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Parent Newsletter
September 14, 2015
Congratulations to the Cross Country girls who were the top team out of seven in the small school division at the Ogemaw Heights meet on Sept. 3rd.
Scripture
Imitating Christ's Humility
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Philipians 2:1-2 NIV
News
Back to School Night is Tomorrow!
Do not miss the opportunity to experience a day in the life of your child!   This unique open house will start promptly at 6:30pm on Tuesday, Sept. 15th.  During the course of this accelerated day, you will meet the teachers, hear course requirements, meet other parents, and learn how you can get involved.  Your attendance sends a clear message that you think school is important.  We hope that all parents will attend.  Your class schedule will be waiting for you at the front entrance.  The bell rings at 6:30pm.  Don't be tardy!  Your "day" will end at 9:00pm.
Entertainment Book Sale Starts Tomorrow
  • Books will be sold from September 15th through October 6th.  
  • They are $25 a piece from any Valley Lutheran student or in the school office. 
  • Purchase the books online here.  
  • Families may also "check out" a large number of books to sell at your work or church.  Please contact Karla Weiss at 671-1711 or ekweiss@prodigy.net if you wish to sell extra books.
  • Incentives include cash, gift cards, selfie sticks, and the grand prize, a Beats Pill 2.0 Wireless Speaker.
Annual Golf Outing on Saturday
The 16th Annual VLHS Golf Outing is less than a week away! Join us this Saturday, September 19th at the Saginaw Valley Public Golf Course (formerly known as Bay City Country Club) for a day of fellowship, fun, and of course golf! Proceeds from this event help to make the exemplary education at Valley Lutheran possible for students who might not otherwise be able to attend. The cost is $110 for each golfer which includes 18 holes, cart, continental breakfast, and a buffet lunch. Call the school office at 989-790-1676 to register. Hope to see you there - the farmer's almanac predicts great weather!
Fall Service Day is September 30th
Putting faith into "action" is an important part of the mission of Valley "to serve in the world".  Students get the opportunity to do just that on Fall Service Day, Wednesday, Sept. 30th.  Between 8-9 a.m. they will join their family group at some location in the Great Lakes Bay Region to help others.  The day will conclude between noon and 1pm.
  
Permission slips with specific site location and times will be sent home with students as the date approaches.  All students are required to attend service day, so mark this day on your calendar and keep it open.
Student IDs
Last week the students received their student IDs for the 2015-2016 school year.  These IDs allow the student:
  • FREE entry to all home games.
  • To check out library books at VLHS.
  • To access online grades (more information as to how this works will be explained in the next parent newsletter).
Grand Homecoming Tailgate
  • October 2nd at 5 pm
  • Soccer fields just south of the school parking lot 
The Grand Homecoming Tailgate has been a BIG success over the last few years.  Click on the links below if you would like to get tips on how to organize your group this year:

Mission: France!
Did you know that only about 10% of French citizens are Christians? Would you like to be used by the Holy Spirit to potentially change the eternal address of some of the other 90%? If so, you are invited to join the VLHS mission team heading to France this summer, July 21-31, 2016.  For more information, you may contact Cris Urbytes at curbytes@vlhs.com, 652-3422 or 810-423-6310. If you're unable to travel with the group, but would like to help support the students who are going, they are willing to do leaf raking, yard work, babysit, return pop cans, and help with other odd jobs to help fund their trip.  If you, or someone you know, is looking for help and would like to support this effort, please contact Madame Urbytes by using the same contact information above.
Tables Available at Holiday Bazaar
The annual Valley Lutheran Holiday Bazaar is being held on Saturday, October 31st from 9am-3pm.  
Limited rental tables are available.  Click here to find the vendor contract.  Deadline is October 12th.
Guidance Corner
College Visits
September 16th - Albion College, Northern Michigan University
September 22nd - Central Michigan University, Alma College
September 24th - Western Michigan University, Valparaiso University
September 25th - Calvin College
September 28th - Hope College, Kettering University
September 29th - Hillsdale College, Oakland University

Important Dates
September 18th - Deadline to register with Mrs. Mueller for the PSAT (Juniors)
September 18th - Deadline to register for the October 24th ACT (Seniors)
September 30th - Midterm grades released by 5:00pm via My Student Data
October 3rd - SAT Exam

