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Parent Newsletter
April 20, 2016

This talented crew will be presenting the musical The Pajama Game on April 28th, 29th, and 30th at 7pm.  Tickets are on sale now in the school office.  There are only a handful of limited reserved tickets ($9 for adults and $7 for students) still available for each night.  General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students.  Seating is limited and advanced purchase is encouraged as we expect the shows to sell out!
Devotion
     Yesterday VLHS Family Groups discussed "Rethinking 420."  Here is a look at the devotion and discussion questions that were shared during Family Groups.  This may lead to important discussions  with your child at home:

Today is April 20 (4/20).  What comes to your mind when you hear the day "4/20"?  Do great accomplishments come to your mind such as the first pasteurization test completed by Louis Pasteur which took place on this day in 1862?  Do historic baseball stadiums like Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and the Detroit Stadium pop into your brain which all officially opened on this day in history?  Hitler was born on April 20th.  He was definitely a person who we would like to forget.  A person that is more memorable, Michael Jordan, set the NBA playoff record with 63 points in a game on this day in 1986.  Michael Jordan's team, the Bulls, won their record setting game 72 on the 20th of April in 1996.  This single season winning record was not beaten until last week by the Golden State Warriors.  So, What do you think of when you hear 4/20.  Unfortunately, this is a day that does not have the best reputation as of late.  April 20th or 4/20 has developed a reputation as a day of self-centered gratification.  The pro-pot community has declared the numbers 420 to be celebrated by indulging in marijuana use.  While there is a debate about the positive medical effects of marijuana, the time of 4:20 or the day 4/20 is, according to some, much more about the enjoyment to light up.  Without going into detail of how this happened, it has and may need some rethinking.  What does God think of the number 420 and the numbers that surround it?  The following verses of God's wisdom come from different books of the Bible.  They are all chapter 4 verse 20 and/or surrounding text:

Proverbs 4:20 (NIV)
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

Matthew 4:19-20(NIV) 
19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 

Mark 4:19-20 (NIV) 
19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.  20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."

Ephesians 4:19-21 (NIV)
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 

1Peter 4:19 (NIV)
 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good 

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

As we head into a day where many people will focus on satisfying their earthly desires, be encouraged that you have a God who knows your every need and want.  Let's challenge society to Rethink 420.  Seek and chase after a high, but not one from this world that will fade away. Seek a high from our Heavenly Father which is eternal.  As it is written in Philippians 4:19-20:  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Discussion Questions
  • What is your initial reaction to this devotion?
  • Is our society too casual on our opinion of drug use?
  • Drugs are one type of self-centered gratification.  What are some others? (Ephesians 4:19)
  • Where does self-centered gratification lead? (Mark 4:19)  
  • 1 John 4:19-21 says "Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."  How does this relate to the topic of self-centered gratification?
  • Proverbs 4:20, Matthew 19-20, and 1 Peter 4:19 speak of paying attention to, following, and obeying our Triune God.  Why is this important for you personally and those you influence?

News
Charger Post Prom Party 2016
The annual POST PROM PARTY is planned for April 23rd  beginning at 11pm.  Your child doesn't need to attend Prom to come to the Post Prom Party!  There will be lots of food and fun!
NOTE:  There will be a secure place to put all prom attire if you are coming right from Prom. 
  • Location:  Saginaw Valley State University Ryder Center
  • Time:  Saturday 4/23 11:00pm - Sunday 4/24 4:30am
  • There will be TWO cash machines and a Belly-Flop contest.  
  • The pool will be available (bring your suit and towel) and as will the racquetball courts (bring your own racquets).
  • Lots of prizes and money will be given away:  every Junior and Senior from Valley will leave Post Prom with a prize!
  • Cost is $15.

Last day for ticket sales is tomorrow during lunch periods!  Students must have signed permission forms. 

