WELCOME SSAC

October 28, 29, 30, and 31 is the scheduled dates for the SSAC visit. SSAC stands for Strengthening Schools and Congregations. A team of four consultants will be visiting our church and school to observe and make suggestions to improve our congregation and school ministries. During their visit the consultants will lead focus groups made up of school parents, students, teachers, and congregational leaders. They will also hold interviews and observe many aspects of our church and school. They are here at our request and I am so excited to have them visit. I feel confident that their visit will be a great blessing to First Lutheran Church and School as they offer their insights and recommendations in ways to strengthen and revitalize our mission of sharing the caring Christ more effectively in this place.


Way to Go Honor Roll and Principal's List!

We had 56 students in grades 3-8 who made honor roll or principal's list on their last report card.
Honor roll is at least a 90% average of academic classes and principal's list is at least a 93%average of academic classes. These students will be recognized Wednesday morning during our chapel serevice. Then in the afternoon they will be dismissed to the Fellowship Hall to enjoy an ice cream treat with Mrs. Popp. Congratulations students!

Check out the new pre K cubbies. These cubbies match the pre k 4 cubbies that were built last year. Many thanks to Tom Rabe for his beautiful craftmanship. Thank you also to PTL who provided the funds for this project.

Lots Happening Around Here!

Golf Tournament A Huge Success!
Last Saturday, Oct. 7, First Lutheran held its annual Golf Tournament for Technology. It was our best ever! We had 101 golfers, our highest amount. They all commented about what a great time they had. There were 3 hole in one contests. No one was successful at winning the car donated by Dick Norris, but someone did win a year's free car maintenance and $300 driver. (a golf club not a chauffeur) It should be noted that the winning team was a group of young men from Largo High School led by Andrew Jemmott a former First Lutheran alumni. As of this count the golf tournament raised close to $6,000! Wow, will be be able to put that to good use. There is no possible way this tournament could have been so successful without the work of many volunteers. They put in lots of hours to insure everything went so smoothly. A huge thank you goes to Mrs. Amy Enns, our tournament director. We love you Amy, and really appreciate all your time and effort.


We'd Love To Hear From You
There is now a suggestion box in the school lobby. Lots of times people have some really great ideas for how we can do things better here at FLS. Well, now we've provided a way to efficiently communicate these ideas. Simply pick up a suggestion box submission form in the lobby, fill it in and drop it in the suggestion box. With all of us working together there's no limit to the great things we can accomplish.

Come Cheer For Your Flames!
This Saturday, First Lutheran will host the CFLAA varsity girls' volleyball tournament. CFLAA is an association of Lutheran schools in the Central Florida area. This is a time to show off our beautiful new facility to other Lutheran schools. In addition to great volleyball, there will be concessions and the Spirit Store will be open so you can buy lots of items to show your school spirit. Our Lady Flames have been practicing hard for this tournament and so far have had a very successful season. Again, this tournament will be successful due in large part to many parent volunteeers who will be on hand to do the many jobs it takes to run a tournament. But special recognition goes to Mrs. Natalee Hallsted, our athletic director, for all her hard work preparing for this tournament. Her hard work will continue through Saturday as she coaches our varsity girls. Come on out and cheer us on! Our first game begins at 8:30 a.m.

One Quarter down, Three to Go
Our first quarter end on Friday Oct. 13. The following week report cards will be issued and teachers will be meeting with parents to discuss the report cards. You could add these conferences to your prayer list, praying that they go smoothly as we all work together to do what is best for the students that God has placed in our care.

Back From Conference

What a great conference it was! Last week the teachers attended the Fl -Ga District Educators' Conference. It was fantastic! The conference began with a worship service led by Pastor Wiggins from East Point Georgia. For the next two days teachers attended workshops covering many different topics. On Thursday evening the staff attended a banquet. A group of students from Holy Cross Lutheran School, North Miami performed after the dinner with songs and sign language. They were outstanding. Following the dinner, educators were recogninzed for anniversary years of service. Barb Aliotti and Elaine Popp were both recognized for 25 years of service in a Lutheran School. Also recognized were outstanding educators. Jesse Crosmer (son of Walt and Marj Crosmer) received the award for outstanding administrator of the year. Jesse is the principal of Our Savior Lutheran School in St Petersburg. At our faculty meeting on Monday, the staff shared insights from the conference. Everyone agreed that they had been refreshed, uplifted and ready to return to the classroom and try out some of the new things they had learned.

Next week we will be having our first Spirit Day on Friday morning. This is an opportunity to honor our athletes and have a good time. There is a rumor that there will be a dunk tank that day and that students will have an opportunity to purchase tickets to dunk their favorite teacher. Yikes! Also Friday will be Parents Day for our younger students. And as if that wasn't enough, Friday is also a half day because its the end of our first quarter.

Did you know that the teachers meet three days a week for faculty devotions? Did you know that each week we choose 3 of our school families to pray for? We've all see how powerful these prayers can be in the lives of our students and their families. I would encourage you as well to keep First Lutheran School and its staff in your daily prayers.

Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me(us) in my (our) work by praying to God for me(us). Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us. Romans 15:30