Monday, October 23, 2017

Parent Connection October 23

No guarantees?
          Someone once said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. If you pay attention to the news, you might tend to agree, at least with the death part of the saying. The media is full of stories of people who unexpectedly came to the end of their lives on this earth. They were at various times in their lives, some just starting out, others were teens or early adulthood, and still others were later in their lives.  All of them came face to face with their mortality. Their death came in various ways but I’m certain very few of them were aware that they would die that day.
As people, we know that death is coming for us sometime but we prefer to think of it as something far into the future. We feel we have many days ahead of us before we have to be concerned about death. But we don’t know for certain if there is a tomorrow for us. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Prov. 27:1. We cannot lay claim to tomorrow! Only God’s grace can give us another day! Today is the time of grace given us by God to prepare ourselves for our eternal future. How do we do that?  Using each day to grow closer to your Savior would be a good start! The Psalmist reminds us, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Ps. 90:12. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t plan for tomorrow but make sure you plan for your most important tomorrow!
         
Basketball Schedule
This is our schedule as it currently stands. Changes will be announced as soon as possible.
·         Oct. 24 at Anchor 6:00pm Girls 7:00pm Boys
·         Oct. 26 practice APU 3:45pm - 5:15pm
·         Oct. 28 Holy Rosary coed game (tentative)
·         Nov. 2 Anchor at The Center  4:00pm Girls 5:00pm Boys
·         Nov. 7  at Birchwood (tentative)
·         Nov. 9 at St. John’s (time and place TBD) coed
·         Nov. 21 at Birchwood  4:00pm Girls 5:00pm Boys

Group Photo
          We will be taking our school-wide group photo on Wednesday, October 25th at 9:30am.  Please have your student wear their blue uniform shirt to school.

End of Quarter
          Parent teacher conferences are Thursday, October 26th and Friday, October 27th.  Please use the following link to sign up for times: 
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090844aaae2aa0fc1-parent1
If you have multiple students at Faith, be sure to sign up for each student. 

Trunk-or-Treat
          Join us this Friday in your best costume to enjoy some trick-or-treat fun.  We will have several trunks decorated and full of candy.  There will be popcorn, hot cocoa, a photo booth and pumpkin decorating.  The fun begins at 5:00pm and wraps up at 7:00pm. 

Trunk or Treat Volunteers
          Donations are still needed for CANDY and BAKED GOODS.  Candy can be dropped off anytime in the office until Friday.  Any items for the cake walk should be dropped off by Thursday.  Please have your goodies divided up into 1-4 servings size.         
          All volunteers who are helping with set up or trunks, please plan on arriving between 3:30pm and 4:30pm.  We would like to have the cars lined up by 4:30pm.  We can fit in a couple more decorated trunks if you are interested. 
          For any questions or to volunteer, please contact Sheila Lillo at 229-7901.

Picture Retakes 
We need to know by THIS Thursday, October 26th if you want to have your child’s picture retaken.  If you do not RSVP by Thursday, you will need to have retakes done at Focus Alaska instead of at the school. Please call or email the office at 563-3499 or faithlutheran@gci.net. 

No School
There will be no school on Friday, October 27th or the following Monday and Tuesday, October 30th and 31st.   Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on the 27th. Our teachers and pastors will be attending the Alaska Conference of Pastors and Teachers on October 30th and 31st

BoxTops for Education
          Please bring any BoxTops for Education you have been collecting to school and place in the collection box or give to your teacher.  The deadline for this submission is October 27th

Reformation Service
          This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Lutheran hammering his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church marking the beginning of the protestant reformation.  Faith Lutheran Church will host the annual reformation service for the WELS Alaska churches on October 29th at 4:30pm.  The Jr. Choir will sing during the service.  All families are invited to the service and to stay for a potluck following the service.

Brrrrr…It Is Cold Outside
          Parents, now that there is snow on the ground, please make sure your student brings warm winter gear to school for recess.  Children must have a hat, gloves, a winter coat, boots, and snow pants.

