NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK...
ENDURE: Hebrews 12:1-3
“Providing a foundation in Jesus Christ and to develop the God-given talents of learning.”
We have settled into our routine for the ‘24-25 school year. Our days are busy and packed with learning opportunities – reading, math, science (more labs this year), music, history – and more opportunities to grow our leadership and interpersonal skills – student council (new this year), classroom jobs, and Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STREAM) events. The study of God’s Word still and always will permeate EVERY thing we do at SJLS. Please pray with me that our teachers continue to have the stamina and skills to lead our students through their journey each and every day AND thank you for supporting SJLS by sending your children, praying for SJLS, and for your financial gifts. GOD IS GREAT!
THE LCMS KANSAS DISTRICT educators’ conference is October 13-15. Teachers will bid farewell to a great friend and colleague, as Jim Bradshaw retires. He served our district schools and congregations for nineteen years.
LPTL – The LPTL had their first meeting in September. It was an amazing meeting! We focused on the future as we planned ways to support or improve SJLS – bus/transportation, technology, facilities, teacher appreciation, and plans for match day funds. We are always looking for volunteers to join us on different projects/fund raisers.
CAMP READ-A-LOT – Our first family night of the school year focused on reading. Thank you to Mrs. Miller for organizing the event. Many (over 60 people attended) families were able to share books, play games, enjoy a snack (s’mores), and spend quality time with their kids and other SJLS families. Our next event is being planned, and we are shooting for a February date.
STUDENT COUNCIL – New this year! Our SJLS student council is composed of one student from each room (k-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8) and meets on the stage during lunch one Friday each month. The classrooms vote for their representative each quarter. Mrs. Miller is their leader.
WAMEGO BUS: We continue to provide busing for students living in the Wamego area (plus a family in Manhattan). We pick-up nine students between stops at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church with another just off highway 99 on the way to Alma outside the USD 329 district boundary. We drop off 14 students, a pair of students in Alma, and the remainder at Mt. Calvary. Thank you to our drivers – Paul Savage, Orville Altevogt, Kathy Hendrix, Dale Gier, and Mr. Butler. Mt. Calvary continues to provide financial support for the bus program.
OCTOBER EVENTS –
Teachers’ Conference (10/13-10/15);
End of 1st Quarter (10/18);
Parent Teacher Conferences (10/22 & 10/24)
Mr. Butler, SJLS Principal
MRS. MILLER, KINDERGARTEN & FIRST GRADE:
". . .casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Kindergarten has been learning and exploring the skill of reading letters and sounds. We’ve explored numbers 1-9 and have started to write letters. First graders are working on reading fluency, writing sentences, and adding single digits. We have been blessed to have Miss Bernadette from the Wabaunsee County K-State Research and Extension Office during our science lessons this month to teach us about nutrition, exercise, and hand washing. The students love being active and learning about how to fuel their bodies. Upcoming events and units include: National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6th – 12th), fluency goals, and our Veteran’s Day Chapel (Monday, November 11th).
Thank you to ALL of our Book Fairies! We have more than $1000 to spend on new text resources for our students and our St. John Lutheran School Library (The Eagles Nest). What a gift and legacy for our students.
READING CHALLENGE: Starting October 7th, the SJLS Student Council challenges all St. John Lutheran School students to help us read books and earn over 1000 points by December 19th. If we can accomplish that goal, Mr. Butler will kiss a PIG! If you aren’t sure how many points your book is worth, please contact your classroom teacher.
Thank you for your support and gifts.
Blessings
Mrs. Mindy Miller
HAPPY FALL!
We are working hard in second and third grade learning about animal habitats and insects. We have an ant farm in our room courtesy of K-State/Wabaunsee County Extension office, as well as a luna moth chrysalis courtesy of a student. The children are very excited to watch all of these insects as we learn about their different habitats and what they need to survive.
In math, third graders are working hard on vocabulary and learning the properties of addition and how to apply them. Second graders are working on double-digit addition.
In reading, the students are reading about different types of fiction: realistic fiction, historical fiction, and fairy tales. They have learned about subjects and predicates and are going to move on to nouns. They are also working very hard on writing good sentences with correct punctuation. In spelling, we begin by reviewing long and short sounds of all the vowels in second grade. Third grade takes a look at how to use different spellings to make the same sound.
Second graders are working on forming their letters correctly in print so we can begin cursive toward the end of the year. Third graders are over halfway through the cursive alphabet and are getting excited to get to write words and not just letters!
In PE, we are working on large motor skills like jumping, hopping, and avoiding people while running. We are also working on throwing at targets and catching. Teamwork has also been a big goal in PE.
In art, we covered pointillism in correspondence with dot day on September 15th. We are now working on collages with ripped paper.
In Religion, we started with Adam and Eve from Genesis in the Bible and are almost to Moses.
In Christ,
Mrs. Howard
GREETINGS FROM MRS. GREENE!
FALL, one of my favorite seasons will be here before we know it. I am looking forward to the color changes and cooler outdoor temperatures.
In language arts, the 4th-6th grade students are busy learning to identify simple, compound, and complex sentences. The 7th and 8th grade students are reviewing sentence types and verb phrases.
In reading classes, all of the students have been working on learning different strategies and identifying the different genres there are in reading. Students have been busy reading a variety of selections and taking comprehension tests over the selections.
