Monday, 5/18 Newsletter Updates

And Now A Word From Mrs. Wilhorn...
Hello 4th Grade Families,
I work at Mead Elementary as a Reading Specialist and one of my goals for the end of the year is to send the kids home with books that they are able to read over the summer. I have a team of teachers that is helping me recruit new or "slightly used" books that we are able to give away in the beginning of June. If you have any children's books that are collecting dust at your house, I'd love to be able to send them home with kids. We need books for kindergarten through 6th grade, so both picture books and chapter books would be great. If you have any to donate, please send them in to Mr. Wilhorn by Tuesday, June 2nd and I'll pick them up from him.

Thanks for your help!
Mrs. Wilhorn

Field Trips
All of the field trip forms have been turned in, and I will be sending home a note soon listing drivers and other details. Keep an eye out for it. Some people have asked where we'll be on Friday for the downtown WR field trip. Here's the plan:

1. We will park behind the bank, across from the theater
2. We'll walk up to the post office
3. Down Grand Ave. to the theater
4. Over past the Jackson Street bridge past the clock tower
5. Back to Grand Ave. and across the bridge
6. Walk to the bank.
7. Back to the cars.

If you are going to join us downtown, it shouldn't take too long to find the bunch of kids carrying papers and pencils. We'll see you there!

Don't Forget Branch Observation #7 Tonight...

A Short Note About Daily Work
Don't let summer creep in just yet! We still have plenty of work to do and goals to accomplish. Kids, do your best to be responsible - get stuff done, keep it organized, know where it is (like in your homework folder), and continue to do your best. Thanks!

An Important Change of Plans!

Concerning the last item of yesterday's newsletter...which will remain unmentioned here...

The plan is going ahead as scheduled. The only thing we await is the delivery. All other details have been taken care of, including the cost. Word quickly got out about the plan, some people thought it was a good activity for the students, anonymous donations were made, and all costs were covered. No one needs to send in any money.

Take a moment and thank God for the willingness of the families and individuals of Immanuel to get behind something like this. Before yesterday was done I had already heard from over half the families in the class, all responses were positive and supportive, and the entire cost had been covered. Thank God and thank you!

Tuesday, 5/12 Newsletter Updates

Dads & Donuts
Tomorrow morning we continue the tradition of Dads & Donuts. All students my invite their father, grandfathers, uncles, or other important men in their lives to come to school for a coffee and donut social time. Serving starts at 8:00 in the cafeteria. Students may come up to their rooms at 8:25 and guests are invited to come along. Chapel will be in Kuechle Hall at 8:50, and all guests are invited to worship with us too.

Individual Chapel Offerings
Tomorrow's chapel offerings are going toward the Leave a Legacy Campaign. This is an effort to build up the Bud Kersten Student Scholarship Fund. This fund is Immanuel's effort to guarantee that nobody misses the opportunity to attend Immanuel Lutheran School due to financial concerns. All students have been asked to bring something, regardless how small, to help guarantee future students can come to Immanuel. Offerings won't go in baskets. Instead, each students will deliver their offering personally to the front, hopefully making the offering more personal and meaningful.

Fourth Grade Field Trips

We have two field trips planned for the upcoming weeks. Here's what is planned:

FRIDAY, MAY 22 - Wisconsin Rapids History Walk
We will leave school at 12:00 (after lunch) and go downtown. Students will have a collection of historical photographs from numerous places in Wisconsin Rapids including buildings, the river and dam, and the Grand Avenue bridge. Students will compare what they see now to what these places used to look like in the past.

The best part of this trip last year was when the adults that came along started sharing stories. "I used to go to..." or "When school got out we used to walk here and..." Parents, you are invited to go with us if your schedule allows. Grandparents are also invited. Anyone who could share stories about what things used to be like in Wisconsin Rapids would make the trip much more valuable. Please be advised that there is a lot of walking.

If any parents could drive at 12:00, that would be great. Drivers aren't necessary - it's not that far - but it allows us more time downtown if we don't have to and from school. We will return to school by 3:30. There is no cost for this trip.

