Week 32: Good Friday

Jesus Completes Our Salvation

Our Religion unit is not merely the focal point of all of our studies of our Christian faith this year; it is also the focus of the entire Bible. And by God’s grace, it is also the focus of our entire lives! Our studies in math and science and social studies are essential for daily life; but it is in our study of Scripture that all these blessings find their true purpose and meaning through life in Christ. God blesses us with intelligence and abilities and talents, and He guides us to use these for our personal welfare—it is true. But He also desires that we use these blessings for the good of others and for the glory of the Lord.

Our focus in this unit has been on Holy Week and the events surrounding it. Here, we see God’s covenant promises coming together and being fulfilled in Christ Jesus. We cannot save ourselves; only Jesus could do that for us, because He is the sinless Son of God. Amazingly, He is also our substitute! He gives His victory to us!

Jesus suffered all things, died on the cross, and arose at Easter to complete our salvation. It is finished! He offers us the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life through His loving grace and mercy. May the comfort and assurance of God’s grace be the very center of your family life together!

We culminated our look at Good Friday this week with a reading on the crucifixion and a study by Lutheran pastor and archaeologist, Rev. Paul Maier in The Week that Changed the World.

May God bless your family time this EASTER SEASON with the assurance from Jesus that...

In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where i am, you may be also.  John 14:2-3

Mrs. Riemenschneider

REMINDERS:

Best Choice begins on Monday, April 9 at 8:15 a.m.  Students will not want to miss the first lesson!  (see March 17 blog post)

RENEW YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS  Students were allowed to leave their books for the research paper at school, but don't forget to renew!

Lutheran Heritage Field Trip May 11 is an extended day.  Doors open at 6:30 a.m. for early arrival, devotions, and final instruction and we return to campus by 5:30 p.m.  We thank PTL for their generous sponsorship of a charter bus for this trip.  PARENT CHAPERONES ARE NEEDED. Please check your schedule and volunteer.  A current background check needs to be on file.

We will be studying immigration and the history of Lutherans in our area.  Our day will include a trip to the Altenburg Museum and Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna, MO.  This is a  colonial homestead where students will learn about the first Lutheran settlers and have an opportunity for trying chores such as gardening, laundry, and grinding corn.   

Just a few photos.... GMath plays coordinate plane battleship!!

 

Week 31: Holy Week

It was wonderful to see the support of the Zion community and friends at our auction Friday night. Preliminary reports show this was a big success in raising money for Zion!!  Thank you for your prayer support as well.

I encourage you to worship with your children on these special days ahead.   Sunday, we see Jesus declaring himself not only our King, but the promised Messiah.  On Maundy Thursday we see the remarkable transformation of the Passover into Holy Communion - Jesus himself became our saving Lamb of sacrifice.  Honor the Good Friday on which Christ died for our sins and the temple veil was torn in two - the separation that sin had caused between us and our Lord is no more.  And finally the glorious day of resurrection, EASTER, when we celebrate our victory in Christ over sin, death and the devil.  There is nothing we could ever do to deserve this love.  What a wonderful opportunity we have before us to learn and grow in our faith - to praise and thank God for this glorious gift!!, 

To see a clip from The Gospel of Matthew which we are using in Religion, click this link.  Palm Sunday begins at about 5 min 20 sec.

Church Services for Passion Week…Zion’s services for Passion Week leading up to Easter continue this week.  If you don’t have a church home, Zion would love to welcome you to experience Jesus’ journey to the cross with us!  We have services all week. :) 

 Palm Sunday 3/25  8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Living Last Supper Thursday 3/29 at 3:30 and 7pm.
Good Friday  Friday 3/30 at 3:30 and 7pm.
Easter  Sunday 4/1  at 8, 9:30 and 11am. 

What's happening in 6th Grade?

Religion - Passion Week

Lit - Poetry!!

Eng - Research Paper

S.S. - Wrapping up Monsoon Asia and Population issues.  We completed a study of density in Japan with mini-presentations of 1 cutural area the students discovered was influenced by crowdedness.  Next up: Europe!!

Sci. - more about Cells!!  Check out photos of the Breakout Exploration

Math - T- Ratios/Fractions/Decimals/Percents
           G -Coordinate Plane 

Art - The Cross

This week during our Faith Family Event we put together 160 care packages for Friends with Kids with Cancer.  Thank you to Thrivent Financial for helping to pay for the items in the care packages.  As a Faith Family studied Matthew5:13-16 and were reminded to salt and light to the world.  We pray these care packages will help in a small way ease the suffering of the kids who receive them and let them know that someone cares for them.  It is good to work together and share God’s love.  It was also good to celebrate baptismal birthdays in the months of March and April. 

