Good Shepherd
January 2025
Dear Good Shepherd Families,
Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! I hope this message finds you refreshed and ready for an exciting second semester. As we step into January, we reflect on the wonderful memories made during the first half of the school year and eagerly look forward to the opportunities ahead.
January is a time for fresh starts, renewed focus, and setting goals. Our dedicated staff is excited to continue fostering a love for learning and growth in every student. This month, we will be diving into engaging lessons, celebrating milestones, and encouraging kindness and collaboration throughout our school community.
Please mark your calendars for all upcoming dates and events. Additionally, the elementary school will be closed observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and at day camp and preschool we will have an opportunity to use this as a valuable time to reflect on the principles of equality, service, and community that guide us daily.
We are also excited to announce that the re-enrollment period for the 2025-2026 school year is just around the corner. As we continue our mission of providing high-quality Christian education in small class sizes with exceptional Texas-certified staff, we invite you to join us for another year of growth and success. Though our school may be small, the educational and spiritual foundation we build empowers your student(s) to START HERE and EXCEL ANYWHERE, creating a legacy of success and limitless possibilities.
As always, your partnership plays a crucial role in your child's education. Let’s continue working together to make this a successful and fulfilling year for all. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Wishing you and your family a joyful and productive January!
Warm regards,
Alysa
Chapel Happenings
Chapel Themes and Reminders
Remember, every Wednesday is Chapel, and we’re continuing our Hearts and Hands offerings! We encourage students to bring offerings each week. To make this a fun and positive experience, students can decorate their offering envelopes based on the weekly theme. While bringing an offering is not required, we hope everyone will join in the spirit of giving!
Below are the chapel themes for the month of January:
- Teaching and Healing (Jan 5th)
- The Beatitudes (Jan12th)
- Jesus teaches about anger/ Love your enemies (Jan 19th)
- A Storm (Jan 26th)
We can’t wait to see everyone’s creativity!
Project Curiosity
2024 was a fun year filled with new STEM experiences and fun challenges! Looking forward to 2025, Project Curiosity has many more exciting lessons covering topics in Engineering, the Animal Kingdom, Human Body systems, Coding/Robotics and Math!
Our mission at Project Curiosity is to inspire kids to explore STEM ideas through education, discovery and play. Preparing students for a technology driven future is our goal. The lessons presented teach the valuable skills for today's rapidly emerging technology trends. We are excited for 2025!
Safety and Security Taskforce Updates
School Board Updates
Our last School Board meeting was held on December 11th. We discussed the exciting Christmas activities planned as well as updates on our new security system. It's still in the works, but great progress is being made.
We've filled our Vice Chair vacancy with Mike Renck as well as appointing a new Treasurer, Mary Jo Creamer. They are both current Good Shepherd Church members. We are still working to fill a Parent Representative vacancy on our Board. The application deadline has been extended to January 10th. This position does not have to be a church member, but does have to be a parent with a child in the school or preschool. If you're interested in this role on the School Board, please complete the application at https://forms.gle/WZPnXa14pVGvCRNb8. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Angela at afritsch918@gmail.com.
We hope you are all enjoying the Christmas holiday season and look forward to seeing everyone back soon!
2025-2026 School Year Enrollment
Good Shepherd Elementary School Enrollment Opens February 1st
Enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year begins on February 1st! If you plan to enroll your child(ren) in the elementary school for the next school year, please complete the attached form. Hard copies of the form will also be sent home at the beginning of January for your convenience. We look forward to another great year ahead!
Little Sheep Learning Center
Tuition Increase
This is a friendly reminder that the tuition increase will go into effect starting this month. If you are already enrolled, your tuition will increase monthly until June. For those who have recently enrolled, your payments will reflect the new rate from the start. We understand that changes in tuition can be significant, and we want to ensure you have ample time to plan accordingly. If you have any questions or concerns about how this will impact your payments, please feel free to contact our office. We truly appreciate your understanding and continued support as we work to provide the best experience for your child. Thank you!
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
New Year, New Semester!
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful and refreshing holiday break. As we gear up for the second half of the school year, we’re excited to welcome everyone back to campus. A reminder that elementary school classes resume on January 8th, and we can’t wait to see all our students’ smiling faces. We’re looking forward to an amazing semester filled with growth, learning, and memorable experiences!
