Get
Involved
Almost everything that makes a year here memorable is put together by parents. An hour on a Tuesday helps.
Come be part of it
The dances, the book fairs, the Christmas cookies, the classroom parties, the baskets for the picnic raffle. None of it is polished, and all of it gets done because somebody showed up.
If your family is new, this is the shortest route in. Help at one book fair and you'll leave knowing a dozen names. Ask any family who's been here a while and that's usually how it started for them, too.
You don't have to sign up for a year. An hour on a Tuesday helps.
The PTO
Our PTO is where so much of this happens. It plans the family events, runs the fundraisers, and quietly pays for the things that make school feel like more than school.
- Cookies With Your Special Person Day
- Catholic Schools Week treats and activities
- Classroom holiday celebrations
- Family events and school dances
- Book fairs
- Staff appreciation
- Christmas in July, which stocks classrooms with what teachers actually need
A year of PTO events
The year has a rhythm to it. Scattered throughout are share nights at local restaurants, where a portion of what you'd have spent on dinner anyway comes back to the school.
Play in the Park Night, bingo, the school dance, and the first book fair.
Christmas Night, bowling, and Art Night.
Another book fair, and the year wraps up.
Ways to help
Welcome a new family
We'll match you with one new family near your child's grade level, and all it takes is being available for a text or an email. More than thirty new students joined us this year. This is the easiest thing on this list and one of the kindest.
In the classroom
Room parents, party helpers, field trip chaperones, and readers. Talk to your child's teacher; they'll know what would help most.
Work nights
Before school starts and at points through the year, we schedule sessions for moving, building, cleaning, and hauling. There's usually a morning and an evening option, and thirty minutes is welcome.
Athletics
Coaches, assistant coaches, scorekeepers, and concessions for Crusaders and CYO teams. The school office will point you to the right coordinator.
The parish picnic
Baskets for the raffle, silent auction items, food for the cookie walk, and volunteers for late shifts. The picnic is a St. Francis institution, fun to work at and attend, and makes a sizeable donation to the school each year, so this one comes straight back to our students.
Scouting
Troop 22, Pack 22, Troop 225, and Girl Scouts all rely on adult leaders. Some years a group runs because one parent stepped up.
Builders Club
Our Kiwanis service club runs in years when there's an adult willing to lead it. If that sounds like you, call the office.
BEAR youth group
Grant Wilson, our Director of Religious Education, is glad to have another adult on a Monday night. Reach him at (217) 602-9293.
Parish life
The Ladies of St. Francis and the Men's Holy Name Society serve the school often. They're the ones who cleaned, organized, and restocked the school kitchen before this year began, right down to new aprons and dish towels.
How to start
Each K–8 family contributes 15 service hours over the school year, and most families pass that without thinking about it. Track yours with the Record of Volunteer Hours form. Quincy Notre Dame students can earn up to four service hours helping here, and they're welcome at work nights.
If you'd rather help without being in the building, that counts too. Share nights, gift card programs, and the classroom wish lists all matter, and some of our most helpful families do most of it from home.
Looking for something for yourself? St. Francis Solanus Parish runs small groups for men, women, young adults, and stay-at-home moms, and school families are welcome whether or not you're parishioners. See parish small groups.
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Tell someone you're interestedEmail the school office at school@stfrancissolanus.com or call (217) 222-4077. You don't need a plan; say what you'd enjoy and roughly how much time you have.
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Say yes to something in the newsletterOpportunities come out through the year with dates and time slots. Picking one is the easiest way to begin.
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Come to a PTO meetingFirst Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. No commitment.
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Complete the diocesan safe environment requirementsAnyone working with students needs a background check and safe environment training through the Diocese of Springfield. The office walks you through it, and it's the same standard our staff meet.
I'm new to the school. Where should I start?
Help at one event, or come to a PTO meeting. Working a book fair or a dance for a couple of hours is the fastest way to meet people, and nobody expects a new family to run anything.
When are PTO meetings?
The first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Parents, teachers, and family members are all welcome, and you don't need to have volunteered before.
