Zion School Connection Newsletter #2 - August 25, 2025

 Parent Conversations - Forward in Christ

Attached to this week’s newsletter is an article from our synod’s Forward in Christ magazine specifically geared towards parents. Parent Conversations offers articles on topics important to parents, written from a Christian perspective. We will be sharing selections from these articles with our school family throughout the year, starting with Are We Doing Too Much For Our Kids by Karyn Clemons. If you are interested in viewing all of the articles available, please visit https://forwardinchrist.net/parents/ .

School Sports - Co-Ed Soccer

Soccer practices start this week Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

C Team (grades 2-4) practice will be on Monday, August 25 from 3-4 p.m. C Team will only practice on Mondays. A Team (grades 5-8) will practice Tuesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 28 from 3-4:30 p.m.

Boys and girls in grades 3 to 8 are eligible. Those wishing to participate must have returned their signed sports forms if they have not already done so. (Forms are available on the table in the school hallway.) Players should also make sure they bring their cleats, sports clothes, shin guards, and water bottles to practice.

ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS NEED TO HAVE A SIGNED CONCUSSION AWARENESS FORM AND A SIGNED ATHLETIC AGREEMENT (ONE PER FAMILY) ON FILE. If your child in these grades plans on participating in any extracurricular sports this year, we need a signed copy for each student. Soccer players, please return these signed documents right away if you have not already done so.

Our first soccer matches for A Team are AWAY vs St. Stephen and Trinity at Trinity, Jenera, OH on Saturday, September 13 at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

T-Shirt Day Postponed

This year’s school t-shirts are not yet ready, so we will not be having a school t-shirt day this Wednesday as scheduled on the calendar. We will distribute our new t-shirts as soon as they become available and will plan on our first t-shirt day on the last Wednesday of September.

Chapel Service

School families are invited to join us for our monthly AFTERNOON school chapel service this week Wednesday, August 27 at 2:30 p.m. Parents, family and friends are always welcome! A chapel offering is collected at our chapel services to be designated to a mission project each year. This year’s chapel offering will be supporting our church’s new ministry work in the country of Australia. Watch for more information on this mission work in the coming weeks.

School Break

There are no school classes this week Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1 for the Labor Day holiday. Enjoy your weekend!

Coming Up: Christian Education Sunday - September 14

In three weeks on Sunday, September 14 at 9:00 a.m. we will celebrate our Zion Christian Education Sunday worship service. Our service will focus on bringing the message of salvation in Jesus to His lambs and sheep, particularly through our school and education programs. All of the students of Zion Lutheran School will have the opportunity to participate singing in the service. Students in grade 1 will also be gifted with a Bible by the Zion congregation. All students in grades K-8 are expected to attend to sing, and preschool students are also invited to join us. Students should be at school to prepare by 8:45 a.m. and meet in their classrooms. Families, please join us in thanking God for the privilege of sharing Jesus with our students, families, and community!

CEA (Christian Education Association)

The Zion Christian Education Association (CEA) is our parent and supporter association that helps provide all of the “extras” that support and enhance our school program. Our Zion CEA has many volunteer opportunities for parents to support our school program and activities. If you attended our back to school night, you had the opportunity to volunteer to help with activities throughout the school year. If you missed it, the volunteer sign-ups are still available this week on the table in the school hallway. Please help us by placing your family’s stickers or just signing your name on the items you are able to help with.

Our first meeting of the year is this next week Wednesday, September 3 at 3:10 p.m. included on the agenda are the Pinewood Derby, Grandparents’ Day, the Mum Sale, and the Harvest Party. All Zion Preschool and K-8 parents are invited and encouraged to attend and participate.Please join us!

CEA Mum Sale

We are once again selling beautiful mums in 9 inch pots in a variety of colors from Parran’s Greenhouse for $10 each. Order forms are also available on the table in the school hallway and have also been shared via email.  Please note that orders need to be returned to school by the morning of Friday, September 19.

WE WILL NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ORGANIZE THE ORDERS ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30! Please let coordinator Melissa Freiny know if you can help out.

Raise Right

Do you use the RaiseRight program? This year several school families used Raise Right to reduce their tuition costs considerably. It only takes a little bit of your time, but the savings could be substantial. You can use Raise Right for your own family’s tuition, or designate it to help another school family. A flyer with more information is available on the table in the school entrance, or speak to Amy Vanisacker in the church/school office.

