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Grace
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Hello Grace School Families. Congratulations on making it through another week of remote learning! I hope that you will enjoy the four day break for Easter.

This is a very stressful time for everyone: students, parents, and teachers. Our teachers are working long hours to make their student’s education exceptional and attainable. I have heard of lots of amazing things happening with your students. I am so grateful for the dedication of our faculty. One item I would like to reiterate from my original correspondence on March 13 is that, “Teachers are expected to check and respond to email periodically between the hours of 9:00am and 3:00pm.” It can be overwhelming and all-consuming to respond to emails throughout the evening. Feel free to email at any time, but if it is after hours, thank you for understanding if a response does not come until the next day.

I attended a webinar earlier this week titled, “Guiding Students Through Uncertain Times”. One item from the session I would like to share with you today is “4 Quick Words” to help with anxiety.

Movement – Being sedentary is not good.
Mindfulness – Pause, breathe, and focus your mind. Stop multi-tasking and begin mono-tasking.
Margin – Don’t try to cram too much into 1 day.
Management – Manage anxiety through coping skills.

This generation of students has the highest level of anxiety ever. I hope these tips will help you guide your children through this uncertain time in society.

I hope you all enjoy Easter and a much deserved break. We will reconnect on Tuesday.
Bill Koehne, Principal


Holy Week
Grace Lutheran Church will be live-streaming the following services.
Maundy Thursday @ 7:00pm
Good Friday @ Noon
Easter Sunday @ 8:30am
You can find these through the Holy Week Online Worship tab on the landing page of the church website. You can also access them later through the Grace River Forest YouTube channel. May God bless your Holy Week worship.

A Graceful Evening
Our all-new virtual Graceful Evening is coming! The auctions will open at noon on Tuesday so make sure you're registered to participate (no ticket required): graceful2020.givesmart.com ! Each day will have fun surprises and ways to get involved from your very own home! Follow us on Facebook for all the latest: facebook.com/gracefulevening2020. Questions? Email Emily Hartung , Amanda Steelman or gracefulevening@graceriverforest.org.

Graceful Evening goes virtual, April 14-18
It can be hard to feel a sense of community in a time of unprecedented isolation and uncertainty. Not only do we worry for the health and safety of our family and friends, our everyday way of life is being re-shaped into a new normal. Many essential businesses continue to support us, but many have shuttered their doors to protect us. In doing so, many members of our community will face another potential hardship that will have long lasting effects after the novel coronavirus - financial hardship.

Graceful Evening, our annual fundraiser, has brought our church and school community together both socially and financially. And now, more than ever, we feel the necessity to continue its purpose and re-purpose our Fund-A-Need to reflect Grace's strong commitment to its families and community.

We invite all families to join Graceful Evening to reconnect with one another; anyone can sign up to participate in auctions, wine and whiskey pulls and donations. In the days leading up to the event, we will have different ways you can engage with other Grace community members from home. This new virtual event will run from April 14-18. The Peaceful Bodies, Productive Minds Fund-A-Need has been put on hold until next year. Our new "Fund The Needs" will ensure school pledges can be met without hardship for Grace families.

Many more details to come...


Isaiah 61:1-3 "..to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit..."

Together we can come out of this stronger than ever!
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Our mission at Grace Lutheran Church and School is to bring in, build up, and send out disciples for Jesus Christ.

Our school prepares children for a life of discipleship by helping them to grow in faith, knowledge, and character.
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Grace Lutheran Church and School | 708-366-6900 | www.graceriverforest.org