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Jeremy May, Pastor Sunday Services: 8:30, 11:00 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Church: 580-762-1111 www.flcspc.com

David Birnbaum, Principal School: 580-762-9950 website: flspc.org E-mail: lutheransecretary@yahoo.com Child Care: 580-762-1124 FastDirect: fastdir.com/flcspc January 8, 2014

CARDINAL CHATTER 1/8

1/10 1/15 1/15 1/20

4th-8th grade Geography Bee finals, 10 a.m.

Taco Bueno Night! 5-8 Report Cards go home Middle School Dance, Frozen, 6-9 p.m., Gym 4th-8th grade Spelling Bee finals, 2:30 p.m.

FLSCA Meeting-7:30 a.m., 8th Grade Room Parent/Teacher Conferences; No School

1/21 1/21-25 1/27-2/1 1/28-2/4 2/3 2/4 3/10-14

4th Grade to Rose Hill 6th Grade basketball tournament 5th Grade basketball tournament Mini Cheer Camp 4th Grade basketball tournament 2:30 Mini-cheer performance f/the school National Lutheran Schools Week

PRINCIPAL – Mr. Birnbaum: Welcome to a new year and semester. We praise God for the safe return of our staff and students. We pray that you all had a great break and we look forward to all the exciting events coming up quickly this semester. May God richly bless you and your family this New Year.

SCHOOL OFFICE – Mrs. Erickson: Thank you, everyone, for all of the Christmas cards and gifts; you are very thoughtful, and I am thankful to be working here with you! On another note, now that we are in the new year, our thoughts are turning to taxes! If you would like a printout of your payments to First Lutheran during 2013 for tax purposes, please send me a FastDirect-mail or call the school at 762-9950. Remember that not all payments to FLS are tax deductible, and you should contact a tax advisor to find out what can be written off, and what cannot.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PARKING: The area in front of the gym doors is for dropping off children at the door. If you prefer to walk your children in (we love to see you!), please park your car on the north side of the school or on the side streets.

Thanks!

MILK PRICES: Due to an increase in costs, effective January 1, 2014 milk prices will be 40 cents per carton of milk purchased with cash. The lunch price of $2.70 will remain the same, and will include one milk.

ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE (team sports, cheerleading, or other extra-curricular activities): Effective immediately, students involved in extra-curricular activities will have their grade status evaluated at the beginning of every three weeks. A student who has a grade below 70% in any subject will be put on probation. During that time, the student will be given an opportunity to raise the grade above 69.9%. The student must take action to raise the grade. Failure to raise the grade will result in suspension from the extra-curricular activity until the next three week grade check. After the first probationary period, a student will be suspended from the extra-curricular activity when any grade drops below 70%. Suspensions are enforced and lifted on the first school day of the week. (Any students failing a subject on their report card will be suspended from extra-curricular activities until all grades are passing at the three week check point.)

LATE FEES: Effective January 1, 2014, a $10 late fee will automatically be assessed monthly after the 16 th, for any outstanding balance.

ACADEMIC BEES: We’ve scheduled the Geography Bee for January 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the gym and the Spelling Bee for 2:00 on January 15. We’ll be picking competitors this week. Your child should be bringing home a note next week if he or she has been chosen to represent their class for the school-wide bee.

CHAPEL OFFERING: Our offerings for the third quarter will be going to Lutheran World Relief (LWR). LWR is helping with recovery after Typhoon Haiyan; they provide ongoing help for the malaria problem in Africa; and they provide farmers with animals and plants to help them be more self-sufficient. Please give generously.

TUTORING: Remember that we offer tutoring on Tuesday’s and Thursdays in the middle school math room from 3:30 – 4:30; it is available for any students in grades 4-8th, no prior notice is needed, and it is free! If you need a little extra help with a subject, please stop by!

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TACO BUENO NIGHT-TONIGHT!: Taco Bueno nights are the second Wednesday of each month through the end of the school year; our next event is tonight, Wednesday, January 8. We have averaged $85 a night for the first 3 months! Be sure to let them know that you are affiliated with First Lutheran School, and that we appreciate their generous donation! Thanks, also, to everyone who has previously attended our Taco Bueno nights!

SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST: DHS requires us to remind you periodically that we not only serve lunch, but breakfast as well! If your child would like to eat breakfast at school, it is served in the cafeteria between 7:45 – 8:05 each morning, and the menu for breakfast is listed on the lunch menu that we send home each month, and also on FastDirect. Also remember that we participate in the Free & Reduced lunch program; applications for this program were in your enrollment packets, and more applications are available in the office if you would like to apply at any time during the year. Please remember if your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, that applies to their breakfast as well. Please contact the school office if you have any questions.

Disclaimer: The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

HI FELLOW CARDINALS!: I am Adam Hoak (a FLS graduate and Cardinal as well) and I am currently working on my Eagle Scout Project. I am putting up three park benches and a trash receptacle along the basketball court on 4th Street. I am asking for donations because each bench costs around $400. The PTL has kindly given me $500, but I still need to raise around $1,400 so that I can complete my project and build the benches. If you would like to donate, checks should be made out to First Lutheran (so that they are tax deductible) and may be dropped off at the school office. Thank you for your support!

