Good News Friday! February 16, Happy President s Day

Transcription

1 Good News Friday! February 16, 2018 TLS School the way GOD intended Happy President s Day Presidents Day is an excellent opportunity to remind Americans that God is and has always been foundational to this country and to our system of ordered liberty. Thomas Jefferson s words from his Notes on the State of Virginia, as abbreviated on the Jefferson Memorial, are also cited. The second U.S. president asked rhetorically: Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of the gift of God? John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address of 1961, declared, The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. The quotations also include George Washington s Farewell Address of 1796, in which the first president said: Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. Pray for Our President and Nation. Pray for LIFE. GOD IS PRO LIFE.

2 Trinity Lutheran School School the way GOD intended. Trinity Lutheran School Docendi sunt Christiani (Christians must be educated) The Bible = Most important textbook Small School Family = Not a Factory Where Everybody Knows Your Name = Positive, Uplifting Friends Greater Expectations = Top 85 th percentile Classical Christian Education = The way God intended Great for Families = Great for America STEAMD = Makerspace, 3D Printing, Engineering, Coding... Scholarships Available Now = Apply Online Today One Investment = Lasts a Lifetime

3 What is Love? What is a Pure Heart? Growing in His Grace "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Feb th L.E.S.T. Feb. 16 Early Release 12:30 Feb. 19 NO SCHOOL Presidents Day Feb.21 Chapel 4 th Grade Feb. 23 Family Movie Night 6:30 pm Feb. 25 Sunday Worship Chapel 10:45-4 th Grade Feb. 28 th Chapel 1:00 Classically Christian in the 21 st Century Glory to God! Trinity Lutheran High School Academy Pilot Program has launched!

4 What? A new blended learning classical Christian high school pilot program. Right here at Trinity! Serving grades 9-12 The Vision: Provide a competitive Christian education to the group of children with the highest need of relationship with God and Biblical World Truths in today s world high school students. The Partner: Couple with Wittenberg Academy online to offer rigorous Lutheran Classical coursework for high-achieving TLS Junior High Academy students and future TLS High School Program students during the school year. (* The program is designed to be budget neutral) The Recognitions: Wittenberg Academy/TL High School Pilot Program is accredited by the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, National Lutheran School Accreditation, and AdvancEd. Three globally recognized accreditations, more than any other high school program in the valley. Trinity Lutheran High School Program is fully accredited offering opportunity for dual credits, credit transfers and more! High Performing. Wittenberg students outperform Montana public high school students on the ACT. Did You Know? Trinity Lutheran Ministries of childcare and school now serve students from infancy high school. The only program of its kind in the community. Trinity Lutheran School s reach in the community spans through several generations. For over half a century, families have not just found education at TLS, but also Spiritual growth, relationship with others through Christ and a place they call home. 83% of parent surveys indicated a need or strong interest in a TLS High School. Parent Quotes: Knowing high school is an actual option that Trinity provides will reassure parents that Trinity is not just the right option for today, but for tomorrow as well. I think offering a full school PK-12 gives you a sense of commitment, rather than raise them in the world of private school and then send them off to the wolves in high school. Trinity is such a small, loving school. Raising up the next generation of faithful Christian Disciples. Providing Excellent Academic Preparation Developing love for and excitement about learning

5 What will it look like? A Niche Classical Christian High School Pilot Program that embraces technology through blended learning. Students may work at their own pace with individualized programs, collaborate with peers and receive direct instruction from highly trained Christian educators. Extra support will be provided for high ability learners, those with special needs or that face learning challenges. TLS Parent Power -in His Service Thank you PTF, especially Mrs. Eberhart for her passion for BOX TOP collections! A great way for us to earn new playground equipment! The most affordable Classical Christian High School Program in the valley. Next Steps: Registration for the high school program will begin March 15 th. The first academy program cohort will be small to maintain a school family environment. There will be an interview process. High School Program Administration Team: Christina Roberts, Rebecca Braaten, and Kacie Elizagaray. Call the office for more information! A summary of Junior High Academy Student Surveys demonstrated a need for a high school program. FACT: Our students love Trinity Lutheran School, enjoy their teachers, desire to be even more challenged as they grow, make lifelong friends in these classrooms and want to be here for their high school career. Get ready for a family movie night!

