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EAGLE UPDATES
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You may have received this last Friday, but we became aware that about half of our family emails were missing from the roster. If you received this last week, everything beyond this point is the same.
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Our first scheduled week of school was not one anyone could have predicted. I appreciate families being supportive of the change to the beginning of school that we needed to start the school year successfully. Several staff and volunteers came in through the week to help out around the building and grounds. Our first actual week of school went well, especially given the circumstances many have been living with over the past week.
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Kindergarten-8th grade parents, while our published school drop-off time is 7:45-7:55, I encourage you to think of drop off time between 7:45-7:50, with 7:50-7:55 as time for the students to get to their classrooms on time. Door 2 will continue to remain unlocked, and I will continue to greet students until 7:55. It is expected that students are in their classrooms at 7:55. After 7:55, parents need to buzz in and sign their student into the building, and students not making it to their classrooms by 7:55 can expect to be marked tardy. Please do not think it rude if I do not let you through the door as I start my security check around the building at 7:55. For safety reasons, we want anyone arriving after the doors lock at 7:55 to be buzzed in by the school office.
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We are excited to see what the new school year brings.
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p.s. doors are locked before and during Wednesday chapel services. Please call the school office if you are planning to attend so that you can be let in. I am usually there letting parents in between 8:10-8:20.
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September Events:
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School Carnival planned for 8/28 - delayed until 9/18
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8/30 - Family Reunion Service, 10 am, lunch following service
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9/11 - Midterms sent home
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9/14-18 - Scholastic Book Fair
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9/18 - Grandparents Day (morning)
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9/18 - School Carnival 5-7pm
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9/25 - Eagle Treat Day, Pajama day (school appropriate) for $1
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9/25 - Nelson’s Port-a-Pit Sale
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Save the Dates:
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10/2 - Family Night 5:30-7:30pm
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11/6, 11/16-20 - Operation Christmas Child
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12/4 - Christmas Craft Day
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12/4 - Family Movie Night, 5:30-7:30pm (12/11 make-up)
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12/10 - Christmas Concert (12/17 make-up)
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Past Events:
Start of school delayed - Thank you for bearing with us as we had to adjust the start of the school year.
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Back to the Nest - The event went well, I liked having a variety of stamps for the student’s scavenger hunt.
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Edmentum is set up for the 8th grade students to take Career Explorations v4.0 starting this semester, and we are talking with LPHS about students earning Health and/or Interpersonal Relationships credit if time allows.
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Art Classes - K-4 art classes will take place in the music room. We may be looking for some donations in the future to help stock art supplies. If any parents have connections in the community that might help, please let us know.
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Worship is in the church sanctuary: Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 8am.
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Worship is in the school cafeteria: ‘Connect’ service is on Sundays at 9:30am.
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During Connect service students can join Kid’s Connect, to do a Bible lesson and craft during the sermon and then re-join the end of the worship service.
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All women are invited to join a study on emotions on Tuesdays at 10am in the Chapel. We are discussing the book Emotions & The Gospel: Created for Connection.
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All women are invited to join as we read and discuss the book Stand in Confidence, and discuss how God strengthens us to live out our various roles in life. This study begins Sept. 23rd, and meets Wednesdays at 6-7:30pm in the Chapel.
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Beginning Sept. 13, Pastor will lead a study of the book of Romans in the Ladies’ Lounge on Sundays at 10:45am.
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All men are invited to dig into the Blessed is the Man series on the second Saturday of each month. The studies include stories written by men who describe how they meet the challenges and opportunities of daily life. Psalm 93 will be the focus on Sept. 12 at 8:30am in the Chapel.
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There really isn’t much to report since we have only been in school for seven days; however, the St. John's Volleyball season will be getting underway starting on Tuesday, September 1st with practice after school until 3:30. The practice schedule went out on Friday, August 28th. They will be practicing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We have only 7 girls playing this year: 2 8th graders, 3 7th graders, 1 6th and 1 5th grader. We may be playing two matches a night if we can get matches. Miss Stelter will be coaching the team. The girls are looking forward to starting their practices!
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There isn’t a soccer team this year due to a lack of interest in playing. Hopefully next year we can have enough boys interested in playing to have a soccer team.
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NEST event planning is well underway for the school year! We are busy planning the upcoming 170th year of St. John’s with a Carnival on Friday, September 18th at 5:00pm. That very same morning is Grandparents Day and we would love to see our SJLS grandparents attend the Carnival, as well! We hope to see you all at the Eagle Family Reunion this Sunday, which is the last day of our Spirit Wear Sale!