 

Week 30 Report Cards; Best Choice in April

Achievement test week went well!  It did not take long to adjust to the online format and the students enjoyed an easier week from the daily grind.

We took time between Literature units to focus on Disability Awareness.  Inspired by our study of Helen Keller, students simulated being blind, deaf, and having learning disabilities.  Our focus was to gain an appreciation for our abilities and be on the look out for how to be a friend and a witness of God's love to someone who may have different abilities.  Mrs. Laurie Preusser (Ms. P's mom) talked to our classes about her job working with children learning to talk after they first receive hearing aids or cochlear implants.  The kids were pretty amazed at what these young children go through!

3rd Quarter report cards came home Friday.  Be sure to talk with your child about setting goals for the final quarter of sixth grade.  Goals can be a simple as using the assignment book regularly or neater handwriting.  Other goals may target an area where the student wishes to seek out assistance or get more involved in oral discussion in class.  English class started Research Reports and Science has begun a study of cells.  In Religion, we are beginning our study of the Passion of our Lord.  Lots of learning yet in 6th grade!!

Best Choice in April

After Easter, we  welcome an educator from Best Choice to lead our Religion classes.  Through this program, students will be involved in active discussions about setting goals, healthy relationships, puberty, and making God-pleasing decisions. The Best Choice program is designed to encourage children to make lifelong commitments to building relationships, making informed choices, choosing abstinence before marriage, and avoiding risky behaviors.

 Ms. Preusser and I will participate in the classes and continue follow up discussions.  A permission slip is came home FRIDAY to sign and return for your child to participate.  To help you prepare for discussions with your child at home, here are the topics Best Choice has used in the past.  A detailed outline came home with the permission slip.  I will update you daily with our discussions.  Classes start Monday, April 9 (first day back from Easter break).  I pray that you use these as opportunities to open the dialogue with your child and share your values with them.  Research shows parents are still the number one influence on their teens!  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Monday: Goals, Risky Behaviors, and Decision Making

Tuesday:  Respect, Friendships, and Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships, Refusal Skills
Thursday: Male/Female Puberty 
Friday: Media Influence, Emotional Consequences, Boundaries, and Avoidance Techniques 

Using "Misunderstood Minds" from PBS to see what ADD looks like

Can you read the colors of the words?  The delay shows how frustrating a processing disorder can be

The other kids keep talking and I can't hear the teacher!!  (ADD simulation)

What about a physical disability?

We learn to adapt and find creative solutions!

Using a mirror to simulate a visual processing disorder

This guide does not look terribly helpful to our blind person

Where's the butter???

I thought I remembered where the sink was

 We learned that phrases like "over there" and "in front of you" were not specific enough

Just a few obstacles

Our guides discovered they needed to lead people by the hand, not just their voice

Sometimes we have to be there to pick each other up!

Week 29 Grandparents' Day

We had a wonderful visit with grandparents and special guests.  Games and activities were hopping across campus.  Our 7th graders led us is a special worship. Through drama and sign language we saw the importance of standing on the firm foundation of Christ, who will help us meet every challenge and temptation that comes our way. It was a beautiful reminder that In Christ I Stand. 

Guests:  Thank you for taking the time to spend this important time with these kids.  These are the memories that will last! 

NEW STUDENT: We welcome Jonah D. to our class starting on Monday.  Jonah's mom is a former Zion student and his family has just moved here from the Denver area.  As you have opportunity, please welcome them and help them learn all of the Zion routines and culture.
 

Playing Generation Gap

Report Cards will come home on Friday.  Be aware that teachers are processing grades and Sycamore will not be up to date before Tuesday or later.  (What was I thinking giving all those tests/quizzes/projects??  Oh yes - I love to see what the kids have accomplished at the end of our units!)   Enjoy this sunny afternoon.  I'll grab my red pen and a cup of tea...


And please remember - Achievement Testing is this week, March 12-16.   Zion is shifting to the Iowa Basic Skills tests and will be testing through their online system.  Mrs. Helmkamp will join us for the "Getting Started" tutorial so we are all comfortable with the new format.  Encourage your child to get good rest and eat breakfast each day!

In Peace,

Mrs. R.