THE BANNER

St. John Lutheran School

March 8, 2021 Number 27

The Principal’s Pen

I asked a student the other day what he did the night before. He replied, “Nothing.” Then, he proceeded to tell me all about the movie he watched. It reminded me of how often we hear from kids “There’s nothing to do!”, “I’m bored!”, or “This is boring!”

If we said that when we were young, our parents or grandparents might have given us some jobs to do. They might have sent us outside and told us to find something to do. A common trap for parents today is to respond with a solution. We often think that it is our responsibility to entertain our kids, to come up with some fun activity for them.

I encourage you to consider whether that is really what is best for your kids. Do you really want them to depend on you to occupy their time or do you want them to be able to occupy their own time? Do you want them to always look to you for entertainment or do you want them to learn how to entertain themselves? It will be a lot better for your kids if they learn to find things to do or entertain themselves instead of always relying on you or others.

To that end, you might want to consider responses like: “What are you going to do about feeling bored?”, “Some kids decide to clean their bedroom.”, “Some kids decide to read a book.”, “I’m sure you can find something to do. I love you. Good luck!” As kids wrestle with boredom, creativity is often unlocked. They also develop independence and ownership over their time and activities. These are good skills for now and later in life.

The next time you hear your kids complain that they’re bored, don’t rescue them, but better yet, empower them to find a way out of their boredom!

Parents of 8th Graders!!

An informational meeting for all parents of 8th graders planning to enroll in East Noble High School for next year will be held on Monday, March 8, at 6:00 in the Cole Auditorium. An informational letter was given to the 8th grade students.

Spring Break – No Bus Service Alert

Our Spring Break is a few weeks away. This is one aspect where our calendar varies from East Noble’s calendar. East Noble will take two weeks for Spring Break, and we will only take one. Therefore, there will be no bus service the week of April 5. St. John Spring Break is the week of March 29th (the first week of East Noble’s break).

St. John Showcase 2021 – POSTPONED

Last Friday we sent home an announcement that we are postponing our SHOWCASE 2021 event. We had made plans for a video premiere on Friday, March 5. Now, based on current COVID levels in the community, we believe we will be able to hold an in-person event later in the spring. So, we are rescheduling for Friday, April 16. This will also allow additional acts to sign up. Please refer to the letter that came home on Friday as well as the email version coming home today for more details. We look forward to the opportunity to host this event live and in person!

Congratulations, Ben!

Ben Reed, our school Spelling Bee champion and the 2nd place finisher in the LaGrange & Noble Counties Spelling Bee, also qualified for the regional Spelling Bee. This event was held virtually this past Saturday. Ben was one of 18 spellers from the region. He spelled down on the word ‘legerity’. Congratulations, Ben, for a job well done!

Run Hard Rest Well

Are you weary, worn, winded, or wounded? In life we RUN HARD with demands at home, work, church, and community. We struggle to REST WELL. Please join us on Sunday, March 28, from 9:15-10:15 to learn more about the 4 Biblical rhythms of resting well: Sabbath, Sleep, Stillness, and Solitude. Brenda Jank, founder of Run Hard Rest Well, will give us an introduction to these rhythms and how they can reconnect us relationally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Please join us!

COVID Reminders

We are thankful that January and February have been relatively calm months at St. John and in our greater community concerning our COVID numbers. However, we want to continue with the protocols that we have been following so that we do not see another spike in cases. So, a few reminders:

• Masks are still required entering and exiting the building, when moving through the hallways, and when moving in the classrooms and working in small groups.

• Hand-washing and hand-sanitizing frequently are still expected.

• Social distancing is still in place.

• Treats for birthdays and special events need to be store purchased and individually

wrapped.

Thank you for your continued help in keeping our students and staff healthy and safe!

COVID Changes

We have 2 changes to our COVID protocols to announce:

• Parents will now be allowed to enter the building to conduct office business. Parents will be restricted to the office area and must be masked, but will be able to come into the office to drop things off, buy SCRIP, or handle other office matters.

