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Parent Newsletter
November 4, 2015
Join the VLHS Drama Department as they present You Can't Get There From Here, a comedy by Pat Cook, Thursday-Saturday nights at 7pm in the VLHS gym.  Seating is limited but tickets are still available! 
Devotion
Wonder
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us.  None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.  Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
 
I recently spent the weekend with my 9-month old nephew, Jackson.  As those of you who have spent any time with 9-month olds know, they are a curious and adventurous bunch!  Each and every thing he could get his hands (or mouth!) on was interesting and worthy of study - from tennis shoes and laces to shiny metal water bottles to power cords and outlets!  His life is full of wonder and awe as he explores the vast new world of which he is now a part.
 
Wonder...it's a word most often reserved for children, isn't it?  And yet even with children at some point the wonder seems to fade away.  At the MANS conference a few weeks ago one of the keynote speakers contended that our easy access to technology might be partially to blame.  When students (and let's be honest - us too!) are able to just Google the answer to the question they are posing they miss out on important time spent wondering, engaging, or considering the question and its potential answers.  His direction to teachers was to "let students wonder" as it in itself is an important part of the learning process.
 
A loss of wonder.  It strikes me that this may not only be occurring in our classrooms and workplaces, but in our spiritual lives as well.  How easy it is to jump past the stage of wonder and reflection as we quickly move to the 'answers' of our faith.  How few are the times we stop to simply ponder who God is,  to consider the magnitude of what he has done for us and for all mankind, or to reflect on His active role in our lives today.  
 
As I witness Jackson exploring his world I can't help but wonder (no pun intended) if this is one of the reasons Jesus directed his followers to become like little children.  Underlying all the great 'answers' of our faith, the fundamental lessons and truths, are countless examples of God's character and faithfulness, his provision and love.  Our God is a God worthy of our honor, our praise, and our wonder.  May we see our world through the eyes of a child, learning more about our great God everyday, as we take time to wonder at the many things he has done!
~Amy Cooper
Guidance Corner
1st Quarter Grades are released today. Check My Student Data for your child's report card. You will need their 10-digit state ID (found on their current student ID) and birthdate. Our school code is 50 and the password is "Chargers".

Extra-Curricular Eligibility - Students who have an "F" are ineligible for any extra-curricular activity until the next grade check on Monday, November 30th, per our Student Handbook. Students with an "INC" grade are ineligible until the INC is replaced with a passing grade, per our Student Handbook.

Parents of male seniors: Don't forget that your student needs to register with Selective Services on his 18th birthday. Registration is required in order to receive government financial aid for college. Register online today!

We are now able to send transcripts via the US Postal Service or online through websites like CommonApp, SENDedu, and Parchment. Check with Mrs. Mueller in the Guidance Office for more information.

Bay City Rotary Job Shadowing - Tuesday, November 10th is a great opportunity for junior and senior students to shadow professionals in their career interest area. All students are invited to attend, regardless of their county of residence. Past career areas included skilled trades, medical services, education, business and financial services, and law enforcement. Registration is required, so see Mrs. Mueller in the Guidance Office.

Dual Enrollment Courses are available for Spring Semester. These are open to Juniors and Seniors (and studious sophomores) who are able to handle college-level work and are self-motivated. Please see Mrs. Mueller in the Guidance Office for more information. All students need to register, even if they have already participated in a dual-enrollment class Fall Semester.

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences

Wednesday evening, November 18th, has been set aside for Parent-Teacher-Student conferences. 20 minute time slots are available for you and your student to meet with all of your student's teachers. These are by appointment only. Please contact Mrs. Mueller at lmueller@vlhs.com or 989-790-1676 x15 to schedule a conference or with questions.


College and Career Resources

Important Dates:
College Visits:
November 5 - SAT registration due for Dec 5 testing
November 16 - Concordia Seminary - St Louis
November 6 - ACT registration due for Dec 12 testing
November 24 - U.S. Air Force (lunch hours)
November 7 - SAT Exam

