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Parent Newsletter
March 28, 2018
Valley Lutheran students took part in a mock trial as part of Law Day at the Saginaw County Courthouse on March 22. Valley students portrayed the prosecution and witnesses, while others were part of the jury in another courtroom. The group won its case and took home the award for best performance.
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Instruments of Peace
This past summer I was privileged to lead a group of 62 travelers on an 11-day excursion of Italy. Our trip took us to many of Italy's most famous cities: Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. Nestled into this famous destination, on our way from Florence to Rome, was a brief stop in the tiny town of Assisi. While this town might not have the canals of Venice, the art of Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the history of Rome and Pompeii, the lemons of Sorrento, or the striking blue waters of Capri, many of my travelers claimed that Assisi was their favorite stop of the entire trip. Perhaps it was the fact that it was far less crowded then the previous cities we'd visited. Perhaps it was the striking views it offered of the Umbrian countryside. Perhaps it was that our tour guide, Marco, was hilarious. Perhaps it was the delicious homemade pasta we had on the way into town. I'm sure all of this things contributed to our enjoyment of this town. But as I sit here and reflect on our experiences, I'm struck by the man to whom the town of Assisi is devoted: St. Francis. A 12th century monk, St. Francis did many important things to advance the Christian church in Italy, including composing the following prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, Faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is by giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
What a beautiful reminder of our calling, as children of God, to be instruments of peace. In Hebrews 12:4, God calls us to "make every effort to live in peace with everyone" and in Romans 14:19 to "make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification." These commands can be challenging, especially in a world that so often seems hostile to Christ and His followers. It would often be easier to meet hate with hate, darkness with darkness, and injury with injury. But we are called to something more, and the prayer of a 12th century monk offers Christians living in the 21st century some practical ways to be instruments of the peace to which we are called: love, forgive, and comfort; be bearers of light in a world so full of darkness; put others before self; and never forget the promises of eternal life. Our calling is clear and the world is waiting, so in the words of our Italian tour directors, "ANDIAMO!" (Let's go!).
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Third Quarter Grades Available Online
Third quarter grades can be accessed by going to
www.mystudentdata.com and entering the following information:
- School Code: 50
- Student ID Number: 10 digit state ID number found on student ID card
- Password: Chargers
- Student Birth Date
If you have questions about your child's grades, please contact the teacher by phone at 989-790-1676 or by email. Teacher email addresses are available on the school website,
www.vlhs.com .
Please remember that grades can only be accessed if tuition payments are current. If you have any problems, call 989-790-1676.
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Sign Up For Tuition Assistance By April 1
Tuition assistance applications for the 2018-19 school year can be
accessed here. Applications are to be completed online and are due
April 1 for full consideration. Applications received after April 1 will be considered as funds are available with a minimum late penalty reduction of 10 percent of the recommended grant.
Re-registrations are also due April 1 to avoid a $100 fee. Your child should have brought this home weeks ago. A pastor's signature is required if you are a member of an LCMS church.
To learn more about tuition and financial aid, visit
our site or call Mrs. Behnke with any questions at 989-790-1676.
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Tickets for Spring Musical 'Camelot' on Sale April 9
The Valley Lutheran Drama Department will present
Camelot on
April 26-28 at 7pm in the gym. Tickets go on sale starting Monday, April 9. Reserved seats are $9. General seating is $8 for adults and $6 for students. Seating is limited and advanced purchase is encouraged.
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Unique Day on Tuesday, April 10
On
Tuesday, April 10, most Valley students will participate in a variety of tests. The juniors will take a real SAT as part of the Michigan Merit Exam. Freshmen and sophomores will take a real PSAT.Testing will begin promptly at 8am - please note that students will need to be at school
before 8am even though it's a Tuesday.
Students should bring No. 2 non-mechanical pencils and an approved calculator. Students are dismissed after their test has concluded. No lunch will be served. Estimated release times are below:
| Juniors |
SAT |
8am-1pm |
| Freshmen/Sophomores |
PSAT |
8am-Noon |
In addition, AP Spanish students will be taking their final exam during the following times:
Seniors who are not in AP Spanish do not need to report to school April 10.
All testing is paid for by the State of Michigan. We are once again participating in the state testing for several reasons:
- To give our juniors a free opportunity for the SAT college entrance exam.
- To give freshmen and sophomores a practice opportunity for the college entrance exam.
- To receive valuable, detailed information about how our students perform on specific skills that can be used to evaluate and improve our curriculum.
Juniors Taking the MME
All Juniors in the state of Michigan participate in the Michigan Merit Exam (MME). Students will receive individual score reports that identify academic strengths and weaknesses. VLHS will also receive detailed reports that measure performance levels on important academic skills and content.
One benefit of participating is that the juniors will receive a free SAT, taken during the school day, that they may use for college entrance and scholarships. Additionally, VLHS will receive detailed information on how well the juniors perform on many academic skills. These reports are a valuable tool used by the faculty to evaluate and improve our curriculum.