LIBRARY: Thank you to everyone who came to the book fair. We sold nearly $4000 worth of merchandise! From that we earned $600 cash and $1200 in Scholastic Dollars. Look for some new items for the libraries very soon! Special "thank you’s" to Angie Giles, Rachelle Oswalt, Betty Covey, Priscilla Schlichting, Cheryl Klein, Mrs. Powell, and Mrs. Sibley for help with decorating, setting up, taking down, and running the book fair. You were all amazing helpers. Also thanks to the eighth grade Junior Book Fair Crew. You guys added a really fun touch to the book fair festivities!

PRE-SCHOOL – Mrs. Herard: It's wonderful to be back-I missed those happy faces every morning! Thank you so very much for the wonderful gifts. I feel very blessed to be surrounded by great families and co-workers. God is good! Look for report cards coming home today. Please sign and return them. NO SCHOOL on Jan. 20th for P/T conferences. For PS, I will only have conferences if I feel it is necessary or is requested by a parent. Please contact me if you would like to schedule a conference. Show and Tell is this Thursday and Friday!! Our theme this week is "Snow", and we are learning about the letter "K" and number 7.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN - Mrs. Kelly: Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and time with your family.

Thank you for all of the wonderful gifts! Thank you for your help with the Christmas party! Show and Tell will be this Friday, the 10th. Book orders are in backpacks and due back to me or online by Friday, January 17th. Report cards are in backpacks today, please sign and return to me by Wednesday, January 15th. Muffins With Moms will be on Thursday, January 16th. I hope you all can come! Our Bible words this week are, I trust in You, O Lord. Psalm 31:14 We are learning the letter "L" this week. Have a wonderful week!

KINDERGARTEN - Ms. Miller: Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break. This Friday is show and tell (please bring something that will fit in your backpack). I would like to thank all the parents that came to our December party and made it so fun for us. I would also like to thank all the students and parents for all the awesome teacher gifts. You made me feel very special. I am glad to be back with your children because I missed them! Thank you most of all for sharing your kids with me. It is a true blessing teaching your children and watching them learn! Today please look for your child's report card in his/her backpack. In class we are working hard now to learn how to write our last names. Have an extra special week with God's blessings.

FIRST GRADE – Mrs. Birnbaum: Happy New Year! I would like to thank all of the parents for the awesome Christmas gifts - they are very much appreciated!! A big thank you to Christy Harland for organizing our fun Christmas party and for all of the parents who helped provide snacks. Reports cards were sent home today. You received two copies. Please sign one copy and return to school and the other one is for you to keep. January reading charts were sent home on Monday. These are due on Friday, January 31 for the Pizza Hut certificate. Keep reading!! Happy birthday to Connor on Thursday! Memory verse for Friday - Fear not, for I am with you always. Isaiah 43:5 SECOND GRADE – Mrs. Powell: Happy New Year! It's exciting to anticipate God's Blessings in 2014! I'm sure these amazing second graders will grow in Christ and become awesome third graders.

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Thank you so much for the lovely Christmas gifts. Thank you to our parents for planning such a fun Christmas party.

Report cards come home today. Please sign and return them. Let me know if you have questions or concerns. January Book It requirements are either 5 chapter books or 20 shorter books. We will do a written book report, at school, over the book of their choosing. We will begin memorizing the 10 commandments and their meanings. I've attached a copy to keep at home.

We will need extra practice at home. Thanks! Blessings!

THIRD GRADE - Mrs. Steichen: Welcome back and Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a relaxing two weeks off. We are hitting the roads hard and getting back into the swing of things. This week: Memory: we will start memory next week and we will be working on the Ten Commandments. I hope they do not have too much trouble with this because they did it last year. Reading: Seeing Stars-paragraph on Thursday and Test on Friday. Spelling: Test on Friday. Social Studies: We are starting a new Unit about Early America. Look for a test in three weeks. Science: New chapter on Energy. Look for a test in two weeks. ITBS Tests: I know that Test week is not till April, but since I will not be here, we are going to get a start on getting ourselves ready. Every Monday there will be a packet sent home. I will let everyone know what pages are for homework and which ones we will complete in class. If you have any questions about these, please let me know; I just want everyone to feel confident going into these test even though I will not be here. Book Report: Everyone did a wonderful job on their Biography books. Thank you for all your hard work! Report Cards: I sent home report cards today; please sign them and return them back to me by Friday. Have a wonderful week!

FOURTH GRADE - Mrs. Sibley: What a relaxing and refreshing break we had as we celebrated the birth of our Savior.

Now we enjoy the Epiphany season, where the Magi came to give the gifts to our Lord. I hope that you all had a wonderful time on break as I did. Keep reading for AR and Book-it as we are already taking AR tests. We will be having a Science test this Friday, review went home on Monday, and will be reviewing on Wednesday. In math we are worked on prime and composite numbers, which includes the multiples of numbers. Memory for January 15 is an oral test over John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Our Rose Hill trip is just around the corner. Field Trip Permission forms will be sent this week and are due Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Be ready with your time period clothes! Watch for further information about Rose Hill.