Zion Pinewood Derby

START YOUR ENGINES! Our Zion Church and School family are invited to participate in our annual Zion Pinewood Derby Invitational on Sunday, September 14 from noon until 3 p.m.  Participating Cars will be judged on both design and speed! We have divisions for Children (Preschool through grade 2), Youth (Grades 3-5 and 6-8), and Teens and Adults. Cars must be built according to Zion Derby rules, which are available through the QR code on the information form. You may purchase a kit on your own, or from Mr. Schneck ($5 each). A flyer with details has been emailed and is also available on the table in the school hallway.

We will have one more work day at school (Mr. Schneck's garage) on Saturday, September 6 from 9am to noon for families who need help or access to workshop tools. We will also need volunteers to help with set up, refreshments, and to serve as officials on race day! Please contact Mr. Schneck if you are interested and available.

Playground Use After School

Parents are asked to monitor their children’s activity on the playground after school if they are staying after for extra playtime.  Children are not to be on the school playground unless they are supervised by a parent. Students are also expected to follow school rules when on the playground. Unsafe use of the playground equipment and rough play (pushing, wrestling, throwing bark etc.) are NOT ALLOWED. Please note the playground rules posted on the light pole next to the playground. Please also be aware of children, your own and others, when picking up after school. Be aware of traffic flow in the parking lot. Please also maintain control of your children in the lot, and BUCKLE LITTLE ONES IN before you take a minute to visit with other parents. Please do not send your children to the playground after school unless you are supervising them or have asked another parent to do so. Let’s all work together to avoid accidents and keep our children safe!

Hot Lunch

Our hot lunch program for grades K to 8 begins again in September, starting on September 3.  A link to the hot lunch order form will be emailed out this week to K-8 student families. It can also be accessed here:

https://forms.gle/RstBNQjjZ53kv7HVA Orders must be in by Friday, August 29.

Please note that students need to have purchased a hot lunch punch card to participate in the hot lunches. Punch cards are available in the church/school office. See the attached August/September Zion school calendar for this month’s scheduled events and hot lunches.

Warrior Oasis

The Zion Upper Grades “Warrior Oasis” will again be 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 Hershey Chocolate Milk $1.25       

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

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

Delicious Coffee with Friends!

The Warrior Oasis Cafe is open on TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS in the gym. 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 is served starting at 7:45 a.m.  Cost is a free-will donation to the 7th-8th Field Trip Fund.

On the Calendar this Week…

Monday, August 25 - C Team (grades 3-4) Soccer Practice 3-4 p.m.

Tuesday, August 26 - Warrior Oasis Coffee available in the gym 7:45-8:15

A Team (grades 5-8) Soccer Practice 3-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 27 - AFTERNOON School Chapel 2:30 p.m.

Worship Service at Zion Lutheran 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 28 - A Team (grades 5-8) Soccer Practice 3-4:30 p.m.

Friday, August 29 - NO SCHOOL CLASSES - Labor Day Weekend

Sunday, August 31 - Worship Service at Zion Lutheran 9:00 a.m.

Monday, September 1 - NO SCHOOL CLASSES - Labor Day Weekend

 

and Coming Up…

Tuesday, September 2 - Warrior Oasis Coffee available in the gym 7:45-8:15

A Team (grades 5-8) Soccer Practice 3-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 3 - Hot Lunch - Hot Dogs

School Chapel 8:05 a.m.

Zion CEA Meeting   3:10 p.m.

Worship Service at Zion Lutheran 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 4 - A Team (grades 5-8) Soccer Practice 3-4:30 p.m.

Friday, September 5 - Hot Lunch - Pizza

Cheerleaders Meeting  3 p.m.

Saturday, September 6 - Pinewood Derby workshop open 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Mr. Schneck’s

garage)

Sunday, September 8 - Worship Service at Zion Lutheran 9:00 a.m.

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

Zion School Connection Newsletter #1 - August 18, 2025

 Welcome Back to Zion!

We are so glad to see our returning students and families, as well as welcome some new families to our school. May God bless our school year!

Our theme for this year is “SOAR!”. Our theme passage is Isaiah 40:31 - “...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” In a world with so many cares, struggles and distractions, we can feel weighed down when we try to depend on our own strength. God reminds us in his Word that our strength as believers comes from trusting in God’s promises for us, most importantly in his promise of salvation in Jesus. We hope in the Lord by putting our complete trust in him to guide our daily path as we eagerly await our heavenly home.

