The CrusaderDECEMBER 2013

MAYERLUTHERANHIGH SCHOOL305 FIFTH STREET NEMAYER, MN 55360952.657.2251www.lhsmayer.org

Dear Friends of Mayer Lutheran High School,

Advent greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! In 480 BC at the Battle of Thermopylae, the massive Persian army was closing in on a courageous and outnumbered force of Greeks. As Herodotus, the “Father of History,” tells it:

[The] bravest of all was declared the Spartan Dienekes. It is said that on theeve of battle, he was told by a native of Trachis that the Persian archers were so numerous that, their arrows would block out the sun. Dienekes, however, undaunted by this prospect, remarked with a laugh, ‘Good. Then we will fight in the shade.’ (Herodotus Book 7: Polymnia [220])

Fight in the shade they did! For three days, a force of 1,400 Greeks held off the more than100,000 Persian invaders. Due to the heroism of the Greeks, 5,600 of their countrymen were able to escape to fight another day. All of the remaining defenders perished, including the three-hundred Spartans led by King Leonidas, who, when the Persian ruler Xerxes demanded that they put down their weapons responded, “Come and get them!” The Battle of Thermopylae is not famous because the Spartans and their allies won. They lost. It is not remarkable because their bravery enabled their allies to defeat the enemy at a later date. Persia conquered most of Greece. It is not memorable because it changed the world forever. Today, few know of the event. It is famous because free men chose to die rather than to be subject as slaves to an invader. Today, independent schools like Mayer Lutheran High School experience significant challenges. Costs continue to increase, the number of school-age students is declining, families’ desire for Christian education is waning, and our government is increasingly challenging our independence. We are not surprised. After all, the great invader, Satan, hates our very existence. He seeks to conquer the hearts and minds of our children with seemingly overwhelming force. The danger to the next generation of Christian leaders is real and the battle worth fighting—more now than ever before. But, our fight is not ours alone. By God’s abundant grace, He gave us freedom from those ugly forces of sin, death and the devil. He provided a champion to fight for us amid the darkness of the arrows of evil that relentlessly reign down upon us. The saving work of Jesus Christ has made us free men and women. We are no longer slaves to sin. Because He chose to die, we live abundantly. When God came to earth two millennia ago to an insignificant burg in Judea, He provided the One who would fight in the shade for thirty-three years on earth. The long-awaited Messiah willingly gave His life so ours would be saved. He did it all out of a love that is lavished upon us. Unlike Dienikes or Leonidas, He would not stay dead. Jesus lives. So do we! We invite you to stand with us as we follow our Christmas King into a bright future. May the Holy Spirit fill you with every good gift from above and move you to fervently grasp the words of the angel that first Christmas: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) Have a blessed and courageous Advent and Christmas!

In Christ,

Joel P. LandskroenerExecutive Director, MLHS

Joel LandskroenerExecutive Directorjlandskroener@lhsmayer.com952-657-2251 x305

To submit information for publication in The Crusader, please contact Renae Johnson at rjohnson@lhsmayer.org or 952-657-2251. Materials due by the 14th of each month prior to publication.

We will fight in the shade!

GOING HIGH TECH 7

SHARING JESUS 4

A FAMILY AFFAIR 9

“The writer would like to thank MLHS English teacher, Andrew Boll, for inspiring this month’s message. Read Mr. Boll’s devotions at www.andrewboll.com.”

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The junior and senior visits have concluded, and all students are on track with their credits for graduation. Our visits went well, and I look forward to helping the seniors make their final transition from Mayer Lutheran to their post-secondary future. These students are awesome! I will be visiting freshmen and sophomore classes before our Christmas break to help them understand their PLAN and EXPLORE results, as well as working on their four-year plan. Students will get a copy of their individual test results. I encourage students to bring results home and share the them with parents. We will be doing a few activities related to students’ test results, which will help guide them in selecting future high school courses, college choices, and careers. As of the writing of this newsletter, I am still waiting for the results of the PSAT to share with the juniors. I will keep you posted as to when they come in. Here are some things you can do now to help your junior…• Help your child plan for taking their ACT in the spring• Begin researching and visiting colleges• Encourage your son or daughter to take college prep courses• Begin scholarship searches for their senior year• Help him set some goals about his future and periodically check in to see how he is progressing towards those goals. It’s not to early to begin this search as time in high school flies by. Let me know how I can be of assistance. A few more thoughts for seniors…• Make sure that you have applied to several colleges; don’t forget to ask for recommendation letters from teachers, pastors, or employers.• Shortly after Christmas, FAFSA will need to be filled out after you have gathered all of your tax information. • Continue to look for scholarships posted on Moodle and emailed home in the Email Extra. • See me if things start to get too stressful. I can certainly offer my assistance. Again, please contact me regarding any type of counseling needs, testing, scholarship information, or other issues. Have a wonderful Christmas, celebrating the best gift of all—Jesus Christ!

