Tiger Talk

School Schedule - Monday, Sept. 16th - Sunday, Sept. 22nd

Monday, Sept. 16th -

8:15 - 8:45 AM: K-8 Chapel led by Pastor Phillips (message) & Mr. Grillot (liturgist)

9:00 - 9:20 AM: Early Childhood Chapel led by Mrs. Grillot

3:00 - 4:30 PM: Cross Country Practice

3:00 - 4:45 PM: JV Volleyball Practice

4:30 - 6:00 PM: Co-Op Home Baseball Game vs Edinburg @ Lutheran High (Washington Campus)

Tuesday, Sept. 17th -

3:00 - 4:30 PM: VA/JV Volleyball Practice

4:30 - 5:30 PM: Lutheran High Grade School Cross Country Meet @ Cherry Hills Location

4:30 - 6:00 PM: Co-Op Home Baseball Game vs Athens @ Lutheran High (Washington Campus)

6:00 - 7:00 PM: Tiger League Informational Meeting in Parish Hall

Wednesday, Sept. 18th -

Vision & Hearing Screenings

3:00 - 4:30 PM: Cross Country Practice

3:00 - 4:30 PM: VA/JV Volleyball Practice

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Discipleship Night in Parish Hall & Classrooms

Thursday, Sept. 19th -

3:00 - 3:30 PM: Exploring Woodwinds - Music Room

4:30 - 5:30 PM: Rochester Middle School Invitational - Cross Country Meet

4:30 - 6:00 PM: Co-Op Away Baseball Game @ Riverton Middle School

6:00 - 7:00 PM: JV Away Volleyball Game @ Mt. Pulaski

7:00 - 8:00 PM: VA Away Volleyball Game @ Mt. Pulaski

Friday, Sept. 20th -

Spirit Day - Regular Dress-Down Day

8:15 - 11:00 AM: 4th Grade Waking Field Trip to Church

3:00 - 4:30 PM: Cross Country Practice

Saturday, Sept. 21st -

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: VA Away Volleyball Game @ Trinity Bloomington

12:00 - 1:00 PM: JV Away Volleyball Game (vs Cross Yorkville) @ Trinity Bloomington

1:00 - 2:00 PM: JV Away Volleyball Game @ Trinity Bloomington

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Cross Country Meet - Lincoln Magnet School Invite @ Lincoln Park

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Worship in the Parish Hall

Sunday, Sept. 22nd -

8:00 - 9:00 AM: Worship @ Church

9:30 - 10:15 AM: Bible Study in Parish Hall/Sunday School in Classrooms

10:30 - 11:30 AM: Worship @ Church

12:30 - 2:30 PM: Youth Group Hike @ Carpenter Park

You Are Invited!

Who: Trinity’s Early Childhood Grandparents

What: Early Childhood Grandparents’ Day - Entertainment, Book Fair, & Classroom Visits

When: Thursday, September 26th 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Where: Trinity Lutheran School 515 S. MacArthur Blvd, 62704 Why: to give our grandparents a chance to see our school & show them our appreciation

Important Details: *We will start our morning in the Parish Hall with some entertainment.

*There will be cookies, coffee, and bottled water available to enjoy after the entertainment.

*RSVP: Please fill out the bottom portion of the invitation that came home and return it to the school office by Thursday, September 19th.

You Are Invited!

Who: Trinity’s Kindergarten-8th Grade Grandparents

What: Kindergarten - 8th Grade Grandparents’ Day - Chapel Service, Book Fair, & Classroom Visits When: Friday, September 27th 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Where: Trinity Lutheran School 515 S. MacArthur Blvd, 62704

Why: to give our grandparents a chance to see our school & show them our appreciation

Important Details: *We will start our morning in the Parish Hall with a worship service.

*There will be cookies, coffee, and bottled water available to enjoy after the worship service.

*RSVP: Please fill out the bottom portion of the invitation that came home and return it to the school office by Friday, September 20th.

This quarter's chapel offering goes to the LCMS Central Illinois District's Deaf Ministry in Jacksonville. To learn more, please click on the following link: https://www.cidlcms.org/outreach-missions-deaf.html

Are you interested in ways to be involved and to meet other parents? Come out to the first Tiger League Parent Group Meeting at the Parish Hall from 6-7pm to see what it's all about. We will be going over planned events for the year, getting volunteers for specific events, and taking in ideas for things you'd like to see happen! We can't do things without the help of fellow parents, if you are unable to join but are still interested please email tigerleague@trinity-lutheran.com for more information.

