Joe Highley, Pastor
David Birnbaum, Principal
First Lutheran Church School: 580-762-9950
Sunday Services: 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Sunday School: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
website: flcspc.com
E-mail: lutheransecretary2022@gmail.com
Church: 580-762-1111
FastDirect: www.fastdir.com/flcspc
Child Care: 580-762-1124 www.flcspc.com
3/1 -Talent Show Auditions @ 3:30 in the gym
3/2 Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geiser)
3/4 Middle School Winter Dance 7-9:00 P.M.
3/5-Kindergarten/1st Singing in Church 9 am
3/6-3/10- Lutheran Schools Dress Up week (see flyer)
3/6-Open House (3:15-5:15)
3/8-NLSW Chapel led by 2nd grade
March 1, 2023
3/9 Talent show in the evening (see more below)
3/10 10:00 Volleyball (8th gr vs. Staff)
3/28- Basketball Banquet
988 Saves Lives - Anyone can now call or text 988 to reach the national suicide prevention lifeline. The hope is that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline becomes synonymous with mental health care, just as 911 is with public safety. (Texas Co-op Power magazine, February 2023, p. 5)
**Don’t forget the Middle School Dance Saturday evening -You can pay in the office or at the door. **
CONGRATULATIONS - Oklahoma House Bill 1935 passed last week so your tuition payments to our school should count as tax credit for 2023. If I understand it correctly, since OK has 5% max tax rate and you earn $100,000+ then $5000 in OK income tax translates to $5000 tax credit fully. And for the median family income of about $60K that would give $3000 tax back which still AMAZING!
Time to re-enroll your child. We will begin accepting new applicantsMarch 1st. So, get your spot reserved ASAP.
NO INCREASES! Our School Board voted last week to keep School Registration/Enrollment and Tuitions rates the same for next school year. We are implementing a $50 registration fee for the Early Childhood program to get financial commitment from families. We are also working on Summer Day Care rates to reduce drop-ins to ensure spaces for those who need us full-time. We also voted to keep the $200 referral gifts to families who get new families to our school in kindergarten to 6th grade. (See the attached financial page for Referral Credit and more.) Room Parents - Please be working on your class auction projects. The auction will be at the Osage Casino on April 1 so your items should be in the school office immediately after Spring Break please.
Chess Club is now available to 2-5 graders in the middle school on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:15-4. We will have it divided up between those who are brand new to chess and those who have an idea of what they're doing. If you have any questions, please let me know! Mr. Brey Talent Show- March 9 5:30 PM. In the gym, Pick up applications from your teacher. Try-outs are Wednesday March 1st. If you have questions contact 4th grade teacher Megan Sibley.
School's 70th Anniversary Reunion - We are making plans to celebrate this milestone with a golf tournament on Friday-March 31, comedians, dinner, auction, and dance at the Osage casino
on Saturday-April 1. Also, some basketball, and a special memorial worship service on SundayApril 2. Mark your calendars and tell your friends and our alumni.
*Last week to order 70th Anniversary Shirts, Hoodies and Sweaters
Stu-co- Mrs. Harbeson- See Middle School dance flyer attached.
Greeting FLS Families!
First Lutheran is celebrating its 70th year educating Ponca City's children! Events will be held March 31-April 2. To commemorate this milestone, the student council is selling shirts. We are extending the deadline to order your shirts until Friday, March 10 (the last day of the 3rd quarter). Money raised from this fundraiser will go to student council expenses and to the Ponca City Humane Society.
The order form is attached to this edition of the Chatter. Short-sleeved, long-sleeved, sweatshirts, and hoodies are available. Casey McClaskey has created an awesome screen for us, and we are excited to see everyone wearing our newest shirts. Forms and money may be turned into the office by Friday, March 10th. If you have any questions, please let me know!
Mrs. Harbeson
Sandi Lyons- Cafeteria- As a friendly reminder: No fast food for breakfast or lunch. It is in the parent handbook. At breakfast NO Starbucks, donuts, pop or coffee. They will be sent to the office.