Upcoming ACT Dates: February 8, 2014 (register by Jan. 10)April 12, 2014 (register by March 7)June 14, 2014 (register by May 9). Test given at MLHS.

Debra KelzerGuidance Counselordkelzer@lhsmayer.com952-657-2251 x229

Counselor’s CornerBY: DEBRA KElzER

CoRRECTion:in the november 2013 Crusader newsletter, an error was made in the spelling of MLHS student Mathew Davis’ first name. The editors wish to apologize to Mathew and regret the error.

For four nights in late October and early November, twenty-two MLHS students volunteered to help with our annual Alumni Phone-a-thon held at the headquarters of Electrical Production Services in Chanhassen, MN. The students called more than 2,500 alumni, updating contact information, sharing news about MLHS, and asking for a gift to the Alumni Honor Fund. More than $10,000 was raised for the Alumni Honor Fund, which provides funding for tuition assistance for the many students that need that support to attend the school. Of the total raised, $5,000 was from a matching gift provided by a recent alumnus. How blessed we are to have such generous, giving Christian leaders! “With more than 3,000 alumni, each giving two dollars a week, or around a hundred dollars a year, we could raise $300,000 for our kids,” shared Joel Landskroener, Executive Director of MLHS. ”A little from many would enable us to offer significant scholarships to many students. We are deeply indebted to the faithful support of our awesome alums!” If you are an alumni or parent(s) of a graduate, please contact our office at 952-657-2251 x224 to update mailing, phone, and email information. Updated contact information saves the school a great deal of time and expense when communicating with our graduates.

MLHS

2013 PHONATHON

Alumni

HONOR

FUND

Thank you to our awesome team of student Phonathon volunteers!

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2013 | 2014

Prepared to

ShineShineand glorify your

Father in HeavenMatthew 5:16

Volunteeers are a key to the success of events for which they participate. This year’s 7th and 8th grade TAIlGATE PARTY was no exception! When you have between 60-100 students running around, it takes a group of great volunteers to work like they’re herding cats. This is exactly the kind of energy and commitment we enjoyed from a key portion of this year’s volunteers. Thank you for stepping in whenever anything needed to be done and for showing initiative to do the dirty work great volunteers do.

Back l to R: Josie Peters, Jacob Carlson, Dain Aarrestad, Riley Thomas, Ben QuiramFront l to R: Seth Pauna, Tristan Carlson (abscent, Austin latzke)

Service Students of the Month Josie, Jacob, Dain, Riley, Ben, Seth, Tristan, Austin

Academic Students of the MonthNoelle Johnson and Ben Quiram

Senior Noelle Johnson loves the amazing friendships she has created here at MlHS! Her most challenging classes include Physics and AP English and her favorite Bible hero is Moses. Mr. Gustin said this of Noelle, “Her work in AP English is always very good. Her ability to write well and her participation in class discussions is excellent. She sets an example for others with her ability to comprehend challenging texts and then communicate her thoughts about them clearly.” Noelle keeps very busy with swimming and volunteering at Freedom Farms and HCMC as well as singing with the MN Opera! All this hard work will allow her to create her goal of attending either USC or the Coast Guard Academy and get her Master’s in Marine Biology.

Sophomore Ben Quiram feels his parents, Jodi and Jeff, are what has

helped him do well in school. His favorite part of MlHS is the sense of community that happens here. He plays the guitar for Joyful Noise in chapel

and is involved in cross country, basketball, and Knowledge Bowl/Quiz Bowl. Ben’s favorite class is Chemistry and his favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 2:8-10. Way to go Ben!!

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Student Spotlight On...

