Dear ACS Families,
Wednesday I was visiting with the students in my Bible class about the holiday season. Many of them remarked that “Christmas just didn’t feel like Christmas this year”. So we examined what things made Christmas, Christmas. Here are the things they came up with:
T Holiday decorations – decorating a tree and making the house look different for the season.
T A special meal on Christmas Day
T Doing something special on Christmas – whether it is visiting the relatives or spending family time together doing something extra fun.
T Snow (can’t do much about this one).
T Going to church on Christmas Eve and/or reading the Christmas story.
T Having all of your family together. This was very important.
The students reflected that this year the holiday season seemed busier, and that some of the above traditions were neglected, which made Christmas not feel right. Interestingly, not a single student mentioned gifts as something positive or negative to the Christmas experience. What I deduced from this discussion was that traditions were very important to the students. As a parent I understand that all of those traditions take valuable time but from the students’ perspective it was those very things that made the Christmas holiday special.
I too was having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I made a point of attending a Christmas Eve service, and it made all the difference to me. Taking the time to quiet my mind and let the Holy Spirit infuse my heart with awe once again, how God became flesh and dwelled among us. As we put away the Christmas decorations this year, let us make a resolution to remember to keep Christmas special for our children and ourselves and never let it become – just another day.
Teacher Meeting – Monday, Jan. 7 immediately following school.
Book Mobile books – The last few months the students have enjoyed having the book mobile come to school and getting to check out books. Students K – 5, keep their books in their classrooms but 6 – 12 are allowed to take them home. The difficult part of this system is that all of the books are checked out to ACS and there is no record of what student takes what book. We will rectify that in the future. We are missing a few books since Nov. If we do not find them the school will need to purchase them. The book mobile comes the last Friday of the month. Please ask your child to bring the books they checked out in Nov. to the office by Monday Jan. 21.
Missing books:
The Europa Conspiracy – Tim LaHaye
Wait till Helen Comes: A ghost story – May Downing Hahn
The Mystery of Cabin Island – Franklin W. Dixon
Student Council Carnival – Mark your calendars! The annual carnival is right around the corner. Fun and prizes for everyone! Friends are welcome. The Pie-In-The-Face competition will begin on Monday. So bring in your spare change to put money on a friend or favorite teacher to get a pie in the face.
ACS Scholarship – The school board will be offering a scholarship for the coming second semester. Parents interested in applying for the scholarship please pick up an application in the office.
Sewing Machines Needed – The Life Skills class (juniors & seniors) need to borrow a few sewing machines for approximately two weeks. If you have a sewing machine you are willing to lend the school please contact Paula Crosier at 826-3747.
Choir – Instrumental Influence is starting up a choir for homeschool students and ACS was invited to join. An informational meeting will be held at Instrumental Influence on Tues. Jan. 22 at 9:00 am. The choir will meet on Thursday mornings from 9:30 – 10:45 for ages 7 – 12 and 11:00 – 12:15 for ages 13 – 18. There will be a performance on April 27 at Cornerstone Church. For further information call 827-3004.
Concession Stand Workers – The list of workers for the concession stand for the basketball season went home with the students Friday. If you can not make your scheduled work time please do your best to change with another parent. Gay Otten from the office will be calling to remind you a couple days in advance from your work time.
Report Cards – Second quarter (first semester) will be ending Jan. 9. Report cards will go out Jan. 14.
Science Projects – Science projects will be on display throughout the week. Parents are invited to come to the AWANA room and see them on display.
Boxtops for Education – We just received a check the other day for $191.20 from Boxtops and it reminded me to remind all of you about the small fund raisers that are ongoing at ACS. We are still taking cell phones, collecting Boxtops for Education, and Student Council is taking aluminum cans. Every little bit helps!
Yours In Christ,
Pamela Young