The schedule for the MME is as follows:
Tuesday, April 10
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SAT |
8am-1pm |
Students are dismissed at 1pm (no regular classes). Students take tests in reading, writing and mathematics. |
| Wednesday, April 11 |
WorkKeys |
8am-11:30am |
Students will rejoin their regular schedule (in progress) starting at 11:30am. Students take tests in reading, math and locating information. |
| Thursday, April 12 |
MSTEP |
7th or 8th period |
Michigan testing on science and social studies done on computer. Students may stay after 3:05pm if they need more time. |
and
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Friday,
April 13 |
MSTEP |
7th or 8th period |
Michigan testing on science and social studies done on computer. Students may stay after 3:05pm if they need more time.
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It is crucial that students are in attendance on these days as make-up testing is required. Students who attend a career technical school have been excused from those schools so that they may participate in testing. Students must be on time as the testing rules mandate an 8:00 am start. Students should bring No. 2 non-mechanical pencils and approved calculators (lists posted at school) for Day 1 and Day 2 of testing. Contact Lindsay Mueller (
[email protected]) or Lisa Meyers (
[email protected]) with any questions.
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Next Open House April 15
The next Valley Lutheran Open House is scheduled for
Sunday, April 15, at 3pm. Talk with students, teachers and administrators, tour the building and get questions answered.
Stay afterward for the handbell concert at 4pm.
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Annu
al Handbell Concert April 15
You are invited to attend the Handbell Concert on
Sunday, April 15, at 4pm, in the VLHS gymnasium. Come and hear Valley's Glorify bell choir, as well as bell choirs from six other area churches. The concert is free to the public.
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Charger Post Prom Party April 21 At SVSU
The annual Post Prom Party is planned for
Saturday, April 21, at 11pm at Saginaw Valley State University. Your child does not need to attend prom to come to the party. Note: There will be a secure place for all prom attire for those coming directly from prom.
- Location: Saginaw Valley State University
- Time: 11pm Saturday to 4:30am Sunday
- Activities: Swimming, food and drinks, cash machines, Minute To Win It games, Jenga, human Hungry Hungry Hippo, bubble soccer, prizes, cash prizes and large raffle prizes.
- Cost: Tickets are $15 and go on sale the week before prom during lunch periods.
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Incoming Freshmen Scheduling is April 25
The next incoming freshmen scheduling date is
April 25. Registration forms need to be submitted to schedule classes. Call the office at 989-790-1676 for details.
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Parent Organization Meeting April 25
The next VLHS Parent Organization meeting will be
Tuesday, April 25, at 6pm, in the cafeteria. The group is searching for a president, someone to coordinate teacher appreciation, and someone to organize two
luncheons for Parent Organization-sponsored events: the bazaar in the fall and the antique show in the spring.
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Registration Now Open for Summer Camps
Summer camps return to Valley this summer:
- Sports and extra-curricular camps (June 11-28) for students entering grades 4-9
- New camps this summer include 3-D Printing and Spanish camps.
A detailed flyer and registration form is available at www.vlhs.com/camps. Flyers are also in the Charger Connection, which are given to students when Mrs. Yantz visits the schools. Please share with friends and family who are looking for fun and affordable camps for their middle schoolers!
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Host Families Needed
Host families are needed for future international students at VLHS. These students are attracted to our school because of its academic reputation, but they also give us, as Christians, a unique opportunity to share the Gospel. Host families do receive a monthly stipend. If you are interested in hosting an international student for the 2018-2019 school year, please contact Debbie Davis at 790-1676 or
[email protected] for more information.
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Confidential Way to Report Safety Threats
For those not aware, there is a student safety initiative called OK2SAY. OK2SAY is a program that ensures every student, parent, teacher, and community member has access to a safe and confidential way to report any concerns about their safety or the safety of others. OK2SAY operates as an early warning system in our schools to help stop tragedies before they start.
Remind your students that they have a confidential way to report a safety threat. Submit a tip anytime in a number of ways:
Mobile app: Google Play or iTunes
By telephone: 855-565-2729
Text message: 652729
OK2SAY website: OK2SAY.com
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MME/PSAT TESTING
The week we return from Easter Break is an important one for many of our students, as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will all be participating in SAT/PSAT testing. For freshmen and sophomores, this is a great practice run that can help you get personalized feedback and test prep as you work towards taking the SAT. For juniors, this is the real deal, and it is important to be prepared to give your best effort. Take a look at Khan Academy's
Tips for Test Day article online for helpful things you can do to perform your best.
CLASS OF 2019 INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
Mrs. Mueller will be sitting down with each member of the class of 2019 individually or in small groups after Easter Break to talk about the future - career ideas, college ideas, senior year classes, etc. Come prepared with questions or ideas - or a willingness to talk about lots of possibilities of where God may be calling you!
