Logo
Website  |   About   |    Calendar  |   News  |   Giving  |   Contact 
Parent Newsletter
December 2, 2015
Each VLHS family group prayed for the children who would receive the boxes they filled for Operation Christmas Child at the packing party on Fri., November, 20th.  
Devotion
For the Love of Words

I'm not sure when my fascination with words began, but as an English teacher I tried to impress upon my students the necessity to use precise language.  Are you mad, angry, furious or livid?  Are you happy, joyful or jubilant?  Words do matter. 

Recently I was reminded of the importance of words.  I converse regularly with a woman who resides in an assisted living facility (not my mom, by the way).  I complimented her by saying how beautiful she was.  She was quick to comment, "No, I'm not beautiful, just plain looking."  As a teen, someone told her she was not beautiful, but pleasingly plain.   Can you imagine seventy plus years of looking in the mirror and not seeing the beautiful you, but rather, according to someone else, a plain- Jane type of girl? Apparently the old adage, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me" isn't so true after all. Kids can be cruel; words have a huge impact; memories can and do last a lifetime.  

Just as words can hurt, so can they sooth, heal, and exude hope.  Consider John 14:3 where Jesus reminds us He has a place already prepared for us. Or John 6:35, "I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."   And when we face circumstances that seem insurmountable, how about Isaiah 40:30. "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

As part of the human race, often our words jump out of our mouth before we think of the impact they will have.  As I sit and look at my friend, I see her outer beauty.  As a result of someone's comment, she never will.  Thanks be to God that even as His word admonishes us, more often his words heal.  

Kris Flora, retired VLHS teacher
News
Second Quarter Mid-terms Now Available Online 
Your child's second quarter mid-term grades can be accessed by going to www.mystudentdata.com and entering the following information:
  • School code: 50
  • Student ID Number: 10 digit State ID number
  • Password: Chargers
  • Student's birth date 
Please call or email Nora Krueger at 790-1676 or nkrueger@vlhs.com if you have any problems accessing your child's grades. Please remember that tuition payments must be current to access grades.  

If you have any questions regarding your child's grades, please contact the teacher by phone, 790-1676, or by email.  Teacher's email addresses are available on the school website, www.vlhs.com.
Final Exam Schedule
Exams are scheduled for December 16th, 17th, and 18th.  Below you will find some information that will aid you in your planning:
  • Exams will start at 8:00am each morning.
  • Most students will be finished with exams by 11:25am.  (Exceptions to this would be those students who might have double classes.  These exams will conclude by 1:00pm.) 
  • Click here to see the final exam schedule.  The link can also be found on our website by clicking on the calendar tab at the top of the page, then Final Exams.  We are on the Second Cycle.  
  • IMPORTANT NOTE:  Students may come late only if they  have a second hour final or leave early only if they have a first hour final.  However, we do expect all students to attend chapel either way.  Chapel runs 9:35-9:50am all three days.
  • A study hall will be offered for any students who do not have a scheduled exam and must remain at school.
  • Some single semester classes will have their exam at the end of the semester in January.  The teachers will inform their students if their exam is in January.
  • Dec. 14th and Dec 15th are review days in all classes,  therefore, it is very valuable for students to be in attendance.
Christmas Family Collection
Every year the VLHS community comes together to help local families celebrate Christmas by providing needed household items, clothes, toys, and food.  This year combined second hour classes will be collecting items for 7 families.  A letter from Miss Feldkamp detailing the project, the class assignments, and the needs of each family was recently sent home. A copy of this letter can be found here.  Please send in your donations by Monday, December 14th, so Valley students can wrap and deliver the gifts later that week.  If you have any questions about this program, please contact Bev Feldkamp at Valley (790-1676), via email bfeldkamp@vlhs.com or at home (790-7149).  Thank you!  
Choral Christmas Concert
You are invited to the VLHS Choral Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 13th, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5335 Brockway, Saginaw, MI, at 3:00pm.  Come and enjoy the music of the season with selections performed by Golden Voice, Mixed Chorus, and Glorify Handbell Choirs, as well as the Brass Ensemble.  A reception will follow the concert.
Extra Fruit Available
The Valley Lutheran Booster Club has an extra supply of Florida Indian River Seedless Oranges, Pink Grapefruit, and Tangelos.  It will be available on a first come, first served basis during the pick-up times:
  • December 4th and 5th from 3:00-5:00pm
  • December 6th from 7:00am-2:00pm 
  • December 7th from 12:00-2:00pm
  • December 13th and 14th from 12:00-2:00pm, only if fruit is still available. Please call ahead.
THANK YOU to all who have supported Valley Lutheran through the sales of fruit. Questions? Contact Bill Ankoviak at 989-781-5796.
Emergency School Closing Procedure  
As winter approaches, we anticipate school closings.  Since our students live in many communities, there are times when travel may be difficult close to home, yet quite easy in other areas.  Your child's safety is our primary concern and we respect your decision to keep them home, or send them to school later, if local conditions make travel difficult.  In addition to the regular cancellation announcements on TV and radio, you can check our website for information, especially concerning extra-curricular activities.

