The Charger
May 21, 2004


Email: clschool@comcast.net

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2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR: Click HERE to view next year’s school calendar. Please refer to this for any dates you may need to know concerning next school year.

PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING: The staff and school would like to thank the congregation, parents, families, and friends who have contributed so much to make this school year a success. As we approach the end of the school year it is quite evident that all have sacrificed and contributed to make all go so well. Please join us for graduation on May 28th at 7:00 as the 8th graders complete their elementary education and prepare for high school. If there are ways over the summer that we can assist you, please don’t hesitate to call on us. The staff is already busy planning for next fall.
    In keep with that planning, please remember that registration is this Sunday. If you are unable to come, please let the office know.                            
                                    Dan Henschen

REGISTRATION: Just a reminder that registration for PS-8 for the 2004-2005 school year is this Sunday, May 23, after late church (12:00) until 1:00. Please make every effort to come. If you are unable to register on May 23, please notify the school office.

FOOD BANK: For the month of May the school will be collecting items for Grace Lutheran Food bank. During the summer months low-income children no longer receive free school lunches. Many them have little to eat. Donations of non-perishable food may be brought to school anytime. The children have grocery sacks outside each classroom and are having a contest to see which class collects the most food items..

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Chapel during the last week of school will be on Friday,, May 28, at 10:30. Our annual awards presentations will also be held on Friday morning, May 28, at 9:00. The children will be dismissed at 11:30. Parents are invited to join us for the awards presentations and for chapel. There will be extended care after the 11:30 early dismissal.

LAST CHARGER: This is the last Charger of this school year. If you have questions concerning schedules or events during the summer, you can call the school for the information.

CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS/GENERAL MILLS BOX TOPS: Keep collecting Campbell soup labels and General Mills box tops through the summer. The staff and students appreciate funds and items received through these collections.

LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL GARAGE SALE: Are you starting your spring cleaning? Make sure you save those “treasures” for the 5th Annual Lutheran High School Garage Sale!

    When: Friday, June 18, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
                          Saturday, June 19, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
    Where: Concordia Gymnasium

Items may be dropped off at Concordia after May 21.

Questions? Call Patty H. & Kathy S. at 529-3309 (Day) or Kathy, 529-6502, & Patty, 529-7347, at home.

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT FORMS: The Illinois Transportation Reimbursement forms are in. Parents may come in anytime during office hours to fill out the form. These forms must be filled out in the office and cannot be sent home. Please remember, you need to know the number of miles from home to school one way. Please come in and fill out your forms by May 28.

THANK YOU: Thanks to all the parents, grandparents, and friends who have worked so hard this school year to make it a success for the children. We could not provide the quality Christian education and environment without your help and support. Thank you very much!

REPORT CARDS: Report cards will be ready for parents to pick up at church on Sunday, June 6. If we have the results of the achievement tests by then, we will send them home with the report cards at that time. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

SANGAMON COUNTY FAIR: On behalf of the Sangamon county Fair Association, we are pleased to announce the 17th Annual Talent Competition to be held Saturday, June 19, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. They are encouraging all performers who live or attend school in Sangamon County to participate. If you want further information, please contact the school.

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Calendar

5/23            Grades K-4 choir sings in the 10:45 service
    12:00-1:00    Registration for Grades K-8 for the 2003-2004 school year
5/28            Last Day of School
    9:00        Awards presentations
    10:30        Closing Chapel
    11:30        Early Dismissal
    7:00 PM    8th Grade Graduation
5/28            Deadline for submitting information for transportation reimbursement
6/6              Report Cards will be available in the church narthex

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QUOTABLE QUOTES:

ONE OF GOD’S KIDS

    People always say how men kids can be, never how nice they can be. This story will put life into perspective!
    At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the school’s students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all that attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question. “Everything God does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
    Where is God’s plan reflected in my son?” The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. “I believe,” the father answered, “that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an opportunity to realize the Divine Plan presents itself and it comes in the way people treat that child.”
    Then he told the following story.
    Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, “Do you think they will let me play?” Shay’s father knew that the boys would not want him on their team. But the father understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, “We are losing by six runs, and the fame is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team, and we’ll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning.” In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind.by three. At the top of the ninth inning. Shay put on a glove and placed in the outfield. Although no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base. Shay was scheduled to be the next at-bat. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game?
    Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came, and Shay swung clumsily and missed. the pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. Th pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, “Shay, run to first, run to first.” Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, “run to second, run to second!”
    By the time Shay was rounding first base, the right fielder had had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for a tag. but the right fielder understood what the pitcher’s intentions had been, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.
    Shay ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, “Run to third!” As Shay rounded third. the boys from both teams were screaming, “Shay! Run home!”
    Shay ran home, stepped on home plate, and was cheered as the hero for hitting a “grand slam” and winning the game for his team.
    That day,” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, “the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of the Divine Plan into this world.”
    May that Christian attitude be one that we strive to instill in our young athletes. After all, they are an integral part of the Divine Plan also!

web address: www.concordiaspfld.org
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Est. 1931

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