LOVE LIVES HERE !

What's Happening . . .

ALUMNI NEWS FLASH:

The second electronic e-newsletter, TALES OF THE TIGER, was published and sent to those alumni who had previously registered at sptigers@bellsouth.net.  If you are an alumnus and want to be added to the list please e-mail the school your information!

School year 2010-2011

We look forward to beginning our 170th consecutive school year on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010.  As the school year progresses, check in on this web-page to see "what we've been up to" . . . in words and pictures.  So, stay tuned, but in the meantime, check out what happened in:

School year 2009-2010

We started our 169th consecutive school year with an opening chapel service on August 12th, under the school theme 'Love Lives Here'! Over 200 students, their families, and school staff lifted their voices in song and prayer, asking God to bless the education of His children at St. Paul Lutheran School.  We looked forward to another exciting year of innovation and progress as we seek to educate our students about God's Word and God's world!

As hard as it was for the students and staff to comprehend, the middle of the first quarter already came in the middle of September. . . and it was time to share students' progress with our parents and guardians on Friday, September 18th.  This has been an annual procedure at St. Paul Lutheran School.  We believe that by sharing "the good, the bad, and the ugly" at mid-term, we can encourage our students to continue their good efforts and progress and to make any necessary improvements. 

The next 'big event' in September was our annual Outdoor Education Experience for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Fountainebleau State Park.  Thirty-five students traveled to Mandeville to learn more about plantation owner Bernard Marigny de Mandeville and the land that he used as his sugar plantation.  Students hiked around the old sugar mill ruins, and down to the remaining plantation oak allee to search for pottery shards from the 1800's.  (And they found some!)  They also took a nature hike through the woods to Fountainebleau's swamp area for wildlife observing, had a pizza lunch, watched a wood carving demonstration, and listened to stories by a native indian as he made a flint arrowhead for the winner of his 'question of the day'. One of the fun highlights was an activity with newspapers.  Five different teams decorated the teachers in assigned sports 'costumes', complete with their proper newspaper sports equipment.  

In early October the fourth and fifth graders traveled to Atonement Lutheran School in Metairie for an inspirational presentation by Miss America, Katie Stam.  She is a graduate of Lutheran Schools and a strong advocate for Christian education.  She urged our students to have big dreams, to set goals to reach those dreams, and to center their lives on Jesus Christ and his love.  Miss America was kind enough to pose with our group following her talk.  The picture is posted below.

The Reverend Cliff Hellmers, retired pastor from Birmingham, AL, came to St. Paul in October to give a slide presentation on Uganda.  The students of St. Paul Lutheran had been collecting t-shirts to send back with Pastor Hellmers when he returned to Uganda on his next mission trip.  We donated so many shirts that he declared it will take two trips to deliver them all! 

On Friday, October 30th, we celebrated with our annual Halloween Event.  Despite the threat of rain we had a record number of parents and students show up to feast on snack bar foods and to enjoy the complimentary games.  JoJo the Magician closed the evening with some fun 'fool the eye' tricks and treats.  All profits from the snack bar were combined with the proceeds from our 'Hats On Day' and sent to the Foundation for Children With Cancer. 

Our annual Special Person's Day was held on November 20th.  Parents, neighbors, friends, and other relatives were invited to spend the morning at St. Paul.  After a light breakfast, the parents listened to a presentation on student motivation by our Catapult Learning Representative, Althea Johnson.  Chuck Schiller also talked about the '5 P's' of Praise - Private, Public, Prompt, Persistent, and "On-Paper".  Afterward the 'special people' went to the classrooms for 'special activities'!  Our morning finished in the church with several special presentations from Early School, First Grade, and Fourth Grade, as well as a mini-concert from our 3rd and 4th grade recorder classes and our beginning and advanced bands.  A closing Thanksgiving chapel service led by Pastor Kevin Kieschnick closed the morning!

