Saint Mark Lutheran School News
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The May newsletter is complete, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
All are invited to the first major planning meeting for next years benefit gala scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, May 18 from 8:30am to 10:00am. The meeting will be run by Gala Coordinator, Cissy Shaner as she works to organize the 4th Annual Gala which is taking place on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at The Pacific Club. We will be meeting at Saint Mark School in room 201. The hope is that all those who are interested in helping out with the gala will be in attendance. The gala is the school's biggest fundraiser, and as in years past the monies raised are going in support of the school's growing and extremely important financial aid program as well as technology development. Please call the school office at 247-5589 or email Gala Coordinator, Cissy Shaner at gala@smls-hawaii.org if you have any questions or would otherwise like to assist with the gala.
The grade 1 and grade 2 students are excited to announce that they will be selling fresh basil, oregano, mint, rosemary, eggplant, and manoa lettuce from their very own garden this Wednesday, May 15 from 7:15-8:00 a.m. in front of the chapel. Everything will be $1.00. Supplies are limited, so please come early!
Escape to Athens with Paul! Imagine leaving a life of privilege and power to face angry mobs, imprisonment, and chain-breaking earthquakes - all to spread the life-changing truth of God's love. Join us, June 3-7 from 8:30am to 12:30pm, as we follow Paul in his missionary journey to spread the news about Jesus. Ages 4 - entering 5th grade are welcome at $5 per child (financial assistance is available). Register your child today by visiting: https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/saintmark If you would like more information, please contact Miss Morris at sarah@stmarkhawaii.org or call the church office at 247-4565.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, the PTC (Parent Teacher Committee) sponsored a wonderful lunch for the Saint Mark faculty and staff this past Wednesday, May 1. The staff was treated to a wonderful meal from "Fresh Catch" along with a fantastic chocolate fountain dessert bar. The PTC also purchased stylish shirts, goodie bags, and gift cards for the teachers. It was truly a special day and one that the staff thoroughly enjoyed and will not soon forget. Mahalo to the PTC for organizing and sponsoring this great event!
This is a friendly reminder that the gym has been turned into a Museum of Fine Arts displaying work of every Saint Mark student. Families are encouraged to come and enjoy the art work on today, Thursday, April 25 from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. Parents are permitted to park behind the school office on the black top between 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. should they need extra room to park. Please call the school office at 247-5589 with any questions.
It is Saint Mark Lutheran Church's great pleasure to announce Equipping for Mission class beginning Sunday, April 28 at 1 p.m. This 5-week class is intended for those who desire to learn more about the mission of Saint Mark Lutheran Church and School, the Christian faith, and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This class is a requirement for church membership and offers the benefit of discounted tuition for enrollment the next school year. It is our sincerest hope that you join us in our mission to God's kingdom through our Savior Jesus Christ. Please contact the church office at 247-4565 with questions or to inquire about babysitting needs during the class sessions.
The K-2 Saint Mark Choir Presents: "Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo" - a children's musical cantata about Noah, his family, the ark, the animals, and the rainbow. Please come and join us for our Spring Cantata this Sunday, April 21 at 5:00 p.m. in the Saint Mark chapel.
Please join us for the Family Work Day at Saint Mark this Saturday, April 20 at 9:00am. Everyone is welcome, but all students must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your gardening tools, painting supplies, and/or cleaning supplies. We will try to have something for everyone, and lunch will be provided. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions or would like to RSVP for this special event.
Army Reserve 9th MSC Child Youth and School Services, Military Partners, and Community Partners are inviting everyone (including Saint Mark students) in the Pacific Region - Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa - to wear purple on Monday, April 15th. Purple symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green; Marine red; and Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force blue. Purple Up! acts as a visible way to show support and thank military youth for their strength and sacrifices. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
This is a friendly reminder that classes resume following the spring break on Tuesday, April 2. There is no school on Monday, April 1 in observance of Easter. Please be expecting the third quarter report cards for the K-5 students on Tuesday. The reports will be going home with the K-5 students.
In celebration of Saint Mark spirit week, Saint Mark is having theme days during the week of March 11 to 15. The themes are as follows: Monday (MisMatch Day); Tuesday (Class Color/Pride Day); Wednesday (Crazy Socks Day); Thursday (Sports/UH Appreciation Day); and Friday (Crazy Hair Day). A flyer was sent home earlier this week and is available on-line detailing the different theme days. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The PTC (Parent Teacher Committee) raised over $1,500 at this year's rummage sale on Saturday, February 9th! A big mahalo goes to everyone who helped make this fundraiser so successful. Among others, we thank Jennifer Inouye, Shawna Kalahiki, Amy Casey, Lisa Miller, Lila Marantz, Lenore Warren, Adele Kimura-Kemp, Shelly Nobriga, Kathy Cruz, Liz Stone, Sara Alimoot, Deborah Keliikipi, Ralph Aona, Leneen Brophy, Tanya Flores, Jamie Kekaulike, Lyle Ostrander, Robin Kaha'ulelio, Mele Manu, Dale Gibo, Victoria Flores, and PTC President, Denise Warrington for their contributions. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
In the continuing effort to assure that Saint Mark is properly prepared should an emergency occur, the school underwent a lockdown drill on Tuesday, February 26. The drill went very well with the entire school being completely locked down in under 5 minutes. The school was kept in lockdown for 15 minutes while teachers worked with their classes to assure the proper procedures were being followed. School faculty and staff will debrief the drill as they work to improve the procedures in the future. In the event of a real lockdown, school families would be alerted through the school's email alert system (sign-up at www.smls-hawaii.org). Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
This is a friendly reminder that in order to guarantee your child's spot for the 2013-2014 school year, enrollment contracts along with the enrollment fee for all RETURNING students must be turned into the school office no later than tomorrow, February 26, 2013. Please call our Business Manager, Melelani Lawrence, at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The "Get Active" hour of physical activity will be held tomorrow, February 20 from 10:00 - 11:00am and will be followed by the annual all-school Potluck Lunch. The entire student body will be involved and is asked to please provide a healthy food dish that will feed at least 4-5 students. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
All are invited to attend the Saint Mark Lutheran Church morning worship this Sunday, February 17 beginning at 9:30am. The K-2 choir will be singing four fun songs throughout the service. Please talk to Choir Director, Mrs. JoAnn Gundermann, Pastor Matt, or call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Saint Mark families are invited to the spring family night at the Ice Palace this Friday, February 15, 2013 beginning at 6:00pm. The cost is $8.50 per skater (discounted price) and includes skate rental. If you would like to attend, please complete and return the bottom portion of the informational flyer that was sent home with students. All R.S.V.P's and payments are due this Wednesday, February 13. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
"The Amazing Food Detective" is coming to Saint Mark on Monday, February 11 in a show for the entire student body. The food detective is on the case investigating clues to healthy eating and physical activity that help young students understand the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and developed in partnership with health experts, schools, and health organizations, the Amazing Food Detective presents health messages that include the need to: 1) Eat 5 fruits and veggies every day; 2) Eat regular meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner; 3) Be physically active 60 minutes a day; and 4) Spend less than 2 hours a day in front of the TV or computer. The show is being performed at no charge to Saint Mark and features members of the Performing Arts Center of Kapolei, including Saint Mark 8th grader, Isaiah Graham. Kaiser Permanente is excited about this opportunity to influence healthy eating and active living in our schools and at home. More information including printed resources for educators and parents is available at: www.kp.org/amazingfooddetective
To be eligible for the t-shirt and prizes, all monies collected for "Get Active" are due Friday, February 8. $25 gift cards to Sports Authority will be awarded to the top 3 money collectors, and all students who collect $75 or more will get a Saint Mark Athletics T-shirt. Monies collected will go towards the purchase of new P.E. equipment, recess balls, athletic equipment and travel, etc. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
We are looking forward to the PTC's rummage sale this Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 9:00am-1:00 pm. Last year's sale was a great success thanks to all of your help. Please continue to save items that can be donated to the sale. All donations are being accepted after school on Friday, February 8th (between 2:45 and 5:00pm). If you are unable to bring your items on Friday, you can drop-off on Saturday, February 9th (between 6:00 and 8:00am). Any leftover items will be donated to Cerebral Palsy following the sale. Please call the school office at 247-5589 or contact PTC President, Denise Warrington should you have any questions or would like to help out with the sale. Mahalo for your support of this important event!