May God empower our school family to respond with love and good works in appreciation for all that he has done for us in Jesus. Whatever you do this school year, may we do all to the glory of God!

Welcome to our New Preschool Director, Mrs. Sharon Dorow!

Mrs. Dorow came to us from St. John’s, Westland, having served their preschool and Kindergarten programs. We are very thankful that God has provided us with a teacher and director for our preschool, and wish Mrs. Dorow God’s blessings on her school year with us.

Mrs. Dorow will be installed as our preschool director at our worship service this Sunday, August 24 at Zion. 

School Classes Start tomorrow - Tuesday, August 19

Classes start at 8:00 a.m. It is a full day of school classes. We will not have a chapel service on Tuesday, but family and friends are invited to join us for our first chapel service on Wednesday, August 20 at 8:05 a.m.

This year’s chapel offering will be supporting our church’s new ministry work in the country of Australia. Watch for more information on this mission work in the coming weeks.

Chapel Services

School families are invited to join us for our Wednesday school chapel service this week Wednesday, August 20 from 8:05-8:30 a.m. Parents, family and friends are always welcome! A chapel offering is collected at our chapel services to be designated to a mission project each year. This year’s sponsored mission is our WELS Mission in the Philippines. We will share more about this ministry in the coming weeks. Please remember this ministry and the people it serves in your prayers.

Hot Lunch

Our hot lunch program for grades K to 8 begins again in September, starting on September 3.  A link to the hot lunch order form will be emailed out this week to K-8 student families. It can also be accessed here:

https://forms.gle/RstBNQjjZ53kv7HVA

Please note that students need to have purchased a hot lunch punch card to participate in the hot lunches. Punch cards are available in the church/school office. See the attached August/September Zion school calendar for this month’s scheduled events and hot lunches.

School Sports - Soccer

Soccer practices starts next week. C Team (grades 3-4) practices Monday, August 25 from 3-4 p.m. A team (grades 5-8) practices Tuesday and Thursday, August 26  and 28, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Those wishing to participate must have returned their signed sports forms if they have not already done so. (Forms were available on Tuesday at the Back-to-School Night, and are still available on the sign-up table in the gym.) Players should also make sure they bring their cleats, sports clothes, shin guards, and water bottles to practice.

ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS NEED TO HAVE A SIGNED CONCUSSION AWARENESS FORM AND A SIGNED ATHLETIC AGREEMENT (ONE PER FAMILY) ON FILE. These documents were also available at Back-to-School Night. If your child in these grades plans on participating in any extracurricular sports this year, we need a signed copy for them. Soccer players, please return these signed documents by Monday, August 25.

 

Raise Right/Scrip

Do you use the RaiseRight/Scrip program? This year several school families used Raise Right to reduce their tuition costs for this school. It only costs a little bit of your time, but the savings could be substantial. You can use Raise Right for your own family’s tuition, or designate it to help another school family. More information on the program is available on the school bulletin board, or speak to Amy Vanisacker in the church/school office.

Zion Grand Prix Pinewood Derby

Our Zion Church and School families are invited to participate in our 2nd Annual Pinewood Derby Grand Prix on Sunday, September 14 from noon until 3 p.m.  Participating Cars will be judged on both design and speed! We have divisions for Children (Preschool through grade 2), Youth (Grades 3-8), and Adults (Teens and Adults). Cars must be built according to derby rules. You may purchase a kit on your own, or from Mr. Schneck ($5 each). Flyers with details and rules are available on the table in the school hallway.

We have a couple of work days in Mr. Schneck’s garage (across the parking lot from school) scheduled beforehand for families who need help or access to workshop tools: Saturday, August 23 and Saturday, September 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. 

We also need volunteers to help with work days and race day! Please contact Mr. Schneck if you are interested and available.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Please be aware that the building opens for students at 7:45 a.m. Please do not send your child in before that time. Also, no students are to be in the building after school. The only exception is for those participating in sports, and then, only in designated areas.

If you wish to walk your child into school, DO NOT leave your car standing in the drop-off area  - Please park in the designated spaces so that you are not blocking the flow of traffic or forcing others to drive around your vehicle.

