Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Parent Connection September 25

Run to Get the Prize
          Last Saturday, the Alaska Christian Schools Athletic Association held its annual state cross country meet. We had three runners who represented the school at this meet. These three had been working hard since the beginning of the school year to compete in this one race. We had worked on endurance and hill climbing and strategy to run a good race from beginning to end. I was very pleased with the results of the races. I think the students feel that they did their best.
          “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly…”  I Corinthians 9: 24-26.
          This is how the Apostle Paul compares the life of a believer to the races carried out in his day. He urges the believers to be focused on the goal, to be serious about your training for the race, and to run to get the prize. Don’t run aimlessly but run to get the crown that will last forever. Of course, we cannot achieve victory by our own efforts, we need to be credited with the triumph won for us by our Savior. In him, our victory is secure.           

Bible Information Class
          Pastor Ewings’ “Making Life Better Class” continues Monday evenings at 6:30 pm.  Parents of school children are encouraged to attend this 15-week extensive review of the basic doctrines taught in the Bible and, therefore, in this school.

Mission Project
          Our mission project for the first third of the school year is for the Matt & Sarah Klebs family to help them with medical costs related to the loss of their son.

Zoo Visit
          This Friday, September 29th at 10:30 am, we will have a Zookeeper from The Alaska Zoo give our preschool through 4th grades a presentation about the porcupine.
         
Safari Expedition
Toddlers to 10 year olds and their parents are invited to come enjoy a multisensory safari with a devotion, snacks and crafts Saturday, September 30th, 10:00am to noon.  Come explore the amazing world of animals God created.

Art Night
          Join us Friday, October 6th, 6:30-8pm to create an art gallery in our school hallway with Alaska-themed canvasses painted by both students and parents.  Snacks will be provided in the Fellowship Hall. 

PTF Update
Thank you to all who attended the first meeting last week.  Our first big event is Trunk or Treat scheduled for October 27th, 5-7pm.  Miss Mittelstadt will be coordinating this event.  Please contact her at FaithLutheranPreschoolAK@gmail.com if you would like to help.  Volunteers are needed to decorate a car, help with the photo booth, organize pumpkin decorating, donate candy and goodies for cake walk, and get lights and such for the parking lot.  There will be a meeting on October 11th at 7pm dedicated to Trunk or Treat preparations.
Hot Lunches will begin on October 19th.
PTF will be purchasing new basketball goals, sports equipment for recess, rugs for the hallways, and some canopies.  Look for more information in the coming weeks.
Art work is being sent to finalize the sweatshirts and spirit wear.  We will be ordering from a local company this year.  Once the artwork is finalized we can finalize a price and start the orders.
Do you have ideas or events for the school?  Contact Sheila Lillo at Sheila.Lillo@gmail.com to get your ideas heard and put into action.  Our next general PTF meeting will be in November. 

School Yearbook
          We are looking forward to putting this year’s memories to paper, which means it’s time to get the yearbook up and running.  However, it won’t be a success without parents’ involvement.  You should have received an email from our yearbook coordinator, Renee Tegen, with an explanation about how TreeRing works along with a link and instructions to set up your account.  If you have questions, please call or text Renee at 402-516-6911.

Meet Your Teachers Monday
Each week there will be a trivia question posted on the school Facebook page. This question will point to one of your teachers or staff members. Be the first to answer correctly and win a prize. The answer will be revealed on Facebook on Friday.  The answer to last week’s trivia question was Ms. Mittelstadt.  Congratulations to Elijah Corwin for guessing the correct answer!  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.


Monday, September 18, 2017

Parent Connection September 18

A Cluttered Mind?
          It happens almost inevitably, even though I have the best intentions. It’s almost like someone comes in during the night and piles up all sorts of mailings, important papers, reference books, tools, and an assortment of pens and pencils onto my desk. I know that it isn’t anyone else besides me who places these things on my desk. There just never seems to be enough time to deal with all of the projects and interesting ideas while keeping up on the lesson planning and correcting. Sometimes it seems that just deciding what needs to be done can cause a wasting of time. I know I can’t do everything at one time so I have to focus on one thing at a time and, eventually, I will find the bottom of the piles.
          I think the same thing can happen in our minds. We have so many things that vie for our attention, our minds get cluttered and we lose our focus. Some (or many) of those things are sent to us by our enemy, the devil, to lead us astray.  He wants nothing more than to get us to lose our focus or to focus on the wrong, less important, things. We need to unclutter our minds and focus on the important things.
         
The writer to the Hebrews directs us to “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2.  When things start to get confusing, let’s get back to what is most important- Jesus!

