Tiger Talk

Monday, November 18th -

8:15 - 8:45 AM: K-8 Chapel led by Pastor Schneider

9:00 - 9:20 AM: EC Chapel led by Ms. McWilliams

3:00 - 5:00 PM: Tech Week - Fall Play Rehearsal

5:00 - 6:30 PM: School Board Meeting

5:00 - 6:30 PM: VA Boys Basketball Practice (4:30 for those not @ play rehearsal)

Tuesday, November 19th -

2:20 - 3:00 PM: Volunteer Youth Choir Rehearsal

3:00 - 5:00 PM: Tech Week - Fall Play Rehearsal

3:15 - 4:45 PM: JV Girls Basketball Practice

Wednesday, November 20th -

3:00 - 5:00 PM: Tech Week - Fall Play Rehearsal

5:00 - 6:30 PM: VA Boys Basketball Practice (4:30 for those not @ Play Rehearsal)

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Prayer Service & Discipleship Hour @ School Campus

Thursday, November 21st -

3:00 - 5:00 PM: Tech Week - Fall Play Rehearsal

6:00 - 7:00 PM: JV Boys Basketball Game @ Tri-City

7:00 - 8:00 PM: VA Boys Basketball Game @ Tri-City

Friday, November 22nd -

Spirit Day - Regular Dress-Down Day (Fall Play Cast - Wear Play T-Shirt)

2:00 - 2:45 PM: Tech Week - Fall Play Dress Rehearsal for K-8 Students

3:00 - 6:00 PM: Tech Week - Fall Play Rehearsal

6:00 - 7:00 - PM: Fall Play Performance

Saturday, November 23rd -

AM: Bible Bowl @ St. John's Lutheran School - Champaign

8:30 - 10:15 AM: VA Boys Basketball Practice

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Worship Service @ School Campus

Sunday, November 24th -

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

9:30 - 10:15 AM: Bible Study & Sunday School @ Church Campus

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

Upcoming November Events

22nd - Spirit Day - Regular Dress-Down Day; Middle School Fall Play @ 6 PM

26th - Early Dismissal @ 1:00 PM (starting @ 12:30 PM for Early Childhood & 12:45 for K-8)

27th - 29th - No School - Thanksgiving Break

Upcoming December Events

6th - 8th - VA Boys Basketball Tournament @ Trinity

11th - Advent Service led by Primary Grade Students

18th - Advent Service by Middle School Students

19th - Early Childhood Cookies & Carols Program @ 8:30 AM

20th - End of the 2nd Quarter; No Afternoon Extended Care

23rd - 31st - Christmas Break (until January 3rd)

Tiger League is hosting a Christmas Gift Shop at the school on December 9th, 10th, and 12th from 8:15 am – 12:15 pm. Your child will have the opportunity to shop for their family and friends just in time for Christmas!

Each class will have a designated shopping day. If your child is absent or unable to shop on his or her designated day, the other shopping days will be available.

Class Shopping Schedule
Monday, December 9th: 5th -8th Grade
Tuesday, December 10th: Early Childhood Classes
Thursday, December 12th: Kindergarten - 4th Grade

A flyer with more information will be coming home with your child very soon.

Lastly, we are in need of volunteers to work at the Gift Shop. It's a fun way to earn volunteer hours!
If you are interested, please see the link below for available times.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044AADAA29A7FD0-53268621-christmas

During the month of November, the chapel offerings will be going to help with Hurricane Helene and Milton relief. Here is the link to the video we showed in chapel if you would like to share it with parents. Our money will be going to LCMS Disaster Response to help them as they help those affected by these storms. LCMS Disaster Response

For the remaining weeks...

for the week of November 17th we will be collecting dollars

for the short week of November 25th bring in anything

The class who collects the most (Two-Year-Old Town through 8th grade) will win a pizza party. The class who collects the second most will win a donut party.

*Christmas Shop @ School - December 9th - 13th

More details to come but will need a sign-up genius created and a flyer to go home with the students. Volunteers needed to walk around and keep items organized, personal shoppers to help preschool–2nd graders stay within budget and make sure they have an item for everyone on their shopping lists. May have 7th and 8th grade assist as personal shoppers for the littles.

