WOH for Tuesday, February 14th
Words of Hope for Tuesday, February 14, 2017
LEST Craziness! By Kristen Okabayashi
Many of the families in the lower grades might be wondering about all the references to “LEST” and “Concordia Portland”. Beginning tomorrow after school, most of our families in grades 5-8 are driving down to Concordia University’s campus, as we gear up to watch our students compete in many different events, at the unique Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament (LEST). Within these competitions, there is something for everyone to shine in, as the events include basketball, robotics, drama, cheer, math, knowledge bowl, art, chess, music, science, spelling, swimming, and writing. Most of the families stay together at the same hotel in Portland through Saturday, as we all run around like crazy people attending as many events as we can. Most of the events happen at a pre-scheduled time, but the girls and boys basketball schedules depend on wins and losses, and so it’s an exciting and dynamic three days! Some students decide not to compete in anything, but just go down to cheer everyone else on, which is also a lot of fun.
I believe this will be my 11th year of attending LEST. Our first year was exhausting and wonderful at the same time, as we didn’t realize we had to pace ourselves, and my oldest son Ryan competed in five different events at our former (smaller) school, Concordia Seattle. Since then, my kids have competed in basketball, robotics, drama, math, knowledge bowl, chess, and spelling, as they discover what they feel most passionate about and what they are the best at personally. My middle son Alex had one of his best life lessons happen at LEST 2013, as his basketball team lost a heartbreakingly close game, and he had to regroup and perform a lead role in our drama production 30 minutes afterward. He managed to compartmentalize his emotions and perform his role perfectly. LEST is not all joy and happiness, as of course our students cannot possibly win everything they do, but they learn many valuable skills that will help them grow into healthy young men and women. Please pray for our students and families as they prepare to travel down for a wonderful three days in Portland as we look forward to LEST 2017!
Calendar of Events – Click Here
Wed. 2/15: Blue and Gold Day! (Hair and face painting ok) PEP Assembly @ 2pm at Seattle Lutheran High School
Wed. 2/16: 8:40 AM Chapel led by 7th grade, Mrs. Meyer’s class
Thurs. 2/16-2/17: LEST in Portland, OR. No School/ESC Open
Mon. 2/20-2/21: President’s Day and Mid-Winter break/No School, No ESC
Wed 2/22: 8:40 AM Chapel led by Jonathan Kopecky
Admissions Thank you to everyone who has reenrolled. If you have not reenrolled for Fall 2017 please click on this link to register through our online system. You will need your student’s access key which was sent home in January. Tuition contracts will be sent out in April.
Josh Gunderson Assembly Recap
Monday students in grades 4 through 8 from Hope, Holy Rosary and Concordia Seattle as well as Seattle Lutheran High school students gathered in the SLHS gym to hear national speaker and actor, Josh Gunderson talk about the highs and lows of using social media. His main message: Slow down and think before you click send. Through stories of real life situations in his own life and around the nation Josh was able to demonstrate how making available private information on social media can have drastic and sometimes fatal consequences. If you would like to learn more about Josh or utilize his parent resources, click here.
SMART Tuition Year-end Statements Available
SMART has a new enhancement to their system. Year-end statements are available for families that need account totals for tax purposes. Families just log into your account at www.parent.smarttuition.com . Parents must access the statements directly as these are not sent in the mail. For questions call customer service at 888-868-8828.
PIP Opportunities – Click Here
Don’t forget to check out SignUpGenius for PIP Opportunities! Just go to http://www.signupgenius.com/ and search by pth@hopeseattle.org. PTH has many of volunteer needs during the evenings and weekends coming up in the next month:
Middle School Dance – Friday, February 24. Chaperones needed in order to hold this event!! Sign up here.
Congratulations to Boys and Girls Basketball!
Every February the 7th/8th grade boys and girls teams participate in the HIT (Hoops Invitational Tournament) at Lake Stevens. This year the girls placed 3rd and the boys came home with the championship! The trophies are displayed in the school lobby.
Get Your Spirit Gear!
LEST (Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament) is just around the corner! PTH has a limited number of Spirit Kits that will be available for purchase for $12. Spirit Kits include 2 pom poms, 2 blue & gold bead necklaces, 2 blue & gold leis, blue & gold makeup sticks & Eagles hand fan. Extra Eagle hand fans ($3) and Hope Car Flags ($5) may be purchased. Email PTH at pth@hopeseattle.org to order yours!
LEST Spirit Days – February 9 – 15
All students in preschool through 8th grade are invited to join us in spirit days as we gear up for LEST!
Wednesday, Feb 15 – Blue and Gold Day – wear our school colors, show your school pride! (Hair and face painting OK this day.)
These are optional spirit days and students not participating will need to come in school uniforms as usual.
LEST Dates February 16-18, 2017 – For Information Click Here
School Clubs – Click Here
Note that Lego Club K-2 will meet in February on the 28th.
Hope Church & Youth Events – Click Here