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On December 26, fifty Mayer Lutheran High School students, former students, and adult chaperones will board the bus for El Paso, TX for our ninth Christmas break mission trip through Ysleta Lutheran Mission. Each of the trips has been unique and interesting. As I look back, I see how God has used these experiences to literally change the way I see the world. As the time draws near, the excitement grows for both return mission trippers and first-timers. This group is much bigger than the first bunch that went down eight years ago. In 2005 we built just one small home, this year we hope to complete four houses for some families that we look forward to getting to know and love. As always, we hope to share the love of Christ through Vacation Bible School activities, Bible stories, and other personal interactions. Our theme verse for this year is 2 Corinthians 5:20a “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” We ask you to join us in praying that God would truly make us ambassadors for Him in this very broken, yet beautiful place. Thank you to so many of you who have supported this effort over the years, we really do consider you partners in this mission.

S P I R I T U A L L I F E N E W SBY: DAVE lANE

Sharing Jesus in Anapra

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December

3 Girls Basketball-9th grade 4:30 PM Girls Basketball-B Squad 5:45 PM Girls Basketball-Varsity 7:15 PM Away at Mound-Westonka5 Boys Basketball-9th grade 6 PM Away at Montgomery Middle School Boys Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Boys Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Away at Tri-City United Girls Basketball-9th grade 4:45 PM Girls Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Girls Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Home vs Mound Westonka 6 Boys Basketball-Varsity Tourn 6 PM Away at Maple River High School7 Boys Basketball-Varsity Tourn 8 PM Away at Maple River High School Dance Team 12 PM The Target Center 10 Boys Basketball-9th grade 6 PM Boys Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Boys Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Away at Jordan12 Girls Basketball-9th grade 4:45 PM Away at Montgomery Middle School Girls Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Girls Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Away at Tri-City United13 Boys Basketball-9th grade 4:30 PM Boys Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Boys Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Home vs Belle Plaine

14 Girls Basketball-9th grade 12 PM Girls Basketball-B Squad 1:30 PM Girls Basketball-Varsity 3 PM Home vs Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Dance Team 12 PM At BOLD16 MLHS Christmas Concert 7 PM17 Boys Basketball-9th grade 4:30 PM Boys Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Boys Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Home vs NYA18 Final Exams19 Final Exams Boys Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Boys Basketball-Varsity 6 PM Away at Maple Lake High School Dance Team Competition 7:30 PM At MLHS20 Final Exams Boys Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Boys Basketball-Varsity 6 PM Away at Maple Lake High School Girls Basketball-9th grade 4:30 PM Girls Basketball-B Squad 6 PM Girls Basketball-Varsity 7:30 PM Home vs Belle Plaine 21-31 NO SCHOOL, Christmas Break27 Girls Basketball-Varsity TBD St. Olaf College 28 Girls Basketball-Varsity TBD St. Olaf College 29 Girls Basketball-Varsity TBD St. Olaf College

Activities

December 2013 Calendar

New Winter Sports ProgramMLHS Crusader Sports Programs will now feature advertising! Promote your business and support MLHS Boosters for one low price! To place an ad, please contact Brian Diedrick at btdnya@gmail.com or call 952-393-3919.

The Mayer Knights school year activities are in full swing! Basketballs are bouncing and tournaments are coming up. This year, we have eleven teams in our Travel Basketball program for 4th through 8th graders. Our program keeps growing and this year we had to order many new uniforms—a good problem to have! Our Knights Robotics, coached by our own Gary Loontjer, and a few very skilled and helpful parents, has three teams that meet currently and will compete soon. Knights of Jazz, coached by MLHS Director James Dulas, has been practicing every week and will perform with MLHS bands in the annual Christmas Concert, December 16. Coach Grimsley coached twenty-eight little athletes for our Junior Knights Volleyball program, which just ended in October. The Knights Football season was a great one, with 24 boys participating, coached by Brady Luebke and assisted by Mitch Gassen. Junior Knights Basketball starts the first Saturday in December for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in the MLHS gym. Registration is currently open. Sign up now for Knights of the Arrow archery and Knights of Jazz spring semester both starting in January! Knights Baseball begins in April but you can register NOW (pay later) to save your spot.

Parents interested in assisting in any way are encouraged to call me at 952-657-2251 x227

Thank you for supporting our Mayer Knights programs!

For the most updated schedules, please check www.mnriverconference.org or access the “Activity Calendar” through the parent dropdown on our homepage, www.lhsmayer.mn.org.

