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Parent Newsletter
June 17, 2016

Congratulations to the VLHS Class of 2016!  To view more pictures taken by Dr. Bill Holden during the commencement service last Sunday click here.  Be sure to check out the links to Dr. Holden's other spring sports and activities photo galleries at the top of the page!

Thank you to Kluck's Nursery for providing the beautiful plants to decorate the stage and to Messiah Lutheran Church in Carrollton (a VLHS Association member church) for providing the cross for the processional.
Devotion
Something More
Last Sunday was a wonderful day. The weather was perfect. The gym was as full as I have seen it. The music was beautiful. The speeches were well delivered. The graduates were proud to receive their diplomas. For a high school teacher little could be better. But there is something more.

"Something more" is often revealed to me in the stories of alumni.  They are stories of life experiences that went beyond career success or financial security. They are stories that describe "something more" experiences as clear service to God through serving others. Sometimes they actually are within the teller's job duties. Sometimes they involve formal service activities. Often they rise out of personal relationships. They are stories that remind me of my good fortune to work with students during these formative years. Certainly they are years when skills are developed, but, more importantly, years when roots of faith grow deeper and character grows stronger.

It is my prayer that each graduate, in fact all of us, experience "something more." If that hasn't happened for you, keep your eyes open as God works in unexpected ways!  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  (Col. 3:24-25)

Dr. John Brandt
 Executive Director
News
Final Grades
The final report cards ARE available online this year.  They can be accessed by going to www.mystudentdata.com and entering the following information:
  • School code: 50
  • Student ID Number:  Call the office or e-mail Heidi Behnke (hbehnke@vlhs.com) if you cannot locate the student ID number.  
  • Password: Chargers 
  • Student's birth date
Final grades were also mailed via United States Postal Service, on Thursday, June 16th.  Every student will be receiving this mailing, but report cards will not be in the envelope if that student owes money or has materials that need to be turned in (such as uniforms, books, etc.).  If you do not receive the mailing by Wednesday, June 22nd, please contact Mrs. Mueller at lmueller@vlhs.com.
  
Freshman Placement Test Results
Freshman placement test results will be mailed sometime in the next two weeks.  If you do not receive your results by the end of June, contact Dr. Lisa Meyers at 989-790-1676 or email lmeyers@vlhs.com.
IMPACT to Play at River Roar next Friday!
Valley Lutheran's own worship team, IMPACT, will be opening for the Christian rock group Needtobreathe at the Bay City River Roar on Friday, June 24th.  This is an awesome opportunity for this young and talented crew.  There are still tickets available!  To purchase tickets click here.  Enjoy a great concert and support IMPACT!
Summer Read
The theme for this summer's Summer Read program is Modern Day Military Service.  All incoming students will select one of the books from the list found here, to be read BEFORE the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.  A writing/research project is to be completed and turned in by Thursday, Aug. 25th.  It will be graded and count towards the student's English grade.  A copy of the project guidelines can be found here.  Contact Dr. Lisa Meyers, Academic Dean, at 989-790-1676 or email lmeyers@vlhs.com with any questions.
Concession Help Needed for 2016-17 School Year
Before you read any further, please understand this request is more than just working a game or two during a particular season or event.  We will need that, too, at some point!!  What we need is for someone (maybe a husband and wife team?) to help open up the concession room/building for our parent helpers.  This is a VERY important position and would require arriving fairly early on game night.  We were blessed to have Tom and Jill Peck and Rob and Barb DeSimpelare sharing this work the past couple of years.  Their youngest children have now graduated.   PLEASE give us a call or email if this request "moves" you to help out.  Things start up again around August 25. The Booster Club relies on concessions revenue for a good chunk of the money they give back to extra curriculars every year.  Please contact Stacy Smith, Booster Club Chair, at stacy731@yahoo.com or Kurt Hofmeister at khofmeister@vlhs.com   We'd be happy to share some more details.  Thank you!
Class of 2017 News 
  • Upcoming Seniors and parents of Seniors, please check out the following guidelines for submitting your photos for next year's yearbook:  Senior Portrait Yearbook Specs. 
    If you have any questions contact Miss Feldkamp at bfeldkamp@vlhs.com.
     
  • Save the Date!  The Senior Class Retreat will be held September 30-October 2 at Camp Timbers.  Hope to see you all there!
VLHS Post Prom Fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Sunday, June 26, 2016
  • 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 2017!


 

Meijer Community Rewards Program
The Meijer Community Rewards program is coming to an end on June 30.  Thanks to parents and others who have used this program over the years to help pay tuition and help make our school better.
French Mission Trip Commissioning Service
You are invited to attend the Commissioning Service for the France Mission Trip held on Saturday, July 16, 5pm at Zion Lutheran Church in Bay City.  The students will be performing the "Demons/Redemption" skit they will be sharing when they travel to France at the end of July.  The service will also include a group of students who will be praising God through song and music as well as reading Scripture in French.  There will be a reception following the service.
 