FIFTH GRADE - Mrs. Schatte: Happy New Year! How good to be back to work! Tests this week include math on Thursday, and spelling and reading on Friday. Memory work is Psalm 51:10-12, due Thursday. Happy birthday in this chilly month of January to Cole (10). Congratulations to Steven, David and Ryan for representing our class in the Geography Bee today.

MIDDLE SCHOOL 1/13

1/16 1/20 1/23

Pep Rally, 2:00 B-ball! Tonkawa @ FLS: 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 B-ball! FLS @ Newkirk: 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 B-ball! DCLA @ FLS: 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 B-ball! FLS @ Central Christian, Wichita: 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00

1/30 2/3

B-ball! FLS @ Ponca West: 6:00, 7:00 B-ball! FLS @ Saints (Marland Children’s Home): 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 2/4 B-ball! Central Christian @ FLS: 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 2/6 B-ball! FLS @Tonkawa: 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 2/14-15 B-ball! Topeka Tournament!

FLSCA: Our next FLSCA meeting is scheduled for January 15th at7:30 a.m. We hope to see you there!

MATHCOUNTS: Please consider joining us for MathCounts on Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30. We work on some interesting math challenges AND there’s always food!!

STUDENT COUNCIL: We’ll be electing second semester Student Council Representatives on Monday, January 13.

Students who would like to run for Student Council must write a letter to Mrs. Goll with a parent’s signature (indicating both parent approval and parent support) and submit it by Friday.

STUDENT COUNCIL-The Winter Dance: FROZEN will be held on Friday, January 10 from 6-9 in the school gym. This dance is for FLS middle school students only. Students should bring a canned food product as their “ticket” to the dance.

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINTER DANCE: is Friday - January 10 from 6 to 9 in the gym. The theme is Frozen. To get in, Middle School students must bring food items for donation to the Food Bank. Also bring snack foods to share at the dance.

CHEER: Our auction cheerleader, Jill Jackson, will be performing with the cheerleaders at our next pep rally on Monday, January 13, at 2:00. She will also be joining us as we face Tonkawa that evening at 7:00 and 8:00. We hope everyone 3

will come out and cheer on our Cardinals to a win! The FLS cheerleaders are also sponsoring a mini-cheer clinic Tuesday, Jan. 28 through Monday, Feb. 3. All participants will be cheering at our pep assembly on February 4 and at 6:30 that evening. Look for the flyer attached to this week's Cardinal Chatter to find out more information and to sign up. We hope that you can join us!

Mrs. Harbeson: HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope you all had a spectacular Christmas break and are ready to start 2014!

Thank you, Everyone, for all the Christmas presents. I truly appreciate your generosity! Congratulations, 7th Grade! Your class won the 2nd quarter class party for having the highest spelling test average! Our party will be next Thursday, January 16. We will plan the party during class this week. In language, all classes have received their first novels for the 3rd quarter. I have given every student a bookmark that has all the quizzes listed. If you lose your bookmark, ask me for another; I have extra. We won't have spelling or vocabulary tests this week. Our first tests will be next Wednesday, and I've listed all spelling words on my bulletin board today. In grammar, 7th and 8th will continue their study on Unit 5 punctuation. You will have tests next week. 6th grade will begin a short unit on using commas in sentences. Your test will be this Friday, Jan. 10. To find out more information, please check out my bulletin board. That's it for now! Blessings on our new year!

Mrs. Hanson: Hope everyone had a chance to relax a little during the break because it's time to kick it back into high gear again! We are picking up right where we left off. And we are going to start on the right foot. I have a feeling this is the semester for no late assignments, good grades, and happy students, teachers, and parents! Prevention is always better medicine than intervention. So if at any point you feel your student is slipping or if I feel it, we are going to take action immediately and not wait till the last moment.

The new eligibility policy is in full swing. If any student has a failing grade on a report card, they are ineligible for AT LEAST three weeks. That means we have three weeks to start good homework and study habits so that at the end of those three weeks the student can play their sport while keeping their grades high!

Mrs. Goll: Welcome back and Happy New Year! Thanks so much for the generous Christmas gifts. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. Overall, I’ve been very pleased with the performance of our math students. As you review grades on the report card, please call me or FastDirect me if you have any questions or if you’d like to visit about your student’s math progress.

Mr. Watters: Welcome back from Christmas Break! Thanks to the room parents who organized our class party, and thanks for all of the Christmas goodies. As we begin the new semester, please remember that the new eligibility rules apply starting now; keep an eye on your grades in FastDirect. If you find yourself slipping in a class, work hard to get that grade up before you become ineligible. Remember that we have tutoring after school on Tuesday and Thursday in the math room if you need extra help.

First Lutheran Church & School—Growing up into Jesus, Reaching out with Jesus, Walking together in Jesus

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