Applewood Christian School

     I was reminded of something this weekend - the importance of prayer.  I just spent three days in Omaha, Nebraska at the Christian Home School regional basketball tournament.  After both the girls and the boys lost their first game on Thursday evening and I was dealing with the disappointment my daughter was feeling, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I had not been praying for this event.  Even though winning the tournament was extremely important to my daughter, I had failed to pray for their success or their safety, focusing instead on praying for the Costa Rica mission trip. 
     Later when we were transporting the students going to Costa Rica from the tournament to the hotel in St. Louis, one of the vans stopped working.  After the group prayed for the vehicle, it was able to be started up again. 
     Does your busyness get in the way of your prayer time?  John Wesley explains the correlation between busyness and prayer this way.  “I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.”  We need to remember that no matter how busy our life is, that prayer is essential for every success, be it a basketball game, a mission trip, or the completion of our day.  Prayer should be an action we undertake each day to prepare us for the next day not a reaction to the events in our lives.
     Writer Chip Brogden explained the importance of prayer this way:  “If God will do whatever He wishes, regardless of whether we pray or not, then we do not need to pray at all, and the Lord's instructions on praying for the Kingdom and the Will are superfluous. But the truth is that God waits for a Remnant to rise up and to pray in agreement with His Purpose before He does anything - He will do nothing apart from the Church. Apart from HIM, we CAN do nothing; apart from US, He WILL do nothing.”

In Christ,
Mrs. Young

Announcements:
Pancake Breakfast on Sat, April 10th, 8am-10am at Applebee's to raise funds for the Boston trip.  Tickets are $5 a piece and can be purchased in the office. 

All orders for sports pictures need to be in by this Friday, March 12th.

The Bookmobile will be coming to ACS on Friday March 26 from 1:50 to 2:50 this month.  Grades 7-12 need to bring their books in NO LATER than Wednesday, March 24 so they can be checked in as they will not be in school that day. 

April 10th at 6pm the Student Council will be hosting a Parent Appreciation Dinner in honor of our parents and all that they do for us throughout the year!  It will be an evening of dinner and games.  Child care is provided.

End of the quarter is March 8th.

Spring Sports (Basketball) awards night – March 18 at 6pm.  This is for players, coaches, parents, and fans of JH, JV, & Varsity basketball teams.  Each family is asked to bring a dessert to share. 

MAACS field trips – Elementary students (gr. 3 – 6) will be attending on March 19 while grades 7 – 12 remain at ACS for a normal school day.  Grades K – 2 will be off on their own field trip to Columbia.  High School students (gr. 7 – 12) will be attending on March 26 while grades K – 6 will be in school as normal.  Parents interested in chaperoning either trip, are asked to call the office this week.

Elementary field trip – March 19.  Students will be going to Going Bonkers in Columbia.  They will need $2.50 for admission.  A permission slip will be going home this week.

Iowa Basic Testing – March 29 – 31.  For students in all grades except seniors! 
 
Changes to the school calendar:
 Last day of school has been changed to Thursday, May 13.  We will be going to the St. Louis Zoo as a group.
 Graduation for Class of 2010 on May 8th has been moved to 2:00pm.

Great Escape for grades 9 & 10 is going to be March 20th.  Plans are in the works to go to Silver Dollar City.  Cost will be around $39.00.  Chaperones are needed, please call Mrs. Porter at 660-438-6165.

Prayer & Praise:
Continued prayer for the mission team in Costa Rica; for the high school students and adults going to St. Louis; and for the 3 students staying behind to work on the ACS yearbook.  Keep your bracelets on!

Congratulations to the Varsity Boys Basketball team who took third place in the tournament and the Varsity Girls Basketball team that ended up in 6th place.  Thanks to the coaches for their dedication and time.  We had a very successful season!

Needs:

Chaperones needed for Elementary and High School MAACS field trips.  Please call the office or Mrs. Bergman.

Chaperones/drivers needed for the K – 2 field trip to Columbia on March 19.  Please call Mrs. Mindy Rehmer.

