Lent

Wednesday marks an important day on the Church calendar. We observe the beginning of Lent on this day. The history of the Lenten season is an interesting journey. It tells the story of faith-filled servants spanning time and space seeking to observe and celebrate in gratitude the greatest gift of all, Jesus sacrificial atonement of his people. While God does not command the church to observe Lent, we do seek to prepare our hearts and lives as we walk toward Good Friday and Easter through the Lenten season. I recently read a book (thanks to our onslaught of snowdays!) entitled Mudhouse Sabbath in which Lauren Winner writes, "Practicing the spiritual disciplines does not make us Christians. Instead, the practicing teaches us what it means to live as Christians." We will be preparing our own hearts with music, liturgies and visuals during this time as well as inviting our children to mark themselves uniquely during this time. It is a tangible way for our young ones to remember to whom they belong and how that belonging transforms each of us in big and small tangible ways.

In my time at South Side, we have never walked our students through the practice of placing an ashen cross on their foreheads. Let's talk and think about the value of including this in our Wednesday morning devotions as a staff and with your students. It is a tangible way for them to understand there is something different and special about entering into the upcoming 40 days.

Staff Meeting Change
Dave Zimmer would like to come and share the proposed budget before our HC Society meeting. In order to accommodate his request, let's move our monthly staff meeting from Thursday, March 14 to Tuesday, March 12. Dave is available at 3:30. We will hold a brief after-school meeting with Dave on Tuesday, March 12 at 3:30. All are invited to attend this meeting. 

Report Cards
Just for your planning purposes, our third quarter report cards will go home on March 22. If you're able, please have them completed by the 21st so we can print and stuff them for you.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Again, for planning purposes, our parent teacher conferences for the spring will be held on March 25 and 27 from 4:00-8:00.

Kevin Kammeraad
March 28 from 10:30-11:30 Kevin Kammeraad will talk with our little ones about creativity and writing! We'll be in the gym for this fun event (helpful, I hope, after a looooong week leading toward spring break! Fweew!)