Parent Connection #32 20 April 2026

 Parent Conversations

Attached to the email and hard copy newsletters is another article from Parent Conversations. 

This week’s article: How Can We Teach Gentleness and Strength at the Same Time?

Parent Conversations  from  Forward in Christ magazine, offers articles on topics important to parents, written from a Christian perspective. If you are interested in viewing all of the articles available, please visit https://forwardinchrist.net/parents/ .

CEA Meeting Change

We have to change our CEA meeting date due to a scheduling conflict, so our next CEA meeting will be NEXT WEEK TUESDAY, April 28 at 3:10 p.m.

Driveway dropoff at circle drive after 8 a.m

Please note that if you are late dropping off students at Zion you are asked to please use the Cole Road circle drive entrance (door D) near the church school office.

Chapel Service

School families are invited to join us for our weekly morning school chapel service this Wednesday, April 22 at 8:05am. Parents, family and friends are always welcome! This week teacher Sam Koepsell from Hope Christian Academy will be presenting our chapel message and then doing an activity with our Kindergarten and grade 1-2 students following chapel.

A chapel mission offering is collected each week, and we encourage our families to take part. Our mission offering collection this year is designated to Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti. Please remember this ministry and the children it serves in your gifts and prayers. 

MLCS Bookmobile

The Monroe County Library System Bookmobile will be making its monthly visit FRIDAY, April 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Bookmobile visits once per month to allow our students to check out selections from the Monroe County Library. Students will need a valid MCLS library card to check out books from the Bookmobile if they wish. Students are asked to please remember to bring your library card if you wish to check out books.

SMLAL Fine Arts Fair - Saturday, April 25

A number of our students will be competing in forensics, spelling, and quiz bowl competitions this Saturday at Hope Christian Academy in Westland from 9:00 a.m.-2p.m. We will also have artwork from a number of our students in the Art competition as well. Our school family is welcome to  attend. Participating students, we wish God’s blessings on your efforts!

Sports - Co-Ed Track

This year we will be holding our track practices during designated recesses in April and May for those in grades 3-8 who wish to participate. Mr. Ryan Roth has sent out an email to our grade 3-8 parents of track participants detailing our Ohio Schools Meet (grades 3-6) on Friday, May 1. See the email or Mr. Roth for more information.

Hot Lunch - this week

Monday, April 20 - Spaghetti

Wednesday, April 22 - Chicken Nuggets and Mac and Cheese

Friday, April 24 - Pizza

Warrior Oasis

The Zion Upper Grades “Warrior Oasis” are selling milk and juice options for lunches to students daily.  Students in grades K-8 wanting to purchase milk or juice for lunch can do so across from the school library at the start of lunch hour, 11:45 to 11:55 a.m.

Drink items available:      Horizon Organic Whole Milk $1.50 or Quik Chocolate Milk $1.25      

Orange Juice (bottle) $1.00  Juicy Juice Boxes $0.50 (Apple, Fruit Punch, Grape, Berry)         

Purchases are cash only. Profits will go towards the upper grade field trip fund.

Coffee with Friends!

The Warrior Oasis Cafe is open on TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. After dropping off the kiddos, come enjoy a great cup of coffee or hot tea with fellow parents and friends before heading out for the day, or grab a cup to go. Coffee will be self-serve on Tuesdays and served in the gym on Fridays. Coffee is served starting at 7:45 a.m.  Cost is a free-will donation to the 7th-8th Field Trip Fund.

On the Calendar…

Monday, April 20 - Hot Lunch - Spaghetti

Tuesday, April 21 - Warrior Oasis Cafe   7:45-8:15 a.m.

Monthly Midday Worship at Zion   1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22 - Hot Lunch - Chicken Nuggets/Mac and Cheese

School Chapel Service   8:05 a.m.

Evening Worship at Zion   7 p.m.

Friday, April 24 - Warrior Oasis Cafe   7:45-8:15 a.m.

