St. Paul’s Lu†heran SchoolGrow. Glow. Go

Reference Guide

315 9th St. S.St James MN 56081

Phone: 507-375-3809Email: principal.white@stpaulsstjames.com

Introduction

God has certainly blessed our church and school! Here at St. Paul’s, we want to GROW, GLOW, and GO with God’s word in our lives. Our mission is to give children a Christ-centered education. We want to educate the whole child. This means that we care for more than just textbooks and worksheets. We also make sure that our students learn socially, emotionally, physically, and most importantly, spiritually.

In order for us to accomplish this, we have set up many activities for our students’ parents to get involved. In all things we want to praise God with our words and action. Paul reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (I Cor 10:31)

The purpose of this book is to give brief explanations for the events we have at St. Paul’s. This is to serve as a quick guide to define the activities of which our students are involved. If you have any further questions, please contact me by calling the school or emailing principal.white@stpaulsstjames.com.

May God bless our work at St. Paul’s school,

Steve White, principal

Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten

100 th Day of school When we have had 100 days of school, we celebrate by having each child bring a collection of 100 of something that they can count.

Ash Wednesday- St. Paul’s students sing in the 4:30pm service. A committee of parents makes the meal and helps serve, while others bring desserts. A free will offering is taken to defray the cost of the meal and the extra money is deposited in the PTO account designated for the Student Assistance Fund.

Baptism Birthdays- On the first chapel of the month we celebrate the baptism birthdays of the children for the month and sing a special baptism song. You will find a space on the registration form for the baptism month.

Book Buddies- Children may check out a Book Buddy from our classroom. A book buddy consists of a stuffed animal friend, 2-3 books and a card that lists the book buddy and the books that are in the bag.

Chapel- Every Friday morning, the entire student body gathers in the Sanctuary for a chapel service. Chapel services are led by the pastor or the principal. In the chapel service, the leader has a short devotion and then invites the student body to sing a hymn. The service ends with a prayer. Every 4th chapel, children are given the opportunity to sing their favorite “Jesus songs”.

Chapel buddies- A younger child is paired up with an older child to sit and sing with in chapel on the first Friday of each month. The older children help their younger partners learn how to participate in worship by setting good examples. They also eat lunch together on that day.

Christian Education Week- This is a week of the school year where the school focus is about Christian Education. The student’s Science/Social/Art Fair are displayed during the week. On Friday, the Chapel devotion is focused on “Why Is Christian Education Important in My Life?” Throughout the week, there are guest speakers on various topics. They come to speak to the children. The week concludes with Winter Fest (see Winter Fest for more details).

Christmas Eve Children’s Service- on Christmas Eve, the Day School and Sunday School children participate in the Christmas program. The service begins at 6pm. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to St. Paul’s before 5:30pm. The students practice for this program in December during school and during Sunday School.

Christmas for Kids- A one day Christmas Vacation Bible School Camp is held on a Saturday morning. Christmas for Kids includes a lesson, crafts, games and usually lunch. All preschoolers-6th grade children are welcome.

Christmas party- Children bring a gift to exchange marked “To a boy/girl from __________”. Girls bring a gift for a girl; boys bring a gift for a boy. The Christmas party is on the last day of school before Christmas break. Our day begins with Christmas Service practice, then a Christmas party with a special Christmas chapel at 11:00 and a Christmas potluck meal at 11:30. Parents are invited to both the Christmas chapel and the potluck. School is dismissed after the potluck (bring a dish or two to share).

Classroom parties- Each teacher has a reward system in place for good behavior. When the students reach that goal, then the teachers will set aside some time for a party. Parties may include games, food, movies, etc. Parties are used to relax the atmosphere and build up the morale of the classroom. Students are allowed to bring homemade treats.

Clifford’s Birthday- Sept 24th. We celebrate Clifford the Big Red Dog’s birthday by wearing red, reading Clifford books, and having special treats.

Closing Day Chapel Service- Graduation and Closing Service is at 7:00pm on the last day of school. All of the students sing in this service. PreK needs to come 15 minutes early so that their graduation caps can be fastened securely. The class walks in together and each child individually receives his/her diploma. Parents have an opportunity to photograph their child receiving his/her diploma.

Day School Sunday singing- The children sing in church about 7 times during the school year. The songs are learned in school, and parents are encouraged to help their child learn the words at home. The children are expected to participate by coming to church when they sing. Not only are the children praising their Lord and Savior when they sing, but is also an opportunity for the children to thank the members of our congregation who help support our school.

