Immanuel Lutheran School

1964 W. Pearl City Road  +  Freeport, Illinois 61032
Phone 815-232-3511 or Extended Care 815-232-3443  +  Fax # 815-233-915
e-mail school@immanuellutheranfreeport.com +  www.ourgodwithus.com
Michael Welton, Principal

Volume V1 Issue IX                                                                                   Newsletter                                        May 20, 2009

Looking Forward to Next Year

After a long year of school, the last thing many parents and children want to do is think about next year.  However, it will be here before we all know it.  This schedule was approved by the Board of Education for the upcoming academic year.   

August

20 Thursday - First half day of school, K-8

21 Friday – First full day of school

 September

07 Monday - Labor Day, No School

25 Friday - School in session, NO BUS

 October

12 Monday - Columbus Day, No school

23 Friday - School in session, NO BUS

 November

05 Thursday-Parent-Teacher Conferences, Half day,

06 Friday - Parent-Teacher Conferences, No school

11 Wednesday - School in session, NO BUS

   Special Veterans' Day Celebration at Chapel

26 Thursday - Thanksgiving, No school

27 Friday - Thanksgiving, No school

 December

21 Monday - Christmas Vacation Begins

District 145 starts vacation on Wednesday

 January

04 Monday - School Resumes

15 Friday - Half day, Teachers work on semester grades

18 Monday - Dr. Martin Luther King Day, No school

 February

15 Monday - Presidents' Day, No school

March

29 Monday - Spring Break Begins

    Spring Break is Holy Week

April

02 Good Friday, No school

05 Easter Monday, No school

May

26 Wednesday – Last full day of school

27 Thursday - Teacher work day, No school

28 Friday - Closing chapel, last day of school

Immanuel is holding classes on several days when District 145 is not in session: September 25, October 23, November 11, and full days on May 24, 25, and 26.  There will be no bus service on those days.  The Immanuel Christmas break is two days longer than District 145’s break.  Freeport has not yet announced half days, but Immanuel is usually in session all day on those dates.

This past year has gone by so quickly.  The summer will pass even quicker.  And then, so suddenly, next year will be upon us.

 Parents:

          Please remember all tuition, lunch fees, uniforms, library books, etc. MUST be returned to the school by Wednesday, May 27th for your child to receive their report card on Friday  morning or their diploma on Friday night. 

         Payments made on Friday morning will result  in your child’s report card being sent home in the mail. 

        Thank you for you help in this matter.                          The school office 

Final Schedule:  Friday, May 29: Awards in classrooms from 8:45 until 9:15 for K-8 students, followed by chapel and special awards from 9:15 until 10:00, report cards distributed at 10:00, 10:15 dismissal.   

Have a                        WONDERFUL                            SUMMER
 

Sports Physicals:  Immanuel will offer IHSA Sports and camp physicals on Monday, June 1, 2009, from 5:30 until 7:00.  The cost is $20 each and the profits go toward athletic uniforms.  Thanks to local doctors, nurses, and others who volunteer for this event.  If you would like to volunteer, contact Carol Gray at FHN or leave a message at Immanuel (232-3511).  No appointments are necessary.  

May Musings

 Preschool 3 – The three year olds have all turned into four year olds!  The children have spent the last few weeks learning about many different pets.  Danielle brought in her guinea pig, Bugsy.  He was very soft and the children heard him making some silly sounds.  Jacob brought in his cat, Sam.  Sam was very soft and enjoyed sniffing the children. Ethan had his grandma and his aunt and his mom bring in some animals from the Humane Society.  They brought in two cute puppies, a kitty, and four baby raccoons.  The baby raccoons did not even open their eyes.  The raccoons will be returned to the wild when they are old enough.  The children will be going to Bidwell Park on their last day of preschool, Tuesday, May 26 for a picnic.  It has been a great year being a three year old!  

Preschool 4 –The 4-year olds have busy learning about two different artists, Georges Seurat and Piet Mondrian.  After learning a bit about what kinds of pictures these artists created the children then created pictures inspired by the two artists.  They are also enjoying much needed time outside.  One of their service projects included walking the bike path to pick up garbage.  The children actually seemed to enjoy doing this as they were excited about some of the garbage they found.  They also couldn’t believe how much garbage was out there.  They will now prepare to finish the school year by having a picnic and play time at Reed Park.   

