Parent Connection March 27th

In the Shadows

          The sunshine sure has been wonderful these past three or four weeks, hasn’t it? The bright shiny days, a hint of warmth in the air, at least, in the late afternoon, could it be spring? The mornings have been pretty crisp and cold. The sun is beginning to win the battle against the left over snows of winter. Slowly, but surely, the sun’s strength is tearing away at the rock-hard snow and ice; and soon we will be seeing the greening of the grass and budding of the trees.

          But this is also the time of the year when we need to be careful of the shadows. On my way to school, I have to watch out for one particular spot. There is a walkway over Lake Otis Parkway right in front of Lake Otis Elementary School. At this time of the year, a sort of ice speed bump forms in the shadow of the walkway. The sun’s rays do not reach this area so the ice persists in the shadow. There are other places around town where this happens.

          We need the light of Jesus to shine on each of us. We need the “Son-light” to pierce our stony callused hearts to soften them and make them alive. We need to beware of the shadowed areas in our lives where the light has not fully penetrated, where we still have some icy speed bumps to our faith. May God continue to work in each of us to strengthen our faith and bring us safely into his eternal kingdom!

Report Cards

          Report cards were sent home on Friday.  If you would like to schedule a parent/teacher conference, please contact your child’s teacher.  Report card envelopes need to be returned signed by the parent.

Spaghetti Fest

          On March 31^st at 6:00pm PTF will be hosting a Spaghetti Fest.  We will have fun, games and of course spaghetti!  All proceeds from this will go to improve technology in our classrooms with smart boards.  The funds will be collected as a free will donation for the dinner and bake sale.  Please see the flyer for more information on how you can volunteer and RSVP.  You can also RSVP here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4fa8aa28aaf85-spaghetti

          We need donations for the bake sale.  If you would like to donate a yummy treat, please let Sheila Lillo know. 

Soccer

          Soccer practice continues at APU, 4:00-5:30pm on Tuesday.  Please note the date of the tournament has changed, again.

Tournament

March 30^th – 4:00pm Lumen Christi

Spirit Week

          To cheer on the Husky soccer team there will be spirit week this week.

          Tuesday – Favorite Color Day

Wednesday - Comfy Day (PJs, sweats)

Thursday – School Color Day

Spelling and Geography Bees

          This week Olivia Zanto will participate in the state spelling bee and Caleb Lillo will participate in the state geography bee. 

Jr. Choir

          Jr. Choir will sing next on April 2^nd at Kings of Kings.  Please plan on arriving in your choir uniform by 10:00am to practice.  If you need a ride to Wasilla, please contact Mrs. Z.

Pennies for Patients

          Keep collecting your change.   Pennies for Patients drive began on March 1^st and runs through March 31^st.  Pennies for Patients benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Change to Calendar

          On April 14^th, Good Friday there will be no school.  Previously, school was scheduled for a noon dismissal.

Open Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2017/2018 school year is now open.  Please enroll your student if he or she is returning next year so we can begin to prepare for the school year. 

Kids’ Day at the Dena’ina

          Faith Lutheran School will be hosting a booth at Kids’ Day on April 15^th.  The event runs 10:00 – 4:00pm and highlights programs for children in Anchorage.  We will need volunteers to help throughout the day. Please let Mrs. Z know if you can volunteer for an hour or two to help out at Faith’s Booth.  We also need plastic colored eggs for the craft which can be dropped off in the office or with Mrs. Z.

Parent Connection March 20th

National Debt

          Do you know how big the national debt is? Maybe it doesn’t make a difference to you but our country’s debt is fast approaching twenty trillion dollars! Your individual portion of that debt is about sixty-one thousand dollars. Interest is accruing at a rate of a little over fourteen thousand dollars a second. That adds up to about half a trillion dollars each year in just debt service. Experts wonder how long this can continue, how long can Congress continue to spend more than the government collects in taxes.

          There is another debt that each of us have contributed to, I’ll call it the universal debt. This debt is what we owe to God because of our sins. We each contribute to this debt because each of us sins daily. Imagine how fast this debt is growing as we continue to do things we know are wrong and continue to avoid the things that we know we should be doing. The end result of this debt is far more devastating than the national debt. This debt means that each of us deserve eternal punishment in hell.

          But take a closer look at this debt, in huge letters written in blood we read, “It is finished!” This debt has been paid in full in advance for us. Christ Jesus gave his life for ours. Now for all who believe his words and promises, there is an eternity in heaven waiting for us, God’s gift to us!

End of Third Quarter

          Report cards will be sent home on Friday.  If you would like to schedule a parent/teacher conference, please contact your child’s teacher after report cards have been sent home.

Underwater Adventure

          Toddlers to 10 year olds and their parents are invited to an underwater adventure on March 25^th, 10:00 to noon.  Come enjoy crafts, activities, snacks and a devotion all focused on the wonderful world God created underwater.  Please contact Melissa Mittelstadt for more information or to help with event at FaithLutheranPreschoolAK@gmail.com.

Library Visit

The upper grades and kindergarten will be visiting the library on Friday.

Pennies for Patients

          Keep collecting your change.   Pennies for Patients drive began on March 1^st and runs through March 31^st.  Pennies for Patients benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Students brought home more information and a box before break to collect their change in and bring back to school. 