IMPACT to Play at River Roar  
Valley Lutheran's own worship team, IMPACT, will be opening for the Christian rock group Needtobreathe at the Bay City River Roar on June 24th.  This is an awesome opportunity for this young and talented crew.  Tickets for the event go on sale this Saturday, April 23rd.  For more information on tickets sales click here.  Enjoy a great concert and support IMPACT!
Time to Sign Up for Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance Applications for the 2016-2017 school year can be picked up in the office or downloaded by clicking here.  Applications are due May 1st for full consideration.  Applications received after May 1st will be considered as funds are available with a minimum late penalty reduction of 10% of the recommended grant.  
Dave and Bonnie Duclos Scholarship
The David and Bonnie Duclos Scholarship Committee is now taking applications for the 2016-2017 school year.  Eligible students are those who are members of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation and a graduate of a Lutheran school.  Please notify Dr. John Brandt ([email protected]) if you are eligible and interested in this scholarship no later than midnight of May 31.
Old mp3 Players and Phones Needed
Do you have any mp3 players or old phones you don't use anymore? Mrs. Blake's family group would gladly take them as part of their service project! They will be filled with music and donated to the Saginaw Senior Care and Rehab Center on Service Day.  Contact Mrs. Blake at [email protected] with questions.  Devices can be dropped off in the school office.  Thank you!
Summer Camps at VLHS 
Summer camps return to Valley this summer: 
  • Sports and extra-curricular camps during June (June 14-30) for students entering grades 4-9
  • New camps this summer include Drama camp and two new computer-based camps, Computer Programing, and Computer Web Design, for 6th-9th graders.
A detailed flyer and registration form is available here.  Please share with any friends and family who are looking for fun and affordable camps for their middle schoolers!
Next VLHS Open House on THURSDAY, April 28th
Who do you know who would benefit from an outstanding, Christ-centered high school experience?  Invite them to our next Open House on Thursday, April 28th, from 5:30-6:30pm, 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 Heath Vincent at 790-1676 or [email protected].
STEM Scholars Summer Camps at SVSU
SVSU is hosting four "free" STEM Scholars Summer Camps this summer. The camps are Growing in the Future with Plant Science, STEM Exploration Camp, SVSU Robotics and Beyond, and Fruits as Natural Bleaches. Please see Mrs. Behnke in the school office for the application form.  Applications will be accepted until June 3rd.
Annual Meeting of VLHS Association
You are invited to the annual meeting of the Valley Lutheran High School Association which will be held on Wednesday, May 18th, beginning at 7pm in the VLHS Resource Center.
Guidance Corner
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS RESOURCE
Tim Elmore, a respected author and speaker, recently posted an article on his website titled "Five Shifts We Must Make According To Harvard". The article outlines changes in what colleges are looking for when they consider students for admission. If you have a student headed to college soon, this is a must read!

SCHEDULING FOR THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR
Scheduling is now in full swing for next school year. If you have not returned your re-registration forms, they may be turned into the office with the $100 registration fee. Mrs. Mueller is available to meet with students and families to help in the process of course selection, or to answer any questions regarding academic plans and the honors diploma. Please contact Mrs. Mueller for an appointment time.

Just as a reminder, contracts must be completed for AP and Dual Enrollment courses by May 27th.

College and Career Resources
Upcoming Events
Apr. 23          Prom at SVSU, 6pm
Apr. 23-24      Post Prom Party at SVSU, 11pm-4:30am
Apr. 28          PEEKS at Valley, 8:15am
Apr. 28          Open House, 5:30-6:30pm
Apr. 28-30      Spring Musical,
The Pajama Game
, 7pm
May 4            4th Quarter Grades available, 5pm
May 7            SAT testing, 8am
May 9            Moms in Prayer, 8am
May 11          PEEKS at Valley, 8:15am
May 15          VLHS Open House, 2-3pm
May 18          VLHS Association Annual Meeting, 7pm
May 19          Service Day
May 19          Moms in Prayer, 7pm
May 24          Spring Music Concert at SVSU, 7pm 
May 26          PEEKS, 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