THURSDAY, MAY 28 - Rib Mountain Hiking and History
Rib Mountain has a lot of great history and geology to study. A park ranger has sent me a huge folder full of information. We will spend time hiking, studying the geology of the Rib Mountain area, and the history of Rib Mountain including Native Americans and early settlers.

Mr. Betts has said that we could take parent drivers to save on the cost of bussing. I would also like to split students into smaller groups, but I'll need an adult with each group anyway. If your schedule allows, please consider driving and leading a small group. I won't ask you to teach anything, just keep the kids on task and away from the 100 foot cliffs. We will leave school at 8:45 and return by 3:30. Allowing an hour to drive each way, this still gives us at least four and a half hours in the park.

There is no cost for this trip as long as we have parent drivers. Wisconsin State Parks waive entrance fees for school groups.

So What Now?
Please watch your child's take-home folder for permission slips next week. For now, check your calendar and see if the dates work for you to drive/attend. If you are able to drive there will be a spot on the permission slip to fill in. Before that, if you already know that you wish to drive or attend, you can drop me an email.

And pray for good weather.

Thanks!

Physical Fitness Testing

Just a reminder - since I forgot to remind on Friday - that Monday and Tuesday are physical fitness testing days at school. Monday we will be going over to Lincoln to run the mile (four whole laps!) and continuing in the gym that afternoon to do the other activities. Tuesday is the make-up day.

All kids should have their gym shoes, but please make sure that the clothes you wear tomorrow are good ones for running.

Thanks. See you tomorrow!

Thursday, 4/30 Newsletter Updates

Next Week Friday
Next week is mini-course week. Students will be involved in many different activities on Friday. Fourth graders will stay in the building - some of the other grades go off-campus for different activities - and students will work in small groups.

I will be attending my final advisory board meeting for the CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center) at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. I served a 3-year term which is done this year. It is a great organization, and I'm honored to have served.

Mid Terms
It's that time again - grades! Fourth quarter midterms are coming home next week on Tuesday. Again, these aren't official grades. Rather, they are an update of where we stand at this point in the quarter. Please return the signature forms as soon as possible.

Wash Your Hands, Everybody
Swine Flu has been all over the news. The latest update I've seen is that it has reached Adams County, and the infected gentleman works in Wisconsin Rapids.

Of course, the number one way to keep from being infected with any virus, including the latest flu virus that is spreading quickly, is to wash your hands regularly. And I always add this next bit for the kids...they think it's hilarious, even though it's true...viruses enter the body through mucus membranes like the eyes and mouth. However, the number one way viruses enter the body? The nose. Keep your fingers visible, folks.

All joking aside, let's do what we can to prevent the spread of all viruses. Wash, cover your mouth, wash again, and stay home if you are sick.

Memory
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is our memory hymn for next week. We will only be doing the three verses marked on the sheet coming home. This is a tough one! It's got longer verses and weird words. We will spend part of our religion time discussing what it all means - interpreting the poetic phrases, so to speak. Two verses are required. Three verses are needed for an A.

Here are two versions. Both are slightly different, and there are no lyrics on the video, but nevertheless, knowing the melody and fitting the lyrics into it usually helps with remembering.

Whoops! Branch Observation Today!

I forgot to remind everyone, but the assignment is still assigned:

Make your branch observation tonight.

Of course, I should have reminded everyone, so if you don't get this message, than Tuesday evening will be fine. I'm going to write it on the assignment board right now so I don't forget again.

Next Week's Memory

Here is next week's memory. It is the hymn All Creatures of Our God and King. The first video is from the LCMS Youth Gathering in 2007 (I think it was 2007.) This is the worship band that led worship for over 40,000 high school students from Lutheran churches around the country. The second video is from David Crowder Band. (I couldn't resist.) Both have the lyrics printed.

Student should say all three verses.

Thursday, 4/23, Newsletter Announcements

The Cheese Stands Alone
Tomorrow is the big day! Performances of The Cheese Stands Alone are at 10:30 tomorrow morning and 6:30 in the evening. Fourth graders should know what their costumes are, and will be given time to change before the morning performance. Students should arrive at school at 6:10 for the evening show. If you arrive earlier, please keep your children with you until that time.