*Blue Ribbon Book Fair in the Parish Hall Lobby - Wednesday, September 25th (during school day for classes); Thursday, September 26th during Early Childhood Grandparents' Day; Friday, September 27th during K-8 Grandparents' Day; Saturday, September 28th after Worship; Sunday, September 29th before and after Bible Study/Sunday School

Here is the link for the Book Fair Sign-Up Genius if you are willing and able to help out:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DABA82CABFBCF8-51316848-2024

*BounceTag Night

Leap on over to BounceTag for some family fun and fellowship with other Trinity Lutheran Church and School families. Event is open 5:00-8:00pm Tuesday October 22nd. 50% of the admission price comes back to the school to support student activities. Hope to see you there!

*Nerf Party @ School

Sunday, November 10th from 2:30 - 4:00 PM ($10 per family)

*Skate Night Event @ Skateland

Tuesday, January 14th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM (Admission - TBD; Skate Rental - $4)

*3rd Annual All-School Family Dance

Join us for the 3rd Annual All-School Family Dance on Thursday, March 13th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm! Come dressed in your glow in the dark gear and enjoy some music, dancing, and snacks. Candy, drinks, chips, and pizza will be available for purchase in the concession stand.
Admission - $1 per student; parents - free

*Teacher Appreciation Week @ School

Monday, May 5th - Friday, May 9th

*In addition, Tiger League organizes and runs our school uniform exchange. More information on this coming soon!

4th-8th Grade students and parents are invited to: Exploring Woodwinds! on September 19th from 3:00-3:30 pm in the Music Room!

Learn – What does it mean to be a woodwind player in a concert band?
Explore – Try playing a flute, a clarinet, and an alto saxophone.
Ask – How do I get started in Trinity's band program?

Bible Bowl is Back & it’s time to defend our first-place win from last year! All students, grades 3rd through 8th are welcome. Practices will be held on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 beginning 9/25/2024 and ending 11/20/2024. Students must attend 5 practices to be eligible to compete. Competition held on November 23, 2024 at St John Lutheran School, 509 South Mattis Avenue, Champaign IL 61822. Please contact Coach Chuck Moore (217-891-1956 or mrchuckmoore@gmail.com) for more information.

Camden C. gives up 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, and strikes out 15 batters as the baseball rolls past the Warriors 10-0. Wowza!

Teams ran at Lincoln Park. The boys team finished in first with five runners in the top ten (2,3,5,6, & 10) and the girls team finished in second place with four runners in the top ten (1,6,7,8). We have three meets this week, all in the area if students/families want to come and cheer the runners on! Tuesday is at Cherry Hills at 4:30 & 5:00 PM. Thursday is at Rochester at 4:30 & 5:00 PM. Saturday is at Lincoln Park at 3:30, 4:00, & 4:30 PM.

The girls played OS at home this past week. They didn't pull off a win, but played hard and took them to three sets! Keep up the hard work, girls!

Each month, the Early Childhood classrooms use weekly thematic units to support all of the skills they are working on (fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills, letters, colors, numbers, shapes, and much more). Please see below for the list of the themes for this month.

September - Apples, Farm, Leaves/Fall, Emotions/Kindness

October - Human Body, Pumpkins, Spiders, Fire Safety, Halloween

November - Friendship, Bears, Thanksgiving

December - Gingerbread Friends, Advent, Christmas

January - Winter/Snow, Polar Animals, Transportation, Nursery Rhymes

February - Dental Health, Valentine's Day, Community Helpers

March - Space, Dr. Seuss, St. Patrick's Day

April - Insects, Holy Week, Easter, Earth Day/Recycling, Spring

May - Bodies of Water, Dinosaurs, Family, End of the Year Fun

• Please send a reusable water bottle (labeled with your child's name) to school. The teachers will send it home with your child on their last day of each school week to be deep cleaned.
• Please make sure your little one wears tennis shoes each day.
• If your child attends full days, they can either bring a sack lunch or purchase a hot lunch. Hot lunches cost $3.50 a day. You can put money on your child's lunch account in the school office at any time.
• If your child attends full day, please be sure to send a blanket, a pillow, and a stuffed buddy. That will all come home in your child's nap bag on Fridays to be washed and returned to school the following week.
• Please send at least one-two changes of clothes with your child. Please label them with your child's name.
• If your child is in Two-Year-Old Town and not fully potty-trained, please send a package of diapers and baby wipes labeled with their first and last name.

Thursday, September 26th - Early Childhood Grandparents' Day from 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Wednesday, October 20th - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Thursday, October 31st - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Thursday, December 19th - Early Childhood Cookies & Carols from 8:30 - 9:30 AM

Thursday, May 1st - Early Childhood Parents' Night from 6:00 - 7:00 PM

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8

Some of our middle school students present the daily announcements every morning through live video. There is a private YouTube channel that both classes and parents can view. Please see below for a link to that. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ZRNvDToKF_exZflbfVRDQ

Each month we learn about a "c" word and we celebrate students who are showing what they have learned. Please see below for the entire list of these elements of success.

