Monday, November 30, 2015

Parent Connection November 30th

Are you ready for Christmas?
     We can get so caught up in the shopping, the planning for get-togethers, the decorations, and the holiday events that we forget why we are celebrating in the first place.
 We encourage you to take the opportunity this Advent season to get your family in the habit of devotion together. It only takes a few minutes a day, and a few minutes together in God’s Word not only refreshes our souls and reminds us of the precious gift of the Savior, but also expresses to our children that our God is important enough to take the time. We wouldn’t decide not to eat or sleep because we are “too busy”. Yet we often make excuses to avoid something just as important. Are we really too busy to spend a few moments at our Savior’s feet with our families?
     Here are some ideas to help you get started:
  • Commit yourselves to devotions. Set aside a time in the morning, or in the evening after dinner or before bed. Have everyone in the family put aside other activities to make Christ the center of your family. A few minutes are all that it takes. You do have the time, if it’s important to you!
  • Make family attendance at Sunday worship, Advent, and Christmas services the most important events in your family’s holiday celebration. Would you have a birthday party and forget to invite the person whose birthday it is?
    Now is the time to start a great routine that can    strengthen you and your family throughout your whole lives. As a gift to you from Faith Lutheran Church and School, we are sending home an Advent wreath, candles and an Advent devotion book for each family. An Advent wreath can serve as a great “countdown to Christmas” along with your advent devotions and prayers.
God bless your Christmas and Advent preparations.
  
Advent for Families!
We had an enjoyable time with our families this last Sunday as we decorated Advent wreaths together and had our first Advent devotion.
This next Sunday evening, December 6th  from 6-7 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church and School would like to invite your family to our second Advent for Families activity as we make a nativity decoration together (Jesus, Mary and Joseph). All materials for the craft will be provided to each family. There will be refreshments, and we will close with an Advent devotion together.
If you didn’t get to decorate your Advent wreath last Sunday, you can also bring your wreath to this Sunday’s activity. We still have ribbons, pine cones, flowers, and other decorations for your family to decorate your advent wreath, which we will make available for those who need them.
In the weeks following, we will have several more Advent for Families activities on Sunday evenings. All are welcome!


Advent Soup Supper and Worship
This Wednesday, December 2nd, we invite you to join us for our midweek Advent service at 7:00 p.m.  
There will be a soup supper in the fellowship hall prior to the service.  The supper begins at 6:00 p.m.  We ask that you bring your favorite soup or salad to share. Bread or desserts are also welcome.  Don’t worry if you are unable to bring anything, come and join us anyway! We look forward to seeing you there.

You are invited to join us for our weekly school chapel service this Thursday, December 3rd, from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Families and friends are invited to come and join us in starting our day with the Lord. Pastor Hackmann from Peace Lutheran Church in Eagle River will lead our chapel service this week. Our current mission offering is designated for Jesus Cares Ministries.
  

The basketball teams will be playing in the ACSAA tournament this week Thursday through Saturday.
The boys’ first game is Thursday, December 3rd at 7:45 p.m. vs. Lumen Christi.
The girls’ first game is Friday, December 4th at 5:30 p.m. vs. Wasilla Lake.
All games will be played at Lumen Christi. Admission to the tournament is $5 for adults, $3 for students, $1 for Seniors, and $15 for families. Children under 12 are free.

There will be basketball practice this week Tuesday, December 1st from 3-4:30 p.m. Please note that this is an early practice.


SPIRIT DAYS THIS WEEK!
No uniforms on Wednesday and Thursday! Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week are SPIRIT DAYS! Have fun and show your school spirit and cheer on the Basketball teams as they compete in the ACSAA tournament this week.
Wednesday December 2nd – Hat Day
Wear your favorite, most unusual, or most colorful hat. Dress to match your hat!
Thursday, Sept. 17th – Classroom Color Day
Each classroom is assigned a color. All students should wear clothing in their class color:
Kindergarten – Blue
            1st and 2nd Grades – Red
            3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades – Green
            6th, 7th and 8th Grades – Black
Friday – Sept.18th –Teal and Gold Day
Wear our school colors with pride!

Handchime Choir meets Tuesday, December 1st  at 12:30 p.m. since the lower grades will be gone for a play on Thursday.

 Grades 6-8 will be taking a field trip to Color Me Mine on Wednesday, December 2nd.
  
Preschool through grade 2 will be attending the Anchorage Junior Theater production of Madeline and the Bad Hat on Thursday, December 3rd.