Are volunteer hours required?
Families with students in kindergarten through eighth grade contribute 15 service hours per school year. Hours from both parents count, and nearly everything counts: PTO events, work nights, classroom help, chaperoning, coaching, scorekeeping, helping at the parish picnic, or putting together a raffle basket. Most families reach it without much effort. If you're unsure whether something counts, ask the office.
Do I need a background check to volunteer?
Yes, if you'll be working with students. The Diocese of Springfield requires a background check and safe environment training for all volunteers, the same standard our staff meet. Call the school office and we'll walk you through it.
What if I work during school hours?
A lot of what needs doing happens in the evening or on weekends, like dances, share nights, and setup and teardown. Work nights usually offer both a morning and an evening session.
Can grandparents volunteer?
Yes, and many do. The same background check requirement applies to anyone working with students.
Can high school students earn service hours here?
Yes. Quincy Notre Dame students can earn up to four QND service hours helping at St. Francis, and they're welcome at our work nights.
How do I help with athletics?
Call the school office and we'll connect you with the right coordinator for the sport and season.
Who do I contact?
The school office at (217) 222-4077 is always a great starting point. For BEAR youth group, contact Grant Wilson at (217) 602-9293.
What our families say
Faith & Tradition
Our family's love for St. Francis Solanus School is deeply rooted in faith and tradition. With Joe's family having attended for generations, it is incredibly meaningful to now watch our children walk the same halls and grow in the same values-rich, faith-centered environment.
Joe & Alexis Darnell FamilyKnown at every stage
St. Francis Solanus meets the individual academic needs of all our children at every stage of development. Our older kids recognized the "St. Francis Solanus difference" during an initial school visit and were ready to start the next day! The parent-teacher partnership is collaborative and focused on helping students do their best, and the Catholic influence of the priests, deacons, DRE, and staff is focused on fostering a true and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Aaron & Karen Weiman FamilyTo be Jesus to others
St. Francis provides a quality Catholic experience. They learn not only how to add and subtract but to know Jesus, love Jesus, and to be Jesus to others. We are proud of our choice to have provided a faith-based education for our children and that our children have continued to choose St. Francis for their children. It is important to celebrate the privilege of a Catholic education and we have been blessed to have been supportive of continuing this legacy.
Deacon Dennis and Pat HolbrookAccountability with grace
The culture is one of partnership. Students are truly known by their teachers and staff. There is accountability paired with grace. Leadership is present and engaged.
The Friye Mamdani FamilyEnthusiasm and dedication
The teachers of St. Francis are observing and always seeking ways to improve the abilities of our students. The enthusiasm and dedication from the teachers has helped our children gain confidence and excel in multiple areas.
Brad & Makenzie Holtmeyer FamilyLessons come to life
The teachers at St. Francis bring lessons to life, creating engaging classrooms where students feel excited about learning. What stands out most is their strong training in literacy instruction, ensuring that every student grows as a confident, capable reader and communicator.
John & Lindsey Kelly FamilyWe felt the pull
We never thought we would be the family transferring our children to a new school. After being parishioners for a few years, we felt the pull to enroll our children at St Francis school. As soon as we took a tour, our girls' faces lit up and they said they wanted to start the next day.
Brad & Amanda Genenbacher FamilyLoving, caring & nurturing
Mrs. Wiewel has taught both of our girls over the last two years. She is so loving, caring and nurturing and with her help, our child was able to succeed in an academic area she was previously struggling in.
Brad & Amanda Genebacher FamilyAcademic excellence
St. Francis School offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where academic excellence is paired with strong values rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Dr. Samuel & Danielle Healy FamilyInviting family-feel
The school is small which gives it a warm, inviting family-feel. Staff and students alike begin to know everyone within the building. This brings a sense of comfort knowing our children are being well taken care of while growing in academics and in faith.
James & Tera Terwelp Family
Start with one hour.
Tell the school office what you'd enjoy and roughly how much time you have. We'll find a spot that fits.