*Skate Night Event @ Skateland - Tuesday, January 14th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

(Admission - TBD; Skate Rental - $4)

*Candy Grams - February 14th

Gram’s cost $1.00 each, TL makes sure all students get at least one so no one is left out. We

take a few volunteers and meet up at Concordia Village to pass out Candy Grams to each of the residents. Sign up genius for volunteers to come closer to event. Concordia delivery will take place Wednesday 2/12/25 at 3:30pm. If there is a 3rd Quarter Love Thy Neighbor elective (middle school), we will see if they can help with assembling Grams for the residents.

*3rd Annual All-School Family Dance - Thursday, March 13th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join us for the 3rd Annual All-School Family Dance - 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

*Pie Sales - April (for Easter)

*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!

Advent is but a few weeks away, and we are issuing am invitation to all middle school students to participate in leading the Advent Service of Lessons and Carols on Wednesday, December 18, 6:30 pm at the downtown campus. Choir singers and readers are needed. Now would be a good time to join the Youth Choir in preparation of this special event. Interested? Contact Laura Fliege, lfliege@trinity-lutheran.com. The Youth Choir practices on Tuesdays, 2:20-3:00.

Mark Your Calendars!

1st Week of November: Start Christmas Music for our Advent Service

Wednesday, December 11th: K-4 Advent Service (including K-2 Choir, 3rd-4th Choir, and the Trinity String Orchestra); Orchestra Repertoire: Jingle Bells and Joy, to the World

Trinity is hosting a VA Boys Basketball Tournament on December 6th & 7th and we need your help! If you are willing and able to assist, please contact either our Athletic Director, Reed Gwillim, at athletics@trinity-lutheran.com or Alicia Klug @ aklug@trinity-lutheran.com, so they can add you to the schedule. Help is needed in the areas of Admissions, Concessions, Scoreboard, and Score Book. Thanks for considering it!

Competition will be held on November 23rd, 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.

Our Early Childhood parents are invited to come and see their little ones sing some Christmas songs and share a cookie treat together on Thursday, December 19th from 8:30 - 9:30 AM. Early Childhood students are asked to come dressed in their Christmas best. If they are staying for the rest of the school day, parents are asked to bring a change of clothes and change their little one right afterwards. If parents are planning on taking their little ones with them after the program, they are asked to let their child's homeroom teacher know. Students who don't typically attend that day are asked to come for this special event if at all possible.Looking forward to special morning!

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, 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

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10

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 - Phil, Callum, Madi (Subs: Camden & Jonah)

Parish Hall Side - Wesley, LaDaja, Liam (Subs: Kalen & Oliver)

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, December 20th

Friday, May 23rd

Our youth group will be hosting a baby picture fundraiser featuring our Trinity teachers to help support our students who will be going to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans in 2025. We kindly ask for your support by voting for the cutest baby through a monetary donation. There will be mason jars with the teacher’s baby photo at the back of church and in the lobby at the school in November. The winning baby and teacher will be announced at the end of November. Thank you for participating in this fun event!

Dear Lutheran High Community,

Exciting progress is being made towards the construction of our new Springfield Lutheran High School!

As most of you are aware, in July the Association purchased approximately 26 acres on Chatham Road, just north of Spaulding-Orchard Road, from and adjacent to Cherry Hills Baptist Church. We believe the site will enable us to build a beautiful new facility, complete with classrooms, science labs, offices, meeting space, a place for worship, a gymnasium, and outdoor athletic facilities. Now that a site for the high school has been purchased, the Board of Directors has directed the formation of a Construction Committee to plan the development of the site.

The Construction Committee, chaired by Steve Nardulli, with Principal Zack Klug, Board President George Perkins, Michelle Cox, Nancy Fuchs, Dave Harshaw, Rich Harkins, Rick Koopman, Dave Lientz, Mike Matzke, and Greg Womack, has been meeting regularly with architect Kevin Handy of Graham and Hyde Architects. Committee members have toured new construction at Pleasant Plains High School and Athens High School. High school faculty have met twice with the architect and discussed at length a conceptual design for our new facilities.

At present, the Construction Committee has extensively commented on a rough draft of drawings laying out a basic plan for our new school. The rough draft is being refined based upon the committee’s and the faculty’s observations and suggestions.

The Board has also retained Fellowship Development, a division of the Steier Group, a professional fund-raising organization with a national scope. Our fundraisers, working with a fundraising committee. They are currently working on fund-raising study and plan.

It is the Board’s intention to develop sufficient conceptual plans to formulate a construction budget and to give members of our community an opportunity to comment on and participate in the planning process. To that end, the Board plans to approve and publish the conceptual plans in November. Thereafter, it is our hope that a series of public open house forums will be conducted to give members of our community to ask questions and make suggestions

There have also been meetings with the Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission. As required by the City of Springfield and Sangamon County preparations are being made for a traffic study and large-scale site development.