Youth Activities Outreach of Mayer Lutheran High School

Barb ChristophersonMayer Knights Coordinatorbchristopherson@lhsmayer.com952-657-2251 x227

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Bethel University senior and MLHS alum, Luke Buttenhoff (#90), is a defensive end for the Bethel football team, who went 10-0 this season, only the second undefeated season in their football history. The team was ranked first in their region. Luke received Division III preseason All American honorable mention from USA Football Network. Luke played tight end and linebacker for MLHS. He is majoring in economics and finance.

Lessons from the TopEvery year, as part of the Christian Leadership Initiative, our students are blessed to hear speakers from a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences. On October 30, Tim and Jon Schmidt (’07) share lessons that they learned in climbing Mt. Ranier two summers ago. Their talk, entitled Five Killer Life Lessons from the Summit of Mt. Rainier, encouraged

our school community to Know Yourself, Live it Out, Serve, and Go. Five questions were posed to the students: 1) What is your Mt. Ranier? 2) What are your cravasses? 3) Who are your ropes attached to? 4) Whose ropes are attached to you? and 5) What is on your “bucket list?” The audience was urged to seek and know the great challenges that wait them in their lives, be aware of the dangers that are inherent in attacking those challenges, develop a network of friends and mentors who can guide you through life, be a mentor and friend to others as they go after their goals, and always be thinking about the next challenge by setting life goals. “Our Fall Leadership Summit enables our students to think about leadership from many different perspectives,” shared Kevin Wilaby, MLHS Principal. “Tim and Jon’s words were well received and in our follow-up group discussions we found out students absorbed a great deal of the remarkable words they shared. We are blessed to have friends like the Schmidts who are eager to walk with us as we prepare the next generation of Christian leaders.” Tim Schmidt has published a book, along with Paul Batz, entitled: What Really Works: Blending the Seven F’s for the Life You Imagine. Many of the thoughts expressed during the leadership summit can be found in this intriguing and practical work. It can be purchased at most online book retailers. Our Spring Leadership Summit will be held on April 29, 2014 at 9:40 AM in the Fine Arts Center. Our speaker will be Paul Robinson, founder of Kingdom State University, a ministry to develop young people into Christian leaders. All are welcome to attend!

Raise money for Mayer Lutheran High School AND take control of your healthRidgeview will give $15 to a nonprofit organization you choose, including Mayer Lutheran High School, when you register with Ridgeview’s Family Health Manager online health and wellness tool. The process is easy!1. Create a Family Health Manager account at www.ridgeviewmedical.org2. Complete a short online health assessment3. Log at least two health interests, then enter the MLHS unique code: Program code D1270

Get started today!Register at www.ridgeviewmedical.org and enter code D1270to ensure Mayer Lutheran High School receives the donation.

Charitable Gifts throuGh your iraPresident obama has signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 into law. Among other provisions, the Act extends the iRA Charitable Rollover for 2013. The extension will allow individuals 70½ and older to donate up to $100,000 from their iRAs to Mayer Lutheran High School tax-free. Donors do not receive an income tax charitable deduction. This provision allows donors to transfer (or “rollover”) money from their iRAs directly to MLHS, without having to recognize the transfer as income. Taxpayers must be age 70½ or older and there is a $100,000 yearly limit. Please contact MLHS at 952-657-2251 x 305 for more information.

Giving TuesdayAfter the frenzies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, why not join in the joy of Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is a national on-line fundraising day to remind us that giving is in the true spirit of Christmas. Go to GiveMN.org to support the next generation of Christian leaders.

There’s more than one way to give back... L/R: Cole Buttenhoff, Jon Schmidt, Joel Burfeind, Maddie Bakken, Tim Schmidt, and Morgan Diedrick