Bible Information Class
          A child’s Christian education is only as good as the cooperation between parents and teachers.  To this end, we feel strongly that all parents need to hear our fundamental beliefs and understand the basic doctrines that all of our school children are taught.  Therefore, we invite parents of school children to attend Pastor Ewings’ “Making Life Better Class” every Monday evening at 6:30 pm. This 15-week class is an extensive review of the basic doctrines taught in the Bible and, therefore, in this school. Parents who complete the class will receive a $500 discount on their child’s tuition for each of three years after completing the class.

Mission Project
          Our mission project for the first third of the school year is for the Matt & Sarah Klebs family to help them with medical costs related to the loss of their son.

PTF
Parent, Teacher, Friends will have their first meeting of the year this Wednesday, September 20th at 7:00pm.  The meeting will focus on volunteers for hot lunches, school t-shirts & sweatshirts, and planning ahead for our Trunk-or-Treat. 
We look forward to seeing you there!

School Yearbook
          We are looking forward to putting this year’s memories to paper, which means it’s time to get the yearbook up and running.  However, it won’t be a success without parents’ involvement.  An email will be sent out this week from our yearbook coordinator, Renee Tegen, with an explanation about how TreeRing works along with a link and instructions to set up your account.  If you have questions, please call or text Renee at 402-516-6911

Chili Cook-Off
Join us this Friday, September 22nd, for a Chili Cook-Off.  The Fellowship Committee will be providing sides and prizes, all you have to do is bring your best pot of chili.  Even if you don’t like chili, we’d be glad to have you join us for fun and fellowship!

Meet Your Teachers Monday
Each week there will be a trivia question posted on the school Facebook page. This question will point to one of your teachers or staff members. Be the first to answer correctly and win a prize. The answer will be revealed on Facebook on Friday.  The answer to last week’s trivia question was Mrs. Traver.  Congratulations to Mrs. Finch and Liam for guessing the correct answer!  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.

Healthy Sleep Habits
Teachers have been noticing that their students are coming to school overly tired.  It is important that your student gets enough sleep so that they can participate fully in class.  We need your help to enforce a proper “bedtime” in order for your student to get sufficient hours of rest and sleep. Primary school age children NEED 9 to 11 hours of sleep nightly in order to function properly. Growing teenagers function best with 8 to 10 hours of sleep.  

Monday, September 11, 2017

Parent Connection September 11, 2017

It’s Out of Control
          The second major hurricane to wreak havoc on the shores of these United States in a span of a couple of weeks took up the majority of the news reports over the weekend.  With the threat of at least two others following behind, a person might well think that things have gone haywire in our weather patterns.  Other places are experiencing unusually high temperatures and lack of rain which brings the threat of wildfires.  We could add to these the constant reminders being put out by scientists about global warming and the looming disasters they say will be caused by it, how could one not think that things are out of control?
          One could also look at the major earthquakes that shook much of southern Mexico causing widespread destruction and injuries and wonder what is going on?
          Should we really be puzzled by these events, or worried by them?  All of these things have been foretold, these things will happen before the end of the world. They are just a reminder to all that this world and our lives on this earth will not last forever.
If these events worry you, read Psalm 46. In this Psalm, we are told that God is our “Fortress and refuge and strength”.  We are reminded that God is our “ever-present help in trouble”.  We are also told to “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Things are never out of His control.  All things that happen are under His control so we never have to be worried about anything, He is always by our side.

Half Day
School will dismiss at noon this Friday, September 15.

Bible Information Class
          A child’s Christian education is only as good as the cooperation between parents and teachers.  To this end, we feel strongly that all parents need to hear our fundamental beliefs and understand the basic doctrines that all of our school children are taught.  Therefore, we invite parents of school children to attend Pastor Ewings’ “Making Life Better Class” beginning tonight, September 11th. This 15-week class is an extensive review of the basic doctrines taught in the Bible and, therefore, in this school. Parents who complete the class will receive a $500 discount on their child’s tuition for each of three years after completing the class.

Healthy Sleep Habits
Teachers have been noticing that their students are coming to school overly tired.  It is important that your student gets enough sleep so that they can participate fully in class.  We need your help to enforce a proper “bedtime” in order for your student to get sufficient hours of rest and sleep. Primary school age children NEED 9 to 11 hours of sleep nightly in order to function properly. Growing teenagers function best with 8 to 10 hours of sleep. 

Cross Country
          Cross Country practice continues this week on Tuesday and Thursday. Athletes can be picked up at Waldron Park at 5:15 pm or the school at 5:30 pm.

Junior Choir
Our Junior Choir will practice on Wednesdays, 12:30pm to 1:00pm, during the lunch recess.

Handchimes
The handchime choir will practice on Thursdays, 12:30pm to 1:00pm, during the lunch recess.