Alaska Junior Theater

          Kindergarten through the 4^th grade will be attending Alaska Junior Theater’s production of “Creole for Kids” on March 23^rd at 10:15.  Be sure to return your permission slips and send car seats. We will be taking the van.

Soccer Practice

          Soccer practice continues at APU, 4:00-5:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday.  The next soccer rally is this Friday, March 24th beginning at 4:00pm.  Please note the date of the tournament has changed.

Soccer Rally

March 24^th – 4:00 – 7:00pm

March 30^th – 4:00 – 7:00pm

Tournament

April 11^th – Time and place TBA

Spaghetti Fest

          On March 31^st at 6:00pm PTF will be hosting a Spaghetti Fest.  We will have fun, games and of course spaghetti!  All proceeds from this will go to improve the technology in our classrooms with smart boards.  The funds will be collected as a free will donation for the dinner and bake sale.  Please see the flyer for more information on how you can volunteer and RSVP.  You can also RSVP here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4fa8aa28aaf85-spaghetti

          We need donations for the bake sale.  If you would like to donate a yummy treat, please let Sheila Lillo know. 

Change to Calendar

          On April 14^th, Good Friday there will be no school.  Previously, school was scheduled for a noon dismissal.

Jr. Choir

          Jr. Choir will sing next on April 2^nd at Kings of Kings.  Please plan on arriving in your choir uniform by 10:00am to practice.

Open Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2017/2018 school year is now open.  Please enroll your student if he or she is returning next year so we can begin to prepare for the school year.  

March Birthdays

          God’s blessings on your birthday and throughout the year.

E. Robbert – March 21^st

L. Klebs – March 22^nd

Parent Connection March 6th

It’s a Long Race!

The first weekend in March in Alaska means one thing. It is the beginning of the “Last Great Race”, the Iditarod. I watched part of the TV coverage of the ceremonial start of the race on Saturday. As part of the coverage, they played some prerecorded interviews with several of the mushers. A common thread in many of the interviews was the unknown in this year’s race.

With the restart in Fairbanks this year there was much speculation about how the mushers would handle the bitter cold and the deep snow that they would be experiencing on this new route. One musher who was sitting this race out offered some advice, especially to the less experienced mushers. He said that they should not push their teams too hard in the early part of the race. He felt that if they push their teams hard through the extreme cold and breaking trail through the deep fresh snow that they might wind up getting to the coast with a team that is too beaten up to make it to Nome.

The writer to the Hebrews describes our life as “the race marked out for us.” There are many problems and hindrances that we may encounter on this race. We don’t know much about this race marked out for us. We do know what the destination is and we know that our Savior is our companion on this race. The writer also urges us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”. The racers on the Iditarod try to lighten their load by making sure they only take that which is absolutely necessary for their trip. What is necessary for us on our race?  Simply, we need faith in the promises of our loving God.

 Daylight Savings

          Remember to spring forward on Sunday, March 12^th when daylight savings time begins. 

Spring Break

          Classes dismiss at noon this Friday, March 10^th, no aftercare will be available.  There will be no school next week for Spring Break.  Classes resume on Monday, March 20^th.

End of Third Quarter

          Friday marks the end of the third quarter of school.  Report cards will be sent home the week following spring break on March 24^th.  If you would like to schedule a parent/teacher conference, please contact your child’s teacher after report cards have been sent home.

YMCA Visits

          This is the last week for YMCA visits.  The lower grades on Wednesday and Thursday for the upper grades.  Send a towel and car seat, if needed.

Pennies for Patients

          Keep collecting your change.   Pennies for Patients drive began on March 1^st and runs through March 31^st.  Pennies for Patients benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Students brought home more information and a box last week to collect their change in and bring back to school. 

Alaska Junior Theater

          Kindergarten through the 4^th grade will be attending Alaska Junior Theater’s production of “Creole for Kids” on March 23^rd at 10:15.  Be sure to return your permission slips by March 10^th.

Soccer Practice

          Soccer practice continues at APU, 4:00-5:30pm on Tuesday.  The next soccer rally is this Thursday March 9^th beginning at 4:00pm.   No practice during spring break.

Soccer Rally

March 9^th – 4:00 – 8:00pm

March 24^th – 4:00 – 7:00pm

March 30^th – 4:00 – 7:00pm

Tournament

April 7^th – 8th

Underwater Adventure

          Toddlers to 10 year olds and their parents are invited to an underwater adventure on March 25^th, 10:00 to noon.  Come enjoy crafts, activities, snacks and a devotion all focused on the wonderful world God created underwater.  Please contact Melissa Mittelstadt for more information or to help with event at FaithLutheranPreschoolAK@gmail.com.

Spaghetti Fest

          On March 31^st at 6:00pm PTF will be hosting a Spaghetti Fest.  We will have fun, games and of course spaghetti!  All proceeds from this will go to improve the technology in our classrooms with smart boards.  The funds will be collected as a free will donation for the dinner and bake sale.  Please see the flyer for more information on how you can volunteer and RSVP.  You can also RSVP here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4fa8aa28aaf85-spaghetti

Jr. Choir

          Jr. Choir will sing next on April 2^nd at Kings of Kings.  Please plan on arriving in your choir uniform by 10:00 to practice.