November 10 - Bay City Job Shadowing Day

November 18 - Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences


News
10am Start on Tues. Nov. 10th 
As our faculty and many students will be involved with our "Sunrise at the Summit" fund-raising breakfast, classes will start at 10am on Tuesday, November 10th. The event is very important to our school's continued growth.  Parents are welcome to attend.  Please contact Doug Guenther at 790-1676 or dguenther@vlhs.com to reserve your seat.
Fall Information Night Set for Dec. 1st 
Our annual Fall Information Night kicks off the 9th grade enrollment season on Tuesday, December 1st, beginning at 7pm.  Current Valley students will be leading tours for prospective students and sharing with them what high school is like at Valley.  Meanwhile, the faculty will take prospective parents around and answer questions they may have.  This is a great night to learn about our many programs and meet the faculty. Please pass this information on to families who you would like to see at Valley Lutheran in the years to come!
Fruit Sale Wraps Up Nov. 10th
  • The deadline for receiving orders is Tuesday, November 10th.  
  • Orders can be picked up Saturday, December 5th at Valley Lutheran from 7:30am-2:00pm.
  • Questions?  Call Valley Lutheran at 989-790-1676 or Bill Ankoviak at 989-781-5796.
VLHS Post Prom Fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Monday, November 16, 2015
  • Buffalo Wild Wings in Saginaw (2690 Tittabawassee Rd.) for lunch, dinner, or a snack.
  • 20% of purchases accompanied by this certificate* will be donated to support Valley Lutheran Post Prom.
LEAP (Lutheran Education Advancement Plan)
An important strategy for strengthening Lutheran schools is to strengthen their leaders.  At the head of each Lutheran school is a school board, comprised of volunteers who serve because of their love and concern for the education of children.   Recently the 2nd annual Board LEAPshop was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Saginaw and Zion Lutheran Church in Bay City with a total of 71 in attendance from 18 ministries.  Developed by a taskforce lead by Brian Young, the LEAPshop offered board members and principals the opportunity to hear Michigan District Superintendent of Lutheran Schools Bruce Braun.  He shared information about the current state of our culture, of Christian churches, and, especially, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  While acknowledging that the challenges are great, he also emphasized the importance of Lutheran schools as places where children learn about Jesus and His love.
 
LEAP chairperson, Pastor Bill Hoesmann and Strategic Implementation Team member Al Kaul shared updates on LEAP efforts in 2015.  Especially noteworthy is the transition into the formal LEAP Alliance that was adopted in September. 
 
Participants were also able to attend sectionals that addressed Board Member Selection and Recruitment, Leading Effective Meetings, and Hearing Concerns; Resolving Issues; Handling Conflicts as Jesus Teaches.  Presentations were led by task force members Nona Gibbs, Gary Campbell, Lester Altevogt, Bill Wittig, Joel Keup, and Brian Young.
 
As LEAP prepares to transition to the Alliance, the Strategic Implementation Team has engaged David Near to lead the group in that effort.  In addition to organizational issues that must be addressed for a smooth transition, the Team will also consider strategic issues to address over the next several years. 
Fall Instrumental Concert
Join us on Sunday, November 22nd at 3pm in the VLHS Gymnasium for our annual Fall Instrumental Concert.  Various groups including the Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Flute Choir, Trombone Choir, and Wind Ensemble will perform a wide range of pieces.  Come and enjoy an afternoon full of music performed by our young and talented musicians, who strive to honor Christ with their music.
Volunteers Needed in the Office
If you would be willing to help fold, stuff, and label, your help is needed!  We need to expand our list of volunteers who can come in when we have large mailings that need to go out.  Please contact Krista Flory at 790-1676 or kflory@vlhs.com if you are willing to help.  Thank you!
Community Events
Peace Lutheran PTL Apple Pie Sale
Peace Lutheran PTL is now accepting orders for delicious homemade 10" apple pies.  The pies will be ready to bake immediately, or they may be frozen for up to one year.  $10 for Crumble Top, $12.00 for Double Crust, or $3.00 for a Pie Crust. Please email your order with a name and telephone number to hansenjlk@aol.com or call 989-980-3025.  Orders are due by November 7th. Pickup and payment will be at Peace School on November 14th from 10-2.  This event is sponsored by Thrivent Financial, Leaman's Green Applebarn, Michigan Sugar, Star of the West Milling Co., and Rosie's Pies.  All proceeds go to Peace Lutheran PTL.  Thank you for your support!!
St. Paul's Annual Bake Sale
St Paul Ladies Aid Annual Bake Sale to support St. Paul Lutheran Church and School will be held on Saturday Dec 5th. Coffee and homemade donuts will be available from 8:30-9am. The Bake Sale starts at 9am and runs through noon. There will be homemade traditional treats including Springerle, Eisenkchele, Stolen, Butterhorns, Breads, Cookies, Toffee, Sauerkraut, and beet relish.  St Paul Lutheran School is located at 6094 Westside Saginaw Rd, Bay City, Michigan 48706.
You Should Know...
     When was the last time you cleaned out the medicine cabinet?  Unwanted and expired medications in the home can be dangerous.  The EPA cautions against simply putting them in the trash can or flushing them down the toilet.  So what are you supposed to do with these medications?   Take them to your local law enforcement office.  Click here for more information and a list of local sites that will accept old, unused, or unwanted medications.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 5-7         Fall Play,You Can't Get There From Here, 7pm
Nov. 7            SAT testing at VLHS, 8am
Nov. 9            Moms in Prayer, 8am
Nov. 10          Sunrise at the Summit, 7:30am
Nov. 10          Fruit Sale ends
Nov. 18          Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 6pm
Nov. 19          PEEKS at Valley, 11am
Nov. 19          Moms in Prayer, 7pm
Nov. 22          Fall Instrumental Concert, 3pm
Nov. 23          Moms in Prayer, 8am
Nov. 25-27     No School, Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 1            Fall Information Night, 7pm
Dec. 2            2nd Quarter Midterms released, 5pm
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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