Mark Your Calendar:
March 8 – 15            Mission trip to Costa Rica
March 11 & 12          Mission trip to St. Louis
March 18                  Bible Quiz team Competition
April 10                    Parent Appreciation Dinner
April 1 – 6                Easter Break
April 9                      School Easter Egg hunt                                                                      
April 10                    Parent Appreciation Dinner
April 18                    Senior/Junior Prom
April 30 & May 1      Big Bad Musical

Announcements:

MAACS Academic Testing times for Tuesday, February 23rd. This is testing ONLY for students that have signed up to test in a certain subject for their participation in the MAACS competition.  If your student is not sure which subject they are taking a test for they can call Mrs. Bergman.  All testing, all grades will be in the ROC.  
             9:00-10:00 am will be all MATH TESTS
             10:00-11:00 am will be all ENGLISH (GRAMMAR) TESTS
             11:00-11:30 Lunch Break
             1:30-12:30 pm will be all SPANISH, SCIENCE, SPELLING, & CREATIVE WRITING TESTS
             12:30-1:30 pm will be all HISTORY AND BIBLE TESTS
Each student needs to bring the following:  two #2 pencils, water bottles, and a book to read or homework so that they have something to do while they wait.  Since this was an optional choice, there is no alteration to their homework load.

Thursday, Feb. 25 is a fund raiser for the mission team at Long John Silvers.  ACS families must have the yellow coupon we sent home or the ad from Wednesday’s paper for ACS to receive 20% from your purchase.

Bible Quiz team is going to Tri-City Christian School for a practice session on Thursday, Feb. 25.  An email with complete directions went out yesterday to the members home emails.  For further questions call Debbie Cormican 826-0184. 

Soup and Chili lunch at the ROC on Sunday, Feb. 28th at noon.  Come on out after church and have a bowl of soup or chili and a dessert.  All donations will benefit the Costa Rica team.

Great Escape for grades 9 & 10 is going to be March 20th.  Plans are in the works to go to Silver Dollar City.  Cost will be around $39.00.  Chaperones are needed, please call Mrs. Porter at 660-438-6165.
 
Mark Your Calendar:
March 4 – 6   Varsity Basketball Tournament
March 8 – 15 Mission trip to Costa Rica
March 11 & 12  Mission trip to St. Louis
March 18  Bible Quiz team Competition
March 19  Field trip for grades K - 2
March 19  Elementary MAACS field trip (grades 3 – 6) 
March 26  High school MAACS field trip (grades 7 – 12)                                                    
April 10    Parent Appreciation Dinner

Hello Parents,
There is never any question of what is the next holiday coming up, one merely needs to go to Wal-Mart and travel down the aisle set aside for holiday items.  Valentine’s Day is around the corner.  Now this is one holiday I cannot forget, as God gifted me with a very special Valentine’s Day present eighteen years ago in my youngest daughter Hannah.

The origin of St. Valentine is still a mystery and is surrounded by legend.   To the best of our knowledge, Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II around 269AD. He was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome.  Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon he was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs, stoned, and then beheaded.  One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

Whatever the true nature of the story, St. Valentine reminds us that this day is set apart to remember those we love.  One of the students asked me last week if they “had to give Valentine’s cards”.  The giving of cards or gifts should always be a choice, never an obligation. I challenged the students to let this holiday be a time where they tell their teachers and friends that they care about them.  There has got to be someone at ACS that makes your day better just by being a part of it.  Make sure you tell that person how much they mean to you whether it is with a card, a picture you have drawn, or just a word and a smile.

“This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:17

With gratitude & love for all of you,
Mrs. Young

Announcements:
School wide Valentine’s Party – This Thursday, Feb. 11 from 1:00 – 3:00pm at Jester’s Bowling alley on Hwy 65 south of Lincoln.  Cost is $2.50/student for bowling, all other games are additional.  Siblings, friends, and of course parents are welcome to attend.  We are asking that each family bring a snack to share.  Students with last names beginning with A - M; please bring a sweet snack to share.  Those with last names beginning with N - Z, please bring a healthy snack.  Parents, please contact Mrs. Young if your student is unable to attend. Students will only have math and reading homework so that they can go to the party.

