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Parent Newsletter
June 29, 2018
Valley's Summer Camps for those entering grades 4-9 ended Thursday. Thank you to all those that attended, to the coaches, and to the Valley students who volunteered their time helping the last three weeks.
Devotion
What will you do when your faith is challenged?  
Now what? You know about sin and the consequences of sin (eternal damnation and separation from God). You know, in your head, that God in His grace, dealt with our sin by taking it away from us and placing it on his Son, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died in our place, taking our punishment, so that those sins would be forgiven. You know that Jesus was raised from death so that we can also rise from our graves to new life with our Lord and Savior.

You know those answers. Those are the correct answers. But only you or the Holy Spirit know for sure if those answers are only things that we repeated on ethics and world religions tests or if you believe them to be true, and those things are the center of your life. Not just today, but every moment. ...  You have the right answers. So, what will you do when your faith is challenged and ridiculed and rejected by those around you?  Will the world convince you to keep quiet about your beliefs or even just simply to set them aside as ancient superstition, unfit for our world of science and logic?
 
God does not promise an easy life without difficulty. But what he does promise is to bring us through the difficulties of life and even death. He does promise to preserve us in our faith as we make our way through a dying world. He does promise that as we remain in  Word and Sacrament, he will preserve us to everlasting life with him - even through the hostilities of this world.  So, what will you do when your faith is challenged?
- Pastor John Mueller
News
Summer Hours and Contact Information
This summer the office hours are  8am to 3pm.  The office will be closed July 2-6, the first week in July, and every Friday in July.  Please respect the need for our faculty and staff to have "time away" from school. You can do that by limiting your contact for non-emergencies to the school phone number, where you can leave voice mail even during off hours, and email. A big concern for many is course scheduling. This is Mrs. Mueller's No. 1 priority after  Aug. 1,  as she works toward the release of schedules on  Aug. 17 . It is best to contact her about specific concerns during that time frame.
Summer Read
The books for the Summer Read program have been announced. Students are to read the following books before the 2018-19 school year begins. 
  • Freshmen (Class of 2022): Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
  • Sophomores (Class of 2021): The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • Juniors (Class of 2020): Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beals
  • Seniors (Class of 2019): All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This year, there will be no project for the book. In its place, students will take a comprehension test on their book in August. The grade will be part of their English grade for the first quarter. If they do not have an English course in the first quarter, the grade will be applied to another class. Students should be prepared to present their book or discuss it. This may happen in family groups, English classes, or in another class.

A copy of the project guidelines  can be found here. Call the office at 989-790-1676 or email Lisa Meyers at  lmeyers@vlhs.com with any questions.
Freshmen Placement Test Results
Freshmen placement test results have been mailed. If you have not received your results, contact Dr. Lisa Meyers at 989-790-1676 or email  lmeyers@vlhs.com.
Class of 2019 News: Senior Photos, Retreat
  • Save the date! 
    The Senior Class Retreat will be held Oct. 12-14 at Camp Timbers. We hope to see you there!
Class of 2018 News: School Notifications
If you are a parent of a recent graduate and would like to remove your name from the emergency notification list, follow  this link for instructions on how to opt out.
Pre-Paid Tuition Program
Families may pre-pay tuition for future school years at the 2018-2019 rates until  July 31, 2018 .  This allows families to "lock-in" these tuition rates and avoid future tuition increases. Be sure to note there are no longer discounts for the full tuition payment for the current school year. 
                 
School Year
Association
Non-Association LCMS
Community
2018-2019*
$6,275
$7,425
$7,775
2019-2020*
$6,275
$7,425
$7,775
2020 and beyond*
$6,275
$7,425
$7,775
*Annual pre-paid discount is discontinued.
No pre-paid tuition payments will be accepted after July 31 until the new tuition rates are announced in January 2019.  More  details  and a  formal agreement  are available online or by calling Business Manager Bill Ankoviak at 989-790-1676.
Sports Physicals at Valley
Sports Physicals are being offered at Valley Lutheran on August 1 from  4:30-6pm.  The cost is $13 payable to Dr. James LaFleur.  This exam will meet the requirement of every participating athlete's obligation to have a physical exam, if he or she intends to try out for and/or make one of Valley's sports teams for the 2018-19 school year.
Fall Sports Practices
Call the coach of the sport your child is interested in to find out what time practice begins in August.