6 Class Clips Pre-Kindergarten Faculty Spotlight! Did you know Mrs. MacGregor is renowned in the valley for her God given ability to intrinsically understand, communicate and teach young children? Yes. In fact, for years early childhood teachers to be from FVCC were sent to observe her in order to learn from the best. Her ability to follow the interests of the young child, such as in child directed long term projects which purposefully integrate key spiritual, academic, social, physical, and emotional concentrations are truly remarkable. Her approach is REGGIO inspired - Reggio is still one of the best early childhood models in the WORLD. We have a Reggio Inspired PreK program right here at Trinity! A true Reggio model embraces documentation through pictures and video. Mrs. MacGregor launched real time data and video streams through Kaymbu to keep families connected to the classroom through secure password access. The PreK instructional assistant, Mrs.Portinova, holds an associates degree with a specialization in developmental psychology! What an amazing team the make together. Class adult to child ratio 1:8 Together they inspire us all. They remind us that we are all children of

7 God and are loved. Mrs. MacGregor is a gift to our community often leading Bible studies, she is a true prayer warrior, a counselor to new or young parents, and a pivotal leader in community or social events. Thank you - Blessed to be a Blessing! Mrs. MacGregor! Check out this student inspired PreK project! A Dinosaur Habitat! Dino Design Team! Deciding what to draw and what to paint in teams! Paper Mache Dino Nest & EGGS

8 Check out this book! Dinosaurs and the BIBLE Institute for Creation Research Kindergarten Kinder Quote: After a Bible lesson a child asked What does it mean to have a pure heart? Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Matthew 19:14 Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. One child asked What does it mean to have a pure heart? What is a pure heart? Hmmmmm. We launched into a great discussion. How would you answer? Students created their own dino feet. They found walking like a dinosaur was not easy! We work hard. We pray hard. We play hard!

9 Above children had to create their own version of a chair ( a common object ) and turn it into a chair with pizzaz! This forces out of the box thinking, descriptive word choices, and most of all their voice as the author come through. Scholars are concentrating while participating in sight word dictation. Our students learn over a 100 sight words, and we encourage proper spelling of words that have been taught. What are the Six Traits Plus 1? Ideas the main message. Organization the internal structure of the piece. Voice the personal tone and flavor of the author's message. Word Choice the vocabulary a writer chooses to convey meaning. Sentence Fluency the rhythm and flow of the language. Conventions the mechanical correctness AND a PLUS 1 = presentations communicating orally what has been written.education Northwest/Six Traits 1 Mrs. Junk has introduced the SIX TRAITS of WRITING in Kindergarten Full Day! These traits of exemplary writing inspire consistency and creativity in writing K-12.

10 Traits are taught in fun and engaging ways through sing along and stories. Little Scholars use finger spaces to help remember to put spaces between words. Classically FUN! Kinders work to rest letters on the baseline using Spalding paper and Spalding spelling words during a spelling test. They pay attention to small and tall letters. They are getting better and better! Full Day Kinders have a lot of fun with Mrs. Carleson and fifth grade buddies during a Valentine Game in PE. He is a little heart!

11 One big sofa box. Thanks Mr. Heuscher. Kinder Design Teams How to build a rocket? The rocket needed a door for sure! And a little paint the teams decided. Students became very interested in rockets since we began Rocket Math timed tests. This is a child directed STEAMD project. Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math and Design.

12 Phase 1 We are not done yet! Team Kindergarten! We are Rocket Scientists! Satellite Design Team ( they move ) A light table! Art Masterpiece: Piet Mondrian. Ask your artists about the style of Pete Mondrian. He used horizontal and vertical lines. He never used triangles.

13 First Grade Miss Renken gives students a really silly brain break. She sings in her beautiful singing voice and the students are all in. What fun music and movement break! She always keeps the class engaged and moving. Always changing the pace! Teach like a Champion Miss Renken! First Graders are introduced to How to Write a Review This is a very entertaining unit! One of my personal favorites! Kids say the funniest things. Pastor Kevin sings and plays guitar for music last week. Students also created a classroom book answering the question.