Hot Lunch - Pizza

MCLS Bookmobile visits 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 25 - SWMLAL Fine Arts Fair at Hope Christian 

Academy 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sunday, April 26 - Sunday Worship at Zion   9 a.m.

Sunday School and Bible Class     10:15 a.m.

And Coming Up…

Tuesday, April 28 - Zion CEA Meeting   3:10 p.m.

Thursday, April 30 - Student Piano Recital     5:30 p.m.

Friday, May 1 - Ohio Track Meet

Friday, May 8 - Zion Spring Fling Variety Show     7 p.m.

Parent Connection #31 13 April 2026

 Thank you!

• to the Zion students who participated in music and song in our Good Friday service.

Thank you for being a blessing!

Congratulations!

• To 8th Grader Phoebe K. for taking second place in the 7th and 8th grade level of the Monroe County Spelling Bee on Thursday! Also, thanks to the students who represented us for grades 5 and 6, JJ B. and Lukas F.!

Zion School Open House and Literacy Night – Tuesday, April 14 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

This is for Zion students and families as well as guests. Introduce your interested friends and family to our school family! We will have our usual book exchange (we have lots of free books for kids and adults available! You can also bring in books you no longer want, to donate and share with others.) Following our school year theme, we will also have a number of activities available for families to do together and light refreshments will be served. School tours and enrollment information will also be available. We hope our school families can join us, and we encourage you to bring friends who may be looking for a Christian school program.

Books Needed!

As we have our Literacy Night Open House coming up on Tuesday, We can also use donations to our book swap. We like to include a book swap table for students and families to donate books that their family has outgrown or no longer want and pick up new books to enjoy. If you have any books to donate, please bring them to school on Monday or Tuesday this week. Then join us at our Literacy Night on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for activities and refreshments, and grab some new books to enjoy. Thank you!

Chapel Service

School families are invited to join us for our morning school chapel service this Wednesday, April  15 at 8:05 a.m. Parents, family and friends are always welcome! This year’s chapel offering is supporting our synod’s ministry work in the country of Australia. Please pray for this ministry and the people it serves.

Round-Up Time

On Thursday, April 16, students moving on to new classrooms in the 2025-2026 school year will have the opportunity to visit their future rooms for a “Round-Up” during a portion of the school day.

Mother Daughter Tea - Sunday, April 19

There is still time to RSVP (by April 17) for the Zion Mother-Daughter Tea on Sunday, April 19 from 2-4 p.m. in the Zion gymnasium. Informational flyers are available on the table in the school entrance. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Freiny.

SMLAL Fine Arts Fair - Saturday, April 25

A number of our students will be competing in forensics, spelling, and quiz bowl competitions Saturday, April 25 at Hope Christian Academy in Westland from 9:00 a.m.-2 p.m. We will also have artwork from a number of our students in the Art competition as well. Our school family is welcome to  attend. Participating students, we wish God’s blessings on your efforts!

Art Club

The next meeting of the Art Club is in the church basement THIS WEEK THURSDAY, April 16 from 3:05 to 4:30 p.m. There is no fee to participate, but donations of supplies are always welcome! (Please speak to Mrs. Sordahl to find out what items are needed.) All participants are asked to bring a paint shirt and/or clothing that can get messy.

Please speak to Mrs. Sordahl if you have any questions.

School Education Day - Toledo Mud Hens Game  Field Trip   Wednesday, May 6, 2024

On Wednesday, May 6, the Zion School Family will have the opportunity for a  School Family Field Trip to a Toledo Mud Hens School Education Day event at “Hensville Park” at Fifth Third Field in Toledo. This trip is open to ALL Zion school and preschool students and families. We will leave the school around 9:00 a.m. following morning chapel. 

The gates open at 9:00 a.m. with activities provided by community partners happening throughout the park. The game begins at 11:05 a.m. with the Mud Hens taking on the Memphis Redbirds.

Tickets are at a special rate of $6 per person. Vouchers for a hot dog meal (hot dog, chips, and a soda or water) are also available for $8 each. No food is allowed to be brought into the park from outside. The concession stands will also be open and available for food purchases as well.

