Monday, May 22, 2017

Parent Connection May 22

Watch Your Step
In the book, The 19th Hole, author Carol Mann recounts how golf legend Arnold Palmer will never forget the day he lost his footing.
It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament. Palmer had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a satisfying tee shot. As he approached the ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. His friend motioned Palmer over, stuck out his hand, and congratulated him for the win he was about to secure.
Palmer later said that as soon as he shook his friend’s hand, he knew he was in trouble. After that congratulatory handshake, he lost his mental footing. He hit his ball into a sand trap. Then he put it over the edge of the green. Then he missed a putt. He lost the Masters.
For us as Christians, the temptation can be strong for us to assume that we can coast through our Christianity: We know the Bible stories. We attend church more often than not. We’re on friendly terms with the pastor. We’re not as bad as those other people. After a while our idea of Christianity can begin to resemble our life insurance policy. It’s nice to know it’s in our filing cabinet if we need it; otherwise we don’t give it much thought.
And that’s when we can lose our footing.
Christianity is not some frame of mind through which we coast. Nor is it some life insurance document we store away for emergencies. Christianity is about our relationship with the One who has rescued us from the guilt of, and just punishment for, our sin.
If you have lost your footing, or you feel you are standing on shaky ground, come to Jesus and be renewed in his forgiveness and love. Don’t forget your relationship during the weeks of summer. Remember your intense need for him never ends. Never!
If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12

Last Day of School
          The last day of school will be Wednesday.  Parents are strongly urged to join us for the end-of-year chapel service at 11:00 am and stay for the picnic beginning at 11:30 am.  School dismisses at noon with no aftercare provided.      
          Students do not have to wear uniforms on Wednesday.

End of School Picnic
          On the last day of school we will have our end of school picnic beginning at 11:30. Families are invited to join us for the picnic.  Much of the food has been generously donated and for the remaining items, each class will be responsible for certain items.  Please see the detailed list attached.  Have all items here by Wednesday morning.

Field Trip
Weather permitting, K-4 grades are walking to a couple of parks close to school, tomorrow, Tues. May 23rd.  We will be eating our lunches at the parks.  Cold lunches only, please.  We will leave school at about 11:45 am and return about 3:00 pm.  It is still a uniform day. Be sure the children bring weather-appropriate coats and shoes.  If there are any questions about this event, please speak to Miss Snyder or Mrs. Z.
Mr. Z’s class will be going to the library and out to lunch on Tuesday.


Parking Lot Sale
          The parking lot sale was a success, we raised over $1400.  It is to go towards Smartboards.

Singing in Church
          Thank you to all those who sang in the service on Sunday.

Spring Fling
          Thank you for all those who sang on Friday night.  It was a great performance.  Be sure to bring back your t-shirts if you have not already.        

Open Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2017/2018 school year is now open.  If you have not enrolled your child for next year, please do so. 

Monday, May 15, 2017

Parent Connection May 15th

How Precious Is the Time!
          It was only forty days. That’s an interesting number that comes up several times in the Scriptures. It was forty days and nights that rain poured down upon the earth during the Flood. Jonah pronounced forty days before God would bring judgment upon Nineveh.
          Now that number applied to the time Jesus spent with his disciples after his resurrection. He didn’t spend every minute of every day during that forty day period with them. He appeared to them a couple of times in Jerusalem and then in Galilee. During this time, “he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.” Acts 1:3.  During these visits, Jesus talked to them about the kingdom of God. Did the disciples realize how precious those moments were? Did they know that these times would not go on forever?
          I wonder what the disciples really thought. When Jesus appeared to them for the last time, on the fortieth day, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6. Jesus had to have great patience, these disciples just didn’t get it. They were still looking for deliverance from the hated Roman rule rather than the greater deliverance from the rule of Satan. Jesus told them that they needed to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit whom Jesus would send to them. It would be the Holy Spirit who would open their eyes and show them the truth.
          We are so much like those disciples. We have studied the Word and yet we don’t always get the “big picture”. We have our own ideas of how we want things to go. We need the same Holy Spirit to guide us through the Word to conform our will to the Lord’s will. How precious is the time we spend in the Word!