Send a friend a lollipop for Valentine’s Day!  The students going on the Boston Field Trip will be selling lollipops to be delivered on Friday, Feb. 12th.  The lollipops will sell for $1.00 each.  Be sure to write a special message for us to attach.  Orders will be taken during Opening and lunch this Monday and Wednesday or see one of the 8th graders.  Parents can call in their order and send money into the office.

Valentine’s Cards – On Friday, Feb. 12th the students will be exchanging Valentine’s Day cards with their friends and teachers.  Students are not required to send a card to every student in the school but if they want to, please have your student merely sign the cards and not address them to anyone in particular as it makes passing out the cards much easier.  An updated roster was sent home with your student last week so that students know the correct spelling of the other students and teachers.  Students are welcome to bring treats for their friends on that day.

Teacher intent forms went out last week.  They are due in the office this week.  Parents who are interested in teaching for next year need to pick up an application in the office.  Also, if you know of anyone outside the ACS family that would be interested in teaching, please let the office know or pick them up an application.  Just a reminder, teachers must be Christians.

The student Consideration for Reapplication form is due in the office.  Please be sure to get yours in.  If you are not sure what your plans are, please just say that on the form.

Girls’ Varsity Soccer team – Monday, February 15, at 3:45 in the sanctuary, there will be an informational meeting for all girls grades 8 - 12 are interested in hearing more about the new girl’s soccer team.  The meeting should only last about one hour.  Parents are encouraged to attend.  If you have any questions, please contact Coach Brad Collier @ 660-851-0034. 

Reminder to parents.  If you turn in a lunch form after the deadline, you MUST call Mrs. Crosier and let her know.  Do not send your child to school without a lunch if you have not done so!  Last week we had 10 students show up expecting a lunch and their parents had not submitted a form or had done so that very morning.  The seniors buy the food the night before and do not buy a lot of extra.  There was a shortage that day.  What was even more discouraging was seeing those students whose parents had not submitted a form, throw away their lunch, knowing that there were seniors that had to go without their lunch because they sacrificed it for that student.  In the future, we will call parents to bring a lunch out for any student that has not paid for their lunch.  

High School students not going on the Costa Rica mission trip.  Mrs. Lansing has set up a local mission for you!  You will be going to the Christian Activity Center in St. Louis, IL on March 11 & 12.  You will be working with young children tutoring and playing games, as well as some light cleaning and preparing a meal.  You will be staying over night at a local church.  More information will follow this week. 

Praise and Prayer
     I just want to give a big THANK YOU to you all for another successful carnival.  There were those that decorated, donated things, all the baking of cakes, etc., picking up gold fish, chips, and pizzas, last minute runs to the store for forgotten things, taking a Saturday to set up and clean up, and the list goes on and on.
     It's hard right now to know exactly the amount of profit made, but I deposited about $2200 in the bank this morning.  We just have a few minor expenses so I'd say this is the best carnival yet.
     Congratulations to everyone and I appreciate you all. 
Mrs. Cloud, student council advisor

Needs:
At least 3 chaperones for the HS local mission trip to St. Louis.  At least one male is needed.

Mark Your Calendar:
March 4 – 6   Varsity Basketball Tournament
March 8 – 15 Mission trip to Costa Rica
March 11 & 12  Mission trip to St. Louis
March 19  Elementary MAACS field trip (grades 3 – 6) 
March 26  High school MAACS field trip (grades 7 – 12)

Mr. Bergman is uncertain of his future plans.  Stay tuned to hear from him!

Announcements
It’s Carnival Time!  Saturday evening at 6:00pm.  This is a night put on by the Student Council for the younger ACS students and their families.  Come for dinner and to play.  There are games like the cake walk, football toss, golf, and the Big Boy Bash.  There are special activities like face painting, the Moon bounce, and the pie-in-the-face contest.  We will have great food like homemade desserts and chili.  The special event of the evening is ACS seniors’ version of American Idol!  Invite friends and neighbors, everyone is welcome!  Help our student council raise funds for items like sports mats for the walls and supporting the mission team to Costa Rica while having a night of fun for the whole family.