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In this fall’s Computer Systems class, the students are just now completing a five week unit on electronics. I started this unit hoping to give each student a better understanding of the basic building blocks that makes each part of a computer function. However, the unit provides

something much more valuable—an opportunity to explore and invent solutions to problems, giving each student a hands-on opportunity to do something with the knowledge they gain in class. Four weeks ago the students were given a battery, wires, a breadboard, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and asked to get the LED to light up. With only a limited number of combinations, students quickly discovered how to turn on the light, but also were distressed to discover a problem. After the light turned on, it got dim and turned off. No matter what they tried, they were unable to turn the light back on. What the students had discovered is the importance of controlling how much current can enter a LED—too much current and the LED burns out. The students quickly realized the importantance of the resistor they placed in front of their LED. It protected the LED from receiving too much current and burning out. Each day new tasks were introduced and every day the students rose to the challenge of discovering how switches, buttons, transistors, diodes, and light dependent resistors worked. Eventually, they built simple night lights that turned on an LED using the light—dependent resistor and transistor. The student’s challenges were not yet complete. In the last project of the unit

they were asked to work as a team to design solutions to real-world problems. The students chose to pick problems that exist in my classroom. One problem is that they sometimes have to wait for a computer to turn on as they arrive in class. A student from the previous hour may have shut down the computer instead of logging off. The students wondered if they could build a device that could turn on the computer when they entered the classroom, increasing

the productivity of those working in the room. Another problem students were interested in solving was to get more natural light in the classroom by opening the blinds, which are often closed due to the glare on screens or the projector. They wondered if they could build a device that could open and close the blinds based on light intensity in the classroom. The students worked on these inventions by researching other electronic components, hypothesizing ideas, testing those ideas, redesigning their projects, and learning how to work with Arduino Microcontrollers. As you can see from the pictures, they have had tremendous success. Next time you are at MLHS, I invite you to stop by and take a look at what they were able to build after their short time working with electronics.

it Worked! These scholars just finished hooking up the motor to the blind’s handle and sent a command to open and close the blind.

Colin and Emma hook up the motion sensor at the door entrance. This prototype turns on the light anytime someone crosses the door threshold.

T E C H N O L O G Y D E P A R T M E N T N E W SBY: MATT MCClINTOCK

Matt McClintockmmclintock@lhsmayer.com952-657-2251 x316

Electronics: A Tale of Batteries, LEDs, Breadboards, and Transistors

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Ready, Set, Buzz!BY: HANNAH TRUNIGER, MlHS SOPHOMORE

All hands poise on the buzzer in front of them as they anticipate the final question that will determine the winner of the round. Each of the three teams is tied, and winning this round will guarantee a spot in the upcoming regional competition. The reader pauses, and then proceeds to ask the question. “Which U.S. national park is the oldest located east of the Mississippi River?” Almost immediately, buzzers begin to light up. Who will ring in first? “Table B, you have fifteen seconds to give your answer before it goes to another team,” the judge announced. The team crowds around their spokesperson, excitedly whispering their thoughts and ideas. “Your time is up. Do you have an answer?” the judge asks again. The spokesperson speaks up. “Acadia National park,” he states confidently. “Correct!” the reader exclaims, “Team B is our winner!” Quiz Bowl Knowledge Bowl (a.k.a. QBKB) is a competitive trivia team, a unique extracurricular activity for Mayer Lutheran High School. Anyone can join! Coached by Mr. Gary Loontjer, Mayer Lutheran’s QBKB team is starting out the season with about fifteen to twenty individuals who are excited to answer questions, have fun, and learn a little something new. Practices have already begun for the upcoming season, with QBKB’s first invitational meet on Saturday, January 4, in Buffalo. At a typical invitational meet, Mayer Lutheran might enroll one varsity team and several junior varsity teams, depending on the number of participants. The day begins with one hundred written round questions, filled out separately by each team. This might take a little while, considering there are usually sixty to eighty schools at an average invitational meet. Then, the team moves on to three to four oral rounds, which contain forty-five questions each. Once a question is read, anyone from the team can buzz in, but the appointed team spokesperson must be the one to answer. After a buzzer is rung, the team is given fifteen seconds to answer before the question goes to the next team. The top three teams are awarded medals. The conference meet is held in addition to the six invitational meets. Last year, the varsity team placed third at regionals, narrowly missing the state competition, so they definitely have high hopes for this year! Sub-regionals are held between March 10 and March 17, and the top six teams continue on to the regional completion on March 20. The top two teams at regionals continue on to the state competition on April 10-11 at Cragun’s Resort in Brainard. Good luck to our Quiz Bowl team this year!

SPECIAL SPIRIT WEAR PURCHASE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

(ONLINE ONLY)

Ladies Sport-Tek® Tech Fleece Full Zip Hooded Jacket: $43 XS-XL*(Red, Black, or White)

Men’s Sport-Tek® Tech ¼ Zip Fleece Pullover

$40 XS-XL*(Red or Black)

*(Add $2 for XXL, $4 for 3XL, $6 for 4XL)

Apparel comes with an embroidered Mayer Lutheran Crusaders logo on the left chest. To order go to lhsmayer.org, click on

Parents or Students, Spirit Wear.