Spring Performance
          The Spring Fling will be held on May 19th at 6:30pm.  Students will need to be at UAA Recital Hall by 6:15pm.  A permission slip will be sent home with information about what to wear.
         
Parking Lot Sale
          Parking Lot Sale will be held on May 20th, 9:00-3:00.  Parents we need volunteers!  Make plans to help for an hour or two.  You can now drop off your donations.

Singing in Church
          Faith Lutheran School will be singing in church on May 21st here at Faith.  Please plan on attending and having your child here by 10:15am for the 10:30am service.

End of School Picnic
          On the last day of school we will have our end of school picnic beginning at 11:30. Families are invited to join us for the picnic.  Much of the food has been generously donated and for the remaining items, each class will be responsible for certain items.  A detailed list will go out on Monday.

Open Enrollment
Enrollment for the 2017/2018 school year is now open.  If you have not enrolled your child for next year, please do so.
  
May Birthdays
          God’s Richest Blessings on the following May Birthdays:
Caleb L. – May 9th
Violet A. – May 19th

Summer Birthdays
          Blessing for those celebrating birthdays over the summer.
Alaina H. – June 12th
Sahara B. – June 14th
Gavin M. – July 7th
Kennedy M. – July 9th
Megan L. – July 20th

Lost and Found

          Items in the lost and found will be placed in the parking lot sale on Saturday.  Please stop by the office if you are missing an item.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Parent Connection May 8th

The End Is Within Sight?
For several weeks now, my students have been reminding me each week how many days are left in the school year. I don’t know if they are just counting down the days, or if they are trying to panic me as we have a few things to go through before the end comes. As a teacher, you don’t want to finish your course of study too early, nor do you want to run out of time before you get all of those important concepts covered.
          For our devotion this morning Pastor Ewings used Psalm 90 as his text. As he read, I was struck by one of the phrases the Psalmist used, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12.
          This should be our prayer as we anticipate anything we must wait for patiently. Whether it is the last day of the school year, or some special trip, or our next birthday, or the Day of the Lord’s Return; we ask God to teach us to include the Lord in our planning and anticipation. Our goal is a ‘heart of wisdom’, a heart which trusts fully in its God and looks forward to heaven with him.

Open Enrollment
Enrollment for the 2017/2018 school year is now open.  If you have not enrolled your child for next year, please do so.

Track Season
          Congratulations to all the athletes who participated in the track meet on Saturday.  Here are the overall results:
Jr. High Girls – 2nd            Elem. Girls – 2nd
Elem. Boys – 3rd
Please be sure to return your clean uniforms this week.


Teacher Appreciation Week
          Thank you to all who volunteered during teacher appreciation week.

Spring Performance
          The Spring Fling will be held on May 19th at 6:30pm.  The date was moved due to scheduling conflicts.  Students will need to be at UAA Recital Hall by 6:15pm. 
          Parents-we need volunteers to drive students to the rehearsal the morning of the event.  Contact the school if you are able to help.

Singing in Church
          Faith Lutheran School will be singing in church on May 21st here at Faith.  Please plan on attending and having your child here by 10:15am for the 10:30am service.

Parking Lot Sale
          Parking Lot Sale will be held on May 20th, 9:00-3:00.  Parents we need volunteers!  Make plans to help for an hour or two.  We will begin accepting donations on May 15th.
         
PTF Meeting
          The next PTF meeting is May 10th.  This is a very important meeting to elect officers for the coming year.  If you would like to serve as an officer or know who would be a good candidate please contact Sheila at 229-7901.

End of school year picnic, May 24th at 11:30am.  Look for sign up opportunities next week.