First Lutheran School

FRIDAY NOTE

May 17, 2013

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

The end of the school year is always such an emotional time.  On one hand we are happy that the school year is over and it is time for summer break.  On the other hand we are sad because we won’t be seeing our students for a while.  For me this year holds some extra emotion since we are moving, and I will not be back as principal next year.  My family has been certainly blessed during my twenty-one years of service at First Lutheran.  We will miss the First Lutheran family.  The church and school will always hold a special place in our hearts.   

Congratulations to all of our students who performed in the Spring Concert last night.  They did an outstanding job.  It is always a wonderful to see our students show off their talents. 

Next week is the last week of school.  There are a lot of things going on at school.  The Preschool and Kindergarten Closing Program is Sunday at 2:00 p.m., the 6^th Grade Blessing is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and the Talent Show is Thursday afternoon.  Please check with your children for notes concerning these events. 

We will be saying goodbye to thirteen students for the final time next Friday.  Sam Barr, Travis Chaffey, Katie Davis, Michael Dunham, John Freeny, Rebekah Gilmore, Dylan Grimes, Dougie Kilbourn, Jasmine McMicheal, Aanika Reilly, Maddie Ross, Kelsey Todd, and Drew Wear are in 6^th grade and will be going to new schools next year.  The faculty and staff of First Lutheran School wish them God’s Blessings and they move to the next stage of their schooling.

Report cards and achievement test results will be mailed home beginning the week of June 3.  Please be aware that report cards will not be mailed to any student that has an outstanding balance.  Report cards will also not be sent to any student who has lost or damaged books or school materials.  If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Last Day of School

Friday, May 24 is the last day of school.  We will be having a shortened day on Friday.  We will

have our closing chapel led by the Student Council and the end of the year Awards Ceremony.  Students will be dismissed at approximately 9:30 a.m.  We invite all of our parents to attend our closing chapel service and Awards Ceremony. 

For Kids, Self-Control Factors Into Future Success – by Nancy Shute

Self-control keeps us from eating a whole bag of chips or from running up the credit card. A new study says that self-control makes the difference between getting a good job or going to jail — and we begin learning it in preschool.

“Children who had the greatest self-control in primary school and preschool ages were most likely to have fewer health problems when they reached their 30s,” says a professor of psychology at Duke University and King’s College London.

Moffitt and a team of researchers studied a group of 1,000 people born in New Zealand in 1972 and 1973, tracking them from birth to age 32. The news published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the best evidence yet on the payoff for learning self-discipline early on.

The researchers define self-control as having skills like conscientiousness, self-discipline and perseverance, as well as being able to consider the consequences of actions in making decisions.

The children who struggled with self-control as preschoolers were three times as likely to have problems as young adults. They were more prone to have a criminal record; more likely to be poor or have financial problems; and they were more likely to be single parents.

This study doesn’t prove that the lack of self-control in childhood caused these problems, but the large size of the study, and the fact that it followed one group of people over many years, makes a good case for an effect.

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Dear students, parents, and faculty members,
My family and I are so grateful for all of the love and support extended to us as we went through a particularly rough time this year. Thank you for all of your prayers, kind words, and well wishes. They were very much appreciated by all of us. We were humbled by the kindness shown to us over the last several months.

As a former student of First Lutheran, I was especially touched by the get well cards made for me by the kids and their participation in Jump Rope for Faith. It was overwhelming to see pictures of the event and of the wall of hearts while I was still recovering in the hospital. Their easy acceptance of me, though I looked very different when I was able to come to school to see them, meant the world to me.

Thank you to the parents and families who contributed to the Jump Rope for Faith and Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner fundraisers. The financial support you extended has helped to take a great deal of stress off of me and my parents.  The money is kept safe in a separate account intended specifically for my medical expenses and goes towards paying for my anti-rejection medications, physical therapy, and the like.

Finally, I’d like to say a special thank you to the faculty. You are my family and your love and support means so much. Thank you for the prayers, the hospital visits, the phone calls, and the text messages. Knowing that you cared about and believed in me helped so much, especially on the days when even getting out of bed was painful. Thank you for being there for my mom, for covering her classes, helping out with Quiz Bowl, for taking care of our dogs and for so many other things. God has blessed us richly by placing each of you in our lives.

Thank you, again. If you have any questions about organ donation or how to register to become an organ donor, please visit donatelifearkansas.org.

Sincerely,
Faith Nieting

2013 ANNUAL FUND DINNER/AUCTION 

School is almost out, but it’s not too soon to start planning for next Fall’s Annual Dinner/Auction.  If you, a relative, a friend, the business you work for, or a favorite business you often frequent could provide an item or gift certificate for the silent auction, please contact Sheryl Taylor at 452-3174 anytime over the summer.  Donation request letters and tax-deductible information can be provided.  Thank you!

REGISTRATION

The date for receiving the reduced tuition rate has passed.  We are still accepting registration forms for next year.  Please turn your registration forms into the school office.  If you know of anyone who would be interested in receiving a quality Christ-centered education, please have them contact the school office and set up a tour of the school.

ACCELERATED READER

As the end of year draws closer, more and more FLS students are reaching significant goals in Accelerated Reader.  This week we congratulate the following students:

50 Point Club

            Emma Gulstad – 3^rd grade

            Braeden Wear – 2^nd grade

100 Point Club

            Travis Chaffey – 6^th grade

            Jasmine McMicheal – 6^th grade

            Drew Wear – 6^th grade

            Will Hanesworth – 2^nd grade

200 Point Club

            Ben Braswell – 5^th grade

These students have worked very hard to attain these goals and we are very proud of them.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES

Please remember, all outstanding balances (lunch charges, band instrument rental, daycare, tuition, charges for damaged lost books, etc.) must be paid in full before report cards will be released or records transferred to another school. 

If you have any questions, please contact the school office.