Kindergarten- The kindergarteners are having a busy end to their school year!!  They had a wonderful evening thanking their moms for all they do, and look forward to celebrating Father’s Day with their dads on May 22nd.  The class sang to the residents at Parkview, and will enjoy participating in the Healthy Hobby program for kindergarteners at Highland.  The children have had a super year and each kindergartener has grown so much!  The class hopes everyone has a great restful summer.  It will be important for kindergarteners to keep reading, writing, counting, adding, and subtracting.  So many skills are new and will be easily forgotten if they are not reviewed.          

Grade 1 – The first graders did a wonderful job in presenting their Academic Fair projects to the class. In math, the children are working on addition and subtraction of 2-digit numbers. Parents, continue to work on math concepts that the class has worked on throughout this school year. Math facts to 18, fractions, numbers to 100, money, and time are a few concepts taught this year.  Continue to have your child read each night to you. Have your child keep a journal to help with writing complete sentences. It has been a joy watching the first graders grow and learn this year.              

Grade 2 – It is hard to believe that summer is right around the corner!  The second-graders have worked very hard this year learning so many things.  Summer is a time to relax and have fun but it is also time to practice what has been learned and prepare for the upcoming school year.  Parents, please set aside time on most days for your child to read, review math concepts and to use good grammar skills while writing.  The time you invest this summer will pay off in the fall as your child heads off to third grade.  Most importantly, enjoy your child this summer.  This is such a fun age and your child loves spending time with you.  Talk to your child, read to your child, and worship with your child.  Parents are the most important teachers in their child’s life!  May God bless you and your children this summer!

Grade 3 –The Academic Fair reports that came in on the Arctic Regions were great!  It took a great deal of work to compile them and everyone enjoyed viewing them.  The class is working in groups to design and make a class flag with symbols that represent third grade.  In Art the class is using warm and cool colors to create a funny clown painted in watercolor.  Challenging your child to try new experiences this summer and trying more creative play will keep their minds and skills sharp.  You can also have them do some occasional creative writing or journal writing what happens each week of the summer.  Let them choose the topic and provide the back of one of the notebooks that are not full yet.  They can even journal some family activities with ideas given at mealtime.  Continued use of skills makes coming back in the fall just that much smoother! They recently completed Academic Fair projects. In reading they will be completing this year with the theme “Finding Common Ground”.  Diagramming sentences will be part of the English curriculum to show how words are related to each other in sentences.

Grade 4 – The fourth graders did an excellent job on their academic fair state projects.  The food fair was also a success. They have completed their chapter in science about the oceans, and are working on finishing the novel, A Long Way from Chicago.  The novel is set in rural central Illinois during the years 1929 through 1935.  The main characters are from Chicago, but they are spending a week with their grandmother.  In addition to the students reading the story, there are several Book Buddies who have also been reading the story and writing to the students with their observations and anecdotes.  This has helped all of the fourth graders to have a clearer understanding of the historical fiction that they are reading.   The summer is coming quickly and while everyone will enjoy a break, remember to continue reading, writing and practicing the skills that the students worked so hard on this school year.  This will help them to be ready to face the challenge of fifth grade.                                                   

Grade 5 – – The fifth graders are learning about the kings of the Old Testament times and how God worked through them to preserve the line of David for the coming of the Savior.  In math, they have tackled least common multiple and greatest common factor.  Now they are applying these skills when adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers.  In social studies, the fifth graders are learning about what happened after the Revolutionary War.  They are also learning about our government, and how it was started.  The solar system is the topic for science.  The students are learning about the sun, moon, planets, and stars.  Adverbs and prepositions are the topics in English.  For reading, the fifth graders are reading the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  They are reading about the exciting adventures of Brian, and what happens when he is stranded in the Canadian wilderness.  The Academic Fair projects have been completed.  Each student completed their project on a country of Central or South America. The projects were wonderful!  Well done, fifth graders!  Have a blessed summer!  Remember to read lots of books!                                                           

 Grade 6 – The sixth graders are studying the solar system in earth science class.  Mr. Dole from the JETS Observatory is visiting the class this week to give a presentation about astronomy.  Math class is about “integers”.  The students are doing so well working with positive and negative numbers!  During the last week of school, the students will be bringing in foods from the European country that they will be writing booklets about.  The booklets are due on the 26^th and the foods will be sampled that day and the next.  It’s a yummy way to learn about culture and end the year!

