School Memo

Our ever-engaging Junior High Science teacher Mrs. Baarck had her 7^th graders embarking on a hunt last week—a hunt for the quickest growing bacteria in the school. Her directions were to think about places in and around our school where bacteria could thrive in our school. Now that can be a tough assignment around our school since we are blessed with the absolute best custodians around!   Once they decided on a place, they were to go to these places and collect samples. Presently, these samples are in petri dishes in the science lab under investigation. 

Join us on Wednesday mornings in the gym as the school family worships together. On January 25, Lori Waites will be speaking to us about the Sanctity of Life and the 4th grade choir will be singing. On Feb. 1, Pastor Brandt will lead us, and the 3rd grade choir will sing. If you cannot join us in the gym, please tune in to Cable Channel 99.

The 2^nd marking period will end on January 20. Report cards will be distributed on Friday, January 27. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher if they have any concerns related to student progress.

Our school Spelling Bee will be held on January 27 at 1:30 p.m. in the gym. This involves students from Grades 5-8. Please feel free to join us! The top speller will represent our school in the Saginaw Area Lutheran School Bee.

If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the school attendance line at 652-0794. This is a direct line used only for reporting absences. Then, be sure to send a note with your child when he/she returns to school. The note should be directed to the teacher and should indicate the day(s) absent and the reason for the absence.

Registration Packets will be sent home today with preschoolers who are eligible for preschool, pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year. Please look for them in your child’s backpack! Three registration fee’s will be waived from all registrations received on or before Preschool and Kindergarten Round Up which takes place on Sunday, February 19. If you have any questions, please contact Leanne Davis, Director of Early Childhood Education at 989.652.6142 ext. 354 or  ldavis@stlorenz.org .

Are you ready to share the joy of movement and learning with your little ones?   St. Lorenz is excited to offer a variety of learning and growing opportunities for young children between the ages of two and five years old. This winter, we are offering A Storytime with Mrs. Brenda Sievert on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Storytime includes listening to an exciting story, creating art projects, singing silly songs, and checking out books at the school library. This class takes place in the Yellow Classroom of the Early Childhood Center beginning on Tuesday, February 7, and concluding on March 27.   All children three and under are asked to bring an adult with them.

Our next Family Faith Dinner/Presentation for the 2^nd graders and their families will be held on Wednesday, February 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Lorenz dining hall. Your Family Friendly Parenting Network team will serve you and your family dinner FREE at 6:00 and will follow up with separate presentations for parents and children at 6:30-7:25 (childcare will be provided for children 3 years old and younger). We will dismiss the group at 7:30. Please get this exciting event on your calendar and continue to grow as a family!!! If you have questions, check with your child’s teacher or call Kay at 652-2248. 

On Sunday, February 12, we will resume our parenting series, “BRINGING UP KIDS WITHOUT TEARING THEM DOWN.”Our session will focus on “HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHILD FEEL SPECIAL.” All are welcome to join us from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Adult Ed. Room at St. Lorenz School. Free babysitting is available. If you have any questions call Kay at 652-2248.

Valley Lutheran High School held its first “3rd Sunday Open House” of the calendar year on Sunday, January 15, from 2-3 p.m. out at the school. On each third Sunday of the month, in the months of January through May, faculty members will be on hand to take groups on guided tours of the VLHS facility. You don’t need a reservation: Just show up! For more information contact Tom Roekle at troekle@vlhs.com

Mr. Sievert has registration forms for Camp Timbers, a seven day summer band camp in West Branch which includes regular camp activities alongside playing and performing band instruments. This summer’s dates are June 17-23. The camp has room for 202 students, but normally has a waiting list after filling up early. See Mr. Sievert for more information.

The lost & found box is overflowing! Please check for any missing articles of clothing, etc. After January 27, all items will be bagged and donated to charity. 

Representatives of the Citizen Corp from the Saginaw County Office of Emergency Management will be speaking at The Vine on Monday, January 23, at 9:00 a.m. Kay and Jean will be speaking on "Emergency Preparedness". All ladies are welcome to come learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency; how to create an emergency plan for your family; what to have in an emergency supply kit; stress factors to watch for in children after an emergency situation; and what the county has done to prepare our area in the event of an emergency situation. This promises to be a very informative session of the Vine and we hope you can join us. Childcare is available.

The Frankenmuth Youth Baseball/Softball Association will have an open registration for summer ball on January 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Room 10 at the Frankenmuth High School. The cost of registration is $60 (cash or check) per child. Please visit our website at www.Frankenmuthball.com to obtain registration forms and information. You can also mail forms and fees to PO Box 122, Frankenmuth MI 48734. The deadline for registration is 2/13/2012.

Boys’ and Girls’ A Team Basketball

While waiting for your school bus, please make sure that you stand away from the edge of the road. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open for plow trucks. When plows go by, there is a chance of snow, ice, or rocks being thrown at you by plows or blades.

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
23 A: CHICKEN FRIES B: C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   POTATO WEDGES, GREEN BEANS, FRUIT, MUFFIN, MILK	24 A: TONY’S PEPPERONI PIZZA B:  C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   CORN, BREAD, FRUIT, MILK	25 A: RAVIOLI B: HOT DOG C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   PEAS, FRUIT, DINNER ROLL, MILK	26 A: HOT TURKEY SAND. B: CHICKEN PATTIE W/BUN C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   MASHED POTATOES W/GRAVY, FRUIT, MILK	27 A: GRILLED HAM & CHEESE SAND. B: SLOPPY JOE C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   TATER TOTS, FRUIT, MILK
30 A: SPAGHETTI B: HAMBURGER C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   GREEN BEANS, BREAD STICK, FRUIT, MILK	31 A: BOSCO STICKS B: C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   CHEESY VEG. BLEND, FRUIT, MILK	1 A: CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP B: C: CHEF SALAD     PEANUT BUTTER SAND., BOLOGNA SAND., BABY CARROTS, YOGURT, FRUIT, MILK	2 A: CORN DOG NUGGETS B: HOT DOG C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   BAKED BEANS, FRUIT, BREAD, MILK	3 A: TURKEY WRAP B: CHICKEN PATTIE C: CHEF SALAD D: PEANUT BUTTER SAND.   COOKED CARROTS, BREAD, FRUIT, MILK

In an effort to keep our students safe, please consider these helpful reminders for before school drop off and after school pick up.

The following is used with permission from “A Closer Look at the Evidence” by Richard & Tina Kleiss

Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws. Psalm 119:156