Pie-in-the-face Contest – Students bring in your money Monday to put on students and teachers to get a pie in the face during the Carnival.  Parents, please monitor the money your child brings in.  We don’t want anyone emptying their bank without mom & dad knowing.  It is a fun event, even for those who get the pie, I should know! 

Family Club meeting – Monday at 3:40 in the green room.

Report Cards went home Friday.  Please be sure to review them, sign, and return them to the office.

Family Intent Letter - It is time to tell us what your plans are for next year so that we can make plans for class size and know how many openings we will have for new students.  This form went out in the report cards Friday.  Please fill them out and return them to the office.

Changes to the Directory – Parents please review your family information in the directory that was given to you during the Kick-off for any changes that need to be made.  If you have misplaced it, please review the information on the web site.  Any changes need to be called into the office so that we can print an updated directory for second semester.

Praise and Prayer
Kudos to the Boston Trip team and some of the students going on the Costa Rica mission trip!  These students were servers for the Founder’s Day Dinner Saturday night at Bothwell Hotel put on by the Sedalia Historical Society.  They not only raised $400 that will be divided between these 2 groups but they impressed the guests with their efficiency and friendliness. So to Erin Cloud, Allison Cormican, Meredith Crosier, Miranda Crosier, Kinser Hogan, Anthony Koeller, Sophia Marsh, Emalea Rieckhoff, Jacquelyn Sims, Cody Capps, Kirstin Bergman, Drew Wedemeyer, Duke Anderson, and Hannah Young – a job well done!   A special thanks to Katie Rieckhoff, Kasey Blake, and Mrs. Wedemeyer, who are not on either team, but gladly answered my call for help and were willing to fill in for other students.

Needs
We need parents who are willing to be on our list of substitute teachers.  Friday, I had 6 teachers out!  That does not happen often but it would be helpful if I had a pool of names to draw from.

Mark Your Calendar
Feb. 11 – Valentine’s Party at Jester’s
Feb. 19 – Basketball senior recognition
March 8 – 15 – Mission trip to Costa Rica
March 29-31 – Iowa Basics Testing

Hello ACS Family,
     God has blessed us with a beautiful icy world.  He also gave us a snow day to enjoy and give us a chance to ease back into school again.  As a native of New Hampshire this week has been very enjoyable for me.  It brings back memories of walking to school with snow banks so high you felt like you lived in world of white tunnels. (Of course everything is larger when you are in elementary school). Yes students, Mrs. Crosier and I did actually walk to school in the winter and had to go up a hill both ways.  I had also forgotten how quiet it is when you stand outside as the snow is falling.  God’s peace just settles down around you along with the downy flakes.  Then you wake up the next morning and the world is covered in white and looks so clean and fresh.
     Of course it has been a challenge keeping my feathered friends fed during this time where all other sources of food are covered up.  The “Young Diner” has been in full operation with feeders being refilled several times a day.  Our back deck looks like a set from Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “The Birds”, with several squirrels thrown in as extras.
     I pray that this weekend you take a new look at the wonder of snow.

With a thankful heart,
Mrs. Young

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."
                                                                  Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley 1925

Announcements:
Winter Bash – Grades 7 & 8 on Saturday,  January 16.  Please have your permission slips in by this Monday!  We will be meeting at the Wheel Thing Skating Rink at 1:00.  Weather permitting; the students will take a limousine ride up to Kansas City at 3:00.  They have reservations to play 3 games of Laser Tag and 1 game of Paintball at Jaegers underground Complex at 5:00.   For dinner we will go to the Independence Shopping Center.  The students can be picked up at the school parking lot around 9:00pm.  Cost is $15 per student for everything except paintball which is an additional charge of $30.  Two additional drivers are needed.  If you have any questions please contact Shannon Koeller at 827-3787.

Junior High field trip to WWI museum is rescheduled for Tuesday, January 12.  Students will not have homework that day.  Mrs. Young will be going as a chaperone and can be reached on her cell at 473-8145.