As you have hopefully already heard, Saint Mark is again participating in "Get Active" - a push to get students moving and physically active. The students are being asked to promote physical activity and collect donations in support of Saint Mark athletics. Monies collected will go towards the purchase of new P.E. equipment, recess balls, athletic equipment and travel, etc. The students received their sponsor pledge forms on January 16th. The sponsor pledge forms and all monies are due by Friday, February 8. $25 gift cards to Sports Authority will be awarded to the top 3 money collectors. Also, all students who collect $75 or more will get a newly designed Saint Mark Athletics T-shirt. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Please do not forget that there is no school on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1. The teachers will be working to improve their craft by participating in the annual Lutheran educators' conferences. Classes resume on Monday, February 4. Thank you for your understanding.
The January newsletter is complete, and a hard copy was sent home earlier in the week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on the left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Pictures from the first ever Saint Mark Snow Day have just been posted on-line. You are invited to please check them out on the Saint Mark Facebook page. We thank James Anshutz of James Anshutz Photography for the wonderful photos.
Saint Mark's first ever "Snow Day" was a HUGE success! The students took turns enjoying this special treat which included a 45 foot snow slide. Please tune into KITV 4 (cable channel 6) tonight at 6:00 p.m. to see some clips from today's fun. Also, please be on the lookout in the days and weeks ahead for the numerous photos that will be posted on the Saint Mark Facebook page as well as a promotional video showing some of today’s excitement. Thanks to all who helped make this event such a memorable experience for our students!
This is a friendly reminder that Snow Day at Saint Mark is scheduled for tomorrow, January 18. Students are allowed to wear “snow” clothes (long pants/jeans, jackets, gloves, etc.) to school; however, they will need to bring a set of uniform clothes along with a pair of dry shoes to change into after their turn in the snow. It should be a ton of fun!
New student applications for the 2013-2014 school year are due to the school office by Tuesday, January 15 for priority consideration. Applications for new students will continue to be accepted; however, priority consideration will be given to those applications received by the January 15th cutoff. For information on how to apply, please call the school office at 247-5589 or visit the Admissions Page of the Saint Mark school website. Re-enrollment for existing Saint Mark students will begin at the end of January.
This is a friendly reminder that classes resume following the winter break tomorrow, January 3. Also, please be expecting the second quarter report cards for the K-5 students. The reports will be going home with the K-5 students Thursday afternoon.
Mele Kalikimaka! You are joyfully invited to join the Saint Mark Lutheran ohana in celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas Eve services are at 6:00pm for the family worship and 8:00pm for the traditional worship which includes our Saint Mark choir. Both services will conclude with beautiful carols sung by candlelight. The Christmas Day service is at 9:30am with Holy Communion. Please join us for one (or more) of the services! For more information, please check the Saint Mark church website.
The November/December newsletter is complete, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on the left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Due to the excessively muddy condition of the field and the forecast for continued showers tonight and tomorrow, we (in discussion with the snow makers) have decided to reschedule tomorrow's snow day for Friday, January 18, 2013. We are sorry if this decision is disappointing or creates an inconvenience, but we do feel it is the right thing to do given the situation. Thank you for your understanding.
An informational flyer explaining the Snow Day details has just been posted on-line and will be going home with the students on Tuesday. Please take a few minutes to read the flyer and feel free to call the school office should you have any questions. Mahalo!
We are excited to announce that Saint Mark received a $10,000 grant from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation for continued facility improvements and technology upgrades. We greatly appreciate their wonderful generosity, and especially thank Mr. Alfred L. Castle, the Executive Director of the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation.
We Did It! (December 14th, 2012)
We are thrilled to report that the mighty Saint Mark ohana has reached its two week goal of generating 200 additional Facebook Likes and collecting 200 new toys. In fact, the goal has been reached in just over one week. As promised, we will therefore be having a "Snow Day" on Wednesday, December 19 (weather permitting). Mahalo nui loa to all of our supporters! At latest count, your hard work and generosity has resulted in 457 "Facebook Likes" and 330 new toys collected for the Salvation Army! Way to go...
With the holidays rapidly approaching, Kamehameha Highway tends to become increasingly congested, and the patience of drivers can occasionally be tested. Thus, it is important for the safety of the students and for the facilitation of smooth traffic flow that everyone remains understanding and abides by the following as stated in our handbook: "All dropping-off and picking-up must be done in the school parking lot. Children are not to be dropped off or picked up on Kamehameha Highway. Please park in a designated parking space, if you need to leave your car for any reason. If there are no parking spaces available during afternoon pick up, we respectfully request that you double park on the left hand side of the parking lot and not leave your car. A faculty member will walk your child across to you. The right hand lane is intended only for cars actively leaving the parking lot. The red curb in front of the church is for immediate pickup and drop-off only. Please do not park your car there unless you are actively loading or unloading." Your kokua is greatly appreciated!
It is with a concerned heart that we share some sad news with you regarding our beloved junior high teacher, Mrs. McGregor. Unfortunately, she has been diagnosed with cancer and will need to take an indefinite leave of absence as she fights to get well. She bravely battled cancer in 2011 and is committed to fight again. We humbly ask that you keep Mrs. McGregor and her family in your thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time. Mahalo Nui Loa!
Saint Mark Lutheran School is announcing an exciting opportunity called the "Triple T Challenge"! If the Saint Mark ohana can collect Two hundred New Toys and generate Two hundred additional Facebook Likes (bringing our total "Likes" to 450) in the next two weeks, the Saint Mark students will be treated to snow day on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 (weather permitting). That’s right…..Two hundred New Toys + Two hundred additional Facebook Likes in Two weeks = Tons of Snow. We ask that the toys be brought in as chapel offering during the next two weeks. All toys collected will be donated to Family Promise Hawaii and the Salvation Army who will in turn give them as Christmas gifts to some of Hawaii’s less fortunate children. Please call the school office or see the informational letter that went home with the students today if you have any questions. Mahalo!
This is a friendly reminder that the grade 4 students are having a bake sale tomorrow morning, November 29 from 7:15 to 7:45am. Musubis, baked goods, chips, and drinks are some of the items that will be on sale (these items are in addition to their pre-sale items). Supplies are limited, so please be there early if you want to get in on the goodies. All sales go in support of the upcoming Grade 4 Big Island Trip.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, the grade 1 and 2 students harvested their Grow Hawaii garden and used the veggies to help make a tasty stew. Be sure to check out some of the pictures of the GIANT squash posted on the Saint Mark Facebook page. Happy Thanksgiving!
As you have hopefully heard, the 3rd annual gala for Saint Mark was a huge success. $30,000 was raised for two very important causes – financial aid and technology improvements. Saint Mark Lutheran School sincerely thanks all of its generous sponsors and donors. A full list of donors was included on the gala program and is listed on the gala page of school's website. Mahalo nui loa to all who supported this important cause!
The chapel offering for the remainder of November through December 19, 2012 will go in support of Family Promise Hawaii and Salvation Army Christmas Baskets. Family Promise hosts homeless families in the Saint Mark gym several times a year – included over the Christmas break. The Saint Mark students will work to make their Christmas a little merrier with gifts and gift cards. Also, food and toys will be given to Kaneohe's Salvation Army who will be distributing Christmas baskets and gifts to needy families on the windward side of Oahu.
Saint Mark Lutheran School's annual open house for prospective parents is planned for Thursday, November 15, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:00pm. A letter and informational flyer advertising the event were sent home with students last week. We encourage all current Saint Mark families to please distribute the flyer to anyone who might be interested in sending their children to Saint Mark. As our biggest supporters, we would love to have current families attend the open house along with their guests. The evening will consist of a meet-&-greet in the gym with pupus and will be followed by a brief presentation and a chance to visit the classrooms and teachers. Any current Saint Mark family who accompanies a new family to the Open house will receive $20 worth of lunch tickets that can be redeemed immediately or $100 tuition voucher for the 2013-2014 school year. Thank you very much for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
The 3rd Annual Benefit Gala for Saint Mark was a huge success! Thanks to the generous contributions of our many supporters, we raised over $30,000 for the school. This represents a 36% increase over last year's totals. The monies are going in support of two very important needs – financial aid and technology. We profoundly thank all who supported this important and fun event. Please check out the over 180 gala pictures that have been added to the Saint Mark Facebook page. Thanks to Kathleen Funk-Linton for the photos.
The October newsletter is complete, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on the left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
With the annual benefit gala for Saint Mark scheduled for this coming Saturday, November 3, we must finalize our head count as well as our list of donations for the auction. If you would like to attend the gala or make a donation to the auction, please call Mel Lawrence at 247-5589 at your earliest convenience. Your support of this very important event is essential to its success. Mahalo nui loa!