Emergency school closings due to weather and other factors will be announced on radio stations 
WSGW (790 AM), WTCF (100.5 FM), and WNEM (Channel 5).  Valley Lutheran will be announced separately and independently of any other schools or districts. You can receive school closing text alerts from WNEM by signing up here.  You can also register your cell phone, email, or both at remind.com/join/vlhs1516 to receive notifications. 
Volunteers Needed to Assemble College Care Packages
The auction committee would like to offer a college care package to be auctioned off at the annual VLHS Benefit Auction in February. A winning bidder parent would be buying a monthly care package for their college student.  The volunteer for the month (Sept-April) would be expected to send a package no larger than a medium size flat rate box filled with snacks, school supplies, treats, etc. worth about $20. You will know your month well in advance to stock up on sales and parents will pass on preferences.  Please contact Lori Milroy at lorimilroy@charter.net or (989) 412-3666 if you have questions or would like to volunteer. 
Community Events
Immanuel Lutheran's Living Nativity
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost, 8220 E. Holland Road (M-46) in Saginaw, will host its 19th Annual "Living Nativity-A Journey to Bethlehem":
  • Friday, December 4th from 7:00-9:00pm 
  • Saturday, December 5th from 6:00-8:00pm 
  • Sunday, December 6th from 6:00-8:00pm 
Experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem on the blessed night when Jesus Christ was born.  This is a free 30 minute outdoor walk, so dress for the weather.  Fellowship and refreshments will follow in the school.
31st Annual Boar's Head Festival at Bethlehem Lutheran
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 808 Weiss, Saginaw, will present their annual Boar's Head Festival:
  • Thursday, December 3rd at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, December 5th at 7:30pm
  • Sunday, December 6th at 4pm and 7:30pm
There is no cost to attend, a free will offering will be taken.
Parent Support Network
LSEM in partnership with St. John, Amelith will be hosting a FREE Parent Support Network event on
Saturday, December 5 from 9am until 11:30am.  Kara Bratton, the Director of LSEM's Resource Center will be presenting on the challenges of homework for struggling students and how parents can better assist their students.
 
The December 5 event is the launch of a Parent Support Network that will be meeting regularly, coordinated by Jennifer Helmreich and hosted at St. John, Amelith.  The following meetings will be designed to provide parents of struggling and special needs students a venue to find strength, support and ideas for helping their children succeed. For more information, contact Kara Bratton at LSEM (248-419-3390) or Jennifer Helmreich at St. John Amelith (989-239-8815).  Click here to see the flyer. (Note: the date is Dec. 5, 2015, not 2016 as printed on the flyer)
Guidance Corner
FAFSA worksheets are available here to begin preparing your financial information to complete the FAFSA online. This will help you gather the needed information necessary to complete your FAFSA in early 2016. The application opens January 1st, 2016, and should be submitted by March 1, 2016 for consideration for state aid. Please note, the dates are a year old, but the information you gather will be relevant for this year.

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. Deadline to apply is December 7th - information is available here.

Interested in the latest scholarship opportunities that have come into Valley? Check out our Scholarship Opportunities page online or on the Guidance Board. These will be updated as we receive more!

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!

College and Career Resources

Important Dates
December 5 - SAT Testing at VLHS
December 7 - Concordia Wisconsin college rep at VLHS
December 7 - CUAA Dual Enrollment forms are due to Mrs. Mueller
December 12 - ACT Testing at VLHS
December 16-18 - FINALS
December 23 - registration for the January 23 SAT is due (old test format)
Upcoming Events
Dec. 3                Fruit Sale pick-up, 3-5pm
Dec. 4                Fruit Sale pick-up, 3-5pm
Dec. 5                Fruit Sale pick-up, 7:30am-2pm
Dec. 5                SAT testing at VLHS, 8am-1pm
Dec. 6                Fruit Sale pick-up, 12-2pm
Dec. 7                Moms in Prayer, 8am
Dec. 9                Peeks at Valley, 11am
Dec. 10              Moms in Prayer, 7pm
Dec. 12              ACT testing at VLHS, 8am-1pm
Dec. 12 & 13      Fruit Sale pick-up, if fruit still available
Dec. 13              Christmas Choral Concert, Good Shepherd, 3pm
Dec. 16-18         Final Exams
Dec.19-Jan.3     Christmas Break
Jan. 4                Classes resume
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.
Valleylogo



John Brandt
Valley Lutheran High School

Like us on Facebook