The construction of a new high school is a complicated and time-consuming process. We ask you to remember the Association in your prayers.

In Christ,

Zachary Klug

Principal

Did you know that Trinity is one of the very few churches in our area that celebrate Thanksgiving on the very day set aside first by Abraham Lincoln as a day to give thanks? Come and join us in worship on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 9:00 am, downtown campus. This festive service will last about 45 minutes, leaving a lot of time for family, food, and fun and friends.

Advent is but a few weeks away, but Trinity asks for your help in marking the themes for the Saturday and Sunday worships services with the lighting of candles on the Advent Wreath and leading the congregation in a short reading. Any individual or family group may volunteer to serve. One volunteer would do the reading, while the other would light the candles. If you are able to help, please contact the church office, church@trinity-lutheran.com to sign up! It would be helpful if you would designate a Saturday or Sunday for which you are available.

It's time to decorate the church for Advent and Christmas! Join us in the sanctuary on Saturday, November 30th from 9:00 AM - Noon to help!

Through Trinity’s Giving Tree, members can purchase Christmas presents for children of our food pantry families. This year, Trinity is sponsoring 11 children from Trinity's community along with 5 foster children through The James Project, an organization that supports Sangamon County foster families. There are 3 chances to donate.

- Choose a Trinity child’s tag and purchase an item based on gift suggestions.
- Purchase a gift card. Cards will be used to ensure each child gets a present.
- Pick a James Project child’s tag and purchase a specific item requested on the tag.

Bring the unwrapped presents and gift cards to the Parish Hall Lobby by Dec. 1. Be sure to tape the tag on each gift. Thank you for being willing to help support our Trinity and the community foster families!

All men of Trinity-congregation members and school dads--are invited to join us on the third Saturday of each month in the narthex of the church for a time of fellowship and study of God's Word. On December 21st, we will continue with our study of "A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm" (Chapters 9 & 10). Books and study guides are available for a $5.00 donation. Please contact Bill Denham at 217.720.0339. Even if you haven't attended before, feel free to join us.

Teens and preteens can be very challenging for parents, compounding the everyday stress that parents feel these days. One of the goals of Love and Logic is to help parents take care of themselves, whether they are handling toddlers or teenagers.

Understanding that most teen/preteen behaviors are normal allows parents to relax a bit and then respond in ways that avoid damaging the parent-child relationship. Listed below are a few examples of contrasts between helpful and unhelpful responses to teens and preteens:

Helpful: Listen to their opinions—display respect and love, even if you disagree.

Unhelpful: Argue with them and try to set them straight.

Helpful: Encourage them to take on more responsibilities, such as managing their own money, getting ready for school on their own, working things out with teachers/coaches, etc.

Unhelpful: Rescue and get overly involved in things that they can do for themselves.

Helpful: Do your best to live according to your values. Admit when you fall short of doing so.

Unhelpful: Hold higher standards for them than for yourself.

Helpful: Provide lots of supervision done with an attitude of love and concern. Try not to leave them alone at home. Require that they come with the family on almost all outings.

Unhelpful: Make the mistake of thinking that they no longer need as much supervision as they used to.

Helpful: Get to know their friends and build relationships with them.

Unhelpful: Ignore their friends or treat them like “bad influences.”

Helpful: Have regular meals together.

Unhelpful: Let them “do their own thing” and never expect them to spend time with the family.

Helpful: Expect them to serve the family by completing their fair share of contributions.

Unhelpful: Allow them to avoid their chores.

Helpful: Allow them to drive when they are old enough, have paid at least half of the cost, and they are good at following the rules of the home.

Unhelpful: Allow them to drive with no restrictions.

Helpful: Have them set a reasonable curfew. “Reasonable” is the key. This can be different every night that they go out, but generally it shouldn’t be any later than 10 p.m. If they refuse to be reasonable, set the time for them and make it early.

Unhelpful: Let them come home at night at whatever time they like. (Through this, you will demonstrate that you don’t really care what’s going on in their lives.)

Helpful: Set significant limits over technology use. Do so by saying, “I allow the use of digital devices when it doesn’t hurt our relationship. This includes causing me to worry about you.”

Unhelpful: Let them spend most of their time on their devices without supervision. Allow them to bond more with their screens than with you. Spend more time watching your screen than watching and enjoying being with them.

• 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/