 Junior Choir meets this week on Friday, December 4th at 12:20 p.m. since the grade 6-8 classroom will be gone for a field trip on Wednesday.
Coming up on Friday, December 18th is our school Christmas service, “Did You Know?” presented at 6:30 p.m. in the recital hall at the UAA Fine Arts Building. This is a school function where the students will be presenting the service. All Faith students are expected to be in attendance. Plan to enjoy this special worship opportunity with your family!

 Picture Retake Day – Picture retakes will be on Tuesday, December 8th beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Please let your child’s teacher or the office know if you are planning to have pictures taken on this day.


Toddler Time is an hour of educational activities, structured play and a snack for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Toddler Time meets Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. in the Faith fellowship hall. For more information contact Mrs. Cara Ewings at 907-792-9388.


PTF Meeting Change – PTF will meet next week on Thursday December 10th at 7:00pm.  The meeting was moved to accommodate those attending the basketball tournament.  

Monday, November 23, 2015

Parent Connection Nov 23rd Issues #15

There will be no school classes this Thursday and Friday, November 26th and 27th, for the Thanksgiving holiday. May God bless your time remembering God’s many blessings you’re your family.

You are invited to join us for our special Thanksgiving school chapel service this Wednesday, November 25th, from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Families and friends are invited to come and join us in starting our day and our Thanksgiving holiday with the Lord. Students are encouraged to bring as their chapel offering a non-perishable food donation for the Alaska Food Bank. We will be completing our food drive this week.

Handchimes will be playing for chapel on Wednesday.  Handchime players need to be at school no later than 8:15 to practice before chapel service.

Congratulations to our National Geographic Bee Finalists and Champions!

School Competition Champion – Olivia Zanto
School Competition 2nd Place – Alexis Klebs
Grade 1-2 Champion – Aurora Ewings
Kindergarten Champion – Ewan Flynn

Classroom Finalists:
Alaina Hackmann, Caleb Lillo, Alexis Klebs, Olivia Zanto, Megan Lillo, Ella Anton, Cody Boswell, Joshua Lillo

Due to gym availablility, the basketball teams will be practicing this week Tuesday, November 24th  from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Junior Choir meets Wednesday, November 25th at 12:20 p.m.

Join us this next Sunday evening, November 29th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for Advent for Families! Faith Lutheran Church and School would like to invite you to this evening activity for families as we prepare for the celebration of Advent and Christmas. Families will receive an advent wreath with candles to decorate as well as a devotional booklet to use for advent devotions. We will have a pizza supper and a starting devotion as families together. All materials will be provided to our families free of charge. In the weeks following, we will have more Advent for Families activities with the opportunity for families to make nativity scenes, Christmas ornaments, and an epiphany calendar. All are welcome!

This is the last week for our Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive for the Food Bank of Alaska. Donations will be taken to the food bank on Wednesday, November 25th. You may bring your non-perishable food items in to the school at any time. Donation barrels will be in the school entryway and the fellowship hall. Our special collections will be included with these donations on November 25th. There are lists posted on the barrels with suggested items.

Picture Retake Day – Picture retakes will be on December 8th beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Please let your child’s teacher or the office know if you are planning to have pictures taken on this day.


Toddler Time is an hour of educational activities, structured play and a snack for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Toddler Time meets Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. in the Faith fellowship hall. For more information contact Mrs. Cara Ewings at 907-792-9388.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Parent Connection Nov 9th

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” – Hebrews 11:1

Perhaps you have a blind person walking down a busy city street or through a crowded airport or mall with their seeing-eye dog. The dog, expertly trained, knows exactly what dangers to avoid, where to stop, when to start, and how to indicate to its master what is going on around them.
The blind person in turn hold’s firmly to the harness and follows the dog’s lead. I imagine that their relationship did not start that way. Even though the dog was expertly trained and prepared in advance, day one of their relationship was probably a bit nerve wracking for his owner. The person had to put complete trust in the dog. But over time and with experience, the blind person learned to trust the dog completely. Now they walk together, the owner clinging tightly to the harness with confidence that his dog will lead him in the right direction.
In chapter 11 of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, Paul conducts a review of some of the notable faithful among God’s Old Testament people who put their faith in a Savior to come. They did not get to see the Savior in their lifetimes, yet through faith worked by the Holy Spirit, they followed God’s lead and trusted in his promise of a coming Savior. They walked by faith, following the God who proved himself faithful and trustworthy to them again and again.
Following Jesus, death, resurrection, and ascension, God’s New Testament people, including us, continue that walk in faith. Through God’s Word and the same Holy Spirit, we see God’s plan of salvation worked out through Old and New Testament believers, as well as in our daily lives. And the Same God who has shown been faithful in the past promises to remain faithful to his people. Through faith and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we cling tightly to His Word, recognizing the daily blessings we receive by His hand, as well as the trusting in the promise of eternal blessings he has prepared for us. Though we do not always see what God’s plans are for us, we can cling tightly to God’s Word and Promises. He has been faithful in the past; he will continue to be faithful as he leads us home us to his heavenly kingdom.
God bless your week!
Principal Schneck J


