Bear Cub Facts May 21, 2017
Dear Parents,

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to our Lego Fun Day and a special thanks to our parent coordinators, Michelle Farley and Jennifer Newton.  A good time was had by all.  Our very own Ethan guessed the number of Lego bricks in the jar at 1,901 bricks!  



We have really enjoyed our year with your family.  We pray that Bethany has been a real extension of your home where your children have grown spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively in a Christ-centered environment.  Please take a moment to take our brief survey if you have not already done so to let us know how we're doing.  We take your feedback to heart and often make enhancements based on your suggestions.

In His Service,
Mary Wolfinbarger
Bethany Lutheran Preschool
562-429-7335 
 
http://www.bethanylutheran.org/

Join us this summer and fall at Bethany Lutheran Preschool


Dates for your calendar:

May 29 - Memorial Day - Preschool Closed
May 31 - Fundraiser at Sorrento Italian Kitchen to raise funds for our Bethany Alum, Aaron Martinez, who will be reorganizing our preschool storage closets for his Eagle Scout project
June 8 - Last Day of Preschool for the 2016-17 School Year.  Captain Carl will be here sharing ocean life with the children.
June 9 - Preschool Closed to Prepare for Summer Session
June 12 - Summer Session Begins
July 3-4 - Preschool closed for roof repair and Independence Day

2016-2017 School Year Calendar

This week in Jesus Circle:

God is Patient: Jonah and the Big Fish
Discovery Points
Law:  Sometimes we do what we want instead of what God wants.
Gospel:  Even when we don't listen to Him, God loves us and calls us to repentance; He graciously gives us forgiveness and eternal life through His Son, Jesus.
Sanctification:  The Holy Spirit helps us live as God's children who follow God's ways and God's will.
 
Connections for home: (from One in Christ, Preschool B 2013 CPH)
Do you ever feel as though you tell your child one thing, and he or she does the exact opposite?  Your independent young child most likely wants to do what he or she wants to do and when he or she wants to do it, even if it's not what you want.  Remember that your child is not yet able to process how that makes others feel.  In a child's mind, the world real does revolve around him or her!
In the Bible story for this week, Jonah did the complete opposite of what God asked him to do.   Jonah is supposed to travel to a wicked city called Nineveh and tell them the bad news that God is going to destroy them.  No one wants to tell someone he is going to die!  But the real reason Jonah doesn't want to go is that he thinks the people of Nineveh deserve to die.  Jonah knows God will forgive them, and he doesn't want them to be saved!  Jonah thinks he has it all figured out.
When we think we have things all figured out in our own lives, we can remember that God's loving, forgiving ways are always best.  And that goes not only for how we treat others but also for how God treats us.  When the tables are turned, it's comforting to know that God gives us second changes too because of Jesus, our Savior.  Like Jonah in the belly of the big fish, we can give a prayer of thanks for His mercy.
 
Read more about the Bible lesson on page 199 of The Story Bible

Chapel is held in the church on Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m.  Chapel money will be collected this year to benefit Mission India, Mission Alaska, and Corazones Para Guatemala (Hearts for Guatemala).
Snack for the week of May 22-26:

Monday:  AM pears, Goldfish crackers & water  
PM toast, apple butter, apples & water

Tuesday:  AM turkey sandwich & water  
PM carrots, ranch, Ritz crackers & water

Wednesday:   AM yogurt, banana & water  
PM chicken nuggets & water

Thursday:  AM cauliflower, hummus, Triscuits & water  
PM eggs, pretzels & water
 
Friday:  AM oranges, Saltines & water  
PM Cheerios, milk 

Snack Prayer this Month:  
Be present at our table, Lord; be here and everywhere adored.  These mercies bless, and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee.  Amen.

 
Did you know that you can purchase your child's lunch delivered to the school through Choice Lunch.  The password is Bethany.
Staff in the Spotlight - Ellen Pratt, School Music



"I have been a member of Bethany since 1975 and began involvement in Bethany's music ministry in 1986.  My two sons graduated from BLS in 1995 and 1998.  Both are teachers.  My husband, Bob, and I have been married for 42 years.  I taught in Lutheran schools for 13 years full-time, and now another nine years part-time.  I also work in School Ministries in the PSD office."