This is a friendly reminder that the grade 4 students are having a bake sale tomorrow morning, October 25 from 7:15 to 7:45am. Cupcakes, musubis, chips, apple sauce, cookies, nori, granola bars, and juice/milk are some of the items that will be on sale. Supplies are limited, so please be there early if you want to get in on the goodies. All sales go in support of the upcoming Grade 4 Big Island Trip.
Saint Mark Lutheran is currently accepting new student applications for the 2013-2014 school year. Applications are available on-line or in the school office. Please call Admission Coordinator, Leilani Lee, at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
This is a friendly reminder that the K-2 concert and potluck is scheduled for this Sunday, October 21 at 5:00pm. The students will be presenting "There's Music in the Air".
This is a friendly reminder that due to the Parent-Teacher Conferences for grades K-5, school is dismissed today at 11:30am. Aftercare is provided. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The chapel offering for the remainder of October through November 14, 2012 will go to the Hawaii affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In support of all the women that are affected by breast cancer, our donations will be going to a foundation whose mission is to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and encourage opportunities for science research in order to find the cure.
The PTC along with event coordinator, Cissy Shaner, are in the final stages of planning for the very important benefit gala on November 3 at 5:30pm at the Pacific Club. Tickets are still available, and donations to the silent auction are happily being accepted. A parent letter was sent home today and is available on-line explaining some of the details and encouraging your participation. Please contact the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions, want to purchase tickets, or make a donation. Donations can also be securely made on-line at the Giving section of the school website.
We invite you all to please take a couple of minutes to read Mr. Gaudi's column entitled "New Technology in Schools is Inevitable but Proper Planning is Crucial" in today's Honolulu Star-Advertiser. It includes some of Mr. Gaudi's thoughts on iPads and other technologies in the classroom. It is also available on the Saint Mark website.
This is a friendly reminder that classes resume following the fall intersession on Monday, October 15. Lunch for the day is Baked Spaghetti with bread, fruits and vegetables. Also, please be expecting the first quarter report cards for the K-5 students. The reports will be going home with the students that afternoon.
The September newsletter is complete, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on the left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Saint Mark receives a $10,000 grant from The Pettus Foundation to continue improvements to the school's facilities and technology. We are extremely grateful to The Pettus Foundation. We particularly thank Pettus Foundation Trustees, James Finch and Lisa Hamilton, and Adviser to the Pettus Foundation, Al Castle, for their generosity and commitment to Saint Mark.
We are happy to report that the iPads are here and are being put to great use! Although the iPad cases have yet to arrive, Saint Mark's latest learning tool has already made its way into the classroom. You are invited to check out a few pictures of the grade 4 students who are using them for laboratory activities and whiteboard presentations. We thank the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation, our Parent Teacher Committee (PTC), and supporters of the annual gala for their donations to this new, exciting, and potentially transformational technology.
With our 3rd annual benefit gala for Saint Mark Lutheran School less than two months away, it is very important that we continue to collect donations for the silent auction and sell tickets to the event. An important letter went home last week detailing the gala and soliciting support. Along with the letter were a Silent Auction Donation Form and Sponsorship Reply Form. If you are interested in attending the gala, please complete the sponsorship form and/or contact Melelani Lawrence at 247-5589 or melelani@smls-hawaii.org. If you are unable to attend, please know that there are many other ways to support this event and our school. For example, you can donate to the silent auction, assist with the creation of the class project(s), help with the class baskets, encourage others to participate, or simply talk-up the event. Your helped is needed and greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
Photos from the 2012 Fall Family Night have just been posted on-line. You are invited to please check them out on the Saint Mark Facebook page. Despite the wet weather, Saint Mark families (over 250 people in all) gathered on the school lawn at twilight, ate a great dinner provided by the 4th grade families, and then enjoyed the movie "Happy Feet Two". It was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a school community and share a fun evening of food and family. Students also enjoyed the face painting, special arts and crafts, and the book fair. We thank Miss Camit for the wonderful pictures.
Please don't forget that tonight is the Saint Mark Fall Family Night! The evening runs from 6:00-9:00pm with the movie beginning at approximately 7:00pm. The Scholastic Book Fair will be open from 6:00-7:00pm. Please come early to get a spot on the lawn and watch the movie with us under the stars! (However, please be aware that we may have to move the show into the gym or chapel if it rains.) Our featured movie is "Happy Feet Two" featuring the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, Common, Hank Azaria, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Sofía Vergara. Spam musubi, hot dogs, chili, nachos, popcorn, baked goods, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase from 6:00-8:00pm. These items are provided by the 4th grade class as a fundraiser for their Big Island trip in May. And out of respect for everyone attending the family night, we kindly request that all children who attend sit with their families during the movie and not roam around the campus. Thank you and hope to see you there!
Saint Mark Lutheran School is again participating in Give Aloha, Foodland's Annual Matching Gifts Program. From September 1 to 30, 2012, customers are invited to make donations of up to a cumulative total of $249 (per person, per organization) at checkout to their favorite participating Hawaii non-profit organization. Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation up to a total of $350,000 for all organizations combined. An informational flyer was sent home with students and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions. Thank you for your support!
This is a friendly reminder that due to the Optional Parent-Teacher Conferences for grades 6-8, school is dismissed today at 11:30am. Aftercare is provided. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The August newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on the left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
We are half way through our catalogue and cookie dough fall fundraiser! Students were given a packet last week containing a catalogue and two inserts (Nuts About Snacks and Tasty Batters) from Great American Opportunities. We are asking our students to sell as many items from the catalogue and inserts as they can by Wednesday, August 29. The more products we sell, the more money we raise for the school. Our goal is to raise $10,000 by next Wednesday! Please see the informational sheet that went home with the students last week for the details of the fundraiser and wonderful incentives/prizes. We are thrilled to be giving away a Kindle Fire as our grand prize! Mahalo for your support!
Keiki hula classes at Saint Mark will be resuming next Tuesday, August 14. Aunty Napualei Saunders (Kaleimakali'i's Mom) will again be teaching the class that will introduce hula to Saint Mark keiki. In this class, keiki will learn basic hands (lima) and feet (wawae) that will create their foundation in hula. Classes will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:00pm at Saint Mark at a cost of $48 a month. Please read the informational flyer for further details, and contact Napualei Saunders at 778-7986 or tnls68@hotmail.com should you have any questions.
We are thrilled to announce that we met our goal of raising $25,000 by June 30 which was matched by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. This latest fundraising endeavor brought the total monies raised in the 2011-2012 school year to nearly $200,000. Please check out the before, during, and after photos posted on the Saint Mark Facebook Page showing how some of the monies were used to beautify the school. A BIG mahalo all of our generous donors!
Now that the new school year has begun, we are offering a friendly reminder of our parking lot procedures as stated in our handbook: "All dropping-off and picking-up must be done in the school parking lot. Children are not to be dropped off or picked up on Kamehameha Highway. Please park in a designated parking space, if you need to leave your car for any reason. If there are no parking spaces available during afternoon pick up, we respectfully request that you double park on the left hand side of the parking lot and not leave your car. A faculty member will walk your child across to you. The right hand lane is intended only for cars actively leaving the parking lot. The red curb in front of the church is for immediate pickup and drop-off only. Please do not park your car there unless you are actively loading or unloading." Your kokua is greatly appreciated!
The new school year begins on Tuesday, July 31 at 7:55am. The first day will be a half day ending at 11:30am with NO AFTERCARE. The rest of the week will be normal school hours with dismissal at 1:15pm on Wednesday, August 1 and dismissal at 2:45pm on Thursday, August 2 and Friday, August 3. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions. See you soon!
This is the final week of our matching funds drive! Thanks to the generous donations of Saint Mark's alumni and their extended families we have almost reached our goal or $25,000! At latest count we have raised $20,200. If you are interested in contributing to this wonderful cause, you have a few more days to make a donation! You can donate on-line or drop off a check in the school office. Every dollar donated up to $25,000 will be matched by the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation. Monies raised are going towards renovations of the school grounds (50 year old classrooms, bathrooms, walkways, library, office, etc.) and to enhance the school’s technology offerings (30 new iPads). Photos showing the first stages of the renovations were posted last week on the Saint Mark Facebook Page. Mahalo for your support!
Photos showing some of the work being done on to the school campus have been posted on-line. You are invited to please check them out on the Saint Mark Facebook Page. Work includes massive improvements to many of the older classrooms as well as the library and school office. Work will continue into July. We thank the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, the Samuel & Mary Castle Foundation, and the Saint Mark alumni (and their families) for the generous donations that made these improvements possible.