No school January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day but day camp will be offered
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School Scholarship Fund Initiative
At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School we believe that a Christ-centered education has the power to shape the hearts and minds of our children, preparing them to walk in faith, serve their community, and thrive academically. As a ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bastrop, we are committed to providing this opportunity to as many families as possible, regardless of financial circumstances.
However, we recognize that the cost of tuition can be a significant barrier for families who desire this type of education for their children. That’s why we are excited to announce the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School Scholarship Fund, a new initiative aimed at making Christian education accessible to all.
Our Mission
The purpose of the Good Shepherd Lutheran School Scholarship Fund is to provide tuition assistance to families who are unable to afford the full cost of attending our school. By alleviating some of the financial burdens associated with tuition and fees, we hope to open our doors wider to students of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and economic statuses. We believe that fostering a diverse and inclusive student body enriches our entire school community, allowing students to learn and grow in an environment that reflects God’s love for all people.
Why It Matters
At Good Shepherd Lutheran School, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a nurturing, faith-filled environment where they can grow spiritually, academically, and socially. A Christian education can make a lasting difference in a child's life, helping them build a strong foundation of faith and values that will carry them into adulthood.
The Scholarship Fund will enable families facing financial hardship to provide their children with the kind of education that not only teaches academic excellence but also shares the Good News of Jesus Christ each and every day. It will also promote greater diversity and inclusion in our student body, giving children from all walks of life the chance to grow in a loving, Christ-centered community.
How You Can Help
We invite you to partner with us in this meaningful mission. Your contributions to the Good Shepherd Lutheran School Scholarship Fund will help us extend the blessings of a Christian education to more children in our community. By making a donation, you are directly investing in the lives of young people and helping us cultivate future leaders rooted in faith and equipped with the knowledge to serve and succeed in the world.
Together, we can ensure that no child is turned away from the opportunity to attend Good Shepherd Lutheran School because of financial hardship. Whether you’re able to give a one-time gift or become a recurring donor, your generosity will have a lasting impact on our school and the children we serve.
Join Us in Our Mission
We are grateful for the support of our church family and the broader community as we strive to make Christian education at Good Shepherd Lutheran School available to all. Please prayerfully consider contributing to the Scholarship Fund and helping us share the love of Christ through education.
For more information on how to donate or apply for tuition assistance, please contact our school office at 512-988-1778 or email at headofschoool@goodshepherdbastrop.org.
In Christ's Service,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School
A Ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Bastrop, TX
PE and Athletics
We are thrilled to celebrate our push-up champions: Vivienne Damron, Zayden Tucker, Elijah Orellana, and Onyx Gould! A special shoutout to our amazing 1st graders for their impressive class scores, and a big round of applause to kindergarten stars Annabelle Ary and Mollie Brown for leading their class with the highest push-up counts. Way to go, Lions!
Looking ahead, our jump rope competition kicks off in January. We’ll begin practicing and tracking results for this exciting challenge, competing against participants from 28 states and 6 countries. Don’t forget to practice at home and during recess to get ready!
Children must wear tennis shoes on Wednesdays and Fridays. No flats, boots or sandals.
Art at a Glance
Dear Good Shepherd families,
2025 is here! This month we will continue to work on projects that are
inspired by the Winter season! In Art Club we will start preparing for the
February Art Walk, which is February 7
th
in downtown Bastrop. We have
been asked to design giant Valentines Day Hearts on a stick made from
foam! It’s going to be such a fun project. If your child is interested in
joining Art Club feel free to reach out to me, and I will add them to my
class!
Hattie Wesley
Art Teacher/Activity Coordinator
www.hwesleygsbastrop@gmail.comPlace Holder
Lion of the Month
Be on the lookout for our January Lion's of the Month when all the students are back in school. This months biblical trait is Courageous.
Keep and eye out in February's newsletter for our Lion's of the month who exhibit the trait of love.
Parent Teacher League Updates
Child Nutrition
Chef-prepared meal plan includes breakfast if here by 7:30am, lunch, and afternoon snack. If you do not take part in the meal plan, you will need to provide your child's meal daily. We are a peanut free facility. If you do not provide food, and are not enrolled in our meal plan, we will gladly serve your child food, for a $5.00 charge to your account.