Please also remember our drop-off and pick-up procedures for students:

PRESCHOOL – AM class drop off may park in any parking lot, but students should be walked to the Preschool room entrance. Parents picking up AM students are asked to park in the circle drive (Cole Road entrance).

PM class drop off are asked to park in the circle drive (Cole Road entrance) and walk students to the preschool room entrance.

Parents picking up PM students may park in any parking lot.

KINDERGARTEN – Parents should park in the playground parking lot (Macomb Street entrance) and walk their children in through door “A”. Kindergarten pick-up is at the west school hall entrance, door “B” (Next to the school garden).

GRADES 1-8 - Grades 1-8 are dropped off and picked up in the playground parking lot at school door “A”.

At the end of the day, students are not to loiter in the school hallways but to go right to their vehicles or wait for their rides in the school entrance, on the school entrance sidewalk or, if it is raining or extremely cold, along the window bench in the gymnasium.

Please be aware of children, your own and others, when dropping off and picking up before and after school. Be aware of traffic flow in the parking lot. Please also maintain control of your children in the lot, and BUCKLE LITTLE ONES IN before you take a minute to visit with other parents. Students allowed to play on the playground after school MUST BE SUPERVISED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. Please do not send your children to the playground after school unless you are supervising them or have asked another parent to do so. If you are using the preschool playground gates, please close them behind you. Let’s all work together to avoid accidents and keep our children safe!

 

Tardiness/Absences

School classes start at 8:00 a.m. Students should be in their classrooms and ready to go at that time. Bringing your child late to school can be frustrating for them, as they don’t get proper time to settle in for the day, as well as disruptive for the class. If you are late bringing your child to school, they must come with a written excuse from their parent indicating the reason for their tardiness, or you may also phone into the office to let us know you will be late. Three unexcused tardies result in one absent day being applied to their school record, as per our handbook policy.

Whenever possible, please notify the teacher in advance of any absences. If your child is going to be absent for the day and the teacher was not notified in advance, please call into the school office to let us know.

 

 If your child is ill…

A note on illnesses: We are asked by the health department to continue to be vigilant with regard to illnesses of any kind. So:

1. If your child is ill with any type of cold or fever or you suspect they are coming down with something, please keep them home.

2. If you child suffers allergy symptoms, you must send a note indicating so to your child’s teacher, including if they are using allergy medication.

3. Please check your child’s temperature if they seem to be feeling unwell. If a student has a fever of 100.4 F or above they must stay home until 24 hours after the fever has passed WITHOUT fever reducing medication. If your child has a fever (100.4 degrees F or above), we must send them home.

Please be considerate of these requirements so that we can keep on serving our families safely.

 

Warrior Oasis

The Zion Upper Grades “Warrior Oasis” will again be 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 Hershey Chocolate Milk ($1.25) 

(Please note the price increase on white milk.)       

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

Tropicana Orange Juice (bottle) $1.00

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

 

Delicious Coffee with Friends!

WE WILL BE SERVING ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

The Warrior Oasis Cafe is open on TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS in the gym, including the first day of school! 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 is served starting at 7:45 a.m.  Cost is a free-will donation to the 7th-8th Field Trip Fund.

On the Calendar…

Tuesday, August 19 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Classes begin 8 a.m.

Warrior Oasis Coffee available in the gym

Wednesday, August 20 - School Chapel 8:05 a.m.

Worship Service at Zion Lutheran 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 26 - Pinewood Derby workshop open 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Sunday, August 28 - Worship Service at Zion Lutheran 9:00 a.m.

Installation of our new Preschool Teacher, Mrs. Dorow

 

 And Coming Up…

Friday, August 29, and Monday, September 1 - NO School classes for Labor Day holiday

Wednesday, September 3 - Zion Christian Education Association (CEA) first meeting of the year

3:10 p.m.

Saturday, September 6 - Pinewood Derby workshop open 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Saturday, September 13 - AWAY Soccer matches at Jenera vs St. Stephen and Trinity  9 a.m. and

                                                10:30 a.m.

Sunday, September 14 - Christian Education Sunday – PreK-8 students sing for 9 a.m. service

at Zion

Zion Grand Prix Pinewood Derby 12-3 p.m.

Zion Lutheran School

186 Cole Road, Monroe, MI 48162 734-242-1378

Church/School Office:   office@zionmonroe.org Principal: bschneck@zionmonroe.org 

Website: www.zionmonroeschool.org