Exploring college and career options? Check out www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org for free resources!
You Might Need to Know
Last fall we attempted to launch a regular feature in our parent newsletters providing information on topics that could be a concern for parents.  Unfortunately, we failed to launch.  It remains a good idea that was welcomed by several parents.  Some months you may read "right by" this article, while other months it may provide some direction as you help your child navigate the vicissitudes (a favorite word that means "ups and downs") of life.
This summer Sports Illustrated published an article concluding a seven month investigation of heroin usage among high school athletes.  As I read the article, I could easily picture several of these athletes as Valley Lutheran students.  Good kids from good families who had great plans for the future.  In some cases the plans crashed, and in other cases these young athletes lost their lives.  It was sobering.
Shortly after reading the article I saw a public service ad reporting that about twice as many people die from prescription drug overdose as compared to heroin overdose.  I considered the availability of prescription drugs and the number of athletes recovering from injuries and my concern grew. 
And I recalled a conversation I had with a person who visited our school from Teen Challenge.  He was a recovering heroin addict.  I inquired of how he got started using heroin.  His gateway drug was neither alcohol nor marijuana - it was prescription painkillers.  That got him started and then he discovered that heroin is cheaper!
This article, and others to follow, are not intended to alarm you, but rather make you aware of problems that could strike your family.
To learn more you may want to consider:
Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse 
Signs of Heroin Use 
How Painkillers are Turning Young Athletes Into Heroin Users (Sports Illustrated article)
Community Events
St. Lorenz Hosts Principals of Liberty Study
America faces major challenges today, both domestic and foreign.  Our Founding Fathers had answers to nearly every one of these challenges and brought us a positive message, one that makes Americans feel good about our future, one that gives hope to our people, young and old alike, that something can be done!
Based on the original writings of our Founding Fathers, the book that presents this powerful message is The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen, 1981, published by the National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS).
Please join us as we study The 5,000 Year Leap, view NCCS lectures via DVD, and watch a documentary on the making of the Constitution.  This event is led by area resident Andy Biddle, offered free of charge (including FREE book), and hosted by St. Lorenz Church in Frankenmuth.  It begins Sunday evening, September 20 at 6:30 pm in the adult education facility near the church offices & Chapel of Hope (enter off Junction, across from Frankenmuth Mutual).  Please reserve your place by emailing STL-CCM@charter.net or by calling 652-3422.
Susan Fjerstad Memorial Bike Ride
On Sunday, September 27th at 12:30pm, the family of Susan Fjerstad will be gathering at the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail for the 3rd annual charity bike ride in memory of Susan's birthday and her life.  For more information on the event, click here.  The event is free, and donations may be made to the CAN Council of Saginaw in memory of Susan.
Community Reward Programs
AmazonSmile:  
If you do a lot of online shopping on Amazon.com, please consider signing up to support VLHS through the AmazonSmile program.  The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the eligible charitable organization of your choice.  For more information about the program, click here.  To sign up go to smile.amazon.com.

Kroger: To enroll you must sign up online at www.kroger.com to participate. Click on Kroger Community Rewards and follow the step by step directions. Unfortunately the earnings can no longer be applied to a student's tuition, however, it will support Valley's programs.

Meijer: If you participate in Meijer's Community Rewards, you do not have to re-enroll yearly. Earnings can be applied toward a student's tuiton by emailing a note to Royce Wegner at rwegener@vlhs.com that you want your earnings to be applied to a certain individual. Click on Meijer Community Rewards to sign up or update any information.

Target: Another area store that offers rewards is Target with it's Take Charge of Education program. If you would like to sign up, click on Target Take Charge of Education.

GFS Fun Funds:  Gordon Food Service is exiting the fundraising business and as a result will be retiring the Fun Funds program that the Parent Organization had belonged to.  We thank you for your support over the last several years.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 15      VLHS Parent "Back to School Night", 6:30pm
Sept. 19      Golf Scramble at the Saginaw Valley Golf Course
Sept. 24      Peeks at Valley, 11am
Sept. 29      National Honor Society Induction, 7pm 
Sept. 30      Service Day  
Sept. 30      First Quarter Midterm grades available after 5pm
Oct. 1          Homecoming Soccer Game, 7pm
Oct. 2          Homecoming Football Game, 7pm
Oct. 3          Homecoming Dance, 8-11pm
Oct. 5          Moms in Prayer, 8am
Oct. 6          Entertainment Book sale ends
Oct. 14        Peeks at Valley, 11am
Click on the image above to view the latest Valley Vision.

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.
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John Brandt
Valley Lutheran High School

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