DAYCARE – Mrs. Becker: Sign-Ups for the Half Day 3/10 will be posted today. We will have limited spots for the Half Day and for Spring Break. Please remember to keep extra clothes in your child's backpack.
Principal --. Birnbaum: WELCOME to MARCH! A lot going on with Academic Bowl this Friday, Lutheran School's Week next week, end of the 3rd quarter, Spring Break, Golf tournament, and the reunion weekend. Wow time flies because we are having soooo much fun (and learning, of course)!
MUSIC – Mrs. Brey: Kindergarten and First Grade students are singing in church THIS SUNDAY, March 5th, at 9am! They are singing a song called "Life is a Journey." Elementary students are starting to learn about our Spring Musical: "The Lions, the Switch, and the Warm Robes." This musical will be presented on Thursday, May 11th at 6:30pm! Middle school students are learning about the history of hymns and how they got to where they are today.
LIBRARY- Mrs. Manning- Just another reminder to send school related pictures to the yearbook account at yearbook@flcspc.com We appreciate you!
5th grade AR goals are coming up, be reading when you get the opportunity!
PRE-SCHOOL – Mrs. Daine: Thank you for the snacks!! This week we are learning ’S’, 10, black, and our Bible focus is on Zacchaeus! This week is Read Across America and we are reading Dr. Seuss books! Have a blessed rest of the week!
PRE-SCHOOL – Mrs. Colvin: This week we are continuing on the letters V, J and Q. We are also working hard on writing our names. This week is Read Across America Week! On Thursday, the kids can dress up like their favorite book character/Hat Day. Our Bible words this week are: Jesus said, "Learn from Me." Matthew 11:29. Our snacks box is getting empty. Please send some snacks. Thanks! Have a great week!
PRE-K – Mrs. Kelly: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! (2nd) We are having fun celebrating reading and different authors each day. Tomorrow we are celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday. Your child may dress like their favorite book character or wear a hat. Thank you to all of our guest readers! Book orders are due to me or online on Friday. Show and Tell will be on Friday. I would like your child to bring their favorite book, and a small stuffed animal to read with on Friday. Please make sure their name is in the book. Next week is National Lutheran Schools Week. Look in Chatter for more information and dress up days. Our Bible words are, Jesus said," Learn from Me." Matthew 11:29 We are continuing the letters Vv,Jj,Qq and the number 17. Have a Blessed week!
KINDERGARTEN – Mrs. Miller: Please mark your calendars for March 5th (this Sunday) because Kindergarten and First Grade will sing on that Sunday at the 9:00 am service. Students may sit with their families until they are called up to the front. Mrs. Brey the music teacher will lead the kids to sing. This week we are doing Read across America and each day we learn about an author and the books they write. It is also, Dr. Seuss' birthday this week on Thursday. Happy birthday Theodore Geisel! I hope everyone has a sensational week! This Friday the 3rd will be show & tell.
FIRST GRADE – Mrs. Birnbaum: Happy March! Memory for Friday is the 1st CommandmentYou shall have no other gods. February reading logs are due for the Pizza Hut certificate. March is the last month for the Book It Program. We are having fun this week for Read Across America! Tomorrow is a special dress-up day if they want! Parent order forms for our class book are due to me by Friday. Please make sure that you fill out the form and envelope. They are already anxious for the book to be published! Our class along with kindergarten sing in church at 9:00 on Sunday! Your child may sit with you until it is time for them to sing. I hope to see you there! Happy birthday to Lola on Friday, March 3!
