New School Year Theme
“We pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power… to grasp how to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
What is the purpose of roots? Two purposes come to my mind quickly when asked that question. The first is roots provide stability. They spread out underneath a plant and hold on tight so when the wind blows or an animal brushes up or walks over the plant it stands firm. The second is roots provide nourishment. They bring up nutrients, minerals, and water from the soil in the ground. This allows the plant to grow and have what it needs to continue to survive.
Do our earthly relationships provide stability and nourishment? Initially, you might say yes as you think of all of the good times you have had with your friends and family over the years. The great vacations, the jokes shared by the fire, and the family meals all provided stability and nourishment. If we are honest with ourselves though, we also see the downside to our relationships. Roots constantly stabilize and nourish. Our earthly relationships do not. As a middle school teacher, I can say I have seen best friends go to worst enemies in a matter of days. I am sure you have stories in your life from this as well. I pray the relationships you had that went through these trials came out intact on the other side, but some do not. Our relationships do not always bring stability and nourishment.
There is one relationship, however, that will always bring stability and nourishment. That relationship is the one with our Lord and Savior. He showed us, undeserved love, by living a perfect life, dying on the cross for our sins, and rising from the dead on the third day, so we can be with him forever in Heaven. His Word continues to give us stability in life even when those words cut us to the bone because it is a message we don’t want to hear. He is always there to hear our prayers, listen to them, and give us answers. Again, they may not always be the answer we desire, but as any good parent knows what is best for their child, He knows what is best for us.
This year at Salem, we will be focusing on the love that God has for us. We will nurture our faith to be rooted in that love for a lifetime and beyond. Life gets dirty just like plants living in the soil. Events and situations arise that will test our earthly relationships. If we are rooted in God’s love, it changes our outlook. His love helps us to see that even in life’s dirtiest moments he is there and will see us through. He will have the words of encouragement, comfort, or strength that we need at any given moment. All of these things come from being rooted in God’s love. This attitude is what we want to instill in our students this year at Salem. Be rooted in God’s love and you will be prepared to deal with life until we are called home to be with our Savior and Lord forever.
Enrollment for 2023-2024
Please encourage any families interested in our school to contact either Mr. Klatt (rklatt@salemlutheran.org) for K-8 students or Mrs. Grobe (jgrobe@salemlutheran.org) for preschool students. Families interested in our school are also encouraged to sign up for a tour on our website: www.salemlutheran.org
Meet the Teacher Event
Orientation for school families takes place on Meet the Teacher Days. The first Meet the Teacher day is Monday, August 14th from 8 am-12 pm and the second is Tuesday, August 15th from 3 pm-7 pm. Families can drop off their children’s school supplies, so they are ready to go for the first day of school. The teachers will also share important information such as class schedules, class rules, communication between parents and teachers, and many other items. Please use the following link to sign up for a time slot: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AAEAC29A0FD0-2023
Different Start Days
Just a reminder for school families that school for K-8 starts on Wednesday, August 23rd, and Preschool starts the following Monday, August 28th.
Information for the New School Year
The first day of school for K-8 is August 23rd! All the information that you will need to get started on the new school year is found in the document below. Please contact the school office (school.office@salemlutheran.org) or Mr. Klatt (rklatt@salemlutheran.org) if you have any questions.
New 3rd Grade Teacher
We are excited to announce that we have a new 3rd-grade teacher, Mrs. Jessica Wolfe, joining our staff this year. Please read more about her here and make sure to welcome her when you see her!
Jessie Wolfe grew up in Goodhue, MN on a dairy farm. She attended an area Lutheran high school where she met her husband (Pastor Ryan Wolfe) and they were married in 2000. They have four teenage children who keep them busy. She graduated from MLC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She has lived and taught preschool in WI, ND, and MN. She has a passion for church and school ministries and also mentors new beginning teachers. When she finds free time she enjoys a good book, hiking, playing handbells, or crafting of many types.