Handchime Choir
The Handchime Choir will play during this Thursday’s chapel service. Handchime members, please meet in the sanctuary at 8:15 am to prepare.

Spirit Wear
We will be taking t-shirt and sweatshirt orders until Nov 6th.  There are order forms by the office door if you need one.

Parent’s Night Out
          Drive In Movie Night – Friday, November 10th, 6:00-9:00pm.  Parents can drop off their students for a night out.  Movie goers will decorate a “car” then enjoy a movie and movie-time snacks.  This night is best enjoyed for kids in preschool through the fourth grade.  Ms. Snyder will be coordinating this fun evening. 
          If you have boxes big enough to make “cars” with, please drop them by Ms. Snyder’s classroom.

Photo/Video Release
          After Christmas, we are hoping to do some advertising for Faith Lutheran School and Preschool using photos and videos of our students.  In preparation, we are asking you to sign the attached release form so that when it’s time to film we are ready.
Interested in helping us with this project?  Start now by taking your own photos and videos during school events and extracurricular activities.  Just make sure you turn your phone or camera horizontal when taking pictures.  More details coming soon!

Meet Your Teachers Monday

The answer to last week’s Meet Your Teacher trivia question was Pastor Ewings. Congratulations to Tricia Hackmann for guessing the correct answer!  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Parent Connection October 16

Don’t Lose the Trail!
          During my years in Alaska, I have traveled my share of trails. I have walked, biked, driven ATVs and snow machines, and even followed trails in a boat. There have been times that I have felt lost because of the weather conditions or unfamiliar territory. There have been times when I was following a friend who was hauling materials in to build a cabin. It was dark and snow was falling heavily and blowing up from the snow machine in front of me. White out conditions made it hard to find the trail. Other times, it was a thick fog that made all landmarks disappear.
          As we travel through our earthly life, our enemies (the devil, the world, and our own flesh) will try to make us lose our way, the trail laid out for us. They will try to confuse us and turn us around, make us travel in circles. They will try to lead us down the wrong path or get us lost in a cloud so thick you can’t see your hand in front of your face.
          Thank God that He has provided a guiding light so powerful that our enemies cannot put it out or cover it up. The Psalmist wrote, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.”  Ps. 119:105.  His Word shows us the only path to salvation: faith in Jesus as our Savior. There is no other “trail” that will take us to our heavenly home. Every other path leads only to destruction. Don’t lose the “trail.” Follow His Light!

Hot Lunch
          We will have hot lunch this Thursday, October 19th.  The menu is: tacos, carrots, fruit and dessert. 
          For those of you new to Faith, PTF sponsors a hot lunch once a month.  Lunch is served in the fellowship hall and enjoyed with

the entire school.  Parents are welcome to join their children for lunch. The cost is $4, and participation is optional.  If your student would like to participate simply complete the hot lunch form and return with payment.  You may pay by check or cash.  Checks should be made out to Faith Lutheran PTF.  Because this is sponsored by PTF, the charge cannot be added to your TADS account.

Basketball Practice
          Basketball practice continues this week at The Center, 4855 Arctic Blvd, located on the East side of Arctic between Tudor and International.  Tuesday players may be picked up at The Center at 5:30pm and Thursday at 5:15pm.  If picking up at the school, please arrive at 5:45pm or 5:30pm respectively.

End of Quarter
          Our first quarter ends on Friday, October 20th.  School dismisses that day at noon.  Parent teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, October 26th and Friday, October 27th.  Please use the following link to sign up for times: 
If you have multiple students at Faith, be sure to sign up for each student. 

Trunk or Treat Donations and Volunteers
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.  Candy and other items may be dropped off in the office. Please sign up to volunteer at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a44a5a723a20-trunk. You can also contact Gabrielle or Sheila.