In writing classes, the students are busy working on improving their penmanship and cursive writing skills. The 4th and 5th grade students are excited to be participating in the Lutheran Pen Pal writing program again this year. The students are busy learning about the different parts of writing a story before embarking on their own journey of writing a personal narrative story.
In social studies, the 4th-5th grade students are currently busy learning about different aspects of “Westward Movement.” We have been busy learning about the Louisiana Purchase. The 6th-8th grade students are busy learning about the geography and different Indian tribes in Kansas. All 4th-8th grade students will be visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and Dickinson County Heritage Center including the carousel in Abilene, Kansas, at the end of September. We are all very excited to participate in our first field trip of the year.
In technology class the 4th-5th grades are busy learning how to type with correct hand placement, as well as becoming familiar with creating Google slide presentations. In strategy class, the 6th-8th grade classes are working on brainstorming and learning to edit and revise paragraphs.
Art classes have officially taken over the classroom with our recycling supplies and art work. The students have been busy with planning, constructing, gluing, and now painting their art work. Keep an eye out for pictures of the completed work on our school Facebook page in the next couple of weeks. (www.facebook.com/SJLSAlmaKS/)
Chess club has started off with a bang. We have 100% participation from the 4th-8th grade classes thus far. It has been a fun and interesting experience. The students are enjoying their opportunity to learn how to play chess and the deep thinking that is involved.
I am looking forward to another fun year of learning opportunities and time with students to deepen our love for the Lord together.
In all things, trust the Lord,
Mrs. Greene
LUTHERAN PARENT TEACHER LEAGUE HAPPENINGS
WAMEGO MATCH DAY
When: October 3 – 5
Where: Iron Clad, 427 Lincoln Ave., Wamego
Or: online at wamegomatchday.com
LPTL PORK CHOP SUPPER & AUCTION
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Time: 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: St. John Lutheran Church
Memorial Hall (218 W. 2nd St., Alma)
2025 UPCOMING LPTL MEETINGS
Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16th at 6:00 p.m.
(A meal and child care will be provided.)
WAYS TO SUPPORT
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL
STOP TO SHOP: St. John Lutheran School now has a Kickback Card at Stop 2 Shop! When you check out, just tell them you would like to use the SJLS Kickback card and then key in 7-8-5-7-6-5-3-9-1-4 (the school’s phone number). It’s so easy…be sure to participate all year long!
DILLON’S COMMUNITY REWARDS: We encourage anyone who is a Dillon’s PLUS card shopper to please take a couple of minutes to sign up for the rewards program. This is a program offered by Dillon’s to give back to local schools. Each time you make a purchase using your PLUS card, a percentage of your sales is donated back to SJLS in the form of cash. There is no extra charge to you, it is simply a donation by the Dillon’s company. Please use the following link to add your PLUS card to the rewards program: www.dillons.com/communityrewards and use the code AU093 to support SJLS.
BOX TOPS: Box Tops have changed to fit today’s families! Scan your receipt in the new and improved Box Top mobile app. The app will instantly find participating products and add the earnings to our SJLS account. No more cutting, sorting and counting Box Tops. Scan any receipt from Dillons, Hy-Vee, Aldi’s, Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, etc. Simple, easy money for our school. Box Tops for Education helps teachers purchase supplies for their classrooms, art/music/science/PE supplies and much more! Get the app today and start scanning!
WAMEGO MATCH DAY: The Lutheran Parent Teacher League (LPTL) has a long history of financially supporting St. John Lutheran School through various fundraisers. We ask that you consider supporting our school. LPTL will be participating in the Wamego Match Day again this year October 3rd through the 5th.
During the Wamego Match Day event, all donations up to $5,000 per donor per organization made through the Wamego Community Foundation at the in-person match day event, Thursday, October 3, online at WamegoMatchDay.com, or by mail, will be matched on a prorated basis. Each organization is eligible to receive up to $5,000 in matching funds. NEW THIS YEAR: The Wamego Community Foundation has moved to matching gifts on a prorated basis. This means that donations may increase. Donations may be made in person by going to Iron Clad at 427 Lincoln Ave. in Wamego on October 3rd or online at wamegomatchday.com October 3rd through the 5th. For more information, contact Kara Mayer at 620-326-1409 or karalinemayer@gmail.com.
The LPTL Pork Chop Supper and Silent Auction will be November 2nd in Memorial Hall. Join us for a delicious meal which includes a pork chop, scalloped potatoes, green beans, a roll, and dessert.
LPTL appreciates your continued support! If you wish to donate your time or items to an upcoming fundraiser, please reach out!
YOUTH CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAM & CONTEST: The League of Kansas Municipalities invites our school to participate in the Youth Civic Education Program. The League offers an activity book for elementary students, as well as a writing contest called “Local Leaders of Tomorrow” for 7th graders.
The “Local Leaders of Tomorrow” Essay Contest encourages 7th grade students to answer a compelling question about local government, community members, and civic engagement. As a compelling question, it meets the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) requirements and could be used as a Classroom Based Assessment (CBA) by educators. Six regional winners will receive cash prizes, and their essays will be published in the Kansas Government Journal. Deadline to submit essays is March 3, 2025. This will allow both fall and spring classes to participate. Winners are invited to a special ceremony in May in Topeka. For more information, visit the website www.lkm.org/essaycontest.