School News
December 17, 2020
 
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We pray that everyone has a wonderful and Christ-centered Christmas celebration

* We pray that our virtual Christmas program will create a precious family memory as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

* Please pray for the frontline recipients of our "Rise Up And Pray" meals next week. We are so grateful for all that they do pray for their safety and protection. 

* We look forward to all of the wonderful plans God has waiting for us in 2021!
 

Friday, December 18
Last day to request a device for online learning. To request one please click HERE.

Sunday, December 20
Watch Mr. Smith (our music teacher) on tv! Channel 7 at Noon

Monday, December 21
All School Pajama Day
Please wear school appropriate pajamas and school appropriate footwear. Send in snowpants and boots for recess.

Tuesday, December 22
Classroom Christmas Parties!

Fun Christmas attire and/or ugly Christmas sweater day; jeans may be worn

Half Day - Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.

December 23 - January 3
Christmas Break

Monday, January 4
School resumes in person for Preschool and Kindergarten

Online virtual for grades 1 - 8

Monday, January 11
School resumes in-person for all grades!

Friday, January 15
Last day of the Second quarter

Monday, January 18
No School - Martin Luther  King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 19
First day of Third Quarter

Friday, January 22
Report Cards sent home
 
Winter Recess
and Masks
Our students will be going outside for recess whenever the weather cooperates within our outdoor protocols. However, teachers noticed that masks get damp during recess. As a result, we are asking that all families please send in an additional mask so that students can change them after recess.

We thank you for your support!
 
Extension of
Second Quarter

Due to school being virtual for the week of January 4 - 8, we have extended the second quarter of school to conclude on January 15 instead of January 8. This allows teachers and students to be in person to attend to end of the quarter assessments and assignments. As a result, report cards will be distributed on Friday, January 22nd.

Thank you for your understanding!
 
Last spring, St. Matthew Lutheran School and Church combined efforts to support and pray for 15 local hospitals during the pandemic. Donations were also raised, allowing us to takes meals to frontline workers in each of these hospitals.

We are so excited that additional donations are allowing us to send 220 "Christmas Meals" to frontline workers at Southfield Providence Hospital and Detroit Sinai Grace Hospital on Wednesday, December 23rd. With the assistance of the Iron Food Truck, frontline workers will receive a meal of appreciation as well as cards of encouragement that have been created by our St. Matthew students.

We pray that God's love will be seen through our efforts!
 
Christmas Fun
Dress Up Days
With next week being such a short week, we are going to have a little fun by organizing a few "dress up days". 

Monday - Pajama Day for entire school. Please wear school appropriate pajamas and school appropriate footwear. Send in snowpants and boots for recess.

Tuesday - Fun Christmas attire or ugly Christmas sweater day. You may also wear jeans this day, too.

Looking forward to a fun week!
 

Right now there are MANY opportunities to "get together" as much as we are able to celebrate the Savior's birth. Here are a few! If you'd like to be on the email list for St. Matthew Lutheran Church Children's Ministry - Family Events and Activities (birth-Grade 5), please email Dawn Rupe at dawn.rupe@st-matthew.org.

Zoom Christmas Parties:
Sunday, 12/20 (Email Dawn for the link.):

12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Lego Christmas Build Party- Have your legos ready!

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.
Christmas Games Party

3:35 - 4:15 p.m.
3rd - 5th Grade BINGO Christmas Party - a BINGO card will be sent to you to fill out before we start!

Also, sign up for the 12 Days of Christmas! Fun activities, treats, devotions and more that start on Christmas Day.

REMEMBER Email Dawn Rupe for the links!
Merry Christmas!
 

As for now, we are continuing the Screening Form admittance process into the school. If you would like to print copies at home please click HERE.

Please remember, Mrs. Palka always has extra copies at the 100 Wing entrance, and Mrs. Yeskie has extras at the HUB entrance.
 
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas
as you celebrate the
BEST gift of all... Jesus!
With much Love,
The Staff of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School

"For God so loved the world, that
He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16
 
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Let the Baking Begin!
Due to COVID restrictions that prevent us from gathering together, we have designed this year's program to be interactive from your own family kitchen, as each school family will be encouraged to build a birthday cake for Jesus. During this creative culinary experience, we will have the opportunity to watch and listen to the students in preschool through fourth grade profess and remind us of the Biblical truths regarding Jesus' birth.