In Honor of Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, November 11th, Faith Lutheran School will be holding a flag retirement ceremony at 11:30 a.m. at the flagpole in front of the school entrance. All are welcome to attend.

Are you planning on taking advantage of the 25% tuition discount for full payment by November 15th? If you need to know your balance due or have any questions regarding billing or the application of this discount, please contact Sheila Lillo in the church/school office (563-3499).


Even if you missed “Have a New Kid by Friday” this last Wednesday, there are still more presentations coming up, and you are welcome to “jump in” this week!
Come join us this Wednesday evening November from 6:30-8:00 p.m. as we continue these fun and informative video presentations by Christian psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman. Dr. Leman offers encouragement and advice to parents on how to positively impact the development of your child’s attitude, behavior and character. No matter your situation, Dr. Leman’s presentations will give you tips on helping your child on their road towards maturity.
Two mini-lessons are offered each evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m., and babysitting will be provided. You are welcome to attend any or all of them. There is no cost for participation. Bring a friend and join us!

For a brief overview of the “Have a New Kid by Friday” video presentations, visit

This week: Wednesday November 11th
6:30-8:00 p.m.
·         Staying Connected to Be Respected   It’s Not an Impossible Dream!
·         Check Your Attitude at the Door    Dudes and Dudettes with ‘Tudes Not Permitted Inside!
Next week: Wednesday November 18th
6:30-8:00 p.m.
·         The Amazing Race for Self-Esteem    Raising the Bar of Confidence without Lowering the Boom of Discouragement
·         “Leman’s Secrets” for Enjoying the Journey    Little Things Mean a Lot!


The Bible Study “Making Life Better” continues this evening with Pastor Ewings this evening, November 9th, at 6:30 p.m. This course covers the basic truths of the Christian faith and is offered to new-comers and long-time Christians alike. All are welcome! Please contact Pastor [

The basketball teams will be playing games both Tuesday and Thursday this week.
On Tuesday, November 10th the teams are playing at Birchwood Christian. The girls’ game is at 4:30 p.m. and the boys’ game is at 5:30 p.m.
On Thursday, November 12th the teams are playing at Lumen Christi. The girls’ game is at 5:00 p.m. and the boys’ game is at 6:00 p.m.

Junior Choir meets Wednesday, November 11th  at 12:20 p.m.

Handchime Choir meets Thursday, November 12th  at 12:30 p.m.

You are invited to join us for our weekly school chapel service this Thursday, November 11th, from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Families and friends are invited to come and join us in starting our day with the Lord. Pastor Ewings will lead our chapel service this week. Our current mission offering is designated for Jesus Cares Ministries.

 There is a Parents Night Out this Friday, November 13th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Drop off the kids to enjoy some time with friends while Mom and Dad take some time for themselves. This Parents’ Night Out theme is “Dance  Party”! There is no cost, but free-will donations will be accepted to support PTF activities. Please sign up in the lower hallway.

Toddler Time is an hour of educational activities, structured play and a snack for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Toddler Time meets Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. in the Faith fellowship hall. For more information contact Mrs. Cara Ewings at 907-792-9388.

We are currently holding a Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive for the Food Bank of Alaska from now through Thanksgiving.  You may bring your non-perishable food items in to the school at any time. Donation barrels will be in the school entryway and the fellowship hall. Students will also take a special food collection for our Thanksgiving chapel service to include with these donations on November 25th. There are lists posted on the barrels with suggested items.

Picture Retake Day – Picture retakes will be on December 8th beginning at 9:00am.  Please let your child’s teacher or the office know if you are planning to have pictures taken on this day.


School Communications – The school is now using Cornerstone to communicate school closings.  If you have not set up your preferences please do so.  Upper grade parents have already been given access to the system.  Lower grade parents should receive your email with access information this week.  Please see the attached letter with all the information you need to get logged on.