Easter for Kids- Similar to Christmas for Kids, but includes an Easter Egg hunt.

Estimation Jar- PreK kids take turns bringing home a clear plastic jar and filling it with items to be estimated by classmates. The child should count the items, write the number on a piece of paper, fold it and put it into the jar.

Field Trips- Each classroom plans their own field trips. Each classroom goes on a number of field trips each year. The field trips are based on what they are learning in the classroom. Each year, the classrooms go on a “big” field trip (e.g. Science Museum, Minnesota Zoo, etc.). The Preschool and Prekindergarten students take a field trip about once a month. They include riding on a combine, an apple farm, pumpkin farm, grocery store, dentist, Martin Luther College Children’s Theater, bowling and an all day trip with Kindergarten and 1st grade. The last trip is on a 4 year cycle of Minnesota Zoo, the Circus in Sioux Falls, Disney on Ice, and Children’s Museum/Como Park Zoo.

Harvest Fest- The PTO sponsors a meal and bake sale every fall. On this day all of the students sing for church, a committee makes and serves the meal, others are asked to bring desserts, 5th-8th graders help serve drink and clean up, and 2nd-4th graders make carnival type games for children 1st grade and younger to play. All families are asked to bring baked goods for the bake sale. A free will offering is taken to help defray expenses.

Home visits- Toward the beginning of August, the teachers and the Principal will visit with all of the students and their parents in their home. This is a time used by the teachers to share the classroom rules, schedules, and expectation. The secretary will call to schedule the home visit.

Kindergarten Round-Up- Children 3, 4, and 5 years old and their parents are invited to visit the classrooms, meet the teachers and ask any questions they might have. This is held on a weeknight in the spring at St. Paul’s. This is an opportunity for the parents to reserve a spot for their child(ren) for the upcoming school year.

Little Lambs- Sunday School for our littlest ones, including any 3 yr. olds not ready to separate from their parents. Little Lambs begins at 10:15 with parent/child play time. At 10:45, a short Bible lesson is presented. A non-messy snack is provided. A parent, grandparent, or another adult family member must accompany children attending Little Lambs. We meet in the Early Childhood classroom, usually the first and third Sunday of the month. Meeting dates are posted on the board outside the classroom and in the church bulletin. Everyone is welcome!

Loud Larry- PreK children take turns bringing Larry home, our classroom journal buddy. Children draw a picture of what they did during the weekend with Loud Larry and dictate to their parents the words describing the picture.

Messy Monday- A creative playtime for preschoolers and their parents and siblings to have fun getting messy, exploring finger paint, shaving cream, mud, pudding, etc. It is held monthly on the first Monday of the month during the school year from 6:30-7:30 in the Early Childhood classroom. There is a cost of $1 and that includes a snack. Everyone is welcome.

Mo-Mo- This is the preschool version of Loud Larry.

Open House- This is a time when parents and grandparents are invited to check out the school and their children’s classrooms. Students’ artwork is often displayed at these events. The teachers are available for questions.

Opening Day Chapel Service- The first day of school starts with a chapel service at 8:30am. This sets the tone for the year. We want to remember that Jesus is the most important thing we teach at St. Paul’s. All parents, grandparents and family members are invited to join us.

Panther Press- This is weekly school newsletter handed out to each student. It has announcements for the upcoming weeks, birthdays, and lunch menu. Important handouts and book order forms are often attached to the Panther Press.

Parent-Teacher Conferences- These important conferences are held in the fall. This is chance for the parents and teachers to sit down and discuss their student’s work in school. Teachers and parents use this time to discuss concerns, ask questions, and give praise to each other. St. Paul’s Lutheran School values every student’s education and holds it in the highest regard. These meeting are very important because of the care that the teacher and parents have for their students. Parents will have the chance to sign up for a time slot on Forensics night.

Pumpkin Party- Instead of a Halloween party, we have a Pumpkin Party. We celebrate by wearing orange, playing games, reading stories and having treats. We do not wear costumes to school. The children are invited to trick or treat at the teacher’s houses on Halloween night.

School Pictures- Lifetouch comes to St. Paul’s every fall to take the student’s official school pictures. Pictures are taken in the morning. Reminders and paperwork are sent home ahead of time. Parents are asked to turn in their order form of picture sizes and background colors before picture day along with the money for these orders.

School Play- Each spring the children prepare a performance at Marian Hall. A three year rotation includes a play, a musical, and classroom skits. All children are involved and required to participate. The PTO serves a treat after the performances. A free will offering is taken to help defray the costs of the play.