• In coordination with the Noble County Health Department, and in consideration of announcements from the CDC and the Indiana Department of Health, a shorter quarantine is now an option if all of the following conditions are met:

• No symptoms shown from exposure through Day 11

• Receive a nasal swab test on Day 5 or 6 with a negative result

• Continued close monitoring for no symptoms through Day 14

• Mandatory mask wearing at school at all times (except when eating) through

Day 14

By meeting the above conditions, a student can return on Day 11 instead of Day 14.

Free COVID Vaccines

The Noble County Health Department is trying to spread the word about free COVID vaccines. Currently, those 50 years old or older are eligible. The vaccine clinic is at the Noble County Public Library in Albion. Register to get your shot at www.OurShot.in.gov.

Fitness Fact

Dynamic stretching activates muscles you will use during your workout. For example, a lunge with a twist is a dynamic stretching exercise that engages your hips, legs, and core muscles. Whether you are doing weighted lunges in the gym, or lunging for a soccer ball, the muscles involved have already been engaged during your warm-up.

2020 Tax Deduction Information

Parents, as you fill out your 2020 Tax Return, you should be aware that you may be eligible for a $1,000 tax deduction per dependent child that is enrolled in a nonpublic school such as St. John. Your tuition payments would qualify you for this deduction. In order to claim this deduction, you need to know that St. John’s school code is C985. The deduction code is 626. If you have questions, please check with your tax preparer or your tax preparation software.

Tax Reform and St. John Tuition

One of the provisions in the Tax Reform Act passed a couple years ago is that families can use their 529 accounts to pay for K-12 education and not just college education. This could be great news for those of you who already have a 529 account started. It’s also another great reason to start one of these accounts if you haven’t.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Wellness Event

March 24 - 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PPG – Family Medicine - 402 Sawyer Rd. - Kendallville

Appointments are required for all services. Walk-ins will be assisted to schedule an appointment for later time slot or on a different day. To make an appointment for the Care Mobile, call 1-877-774-8632.

Available services include: wellness visits, flu shots, immunizations, screenings (hearing, vision, developmental), point of care testing (lead, strep, urine), childhood health and safety education, and free oral hygiene kits! All services are available for children 0-18 years.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile delivers no-charge services to families without medical insurance. Families with medical insurance are also welcome.

Tuition Assistance

St. John Lutheran School is a ministry of St. John Lutheran Church. As such, every child’s tuition is supported through the church. St. John does not want any child to miss out on the Lutheran education we provide because of family finances. We have several avenues of tuition assistance available to families in need. Families are asked to complete an application for tuition grant and aid. The only application available for this year is online and can be accessed at www.factstuitionaid.com. Please contact the school office for questions.

Please pray for these staff members:

Mr. Neuman, Mr. Schroeder, Mr. Hayden, Mrs. Moser, and Mrs. Gerst

SHINE Students of the Week

Congratulations to the following students for being recognized as a SHINE Student last week: Danica Sattison, Bryston Williams, Ireland Blake, Bryson Shire, Jackson McKinley, Lilly Moser, Ben Reed, Brody Workman, Chase Ryan, and Caydren Sams. We give thanks to God for these students who let their light shine before others.

Suggestions/Questions

Remember that we have a Suggestion/Question box in the lobby area (with the Box Tops, pop tab and ink cartridge drop off boxes). Your feedback is welcome!

IREAD and ILEARN State Tests

The test window for the 3rd grade required IREAD test is March 8-19. This test is given on the computer and is usually given over a two-day span for 1-1.5 hours per day. It is a pretty good indicator of a child’s reading ability. The 3rd graders will be testing this week Tuesday and Thursday in the morning. More information and the specific test schedule will be communicated with the 3rd grade students and parents.

The test window for the 3rd-8th grade required ILEARN test is April 19-May 14. More details regarding this test will be shared in the coming weeks.

8 - 14, 2021

Monday, March 8

Tuesday, March 9

8:10 – Chapel

Wednesday, March 10

Thursday, March 11

7:00 - Worship Service

Friday, March 12

Saturday, March 13

Sunday, March 14 – Daylight Saving Time starts

8:00 – Worship Service in the Sanctuary

9:15 – Christian Education Hour

10:30 – Worship Service in the Worship Center

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