Our annual school support dinner/auction was held on Saturday, December 5th.  Over 150 'friends of the school' gathering for a meal catered by Bywater Restaurant and to bid on hundreds of silent and verbal auction items.  Everything from an HDTV, gold jewelry, a Wii game, original art, and handcrafted items went 'on the block'.  All profits went to our school support tuition fund to provide scholarship money for families who would otherwise be unable to afford to send their child to St. Paul. 

The first semester ended  at Christmas break, and the students looked forward to seeing their second quarter grades in early January.  (Or not!) 

One of January's highlights was the annual 'St. Paul Lutheran School Night at the Hornets' basketball game.  Five of our Junior High students were selected to stand in front of the Hornets' players during the invocation and the national anthem prior to the start of the game.  Unfortunately, Chicago won... It was a fun night of cheering anyway!

As part of our fund raising activities in January, we sent $100 to the Foundation for Children with Cancer from our 'Hats On Day', $100 to Haitian Earthquake Relief from our Saint's "out-of-uniform" Black & Gold Day, and $1,500 to Wheat Ridge Ministries' 'Giving Gardens' program which provides seeds to third world countries including Haiti.  Our second semester weekly chapel funds were donated to the two cities in Uganda where we sent our t-shirts via Rev. Clifford Hellmers.  They will buy 60 pigs for the citizens to raise in modern 'piggeries' since we raised $1,500 for the project!

Our 7th and 8th grade 'senior' basketball team wound up their regular season by playing in Lutheran High School's annual basketball tournament in early February.  One of their games went to double overtime, and the St. Paul TIGERS came in 3rd place overall!  Congratulations to both our junior and senior teams as well as their coaches, Mr. Schultz and Mr. Petit.

In February St. Paul held their annual African American Bowl as part of their celebration of African American month activities.  Students in grades five through eight competed in their classroom competitions in order to qualify for their spot in the school wide competition.  Congratulations go to sisters, Layne and Renni Kieschnick, and to Maya Lewis for winning the top three spots this year!

National Lutheran Schools Week was celebrated the second week of March with special field trips.  The kindergarten through fourth grade traveled to Atonement Lutheran School in Metairie to help other schools pack boxes for 'Operation Shoebox' which sends needed supplies to our soldiers around the world.  The fifth through eighth grades went to City Park for their service project.  Some spent several hours mulching trails, some were picking up litter, and others spent their time "choppin" bamboo.  Both groups were treated to a Christian juggling performance by the famous Fitz Family before they ate their well deserved lunches and returned to school.  Did you know that there are almost 2,500 Lutheran schools across the United States?  Did you know that there are over a quarter of a million students enrolled in those schools?  After the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church operates the largest system of parochial schools in the whole country.  The month of March also brought Lutheran High School's Elementary Academic Rally, an event many of our students look forward to each spring.

The second official parent-teacher conferences were held in mid March.  St. Paul tries to be especially good at keeping parents informed of their children's progress.  This also includes weekly 'test slips' and mid-quarter interim progress reports.  We also welcome parents visits any time during the school day and all teachers hold private conferences with parents throughout the school year, as needed.

With the month of April came our annual St. Jude Children's Hospital 'Math-a-thon'.  We were able to send $1,500 this year thanks to the dedicated students at St. Paul who did math problems and collected their pledge monies. April also brought our second Outdoor Education Experience.  Our junior high students went to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.  'Ranger Ami' introduced the park via a viewing of the Visitor's Center film and then took our group 'dip-netting' in the swamp.  After lunch they explored Bayou Barataria's 'Coquille Trail' and observed a number of alligators and other wildlife.  Our Title I Catapult Learning teacher, Donnie Hutcherson, also arranged special motivational speakers after each of our Wednesday weekly chapel services in April. 

