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Parent Newsletter
March 10, 2015
French Students Share Language and Culture at St. Lorenz
French 1 and 2 students from Valley Lutheran enjoyed spending Friday morning with first graders from St. Lorenz Lutheran School. The French students taught the younger students songs like "Jesus Loves Me" and "Frère Jacques" and the words for animal names, colors, greetings, and numbers.  Students enjoyed eating crêpes together while learning the words for the various toppings.  Valley students also gifted culture coloring books that they had made for the first graders.  To view more great photos of this trip, click here.
Third Sunday Open House this Sunday 
Who do you know who would benefit from an outstanding, Christ-centered high school experience?  Invite them to our Third Sunday Open House on March 15th, from 2-3pm, for a personalized tour of our building, an opportunity to meet some of the faculty, and an overview of all the opportunities available to our students.  No reservations are required--just stop by.  If you have any questions, contact Tom Roekle, at 790-1676 or troekle@vlhs.com .  Our next Third Sunday Open House for this school year is April 19th.
My Student Data Access Change for Juniors
The Junior class will be using their 10-digit State ID numbers going forward to access information on mystudentdata.com.  This number will be given to each junior before grades are released and is available through the office.
Help Needed in Saving Old Videos Digitally
During a recent reorganization and cleaning of one of the storage rooms at Valley, many old VHS tapes of past Valley graduations, musicals, and other events were unearthed.  We would like to save these videos in digital form for our archives.  If anyone has the means to do so or knows someone who can, please contact Krista Flory at 989 790-1676 or kflory@vlhs.com.  Thank you!
Band and Choir Lenten Tour
Our Symphonic Band and Golden Voice Choir will begin their Lenten Tour on Wednesday, March 18th.  Pray that the Lord will bless their concerts as they share the message, "For You" with congregations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan.  Their return Homecoming Lenten Concert is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, at 3pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 3033 Wilder Rd, Bay City.
 
Below is their travel itinerary so that you can share this with family and friends who might be in the area and want to hear our students share the message.
March 18 - St. Mark Lutheran Church, Kentwood, MI, 7pm
March 19 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Geneseo, IL, 7pm 
March 20 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheybogan, WI, 7pm 
March 21 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Muskegon, MI, 7pm
March 22 - Faith Lutheran Church, Bay CIty, MI, 3pm
Career Day Panelists Still Needed
Career Day at Valley Lutheran will take place on Friday, March 29th.  Parents, alumni, and friends volunteer to share information and answer questions about their chosen vocation.  We could still use one panelist each in these three areas: 
  • Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)  
  • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics 
  • Business Management & Administration
If you or anyone you know might be interested in sharing their vocation with VLHS students please contact Randy Rogers at 790-1676 or rrogers@vlhs.com.  
News from the Guidance Office

Job Shadowing Days will once again be offered by the Bay City Rotary Club in Bay City on March 17th and April 14th. A number of positions are available.  

The Great Lakes Bay Region College Night will be held at SVSU on March 16th, from 6:30-8pm.  Over 40 colleges will be represented.

College Representatives from SVSU and Johnson & Wales will be visiting with Valley students on March 26th at 8:45am and 9:30am respectively.

Dr. Ben Carson will be speaking to high school and college students at Alma College on April 1st.  The topic for his presentation is "Take the Risk: A Rational Approach to Taking Risks."  Click here for more information.  Valley Lutheran has 10 spots reserved for this event.  

For more information about any of these opportunities, contact Randy Rogers at 790-1676 or rrogers@vlhs.com.  
Save $100:  Re-register by April 1st 
Re-registration is under way.  All students have their scheduling sheets and should have shared them with their parents to review and sign. Association members must have their pastors sign to confirm membership in an Association church in order to receive Association tuition rates.  The $100 re-registration fee will be completely waived if the fully completed and signed document is postmarked by April 1st.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding re-registration, contact Mr. Rogers, the Guidance Counselor, at 790-1676, or rrogers@vlhs.com.  Completing the paper work on time not only saves you money, it also holds a spot for your child at Valley Lutheran High School as we open registration to transfer students after April 1st.
Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance applications for the 2015-2016 school year can be picked up in the office or downloaded by clicking on  Financial Aid Form
  
Applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2015,
to be considered for aid in the 2015-2016 school year.
St. Lorenz Puppet Ministry
This is Your Life: King David, the puppet presentation of the St. Lorenz Puppet Ministry, will be offered on March 14th. A non-meal matinee performance will be presented in the St. Lorenz Gymnasium at 1:30pm. The Dinner Theater will start with a meal at 5:30pm. The dinner will include pulled pork sandwiches, two kinds of soup, macaroni and cheese, salad, vegetable, cookies and beverages. There is a suggested donation. Please call 652-0773 to reserve your seat at either performance.
FNV Hockey Fundraiser
On Saturday, March 14, the Freeland/Nouvel/Valley Lutheran (FNV) Hockey Booster Club will be hosting its annual St. Paddy's Day fundraiser at Apple Mountain in Freeland. The event will feature dinner, refreshments, music, raffles, as well as a silent and live auction. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased by contacting Brent Gaudreau, FNV Hockey Booster Club Present, at (989) 395-4778.
Free Answers Conference

You are invited to Holy Cross Lutheran Church (600 Court Street, Saginaw) for an amazing opportunity to be taught Biblical answers to dangerous ideas that threaten our families.  Bryan Osborne, from Answers In Genesis, will speak at Holy Cross on several topics:

  • Sunday, March 15th
    • 9:15AM "The Relevance of Genesis in Today's World"
    • 6:00PM "Do Animals Evolve? Evolution Defined"
    • 7:00PM "Evolution's Hero: Father Time"
  • Monday, March 16th
    • 6:30PM "Rocks and Fossils:  Testimony of Noah's Flood"
    • 8:00PM "Dinosaur Delusion: Dinosaurs, Dragons, and the Bible"  
Mr. Osborne will also speak at Holy Cross Lutheran School, at two separate times, to which any children and their parents are invited: 
  • Monday, March 16th
    • 9:00AM "Dinosaurs and the Bible for Kids" (K - 4th)
    • 10:00AM "Dinosaurs and the Bible for Kids" (5th - 8th) 
       

Valley students will have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Osborne during a special assembly on March 16th between 7th and 8th hours (12:54-1:45pm).  Parents are also invited to attend.