14 What is Love? First Grade Quotes: Love is helping the poor.love is opening the door for someone.love is helping someone who does not have a house. Love is giving your toys to child that has none Love is Jesus Priceless. What is love? What is your answer? Second Grade Second Graders are loving CURSIVE. Yes. We still write in cursive here! Not only do our students learn new literacies such as computer keyboarding, but they also learn traditional writing such as cursive. Cursive is great because it is one continuous fluid movement, rarely picking up the pencil like ball and stick writing. THIRD GRADE Students enjoy FREE swimming lessons! Keep moving this winter. Great preparation for summer lake/ outdoor swimming.

15 Students research historical presidents such as Abe Lincoln, George Washington and more! Scholars are taught to use editing marks early on this will help them for the rest of their school career. They are deep in thought as they edit their latest essay. Fourth Grade

16 Students dive into Junior Great Books and non-fiction Inquiry. High level discussions that insist on deeper thinking. How and why? Students are highly engaged in solving a SAXON 5 ( fifth grade Saxon ) word problem using technology SmartBoard. Peer support each other through guided practice. Peers are asked to agree or disagree and provide evidence for thinking. Right is right! Teach Like a Champion. They are also nearly finished with their latest novel study. Fifth Grade

17 Wow! This fifth grader can drum she sets the tone for the band. Bible Integrations! Mr. Watgasuma artfully integrates examples from the BIBLE during a spelling test. He stated the spelling word and then uses in the context of the Bible verses. Miss Hoy has some fun with a Read Aloud. She can t help but chuckle. She engages students by drawing names - and the lucky winner gets to take the book home or check out another book by the same author! Games or challenges really inspire engagement. Have FUN TEACHING! Junior Great Books Readers Journal poses critical and accountable reading / thinking/ and discussions.

18 TEAM TRINITY Competes in Portland! The series integrates moral traits such as self respect, and students must answer high level WHY questions. They must provide evidence for their thinking in writing and cite the text when possible. When our 6 th -8 th graders left early Wednesday morning for Portland. Mrs. Goodpaster our administrative assistant shared. I was almost in tears..it was like part of our house was gone! I have to say we all felt something of an Empty Nest without our Junior High Academy students in the house! Mrs. Goodpaster has such an incredible heart for our students. We are thankful for her love and dedication! Miss Hoy is a natural Champion Teacher! Sixth Eighth L.E.S.T Students reportedly have done exceptionally well this year competing in a range of tournament events with other northwestern regional schools. Keep an eye of FACEBOOK posts for live feeds and more! Thank you Mrs. Hagemeier!

19 Pastor Cutler prays for all going to LEST! He also saw he bus off and prayed for a blessing and safety. Pray for Team Trinity coming home safely! This drama duo was hilarious! Ask what is a verb transitive? Shurely Grammar Trinity has talent! Special thanks to Drama Coaches Mrs. Unger and Mrs. Holste! Outstanding pick for the drama competition the show has humor, love, altruism and a great Christian message! CHOIR & BAND have done outstanding so far!

20 Seventh Sixth Graders are ROCKING IT when it comes to their intro to LOGIC with Mrs. Elizagaray! This is a very special class! Rasberry Python Lab? What is it? See. During a walkthrough it was clear that students are working prerequisite skills for beginning Logic with a MASTERY mindset. Nearly every student mastered the first exercise. OUTSTANDING! Did you Know? No other Classical Christian school teaches LOGIC as early as sixth grade not do public middle schools. Mrs. Braaten launches the Rasberry Python Coding Lab! She received a grant for a full lab from the Gianforte Foundation.