Along with the proverbial "May flowers" came our annual area Lutheran Schools Track Meet, hosted by Concordia Lutheran School on the West Bank.  We were especially proud of our track meet participants this year.  They worked hard after school during the month of April to be able to represent us well.  Our free P.T.L. hot dog supper and annual spelling bee were held on Friday, May 7th.  Our guests were treated to the annual 'St. Paul Art Gallery', an assemblage of art projects done by all of the students at St. Paul throughout the school year.  Junior High Outdoor Education Experience number three was a cruise on the Creole Queen to Chalmette Battlefield for a tour... and then a return to Spanish Plaza.  We had a great day for a cruise!  Annual IOWA Basic Achievement Testing was also done in May for students in grades one through eight.  Eighth graders were counting the days until May 27th and their graduation from St. Paul and their subsequent entry into the world of 'High School'! 

Our school year ended with our annual Award's Day on Friday, May 28th.  Parents, neighbors, relatives, and friends joined us for our closing chapel service, a short band and recorder concert by our students, and the presentation of certificates and various awards!

If you have friends, neighbors, or relatives who may still be looking for a quality Christian education for their children, please have them contact me at the school office and we can arrange a personal tour.

Blessings,

Chuck Schiller

                     St. Paul Lutheran Church

Morning Opening                                                                                                                                               Every school day at St. Paul Lutheran School starts with morning devotions, prayer, and pledges in the courtyard with all classes from Early School to Eighth Grade.

PICTURES from OUTDOOR EDUCATION at Fountainebleau State Park

Mr. Schultz and Mrs. Ragas are feeling fresh and ready to go before our 'history hike'!

'Our Group' in front of 'the old oak tree'...at the site of the original plantation buildings.  We found pottery shards from the 1800's!

'Ranger Steve' helps focus on a wild heron at Fountainebleau's swamp area.

The staff are all dressed up by their group for 'their' sports.  Mrs. Ragas is ready for a game of tennis, and Miss Koester is dressed for her hockey match.  Mr. Schultz is ready for L.S.U.'s football team.  Mr. Schiller is going to play in the World Series, and Mrs. Acosta has joined the National Basketball League.  Oh, my...

Miss America, Katie Stam, poses with our fourth and fifth graders.                                  

Gee,I wonder why Mr. Schiller, Mr. Guidry, and Mr. Schultz look so happy to be there. . .!

Second grade shares their 'pinwheels for peace'.

School Board member, Gordon Linge, often shares his African drums during after school Extended Day Care.

Mr. John Price, from the Insta-Gator alligator ranch

show off one of his 'gators' to the primary grades.

This 'gator' is only nine inches long, but our kindergarteners are impressed!

Our Early School "makes a joyful noise" with Mrs. Turner!

Ask the sixth graders about their 'bird beak' ecology exercise!

Check out the "Scary Creatures" at our 2009 Halloween Event

Trick or Treat!

Our Cafeteria was again transformed for this year's 2008 Annual School Support Dinner Auction!  We were able to raise just over $10,000 for tuition scholarships for families with economic needs this school year.  

The verbal items are always displayed on the stage to allow for a thorough preview by the guests before the auction begins!  Things like original artwork, three signed SAINTS footballs, a Wii console and game, and themed baskets of goodies assembled by the different grades were among the many items auctioned off on December 5th.  Next year's auction is already scheduled for Saturday, December 4th, 2010.  SAVE THE DATE!

St. Paul Lutheran School Night at the New Orleans' HORNETS' "Hive".

The Early School visits Mr. Schiller's office with their new hats.

Our faculty enjoyed their summer first aid training...  Mr. Guidry was all tied up! (Did Mrs. Acosta and Mrs. Ragas enjoy it TOO much, Roland???)

A "terrible" accident has befallen Mrs. Acosta at first aid training, but she seems to be in good hands!

The sixth graders try their hand at 'engineering' bridges for science class.

How did the bridge come out?

Our Early Schoolers get into the 'rhythm' of the school day...

Mr. Schultz's junior team after a hard fought game at Atonement Lutheran School.

Each day starts with an opening devotion in the school courtyard.