EDUCATION PLANNING RESOURCES
Education Planning Resources (EPR) is a comprehensive college planning program that helps families with students of all ages with answers to questions about finding the right college fit, financing college costs, maximizing college grants, and more. Valley Lutheran is hosting EPR for an information night open to ALL families on
Tuesday, April 17, from 7-8:30pm in the Resource Center. Register for this free event today at
epr123.com/all-events/valley-lutheran or call 248-359-8300.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) FOR 2018-2019
Students electing to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses for the 2018-2019 school year should be completing their AP Course Contracts for each AP course they intend to take. Extra contracts are available in the school office or from Mrs. Mueller. These need to be signed by the student, a parent, and a teacher. As a reminder, students taking an AP course are required to take (and pay for) the corresponding AP exam.
DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR 2018-2019
Students interested in pursuing Dual Enrollment options for the 2018-2019 school year should be completing their Dual Enrollment Student Contract, which requires student and parent signatures. This is the first step in registering for Dual Enrollment courses. Information on the admissions, enrollment, and registration processes is attached to the Dual Enrollment Student Contracts. In the next month, Mrs. Mueller will be working closely with those students intending on taking Dual Enrollment courses and who have submitted their contracts.
IMPORTANT LINKS
VL Scholarship Page -
http://bit.ly/VLScholarships
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Peace Hiring Infant Room Lead Teacher
The Infant Classroom at Peace Lutheran School, 3161 Lawndale Road in Saginaw Township, is hiring an infant lead teacher. This teacher would start in May and needs to have an Infant/Toddler CDA or an associate's degree with an infant/toddler three-credit class. 480 hours of child care work experience is also required. We are looking for someone that can work 30-40 hours per week. Please contact Kathi Pearson at 989-792-2581 ext. 207 or
[email protected] for more information or to submit your resume.
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Peace Church Has Opening For Bookkeeper
Peace Lutheran Church has a staff opening for a part-time bookkeeper (
Monday through
Friday, 20 hours per week). Responsibilities in general include: Assisting with the day-to-day financial operations of the church and its ministries, including data entry, maintaining files, working with payables, reconciling accounts and generating reports. Basic requirements: Experience with general bookkeeping duties using Microsoft Word & Excel, willingness to learn Shepherd's Staff accounting software, and ability to work independently and in confidence. A more detailed job description is available here. Fill out an application and apply in person at the Peace Church Office,
3427 Adams Ave., Saginaw.
For a detailed job description, see this
PDF
.
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Clothing Donation, Volunteer Opportunities
"Grace Your Closet" is ministry of free clothing for the community at Grace Lutheran, Auburn. After launching last year, more than 3,700 clothing items found new homes to a total of 335 families along with families affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston and local families impacted by fires. There are volunteer opportunities on the first Monday of each month from 6-8pm to sort clothes and on the third Saturday of each month when the closet is opened from 10am to 1pm. If interested, contact Karla Weiss at 989-245-8627.
Clothing donations for infants, kids, junior women, and men's clothing can be dropped off at Grace Lutheran Church, 303 Ruth Street, Auburn on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12pm. Like our Facebook page and share news on the events. Thank you for the continued support!
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Good Shepherd Hosting Annual Easter Walk
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5335 Brockway in Saginaw Township, will present two performances of "The Search for Jesus" Easter Walk" on
Good Friday, March 30, at 4:30 and 7pm, at the church.
Take a step back in time and embark on a journey in this interactive drama. It is circa 33 A.D. and a group of travelers is on a quest to find Jesus of Nazareth. Thousands have enjoyed this powerful performance.
Come 30 minutes before the show and enjoy a re-enactment of Jerusalem's marketplace filled with crafts and music. There is no charge but a free will offering is appreciated. All shows are barrier-free and childcare is provided.
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Good Shepherd Hosting Golf Scramble Fundraiser
A mission team from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is hosting a golf outing at Twin Bridges Golf Course, 3260 S. Fenmore Road, Merrill, on Saturday, May 19, with a shotgun start at 11am.
The cost is $65 per person (four-person teams), and includes 18 holes, cart fees, pig roast dinner and hole prizes. Opportunities are also available for: Cart sponsor, dinner/refreshment sponsor, tee and green sponsor. Donation items will also be accepted for raffles and hole prizes.
The outing will help raise money for the mission team from Good Shepherd to travel to Porto Alegre, Brazil, to work with the ABRASSE daycare (school), and with a local congregation in a very poor area of the city. The daycares are the only opportunity for the children in poverty to break the cycle of poverty and build a better life for themselves.
To register to golf, or to become a sponsor, please call Molly at 989-245-6640 or email [email protected].
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| March 28 |
Third Quarter Grades Available Online, 5pm |
| March 30 |
No School, Good Friday |
| April 2-6 |
No School, Easter Break |
| April 12 |
Parents in Prayer, 8am |
| April 15 |
Open House, 3pm |
| April 15 |
Handbell Concert, 4pm |
| April 19 |
Peeks at Valley, 8:15am |
| April 21 |
Junior, Senior Prom (at SVSU), 6pm |
| April 23 |
Special Chapel for McCarty Move-in Date, 10am |
| April 26 |
Parents in Prayer, 8am |
| April 26-28 |
Spring Musical - Camelot, 7pm |
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Click on the image above to view the latest Valley Vision. |
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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.
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John Brandt
Valley Lutheran High School
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