School Lunch News
Mrs. Wall is starting to plan the lunch menus for the 2023-2024 school year. She is looking for new menu ideas or family favorite meals. If there were menu items served in the past you loved or didn’t like please let her know! She is trying to keep things healthy and tasty and is also trying to get the kids to try new things. Please feel free to email any recipes or comments to her at lunch@salemlutheran.org.
The lunchroom is also looking to hire 1 or 2 more people. Volunteers are also greatly appreciated! Contact Mrs. Wall for more information.
Kick-Off School Chapel and Picnic on August 19
On Saturday, August 19th, Salem will be having its kick-off to school event. We will start with a short chapel service at 5 pm with some songs for the students to sing along with as well as a short message from Pastor Wolfe. At 5:30 pm, we will begin the meal with brats, hot dogs, 1919 root beer floats, and much more. Feel free to bring a side dish to share with those in attendance. We are excited to see you all there!
Thank you to Parade Helpers
A big thank you to our helpers who set up, decorated, walked, or handed out water bottles for the Lumberjack Day parade. It was a great event, and we are excited to do it again next year.
Salem School Open Positions for the 2023-2024 School Year
Salem Lutheran School needs someone for both Before School Care and After School Care for the upcoming school year. Before-care runs from 7 am-8:30 am and after-care runs from 3:30 pm-5 pm. The pay is $30 for just before care or aftercare, or $60 a day if you do both. Linked below is the position description.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mLKtzPXnXw4-5Q_HShIRmctCYj2uYIG_DntBlcMfYXQ/edit?usp=sharing
Another position opening at Salem is for a 1st and 2nd-grade aide. This would be for 6 hours daily and split between the 1st and 2nd-grade classrooms. Pay would start at $15 an hour with yearly raises that will be shared during the interview process. Below is linked the position description.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RRMsCopCcU4h16SxR3NY7MN5_XP37ys8CLfL9dNH5YM/edit?usp=sharing
If you would like to apply, feel free to print off the application linked below and return it to the school office. Applications can also be picked up in the school office. Feel free to contact Mr. Klatt (rklatt@salemlutheran.org) with any questions.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p8pnG3QCFQYvB6pnnxBKcDnCiKDeFeuD/view?usp=sharing
Upcoming Events
- August 14 – Meet the Teacher 8 am-12 am
- August 15 – Meet the Teacher 3 pm-7 pm
- August 19 – 5:00 pm Opening School Year Kick off with Cook-out
- August 23 – K-8 First day of school
- August 28 – Preschool First day of school
- September 1-4 – Labor Day Weekend – No School
Referral Program
The School Board approved a program that gives an incentive to recruit new families for our school. If a family who has children enrolled refers a new family to Salem, they will receive a $200 tuition credit at Christmas per family they have referred. A church family who refers a new family will receive a $200 script gift card also at Christmas per family if they so choose. There is no limit to the number of families you can refer. If you have any more questions about the program, speak to a School Board member or Mr. Klatt.
Box Tops for Education
Sign up at https://www.boxtops4education.com or download the Box Tops for Education app on your phone.
Raise Right (formerly Shop With Scrip)
You can buy gift cards from your favorite brands to earn money for Salem on your daily purchases. Visit www.raiseright.com/enroll to set up an account today. Use enrollment code: 2241AD6C1441
We Are Also Collecting Aluminum Cans and Pop Tabs
Aluminum cans benefit our athletic program and can be bagged up and placed in the wooden bin that is next to the garage facing Panama Ave. We will continue to support The Ronald McDonald House by participating in the Pop Tab program. The cash received goes directly to support Ronald McDonald House. They can be dropped off in the bin at the entrance to the school.
Prayer
One way we usually forget about how we can help our school and church is to pray for them throughout the year. Your prayers are always a blessing and it is great to know that you are asking God for his blessings in our school and church year.