There are only three weeks remaining in our matching funds drive! Thanks to the generous donations of Saint Mark's alumni and their extended families we have already raised over $18,000. However, we are not done yet; our goal is $25,000! If you are interested in contributing to this wonderful drive, you have until June 30 to make a donation! As has been previously reported, every dollar donated up to $25,000 will be matched by the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation. Contact Leilani Lee at 247-5589 or llee@smls-hawaii.org should you have any questions or want to make a donation. You can also donate on-line. Mahalo for your support!
The May newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home yesterday with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on the left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
The National Association of Letter Carriers is conducting their 20th annual Food Drive this Saturday, May 12, 2012. This food drive is the largest of its kind in the nation and is the perfect opportunity for us to give back to the food banks across the state. If you put your non-perishable donation in a bag by your mailbox this Saturday, it will be picked up and delivered to a local food bank. A flyer advertising this important food drive and is available on-line.
Those of you planning to attend the Athletic Banquet next Thursday, May 17 must R.S.V.P. to Mrs. Kong or the school office no later than this Friday, May 11. If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Kong at 247-5589 or Mrs. Denise Warrington at 561-7688. Thank you.
Saint Mark Lutheran Church is holding its Second Annual Ladies Tea on Saturday, May 12 at 2 p.m. in the Saint Mark gym. Ladies of all ages are invited. Please send in your RSVP slips to the school office or RSVP to hilpertfamily@gmail.com by Wednesday, May 8 to ensure there is enough seating for everyone to enjoy. Hope to see you there!
Photos from the 2012 Saint Mark May Day Program on Friday, May 4 have just been posted on-line. You are invited to please check them out on the Saint Mark Facebook page. We thank James Anshutz of James Anshutz Photography and Michelle Amoy for the wonderful pictures.
We are having our May Day celebration on Friday, May 4 from 12:45 - 2:15pm, and we may have more cars than can be accommodated on the Saint Mark grounds. Thus, we are requesting that you please carpool if possible and be aware that you will need to find off campus parking on surrounding roads should our grounds be filled. Mahalo!
The artwork from various Saint Mark students can be viewed in the chamber level of the State Capitol throughout the month of May and will feature various mediums of artwork. This is part of Senator Jill Tokuda's Art Review (STAR) Program where artwork of students from Windward O‘ahu are displayed. The public is welcome to view the artwork at the Hawai`i State Capitol, Chamber Level, Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (excluding holidays) and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information check out the press release or call 587-7215.
We are excited to report that we have passed the halfway point in our matching funds drive! Thanks to the generous donations of Saint Mark's alumni and their extended families we have already raised over $14,000. We have until June 30 to reach our goal of $25,000. As has been previously reported, every dollar donated up to $25,000 will be matched by the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation. We are carefully tracking the donations with an on-line thermometer on the Saint Mark web site. We kindly request that you continue to help us get out the word to all of our alumni and their families. Contact Leilani Lee at 247-5589 or llee@smls-hawaii.org should you have any questions, want to make a donation, or otherwise assist in our efforts. Mahalo for your support!
We are happy to announce that Saint Mark recently received a check for $440 from Box Tops for Education (bringing our 2011-12 total to well over $800). A big mahalo goes to Mrs. Cameline (mother of Jaden Cameline - kindergarten) and Mrs. Olson for their continued efforts organizing this ongoing fundraiser. We also offer our appreciation to all of you who have collected and continue to collect those small little box tops. Thank you!
The April newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
The K-2 Saint Mark Choir Presents: "A Great Big, Glorious, Marvelous, Wonderful World" - a children's musical cantata about creation. Please come and join us for our Spring Cantata this Sunday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m. in the Saint Mark chapel.
Please join us for the Family Work Day at Saint Mark this Saturday, April 21 at 9:00am. Everyone is welcome, but all students must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your gardening tools, painting supplies, and/or cleaning supplies. We will try to have something for everyone, and lunch will be provided. An informational flyer was sent home today with students and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions or would like to RSVP for this special event.
With Campus Creations having their end of season sale, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind our school families of the dress code change that will be going into effect at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. As was first reported in June 2011 and as it is stated in the 2011-2012 Parent/Student Handbook, "Beginning in 2012-2013 school year, students will only be permitted to wear jackets purchased from Campus Creations with the Saint Mark Lutheran School logo. No other jackets will be permitted." Realizing that this is somewhat of a significant change, Saint Mark decided back in the spring of 2011 to give a one year notice before implementing the change. And since we are now only a few months away from the new policy taking effect, we thought some of you may want to take advantage of this sale. The Campus Creations sale runs until March 24 and includes 30% off jackets/sweaters. Please see the flyer or call 484-9191 for further information.
The February/March newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
In celebration of Lutheran School's week, Saint Mark is having theme days and morning devotions/refreshments during the week of March 5 to 9. The class devotions/refreshments begin at 7:30am and are scheduled as follows: grades 1&2 on Monday, March 5; grade 3 on Tuesday, March 6; grades 4&5 on Thursday, March 8; and K & grades 6-8 on Friday, March 9. A flyer was sent home earlier this week and is available on-line detailing the different theme days. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
As was previously reported, Saint Mark has begun a push to collect $25,000 in donations from Saint Mark alumni and their extended family. Every dollar donated up to $25,000 will be matched by the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation. We are carefully tracking the donations with an on-line thermometer on the Saint Mark web site. Please check it out and see that we have already raised nearly $1,000! However, this is only the beginning, so please help us get out the word to all of our alumni and their families. Contact Leilani Lee at 247-5589 or llee@smls-hawaii.org should you have any questions, want to make a donation, or otherwise assist in our efforts. Thank you.
The Hawaii Lutheran Schools Music Festival Concert will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Leeward Community College Theater in Pearl City. The theater is located at 96-045 Ala Ike (at the junction of H-1 and H-2 freeways). The concert features the combined choirs and combined bands from Emmanuel (Maui), Our Redeemer, Our Savior, Saint Mark and Trinity Lutheran Schools. Admission is $5.00 per person.
The PTC (Parent Teacher Committee) raised over $1,200 this past Saturday at their spring rummage sale! A big mahalo goes to everyone who helped make this fundraiser so successful. We especially thank our PTC President, Denise Warrington, for her efforts to organize this wonderful event. Mahalo Nui Loa!
Please remember that in order to guarantee your child's spot for the 2012-2013 school year, enrollment contracts along with the enrollment fee for all returning students must be turned into the school office no later than tomorrow, February 23, 2012. Please call our Business Manager, Melelani Lawrence, at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The Harold K. L. Castle Foundation has pledged to give Saint Mark $25,000 in matching funds! The stipulation being that they will only match donations received from alumni and their extended families. Therefore, Saint Mark is hoping to raise $50,000 by June 30, 2012 ($25,000 coming from alumni and $25,000 coming from the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation). The monies will be used to continue our efforts to renovate the school grounds (50 year old classrooms, library, etc.) and enhance our technology offerings. An informational letter and donation form with more details are available on-line. Please go to the Saint Mark website to learn more or to make your donation. We need to get the word out to all of our alumni and their families, so please, please help us spread the word. Contact Leilani Lee at 247-5589 or llee@smls-hawaii.org should you have any questions or want to assist in our efforts. Thank you for your help in this very important endeavor.
This is a friendly reminder that the Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) is having their rummage sale this Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 9:00am-1:00 pm. All donations are being accepted after school on Friday, February 17th (between 2:45 and 5:00pm) or if you are unable to bring your items on Friday, drop-off is on Saturday, February 18th (between 6:00 and 8:00am). Please call the school office at 247-5589 or email Denise Warrington at ptc@smls-hawaii.org should you have any questions or want to help out with the sale. Mahalo for your support!
The "Get Active" promotion was a huge success with $4,400 being collected for the purchase of new P.E. equipment, recess balls, athletic equipment and travel, etc. The fundraiser culminated with a Get Active hour of physical activity held on February 15 and followed by the annual all-school Potluck Lunch. Check out the video of the students, faculty and staff doing Zumba! Everyone was clearly having a ton of fun while GETTING ACTIVE. Thanks to all who supported this important event.