Monthly Elements

September - Compassion

October - Composure

November - Citizenship

December - Communication

January - Creativity

February - Collaboration

March - Clear Thinking

April - Curiosity

May - Review All Elements

Please visit click on this link: https://trinity-lutheran.com/school/about-our-school/ to learn more about our Elements of Success.

Office Side - Justin, Liam, Bella; Subs: Tristan & Oliver

Parish Hall Side - Camden, Suzi, Ryane; Subs: Jacen & LaDaja

Additional Entree for Hot Lunch

Students can purchase an additional entree for 75 cents. Please make sure if your child wants to do this that they tell their homeroom teacher when they take lunch count, so the teacher can enter it properly in the computer. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Cold Lunch Info

If your child is cold lunch, please do not pack them soda or candy. Also, please try to include something substantial like a sandwich and fruit. A well-balanced meal will help them have energy and focus for the rest of the school day. Please do not bring them fast food unless it is a special occasion like a birthday. Thanks so much for your cooperation with this!

• Please remember that extended care closes at 5:30 PM. If there is an emergency issue and you cannot be here by 5:30 PM, please call and let the staff know. A $1.00 late charge is added on per minute to your account.

Friday, September 27th

Thursday, October 31st

Friday, December 20th

Friday, May 23rd

Please join us for the Lutheran High Sunday Brunch on October 6th from 10:45-1:00. The Brunch is sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence. The Brunch will be held in the Parish Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, children under 5 are free. Proceeds will benefit the Training of Christian Leaders. Please have your reservations to Lutheran High by September 27th.

Junior High and High School students please join us on Sunday, September 22nd at Carpenter Park from 12:30-2:30pm for lunch, hike, and a devotion. Bring a sack lunch to Carpenter Park (1 Carpenter Park Trl, Springfield, IL). After lunch we will go for about a 30 minute hike, stop for a devotion, and then finish the hike back to where we started. We hope to see you there!

In today’s education landscape, it can be easy to focus solely on academic performance and standardized testing. But some of the most vital lessons in a student’s life don’t come from textbooks. As educators, we have the unique opportunity to help shape the character of our students by instilling values that will serve them throughout their lives. Among these values, two of the most important are empathy and respect. These values not only enhance children personally, they are also essential building blocks for creating a positive, thriving classroom environment that will help students grow into kind, thoughtful, and responsible adults.

At Love and Logic, our approach focuses on helping educators and parents build relationships based on empathy and respect. Rather than attempting to directly teach empathy to children, Love and Logic encourages adults to model these values consistently. When students experience empathy and respect in their daily interactions with teachers, they are more likely to adopt those behaviors and carry them into their relationships and communities outside of the classroom.

Before we look at the strategies for fostering empathy and respect, it’s important to understand why these values are crucial in the first place. Let’s explore the importance of these values.

Why Empathy and Respect Matter in the Classroom?

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. In a classroom setting, empathy helps students connect with one another on a deeper level, making them more likely to support each other, collaborate effectively, and refrain from negative behaviors like bullying. When students learn and practice empathy, they will be better equipped to navigate social situations, resolve conflicts, and build healthy relationships in the future.

Respect is equally important. A respectful classroom environment is one where students feel safe, valued, and appreciated. Respect means recognizing the inherent worth of every individual’s thoughts, feelings, and contributions. In a respectful classroom, students are encouraged to express themselves without fear of judgment, and differences are celebrated. This kind of environment promotes emotional well-being and enables students to reach their full academic potential.

Together, empathy and respect form the foundation of a positive and productive learning environment. They are essential for creating a classroom culture where students can thrive not only as learners but also as individuals.

So how do we, as educators, ensure that empathy and respect are central to our teaching practices?

Here are some suggestions for incorporating them into everyday classroom life.

1. Model Empathy and Respect Every Day

Children learn by observing the behavior of the adults around them. If we want students to embrace empathy and respect, we must model these values consistently in our interactions with them.

Start by showing genuine interest in your students as individuals. When a student is upset or frustrated, take time to listen carefully and respond with empathy. For example, you might say, “I can see that you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. Let’s work through this together.” This demonstrates that you care about their feelings and are committed to helping them navigate their emotions in a positive way.

Respect should be a cornerstone of every interaction in the classroom. Treat each student with kindness, regardless of their behavior or academic performance. Avoid making judgments based on first impressions or preconceived notions. When students see you consistently showing respect to others, they are more likely to treat their peers with the same consideration.

Modeling empathy and respect isn’t just about how you treat students, though. It’s also about how you respond to conflicts or challenging situations. When a disagreement arises in the classroom, approach the situation with empathy. Instead of immediately doling out consequences, try to understand the perspectives of everyone involved and seek a solution that benefits all parties.

