We were delighted to have local artist Bob Andrea speak at chapel this week! He displayed many of his paintings and shared his artistic process that brings an idea to life on the canvas. Students enthusiastically peppered him with excellent questions! Yet the theme that Mr. Andrea repeatedly returned to was that Jesus is the center of his life and inspires him in his creative endeavors.

Here are a few links to learn more:

Jack Pine Creations - Mr. Andrea's website where you can purchase his prints.

Color by Number

Also, some of his prints are available as puzzles on Amazon.

Our 4th and 5th graders celebrated finishing reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by watching the 1979 animated edition of the story, drinking hot cocoa with whipped cream, snacking on popcorn, and enjoying Turkish Delight!

We will collect items from now until Christmas for the Pregnancy Help Center. We are collecting the following items:

Little Gloves

Little Mittens

Washcloths

Baby Towels

Teethers

There is a Christmas tree in our hallway. Donated items can be hung on the tree.

November 27, Chicken Tenders

November 28, Tacos

November 28, Tacos - Gluten Free

November 29, Ribs

November 29, Ribs - Gluten Free

November 30, Chicken Fettuccine

December 1, Pizza

Please remember to order lunch for the week by 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning. If you need to order after that time or change your order, email us at office@ascensionarrows.org. We cannot provide a regular school lunch to your student if an email is not received should you add or change the lunch order after 8:00 a.m. on any day that a change is made or a lunch order is added.

Students will have the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts on December 19. There will be gifts for all ages, so students can shop for their siblings, parents, teachers, grandparents, etc. PTF volunteers will be helping that day and will wrap all of the purchased gifts. Students will come home with a Christmas store sheet in early December where you can specify who they are shopping for and how much they can spend.

Our 4th - 8th grade students have been learning about 3D printing in STEAM classes. They learned about how 3D printing is being used in the medical field. Mrs. Sainburg's grandson was born with a cleft lip and palate, and he visited as a special guest. Mayo Clinic provided information and let the students see the mold and NAM (like a retainer) that was made to help prepare Westen for surgery. The NAM closed his facial gap from 18 mm to 5 mm in just five weeks! Now, he has a nose piece that helps build cartilage on one side that matches the other side. Pray for little Westen's upcoming surgery scheduled for January 4.

The 2nd/3rd grade class had a little parade today! They handed out candy with personalized notes to other students while Christmas music was playing.

If not taken as a whole, the book of Ecclesiastes can seem a little confusing. At times its statements even sound unbiblical. However, the Qohelet—Hebrew for teacher or preacher— narrates the book and lays out his conclusions in a single speech. He tells of his search for the meaning of life. At the beginning, he concludes that life is a vanity, or meaningless. This is the theme of the book. However, throughout the book—and particularly at the end—the Qohelet asserts that we can cling to fearing God and obeying his commandments. He also maintains that food, drink, and work are gifts from God and we can find joy in them.

To help your students process Ecclesiastes, remind them of the fall in Genesis 3. We live in a fallen world, and at times life can be confusing and appear to be “unfair.” That’s a sentiment even the youngest child can understand. Without God, life truly is meaningless.

Song of Solomon is a love story. This book has been interpreted many different ways—at least five main interpretations exist.

--From our Bible Roadtrip Curriculum

Students are memorizing the following verses for the first week:

K-3 Students - Ecclesiastes 12:13

4-5 Students - Ecclesiastes 12:13, Ephesians 5:33

6-8 Students - Ecclesiastes 12:13, Ephesians 5:33, Romans 6:6-8

Ecclesiastes 12:13, "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

Reading this week included the following:

Ecclesiastes 1, 3:1-15, 5, 12, Song of Solomon 1, 6(K-3)

Ecclesiastes 1, 3, 5, 7, 11-12, Song of Solomon 1-2, 6, 8 (4-5)

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 5, 7-8, 9, 11-12, Song of Solomon 1-3, 5-6, 8 (6-8)

Questions to ponder:

1. What did the Qohelet (Hebrew for Preacher or Teacher) state is his quest in Ecclesiastes 1:13a? What conclusion did he reach?
   

2. When should you turn to God? (Ecclesiastes 12:1a)
   

3. Who is ultimately the author of Ecclesiastes? (Ecclesiastes 12:11)
   

4. How is a husband to view his wife? How likely is it that the shepherdess was truly the only perfect woman? Yet her husband (or fiancé) sees her that way! (Song of Solomon 6)
   

November 20-24, Thanksgiving Break

December 5, PTF Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

December 8, Christmas Caroling, 4 p.m.

December 14, Christmas Concert, 6 p.m.

December 19, Christmas Store

December 21, Christmas Parties