Please include the nineteen students and chaperones in your prayers for peace to share the Word of God with those they meet and for safe travels during the duration of their trip from July 21-31. 
Summer Food Service Program Outreach
The SFA must inform eligible households about the availability and location of free meals for students via the Summer Food Service Program.  A list of sites providing summer meals can be found here.
Next Sport Physical Day is Aug 2nd
Attention all athletes planning on participating in sports during the 2016-17 school year:  Physicals will be given by Dr. James LaFleur in the VLHS cafeteria and locker rooms on Tuesday, August 2nd from 4:30-6pm.  Cost is $12 per person payable to Dr. LaFleur.  Forms are available in our office or can be found at the link below.  The form should be filled out BEFORE the physical is done.
 
 
Any physical done after April 15, 2016, is valid for the coming year.  Fall sport practices begin on August 8th for football and August 10th for all other fall sports.
Guidance Corner
SUMMER PLANS?
Summer is a great time to visit colleges and spend time shadowing members of your future line of work. You might also consider finding a place to volunteer if a summer job eludes you. Take some time to start researching future possibilities and think of where God is calling you to serve!

CLASS OF 2017 SUMMER CHECKLIST
It is not too early to start working on college applications! The summer before senior year is a great time to start thinking about your future and applying to schools. If you need transcripts or other documents sent, email Mrs. Mueller at lmueller@vlhs.com. One thing to watch - some schools have a BINDING early action application, which means you have to go there if you are accepted. Do your homework before you submit!
  • Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. To aid in this process, visit the schools that interest you if possible.
  • Narrow down that list even further by contacting colleges to request information as well as applications for admissions. Ask college representatives about financial aid, admission requirements and important deadlines. Use all available resources: Check out school websites, make phone calls and even talk to people you know who have gone to a school that you're considering.
  • Use the FAFSA4caster Financial Aid Estimator and compare the results to actual costs at the colleges to which you will apply.
  • Apply for scholarships and get involved in your community! A lot of scholarships highly value community service as a part of their eligibility requirements.
  • If you have any questions along the way, please contact MI Student Aid by emailing mistudentaid@michigan.gov.

PSAT-10 RESULTS
Results from the Spring PSAT-10 given to members of the Class of 2018 arrived at the school on June 13, and will be sent home with your student's final report card. Please also note that there is a yellow informational sheet that explains how to interpret the score reports. If you would like your student's test booklet to look at specific questions, please contact the VL Office. Test booklets will be destroyed at the start of next school year if they are not claimed.

AP TEST RESULTS
AP results are available Thursday, July 7th at 8:00am. You will need a CollegeBoard account as well as your AP Student Number. Information can be found at www.apscores.org. You will need to send your scores to colleges directly from AP. Contact Mrs. Mueller if you need help with that process.  

SAT RESULTS
Results from the Spring 2016 testing can be found online at www.collegeboard.org. If you have problems logging in, their helpline is very efficient in getting you answers. Unfortunately, because it is a national testing agency, the Guidance Office does not have access to things like usernames, emails, and passwords. Your best bet is to contact CollegeBoard directly.

SUMMER SAT PRACTICE
Don't forget, Khan Academy and the CollegeBoard have teamed up to offer FREE SAT prep from the comfort of your home and the convenience of your smartphone! You can also link your accounts, which gives you personalized preparation based on  your latest PSAT or SAT scores. You can complete a daily question, focus on a particular subject area, or even take a real practice exam!  https://www.khanacademy.org/sat 

CAREER AND COLLEGE INVENTORIES
Not sure where to start with choosing a career and/or a college? Check out CollegeBoard's College and Career Search. There are lots of resources available FOR FREE, so check it out!
Community News
Detroit Tigers Bus Trip
A bus trip down to Comerica Park to watch the Detroit Tigers take on the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, Aug. 27th, is being planned by Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, and you are invited!  Cost is $76 per person for bus fare and game ticket in right field grandstands. Two winners for game tickets will be drawn from those signed up.  Bus leaves Grace Lutheran, 303 Ruth St, Auburn, MI, at 3:00pm.  Call Herb Pfundt at 662-6229 or Grace Lutheran Church Office at 662-6161 to sign up or for more details.
Upcoming Events
June 24       IMPACT opens for Needtobreathe at Bay City's River Roar, 6pm
June 26       Post Prom Fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings on Tittabawassee 
July 16         French Mission Commissioning Service, 5pm, Zion Lutheran, Bay City
Aug. 2          Sports Physicals at Valley, 4:30-6
Aug. 8          Fall Football practice begins
Aug. 10        Boys Soccer, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Cross-Country, and Girls Golf practice begins 
Aug. 24        School begins, 8am
Aug. 26        School pictures
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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