Week 16 Wonder

From the Class Blogger, Elliot

This week we did some fun things like go to a movie and do a full dress rehearsal for advent. The movie we saw was Wonder. We also had a very fun time with advent and singing practice. We had very easy homework so that freed up a week.😃 That is what happened this week.

From Mrs. R

Wonder led to some pretty incredible discussions with your kids.  The movie showed the best and the worst ways people can treat one another, and the class had true empathy for Auggie and his family members.  One of Auggie's teachers had his students reflect on a precept (a key thought or motto) for each month of the year.  He hoped to get his students thinking about being their best selves.  Here are a few precepts that your kids wrote or remembered after watching and discussing the film:

• A friendly person is a kind person.
• The moments you remember are important.
• When you can be a friend be one, but never be a bully.
• You never know how much you love someone until you almost lose them.
• Never give up, never stand down, always keep your head up along your journey.   
• Be a buddy, not a bully. 
• Be kind to everyone you see because they are people too.
• Don't be blinded by your talents and skills because it isn't your, it's God who works through you.
• Don't be distracted by the big things in life, but also be gald for the little things. 
• Don't judge someone by their outside but their inside. 
• When you are kind, good things happen.
• Don't judge a book by it's cover. 
• Be yourself - everyone else is taken.
• If you don't try you won't succeed, but if you do try you will succeed.
• To be a good friend, show it.
• It takes two people to start a fight but one to stop it.
• Don't fake your friendship because of someone's look.  Be friends.  Make their day.  
• Don't just a person by it's face.  What matters the most is how their heart is.
• Don't worry when you can be thinking about how not to be worried.
• Friends are like planets.  They always are around you.
• Achieve your goals.  If anyone or anything gets in your way, follow through.  It is always good to keep trying until you accomplish that goal. 
• Don't judge people until you know them.  
• You have enemies?  Good!  That  means you have stood up for something sometime in your life - Winston Churchill.

WHAT IF...

...the government could force you to sell land?
...we had laws on what you could grow on your farm? or that said NO PETS ALLOWED?
...your family was limited to one or two children?

Would you exist?

I hope talks about our Literature novel have popped up in your family conversations.  Students began the novel, Among the Hidden by Margaret Petersen Haddix, and I have to put a STOP sign in the novels to get them to put it down.  Through the novel we discuss literary elements like characterization and conflict, but also propaganda, morals, and faith.  It also coordinates with our S.S. unit on Urban Sprawl in which students are taking on the roles of local citizen activist groups to debate how best to plan a city for population growth.  Ask your child about it!

  P.S.  Need a gift idea?  This is the first of a series of seven.  Scholastic has the The Shadow Children series for $28. I'll get another Scholastic order submitted on Monday, Dec. 11.   Email me any gift order and I'll send them to the office for you to keep the secret!

Mrs. Helmkamp helped students examine online scenarios that might put students at risk

 COMPUTER LAB

Harmless or Harmful? - my safety?? my reputation??

ADVENT IS HERE !

5/6 ADVENT WORSHIP:  WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6   

The songs are learned, the dramas are getting polished, and practices are winding down; preparations are nearly complete for our Advent Services on Wednesday.   It is time now for families to join in the preparation! The Advent season prepares us for the coming of Christ.  Please plan to join us for one of the services to hear the message of how God works in our hearts to prepare us for his coming.  Details about our worship services are below.  Blessings to your families this Advent season!

Thank you,

5^th and 6^th grade teachers

Times:  10:00 A.M. (chapel with Zion students) and 7:00 P.M.    

Arrival for the evening services: Students are to meet in the JH building (6^th grade in our homerooms, 5^th grade - upstairs) between 6:30-6:45 P.M.  (Pre-service musicians should check in with their teacher by 6:30 and then proceed to the church)

Dress:  Students should dress nicely for both the morning service and the evening service.

            Morning – standardized school dress (or costume)

            Evening – standardized school dress or “Sunday best” -  avoid jeans and clothing                                 with writing (unless costume)

After the evening service:  Parents may pick up students from the Welcome Center in church.

** Reminder: As students are leading worship, please refrain from flash photography during the service.  We would be happy to stage pictures after the worship service ends.

LCEF -
Have you heard about the Young Investor's Club?  When people invest in Lutheran Church Extension Fund, they help fund the building of churches and schools.  Zion used LCEF for our church expansion project. And so??   LCEF is offering a huge incentive to encourage new investors - $30,000 off Zion's mortgage for each of the next 2 years.  As this is such a lucrative offer, Zion will pay the $25 minimum investment to get your child in the Young Investor's Club.  This may be money that just sits in the account for your child, or you (or your child) may choose to add to the investment.  Please consider helping Zion and get your child started in a savings plan.  See the article on Sycamore for the pdf.  Click here to learn more about LCEF.