Orders need to be placed (online only) no later than December 6

for Christmas delivery.

Tom ‘Bones’ Malone with Audrey Morschen, Rebecca Gaida, Zacheriah Cooper.

Winona State High School Honors Jazz Clinic On November 10, three of Mayer Lutheran’s finest musicians participated in the Ninth Annual Honor Jazz Band hosted by Winona State University. Zach Cooper–Trombone, Audrey Morschen–Bass, and Rebecca Gaida–Piano were nominated and accepted into the festival weekend. Once accepted they prepared selections for placement auditions into two full-size jazz bands. The stress of performing for strangers in an audition was quickly changed to excitement as they rehearsed with other capable jazz musicians from southeastern Minnesota. The highlight of the weekend was having Tom “Bones” Malone from the famed “Blues Brothers” movie and “Late Night with David Letterman” as a musician in the orchestra led by Paul Schafer. Tom is a great musician of not only the trombone but bari sax, trumpet, piccolo, and flute to name a few. The Mayer Lutheran musicians enjoyed the experience and said that Mr. Malone was very laid back, kind, and AWESOME!!! He even autographed Zach’s trombone case. This opportunity to perform with other dedicated peers and work with a great performer/educator was true blessing for our musicians who were motivated to step up their own performance.

CrusaderChristmas

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Send out the invites. Order the cake. Find the perfect dress. Reserve the venue. Pick out the flowers. Hours upon hours are spent planning out the details of a wedding. The same was true of planning this year’s fall musical, “A Family Affair.” It was a comedic portrayal of two families feuding over wedding decisions set in Chicago in the 1960s. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of many people, the production was a success. The many cast members, musicians in the pit orchestra, tech crew, makeup artists, hair stylists, costume and set designers all played a vital role. It was wonderful to see so many people working together to use the various talents God has given to them. The drama department is also very grateful for the support of large audiences at each performance. They are already looking forward to planning for the play next spring.

Mayer Lutheran High School Fall Musical

Book, Music and Lyrics by

JAMES GOLDMAN, JOHN KANDER and WILLIAM GOLDMAN

“A Family Affair” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Bowling BY: COACH ROBERT lUECKE

The eight-member MLHS Bowling Team found their groove in thesecond half of their 2013 season. Competition ended on a high note when the team placed near the top at the year-end tournament. Elizabeth Parrish earned all-conference honors, placing in the top eight bowlers. She will bowl on November 30 with other top bowlers in the conference. Team members include Jon Chapa, Noah Elliot, Nik Lundgren, Emily Meyer, Elizabeth Parrish, Amanda Trost, Joel Wacker, and Conner Wisch. Way to go bowling team!

Pictured right: Sophomores Amanda Trost and Jon Chapa (in red shirts) were selected to the High School Bowling League’s Scholastic Honors Team this year.

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December Menu 2 Chicken nuggets, Green Beans, Diced Peaches, Juice, Dinner Roll *Popcorn Chicken, French Fries

3 Pasta w/Meat Sauce, Salad, Fresh Melon, WG Breadstick *Hot Dog Wrap, Tater Tots

4 Turkey Hot Dog on a Bun, AuGratin Potatoes, Grapes, Cucumber, Raisins *Pork Chop, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy

5 Chili, Cheddar Cheese, Corn Bread, Fruit Cocktail, Zucchini, oranges *Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, Breadsticks

6 Chicken Drumstick, Brown Rice Pilaf, Carrots, Apple, Zoo Crackers *English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich, Tri-Taters

9 Hot Meatball Sub, Cowboy Corn Salad, Pineapple, Juice *Chicken Sandwich, French Fries

10 Beef nachos, Seasoned Black Beans, Corn Tortilla Chips, Apple *Corn Dog, Mac & Cheese

11 Cheese Lasagna Rolls w/Marinara Sauce, Salad, Grapes, Breadsticks, Raisins *Taco, Curly Fries

12 Juicy Hamburger on a Bun, Tator Rounds, Banana, Diced Peaches *Sesame Chicken w/Rice

13 Chicken Teriyaki Breast, Fried Rice, Mandarin oranges, Carrots, Dinner Roll, Juice *Pizza, Batter Bites

16 Chicken Corn Dog, Tator Rounds, Carrots, Apple *Cheese Burger, French Fries

17 Chicken Parm w/Marinara Sauce, Brown Rice Pilaf, 3 Bean Salad, Banana, Applesauce *Wild Rice Soup, Toasted Cheese

18 Beef Sloppy Joe on a WG bun, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Grapes, Juice *Fajita or Buffalo Chicken, Curly Fries