PTF
Parent, Teacher, Friends will have their first meeting of the year on Thursday, September 20th at 7:00pm.  This meeting will focus on volunteers for hot lunches, school t-shirts & sweatshirts, and planning ahead for our Trunk or Treat. 
We look forward to seeing you there!

School Sweatshirts
If you are interested in school sweatshirts, we’ll be placing an order at the end of the month.  Look for upcoming details on how to order.

Meet Your Teachers Monday
Each week there will be a trivia question posted on the school Facebook page. This question will point to one of your teachers or staff members. Be the first to answer correctly and win a prize. The answer will be revealed on Facebook on Friday.
The answer to last week’s trivia question was Miss Snyder.  There were no winners.  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.

September Birthdays
Happy Birthday to: 
Elijah C.       9/2
Aurora E.      9/4

Ewan F.        9/9

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Parent Connection September 5th, 2017

What is Your Acorn?
          At the beginning of the movie Ice Age, the viewer is introduced to a character who, you could say, has a “one-track mind”.  I’m sure you remember this character even though, if my memory is correct, he doesn’t say one word of dialogue.  He is a squirrel who is chasing his one goal: an acorn. Chasing that acorn gets him into one predicament after another.
As amusing as this character seems to be, I think it points out an important characteristic of humans. More often than not, each of us is chasing after an “acorn”.  Something we think is so important that it eliminates everything else from our thought process and gives us “tunnel-vision”.  Now God doesn’t say this is necessarily a bad thing. In fact he tells us to “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given you as well.” Matthew 6:33.
So what is your “acorn”?

Emergency Contacts
          Parents, if you did not receive an email and a text from us last week, you need to log into your Educate account and review your contact information as well as your alert preferences.  This way we’ll know how you would like to be contacted for school closings, general communications and school emergencies.  Once logged in, select the pull down menu by your name, select account then alert preferences.
          If you did not previously have access to Educate, you should have received an email today with instructions on how to set it up.
          If you are having trouble logging in, please contact the office.


Emergency Preparedness
Every year at this time we review our plan for emergency situations at our school. If an emergency such as an earthquake or other disaster would occur, plans and material supplies are in place to provide for the safety and security of our students, as well as first aid and extended care in the event that students cannot be immediately picked up by their parents.
In order to help us in this, we ask each family to prepare a small “comfort kit” for your child, with small items to provide comfort and to help keep them occupied and calm in an emergency situation. We sent home a small Ziploc bag the first week of school. Pack your child’s comfort kit with a card containing your child’s name and contact information and other small items for your child’s comfort.  Suggestions include a non-perishable snack (like a granola bar), a pair of knit gloves, a family picture, a small toy, and a letter to your child.
Comfort kits can be brought to your child’s teacher at any time, and will be returned at the end of the school year.

Cross Country
          Cross Country practice continues this week on Tuesday and Thursday. Athletes can be picked up at Waldron Park at 5:15 pm or the school at 5:30 pm.

Junior Choir
Our Junior Choir will begin practicing this Wednesday during the lunch recess.  Practices will be 12:30pm to 1:00pm on Wednesdays.

Handchimes
The handchime choir will organize and begin practicing this week. Practices will be 12:30pm to 1:00pm on Thursdays.
PTF
Parent, Teacher, Friends will have the first meeting of the year on Thursday, September 20th at 7:00pm.  This meeting will focus on volunteers for hot lunches, school t-shirts & sweatshirts and planning ahead for our Trunk or Treat. 
We look forward to seeing you there!

School Sweatshirts
If you are interested in school sweatshirts, we’ll be placing an order at the end of the month.  Look for upcoming details on how to order.

School Uniforms
          Looking for a used uniform?  We will have a table set up in the hallway by the kindergarten classroom for the remainder of this week.  Used uniforms are free on a first-come basis.  New uniforms may be purchased at FrenchToast.com using school code QS5KJUH.

Bible Information Class
                A child’s Christian education is only as good as the cooperation between parents and teachers.  To this end, we feel strongly that all parents need to hear our fundamental beliefs and understand the basic doctrines that all of our school children are taught.  Therefore, we invite parents of school children to attend Pastor Ewings’ “Making Life Better Class” beginning Monday, September 11th. This 15-week class is an extensive review of the basic doctrines taught in the Bible and, therefore, in this school. Parents who complete the class will receive a $500 discount on their child’s tuition for each of three years after completing the class.

Half Day
School will dismiss at noon on Friday, September 15.

Meet Your Teachers Monday
Each week there will be a trivia question posted on the school Facebook page. This question will point to one of your teachers. Be the first to answer correctly and win a prize. The answer will be revealed on Facebook on Friday.

September Birthdays
Happy Birthday to: 
Elijah C.       9/2
Aurora E.     9/4
Ewan F.       9/9