Turning Bedtime into the Best Time
It’s a fact: kids need sleep, and lots of it! It’s important for parents to know why sleep—along with a good bedtime routine—is so essential for their kids’ health. Here are more facts about kids and sleep:
- Common sleep disorders affect about 50% of kids and 40% of teens.
- Toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep each day (including naps).
- Kids ages 5–11 years need 9 to 11 hours of bedtime sleep.
- Teens ages 12–18 years need 8 to 10 hours of bedtime sleep.
Every child is different, and that’s true for their sleep habits too. Some children fall asleep fast, while others may take 20 minutes or so. If your child takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep you might try a later bedtime or set a consistent nightly routine to help her (or him) get to sleep faster.
Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
How can you help your children get the quality sleep they need? Here are ways to tackle bedtime challenges and create a nightly routine.
1. Don't make bedtime a battleground.
Have a consistent bedtime routine.
Many parents have a nightly routine with infants and toddlers, but it becomes more challenging as kids get older. Having more extracurricular activities can make it harder to stick to a nightly routine. For younger kids, a nightly routine can be a structured time to wind down that includes three or four tasks done in the same order each night such as taking a bath, brushing teeth, getting tucked in, and reading their favorite book. Teens’ bedtime routine will likely be less structured. A good nightly routine could consist of taking a shower, brushing teeth, and spending quiet time alone in their room until their regularly scheduled time to turn off all electronics and lights.
Be consistent with a sleep schedule.
Set times for your child getting up and going to bed. If possible, stick to this bedtime schedule on weekends, too.
Be clear and consistent with expectations and consequences around nightly routines.
Don’t fall for stall tactics like your child getting out of bed to grab one more drink of water or finding toys or books in their room to distract them from turning out the lights. For teens, be clear on rules for turning off their phone or computer at a certain time each night. If they break the rule or you catch them sneaking one last look on their phone, limiting their screen time the next day or taking away their phone will show them you’re serious about bedtime rules.
2. Help your child stay in bed.
If your kid consistently leaves her bed or calls for you, first make sure he’s okay, then try these tips:
- Once your child goes to bed, sit outside the bedroom door so you can immediately address the issue if he tries to get back up. Remind your child that it’s time to sleep and not wander around the house. Repeat this process several times to reinforce the behavior you want. It may take several tries but remaining consistent and calm will help you win the bedtime tug-of-war.
- The next morning, praise your child when she has stayed in bed. Let him know she’s doing a great job and that you’re proud of her.
3. Deal with nighttime fears.
If your child is afraid of the dark, reassure her by checking closets and looking under the bed at bedtime. If she’s afraid of something specific like a monster, you can get creative and have “monster spray” on hand—a spray water bottle that you mist around the room to “ward off” monsters. Try keeping the moment lighthearted, praise your child for being brave, and reassure her there’s nothing to fear.
You can also ease bedtime fears by spending quality time while she’s tucked in bed. Asking about her day, reading a favorite book, or telling a funny story are all great ways to relax your child and take her mind off anything scary.
4. Practice good habits to help everyone fall—and stay—asleep.
Avoid caffeine or sugar in the late afternoon or evening.
Make sure you keep healthy snacks on hand to limit sugar and caffeine, especially late in the day. This may be harder as your kids get older and have more independence. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children under age 12 should not eat or drink any caffeine-containing foods or drinks.
Have early dinner.
Eating too late can cause kids to be more alert and have difficulty falling asleep.
Give kids outside playtime!
Daily activity and sunlight help kids’ bodies produce melatonin, which is a natural sleep aid. If the weather is nice, encourage your kids to play outside until it’s time for dinner instead of playing video games inside the house.
Make sure your child’s bedroom is quiet.
Some kids may enjoy a soothing noise to listen to at bedtime. Sound machines can be a great option to help some children fall and stay asleep—and maybe even a way to help keep monsters away!
Turn off electronics an hour before bedtime.
Blue light—which is the light on most phone and computer screens—tricks the brain into thinking it’s daytime, making it harder to fall asleep. Teens are even more sensitive to blue lights than adults.
For more information visit: Raise a More Confident Child – Kids – Development - GetParentingTips.com
2024-2025 Academic Calendar
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Thank you, Parents, for your support!
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
Email: headofschool@goodshepherdbastrop.org
Website: goodshepherdbastrop.org
Location: 202 State Highway 71, Bastrop, TX, USA
Phone: 512-988-1778