BoxTops
            Please bring any BoxTops you have been collecting to school and place in the collection box or give to your teacher.  The deadline for this submission is October 27th

No School
There will be no school on October 27th, 30th and 31st.   Conferences will be held on the 27th. Our teachers and pastors will be attending the Alaska Conference of Pastors and Teachers on October 30th and 31st

Reformation Service
          This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Lutheran hammering his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church marking the beginning of the protestant reformation.  Faith Lutheran Church will host the annual reformation service for the WELS Alaska churches on October 29th at 4:30pm.  The Jr. Choir will sing during the service.  All families are invited to the service and to stay for a potluck following the service.

Calendar Change
          All FLS teachers will be attending the Pacific Northwest District’s Teachers Conference on February 15th and 16th, 2018. Therefore, we will not have school on those two days.

Picture Retakes 
We need to know by October 26th if you want to have your child’s picture retaken.  If you do not RSVP by this date, you may not be able to have a photo taken at the school. You can stop by, call 563-3499, or email the office at faithlutheran@gci.net

Brrrrr…It Is Cold Outside
          Parents, be sure your student is bringing proper winter gear to school.  Students enjoy their time outside when they can keep warm and dry with hats, gloves, winter coat, boots, and snow pants.

Parent’s Night Out
In November, we will have a Parent’s Night Out drive-in movie night, date to be determined.  Please save any boxes large enough to sit in so the kids can decorate them like ‘cars.’

Singing in Church
          Thank you to the all of our preschool and kindergarten students for singing in church last Sunday.  We enjoyed listening to you praise God with your voices.

Family Art Gallery
          Thank you to everybody who came to Paint Night.  All of the beautiful paintings are hanging in the hallway downstairs. 

Meet Your Teachers Monday

The answer to last week’s Meet Your Teacher trivia question was Mrs. Z. Congratulations to Emma Robbert for guessing the correct answer!  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Parent Connection October 9th

Chosen
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” Ephesians 1:3-6
It would seem that everywhere you look nowadays people are seeking to be “chosen”. Look at the TV schedules and see the many shows where people compete to be the best singer, dancer, sports star, cake baker, etc. Our society seems to hold fame, riches and success as things which are synonymous with significance and identity and therefore, many are striving for this elusive dream.
          We were chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, made holy and blameless, even though we are sinners and to be adopted as His children.
We are chosen. We are God’s children, is there anything better than that? Rejoice every day in his Love!

Family Art Night
          A big thank you goes out to all who came to our Art Night. To all of those who supplied snacks, those who came to enjoy the fellowship and snacks, and those who shared their talents and abilities, thank you!  We will hang the artwork soon in the hallway downstairs.

Basketball Practice
          Basketball practice continues this week at APU.  Tuesday players may be picked up at APU at 5:30pm and Thursday at 5:15pm.  If picking up at the school please arrive at 5:45pm or 5:30pm respectively.

Kindergarten Field Trip
          This Friday, October 13th, the kindergarten class will be going to the Alaska Zoo to visit the wolves.  We will leave at 12:10pm after lunch and return to school around 3:00pm.  The cost is $9 for students and $10 for chaperones, and will be charged to your TADS account.  Please remember to send car seats.  Chaperones are needed, if you are available to help.

Singing in Church
          Sunday, October 15th, the preschool and kindergarten students will be singing in church.  Please be sure to have your child here by 10:15am.  The service begins at 10:30am.

Trunk or Treat Meeting
PTF will have a meeting on Wednesday, October 11th at 7:00pm.  Plan on attending if you are volunteering.  You can still help if you can’t make the meeting.  Trunk or Treat is scheduled for October 27th, 5-7pm.  Gabrielle Bauer and Sheila Lillo will be coordinating this event.  Please contact Gabrielle at gyb279@yahoo.com or Sheila at 907-229-7901, if you would like to help. 

Trunk or Treat Donations and Volunteers
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.  Candy and other items may be dropped off in the office.  To sign up for volunteering please follow this link:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a44a5a723a20-trunk .  You can also contact Gabrielle or Sheila.