 Grade 7- The chapter on reproduction and development is the focus in life science class.  Mrs. Barr from the Freeport Pregnancy Center is giving a presentation on STD’s this week.  The students did a marvelous job with the “egg baby” experiment.  The parental involvement in that project was greatly appreciated.  The math class is doing higher level “integer” operations and will end the year studying tables, equations, and graphs.  In literature, the students are studying mythology: Greek/Roman and Norse.  They will also be looking at some fables. In English, they are learning about verbals: verb forms not used as verbs and complex sentences. Keep reading and writing over the summer.  As part of a short unit on the westward movement, students will be filming a movie, “Texas Becomes a State.”  Then, they’ll get to watch it on the last day of school. 

Grade 8 – The students are busy learning geometric formulas for math class.  They are finding that volume is easier to calculate than surface area.  They will end the year in physical science class with the study of simple machines. In literature they are reading parts of 4 great epics, Gilgamesh, Song of Roland, The Iliad, and Beowulf.  In English, they  are studying subordinate clauses.  During the summer, regular reading, writing, and practicing math skills will keep the new 9^th graders sharp for their first year of high school.  At last, the students will travel to Springfield on May 21 and 22.  They will see the Lincoln sites and review how the governmental works.  Graduation takes place on May 29^th, and everyone is welcome.

NEWS AND NOTES

Immanuel Cares

A Day of Celebration and Thanks!!!

Saturday, June 20 – 9:00-4:00

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

1964 West Pearl City Road – Freeport, IL

(www.ourgodwithus.com)

                        Men’s Breakfast (7:00)          Basketball Clinic        Three-On-Three     Basketball Tournament                Health Fair

       Family Fun - Games & Prizes

Free Pork Chop Sandwiches & Lunch (11:30-3:30)

Children’s Concert (4:00 p.m.)

Summer Tutoring will be available at Immanuel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings June 3—August 6.  The fee is $15.00 for 30 minutes.  Interested individuals, please contact Sheila Wagner at (815) 235-7340 or e-mail:  bsro4@comcast.net. 

Smart Tuition:  This out-sourcing of bill payment is meant to be of greater service to Immanuel families.  They offer a variety of payment plans, as well as 24 hour on-line information and customer service via the phone.  This is an American company, with offices throughout the USA.  Because Immanuel is using Smart Tuition, there is no requirement to come in during the summer to make a first payment.  Families do have the option of paying fees up front or dividing them along with tuition payments.  Be sure to let the office know your preference or we will assume that you are paying all fees up front as was required before Immanuel went with this system.     

Accelerated Readers:  The following students have reached the 100 point goal through Accelerated Reader for this year.  They will be awarded with free lunch with the principal on Wednesday, May 20^th at Prime Table: Grade 4:  Isabelle Frautschy, Alex Gravenstein; Grade 5:  Elise Anderson, Ashley Babler, Connor Bendick, Maxx Bradshaw, Emily Burt, Elizabeth Haddad, Abigail Hake, Andrew Stevens,  Jessica Welling; Grade 6:  Tyler Le;  Grade 7: Trey Cronau, Taylor Funk. 

CONGRATULATIONS IMMANUEL GRADUATES:  The 8^th graders invite family and friends to their graduation on Friday, May 29th at 7 PM.  They have invited  to address their class;  The graduates are Journee Berry, Dustin Chambers, Matthew Clay, Jessten Heimer, Danielle Lawson, Wyatt Martin, Caleb Moring, McKenna Reed, Ionia Rice, Sawyer Shaw, Jacob TerHark, Owen Wagner. 