School Registration Night- In mid-August, parents whose children will be attending St. Paul’s Lutheran School register their children for class, complete and hand in health and emergency contact information, purchase hot lunch tickets, and set up a tuition payment schedule. This is also a time to visit with your child’s teacher and ask any questions that you may have.

Thanksgiving Feast- PreK, K and 1st grade students celebrate by breaking up into groups and having the children visit different stations. At each station they prepare some food, make a craft or play a game. When the PreK children have gone through all of the stations, they eat their dinner and go home; K and 1st grade go back to their classrooms.

Valentine’s Day Party- The children should bring Valentines for each of their classmates. They may bring other treats as well. Our classroom has a party with stories, games and treats.

Winter Fest- This is special Sunday at the end of Christian Education week. It is known as Christian Education Sunday on the church calendar. The upper grade students draw spiritual pictures that include the school year’s theme. Their drawings are made into the bulletin covers for that Sunday. The students sing in church. There is a PTO sponsored meal after the service. Students take their fair displays after the meal.

Yearbook- Pictures are taken throughout the year and compiled into a yearbook. Each child receives a yearbook.

Kindergarten through 8th grade

Art fair- The Art/Science/Social Studies Fair is an event in the school year where students are able to display their work. The projects are displayed and judged during Christian Education week. Qualified judges come to St. Paul’s to judge the students’ work and give them awards. The fairs are on 3 year cycle, which means the Art Fair is once every three years. Grades K-8 are required to participate in the Art Fair. Grades 1-8 are required to participate in the Social Studies and Science Fairs.

Ash Wednesday- St. Paul’s students sing in the 4:30 church service. PTO makes the supper meal that is served after the church service on Ash Wednesday. A committee makes the meal and help to serve, while others bring desserts. A free will offering is taken to defray the cost of the meal and the extra money is deposited in the PTO account designated for the student assistance fund.

Bake Sale- All families are asked to bring baked goods for the bake sale for Harvest Fest. The upper grade students will sell them before and after the church service.

Baptism Birthdays- on the first chapel of the month, we celebrate the Baptism Birthdays of the children for the month and sing a special Baptism song. You will find a space on the registration forms designated for Baptism birth months.

Basketball- Grades 3-8 are invited to play on the St. Paul’s basketball teams. The A team consists of players from grades 5-8. The B team consists of players from grades 3-6. Practices are on Sunday and Thursday afternoons usually starting the last week of November until the end of February. The teams play about 15-20 games per season. Practices and home games are usually held at Marian Hall in St. James, but occasionally are held at the Godahl Recreation Center in Godahl.

Basketball Tournament- The MLC basketball tournament is exciting for St. Paul’s. The night before the tournament, there is a Pep Fest which excites the players, coaches and parents for the upcoming games. The games are held in New Ulm at Martin Luther College, Minnesota Valley Lutheran, or at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in New Ulm. The tournament consists of games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is an double elimination tournament.

Boy Pioneers- Similar to Girl Pioneers.

Catechism class- The upper grades have Catechism class with Pastor twice a week during the school day. 8th graders have the opportunity to be confirmed in the spring if they show that they are ready. This catechism class educates them about the fundamentals of God’s word and the ministry.

Chapel- Every Friday morning, the entire student body gathers in the Sanctuary for a chapel service. Chapel services are led by one of the pastors or the principal. In the Chapel service, the leader has a short devotion, and then invites the student body to sing a hymn. The service ends with prayer. Every 4th chapel, children are given the opportunity to sing their favorite “Jesus songs”.

Chapel Buddies- A younger child is paired up with an older child to sit and sing with in chapel on the first Friday of each month. The older children help their younger partners learn how to participate in worship by setting good examples. They also eat lunch together on this day.

Charger for a Day- This is a day where our 5th-6th graders go to MVL and experience a day there. They go to different classrooms and have mini classes with the MVL teachers. There is often a fun activity that integrates our students with students from other Lutheran schools that plan to attend MVL. Essentially, they will meet future classmates and establish friendships even before high school.

Cheerleading- This is open to all boys and girls from grades 1-8 who then cheer at basketball games. The cheerleaders are in charge of Pep Fest night. They perform all of their cheers at Pep Fest. Practices are once a week during the winter.