 

We are excited to be able to share this wonderful opportunity to learn the science in support of Genesis and to learn the tools to stand for the authenticity of God's word in the Bible. For more information, call (989) 793-9723 or go to answersoutreach.org/Saginaw15. 

Good Shepherd Presents Easter Walk
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5335 Brockway in Saginaw Township, will present three performances of "The Search for Jesus" Easterwalk. The dates are Sunday, March 29th at 4:30pm, and Good Friday, April 3, at 4:30pm and 7pm, at the church. Come 30 minutes before the show and enjoy a reenactment of Jerusalem's marketplace filled with crafts and music. There is no charge for the performances, but a free will offering is appreciated. All shows are barrier free.
Summer Camps & Classes at VLHS 

Summer camps and classes return to Valley this summer: 

  • Six-week Credit Recovery Classes in June and July for Valley students who have failed classes during the school year. 
  • Sports and extra-curricular camps during June (June 9-25) for students entering grades 4-9.

Watch the website and future newsletters for brochure and enrollment information!

Upcoming Events  

Mar. 12            Vision Screening for Freshmen, 8am-12pm

Mar. 12            PEEKS at Valley, 8:15 am

Mar. 12            Class of 2019 Scheduling Night #2, 6-9pm
Mar. 12            Moms in Prayer, 7 pm

Mar. 14            SAT testing at Valley, 7:30am
Mar. 14            FNV Hockey Fundraiser at Apple Mountain

Mar. 14            St. Lorenz Puppet Presentation

Mar. 15            Third Sunday Open House, 2-3pm

Mar. 16            Answers In Genesis Speaker, 12:54-1:45pm

Mar. 16            GLBR College Night at SVSU, 6:30-8pm
Mar. 17            Job Shadowing Day, #1
Mar. 18-22       Band/Choir Lenten Tour
Mar. 22            Band/Choir Tour Homecoming Concert, 3pm,
                           Faith Lutheran Church, Bay City
Mar. 23            Moms in Prayer, 8am

Mar. 26            SVSU representative, 8:45am

Mar. 26            Johnson & Wales representative, 9:30am
Mar. 26            PEEKS at Valley, 11am

Mar. 27            Career Day
Mar. 27            Third Quarter ends

Apr. 1               Third Quarter grades available after 5pm

Apr. 1               Dr. Ben Carson at Alma College

Apr. 3               No School - Good Friday

Apr. 6-10          No School - Easter Break

Apr. 13             School resumes

Apr. 14             Job Shadow Day, #2 

        

Do you want more information about what is happening at Valley?  Go to our full calendar of events by clicking here.
In This Issue
French Students Visit St. Lorenz
3rd Sunday Open House
Access Change for Juniors
Help Needed with VHS Tapes
Band & Choir Lenten Tour
Article Headline
News from the Guidance Office
Re-register by April 1st
Tutition Assistance
St. Lorenz Pupper Ministry
FNV Hockey Fundraiser
Free Answers Conference
Good Shepherd Easter Walk
Summer Camps & Classes
Upcoming Events
Devotion
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Preparing the Way
  

A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

Isaiah 40:3 

 

     The Essenes were a group of Jews who, when the priesthood became corrupted by Hellenistic and Roman influences, sequestered themselves in the desert to faithfully study and live the Torah.  Most scholars believe that the Essenes lived near Qumran, and were therefore the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Many middle and upper class Jews took their families from a life of comfort to join the Essenes in the harsh desert where they would have to rely on every word from God in order to survive.  The Essenes passionately believed, as Isaiah wrote, that if they faithfully prepared the way for the Lord and obeyed His Word that "the glory of the Lord will be revealed" (Isaiah 40:5); that if they faithfully studied and lived by God's Word, Messiah would come and restore the priesthood that had been so corrupted.  

     At that point in history, God chose to come in the form of his Son, Jesus.  Amazingly, the location where many scholars believe Jesus was baptized, where God's Spirit revealed him to be the Son of God, can be seen from the hills above the ruins of Qumran.  Did the Essenes follow the Messiah?  We don't know.  Yet, the commitment and passion they had to "prepare the way for the Lord" is an inspiration for Christians living today.

     Like the Essenes, the students and staff of Valley Lutheran immerse themselves in the truth of God's Word each day.  Like Qumran, Valley Lutheran is a place where God's word is studied, cherished and preserved.  But unlike the Essenes, who remained in the desert apart from the world, students at Valley Lutheran are preparing to go out into the world. 

     Our alumni are spreading the Gospel message across the Great Lakes Bay Region, the State of Michigan, the United States, and throughout the world.  Like the Essenes, who were placed at a unique time in history to help prepare for the first coming of Messiah, Valley Lutheran has been placed at a unique time in history to help prepare the world for Christ's second coming. May God grant to us the same passion and commitment of the Essenes as we "prepare the way for the Lord!"

 


 ~Ben Cooper
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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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.
  
  
John Brandt
Valley Lutheran High School
3560 McCarty Rd.
Saginaw, MI  48603
988-790-1676