However, there are a few details that you need to know before you watch the video:

1. Once the video is completed, we will send you the link so that you can watch it. We are hopeful that the video will be completed around December 18.

2. Last Friday, all families received a gift bag containing most of the ingredients necessary to participate in this activity.

3. PLEASE HAVE ALL CAKES BAKED BEFORE WATCHING THE VIDEO AS YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTED HOW TO DECORATE YOUR FAMILY BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR JESUS THROUGHOUT THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.

4. Please bake the chocolate cake in round pans before the family watches the video. Also, you will only need one of the two chocolate cakes for this project.

5. Please make the white cake batter and split it into two bowls. Using the food coloring provided, please dye one half of the batter red and the other half green. Bake one red round cake and one round green cake. TAKE NOTE: Keep one chocolate layer, one red, and one green for use!

6. Please make sure that cakes have cooled before the family starts the video.

7. Items needed before watching video:
a. All items left in gift bag
b. Cake plate/platter to build the cake upon
c. Knife or icing spatula to frost cake
d. Phone camera to take a photo of your beautiful culinary creation!

8. Feel free to pause the video when necessary during the decorating process.

9. Please take a family photo with your cake and send to Julie.Yeskie@st-matthew.org so that we can post on Facebook to share.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!
 
God's richest blessings on your Christmas celebrations!
 
      ~ The Staff of St. Matthew Lutheran School
 
Congratulations to our
AR Milestone Achievers!
Last Wednesday during Chapel we celebrated with students who had achieved AR milestones:

* 4th grader, Makayla, earned 500 points
* 6th graders, Noah and David earned 500 points  
* 7th grader, Henry K., earned a spot on our
3000 point plaque!

Congratulations to all our award winners!  Keep reading! 


 
Mr. Jimmy Smith will be on Television This Sunday at Noon!
Our music teacher, Mr. Jimmy Smith, is a professional trumpet player and he is going to be on television, this Sunday at noon on Channel 7.

This musical special is called the "Karen Neuman Show" and the Detroit City Youth Choir will also be featured.
Mr. Smith says the band is amazing so hopefully you'll be able to tune in and enjoy!
 
Online School Returning for Students in Grades 1 - 8 during the Week of January 4 - 8, 2021
As the COVID cases in Michigan continue to escalate, we celebrate and praise God that we have been able to continue to offer in-person learning with minimal consequences.
 
However, we recognize that many families will visit with extended family members during the Christmas holiday. As a precautionary and proactive measure, we have prayerfully discerned that the students in grades 1 through 8 will have school online for the week of January 4 - 8 as a way to safely "self isolate" the student body. 
 
IMPORTANT FACTS TO KNOW FOR THIS ENDEAVOR TO BE SEAMLESS:
                                              
1. The school day will be designed in a similar fashion to a regular school day except virtually.
 
2. The school day will 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:20 p.m. Your teacher will send a wealth of information regarding schedules and codes. 
 
3. Students that do not participate will be marked absent.
 
4. All students in grades 1 - 8 will need a device that has a working microphone and camera. Cell phones are extremely small and challenging. If you need to borrow a school device, please complete our Technology Request Form. In addition to this request form, we also need the Chromebook User Agreement printed, signed, and returned prior to the pickup of your device. This request must be submitted by Friday, December 18th. 
 
5. For students who request to borrow a device, those devices will be sent home on Tuesday, December 22. If your child will not be in school on 12/22, please contact Mrs. Welte at: yvonne.welte@st-matthew to make arrangements for earlier pickup.
 
6. NEW School Board Decision - Due to the healthy statistics of preschool and Kindergarten-aged children in the state of Michigan, St. Matthew Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten  will remain in person the week of January 4-8, 2021, unless the State of Michigan would mandate otherwise. Our intent was always for Preschool to remain in person. After the previous week of online learning, our School Board agreed that it would be beneficial for our Kindergarten students to also return to in-person learning, unless the State of Michigan would mandate otherwise.
 
7. It is our prayer that in-person instruction will resume on January 11.
 
God is with us. He will guide us because we know, "There Is No Impossible With God!"


 

St. Matthew Lutheran Church is thrilled to be offering in-person, as well as online Christmas worship experiences.
However, due to the pandemic and our desire to keep everyone safe, we are requesting those who would like to  worship in-person to "sign up", so that we can ensure we have enough seating.

To sign up to attend one of our in-person services, please click HERE.