Lion's Roar November 2016 by Zion Lutheran School

Founded in 1861

Zion Lutheran School provides a Christ centered approach to education. This education nurtures the child’s faith, equipping him/her to use and share that faith on a daily basis. Our Vision: That every child knows Jesus as his/her personal Savior.

LION’S ROAR Zion Lutheran School’s November Newsletter

CALENDAR 11

NO SCHOOL Veteran’s Day

Kindergarten Readiness Night @ ZLS 6 p.m.

Service Club 3:05 p.m.

Fall Sports Banquet

Half Day of School Harvest Parties

23-25

Thanksgiving Break

Picture Retake Day 3-year old preschool

CHAPEL

During the 2016-17 school year, our weekly chapel services will take place on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Parents and families are welcome to join us!

WORSHIP

First & Second graders sing at 10:45 am worship on Nov. 20

Happy Birthday to all who celebrate in November

GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART Gratitude - November Character Trait

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. “Thank you!” is a phrase I find myself saying pretty often (but maybe not even as much as I should). In fact, I find it to be fairly easy to say these words to anyone, but in preparation for this month’s character focus, I had to look passed the manners that my parents instilled in me and question whether or not my heart is truly grateful. The truth is, that “Thank you!” has become such a regular saying that it comes out quickly and naturally, and I (admittedly) haven’t been putting much thought into it...until I was planning my chapel talk for this past week. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17, we find the story of the ten lepers. This group of outcasts dares to approach Jesus to ask for His healing. Jesus responds by telling them to simply go see the priest. On their way to see him, they are healed! One of these lepers, overcome with gratitude, returns to Jesus to thank Him - but only one. Why didn’t the others return to thank Him? One of our students suggested that perhaps the other nine were so excited to be healed and reunited with their families, that they probably didn’t even think about it. After all, Jesus didn’t touch them or say He was going to heal them; maybe they did not associate this gift of healing with the Healer who gave it to them. Does this happen with us or with our children? I had to reflect for a moment - Have I ever been so focused on a generous gift that I neglected to acknowledge the one who gave it to me? I most likely said, “Thank you,” but did I take the time to consider the heart of the giver? I am embarrassed to say that I have rarely done that! I am even more ashamed to admit that, while I thank God for the things He’s given me, I have rarely focused my gratitude on the heart of God and why He’s blessed me in the way that He has. In fact, (here’s my confession) there are days that I am more focused on what God hasn’t given me than on what He has or on who He is. If anything I have shared in the previous paragraph sounds familiar to you or your children, then I am encouraging you to accept the challenges I posed to our students to help us all cultivate a more grateful heart. First, practice true gratitude that focuses on the heart of the giver and expresses our gratitude to them for sharing their generous spirit and to God from whom all good gifts come. Second, balance our thanking with our asking. For every petition we make to God, help us to first thank Him for a blessing He’s already given. By doing this, my prayer is that any fear, anger, or bitterness we have would be calmed by the overflowing of love that we feel toward our Heavenly Father, the Giver of Life, who gives us every good and perfect gift. Mrs. Ananda Baron, Principal

Zion Lutheran School - Voted #1 Elementary School 2015 Belleville News Democrat’s Readers’ Choice Awards 1810 McClintock Ave. Belleville, IL 62221 Ph: 618-234-0275 zionoffice@zionschoolbelleville.org

NOVEMBER CHARACTER TRAIT: GRATITUDE

Donations Accepted NOW-Dec. 5th Shopping Dates: Tuesday Dec. 6th - Thursday, Dec. 8th Mouse House is a Christmas gift shopping experience for all Zion students, Preschool - 8th grade. • • • • • • • •

We ask each family to donate NEW store bought or hand crafted items of any type. Please keep in mind gifts for men, women, kids, and pets. Edible treats are a hit, as are creatively packaged Dollar Store, bargain bin, and clearance items. Families are asked to create a list of people for whom they wish to shop, and to write the names on the outside of an envelope containing the shopping money. Students are usually allowed to shop for 6-10 people. Students shop from the donated items to fulfill their “gift list”. Items are priced $.50 - $1.50. Preschool-Kindergarten will have assistance with their shopping from the older students. Mouse House volunteers will “wrap” the presents by placing them in decorated bags (or gift wrap for larger items) and putting them all together in a large paper bag along with the student’s change envelope. The items will be brought home at the end of their shopping day. Adult volunteers are needed during setup/clean up and shopping days! Volunteer forms will be coming home soon for sign-up times, or you may sign up online.

Any profit from Mouse House goes directly back to our school and students. Some funds are used to purchase Bibles for the Second Grade 1st Bible Faith Stepping Stone. Other funds go toward teacher requests and Teacher Appreciation. That is basically how it works! If you have questions about any aspect of Mouse House, please feel free to contact Jessica Baack at 973-3993 (phone calls and texts are welcome). Hopefully this information will shed some light on this very special, long-standing Zion tradition. We look forward to sharing in this experience with your family!