A note should have come home yesterday with these details, or it will come home tonight.

Pictures
A few weeks ago we took spring pictures. It is your option to purchase them or not. If you wish to purchase them, follow the instructions on the insert with the pictures. If you do not want any, simply return them to school. All pictures that are kept must be paid for, and all returns must be back by April 30.

Next Week's Memory - Amazing Grace

Here are two videos of Amazing Grace by two different artists. Both have included extra parts, but all that is required are the 5 verses marked on the memory sheet that went home today. Students are not required to say any of the italicized words on the memory sheet. Those are all the extra choruses added by the artists. I suggested to students to find the verse they want to study, watch/listen to it, then click back to the point in the video where it began to watch/listen to just that part again.

Of course, these videos aren't a requirement - "Fourth graders did you watch your videos today?" - but for some students, seeing/hearing/reading/singing is a great way to learn the words. (And the songs are pretty cool, too.)

Amazing Grace contains four verses. Grace like rain contains two of the same verses plus one additional verse.

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin



Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew

Tuesday, 4/14 News

Achievement Tests
We started the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills yesterday and, other than a little grumbling, they have gone off without a problem. We'll continue taking 2 or 3 a day and will be finished by the end of the week.

The Cheese Stands Alone
We also are busy practicing for the Spring musical. Yesterday we worked on staging - where to stand, how to deliver our lines, etc. - and this afternoon we will be doing a large group practice of all the songs. Keep practicing those lines at home. Fourth graders are the lead characters! Performance day is Friday, April 24. There will be one matinee and one evening performance.

Ablaze!
Ablaze is a program developed by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod to get the good news of Jesus to millions of people. The Lutheran School initiative involved a 20 program of hearing the word. We are listening to the story of Jesus according to the Gospels. Coming home today is a "Bible Stick" or Bible mp3 player. It includes main stories of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and some songs. Also included is the 20 day program we are doing in school that can also be done at home. The second part of the program is that the DVD and Bible Stick would be shared with someone else after the program is finished so that more people can hear the Word of God. After all, faith comes by hearing the Word.

Branch Observation
Yesterday was Day #2 for the science branch observation. If your branch is like ours, there have been very little changes. Nevertheless, detailed observations are necessary. These observations will be used to complete the final assignment. Also, it is a good idea to state differences you see week to week. This will help in the end. It is also something I have modeled for the students with a branch in front of school, so they know what I'm looking for.

Thursday - Feels Like Friday - 4/9 Newsletter Updates

Report Cards Today
Third quarter report cards are coming home today, and again, they are in sealed envelopes so to avoid comparisons with classmates. Please return the signature form as soon as possible.

Memory
Our fourth quarter at-school memory starts next week. We will be doing lyrics from traditional hymns. A printed copy of the song was sent home today, and a video is also posted on the website. The video has the song along with the lyrics. You can listen and follow along. It's a great way to learn the song. Some songs have an added chorus or other part. These are written in italics and not required. Students may say as much as possible at a time, but it should be at least one verse.

Our first hymn is "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" performed by the David Crowder Band. It's a traditional hymn in an nontraditional arrangement.

And after Easter, isn't that a wish that we all should have, that we could have a thousand tongues (and that wouldn't even be enough) to sing the praises of a God that loves us so much?

Achievement Tests
We will be taking our achievement tests next week. Again, there isn't much to do in preparation other than get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and don't stress out about it.

Spring Program Practice and Performance
We've been working hard with Mrs. Rucks and Ms. Tara McMiller getting ready for the big Spring program. April 24 is performance day with an afternoon show and an evening show. In the meantime, kids are working on memorizing their lines and singing the songs.

So why does the cheese stand alone, anyway?

Spanish
Fourth graders started their four session exploratory Spanish class today. Spanish colors and counting up to 100 should be part of their vocabulary! We will not have a session next week, but there are three more in the weeks after that.

Here's the Video of the Memory Hymn: (available on the website, but not in the email.)