SECOND GRADE – Ms. Felton:. On March 8, 2nd grade is leading chapel, starting at 10:00am in our church! If you can, please come and join us! We continue to raise money for Heifer International. The students have raised $139.35. They are almost to their goal of $170! Next week is also National Lutheran Schools week, so we will have dress-up days and some school activities. March is here and it is “Reading Month.” It serves as a good reminder of the importance of reading at every age. Congratulations to Knox and Claire for meeting your AR goals this week! Since the 3rd quarter ends at Spring Break, be checking in on your child’s progress and grades - any missing work will be 0s as of Monday. The 7th Commandment and meaning is this Friday’s memory, and the 8th Commandment with meaning is next week. Keep IOWA testing on your radar for April If you’d like to schedule a parent-teacher conference before or after Spring Break for the 3rd quarter, please let me know.
THIRD GRADE – Mrs. Steichen: TWO WEEKS!! We only have two more till the end of the quarter and a lot to fit in. Remember that next week is Lutheran Schools week; we have dress up days, and activities planned throughout the week. Please check the chatter for these. This week: Spelling, Reading, Language and Memory all due on Friday. memory: John 1:1-2: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Math: test today and one more before Spring Break. Science: Test over rocks next week. Also, a Social Studies Test over the branches of Government next week. Review will be going home for both of these. Most students have met their goals, please ask your child where they are. Chapel Offering: We are inching closer to our goal we are currently sitting at $125 of our $260. Please consider donating.
THANK YOU: thank you so much to all of you who answered my request for a pencil sharpener and straws. I appreciate you all! Have a wonderful week!
FOURTH GRADE – Mrs. Sibley: Our Lord is really showing His power with the weather. I can really see big light bulbs come on when division is practiced properly at home to reinforce what happens at school with the process of questions being asked to be successful. Make sure you are walking through this with them. Fast Direct has a list of missing work as we are wrapping up the 3rd quarter for the year for success. Make sure kids are getting in all work turned in, giving full effort, and asking questions. Let’s all finish strong. Keep reading for AR you can make it!
5th GRADE– Mrs. Sibley Good day, parents! We have been enjoying the Science reports on planets this week! Our next subject will be on plate tectonics in science. In Language we continue to study pronouns. This week we will study demonstrative and Interrogative pronouns. We have our new spelling words and will need your help in studying the words! The words are very long. Our Bible time will be used to study "A Job for me," "Meeting the Ninevites," and "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego." Our Bible verse for memorization is from I Thessalonians 5:16-18. Work with your student so they can say these verses orally for Thursday or Friday. On Friday, March 3,
eight of our Fifth Graders will be going to Broken Arrow to represent our school. They will be leaving at 6:30 am and will return at 4:00 pm. The cost is $ 13.50 which helps to cover their lunch that day. They will wear jeans and a FLS shirt/sweatshirt. We wish our Academic Bowl team members the very best! Have a great week! Mrs. S. Sibley
Religion: Mrs. Brey- Students are learning about Lent and the background of the Passover. We are talking about salvation and what the people in the Old Testament were required to do to atone for their sins. Memory work is due on Friday (Galatians 5:22-23).
MATH – Mr. McKinley- 5th-This week we are going to finish chapter 9 with a quiz, review and then test.
6th-This week we will finish chapter 7 and test. Toward the end of the week, we will start chapter 8 which is on ratios and rates.
7th-This week we will work with function notation, systems of linear equations, and graphing inequalities.
MATH—Mr. Birnbaum- 8th grade: I gave the math classes some online IXL math lessons to give them more practice on the topics that I have been trying to teach in class. They are more than welcome to do ALL the math sections in the grade level below them to increase their skill level. It is a GREAT program. Check it out.
SCIENCE – Mrs. Porter-Cain: Hello spring weather! Complete with tornados..... Hope everyone is recovered from the crazy Sunday night we all had! 6th Grade Science- they are working on their simple machine projects! These will be due next week so please help them stay on task. 7th Gradethey started their mineral/ rock projects yesterday! These will be due next week! 8th Grade- they will start their "my alien" project this week! These will be due next week! All Science classes do projects at the end of quarters in place of tests. These projects are worth 300 test points so it is very important that they take them seriously!
PE- We will be doing various activities and getting outside every chance we get!