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED OUR INAUGURAL ZION OPEN. MORE THAN $7,200 WAS RAISED FOR THE ZLS TUITION ASSISTANCE FUND. GOD IS GOOD!!! 2

Interested in joining Girl Scouts?

All second/third grade girls who would like to join us are welcome. We meet on Tuesdays twice a month during the school year. Meetings take place in the church basement until 4:30 p.m.

CONTACT LAURIE LIPPERT ON FASTDIRECT FOR ALL THE INFO AND TO JOIN!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

FAMILY TABLE NIGHT Family Table Night at Eckert’s in October raised more than $330 for our school. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support ZLS. This year, FTN has raised more than $700. Please continue to support these efforts! Be on the lookout for November’s date!

AUCTION 2017 ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL DINNER AUCTION SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017 REGENCY CONFERENCE CENTER O’FALLON, IL

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we are in

Shop Amazon Smile this holiday season and support Zion Lutheran Church & School.

need of volunteers to make it all happen. There are multiple volunteer opportunities for parents who have a little, and a lot, of time to give. If you can help in some way, please sign up and the steering committee with follow up with more information. Thank you!

Below is our specific link. Bookmark it and everytime you shop at Amazon, go through this link to raise funds for ZLS!

WALL OF HONOR - PHOTOS NEEDED Attention all military families at Zion - Retired military count

too!! We’d like to feature you on our Wall of Honor - the board located in the main entrance of our school. If you’d like to be featured on the wall, please submit a physical photo to the school office of you and your family. We will hang the pictures, once laminated, on our Wall of Honor.

smile.amazon.com/ch/37-0681523

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DO FOR OUR COUNTRY.

#WHATEVER BASED ON COLOSSIANS 3:17

CONGRATS OCTOBER CHARACTER AWARD WINNERS

CELEBRATING A GREAT FALL SEASON OF SPORTS AT ZLS!

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Christmas is coming fast! Only 4 (four) more Fridays to order Gift Cards Our last Friday to place an order will be Friday, Dec. 9. Orders turned into the office by Friday 9 a.m. can USUALLY be picked up the following Thursday in the school office (except the week of Thanksgiving). That will be our last order in 2016! For those of you not familiar with our script program, it is a way for you to order gift cards from different stores & restaurants and get a return on your purchase. The school makes a percentage off each card and we split the profit. Your percentage is totaled twice a year (July 1 thru Dec. 16 & Jan. – Jun.) and will be taken off your tuition payment or can be donated to the Scholarship fund. Using Gift Cards is simple: • You may order on line at www.glscrip.com (school code DB8LFC4B14951)and pay for your order in the office. Or stop by the office anytime we’re open to purchase or order cards. Order forms are available on the turnstile by the front door, on at zionschoolbelleville.org website and online at www.glscrip.com. Contact the office for more information. Just to name a few merchants this year: Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Gander Mountain, Macys, Dillard’s, Home Goods, Noodles & Company, Target, Walmart, Shop-n-Save, plus many more! If you have a favorite we will be happy to buy some to keep in stock for quick sale! Just let us know. You can contact Mrs. Rudolph or Mrs. Marino in the office for more information (234-0275).

NOTE: We will let our inventory (of on hand cards) run down for closing the end of year books.

DEADLINE FOR NEXT LIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ROAR: TUESDAY, NOV. 29

SPORTS

CLICK HERE FOR ZION SPORTS CALENDAR - NOVEMBER

LUNCH

CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES - NOVEMBER

Zion Lutheran School • zionschoolbelleville.org 1810 McClintock Ave. Belleville, IL 62221 • School Office: 618-234-0275 Please send all materials for the Lion’s Roar to Erica Stelling - estelling@zionschoolbelleville.org

KINDERGARTEN READINESS NIGHT

Voted #1 Elementary School

BND’s Readers’ Choice Awards

Tuesday, Nov. 15 6-7:30 p.m. @ Zion Lutheran School What does your child need to be ready for Kindergarten? Join us on Nov. 15 and find out!

Topics that will be discussed include academic, emotional, and social readiness, which can make for a successful Kindergarten experience. You’ll hear from our Principal, Kindergarten & Preschool teachers and a current Kindergarten parent. Prepare both yourself and your child for this exciting transition.