21 Physical Education with Mrs. Carleson & Miss Hoy! Mrs. Deb Carelson is a true gifted PE professional! She dreams of new and creative activities! Her latest PE unit is all about the TRINITY OLYMPICS! Students are still training for the Olympics, soon the games will begin! Cross Country Training

22 If children are going to survive and thrive in tomorrow s complex world, they need practice solving as many problems as possible today! Step 1: Provide a strong and sincere dose of empathy. Empathy allows the child to stay calm enough to solve the problem and learn from it. Experiment with saying something like: Oh no. This is a problem. I bet that s really upsetting. Step 2: Hand the problem back. After you have proven that you care, ask: What do you think you might do to solve this problem? Don t be shocked if the child mumbles, I don t know. Core Training Push UPs Step 3: Ask permission to share what some kids have tried. Avoid giving suggestions until you have asked: Would you like to hear what some other kids have tried? Step 4: Provide two or three alternatives for solving the problem. Remember to avoid resistance by saying: Some kids decide to How would that work for you?

23 Step 5: Allow the child to solve or not to solve the problem. Resist the urge to tell the child which alternative to pick. End the session by showing your faith in the child: LOVE AND LOGIC TIP TWO Over the past few years, a strangely popular no-consequences movement has developed among many. They seem to argue that if we just do a better job of loving kids and meeting their underlying emotional needs, there will be no need for consequences. They also suggest that using consequences even reasonable ones delivered with great love is a big no-no. Have you heard this, as well? There s some truth in what they say. Yes! Loving kids, building trusting relationships, and meeting needs is essential and it does tend to cut down on the need for consequences. The downside of their rather extreme position is that the world is a consequential place. It s pay now or pay later. We can either help our kids learn that choices matter when they are young and the consequences are small, or we can allow the world to teach this lesson when they are older and the consequences are often tragic. Are we going to prepare our kids for a world that doesn t exist or the real one? At Trinity we balance Law and Gospel carefully. We always place more emphasis on Gospel and forgiveness, but we also hold students accountable for choices. Please partner with us. Keep an eye on backtalk, whining, excuses, blaming others and trust your child s teacher. Step Out Into Faith with Dr. Kim Marxhousen (submitted by Becky Braaten) ADHD or Sleep Deprived? When children begin having problems in school it is easy to suspect ADHD. Children with this disorder have difficulty paying attention, keeping their bodies and emotions under control, and interacting with other children. But ADHD is not the only thing that causes these struggles. Many children with self-regulation issues do not have a brain problem they have a sleep problem. Many children need more sleep than they are getting. Lack of sleep makes you irritable, interferes with social skills, and makes it very difficult to maintain the kind of focused attention that is needed for the amount of learning that happens in each school day. Children can t drink more coffee and slide through a day tired. If they miss a skill it will show up in later testing or future learning. Not only that, but children who are sleep deprived are less likely to remember what is learned because their brains need time to process information. School-aged children need hours of sleep a night, younger children need even more. But even beyond that, other activities can

24 wear down the brain making it harder to get control of focus, body, and emotions. Here are recommendations for helping your child to be a better learner. If your child s teacher has concerns about focusing ability, try these suggestions before seeking an ADHD diagnosis. If your child already has an ADHD diagnosis the following will help support other therapies. 1. Do your best to see to it that your child gets the recommended amount of sleep. If you are not even close at this point, then make a plan to improve things. 2. Reduce screen time, especially up to an hour before bedtime. This will help the brain to calm down. 3. Encourage more time spent outside during the day. This will help to improve sleep at night. 4. Develop a bedtime routine that allows for comfort, calming down, conversation, and prayer. This will tuck away the day and prepare the brain to process information learned. LEST (Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament) Travel mercies and blessings to our Trinity students and families gathering in Portland, OR this week to celebrate the many gifts and talents of our Lutheran School students from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and MONTANA! This is a great opportunity for these students and families to gather with other believers on the Concordia University campus to celebrate and worship our Heavenly Father. Life-long memories are made of the years from attending LEST in Portland, OR. Go Crusaders! Stephen Ministry Leaders I was thankful for the opportunity to attend Stephen Ministry Leadership training in California last week. Not only was it wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun on my face but it is always a blessed experience to gather with 245 others to learn side by side with God s family from 22 states, 29 congregations, four Canadian provinces, and three nations including China. This time allowed for personal growth in my faith, encouragement from others, and to receive training in a specialized system of Christian care giving during difficult times; such as grief, divorce, loneliness, relocation, hospitalization, a terminal illness, or unemployment. I am excited to share with those who are interested in learning more about Stephen Ministry and what the 50 hours of training involves back here in my home congregation. If you would like to know more please contact me. Training will be starting in mid-march. Galatians 6:2, Bear one another s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ! Shannon Ritter works through Trinity Lutheran Church in Family Life Ministry. Office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 8-3:30 pm. She is available for questions or offering resources that may assist you in your parenting journey or encourage you in your marriage relationship. You are invited to contact her: sritter@trinitykalispell.org or