State Track Meet: Congratulations and God’s blessings to our Immanuel students who participated in the Illinois Lutheran School Track Meet at Concordia University, River Forest on May 16 and 17.  Jalen Holman, Sarah Wichmann, Ashley Simmons, and LaKonka Collins qualified for the 4 X 100 meter relay race.  Ashley Simmons, LaKonka Collins, Taylor Funk, and Madison Wagner qualified for the 4 X 200 meter relay race.  Sarah Wichmann qualified for the high jump, and LaKonka Collins qualified for the 100 meter dash.  None of the students made it into the finals, but they had fun trying.  Mr. Jerry Funk is the coach. 

School Board News:  A revision committee will be established regarding the discipline code.  Issues to be answered by that committee will include (but are not limited to) separating the code into K-5 and 6-8 codes, having a tally system for infractions based on present levels, time outs in the hall and how they relate to the code, parental understanding of the code and garnering their support, and general implementation of the code.  Other issues will certainly come up as well.  The committee will include 2 non-school board member parents, a school board member, 3 teachers, and the principal.  A pastor may serve as ex officio member.  If you as a parent would like to serve on this committee or share your thoughts, please contact school board chairman Dan Medler or principal Mike Welton at 232-3511.    

VBS Coming                                 June 15-19

Mark you calendars and get ready for some great summer fun. Immanuel Cares About Our Community is the theme.  There are registration forms in the front hall of the school.  Pick up your copy and return it as soon as possible.

OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICES:

Mark your calendar for our summer outdoor worship services with the cookout before and Culver’s ice cream after.

   Thursdays

May 21, June 18, July 16 and August 20^th

Work at the Stephenson Co. Fair:  Volunteers are needed to work at the Beef Corral on Thursday, July 16th from 6:30—11:00 pm and the Butterfly Pork Chop Booth on Friday, July 17 all day at various times. Volunteers receive a free pass into the fair, plus a meal from that vendor.  Immanuel makes about $500 from each place from the profits.  Plus, the local agricultural organizations benefit.    

Piano Camp will be held June 1—6th in the school.  Call Nel Allison (815-946-3903) 

Scrip orders can be placed over the internet now.  Go to www.glscrip.com and enter code 3FC1A1E411864 for Immanuel Lutheran.  Follow the directions

SCHOOL PHYSICALS & DENTAL & EYE EXAMS:  If your child will be entering PreK3, new to PreK 4, Kindergarten or 6th grade, they need to have a physical by the time school starts.  Kindergarten, 2nd graders and 6th graders need to have a dental exam.  Also  required is an eye exam by a licensed physician or optometrist for all Kindergarten children or those entering school for the first time.  All forms are available in the school office. 

Have you signed up for SUMMER LATCHKEY?  If you are interested, please call the school office or Stephanie Yarzak at 232-3443. 

Lost and Found:  Please check the “Lost & Found” tables and claim your clothing.  Leftovers will be placed in the rummage sale. 

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OUR CENTRAL PURPOSE

"Immanuel Lutheran School, a ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church, exists to call students into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to move them into active discipleship in a Christian congregation, and equip them to be effective witnesses in the community.  Immanuel Lutheran School strives to direct the educational experiences of its students, while developing their talents to their greatest potentials, so that they may fulfill God's plan for service in our world." 

Board of Christian Child Development will meet Tuesday, May 26 at 6 pm. John Wichmann is the director.  Board of Christian Day School Education will meet on Wednesday, June 10 at 5:00 pm.  in the school library.  Dan Medler is the director. 

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL

Thrift/Rummage/Garage Sale

Hours:  June 4 – 8am - 5pm            June 5 – 8am - 5pm          June 6 – 8am – 12 noon      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (Saturday is $1/bag sale)

Have you been checking those closets, attic, drawers, the garage, etc for items you no longer need or want to wear?  Bring your CLEAN, GENTLY USED items to the school on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday June 1-3 from 8 am to 5 pm.    Please unpack your own boxes and organize them according to the labels on each table.   

Proceeds from the sale will be divided between FACC (to help needy families in our own community) and VOICES (to help abused families)