The "Get Active" hour of physical activity will be held tomorrow, February 15 from 10:00 - 11:00am and will be followed by the annual all-school Potluck Lunch. The entire student body will be involved and is asked to please provide a healthy food dish that will feed at least 4-5 students. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
We are looking forward to the PTC's rummage sale next Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 9:00am-1:00 pm. Last year's sale was a great success thanks to all of your help. Please continue to save items that can be donated to the sale. All donations are being accepted after school on Friday, February 17th (between 2:45 and 5:00pm) or if you are unable to bring your items on Friday, drop-off is on Saturday, February 18th (between 6:00 and 8:00am). Any leftover items will be donated to Cerebral Palsy following the sale. Please call the school office at 247-5589 (or complete the rummage sale flyer that was sent home last week) should you have any questions or would like to help out with the sale. Mahalo for your support of this important event!
Please do not forget that there is no school on Thursday, February 2 and Friday, February 3. The teachers will be working to improve their craft by participating in the annual Lutheran educators' conferences. Classes resume on Monday, February 6. Thank you for your understanding.
The January newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Saint Mark families are invited to the spring family night at the Ice Palace on Friday, February 10, 2012. If you would like to attend, please complete and return the bottom portion of the informational flyer that was sent home with students and is available on-line. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Re-enrollment letters with contracts for the 2012-2013 school year went home with the students today. The Enrollment Contracts and enrollment fee are due back to the school office no later than Thursday, February 23, 2012 to guarantee a spot for the 2012-13 school year. We profoundly thank you for choosing Saint Mark and look forward to the return of your children's smiling faces next year. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
We are happy to announce that Saint Mark is again participating in "Get Active" - a push to get students moving and physically active. The students are being asked to promote physical activity and collect donations in support of Saint Mark athletics. Monies collected will go towards the purchase of new P.E. equipment, recess balls, athletic equipment and travel, etc. The students received their sponsor pledge forms last week. The sponsor pledge forms and all monies are due by Monday, February 6. $25 gift cards to Sports Authority will be awarded to the top 3 money collectors. Also, all students who collect $75 or more will get a newly designed Saint Mark T-shirt. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
New student applications for the 2012-2013 school year are due to the school office by January 15 for priority consideration. Applications will continue to be accepted; however, priority consideration will be given to those applications received before the January 15th cutoff. For information on how to apply, please call the school office at 247-5589 or visit the Admissions Page of the Saint Mark school website.
The 4th graders are selling spaghetti dinners to raise money for their Big Island trip in May. Tickets can be purchased for $5.00 in the school office or from any 4th grader between now and January 18th. The spaghetti dinners include garlic bread and tossed salad and are to be picked up at the Saint Mark School parking lot on Friday, January 20 between 5:30 and 6:30pm. An informational flyer was sent home and is available on the Saint Mark Facebook page. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions or want to purchase tickets.
Beginning in January, Aunty Napualei Saunders (Kaleimakali'i's Mom) will be teaching a new class that will introduce hula to Saint Mark keiki. In this class, keiki will learn basic hands (lima) and feet (wawae) that will create their foundation in hula. Classes will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30pm at Saint Mark at a cost of $48 a month. Please read the informational flyer for further details. Please feel free to call Napualei Saunders at 778-7986 or tnls68@hotmail.com should you have any questions.
We are thrilled to announce that Saint Mark Lutheran School has just received two $50,000 grants! We received one $50,000 gift from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation and one $50,000 gift from the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. The money will primarily be used to renovate the school grounds. There may also be some monies for new educational technologies. We greatly appreciate the immense generosity of both foundations and especially thank Mr. Alfred L. Castle, the Executive Director of the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation, and Terrance R. George, the Vice President and Executive Director of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.
The November/December newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
With the holidays rapidly approaching, Kamehameha Highway tends to become increasingly congested, and the patience of drivers can occasionally be tested. Thus, it is important for the safety of the students and for the facilitation of smooth traffic flow that everyone remains understanding and abides by the following as stated in our handbook: "All dropping-off and picking-up must be done in the school parking lot. Children are not to be dropped off or picked up on Kamehameha Highway. Please park in a designated parking space, if you need to leave your car for any reason. If there are no parking spaces available during afternoon pick up, we respectfully request that you double park on the left hand side of the parking lot and not leave your car. A faculty member will walk your child across to you. The right hand lane is intended only for cars actively leaving the parking lot. The red curb in front of the church is for immediate pickup and drop-off only. Please do not park your car there unless you are actively loading or unloading." Your kokua is greatly appreciated!
During the next three weeks, we are inviting our school families to sell our extra Passport Discount Cards left over from the August fundraiser. How it works: simply stop by the school office and pick up the passports you want to sell, bring the money back as the cards are sold, and pick up additional cards if you so desire. All monies must be turned in to the school no later than Friday, December 16, 2011 to be eligible for the prize. The passports are to be sold for $10 each with Saint Mark receiving $5 for every card that is sold. All unsold passports are to be returned to the school office. Incentive/Prize: the Saint Mark family that sells the most passports between now and December 16, 2011 will receive a 2GB iPod shuffle valued at $49, and each Saint Mark family will be given one passport to keep for themselves for every five passports that they sell at $10 each (while supplies last). The coupons don't expire until December 2012 and make wonderful Christmas gifts. Further details were sent home with the students and are available on-line.
Financial Aid Forms for the Saint Mark Lutheran School 2012-2013 school year are now available in the school office and on-line. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Saint Mark Lutheran School's annual open house for prospective parents is planned for Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:00pm. A letter and informational flyer advertising the event were sent home with students yesterday. We encourage all current Saint Mark families to please distribute the flyer to anyone who might be interested in sending their children to Saint Mark. As our biggest supporters, we would love to have current families attend the open house along with their guests. The evening will consist of a meet-&-greet in the gym with pupus and will be followed by a brief presentation and a chance to visit the classrooms and teachers. Any current Saint Mark family who accompanies a new family to the Open house will receive $20 worth of lunch tickets that can be redeemed immediately or $100 tuition voucher for the 2012-2013 school year! Thank you very much for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
The 2nd Annual Benefit Gala for Saint Mark was a huge success! Thanks to the generous contributions of our many supporters, we raised over $22,000 for the school. This represents a 20% increase over last year's totals. The monies are going to support the school's continual technology upgrades and financial aid program. We profoundly thank all who supported this important and fun event. Please check out the over 150 gala pictures that have been added to the Saint Mark Facebook page. Thanks to Kathleen Funk-Linton for the photos.
If any of you are still considering going to our 2nd Annual Benefit Gala this Saturday night at The Pacific Club, please know that there are a few tickets still available. Please contact the school office at 247-5589 to reserve your spot! It's sure to be a wonderful evening.
The October newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home yesterday with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Mrs. Olson is currently off-island attending an institute on reading & writing at Columbia University's Teacher's College. The Teacher's College is the nation's oldest and largest graduate school of education and is home to the "The Reading and Writing Project". During her week at Columbia, Mrs. Olson will have the chance to observe and be observed by the nation's leading literacy experts. Saint Mark feels very fortunate that Mrs. Olson was admitted to this program and looks forward to her returning to Saint Mark with new and invigorating ways of helping her students reach their full potential.
Saint Mark Lutheran Church is hosting its Second Annual Reformationfest/Oktoberfest this coming Saturday, October 29 at 5 PM in the Saint Mark Sanctuary. All school families are invited to join us for brats and games. Please bring a potluck dish and your own beverages. There is no cost to you! There will be games, a cake walk, cookie decorating station, and much more! Please check out the on-line flyer and RSVP to the church office at 247-4565 or Kristen Lim at yalkris@aol.com by October 26 to assure that ample brats are purchased. Hope to see you there!
We are asking our Saint Mark families, friends and alumni to join our fan club and begin following us on Facebook. To help entice your participation, we are offering 200 ice cream cones (one for each of our current students) if we can get to 200 Facebook fans (we currently have 158) in the next 200 hours. So, if we can push our fan total to 200 by next Friday, October 28 by 6:00pm, we will give every current Saint Mark student an ice cream cone (hand delivered by Mr. Gaudi) the following week. Please spread the word!
Please check out the new promotional video for Saint Mark Lutheran School. It was just released in conjunction with the school's kick-off the 2012-13 admissions' season. It is available on the Saint Mark website and Facebook page.
Saint Mark Lutheran is currently accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year. Applications are available on-line or in the school office. Please call 247-5589 if you have any questions.
The PTC is in the final planning phase for the all-important benefit gala on November 5 at the Pacific Club. Tickets are still available, and donations to the silent auction are happily being accepted. A parent letter was sent home today and is available on-line explaining some of the details and encouraging your participation. Please contact the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions, want to purchase tickets, or make a donation. Donations can also be securely made on-line at the Giving section of the school website.
