Home & School Association Vice-President who is coordinating the event!
 
GRADES 4YK - 5 - ELLSWORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY FIELD TRIP – MAY 16:  4YK through grade 5 students will have the opportunity to take a field trip to the Ellsworth Public Library Thursday, May 16 to learn about summer reading programs. Permission slips for this field trip were included in your weekly envelope last week.  Please return by Wednesday, May 8.
 
GR. 5 CLASS TRIP TO VALLEY FAIR – FRIDAY, MAY 17:  Fifth grade students will take their class trip to Valley Fair on Friday, May 17.  Information and the permission slip are enclosed today.
 
4YK - CARPENTER NATURE CENTER – MONDAY, MAY 20:  Our 4YK students will take their field trip to the Carpenter Nature Center on Monday, May 20.  Students will depart at 8:15 a.m. and return by 10:15am.  Parent chaperones are asked to please come to the office to check-in by 8:05am.
 
Chaperones: Ron Francis, Elise Gregory, Adriana Holst, Amy Loberg, Natasha Thoner, Katy Truttman
 
PICNIC LUNCH – MONDAY, MAY 20:  Mrs. Brooks has planned a picnic lunch for us on Monday, May 20.  Students are encouraged to bring a beach towel to sit on as we plan to eat outside! (weather permitting)
 
GR. 5 - DARE GRADUATION – THURSDAY, MAY 23:  Fifth grade parents are asked to reserve the afternoon of Thursday,
May 23 to attend their child’s D.A.R.E. graduation, beginning at 2:00pm. in the parish hall.
 
MEMORIAL DAY – MONDAY, MAY 27 - NO SCHOOL:  Students do not have classes Monday, May 27, due to our
observance of Memorial Day.
 
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)
 
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.  Last Day of School Early Release Forms will be sent out closer to that date. (4YK busing that day will remain the same)
 
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 8:30am. 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
 
SUMMER EAGLE’S NEST PROGRAM:  We are excited to offer a summer care program for our St. Francis Families. Please watch for more information soon!
 
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.
 
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. If you already placed your order for a yearbook, Thank You!  There will not be another order form in your envelope today.  Please place your order by Friday, May 17.
 
HANGING BASKET FLOWER SALE: Adventure Camp is hosting our annual “Hanging Basket Flower Sale” on Tuesday, May 7th starting at 11:00 am and Wednesday, May 8th starting at 8:00am and will be selling from Fr. Eric’s garage.  Hanging Baskets sell for $25 each.  All proceeds go toward paying for youth to attend Adventure Camp June 23-28th, 2019.  Please support our youth and spread the word!!!  Remember to purchase flowers for Mother’s Day!!!
 
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 8 - Dress Rehearsal for our Spring Program (1:30 p.m.)
May 9 - Spring Program (6:00 p.m.)
May 16 - Ellsworth Public Library Visit (4YK-Grade 5)
May 17 - Valleyfair Trip (Grade 5)
May 20 - Carpenter Nature Center (4YK)
May 22 - Self-Control Virtue Awards following Mass
May 23 - 5th Grade D.A.R.E. Graduation
May 24 - EHS Senior Day
May 27 - Memorial Day (No School)
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