Ellen will be retiring this year.  We thank her for her years of service and for starting the Bethany Music Academy.
From Our Handbook -  Photography and Videos 


When a child is enrolled in Bethany Lutheran Preschool, his or her parents or guardians are given a Photo Release Form to complete. They have the option of consenting to the public display of pictures or denying consent. They can update and change their consent/ denial at any time. Photographs, digital photographs and or videos will be taken of children during school activities or events.  These images will be used for classroom documentation, portfolios, displays, website, school Facebook, and/or advertising purposes.  No compensation will be given.


Extracurricular Activities: 

Bethany Lutheran Preschool offers Webby Dance on Mondays at 8:45 a.m. and Thursdays;and   Play Sports on Mondays from 10-11:30.   For more information, please see the sign up forms in the preschool hallway.
Conscious Discipline Tip:  How does a parent who has not effectively set limits in the past set a limit now?

You are the "Safekeeper" for your child. Safety is always the core of your decision-making, and no other person knows your child better than you do. When we talk about "safety," we are talking about physical, emotional, academic, social and financial safety. The boundaries and consequences that you create with love for your child will yield positive results for your child. If the boundaries and consequences are created as a team and problem solved together, the frustration experienced by you and your teen will be minimal, regardless of how strict those boundaries are. If, on the other hand, you dictate what your teen must do, you model "bullying" qualities. Your teen will respond by becoming completely submissive or revolting. Either trait results in the teen not using the problem-solving state of their brain. When we have "obedient" children they are generally doing it "because we say so." The potential problem is that as they grow up, they will easily become obedient to peers. This is sometimes referred to as caving into peer pressure. In many cases, parents say to their teens, "What were you thinking, would you jump off a bridge if they told you?" If you do not actively engage your teen in the problem-solving process of setting boundaries within your home, teen's response to this could be, "I was not thinking because you did not teach me to think, you taught me to obey. I'm just choosing not to obey you now, I'm obeying my peers." Sharing power with your teen does not mean you're lenient. It simply means you are teaching and modeling how to manage all the opportunities that life offers together.


Bethany Lutheran School News:

Bethany Lutheran School follows a similar calendar year to Bethany Lutheran Church Preschool.  Keep up with our elementary and middle school students in our  Bear Facts publication.    The 2017-18 calendar is now available.
The school office is now selling limited quantities of Bethany tote bags.
Parent Teacher League:

Parents, you are ALL members of our Parent Teacher League (PTL), our amazing group of parent leadership and an important part of making Bethany such a special place.
Would you like to get involved in a PTL activity? There's a place for you! Just contact our PTL President, Jen Deeble: drdeeble@gmail.com   

Our next PTL meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.  Babysitting is provided. 

Opportunities to Worship Faithfully, Form Spiritually, Serve Passionately, Give Proportionately, and Share Intentionally:

  • Follow Bethany on Twitter @RevKevBethany and  www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach 
  • Renew your Ralphs Club cards each year after August 31 using our Bethany NPO # 83441.
  • Box tops for education is a program that allows our schools to get 10 cents for every box top turned in.  The money received from the program helps our schools buy needed equipment and supplies.  Clip the box tops and place them in the container on the sign-in shelf.
  • Labels for Education is a program where our school and church families can work together to earn "free stuff" for our schools.  Labels and caps can be placed in the collection container on the sign-in shelf.
  • Home Bible Study Groups are now forming.  Contact Pastor Seth, Pastor Kritzer, or Karl Fink for more information.
  • Lazy Acres contributes 4% to Bethany.  Make sure to show your Lazy Acres Community Card. 
  • Griefshare meets on Sundays at 1 p.m. in the Conference Room.  Contact kfink@bethanylutheran.org for more info.
  • Challenge yourself to read the Bible in 2017.  The study is posted on our blogspot www.bethanylutheran.blogsport.com.
  • Do you have Kohl's charge?  You can buy Kohl's Care Fundraising Gift Cards from Scrip to pay your bill.
  • Our annual Men's Retreat will take place October 7-9 at Luther Glen Retreat Center in Oak Glen, CA.
  • Save the date for Vacation Bible School 2017 which will be held June 19-23.  Our theme is Maker Fun Factory - Created by God, Built for a Purpose.
  • Bethany Music Ministry announces the return of our summer fine arts camp for kids entering Kindergarten - 7th grades.  "Weather the Weather" is our theme.  Registration is $100 per child.  Contact Mara Widmann for additional information at 562-421-4711 ext. 55.
  • Save the date for our annual Raise a Glass event on Saturday, October 21.  This is a unique fundraiser event to support our Student Success Program.  If you are interested in donating auction items, please contact Sheri Esswein at 714-863-5615.
  • Beginner bike riding group is starting at 8 a.m. on 6/3.  Contact Greg for more information 714-229-0757.
  • "The Rock Speaks" Retreat in the Vineyard at Steinbeck Vineyards in Paseo Robles June 10.  rsvp to cindy@voiceinthevineyards.org
  • Paint Night for Mission Alaska will be held Friday, June 2 at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $45 per person.  Sign up on our Bethany website or Facebook page.  You can also support Mission Alaska at www.gofundme.com/missionalaska2017.
  • Mission Trip to Guatemale informational meeting will be held June 4 at noon.

 At Bethany, worship is a celebration of what God has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior-His initiative in our life, His saving events throughout history. Worship is a remembrance, a reenactment-if-you-will, of God's redemptive acts for all people throughout history; it is also a joyful reception through faith, by God's people now, who live to proclaim His redeeming grace to all the world. The Lutheran understanding of "Gottesdienst" or "God's service to us" and "our service to God" are foundational to all that we do in worship. God first comes to us, and we respond in confession, joyful praise, prayer and humble faith. 

 

Worship Service times are: 

 Sunday at 8:00AM, 9:30AM and 10:55AM (convergent/blended style) 

SCRIP

Are you purchasing SCRIP?  If not, you are passing up an easy way to help with your tuition payments and to help Bethany.  SCRIP is simply gift certificates.  You purchase them from us, and use them as you would any gift card.  Since Bethany is able to purchase the cards in bulk, the gift cards cost less than their face value; and the profit is divided between your tuition and funds for various groups at Bethany.  If you have any questions about the Scrip program contact Carol Grudt, 420-7783 x58 or cgrudt@bethanylutheran.org.

FISH Opportunities:

We suggest opportunities that will help you fulfill your FISH commitments; while taking care of some of our needs.  We will post these needs/opportunities in the weekly newsletter, by email and in posters that will be put up on the parent board by the sign in sheet.     Opportunities currently available include:
 
  • Attend our PTL meeting Tuesday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the library

 

Once you have completed a FISH opportunity, you may complete a form located in the preschool hallway or online .
Helpful Websites and Links for Parents and Children:


Preschool play websites:
  
Websites and links for parents:
 NEW!  Family Matters - Mary
 NEW!      Parent Pages - May
Devotions:
 
Ideas you can use at home:
 Numbers - HWT
Gross and Fine Motor Activities from Chancy and Bruce
Mental Health Chancy and Bruce
 
Healthy snacks for kids:
10 tips to decrease added sugars
Healthy celebrations
NEW!    Frozen yogurt
In Our Prayers:

Thank you for your continued prayers for the loved ones connected to our center. If there is a need in your family and you would like to add someone to the prayer list, please let me know.  
 
In addition, we pray for the children and staff in our center (one a day), look for your child's name listed below throughout the year. 
 
Please join the Board of Evangelism in praying for The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod; Pacific Southwest District-LCMS; Concordia University Irvine; Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Missouri.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.   And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.   -Romans 5:1-5
STAY CONNECTED:
Bethany Lutheran Preschool | 562-429-7335 | Email |   www.bethanylutheran.org