Christian Education Week- This is a week of the school year where the school focus is about Christian Education. The student’s Science/Social or Art Fair projects are displayed during the week. On Friday, the Chapel devotion is focused on “Why Is Christian Education Important in My Life?” Throughout the week, there are guest speakers on various topics who come to speak to the children on various topics. The week concludes with Winter Fest (see Winter Fest for more details).

Christmas Eve Children’s Service- on Christmas Eve, the Day School and Sunday School children participate in the Christmas program. The service begins at 6pm. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to St. Paul’s before 5:30pm. The students practice for this program in December during school and during Sunday School.

Christmas for Kids- A one day Christmas Vacation Bible School Camp is held on a Saturday morning. Christmas for Kids includes a lesson, crafts, games and usually lunch. All preschoolers-6th grade children are welcome.

Christmas party- Children bring a gift to exchange marked “To a boy/girl from __________”. Girls bring a gift for a girl; boys bring a gift for a boy. The Christmas party is on the last day of school before Christmas break. Our day begins with Christmas Service practice, then a Christmas party with a special Christmas chapel at 11:00 and a Christmas potluck meal at 11:30. Parents are invited to both the Christmas chapel and the potluck. School is dismissed after the potluck (bring a dish or two to share).

Christmas Services at Prairie View and Pleasant View- The children in grades K-8 go to Pleasant View and Prairie View the Monday before Christmas vacation and present their Christmas service. Preschool and Prekindergarteners are invited to join us. We ask for parent volunteers to help with transportation.

Classroom parties- Each teacher has a reward system in place for good behavior. When the students reach that goal, then the teachers will set aside some time for a party. Parties may include games, food, movies, etc. Parties are used to relax the atmosphere and build up the morale of the classroom. Students are allowed to bring homemade treats.

Closing Day Chapel Service- Graduation and closing service is at 7:00pm on the last day of school. All of the students sing in this service. PreK needs to come 15 minutes early so that their graduation caps can be firmly secured. The class walks in together and each child individually receives his/her diploma. Parents have an opportunity to photograph their child receiving his/her diploma.

Club’s Choice- Club’s Choice is a fundraiser for the school held in the fall. Pizza Pete comes to St. Paul’s and explains the program to the students and gets them excited. At this time, he gives the students all of the paperwork that they need. The students have the option to ask family members, neighbors, etc. to look at the catalog of products. A percent of the money raised goes towards St. Paul’s Lutheran School. The students are given a time frame of about one month to collect sales. This is completely voluntary. Parents should not feel as if they have to do this; however, about $2,500 is raised for the school each year because of this program.

Day School Sunday singing- The children sing in church about 7 times during the school year. The songs are learned at school with parents are sometimes asked to help their child learn the words at home. The children are expected to participate by coming to church for these services and to help with the singing. Not only are the children praising their Lord and Savior when they sing, but it is also an opportunity for the children to thank the members of our congregation who help support our school.

Easter for Kids- Similar to Christmas for Kids, but also includes an Easter Egg hunt.

Easter Services at Prairie View, Brandt Ridge and Pleasant View-Similar to Pleasant View Christmas service, except the older students read Scripture pertaining to the Passion and Easter and younger students sing songs they have learned in class. PreK is invited to participate.

Field Trips- Each classroom plans their own field trips, and each classroom goes on a number of field trips each year. Field trips are based on what they are learning in the classroom. Each year, the classrooms go on a “big” field trip (e.g. Science Museum, Minnesota Zoo, etc.). The Preschool and Prekindergarten students take a field trip about once a month. They include riding on a combine, an apple farm, pumpkin farm, grocery store, dentist, Martin Luther College Children’s Theater, bowling and an all day trip with Kindergarten and 1st grade. The last trip is on a 4 year cycle of Minnesota Zoo, the Circus in Sioux Falls, Disney on Ice, and Children’s Museum/Como Park Zoo.

Fine Arts Day- this is field trip for 5-8th graders. Students will go to MVL in New Ulm and attend sessions that focus on Art, Drama and Music. The students from our school attend along with students from other area Lutheran Elementary School. Fine Arts day is in the spring.

Forensics- Students in grades K-8 are required to pick, practice and perform a forensics piece. This encourages them to practice public speaking. On Forensics Night, all of the students will perform their pieces. This is held in the church sanctuary so that the students can make use of the microphones. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to come. Refreshments follow the performances. Grades 5-8 perform their forensics pieces at MLC in front of judges a week after Forensics Night.