End of Quarter
          Our first quarter ends on Friday, October 20th.  School dismisses that day at noon. 
          Parent teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, October 27th and Friday, October 28th.  Please use the following link to sign up for times. 
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090844aaae2aa0fc1-parent1
If you have multiple students at Faith, be sure to sign up for each student. 

No School
There will be no school on October 27th, 30th and 31st.   Conferences will be held on the 27th. Our teachers and pastors will be attending the Alaska Conference of Pastors and Teachers on October 30th and 31st

Reformation Service
          This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Lutheran hammering his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church marking the beginning of the protestant reformation.  Faith Lutheran Church will host the annual reformation service for the WELS Alaska churches on October 29th at 4:30pm.  The Jr. Choir will sing during the service.  All families are invited to the service and to stay for a potluck following the service.

Calendar Change
          All FLS teachers will be attending the Pacific Northwest District’s Teachers Conference on February 15th and 16th, 2018. Therefore, we will not have school on those two days.

Meet Your Teachers Monday
The answer to last week’s Meet Your Teacher trivia question was Mrs. Traver.  Congratulations to Devin Finch for guessing the correct answer!  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.

October Birthdays
God’s richest blessings on your birthday!
          Winslow H.   10/5
          Eva M.          10/9
          Amy R.         10/16
          Emma R.       10/16

          Saraya H.      10/24

Monday, October 2, 2017

Parent Connection October 2

 “Deeds of Darkness
          As you have probably noticed, it is getting dark earlier every night and staying dark later every morning. This is natural because that is the way God made it. Whether God created the earth with the tilt on its axis, or if He tilted it during the flood, I do not know. But I do know that God has used this tilt to provide the change in seasons. We know that, as it gets darker, we need to prepare for the coming winter.
          We also know that as the nights get longer, those who work their evil deeds under the cover of darkness have more time to carry out their evil. They can get started earlier in the evening and work later into the morning. The news media is filled with stories of their evil. As possible victims of their evil, we need to be vigilant and aware of what is going on around us. We try not to give these criminals opportunities to carry out their evil among us. We lock our doors, we don’t leave any valuables where they are visible to someone willing to take them from us. We install security cameras and alarm systems.
          The Apostle Paul warns us to take precautions with our faith which is also under attack by the evil ones. In his letter to the Ephesians, he says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…..Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.” Eph. 5:8-14.

Calendar Change
          All FLS teachers will be attending the Pacific Northwest District’s Teachers Conference on February 15th and 16th, 2018. Therefore, we will not have school on those two days.

Basketball Begins
          I am hopeful that we will be able to start BB practice on Tuesday, Oct. 3rd, from 4:00 until 5:45pm. I would like the players to bring their equipment to school in the morning.  If we are not able to get into the gym, I will have the players notify you by noon.

Kindergarten Field Trip
          This Friday, October 13th, the kindergarten class will be going to the Alaska Zoo to visit the wolves.  We will leave at 12:10pm after lunch and return to school around 3:00pm.  The cost is $9 for students and $10 for chaperones, and will be charged to your TADS account.  Please remember to send car seats.  Chaperones are needed if you are available to help.

Library Trip
          The fifth through eighth graders will be going to the library this Friday. Their prior book report is due this Friday. We will also be going out for lunch.

Singing in Church
          Sunday, October 15th, the preschool and kindergarten students will be singing in church.  Please be sure to have your child here by 10:15am.  The service begins at 10:30am. 

PTF Update
Thank you to all who attended the first meeting.  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.

Meet Your Teachers Monday
The answer to last week’s Meet Your Teacher trivia question was Mr. Z.  Congratulations to Isaac Moua for guessing the correct answer!  Make sure to check the school’s Facebook page for this week’s question.

October Birthdays
God’s richest blessings on your birthday!
          Winslow H.   10/5
          Eva M.          10/9
          Amy R.         10/16
          Emma R.       10/16

          Saraya H.      10/24