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News from Grace School |
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Thanks to all who made the walkathon a success
Grace students had a fine day at Thursday's Walk for Grace walkathon. It was a bit chilly, but it didn't rain. They raised more than $11,000 for the school (and donations are still coming in). Congratulations to fourth grader Cy Kehrein, who was the top fundraiser with more that $1100 from 32 donations.
More than fifty percent of students brought in donations for the walkathon from more than 400 donors. Plus we filled a dozen wages with donations collected from River Forest residents for the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. Kristi Braun, the Food Pantry's Community Program Manager, picked up the donations and talked with the students about the organization.
The Nierman family – Harry (1st) grade, Henry (6th), and Ella (7th – won the raffle prize, a Chuck E Cheese Family Pass and an iPad. Students enjoyed a hot dog lunch in Priory Park, followed by the presentation of prizes and class games.
Thank you to all the teachers, students, parent volunteers and donors who made this day possible.
Fifth and sixth graders create a stained glass cross for Lent
“Our building should reflect the season of Lent,” suggested Margaret Kruse one March day more than a year ago. And so began a 
conversation about re-creating a “stained glass” cross, based on Lenten symbols, on the glass block windows in the southwest stairwell of the school.
Ms. Kruse referenced a book authored by former Grace teacher Elfriede Miller. This photo served as the inspiration, and Grace teachers Laura Clauss and Ruth Massmann figured out the details. In their religion classes, fifth and sixth grade students discussed symbols of Lent and then created square “windows” of these symbols using black construction paper and brightly colored tissue paper. Their individual works of art are displayed on the glass blocks to form a cross. 
Take a walk back to the southwest corner of the building, to the stairs between the junior high and first grade classrooms, to see the cross. In the individual squares, you’ll see Lenten symbols such as the cup, loaves of bread, nails, robe, palm branches, grapes, spear and praying hands.
The cross will be displayed through Good Friday.
Grace School students visit Phil's Friends for a service project
Grace School students celebrated Lutheran Schools Week, Jan. 27 through Feb. 3, with funny dress-up days, visits from grandparents, a science fair and other special activities.
Students in grades 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 traveled to the headquarters of Phil's Friends in Roselle, Illinois, for a service project. Grades 3 and 4 will make the trek next week.
Phil's Friends supports cancer patients with faith-based cards and messages and a backpack of special items. Earlier this year, the students collected chapel offerings for the organization, totaling $1600. During their visit to the organization, they helped to assemble care packages that will be sent to children and adults undergoing treatment for cancer.
Go to the photo gallery to see more photos.
“It’s just not Christmas until the Bell Choir comes to visit.”
Each year, the School Bell Choir puts on their Santa hats, packs up the bus, and heads out to ring concerts at Bethesda Lutheran Home in Chicago and at Altenheim Senior Living in Forest Park. It's a lot of work, but it’s worth it. When the School Bell Choir travels, they see firsthand the impact they can have on the individuals who attend. And the students returned to school ready to give a concert for the student body and guests from Concordia’s Early Childhood Center.
It takes more time to load and unload the bus than it does to ring our concerts. Before the bell choir set off on their mini-tour this year, our four senior ringers met together and organized the group. Each ringer was assigned a job: "you guys carry the tables, you take the mallet box, you’ve got bell case number three, you’re in charge of chime case number six… Check!" Ringing away from their usual rehearsal and performance space at Grace tests the group’s focus and adaptability, and builds confidence.
Bethesda provides a lovely, sunny room for us to ring. The patients are brought in as we rehearse and clap as loudly for our practice as they do for the performance.
Altenheim has a beautiful new gathering space where our “regulars” anxiously awaited our arrival. Residents applaud enthusiastically and have plenty of questions for the ringers. They enjoy when the students leave their bell tables at the end of each concert and let the members of the audience see and handle the bells and chimes. For their part, the students appreciated the cookies and juice the residents prepared for them. Some audience members tell us that they don’t know what’s more impressive – the musical concert, or watching twenty-two ringers pack up all of the tables, stands, bell cases, foam pads, and equipment in record time. One gentleman told us that he was new to Altenheim, but his neighbor had told him not to miss the bell concert. “It’s just not Christmas until the Bell Choir comes to visit,” she told him.
As the Bell Choir was leaving, one Altenheim resident leaned over to a small group of young ringers and said, “It wasn’t very good this year.” As puzzled looks stole over the faces of the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade ringers, she continued, “It was great!”
Junior high girls take second in Walther basketball tournament
The 7-8 girls basketball team took second place in the Walther Junior High Girls Basketball tournament on November 17-18. 
In the opening round Grace defeated St. James, Chicago, 30 – 25 with Kara Cozette and Gigi Andreoli leading the way with 11 points each. In Grace’s second round game Gigi Andreoli led the way again with 10 points as Grace defeated Immanuel, Elmhurst, 23 – 10.
In a very intense and hard-fought championship game Grace lost to defending state champions Immanuel, Palatine, 28 - 10, with Fiona Renteria and Ella Niermann leading the scoring for Grace with 3 points each.
The team is coached by Brian Schultz, junior high math and science teacher.