The mission team is hosting dinner at Golden Coral this Tuesday (Jan. 12) from 5 – 9.  A percentage of the sales made during this time will go to sending our mission team to Costa Rica.  So come on out and have dinner with the ACS gang, while mission team members wait on tables, and help send them to Costa Rica.

Garage Sale for mission team going to Costa Rica.  Saturday, Jan. 16 from 8 – 5 at Our Savior Lutheran (across from WalMart).  Items for donation are greatly appreciated and can be brought to the office throughout this week.  You can bring them priced or we can do the pricing.  We will also be selling baked goods.  Please bring in baked goods either Friday to the office or Saturday to the church.

Mission Team – we need help pricing items for the garage sale.  Parents can help Monday or Friday starting at 9:00am at the school.  Students can help Tuesday at 9:00am at the school.  Also, if you haven’t signed up for a shift working at Golden Coral, please contact Mrs. Cloud.

Make sure you mark your calendars for Saturday, Jan. 30. The Student Council is putting on their annual Carnival for family & friends.  You don’t want to miss the games, face painting, the gold fish, and our pie-in-the-face competition!

End of 2nd quarter is Monday, Jan. 11.  Students, please have all your work into your teachers by that day.  Report cards will go out Jan. 22.

Antioch Fellowship is putting on God Hunters Youth Conference for grades 6 and up, Jan. 30th.  For further information call Kim Mabry.

JH Field Trip to WWI Museum will leave ACS parking lot at 8:00am.  Students should be at school by 7:50am so that we can leave on time.  Students can be picked up at 3:30pm at school.  No money is necessary as tickets & lunch money have already been collected.  If students want to bring money for the gift shop they can.

Needs:

We still have two parent jobs that need to be filled:

 A parent to organize the elementary social.       
A parent to organize the senior recognition night for basketball season.
Contact Lorna Sparks for further information, 298-3100.

Praise and Prayer:

Mark Your Calendar:
Feb. 11 – School Valentine’s Day party

Happy December ACS Families!

One more week and it will be Christmas vacation. Many of the teachers are finishing up with tests and projects this week. It is important for students to get all of their work completed before the holiday season. This week will also be filled with fun as we anticipate celebrating our savior’s birth. The student’s did a great job putting on the Christmas program last Thursday. It was just the thing I needed to get my heart looking towards Christmas. The kindergarteners, second grade, and high school also spent time this last week ringing bells for the Salvation Army. From all accounts, our little ones did an excellent job wishing people a “Merry Christmas” and saying “thank you” and were very hard for people to resist, so they gave generously.

Mrs. Harshner came up with a great idea to help us build the excitement of the coming holiday, each day this week we will have a spirit day centered on a Christmas carol.

Monday, Dec. 14th --- “Merry & Bright” - dress in bright colors

Wednesday, Dec. 16th --- “Oh Holy Night” – dress in Christian t-shirts, hats, etc.

Friday, Dec. 18th --- “Deck the Halls” - dress up in Christmas attire, tinsel, Santa hats, etc.

Don’t forget that all gifts need to be in on Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s festivities. Friday, each family needs to bring in a snack to share. (For further info on these two items, look at past bulletins).

The teachers are requesting that in lieu of thank you gifts, that monetary donations be brought to the office for Open Door. Along with the donation, we will have you fill out a message of gratitude to your student’s teacher. The messages will be attached to a piece of candy and delivered on Friday during the party. Teachers will appreciate the encouragement and know that those in need will be well cared for by their parent’s generosity.

Friday, school will start at 8:00 as usual, and end at noon. We will not be having lunch. Home room moms, be sure to be at school by 8:00. The day will be filled with food, fun, and fellowship. Following school, students in grades K – 6 will be performing at the Stoney Ridge nursing home and bringing joy to the people there. (Instructions below).

May you feel surrounded by God’s love this week.

Mrs. Young

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matt 1:23

Announcements:

Congratulations to Mrs. Porter whose high bid gave her the opportunity to purchase the Avon gift basket. That money is greatly appreciated by the 8th grade Boston group.