Please return the attached form (also sent home as a hard copy with this week's newsletter) as soon as you can. We need to have proper numbers to the Mudhens office by Friday, April 17, so we are asking that parents sign and return the slip below indicating how many from your family would like to attend by Thursday. Please fill out the form and return it with payment (cash or check) by THURSDAY, April 16. You can also VENMO using the QR code on the form. Only one form is needed per family.Please contact Mr. Schneck if you have any questions (bschneck@zionmonroe.org or 907-331-7761).

Hot Lunch - this week

Monday, April 13 - Baked Potato Bar

Wednesday, April 15 - Taco Bar

Friday, April 17 - Pizza

Warrior Oasis

The Zion Upper Grades “Warrior Oasis” are selling milk and juice options for lunches to students daily.  Students in grades K-8 wanting to purchase milk or juice for lunch can do so across from the school library at the start of lunch hour, 11:45 to 11:55 a.m.

Drink items available:      Horizon Organic Whole Milk $1.50 or Quik Chocolate Milk $1.25      

Orange Juice (bottle) $1.00  Juicy Juice Boxes $0.50 (Apple, Fruit Punch, Grape, Berry)         

Purchases are cash only. Profits will go towards the upper grade field trip fund.

Coffee with Friends!

The Warrior Oasis Cafe is open on TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. After dropping off the kiddos, come enjoy a great cup of coffee or hot tea with fellow parents and friends before heading out for the day, or grab a cup to go. Coffee will be self-serve on Tuesdays and served in the gym on Fridays. Coffee is served starting at 7:45 a.m.  Cost is a free-will donation to the 7th-8th Field Trip Fund.

On the Calendar…

Monday, April 13 - Hot Lunch - Baked Potato Bar

Tuesday, April 14 - Warrior Oasis Cafe   7:45-8:15 a.m.

Zion Literacy Night Open House     5:30-7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15 - Hot Lunch - Taco Bar

School Chapel Service   8:05 a.m.

Evening Worship at Zion   7 p.m.

Thursday, April 16 - Kindergarten and Grade 1-7 Round-Ups

Friday, April 17 - Warrior Oasis Cafe   7:45-8:15 a.m.

Hot Lunch - Pizza

Sunday, April 19 - Sunday Worship at Zion   9 a.m.

Sunday School and Bible Class     10:15 a.m.

Jesus Cares Special Needs Service     1 p.m.

Mother-Daughter Tea     2-4 p.m.

Parent Connection #30 30 March 2026

 This Week Is Holy Week

The students in grades K-8 will be singing for our 1 p.m. Good Friday service on Friday, April 3. Hanchimes A will also be playing for this service. Students will be dismissed after the service, around 2 p.m. The school family is invited to join us for worship. 

There will be no school classes next week Monday through Friday, April 6 to 10, for our Easter School Break. 

May God bless your family’s Easter celebrations! School classes resume on Monday, April 13.

Your family is invited to join our Zion church family in worship as we thank God for his work of salvation for us through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection.

Holy Week Worship at Zion:

Maundy Thursday Worship - Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m.

Good Friday Worship - Friday, April 3 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday Worship - Sunday, April 5 at 9 a.m.

You are also invited to join us for an Easter Breakfast following Easter Sunday worship, served by Zion’s Church Council.

Thank you!

• to the Zion students who came to sing with the MLS Concert Choir on Friday evening.

• To those who donated generously to the Diaper Drive for the Redford Pregnancy Counseling Center. More than 3700 diapers were donated, as well as wipes and clothing items.

Thank you for being a blessing!

Chapel Service

School families are invited to join us for our morning school chapel service this Wednesday, April 1 at 8:05 a.m.. Parents, family and friends are always welcome! This year’s chapel offering is supporting our synod’s ministry work in the country of Australia. Please pray for this ministry and the people it serves.