Girl Pioneers- (LGP) A church organization for girls in grades K-12, similar to 4H. Girls meet monthly at 11:00 on Sunday, have a meal, devotion, learn about a topic, do crafts and have fun. Topics vary from year to year. Some examples are cooking, sewing, ecology, nature, citizenship, etc. There are 2 district events, spring and fall. Members may participate in District and/or National Camp during the summer. Preschool girls to 3rd grade are invited to Sunbeam Day Camp held during the summer.

Godahl Days- Godahl days is celebrated every September on Labor Day. Since our basketball teams sometimes need to use the Godahl Recreation Center, the parents and basketball players sell Godahl tickets. Depending on the amount of use, we may bring pies and cakes and work at Godahl Days; this is done in exchange for the use of the building.

Godahl Rec. Center- It is located, which is located 8 miles north of St. James on Hwy 4. St. Paul’s uses the Rec. Center for basketball practices when Marian Hall is unavailable. A key is available at the Godahl Store or from a Godahl board member.

Grandparent’s Day- Grandparent’s Day is usually held on a Friday in the fall. The students’ grandparents are invited to St. Paul’s to see their grandchildren. The students have a small program for the grandparents or have an Open House for the grandparents to see the regular classroom activities. Grandparents are invited for lunch.

Growth and Development Days- Nurses from our congregation come to school and speak to the K-2nd grades about babies and growing in the animal and plant kingdoms. The 3rd and 4th grades students learn more about the development of babies. The upper grades learn about their own growing and maturing bodies. The video series that the nurses use is available for you to preview.

Harvest Fest- The PTO sponsors a meal and bake sale every fall. On this day all of the students sing for church, a committee makes and serves the meal, others are asked to bring desserts, 5th-8th graders help serve drink and clean up, and 2nd-4th graders make carnival type games for children 1st grade and younger to play. All families are asked to bring baked goods for the bake sale. A free will offering is taken to help defray expenses.

Health Screening- The school nurse from Northside Elementary comes to St. Paul’s in the fall to do a health screening for students in grades 1-6. The nurse checks hearing and vision and, if there are any concerns, sends recommendations home with the student. This is a free service.

Home visits- Toward the beginning of August, the teachers and the principal will visit with all of the students and their parents in their home. This is a time used by the teachers to share the classroom rules, schedules, and expectation. The secretary will call to schedule the home visit.

Homecoming Parade- Each year, the entire Student Body walks to Family Dollar to watch the St. James Homecoming parade. Parents are encouraged to join us.

Hot Lunch- Hot lunch is available every school day. Students pay $3.00 per lunch. With each meal, students are given the government regulated amount of grains, meats, fruit, vegetables and milk. Students are allowed to go for a second helping if they finish all of their food. Milk is available for a small fee to the students who do not eat hot lunch. Free/reduced meal applications are available.

Jump for Heart- Every other spring the children in grades K-8 collect pledges to donate money to the American Heart Association. We all go to Marian Hall and jump rope from 1:00-2:30. We have some healthy snacks in-between jumping.

Last Day of school- Each child should bring a back pack to school to take their remaining school supplies home. At 11:30, we walk to a park for the school picnic, which is potluck. The meal begins at noon. Parents are encouraged to bring a dish to pass and to stay for lunch. After lunch the children play team and individual games. Parents may take their children home when the games are finished. If a parent cannot attend, the students will walk back to St. Paul’s with the teachers and ride the bus home. Graduation, Closing Service and Awards night is held later that evening.

Last Day of School Awards Ceremony- The last day of school an awards ceremony is held in church. This is immediately following the 8th grade Graduation service. During the awards ceremony students are given letters and are recognized for their accomplishments during the school year. Volunteers are also recognized.

Marian Hall- Marian Hall is used for a variety of activities during the year; volleyball practices and games, basketball practice and games, Jump Rope for Heart, the school play and other school activities. The address for Marian Hall is 500 8th Ave S., St. James.

Open House- this is a time when parents and grandparents are invited to check out the school and their children’s classroom. Students’ art work is often displayed at these events. The teachers are available for questions.

Opening Day Chapel Service- The first day of school starts with a chapel service at 8:30am. This sets the tone for the year. We want to remember that Jesus is the most important thing we teach at St. Paul’s. All parents, grandparents and family members are invited and encouraged to join us.

Panther Press- This is weekly school newsletter handed out to each student. It has announcements for the upcoming weeks, birthdays, and lunch menu. Important handouts are often attached to the Panther Press.