One Forgotten Note

Branch Observation Project
Today we started the annual fourth grade branch observation project. A detailed letter went home with the assignment today. Students are to observe a tree branch once a week until the end of the quarter to see how trees change in spring.

Students were given the final assignment as well. This isn't an assignment at this point. I simply wanted the students to see what will be asked of them at the end of the project and hopefully recognize the importance of detailed observations.

We are doing the assignment as a class here at school as well so students know what is expected and can see weekly how it's done. The plan is that observations will be made each Monday, but I did tell students that if Monday evening doesn't work, the observation could be done on Monday morning or Sunday evening if necessary, but it is important that the observations take place at regular intervals.

Monday, April 6 Updates

Tomorrow is Picture Day
Tomorrow is Spring picture day. The photo company takes the photos at no charge, and families are given the opportunity to purchase them afterward. There is no obligation to purchase anything, but it is a unique opportunity for additional photos.

Chapel This Week
At Immanuel we have traditionally had chapel every day during Holy Week, and that tradition continues this week. Each morning at 8:50 Pastor Grohs and some assisting students will lead a 10-15 minute chapel service.

ITBS..What's That?
Next week, starting Monday, we will be taking the ITBS, better known as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. These are your standard fill-in-the-bubble achievement tests. Students take these in the even numbered grades here at Immanuel, so students last took them in second grade. There isn't anything to do to prepare for them other than get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast. We won't do all of them in one day. We won't even block out big chunks of time. Instead, we'll take an hour here, 40 minutes there, and plug away at them over the course of the entire week.

Report Cards
Third Quarter Report Cards are coming home on Thursday. Keep an eye out for that envelope.

And Finally...
I hope everyone had a great Spring Break full of rest and relaxation, whether you stayed close to home or traveled the world. Everyone seemed to be smiling this morning, so it seems it was a pretty good break. Welcome to the fourth quarter!

Monday News, 3/16

Wednesday and Thursday
I will be gone on Wednesday and Thursday this week. On Wednesday I will be at Our Savior's Lutheran School in Springfield, Illinois talking to their teachers and students about books. A former teacher here at Immanuel, Mr. Parris, is now the principal there and asked me to come when he learned I'd be in town on Thursday.

On Thursday I will still be presenting about literature at the Illinois Reading Council's annual convention in Springfield. I'll be driving back Thursday evening and in school, ready to go, on Friday because on Friday is...

The Andrew Peterson Concert
Andrew Peterson will be at Immanuel during the day. At 1:00 he will discuss his books with the older students, grades 4-8. We've already been brainstorming questions to ask. At 2:00 he will do a mini-concert for our students. How cool is that? The full concert is at 7:00 at the PAC. Immanuel families get tickets for their family at $5.00 each! All other tickets are $7.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. If you haven't yet, check out http://andrewinrapids.blogspot.com.

Choir News
First of all, thanks to everyone for coming to St. Luke's and Immanuel these past two weeks to sing with the 3/4 grade choir. This Thursday is the annual swim night at Lincoln High School. No money is needed. Students may get into the locker room at 6:15 and the pool is open at 6:30. This event is open to all choir members, which means our entire class!

Prayer Request
We discussed this and prayed in class today, but I wanted to ask families to pray as well. One of our fifth graders here at Immanuel is in the hospital in Madison. (The kids can fill you in, but for digital privacy reasons, I'll leave the name out of this post.) I don't know many details, but as of noon today, family and doctors were still awaiting the results of various tests.

Please do what you can to avoid speculation or jumping to conclusions and please help your children to do the same. Above all, pray. Pray for healing, strength for the family, wisdom for the doctors, and that most of all, God's will - "for the good of all who love Him" - be done. Thanks.

Andrew Peterson in Concert

The Andrew Peterson concert is next week on Friday. As a way to get the word out, we created a website with information about Andrew, the show, tickets, etc. It also includes live performances and videos of Andrew's music. New videos will be posted every day from now until the concert on March 20.

The address is http://andrewinrapids.blogspot.com/. (That's Andrew In Rapids . blogspot.com.)Please email that address to anyone and everyone you think might be interested in learning more about Andrew Peterson, his music, and the upcoming show.