Easter Egg Hunt at St. Pauls Lutheran

We will not be doing a school Easter egg hunt this week, but our sister congregation St. Paul’s Lutheran at 4615 Albain Road will be hosting an Easter for Kids celebration on Saturday, April 4 starting at 10 a.m. and going to 12:30 p.m. It will include a Christian Easter message for the children, a brunch, as well as fun activities for the children. All are welcome!

Mother-Daughter Tea  - Sunday, April 19

On April 19 is our annual Zion Mother-Daughter Tea. RSVP slips need to be returned to the church/school office by Friday, April 17. RSVP forms and information are on the table in the school entrance. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Freiny.

Need Pennies?

The nickels, dimes and quarters from our Penny Drive have been donated to St. Judes, purchasing “patient wagons”. Red wagons are the preferred method of transportation for young patients at St. Judes as they move around the St. Jude’s campus for treatment. We have not yet cashed in the pennies! As pennies are becoming rare, we thought there might be members of our school family who are collecting pennies and might want to add 7,699 of them to their collection. If you are interested in buying some or all of the pennies, please contact Mr. Schneck. If we do not have anyone interested by Friday, we will cash them in for St. Jude’s as well.

Hot Lunch - this week

Monday, March 30 - Chicken Parmesan Bake

Wednesday, April 1 - Beef Stroganoff

Friday, April 3 - Pizza

The sign-up for APRIL HOT LUNCH is available!

Please fill out the attached form to indicate your Zion student's desired hot lunches for April. Please complete the form by Tuesday, March 31. You will need to fill out one form for each of the students in your family.

You may access the sign-up form at https://forms.gle/nfxUNZoJ3V3GFXor7 .Please remember that students who want a hot lunch need to have a punch card. These can be purchased in the church school office. If you have any questions, please contact the church/school office.

Warrior Oasis

The Zion Upper Grades “Warrior Oasis” are selling milk and juice options for lunches to students daily.  Students in grades K-8 wanting to purchase milk or juice for lunch can do so across from the school library at the start of lunch hour, 11:45 to 11:55 a.m.

Drink items available:      Horizon Organic Whole Milk $1.50 or Quik Chocolate Milk $1.25      

Orange Juice (bottle) $1.00  Juicy Juice Boxes $0.50 (Apple, Fruit Punch, Grape, Berry)         

Purchases are cash only. Profits will go towards the upper grade field trip fund.

Coffee with Friends!

The Warrior Oasis Cafe is open on TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. After dropping off the kiddos, come enjoy a great cup of coffee or hot tea with fellow parents and friends before heading out for the day, or grab a cup to go. Coffee will be self-serve on Tuesdays and served in the gym on Fridays. Coffee is served starting at 7:45 a.m.  Cost is a free-will donation to the 7th-8th Field Trip Fund.

On the Calendar…

Monday, March 30 - Hot Lunch - Chicken Parmesan Bake

Tuesday, March 31 - Warrior Oasis Cafe   7:45-8:15 a.m.

Wednesday, April 1 - Hot Lunch - Beef Stroganoff

School Chapel Service   8:05 a.m.

Thursday, April 2 - Kindergarten Field Trip to the Toledo Zoo

Maundy Thursday Worship at Zion   7 p.m.

Friday, April 3 - Warrior Oasis Cafe   7:45-8:15 a.m.

Hot Lunch - Pizza

GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP   1 p.m.

Grades K-8 sing and Handchimes A play for this service. Students will be excused 

for the day following the service. (around 2 p.m.)

Good Friday Evening Worship   7 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 - Easter for Children at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Albain Road   10 a.m.

Sunday, April 5 - Easter Sunday Worship at Zion   9 a.m.

Easter Breakfast   10:15 a.m.

(No Sunday School or Bible Class)

And coming up…

April 6-10 - EASTER BREAK - No School Classes

Tuesday, April 14 - Zion Open House and Literacy Night  5:30-7 p.m.

Please invite any family and friends who may be interested in finding out more about

our school program!

Sunday, April 19 - Mother-Daughter Tea 2-4 p.m.  - See the attached flyer for details.