Pep Fest- At the end of the basketball season a Pep Fest is held at Marian Hall. This is held the Thursday night before the MLC tournament. This is fun night where parents and grandparents are invited to watch the cheerleaders perform the school song and cheers, the basketball players play a fun game, and also for the coaches to talk about their teams. Spirit week costume winders are given prizes at this time.

Piano lessons- On-site piano lessons are available through Eppeland Studio. Piano students have lessons during the school day. The lesson is set up at a time that works best for the classroom teacher and piano teacher to minimize missed class time.

St. Paul’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) exists to assist the parents of our school children by providing mutual support from other parents, the teachers, and outside speakers. PTO usually meets 4-5 times during the school year from 5:30-7:30. Pizza is served before the meeting and babysitting is available for small children. All parents are placed on one committee for special events during the school year, such as Harvest Fest, Winter Fest, Ash Wednesday, and Play Night. The purpose of PTO is to improve the school.

Public Library- St. Paul’s makes use of the Watonwan County library. The lower grades walk to check out books each week. The upper grades use the library for research projects. Each child will need a Watonwan County Library card. Their cards are kept at the library throughout the year, and you may personally use it at any time.

Reading week- The last full week of school when we celebrate reading by having special activities such as celebrities from our community coming to read to our school children, having a Drop Everything And Read time, book character parade, etc.

School Pictures- Lifetouch comes to St. Paul’s every fall to take the student’s official school pictures. Pictures are taken in the morning. Reminders and paperwork are sent home ahead of time. Parents are asked to turn in their order form of picture sizes and background colors before picture day, along with the money for these orders.

School Play- Each spring the children prepare for a performance at Marian Hall. A three year rotation includes a play, a musical, and classroom skits. All children are involved and required to participate. The PTO serves a treat after the performances. A free will offering is taken to help defray the costs of the plays.

School Registration Night- In mid-August, parents whose children will be attending St. Paul’s Lutheran School register their children for class, complete and hand in health and emergency contact information, purchase hot lunch tickets, and set up a tuition payment schedule. This is also a time to visit with your child’s teacher and ask any questions that you may have.

Science Fair-See Art Fair.

Snow Play Day- Sometime in January or February, PreK has a snow play day. A day is picked when we have snow and the temps are reasonably warm. The children come to school with appropriate clothing, and spend at least an hour sledding with students from the 5th-8th grades. They only sled with a buddy and afterwards they all enjoy hot cocoa and cookies.

Social Studies Fair- See Art Fair

Softball tournament- The upper grades classroom is involved in a one day softball tournament held at Caswell Park in Mankato against area Lutheran schools. This is held in May.

Spirit Week- This is the week before the MLC basketball tournament in February. Students have special dress up days and a pep fest held that week.

Student Elections- Each presidential election year, the upper grade classroom is split up into 3 “political” parties. Each party will elect a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary nominee for the student body. Each party uses their campaign money to make posters, videos and presentations to promote their candidates. The whole student body votes on Election Day.

TerraNova Testing- Each year in the fall, Grades 2-8 take TerraNova tests. The tests are standardized tests that schools from around the country take. The testing process takes an entire week, often during the first week of October. When results are sent back to the school, the teachers use the results to identify problems in the curriculum and to improve those areas. Test results are shown in graphs and show the student’s scores in comparison to the rest of the country.

Tone Chimes- Every Thursday, each classroom practices tone chimes. During tone chimes, the students learn counting, music notation and other musical terms. The director picks songs at the appropriate level. The upper grades play these songs in church services throughout the year.

Track and Field- Grades 3-8 compete in a track meet in Sleepy Eye at the beginning of May. They compete against area Lutheran schools and are awarded ribbons; 1st -6th place in 3 different classes.

Volleyball- In the fall, the girls in 4th-8th grades are invited to play volleyball. It is a short season that involves practice after school once a week and a game once a week. Two tournaments are included--one tournament is in Redwood Falls, the other is at MVL.

Winter Fest- This is special Sunday at the end of Christian Education week, and is known as Christian Education Sunday on the church calendar. The upper grade students draw spiritual pictures that include the school year’s theme. Their drawings are made into the bulletin covers for that Sunday. The students sing in church, and there is a PTO sponsored meal after the service. Students take their fair displays after the meal.

Yearbook- Pictures are taken throughout the year and compiled into a yearbook. Each child receives a yearbook.

Youth in Action (YIA)- Students in grades 6-12 are invited to join YIA. Monthly meetings, activities or fundraisers are planned. Usually a summer mission trip is involved.