19 Pasta w/Meat Sauce, Salad, Diced Pears, Breadstick *italian Dunkers w/Marinara Sauce

20 Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken nuggets, Broccoli, Fruit Cocktail *Beef nachos

23–31 no SCHooL

* Ala Carte Menu: If your student does not wish to order a Lancer meal, starred items will be offered after the Lancer lunch serving line is done. Cost of most items are $1.50–$2.

CRU

SADER CAFE

REMINDERPlease place lunch orders by Wed. at 8 AM for the following week. This can be done through your student’s Moodle account.

Zumba, the Latin-inspired, easy to follow, calorie-burning dance fitness party classes are back at MLHS!

Zumba classes starting on January 14, 20148 Classes: $40Registration: $5When: Tuesdays and Fridays from 4 to 5 PMDates:1/14, 1/17, 1/21, 1/24, 1/28, 1/31, 2/4, 2/7Minimum 10 people per class!To register contact: Mrs. Alvarez at zumbaadela@gmail.com

Amy Tollefsonatollefson@wm.k12.mn.us952-657-2251 x352

H E A L T H C O R N E RBY: AMY TOllEFSON, RN–SCHOOl NURSE

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights… James 1:17 NIV

Hectic Holidays?Before you get caught up with your tasks, lists, and expectations, put them into perspective. Ask yourself what you should be celebrating: the hectic, stress-laden, financially burdened holiday season, or the gift of peace and hope. Even though God gives us all we need for a healthy, happy life, we tend to disturb it by spending and observing the holiday on human terms. Look at the holiday traps that take up your time. Categorize your holiday tasks as “need to do,” “should do,” “want to do,” and “expected to do.” Which ones really address the Christmas spirit? Just because you are invited to attend an event or have habitually participated in an activity doesn’t mean you have to continue that activity. Prioritize all of your activities. By weeding out those that distract you from the true meaning of Christmas, you will find less stress and more enjoyment from your choices. Advent is a time for hope, peace, joy, and love, not mounds of gifts, chaotic rounds of parties, or copious amounts of food. Consider what has real meaning for you. Is it the Christmas story you heard as a child or its impact on you as an adult? Think about the music of the holiday and how a stirring rendition of “Joy to the World” or a quiet performance of “Silent Night” displays love and peace in a harried world. Don’t let commercialism or stress overshadow the gifts of love and sharing that you offer your loved ones. Remember the spirit of Christmas, share your presence with others, reduce your stress, and create meaningful traditions that demonstrate God’s love.(Source: www.webMD.com)

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Of course Christ is enough. In terms of our salvation, Jesus is all that matters. He is the way, the truth, and the life. The path Jesus traveled for our salvation was not easy. He became human, and we understand what it means to be human. We get angry and sad. We grow weary and confused. We are tempted to lie, cheat, and steal. Lustful thoughts enter our minds, and sexual temptation occurs. We put ourselves before others and even before God, literally making ourselves the most important thing in the universe. Jesus, in his humanity, understands our weaknesses and endured all temptations, but never sinned. His perfection made him the Passover Lamb that would be able to pay for humanity’s sin. His death and resurrection assures all who believe in Jesus as their Savior that they too will rise from the dead to eternal life. Of course Christ is enough! But when it comes to choosing the educational track for our children, many Christians determine that Christ is not enough of a reason to choose an education that is founded on Biblical truth and the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Savior. Among the many reasons given for choosing a non-Christ based education, finances is the most common reason stated. Perhaps the financial cost of a Christian education is better viewed as an investment in the eternal destiny of the student. For a non-Christian to choose an educational system for their children that is void of Christ would seem logical and consistent with their beliefs. This is unfortunate because the Gospel message has either not been proclaimed or received by them, which has eternal implications. But why would Christian parents choose an educational system for their children that will challenge them to adopt a worldview that is void of Christ and one that refutes that the Bible is the standard for truth? Some reasons are:• Some parents believe that there are enough Christian teachers in public schools to combat the secular teachings. It is true that our public schools do have dedicated Christian educators in them but they must be careful as to how they show their faith