Basketball- BANQUET WILL BE ON MARCH 28-MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!!
LANGUAGE – Ms. Kester: ELA students are demonstrating what they've learned this school year by engaging their current project centered on this quarter's class books in Literature. It requires daily submissions through Tuesday. Each stage nurses a level on Bloom's Taxonomy with all of them culminating into the creation of a Bloom ball! On March 9, students will take a test on pronouns that will include case, gender, number and function, before they dance into their punctuation units. If they plan to be absent on test day, then they must take the test early as no late tests will be accepted. New REL memory work is posted and due by March 10. Again, no late test will be accepted as seventh graders are allowed to take it any day between now and then. As students finish reading the Gospel of Mark, it is being supplemented with episodes of The Chosen that depict many stories they are encountering in the Synoptic Gospels. As seventh graders continue walking through the Narrative genre, namely those books that recount the life and sufferings of Jesus, they are daily journaling about Lent in their planners. May they never despise walking in the footsteps of Jesus!
SOCIAL STUDIES – Mr. Brey: 5th: Students will continue to explore the Westwards trails this week. 6th: Students will learn about the Roman Republic this week and how it turned into an empire. 7th and 8th: Students are wrapping up their final unit and will be studying for their final that will happen next week. IMPORTANT: Each student will have three opportunities to take the final (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday) the week before spring break. I will take the score of the LAST final they take.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
The middle school winter dance is quickly approaching! Here's the information for the evening: Winter Dance Theme: A Night in Paris
When: Saturday March 4, 2023
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Where: FLS gym
Cost: $5 per person (Half will be given to the Lutheran church pantry fund and half will go towards the cost of the dance. You may pay in the school office in advance for $5 or at the door for $8. Who is invited: All FLS 6th, 7th, and 8th grade middle school students only. This is not considered a "date dance." The winter dance is a time for all the students to dress up, have fun with their friends, and listen to good music. Also, please remember that this is a middle school dance. Fancy cars, suits, and dresses are not necessary. Let's save that experience for our students when they go to their high school prom.
Chaperones: Mrs. Harbo and the middle school teachers. Parents are welcome to stay and take pictures when you drop your student off but should plan on leaving by 7:30
Dress: This is a semi-dressy dance. No sweats, shorts, or t-shirts.
Ladies - dresses or pants. Dresses may not be strapless. (Spaghetti straps are ok for the dance only.) No heeled shoes at the dance. Please follow the school dress code for appropriate length and fit of your dress.
Gentlemen - Button-down shirts or polos. Slacks or nice jeans. (No very distressed jeans or jeans with holes.)
Food: The student council will be providing snacks and drinks. However, it is strongly encouraged that you eat dinner before coming to the dance. In past years, a parent or two from the class will organize a dinner for the students. If your class chooses to do this, please take into consideration the cost of the meal so every student can afford to go.
Washington D.C. trip fundraising opportunity for all 6th - 8th grade students!
FLCS is hosting a golf tournament on Friday, March 31 at Wentz Memorial Golf Course. All 6th-8th grade students will have the opportunity to sell sponsorships for the tournament. Students will keep 20% of each sponsorship they secure, and it will be applied to their D.C. accounts. Just to give you an idea of how this can add up...
$100 - hole sponsor ($80 FLS/$20 student)
$300 - Cardinal Sponsor ($240 FLS/$60 student)
$800 - Corporate Sponsor ($640 FLS/$160 student)
You do not have to know anything about golf to participate! We will be meeting next week to discuss and answer any questions you may have. Here are the details:
Date: Tuesday, February 21 Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: FLC Fellowship Hall (the green doors at the top of the stairs to the church)
Who: all FLS parents/students in grades 6-8
What:
- Explaining how the fundraiser works
- Explaining the hole sponsor breakdown
- Handing out sponsor sheets and tournament information
- Signing up to secure sponsors for our golf tournament
- Answering any questions you may have
Questions: contact Mrs. Harbeson through FastDirect