Stoney Ridge instructions. Student need to meet Mrs. Harshner at Stoney Ridge by 1:45. Students can wear their holiday clothes that they wore to school that day. Please be sure to feed them lunch before they come. The performance is 2:00 – 2:30 and parents are welcome to attend. Stoney Ridge is located on Hwy 65 north of Sedalia on the street to Bothwell Lodge. For further instructions or directions call Mrs. Harshner at 829-2470.

Don’t forget that the Mission team is selling Christmas cookie jar mixes until Dec. 16. Order forms were sent to family email addresses. Prices range from $5.00-$9.50 a jar.

As you are cleaning up for the holidays remember that the Mission Team is looking for donations for their garage sale in January.

Needs:

As you unwrap presents this year don’t throw out any large cardboard boxes. We like to have them in the AWANA room for the elementary students to build into house and tunnels during the winter months when they can’t go outside.

The ACS School Board is now taking applications for Administrative positions for the 2010-2011 school year. Please submit your resume indicating if your interests lie with High School, Elementary, or both, to the ACS office c/o Jennifer Boatright, ACS School Board President. Applications will be accepted until December 23, 2009.

Praise and Prayer:

Thanks to all the teachers who put on the Christmas performance: Mrs. Leon for her work with the 8th grade drama class; Mrs. Church for working with the Praise Team; and Mrs. Harshner for her work with grades K – 6 in music.

Please be in prayer for one of our alumni, Katie Allcorn Lotz, as she goes into surgery Dec. 16.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 21 – Student Council does meals on Wheels

Dec. 19 – Jan. 3 Christmas Vacation

Happy Thanksgiving ACS Families,
I hope that this weekend you spent time enjoying family, relaxing and resting, and thinking on the things that you are thankful for. 

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
       my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
       My heart leaps for joy
       and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

Christmas break is right around the corner!  There is much to do in the next three weeks though.  Be sure to read the following announcements so that you don’t miss anything.

With a thankful heart,
Mrs. Young

Announcements:
Family Club Meeting on Monday, Nov. 30 at 3:45 in the Green Room.  The Family Club is the main support organization for the school.  If you are interested in getting more involved at the school, come join us at this meeting and see what we are all about!

Teacher meeting next Monday, Dec. 7 at 3:45 in the Green room.

School Board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 in the Green Room. 

Junior High field trip on Dec. 8.  The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial is the only American museum solely dedicated to preserving the objects, history and personal experiences of a war whose impact still echoes today. With one of the greatest collections of World War I artifacts anywhere in the world, the new state-of-the-art complex uses highly-interactive technology to bring history to life. 

ACS Christmas Program Dec. 10 at 7pm in the sanctuary.  We encourage everyone to come!

Gift Exchange.  Students picked their student that they need to buy a gift for for the Gift Exchange.  Students absent on Wednesday, please see Mrs. Young to pick your name.  Rules for the exchange went out on a yellow sheet of paper.  Monetary limits for the grades are as follows:
                                       Grades K – 4       $7.00
                                       Grades 5 – 8      $10.00
                                       Grades 9 – 12    $13.00 

Snow Day Procedure.  School cancellations are announced via one-call and are also posted on the web home page.  It is also announced on the following radio stations:  Spirit FM (89.9, 89.7, 92.1, or 107.7) and KIX FM (105.7), and KSIS AM (1050).  Students are required to look up their homework by accessing each of their teachers’ pages on the web site.  All assignments will be posted by 10:00 am.  Work is due the next school day. 

Dec. 18 is Christmas party day at school.  School starts on time at 8:00am and ends at noon.  Students do not need to bring a lunch.  We are asking each family to bring in a snack to share.  If your last name begins with A – M please bring in a healthy snack (crackers & cheese, fruit, chex mix, etc.).  If your last name begins with N – Z please bring in a sweat treat.  Homeroom moms need to prepare a craft or game for that day (that lasts about an hour) and need to be at school by 8:00.  The day will be spent doing crafts, games, snacking, and exchanging of gifts.  No work allowed! 

Needs:
Please save or be looking for big cardboard boxes.  We like to have them in the AWANA room for the elementary students to build into house and tunnels during the winter months when they can’t go outside.

