September Newsletter

Prayer for Beginning a New School Year
Thank you, Lord, for Your divine protection over our children. 
Keep them safe as they travel to and from school. 
We stand on Your Word that no weapon formed against them will prosper. 
We thank you that Your angels stand guard over them and surround them like a shield. Guard their hearts and minds. Cover them as they navigate this new school year and guide them in the right direction.   In Jesus’ name, Amen                                 

Dear St. Francis School Families,
As we start a new school year, I would like to thank all of our St. Francis families for your support, because without it we would not exist.  As a staff, we are excited and looking forward to the new year!

Again this year, we will use the large white envelope as a monthly communication system. They will be sent home with the oldest child in your family who attends St. Francis School on the last Monday of each month (3rd week in December).   You, as a parent/guardian, are asked to read the information enclosed, complete any requested forms, permission slips, etc., DATE AND SIGN THE ENVELOPE, and return it (along with any forms) with your oldest child by Wednesday of that week. If there is no school on a particular Monday the envelope will be sent home the following day that we are in session.  Newsletters will also continue to be sent out via email each month.  Menus will be emailed and posted on our school website. Newsletters from the office will provide important school information for each month with more classroom specific information coming from your classroom teacher.  Also, we will be sending text message reminders as the dates draw near to help parents stay informed.  Anyone who would like information added to the monthly newsletter, including committee members, will need to submit that information to Amy Matzek by the 20th of the month prior.
 
SCHOOL COLOR DAY - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3:  Students are encouraged to dress in school colors, blue & white, on the first Friday of each month, beginning September 3rd..  Show your school spirit!

NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6:  There will be no school on Monday, September 6, 2021 as we observe Labor Day.

MASS SERVING SCHEDULE:  Students who have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion and are in at least 3rd grade are able to serve at school and weekend Masses. Our Mass Serving Schedule will be emailed and sent home with your child soon.

YEARBOOK SIGNING – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17:  Our 2020-2021 yearbooks have arrived!  We will have a yearbook signing activity on Friday, September 17.  We’ll have some autograph sheets available for those who do not have a yearbook to be signed. 

“SEE YOU AT THE POLE” - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22:  On Wednesday, September 22, 2021 we will participate in the nation-wide event “See You At The Pole.” The theme this year is “Just Pray”, taken from James 4:10. Right after Mass we will meet as a Parish/School community at the flagpole in front of school to lift up our prayers. We hope you and your family will join us! 

DIOCESAN TEACHER INSERVICE - NO CLASSES - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24:  St. Francis students will not have classes on Friday, September 24, 2021 as this day has been assigned as a Diocese of LaCrosse Faith In-Service Day. Some St. Francis staff members already participated in a Faith In-Service Day on Saturday, August 7, 2021.

SCHOOL COLORS DAY/CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS/PET BLESSING - MONDAY, OCTOBER 4: The feast day of our school and parish patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, is Monday, October 4.  This day is always one of great celebration for our entire parish!  We will attend 8:30 a.m. Mass on Monday (we will not have school Mass on Wednesday that week) and students are encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing in school colors: blue and white.  We do not permit face paint or hair color on any school color days.

We will have a special blessing of animals, following the Mass, on the grassy area east of our church.  This will include our Preschool and 4K Students. You are welcome to bring an animal to be blessed after Mass and to be taken home again immediately following the Pet Blessing.  Please, no pets or animals inside the school or church. You may also bring a picture of your pet if transportation for your pet to return home immediately isn’t available. 

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 AND THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21:
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Tuesday, October 19 and Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 PM. At this time conferences will be held in person with the flexibility of holding virtual conferences if warranted. All conferences will be by appointment. Scheduling information will be shared soon. 

NO SCHOOL - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22:  No school for students on Friday, October 22, 2021.