With our 2nd annual benefit gala for Saint Mark Lutheran School just 3 weeks away, it is imperative that we continue to collect donations for the silent auction and sell tickets to the event. An important letter went home last month detailing the gala and soliciting support. Along with the letter were a Silent Auction Donation Form and Sponsorship Reply Form. If you are interested in attending the gala, please complete the sponsorship form and/or contact Melelani Lawrence at 247-5589 or melelani@smls-hawaii.org. If you are unable to attend, please know that there are many other ways to support this event and our school. Thank you very much!
In case you missed it, Mrs. Michelle McGregor's story of struggle, survival, and ultimate triumph over breast cancer that aired on October 10th and is now available on-line. If you would like to leave a comment for Mrs. McGregor, please do so on our Saint Mark Lutheran School Facebook Page.
With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Mrs. Michelle McGregor's story of struggle, survival, and ultimate triumph is scheduled to be shared tonight, October 10th, at 10:00pm on KITV 4 (channel 4 or cable channel 6). KITV 4 reporter and anchor, Jill Kuramoto, spent a morning on campus a few weeks back filming the story.
All foods purchased for the Auntie's Ono Gourmet Food's fundraiser are to be picked up on the Saint Mark blacktop on Friday, September 30 between 1:00 and 5:00pm. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
All Saint Mark Ladies (all ages welcome) are invited to a special jewelry making class on Saturday, October 8 from 3:30 to 4:30 on the Saint Mark Church Lanai. We will be learning the art of wire wrapping, see a glass drilling demonstration, and get to make our own pendant, perfect for gift giving with the upcoming holidays. The cost is $5 per person for materials. Please bring round nosed and flat nosed pliers as we have a limited number to share. You can also purchase a set at Wal-Mart or Ben Franklin. Please RSVP to Janelle Bretscher at 772-4580 or janelle.bretscher@hotmail.com by Wednesday, October 5 to reserve your space.
The September newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
With our 2nd annual benefit gala for Saint Mark Lutheran School less than two months away, it is very important that we continue to collect donations for the silent auction and sell tickets to the event. An important letter went home last week detailing the gala and soliciting support. Along with the letter were a Silent Auction Donation Form and Sponsorship Reply Form. If you are interested in attending the gala, please complete the sponsorship form and/or contact Melelani Lawrence at 247-5589 or melelani@smls-hawaii.org. If you are unable to attend, please know that there are many other ways to support this event and our school. For example, you can donate to the silent auction, assist with the creation of the class project(s), help with the class baskets, encourage others to participate, or simply talk-up the event. Thank you very much!
It is Saint Mark Lutheran Church's great pleasure to announce Christianity 101: Basic Teachings of the Christian Faith class beginning Sunday, September 18 at 11 a.m. This 5-week class is intended for those who desire to learn more about Christianity, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the `ohana of Saint Mark Lutheran Church (Kaneohe). This class is a requirement for church membership and offers the benefit of discounted tuition for our school families. It is our sincerest hope that you will be able to join this class and grow with us. Please contact the church office at 247-4565 with questions or to inquire about babysitting needs during the class sessions.
Please don't forget that tonight is the Saint Mark Fall Family Night! The evening runs from 6:00-9:00pm with the movie beginning at approximately 7:00pm. The Scholastic Book Fair will be open from 6:00-7:00pm. Please come early to get a spot on the lawn and watch the movie with us under the stars! Our featured movie is "Despicable Me" featuring the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel and Russell Brand. Spam musubi, hot dogs, chili dogs, chili and rice, Portuguese bean soup, nachos, popcorn, baked goods, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase from 6:00-8:00pm. These items are provided by the 4th grade class as a fundraiser for their Big Island trip in May. And out of respect for everyone attending the family night, we kindly request that all children who attend sit with their families during the movie and not roam around the campus. Thank you and hope to see you there!
Please remember that all Passport and Auntie's Ono Gourmet Foods' monies must be turned in by next Wednesday, September 7 to qualify for the incentives/prizes. We are giving away over $800 in cash and prizes (including an iPod Nano and an iPad 2), so please do your best to sell, sell, sell. Any unsold passports should be returned to the school office as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your efforts!
Saint Mark Lutheran School is again participating in Give Aloha, Foodland's Annual Matching Gifts Program. From September 1 to 30, 2011, customers are invited to make donations of up to a cumulative total of $249 (per person, per organization) at checkout to their favorite participating Hawaii non-profit organization. Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation up to a total of $300,000 for all organizations combined. An informational flyer was sent home with students and is available on-line . Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
Please join the Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure! We have formed "Team McGregor" in support of Mrs. Michelle McGregor, one of our junior high teachers who was diagnosed with breast cancer last March and is currently undergoing radiation treatment. If you would like to join us on Sunday, October 16 at Kapi`olani Park, you can register on-line or by mail. Early adult registration (on-line or postmarked by September 6) is $25. Na Keiki for the Cure (ages 5-11) registration is $15. To register, please go to their website at www.komenhawaii.org, click on the "Join an Existing Team" button and join "Team McGregor".
We are scheduled to have Parent-Teachers Conferences this Thursday, Sept 1 and Friday, Sept 2. Grades 1-8 parents are invited to conference with their children's teachers. Classes will be dismissed at 11:30am with aftercare provided. There is no hot lunch offered on these days, so please provide a home lunch if your child is staying in aftercare. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The PTC had a wonderfully productive meeting on August 16th. Besides continuing their extremely meaningful work on the upcoming benefit gala scheduled for Saturday, November 5 at the Pacific Club, they also elected their new officers. The 2011-2012 PTC officers are as follows: President Denise Warrington, Vice President Lila Marantz, Secretary Rachel Hilpert, and Treasurer Mele Manu. We sincerely thank outgoing President Cissy Shaner for her service to the PTC and for graciously accepting the role as Special Events Coordinator. She will be working closely with the PTC to plan the gala and rummage sale. A list of the officers and the full PTC is located on the Saint Mark website. As always, we encourage and appreciate your participation.
Don't forget! Youth Quest starts Wednesday, August 24 for students in grades 5-8! Youth Quest will meet every Wednesday from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm in Room 201, with a study hall to follow for volleyball players until 3:30pm. It's not too late to sign up! Just show up tomorrow with your $30 for books that we will use all year. We will have snacks, play games, and learn about God. During August and September we will be learning about the 10 Commandments and how they apply to our everyday lives in the 21st century. If you have any questions please contact DCE Intern Sarah Morris at sarah@stmarkhawaii.org or Pastor Matt at pastormatt@stmarkhawaii.org. See you tomorrow!
The August newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home last week with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Saint Mark Church would like to invite you to Ohana Bunco Night on Friday, August 26th at 6:30 p.m.in the Saint Mark chapel. If there is one game that can span all ages and abilities, it's Bunco. Who doesn't like to feverishly roll dice and yell "BUNCO!" at the top of their lungs? Who doesn't like a game where it's okay to throw something (a big, soft, furry die) at someone else; get exercise moving from table to table; reinforce math skills by counting up to 21; or win a (not so valuable) prize? What about eating delicious pupus and visiting with old and new friends? Family Bunco Night has something exciting to offer for everyone! Please bring a pupu to share and join us in the church for a night of fellowship and fun!
We officially kicked-off the Passport Discount Card & Auntie's Ono Gourmet Foods' Fundraiser today! Students were given a 5 discount cards and an Auntie Ono's order form. Besides the fantastic cash prizes, all students selling 5 passports and 5 gourmet food items will be entered to win an iPod Nano, and all students selling 10 passports and 10 gourmet food items will be entered to win an iPad 2! The sale will run until Wednesday, September 7, 2011. Details were sent home with the students and are available on-line.
We are excited to announce our Passport Discount Card & Auntie's Ono Gourmet Foods' Fundraiser which kicks-off next Wednesday, August 17th! The passport contains discount coupons from local businesses totaling more than $250 in savings. Panda Express, Big City Diner, Subway, Teddy's Bigger Burger, Arby's, Super Cuts, Round Table Pizza, IHOP, Taco Del Mar and Fun Factory are some of the merchants included on this year's discount card. In addition to the passports, each student will also be given an Auntie's Ono Gourmet Foods' order form and asked to sell what they can from a tasty assortment of cookie dough, banana bread, sausages & cinnamon rolls. Please read the informational letter that is going home with the students today. It outlines the details of the fundraiser and explains the prizes. We are thrilled to be giving away an iPad 2 as our grand prize!
eScrip is an easy and free fundraising program where families can sign up and support Saint Mark Lutheran School by simply shopping at Safeway with their Safeway Club Card.
