This year’s theme for students is “Rise Up,” as they are being asked to share ways they can rise up for others. Graber and Father Alan Dietzenbach recently arranged a host of special events in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week, which ran from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, and they also shared testimonials from families who have chosen to send their children to St. Francis, citing small class sizes and the focus on religious education.

“Our family chose to send our children to St. Francis so they would grow up with a strong foundation. It is important to us that religion plays such a big part in their school days. Learning to pray and celebrate mass together is something that is truly special. Smaller class sizes have also allowed for more differentiation in the classroom,” one wrote. “We value the family atmosphere that St. Francis provides. Our children have had amazing teachers who truly care about them. Our oldest child is in middle school. and the education that St. Francis provided for him has allowed him to be successful in and outside of the classroom.”

Another said they have been “incredibly happy” with their choice to send their children there because the staff have “truly embodied” their hopes of creating a loving, faith-based environment for children.

“Our children look forward to seeing their teachers and friends every single day, and the family atmosphere is essential to their positive outlook on learning. We are grateful that SFC is an extension of our commitment to build a servant heart in our children,” they said.

“As a Catholic family, we wanted our children to attend a school with Catholic values. We also chose SFC because they have smaller classroom sizes and it allows teachers to focus more on their students,” another family wrote. “I love how we as parents can easily connect with the teachers and allow us to participate. We made our decision nine years ago to have our children attend and until this day I do not regret it. I pray that our children pass their catholic values to their children as well.”

Another touted the desire to have their faith be a part of everyday life and education

“We want them to read stories that bring the gospels and saints to life, to discover that science reveals the wonders of God’s work, to see how the beauty of artwork can draw us in to tenderly meet God, and to learn how to work and play with others in the way Jesus teaches,” they wrote. “We are so grateful to have a Catholic school here in Marshalltown that offers this kind of environment to our children. It gives us great peace of mind that our children’s little souls are safe in this school.”

The growth of the school has also resulted in the creation of new positions and hiring of more staff to serve the needs of students. St. Francis is located at 310 Columbus Dr. and can be reached at (641) 753-7977.

St. Francis Director of Finance Jarret Heil, recently addressed students during assemblies for Catholic Schools Week.