HOME AND SCHOOL NEWS
ST. FRANCIS HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION:  Each Catholic school in the Diocese of La Crosse has a Home & School Association whose purpose is to be a vehicle by which parents, teachers, pastor and school administrator are able to collaborate and enable one another to develop a faith community and teach the young by living witness.  Some schools in our area might call an organization like this their PTA (Parent-Teacher Association).
According to our diocesan guidelines, the purposes of our Home & School Association include:
 
1) To act as a support group for the school and its employees and students,
2) To offer, through well-planned programs, information of special interest to parents which will assist them in
    fulfilling their responsibilities in the Christian formation of their children,
3) To provide opportunities to build community among parents, students, school employees, and the pastor,
4) To provide a setting in which parents may be of service to the school and where faculty may be of service to
    parents,
5) To offer a limited number of fund raising activities with the approval of the school administration for the
    support of the school.

HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER AND DUES:  Please see the enclosed Home & School
Association Newsletter from HSA President Emily Rohl which includes information regarding our
Home & School Association and Dues.  An envelope is included in today’s packet for paying dues.  Please return by Wednesday, September 8.  Thank you!

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEETING - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9:  The Home and School Association will hold its first meeting of the year at 7:00pm on Thursday, September 9th, 2021 in the Parish Hall. If you have a topic you would like addressed or a question, please submit to President Emily Rohl, wilkense@yahoo.com. We encourage all to attend. 

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CARNIVAL-SAVE THE DATE: Please save the date on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022 for the Carnival. 

ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL GALA – SAVE THE DATE:  Please save the date on April 23, 2022 for the “Ein Prosit” Oktoberfest Gala! Gather up your lederhosen, we’re celebrating St. Francis School’s 75th Anniversary with our biggest gala yet in the St. Francis School das Bierzelt (beer tent) located in our parking lot! Spread the word to alumni, staff and families past and present to join us in merriment! Watch for tickets to go on sale in March. Prost!  

ALUMINUM CANS:  Our Home & School Association collects and redeems aluminum cans throughout the year.  We have a trailer for this purpose, parked in the parking lot behind our church.  You may place your bags of aluminum cans in the trailer at your convenience.  If the trailer has been taken to be emptied, you may leave your bags of cans in that area in the parking lot.  Please make sure that your bags are closed securely and DO NOT include other types of aluminum especially that with food in it, as our entire load is penalized if such items are found.  Thank you for saving your aluminum for our school!

PARISH NEWS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:  Welcome back to our St. Francis Religious Education Programs! If you are new to this, we welcome you and are happy you are joining us!  Wednesday Classes start September 8 for:  Grades 1- 5 (those students not attending the St. Francis Catholic School), at 5:45 pm.   Grades 6 - 11 are scheduled from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.  Sunday school for children ages 3 - 5, including current Kindergarten Students, is held during the 10:30 am Sunday Masses.
Please join us for the Religious Education Open House and Registration on Wednesday, September 1, anytime between 3:30 and 8:00 pm in the Parish Hall.  There will also be Youth Ministry Tables with information regarding Youth Ministry activities and trips planned for the coming year. Please contact Joan Foley,  cfoley@dishup.us or 715-338-1199, if you have any questions.


COMMUNITY NEWS
FALL DANCE CLINIC:  The EHS Dance Team will be hosting a Dance Clinic Friday, September 17th. Registration forms are included in your monthly envelope and are due by Friday, September 3rd.  The clinic is offered to students in grades K-5th grade.


DATES TO REMEMBER: 
Sept. 1 - First Day of School/Paperwork Due
Sept. 3 - School Colors Day (Blue and White)
Sept. 6 - No School - Labor Day
Sept. 9 - Home and School Meeting at 7:00pm
Sept  17 - Yearbook Signing
Sept. 22 - “See You At The Pole”
Sept. 28 - EHS Service Day: St. Francis School will benefit from the high school students’ hard work.
Oct. 1 - EHS Homecoming Parade and Football Game
Oct. 4 - Feast of St. Francis ~ Mass and Pet Blessing/School Color Day
Oct. 19 and Oct. 21 - Parent-Teacher Conferences (4:00 - 7:00) - watch for more information soon
Oct. 22 - No School - Teacher In Service

May God Bless Our St. Francis Families!!  Please call or e-mail if you have questions: 715-273-4391 principal@stfrancisellsworth.org

Mary Cormican
Principal