Praise and Prayer:
Thank you to the following individuals for putting on another fantastic Feast!
 Thanks to Mrs. Koeller and Mrs. Hiller who were brave enough to tackle the whole kit and caboodle.  They shopped for the food, organized all the food for the event, handled the student cooks, and cleaned up afterward.  You did a great job ladies!
 Thanks to Mrs. Breid for helping in the kitchen.  You were a life saver.
 Thanks to the room moms for helping the teachers keep the students involved and entertained. 
 Thanks to Mrs. Harshner for the great job she did with the drama production of the First Thanksgiving.
 Thanks to Mrs. Leon for her set production.

Mark Your Calendar:
Dec. 21 – Student Council does meals on Wheels
Dec. 19 – Jan. 3 Christmas Vacation

Hello ACS Parents!
Tomorrow night is our Parent-Teacher Conferences.  Beginning at 6pm, ACS teachers will be manning their table (arranged in alphabetical order) and be ready to visit with parents from each student.  As you enter the ROC, students will be there to hand you your students’ report cards.  Then feel free to have a seat in the middle chairs and look them over.  Visiting with the teachers is on a first-come-first-served basis.  When you see that your teacher is free, run on over to their table and have a seat.  These conferences are a wonderful time for parents and teachers to get to know each other a little better and for parents to get a complete picture about how their child is doing in a particular class.  We hope that this also aids in the parent-teacher relationship; once you get to know your student’s teacher you will be more comfortable calling them when you have a concern.  As I mentioned in the letter enclosed with the Parent-Teacher surveys, conference time is not the appropriate place to work out serious conflicts, however, it is the place to make an appointment with the teacher for a later opportunity where the two of you will not be interrupted or limited in time.

Things to bring with you:  completed Parent-Teacher surveys (sent out last week) and the list of your student’s classes and teachers (so that you know who to talk to).

We will also have a table where you can pick up helpful hints for home schooling your student on Tuesday & Thursday.  And we encourage you to stop by the Lost & Found and see if you recognize anything.  Any items not claimed will go to the Salvation Army.

Tomorrow night should be a great event for everyone!  Speaking of great events, the totals are in!  We raised $5,900.00 at the fund raising dinner last Saturday!  In addition, we had 7 couples interested in receiving more information about ACS for their children, 2 individuals who are interested in volunteering their time at ACS, and one individual who is starting a Christian school who is interested in coming to observe us.

Announcements:

Mission Trip.  Ron Jobe will meet with all parents & students who are interested in the mission trip that will take place this spring.  The meeting will be Nov. 19th at 7pm at the school, and the exact location will be announced as soon as I find out where we can meet.  This will be a good opportunity to ask all the questions you have concerning the trip.  Fund raising will be discussed.

Please turn in your Thanksgiving Feast forms so we can have a total for the organizers to purchase food.
 
Students grades 4 – 12!  MAACS Fine Arts Competition form went out Friday.  If you did not get one, pick one up at the office.  All Students in Grades 4 -12 need to fill this out to indicate what they want to compete in for MAACS or choose to do a research paper.  Deadline for the forms is Monday, November 23rd.  Please turn them into the office.

Girls Basketball t-shirts.  Last Call!  We will be ordering this Tuesday.  If you would like a t-shirt please see Hannah Young or Ashton Allcorn.

PLAN test for 10th grade is Nov. 17th.  Cost for the test is $10.50.

Junior High Field Trip (gr. 6-12) - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 to the National World War I Museum in Kansas City.   Permission slips are going out Monday and need to be returned by Friday.

SBU academic and arts competition is Nov. 19-20.  Students who signed up in grades 9 – 12, and are attending the competition need to get their work that they will miss in advance from their teachers and have it turned in by Monday, Nov. 23.

Gratitude
Thanks to Mr. Greer for the great job he did on the school pictures!

Prayer & Praise
Praise for the new retractable basketball hoop that was installed last week.

Mark Your Calendar:
Nov. 27 – no school
Dec. 10 – ACS Christmas Program
Dec. 18 – Christmas Party Day (out at Noon)
Dec. 19 – Jan. 3 Christmas Vacation