Here's How it Works:
(1) You register your existing Safeway Club Card for use in the eScrip program.
(2) Each time you use your Safeway Club Card at checkout, Safeway will automatically give a percentage of that day's purchases to Saint Mark Lutheran School. (Group ID #: 141900026)
(3) These purchases are tracked with reports available to you online, allowing you to see just how much you are earning on your child's behalf!
(4) Ask your friends and family members to register their cards in support of Saint Mark too!
Please don't forget that the Back-to-School Parent Orientation nights are tonight for K-5 parents and Thursday night for 6-8 parents. Parents are invited to meet in the chapel for a few words from Mr. Gaudi at 6:30pm followed by teacher presentations in the classrooms. The evening will be over by 8:00pm. Hope to see you there!
All are invited to join Saint Mark Church at the beach this Sunday, July 31 for a Back-to-School Ohana Beach Day! Soak up some sun, catch up with your friends you may not have seen during the summer, and get to know our new families as we share in fun and fellowship. All you need to bring is your suit, towel, sunblock, a snack if you would like, and your ohana to Kailua beach lifeguard stand on Kailua Road from 2:00 - 5:00pm! Hope to see you there!
With the new school year beginning soon, we are offering a friendly reminder of our parking lot procedures as stated in our handbook: "All dropping-off and picking-up must be done in the school parking lot. Children are not to be dropped off or picked up on Kamehameha Highway. Please park in a designated parking space, if you need to leave your car for any reason. If there are no parking spaces available during afternoon pick up, we respectfully request that you double park on the left hand side of the parking lot and not leave your car. A faculty member will walk your child across to you. The right hand lane is intended only for cars actively leaving the parking lot. The red curb in front of the church is for immediate pickup and drop-off only. Please do not park your car there unless you are actively loading or unloading." Your kokua is greatly appreciated!
The new school year begins on Thursday, July 28 at 7:55am. The first day will be half day ending at 11:30am with no aftercare. Friday, July 29 will be a normal school day with classes ending at 2:45pm and aftercare provided. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) is meeting at Saint Mark tomorrow (July 19 at 5:30pm in room 201) to continue the major planning for the 2nd Annual Benefit Gala at the Pacific Club on Saturday, November 5, 2011. We encourage parents to attend. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Mrs. Moerbe, Mrs. Hantel and the Saint Mark 7th graders recently participated in a program called the 30-Hour Famine. Throughout the week, the students worked in tribes and completed several different activities that helped them to understand the problems that the children in Haiti are undergoing. Also throughout the week, the students raised $636 for World Vision, which sends the money to help the children in Haiti. The money raised is enough to help care for two children for an entire year! Please join us in thanking our 7th graders for their meaningful work.
Saint Mark would like to invite keiki (ages 4 to 12) to attend "Big Jungle Adventure" this summer's Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Surrounded by the jungles of the Windward side of Oahu, this program offers an exciting opportunity to go wild on a faith journey with Jesus! Have your keiki come and learn about Jesus' amazing love each day as the adventure begins: June 6 - 10 from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. An informational flyer was sent home with students and is available on-line. Please call the church office at 247-4565 if you have any questions.
The May newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Unfortunately, we have to cancel today's kickball game, Tuesday, May 10. Sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause, but the field is simply too wet and muddy. Please call Athletic Director, Mrs. Kong should you have any questions. Thank you for your understanding.
The National Association of Letter Carriers is conducting their 19th annual Food Drive this Saturday, May 14, 2011. This food drive is the largest of its kind in the nation and is the perfect opportunity for us to give back to the food banks across the state. If you put your non-perishable donation in a bag by your mailbox this Saturday, it will be picked up and delivered to a local food bank. A flyer was sent home today with the students advertising this important food drive and is available on-line.
We are thrilled that all of Mrs. McGregor's recent medical tests came back negative. Nevertheless, her doctors have recommended that she undergo chemo therapy. Thus, she is scheduled to have four treatments beginning next Monday, May 9th and ending during the first week of July. Her plan is to be healthy, happy and back in the classroom on the first day of school, July 28th. In a show of solidarity and support for Mrs. McGregor, every Saint Mark student was given a pink bracelet today that reads "Get Well Mrs. McGregor" and is being encouraged to wear it. We do have extra bracelets in the office and would love to give them out. So, please stop by to pick one up!
Due to the recent heavy rains, the muddy field, and the chance of additional rain, today's kickball game is cancelled. Sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause. Please call Athletic Director, Mrs. Kong should you have any questions. Thank you for your understanding.
On Friday, April 15 students from Grades 1, 3 and 7 collaborated with their teachers and Aunty Connie Matayoshi to use eggplant from the Saint Mark garden to prepare a wonderful meal of eggplant parmesan for Mrs. McGregor who is currently battling breast cancer. With a grant from the Grow Hawaii Project, Mrs. McGregor and her students started the garden a few months back. The eggplants picked last week are the first foods harvested from the new garden. Please check out the pictures and caption on the Saint Mark Facebook page.
The April newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is also available on left side of the Newsletters page of the Saint Mark website.
Please join us for the Family Work Day at Saint Mark this Saturday, April 16 at 9:00am. Everyone is welcome, but all students must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your tool belt, gardening tools, painting supplies, and/or cleaning supplies. We will try to have something for everyone, and lunch will be provided. An informational flyer was sent home today with students and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions or would like to RSVP for this special event.
Saint Mark Lutheran Church invites school families to its Maundy Thursday Passover Service on Thursday, April 21 at 6:00pm. The cost is $5.00 per family and includes a full dinner. Please check out the flyer for more information and call Mrs. Leilani Lee at 247-5589 to reserve your ticket. The deadline to RSVP is this Friday, April 8th. The church would love to see you there!
We are happy to report that Saint Mark Lutheran School collected just over $800 for Japan disaster relief at last Wednesday's chapel - March 16, 2011. The $800 total marks the greatest single-day collection for Saint Mark School. As reported, the monies are going directly to LCMS World Relief and Human Care Japan Disaster Relief Fund - a ministry of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. A HUGE MAHALO goes to all the school families for their generous donations! Those who still desire to donate can do so on-line.
On Friday, March 11, 2011, Japan experienced a catastrophic 8.9 magnitude earthquake, which spawned a deadly tsunami. According to news reports, the current death toll is over 2000 people and with thousands more missing or injured is expected to rise to 10,000. It has also caused tens of billions of dollars in property and economic losses. As a result, Saint Mark Lutheran School will be collecting donations at Wednesday's chapel (March 16, 2011) for Japan disaster relief. The monies collected with go directly to LCMS World Relief and Human Care Japan Disaster Relief Fund - a ministry of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. You can also donate on-line if you prefer. Thank you for your assistance with this important mission and please keep the people of Japan in your prayers.
Due to the Tsunami Warning that has been issued for the State of Hawaii, Saint Mark Lutheran School will be closed on Friday, March 11, 2011. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause families.
It is Saint Mark Lutheran Church's great pleasure to announce Christianity 101: Basic Teachings of the Christian Faith class beginning Sunday, March 13 at 3 p.m. This 5-week class is intended for those who desire to learn more about Christianity, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the `ohana of Saint Mark Lutheran Church (Kaneohe). This class is a requirement for church membership and offers the benefit of discounted tuition for our school families. It is our sincerest hope that you will be able to join this class and grow with us. Please contact the church office at 247-4565 with questions or to inquire about babysitting needs during the class sessions.
The February/March newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
The Saint Mark Board of Education, staff, students, parents and church congregation would like to congratulate our principal, Mr. David Gaudi, as the recipient of this year's prestigious Lux Christi Award. Each year, Concordia University presents the Lux Christi (Light of Christ) Award to recognize one outstanding Lutheran educator who implements the Christian perspective through their teaching and administrative ministries. Mr. Gaudi was selected to receive this year's award for his significant contributions through service, leadership, and day-to-day ministry at Saint Mark Lutheran Church and School. A representative from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon will present the award and a monetary gift to Mr. Gaudi during the 8:30 a.m. church service on Sunday, March 6, 2011. Please join us to honor Mr. Gaudi and celebrate with our Saint Mark 'Ohana by enjoying good food and fellowship following the worship service.
Saint Mark Lutheran School is currently considering whether or not to offer a fun one week intersession program during the second week of the spring break - March 28 to April 1. We can only offer the program if we have an adequate number of participants.