in Christ. Public schools also have teachers who do not believe in Christ or in the authority of scripture. These teachers are not restricted in their ability to talk about relativism, morality, gender neutrality, and social justice based on standards other than the Bible. The risk of indoctrination into a non-Christian world view is real and may have eternal implications.• There is a belief that there is a time when Christian students need to be given the opportunity to be “salt” in the world. Though all Christians need to be salt in the world, it is not easy to stand up for Christ in a world that is more and more opposed to Him. Consider your high school years and experiences—the temptation you faced and how you were or were not able to withstand them. Were you able to be salt for Christ? Are today’s Christian public school students really equipped to be salt? Or, is an environment that expresses the love of God and shares the Gospel regularly the best environment for a Christian student to learn how to be salt? (Matthew 5:13)• Some feel that the education received in public and private-secular schools is superior to what occurs in Christian schools. This is a matter of opinion. You can make the statistics communicate many things that would support either side as being educationally superior. No two students have the same educational experience. There are many factors that determine the level of academic preparation a student will obtain. For example, many public, private, and Christian schools can claim students whose ACT scores are in the 30’s. This simply means that a combination of good teaching, a strong curriculum, and hard-working students have come together to allow a student to obtain great scores.

• Others think that there are better athletic or scholarship opportunities in the larger public school. Larger schools often have more students competing for roster spots on athletic teams. This means that an individual’s skill level must be very high if they want to play on a team, let alone get game time. The fact that only 2-3% of seniors receive any type of athletic scholarship when they attend college is often ignored.* Not knowing this can lead to unrealistic expectations being placed on many high school athletes who statistically stand little to no chance of earning an athletic scholarship. Just last spring a WCCO’s “Good Question” report stated that only seven or eight Minnesota senior boys basketball players would earn a Division I basketball scholarship that year.** If athletics is an important factor in choosing a school, finding a place where the student can find their place, participate, and make a difference is more important than chasing the scholarship dream. As Christian parents we are entrusted with the responsibility of the spiritual upbringing of our children. Choosing a Christian high school for your child requires financial sacrifice. There is no doubt about this. Consider this choice as an investment in your child’s future. When you think about investing you choose to put resources into something in hopes of a desired return. When parents choose a Christian school for their children, they are hoping for many things: a quality education, co-curricular opportunities, quality peer groups, and an eternal return on the investment; this is what you receive from Mayer Lutheran High School. Is there a more important investment that can be made?

T H E L A S T W O R DBY: KEVIN WIlABY, PRINCIPAl

Is Christ Enough?

Kevin Wilaby, Principalkwilaby@lhsmayer.com952-657-2251 x317

*ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/nli/document+library/athletic+scholarship

**minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/03/23/good-question-how-hard-is-it-to-get-a-b-ball-scholarship/

ACT Composite Score Comparison to State of Minnesota–Class of 2013note that in Mn 74% of the students in the

class of 2013 took the ACT.Composite ScoreMayer (Randomized 74% of class) 24.5Mayer (Top 74% of class by GPA rank) 26.1Mn (74%) 23

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MAYERLUTHERAN.ORG | MAYERLHS@TwITTER.COM | FACEBOOk.COM/MAYERLHSMayer Lutheran High School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its policies, financial aid program or other school-administered programs.

MLHS will waive the application fee ($100 value) for all new 2014–15 students who submit an application by December 31, 2013. Scholarships are also available for non-Lutheran families.

Monday, December 16Fine Arts Auditorium

7:00 PM

Musicians from the Mayer

Lutheran community will be

celebrating our Savior’s birth by

performing a Christmas concert

on Monday, December 16,

at 7:00 PM.

This performance will feature the

Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble,

and Jazz Band from MLHS and the

Concert Band and Knights of Jazz

from the grade schools.

The musicians have been

working hard to learn their parts

in anticipation of this musical

celebration of God’s saving

gift to us.

Please join us in celebrating

the birth of our Savior,

JESUS!

2013 MAYER LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL

Christmas Concert

From the entire staff at Mayer Lutheran High School,

we wish you a blessed, Christ-filled Christmas!