25 MOPS Kalispell 1 st & 3 rd Wednesdays 9-11 am at Trinity Lutheran Church Facebook page: Kalispell MOPS 2017 Next Meeting: February 21 Speaker: The Refuge Ministries Dear Lord, There are so many hurting people, your children of all ages, needing to know the depth, height, and length of your love for them. May your light shine in the darkness and bring HOPE to impossible situations and relationships. Bring your healing touch through the power of your WORD and your people to walk with us through the journey of life. AMEN Clubs will resume on February 21 (Wednesday) 3:30-4:30 ROBOTICS contact Mrs. Braaten ( 6-8 th ) K-2nd Science SPACE Club Miss Renken 5-8 th Blender Animation Club Caiden Pickering and Mrs. Roberts 3rd -5 th Zumba Kids Mrs. Goff 6 th -8 th 4H Veterinarian Club with Dr. Theil Shannon Ritter

26 We recognize that 70% of our students are not Lutheran and attend either nondenominational Christian Churches, or other Christian denominational Churches. We are still one body in Christ. We welcome all denominations We are a school for everyone. We recognize parents as primary educators when it comes to Christianity. We support that Christian teaching as supplement to the home. We have now entered a historically Christian season of LENT. What is Lent: Honoring the Sacrifice of Jesus What is Lent - A Time Set Aside Just as we set aside time to spiritually prepare for Christmas Day, it makes sense to set aside time to prepare for the two most important days of the Christian year. Lent is a time that offers us an opportunity to come to terms with the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and it brings our need for a Savior to the forefront. Like Advent, Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer. But unlike the childlike joy associated with the season of Advent, with it's eager anticipation of the precious baby Jesus, Lent is an intensely penitential time as we examine our sinful natures and return to the God we have, through our own rebelliousness, hurt time and again. Lent is also an opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross - and it wasn't pretty. But ultimately, the purpose of Lent does not stop at sadness and despair - it points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when every tear will be dried (Rev. 21:3).

27 And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:33-49 Although the nature of suffering is not one that offers itself to easy explanations or pat answers, the answers we seek seem to make the most sense in light of the Cross. There is nothing in the world - no religion, philosophy, or material comfort - that offers such a powerful answer to life's toughest questions as the two slabs of wood on which our Savior died. Although I was drawn to Christianity in search of joy, it's the Cross that keeps me coming back day after day, year after year. It is this time of year, known as Lent, that I am reminded of what Jesus did for me. SEE ALSO: Evangelicals Remember Lent h/spiritual-life/lent-101-honoring- the-sacrifice-of-jesus html At Trinity, we just observed ASH Wednesday, which reminds us of our sin and salvation. The charcoal cross reminds as a sensory experience and visual reminder that we are sinners who came by dust by GOD, and that we were saved by the blood of Jesu and shall return to dust to GOD in heaven. It is too easy to get caught up in our own ways and desires of this world, as we fall into pride or greed. What a great visual reminder ashes are because they steer us from the pride of Pharisees, and help us acknowledge our sin publicly. Steering us from pride.reminding us and others that we are all sinners.saved only by Jesus. Evangelical Christians and other Christians have participated in some form of LENT and ASH Wednesday for centuries. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

28 LENT is all about plugging in! ****(and I do not mean our electronics!) Jesus prayed for 40 days and 40 nights ( Matthew 4:1-11). Let us do the same. Pray and see what it is God reveals to you in your heart before Easter. What is God talking to you about? LENT is about your heart. Contrition. Getting right with God. Communion with HIM, meditating on HIS words. Focus on the Will of God & Good of Neighbor.Focus on LOVE.on Jesus you can t go wrong. Peace in Christ, Mrs. Roberts