2. Respond to Misbehavior with Empathy

It’s easy to become frustrated when a student acts out or behaves disrespectfully. However, Love and Logic encourages educators to respond to misbehavior from a place of empathy rather than anger or frustration. This approach not only helps resolve the immediate issue but also contributes to the long-term development of the student’s emotional intelligence.

When frustrated by inappropriate behavior, teachers using Love and Logic will delay consequences so they can calm down and consider an appropriate course of action. At a later time, they can speak privately with the student and say something like, “I notice you’re having a hard time today. Let’s talk about what’s going on.” By doing this, you create a safe space for the student to express their emotions and work through their difficulties.

3. Create a Culture of Mutual Respect

Building a culture of mutual respect starts with the way we treat one another every day. Set the tone for your classroom by being consistently positive, inclusive, and encouraging. Make it clear from the beginning that every student’s voice matters, and that their contributions are valued.

Encourage students to express their ideas and opinions and ensure that they do so respectfully. When students feel that their thoughts and feelings are appreciated, they are more likely to extend that same respect to their peers.

Classroom culture is shaped not only by how students interact with one another but also by how they perceive authority figures. Your own actions as a teacher play a significant role in setting the standard for respectful behavior. By maintaining a calm, respectful demeanor even in difficult situations, you model the kind of behavior you want to see in your students.

It’s also important to acknowledge and celebrate acts of respect and empathy when you see them. When a student goes out of their way to help a classmate or shows kindness in a challenging situation, take a moment to recognize their efforts privately. This not only reinforces the behavior but also shows other students what empathy and respect look like in action.

By making reflection a regular part of your classroom routine, you help students become more mindful of their behavior and more intentional about treating others with kindness and respect.

4. Be Patient and Consistent

Fostering empathy and respect in the classroom is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing process that requires patience, consistency, and dedication. Students won’t always get it right, and that’s okay. What’s important is that they continue to learn and grow over time.

Be patient with your students as they work to develop these skills. Remember that every small step forward is progress, and celebrate those moments when students demonstrate empathy and respect in their interactions. Over time, these small steps will accumulate, helping to build a classroom culture where kindness, understanding, and respect are the norm rather than the exception.

Consistency is key to fostering empathy and respect. Be clear in your expectations and follow through on them regularly. When students know that you are committed to maintaining a respectful and empathetic classroom environment, they are more likely to embrace those values themselves. Even when challenges arise, sticking to your principles will help reinforce the importance of these core values in the minds of your students.

Moreover, maintaining consistency in how you respond to both positive and negative behaviors is crucial. When students see that empathy and respect are not just occasional ideals but constant expectations, they’ll understand that these behaviors are foundational to the way the classroom operates. By being patient and consistent, you help students internalize these values as part of their own moral compass.

Conclusion: The Long-Term Impact of Fostering Empathy and Respect

When we emphasize empathy and respect in our classrooms, we’re doing far more than helping students succeed academically—we’re giving them the tools they need to build meaningful, successful lives. Empathy and respect lay the foundation for strong relationships, effective communication, and a positive attitude towards themselves and the world around them. These values promote emotional intelligence and social responsibility, helping students navigate challenges with resilience and grace.

As educators, we have the privilege of shaping not just the minds of our students, but their hearts as well. By fostering a classroom environment where empathy and respect are celebrated and practiced every day, we help guide our students towards becoming compassionate, thoughtful, and responsible individuals who are equipped to make a positive impact on the world.

The lessons of empathy and respect will extend far beyond the classroom walls. For more resources check out Home and School Strategies for Creating Respectful, Responsible Kids. Students who learn to understand and care for others in meaningful ways are more likely to carry those values into adulthood. Whether they become leaders in their communities, professionals in their chosen fields, or simply kind-hearted friends and family members, the seeds of empathy and respect we plant today will bear fruit for years to come.

Ultimately, the legacy of a Love and Logic classroom isn’t just academic achievement—it’s a generation of young people who understand the importance of kindness, compassion, and respect for all. These are the qualities that will enable them to thrive in a rapidly changing world and to contribute to the well-being of others in lasting, meaningful ways.

Isn’t that what we all want for our students?

Thanks for reading!

The Love and Logic Team

• Faculty and Staff Directory: https://trinity-lutheran.com/school/faculty-staff/
• School Spirit Day Schedule: https://trinity-lutheran.com/school/calendars/
• Weekly Church eNewsletter: https://trinity-lutheran.com/news-events/
• Elements of Success: https://trinity-lutheran.com/school/
• School Year Music Schedule: https://trinity-lutheran.com/school/calendars/