Childcare is available and pizza will be served! RSVP online at zionschoolbelleville.org or email Erica Stelling, Admissions & Marketing Director at estelling@zionschoolbelleville.org **Please indicate if you will be needing childcare***

SERVE&&COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SERVE Nativity Keepsake Project 4th/5th/6th Graders

Each year students are given the opportunity to paint (bronze rub) ceramic pieces for a nativity scene. This is a project that begins in 4th grade with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, continues in 5th grade with a camel & 3 wise men and comes to a completion in 6th grade with an angel & 2 shepherds (If your child was not here for one or two of those grades, they will be given a chance to create the missing pieces this year.) It is a wonderful keepsake to remember the true meaning of

Christmas and reflect on the biblical base they were given here at Zion School. This project is facilitated through the Art program using project volunteers. It is funded through the PTL Auction, Box Tops for Education, Mouse House and Family Table Night money. If you are interested in being involved with this project as a parent volunteer, please contact Dawn Gray 406-4962 or on Fast Direct. We need helping hands:

Monday, November 7th from 8:15-11:00am Tuesday, November 8th from 9:00-11:00am Tuesday, November 8th from 1:00-3:00pm Thursday, November 10th from 1:00-3:00pm If you can spare a couple of hours on any or all of these days, we will gladly take your helping hands!! You can also contribute by donating old rags and shoeboxes. Please send to the office. Thank you! Blessings, Dawn Gray Project Volunteer 8

SERVE & COMMUNITY

ZION’S CLASS HARVEST PARTIES:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Due to EARLY DISMISSAL the parties will be held from 12:45-1:15pm. Your party leaders will need help with food and party supply donations. Be on the look out for what you can donate and how you can pitch in to help. Kindergarten- Griffith Harvest Party – Rebecca Ritz Kindergarten- Ziegler Harvest Party – Anne Junge 1 st Grade- Hasstedt Harvest Party – Melissa Souther 2 nd Grade- Haynes Harvest Party –Jennifer Pagan 2 nd Grade- Lotz Harvest Party – Tara Kopf 3 rd Grade- Barradas Harvest Party – Jaime Dill 4 th Grade – Sehr Harvest Party – Mandy Pyles 4 th Grade – Bennett Harvest Party – Faith Spellbring 5 th Grade- Holle Harvest Party – Jill Tantillo 6 th Grade- Schmid Harvest Party – Cari Rensing 7 th Grade – Hackstadt Harvest Party – Yarah Barger

WEDNESDAY, DEC 7 @ 5:30 P.M. We know that Christmas is a very busy time of year, but it’s also a time of year worthy of our attention and celebration as we remember the birth of our Savior. We want all of our students and families to share in this celebration of praise to our Lord, so we are creating an evening to do just that. On the night of Wednesday, December 7th, our preschoolers and kindergartners will perform a short Christmas concert in the school gym. It will begin at 5:30 and conclude around 6:00. At approximately 6:15, the 1st through 4th graders will perform a Christmas musical in the church that will conclude around 7:00. Lastly, our 5th-8th grade band and choir students will perform a Christmas concert in the school gym that will begin at approximately 7:15 and conclude around 8:00.

CHRISTMAS BREAK: DEC. 19-JAN. 3 9

LIFE AT ZLSPIES PENNIES FOR

Zion Lutheran School is collecting 'Pennies for Pies' to purchase pies for the Holiday Food Baskets put together by Zion Lutheran Church.

~Last year Zion donated OVER 340 pies and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to exceed that number in 2016 ~

-------------------------------------------------------------------------From Tuesday, Nov. 7 to Monday, Nov. 21, we will be collecting change in each classroom to purchase the pies.

TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING:

The class in each category below that brings in the most change over the next two weeks will win an awesome prize!

Category 1: Preschool-Kindergarten Category 2: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Grade Category 3: 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Search the couch cushions, break open those piggy banks and help us make an impact this holiday season. 10

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

WHERE MOMS CONNECT

Next Meeting: Thursday, Nov. 17 - 6:30 -8 p.m. Fellowship Hall at Zion Lutheran Church

Looking for support and encouragement as a mom? Join us at Where Moms Connect for conversation, laughter and friendship as you’re supported on your journey through momhood. Child care is available on a limited basis for moms who could not otherwise participate (single moms, deployed spouses, spouses who work evenings etc.) It’s not too late to join us!

THANKSGIVING

WORSHIP AT ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH Thanksgiving Eve Worship November 23 @ 6:30 pm

ANGEL TREE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Saturday, December 10 at 1pm at the church Lunch, crafts, games and a gift from an incarerated parent warms the hearts of God’s sometimes forgotten children.

S. S. CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS SERVICE

CHRISTMAS “Family Life” Sermon Series Everyone needs godly wisdom when it comes to family relationships. That’s why, we we begin a new church year, we plan to learn from the families connected with our Lord’s birth. Thisincludes Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, along with Zechariah, Elizabeth and John. These families faced infertility, frustration, illness, misunderstandings, death, and so much more. Advent I - Sunday, November 27 Two Families (Luke 1:5-25) Advent 2 - Sunday, December 4 Our Way (Luke 1: 57-66) Advent 3 - Sunday, December 11 A List! (Matthew 1:1-17) Advent 4 - Sunday, December 18 Open the Door (Matthew 1:1820) Christmas Eve Whoever Takes the Son Gets It All (Matthew 1:21-25)

Sunday, December 11 at 10:45am in the Sanctuary “From Heaven Above” children proclaim the precious story of our Savior’s birth. 11

SNAPSHOTS FROM ZLS