Grace students compete in "Write It, Do It"
On October 29, 26 Grace students in grades 5-7 participated in a “Write It, Do It” science competition at Walther Lutheran High School. One member of each team was taken to a different room and given 25 minutes to look at a model and write directions, instructing teammates on how to put the model together. The directions were then given to the rest of the team to use to assemble the model. Each team received a score based on how their model compared to the original model.
Four Lutheran schools from the area participated and participants were divided into teams of two to three students each. Grace students made up 9 of the 20 teams participating and took 4 of the top 5 places. First place went to the team of Natalie Roder (7th grade), Cayla Weaver (6th grade), and Madeleine Koetke (5th grade). 2nd place went to the team of Jake Van Santen (5), Miriam Clapp (5), and Ryan Doyle (6). This team finished with the same score, but took about two minutes longer to complete their model. Fourth place went to the team of Henry Niermann (6), Isaiah Curry (6), and Kyle Becerra (5). Fifth place went to Alex Tzeng (6), BJ Harris (6), and Kersten Brayton (6). Each of these teams will receive a certificate at an awards ceremony in March.
Eighth graders dissect sheep hearts
The 8th grade students recently dissected sheep hearts in science class. The students were studying the cardiovascular system, and the dissection of sheep hearts helped the students apply their book knowledge to an actual organ. While dissecting, students were required to locate and label the four chambers of the heart as well as the veins and arteries that bring blood to and from the heart.
This lab has helped to prepare the 8th grade students for their field trip to Gift of Hope a company specializing in organ and tissue donation. The students were able to go into the field trip with a strong knowledge of the relationship between the body systems and how a organ or tissue transplant affects numerous systems.
Students READ together at Grace
The R.E.A.D (Read Everything And Dream) program at Grace School supports the classroom reading curriculum by encouraging students in grades 1-4 to simply enjoy reading. Every student participates. The school provides each student with a book to read at home. After the book is read, parent volunteers and classroom teachers host a reading workshop at Grace where the children participate in a variety of activities during the school day related to the selected book’s themes.
On Thursday, October 25, the first and second graders worked together as a unit and all participated in a variety of activities related to the government and community theme. Students discussed one of four books, created election posters and buttons, made a flag snack and even voted for one of the four book characters as President. Although it was a close election, Amelia Bedelia was the winner.
Later that morning, the third and fourth graders worked together on an author study of Beverly Cleary in honor of her 96th birthday. The students had read some of her classic novels including "Runaway Ralph," "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," and "Beezus and Ramona" and Fellowship Hall was filled with much excitement. Students created a setting for Ralph’s next adventure, made maps of Ramona’s neighborhood, wrote letters to the author and even decorated cupcakes for Mrs. Cleary’s birthday.
The R.E.A.D. program meets again in the Spring.
Imuka singers bring African song and dance to chapel at Grace School
The Imuka Singers, a group of 30 musicians from East Africa, shared their music, drumming and dance at the Grace School chapel service on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Imuka uses the energy and passion of music to encourage East African people to work together to fulfill their vision of self-sustaining economic development in their communities. "Driven by passion, powered by hope," the choir now touring the U. S. is made up of highly talented musicians and dancers representing a dozen community groups from the northwestern shores of Lake Victoria.
Oliver Maciak places at national LSA cross-country meet
Oliver Maciak, eighth grader at Grace School, placed 8th in the Lutheran Sports Association National Cross Country Tournament on Saturday, October 20, at Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin. Oliver finished in 5th place at the state meet on October 13. Lennart Virzi, another eighth grader, also qualified for the national meet after finishing 24th at state. Students from grades four through eight compete on the cross country team, which is coached by Rich Brooks.
Chapel offerings support the cancer ministry of Phil's Friends
Grace School students attend chapel together every week on Wednesday morning. Chapel offerings are designated for specific benevolences during the school year, and students learn about Christians' responses to the needs of other people, close to home and around the world.
The September and October offerings are being sent to Phil's Friends, a ministry begun by former Lutheran school teacher Phil Zielke. On Wednesday, September 7, Mr. Zielke visited Grace to tell students about his own experience with cancer and how he now helps others.
Phil Zielke was diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin's lymphoma in April of 2004. After aggressive chemotherapy he was able to begin his first year of teaching in September of that year. But the cancer came back the next spring and he received more chemo, radiation and a successful stem-cell transplant. During his treatment he began to think about how he could serve others who were suffering with cancer.
During Phil's fight with cancer he was blessed with an awesome support system--prayers, concern, thoughtfulness, and assistance from the Christian community. The organization he founded, Phil's Friends, now provides care packages, cards, and support to others undergoing cancer treatment.
His chapel presentation included unpacking a care package, a back pack filled with everything from a Bible and a blank journal to Chap Stick, Uno cards, and an extra-soft toothbrush. The line of students holding single items from the care package stretched across the front of the church, Phil and his friends have thought of everything.
Grace School students are now focusing their efforts on contributing enough money each week to provide five care packages (at $25 each) for individuals battling cancer. They're tracking their progress on the bulletin board at the stair landing by the junior high classrooms.
Visit Phil's Friends on the web to learn more.