I know I'm biased, but you won't want to miss it. Parents, grandparents, everyone.

Enjoy the videos!

An OK Bit of Extra Information

Click The OK Book for more information from illustrator Tom Lichtenheld's website.

Check out the activites at the bottom of the page. They are designed for younger kids, but they'll give you an idea of what the book is about.

Friday Newsletter Updates

Amazing Lutheran Schools Week
What a fun week! From LEGOs to Opera to Talent Shows to Dressing Up to Class Colors to School Spirit to Breakfast to Christian Messages to Dr. Seuss! Where else can you do all of those in one week other than a Lutheran School during Lutheran School's Week? Most importantly, isn't it great that we can celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ in school, each day, and do all of these things in His name? Of course it is! Thanks for a great week.

Third & Fourth Grade Choir Sings This Weekend...
Sunday, March 8 at St. Lukes at the 10:30 service. Students are asked to meet in the church basement at 10:15 to run through the songs. Singing will happen at the beginning of the service. After that, students are excused to sit with their parents or leave quietly, especially if you've already attended worship elsewhere.

...And Next Weekend
Sunday, March 15 at Immanuel at the 8:00 service. Again, please meet 15 minutes early, this time upstairs in the choir room. Students are again dismissed to sit with parents after the singing is complete.



The OK Book
We did a fun activity today with The OK Book. Ask your fourth grader what they might be OK at.





The Upcoming Week
Memory - At School: The Lord's Prayer, The first prayer before meals. At Home: Q3W7 Slips
Reading - Wrap Up Theme 3. Begin a novel...maybe...?
English - Writing
Math - Lessons 69-71, Test 13, and an Investigation lesson.
Science - Finish the solar system. Begin body systems.
Social Studies - Finish the south central states.
Spelling - Unit 25: doctor, dollar, power, sugar, corner, collar, danger, ladder, labor, cellar, other, motor Extra Words: hunger, calendar, horror, officer, explore, porch Bonus Words: examiner, firefighter

Tuesday

Class Color Day
Tomorrow is class color day, and our class's color is...hold on for it...here it comes...are you ready?...GRAY!

My first three choices were gone by the time I got to choose, so I just said, "Gray!" That's all right, all rainbows need gray clouds to start. AND if you mix all the primary colors you end up with gray. So, it's like we're rainbows!

Midterm Signature Forms
I am still waiting for three signature forms from the midterms. If yours is still out, please return it tomorrow so I know midterms all made it to the proper home.

THANKS
There were a lot of white t-shirts today, and that allowed us to affix stars to our bellies and be star-bellied sneetches. Some of us were sneetches with "no stars upon thars." Here's a little sneetchy treat:




Head to the class website for the video. http://loudestclass.blogspot.com

Sunday Night Announcement

Sorry, sorry, sorry for the late notice on this, and I know not everyone will see this tonight, but here's an announcement for tomorrow concerning Lutheran Schools Week.

Monday - tomorrow - is scheduled to be Literature Day / Dr. Seuss Day. It's actually Read Across America Day sponsored by the National Education Association, a day to encourage reading, and it's Dr. Seuss's birthday! As a part of the day, students are encouraged to dress as a favorite Dr. Seuss character. So here's the deal:

If you already had a plan to be Thing 1 and Thing 2 with a friend or to be the Cat in the Hat or any other plan (maybe even Gerald McBoing Boing) go with it. Keep your plan.

If you didn't, and here I admit that I forgot to discuss it with the class, I have a plan. It's easy. Wear a white t-shirt tomorrow. I have a Dr. Seuss book I'd like to share, and we can all easily be a character from that book.

Again, sorry, sorry, sorry, for the late notice. If you see or talk to anyone tonight, let them know. Pass the word around. I tried to catch everyone I saw at the FunFest today, but I know I missed some people. Feel free to wear your sweatshirt over it too, that'll be fine.

If it works, it works. If it doesn't, we'll roll with it and come up with the very best improvisation the Lutheran School World has ever seen! On a Monday. During Lutheran Schools Week. In 2009.