Football - Joe Willey - 989-274-1703
Soccer - Doug Guenther - 989-482-2202
Volleyball - Jon Frank - 989-791-9008
Cross Country - Renee Brenner - 989-372-2096
Parent Organization Meeting August 14
The next Parent Organization meeting will be at  7pm on August 14 at G's Pizzeria on Bay Road in Saginaw. Mark your calendars and join our great group to discuss upcoming events for the school year, and, of course, enjoy dinner at the same time.
Lutheran Study Bible for Freshmen, Sophomores
Lutheran Study Bibles are needed for all Theology classes. Bibles may be purchased at  cph.org or an order may be placed at orientation on Aug. 17.
Guidance Corner
CLASS OF 2018 - FINAL TRANSCRIPTS
There are a number of recent alumni who have still not requested their final transcripts to be sent. These are only sent to the school you will attend in the fall, and are seen as a step in the final enrollment process and distribution of financial aid. Please email Mrs. Mueller with your intended destination. The office will not send student documents unless requested directly by the student or parent in order to maintain the confidential nature of these documents.

SUMMER JUMPSTART
Want to get a jumpstart on college or career planning? Take a look at resources below for your grade. It's never too early to start making a plan! Visit a college campus. Job shadow in a career area you might be interested in pursuing. Volunteer for local organizations. Explore your options when it comes to training for various career areas. Take the time now while life is a bit more relaxed, and start the new year off with a plan!

SUMMER SAT TEST PREP
Summer is a great time to focus on intentional SAT test prep, especially for students going into their junior and senior year. Check out https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat to access the always-free SAT test prep materials, strategies, tools, and more. You can also link to your SAT scores for a more personalized experience.

SUMMER JOBS
Is your student lining up a summer job? Or have they already been hired and have started working? Take a look at a great article by Tim Elmore from Growing Leaders on The Six Best Summer Jobs for Students and Why. He gives great insight into skills students can learn to prepare them for a large array of careers in the future.

WORK PERMITS
Speaking of jobs, students under the age of 18 need a work permit on file in order to hold employment. Work permits are available in the school office, and require information from the student and parent, the employer, and the school. Stop in during normal office hours to pick up a permit.

SAT/ACT TESTING INFORMATION
SAT Information, Registration, etc. - www.sat.org
ACT Information, Registration, etc. - www.actstudent.org
Job Opportunities
Valley Lutheran Hiring Part-Time Communications Assistant
Valley Lutheran High School is accepting applications for the position of part-time Communications Assistant. This individual will work closely with the Executive Director, Development Director, and Director of Student Recruitment in communicating the school's mission to its constituencies. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is strong in written communication skills, familiar with InDesign and Office software applications, social media, and supportive of the mission of Valley Lutheran High School. The position is for 15 hours per week with a flexible work schedule. Interested applicants may send a resume with cover letter by July 31 to Dr. John Brandt, Executive Director, Valley Lutheran High School, 3560 McCarty, Saginaw MI 48603 or by email to jbrandt@vlhs.com. For more information contact John Brandt at 989-790-1676 or by email.
Bethlehem Looking to Hire Full-Time Teacher
Bethlehem Lutheran School in Saginaw is looking for a full-time third- and fourth-grade teacher. Experience in a combined classroom is preferred. If interested, please send a resume via email to Principal Nicole Frederick.
Peace Searching for Infant Lead Teacher
The Early Childhood Center at Peace Lutheran School,  3161 Lawndale Road  in Saginaw Township, is looking to hire a salaried Infant Lead Teacher. At least three years of experience and a minimum of an Infant/Toddler CDA are required. If interested, please contact Peace Early Childhood Director Kathi Pearson at  kpearson@peacesaginaw.org  or 792.2581.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 1 Sports Physicals at Valley, 4:30-6pm
Aug. 6 Football Practice Begins
Aug. 8 Boys Soccer, Cheer, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Girls Golf Practices Begin
Aug. 7 Sophomore/Junior/Senior Parent-Student Night, 7pm
Aug. 16 Transfer Student Orientation, 5:30pm
Aug. 16 Sophomore/Junior/Senior Parent-Student Night, 7pm
Aug. 17-18 Freshmen Lock-In, 7pm
Aug. 22 First Day of School
Aug. 29 School Pictures
Aug. 31-Sept. 3 No School - Labor Day Weekend

 Click on the image above to view the latest Valley Vision.







Mission Statement
Valley Lutheran High School believes that Christ is the foundation of our school and everything that we do.  We prepare our students as children of God academically, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually to serve in the world today and tomorrow.

John Brandt
Valley Lutheran High School