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Please join us at our next NEST meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 4:00 pm. We will be discussing upcoming events including our Port-A-Pit Sale on Sept 25th (and Bake Sale)!!
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NEST is in need of several volunteers for the School Carnival. Please use this sign up link to volunteer as you are able!
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Student Council Applications Now Open!
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We are excited to announce that applications for Student Council are now available for students in grades 5-8! This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in meaningful community service and develop leadership skills.
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Throughout the school year, Student Council members participate in important public service activities, including Operation Christmas Child, Souper Bowl, and collections for the Animal Shelter. We encourage all interested students to apply.
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August 28 (End of Day): Deadline for submitting essays, speeches, and posters to Mrs. Skalka
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August 31-September 4: Posters displayed in the hallway
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September 4: Election Day - winners announced
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September 14: First Student Council meeting (note: this date was corrected from the original paperwork to account for the Labor Day holiday)
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For Office Positions: Students interested in running for President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer must submit completed essays along with their paperwork by September 4. Officers will be elected at the first meeting on September 14.
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Don't miss this chance to make a difference in our school community. We look forward to seeing your enthusiasm and participation!
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1. Establish a Consistent Routine for a Smooth Welcome Back to School
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Setting a consistent daily schedule helps your child adjust to the new school year. Regular wake-up times, meal schedules, and bedtimes create a sense of stability. A well-structured routine can reduce stress during the welcome back to school period.
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However, that doesn’t mean living like a drill sergeant! Having grace for your children and yourself while figuring out what works best at this time is important.
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2. Open Lines of Communication to Ensure the Welcome Back to School Isn’t Stressful
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Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings about school. Ask open-ended, age-appropriate questions, such as:
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“What did you enjoy most today?”
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“Is there anything new you learned in class?”
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“Did anyone help you with anything today?”
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“Did you notice anyone having a hard time today?”
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“Where does everyone hang out during recess?”
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There’s no need to bombard kids with too many questions, but finding out which types of questions get engaged responses will help you tailor your conversation going forward.
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Even though older kids might complain, it lets them know you’re interested in their experiences. And many younger kids may be happy to talk your ears off, so be prepared!
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3. Create a Dedicated Study Space
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Designate a quiet, organized area for homework and studying. A dedicated space can enhance concentration and make study time more effective, setting a positive tone for the first month back at school. If your child is younger and doesn’t have homework, a cozy space to read and build a love of literacy can still be a positive step for their welcome back to school.
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4. Encourage Social Interaction
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Facilitate opportunities for your child to connect with peers. Joining clubs, sports teams, or after-school activities can help them build friendships and feel more connected to the school community.
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Just don’t overdo it – you don’t want activities to take over their lives (or yours!). Informal time socializing is fine, and often preferred, over organized activities.
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5. Engage With Your Child’s Progress
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Stay engaged with your child’s progress at school. Early involvement allows you to identify and address any challenges promptly. Review homework and feedback from teachers regularly.
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Remember – school isn’t just about the grades, it’s about fostering curiosity, social skills, and a love of learning. Staying on track doesn’t mean being overbearing and creating extra anxiety by tracking their grades with a magnifying glass. It means staying connected and interested when you can.
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6. Support Emotional Well-being During the Welcome Back to School Transition
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It’s normal for children to feel anxious during any major transition. Validate their feelings about returning to school and reassure them. Let them know you’re available to help problem solve, or just be a listening ear. Share your own school experiences to boost their confidence.
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Be attentive to signs of stress or anxiety. While we often assume stress is about schoolwork, fitting in, or serious issues such as bullying, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes there are very specific aspects of the transition back to school that can cause these feelings in children. Other times, it can be a more vague, general feeling that’s hard to pin down.
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Make sure to affirm that you’re a safe place to share their concerns, and ensure they have safe adults and older peers who they can confide in about their lives. Teach and model coping strategies like deep breathing, exercise, time outdoors, and mindfulness. If concerns persist, consider reaching out to a school counselor or mental health professional for additional support.
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7. Promote Healthy Habits
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Ensure your child gets enough sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. Screen time isn’t necessarily the enemy, but ensure your family is on the same page about how much, where, when, and why!
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Healthy habits enhance the ability to learn, concentrate, and guard against stress. Role modeling them as a family can be helpful for everyone involved.
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One of the healthiest ways we can help our children transition is to ensure we’re all getting enough smiles, laughter, and joy out of the experience. While being a parent doesn’t require being a full time entertainer – though sometimes it feels like it! – we can seek out ways to be silly and share positive experiences with our kids.
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