Each year near the end of January Lutheran Schools across the country celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week. St. John’s had a wonderful celebration, despite the weather.
It may have been impacted by snow and ice and cold temperatures, but we DO live in NW Indiana (as compared to Florida or Southern California)!
We had hoped for more than 200, but the weather likely changed plans for some. Worshippers gathered in the gymnasium on Sunday, January 21st for our NLSW kick-off. Breakfast from Trilogy Cafe was served at 8:30 am and service started at 10 am. Students from preschool through 8th grade blessed everyone with several songs as a part of the service, including the school’s theme song “Go Ye Into the World.”
Each day throughout the week students had specific dress-up days. On Monday, Pre-Kindergarten won the “spirit stick” for the highest percentage of participation by dressing up as their favorite book character! School was canceled on Tuesday due to inclement weather, but on Wednesday morning Pre-Kindergarten won again for Hat Day! Thursday students could wear their favorite sports team gear and/or sweatpants and 4th grade was the winner with 100% participation! The fourth-grade class also won the “spirit stick” for Eagle Spirit Wear on Friday.
Throughout the week, teachers also kept an eye out for students who were showing acts of “connection/kindness” that went along with the NLSW theme of John 15:1-5. The teachers filled out leaves for every act they witnessed and added them to the vine in the cafeteria.
As a part of NLSW, the PaperPie Book Fair helped students expand their personal and classroom libraries… On Friday, Mrs. Martinsen concluded the book fair with a total sale of $2,034! As a result, $1,017 worth of FREE BOOKS were gifted to the St. John’s classrooms, including the library, the counselor’s office, and the social studies room.
On Friday afternoon National Lutheran Schools week ended with a pep rally in the gymnasium. The students cheered for the St. John’s Eagle basketball teams as the players were introduced and competed against each other in a hoop-shoot challenge. The teachers even went up against the students! The students were also taught motions that went along with their theme scripture this year.
Even though the week was crazy with the weather, NLSW was a success!
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