If you are interested in having your child(ren) participate in this one week program, please indicate at the bottom of the flyer that was sent home with the students. The flyer is also available on-line and must be returned to the school office no later than Thursday, March 3. A determination will be made after March 3 whether or not there is enough interest to offer the program.
Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The PTC (Parent Teacher Committee) raised over $1,500 this past Saturday at their spring rummage sale! A big mahalo goes to all (and there are a lot) who helped make this fundraiser so successful. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
We are having our Speech Festival on Thursday, February 24 from 6:00 - 7:00pm, and we may have more cars than can be accommodated on the Saint Mark grounds. Thus, we are requesting that you please carpool if possible and be aware that you will need to find parking in the surrounding neighborhood should our grounds be filled. Mahalo!
The preliminary Saint Mark Lutheran School calendar for the 2011-2012 school year is now complete and available on-line. It is in a single page format. The multiple page school calendar will be distributed at the beginning of the new school year. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
We are looking forward to the PTC's rummage sale this Saturday, February 19, 2011 from 9:00am-1:00 pm. Last year's sale was an overwhelming success thanks to wonderful parents like you! Please continue to save items that can be donated to the sale. All donations are being accepted after school on Friday, February 18th (between 2:45 and 5:00pm) or if you are unable to bring your items on Friday, drop-off is on Saturday, February 19th (between 6:00 and 8:00am). Any leftover items will be donated to Cerebral Palsy once the sale is over. Mahalo for your support of this important event. It would not be possible without volunteers like you! Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions or would like to help out with the sale.
We are happy to announce that Saint Mark is participating in "Get Active" - a push to get students moving and physically active. The students are being asked to promote physical activity and collect donations in support of Saint Mark athletics. Monies collected will go towards the purchase of new P.E. equipment, recess balls, athletic equipment and travel, etc. The students received their sponsor pledge forms yesterday. The sponsor pledge forms and all monies are due by Wednesday, February 9. $25 gift cards to Sports Authority will be awarded to the top 3 money collectors. Also, all students who collect $75 or more will get a newly designed Saint Mark Athletics T-shirt. Additional information is available in the paperwork sent home yesterday and on-line. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Campus Creations is having a store wide sale on all stock on hand. All Saint Mark Lutheran School families will receive 10% off of school uniforms purchased between February 1 and 19, 2011. A flyer advertising the sale is available on-line. Please call Campus Creations at 484-9191 or the school office if you have any questions.
Both of today's basketball games against Our Redeemer Lutheran School have been postponed to a later date. Please call Athletic Director, Mrs. Kong should you have any questions. Thank you for your understanding.
The January newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
We are happy to announce that Saint Mark recently received a check for $816 from Box Tops for Education. A big mahalo goes to Mrs. Olson for her continued work organizing this fundraiser. We also offer our appreciation to all of you who have collected and continue to collect those small little box tops. We continue to collect them year-round. Thank you!
Saint Mark students in grades 2-6 are invited to participate in an exciting, fun, and educational series of volleyball clinics led by former University of Hawaii All-American volleyball player (and Saint Mark parent) Lisa Strand-Ma'a. The classes will meet at Saint Mark on Wednesday afternoons from 1:15 to 3:00pm. The first class is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 19 and will continue until Wednesday, May 25, 2011. The cost for all 17 classes is $150. For further information, please call Coach Ma'a at 561-0336 or check out the informational flyer available on-line.
We will begin offering hot lunches from Lanakila Kitchen beginning January 5, 2011. Lanakila Kitchen currently serves schools such as Island Pacific Academy and Le Jardin Academy. Their focus is on providing a healthier option for meals for both children and adults at a reasonable cost. The school lunches follow the USDA guidelines. Each lunch includes an entree, starch, vegetable or salad, fruit, wheat bread, margarine & 1% milk. Pizza Hut will still be offered on Fridays! The cost & procedures will remain the same as they are now. Please check out the Saint Mark website for further information or to check out the monthly menu selections.
Mahalo to the Saint Mark families for their generous Christmas-time chapel offerings. $460 in cash, many wonderful new toys, and a wide assortment of canned goods were collected this past month. The money was used by the grade 8 students and their kindergarten chapel buddies who shopped at "The Party Store" in Windward Mall this past Tuesday to buy specific gifts for four homeless families who will be spending Christmas week in the Saint Mark gym as part of Family Promise. Slippers, lotions, toiletries, blankets, toys and other fun stuff were purchased by the students. In addition, the Family Promise families will receive gift cards and other necessities. The toys and canned goods will be distributed by the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.
Please remember that school is dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 17 and that there is no aftercare. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Congratulations to Steve Clemons (father of Kanoa Clemons - grade 2), Jason Amoy (father of Mahina Amoy - grade 2), and Jennifer Duncan (mother of Gavin - grade 2 and Campbell - grade 4) for successfully completing yesterday's Honolulu Marathon. Simply completing a marathon is remarkable, yet these three did it in wonderful times. Please let us know if there are any other Saint Mark parents who completed this most impressive feat. We would love to recognize them too!
All are invited to the K-3 Christmas musical entitled a "Miracle on Bethlehem Street" on Sunday, December 12 at 5:00 p.m. at Saint Mark Lutheran Church. The students and teachers have been working very hard on the program, so please join us on Sunday. Child care is available during the show. A informational flyer is available on-line.
The November/December newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Financial Aid Forms for the 2011-2012 Saint Mark Lutheran School year are now available in the school office and on-line. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Saint Mark is happy to announce an exciting promotion to attract qualified students to immediately enroll in grades 3 - 6! Word-of-mouth has always been a very positive form of advertising for our school with many new families enrolling their children in our school based on the recommendations of past and present families. This is why we are offering a $750 reward to any current SMLS family referring a new student to Saint Mark who applies for, is accepted, and begins attending class in grades 3, 4, 5 or 6 between November 20, 2010 and January 31, 2011. A letter explaining this promotion was sent home today with the students and is available on-line. Please call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
On Friday, November 19, 2010, we are scheduled for our optional Parent-Teacher Conferences for parents of our students in grades 1-8. The school will have an early dismissal at 11:30 a.m. with after school care available. Please call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
The 1st Annual Benefit Gala for Saint Mark School was without a doubt a resounding success! Thanks to a collaborative effort between parents, faculty/staff, and church members an amazing evening was put together in celebration of Saint Mark Lutheran School. As advertised, the monies collected will go in support of new technology as well as our growing and increasingly important financial aid program. We obviously would not have had such a successful event if not for the contributions of all of our volunteers. We profoundly thank all of them for their efforts. The total amount of money that was raised is still being tabulated and will be announced in the near future. Be sure to check out the gala pictures available on the Saint Mark Facebook page.
Saint Mark Lutheran School's annual open house for prospective parents is planned for Wednesday, November 10, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:00pm. An informational flyer advertising the event was sent home today and is available on-line. We encourage all current Saint Mark families to please distribute the flyer to anyone who might be interested in sending their children to Saint Mark. As our biggest supporters, we would love to have current families attend the open house along with their guests. The evening will consist of a meet-&-greet in the gym with pupus and will be followed by a brief presentation and a chance to visit the classrooms and teachers. Any current Saint Mark family who accompanies a new family to the Open house will receive $20 worth of lunch tickets! Thank you very much for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
It is Saint Mark Lutheran Church's great pleasure to announce Christianity 101: Basic Teachings of the Christian Faith class beginning Sunday, November 7 at 3 p.m. This 5-week class is intended for those who desire to learn more about Christianity, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the ohana of Saint Mark Lutheran Church (Kaneohe). This class is a requirement for church membership and offers the benefit of discounted tuition for our school families. It is our sincerest hope that you will be able to join this class and grow with us. Please contact the church office at 247-4565 with questions or to inquire about babysitting needs during the class sessions.
The October newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
The PTC is in the final planning phase for the benefit gala on November 6 at the Pacific Club. Tickets are still available, and donations to the silent auction are still being accepted. A letter was sent home yesterday and is available on-line explaining some of the details. Please contact the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions, want to purchase tickets, or make a donation.
Saint Mark Lutheran is currently accepting applications for the 2011-2012 school year. Applications are available on-line or in the school office. Please call 247-5589 if you have any questions.
Saint Mark Lutheran School is donating their October and November chapel offerings to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients program. Last year children participating in this program raised millions of dollars making a big difference for people battling blood cancers.
The Box Tops and Labels for Education have been collected for the first quarter. Thanks to so many of you for supporting our school through this no cost fundraiser. The winning class will enjoy a pizza party! Thank you to Mrs. Tanji for offering to count all the labels over the fall break. The winning class will be announced when we return to school the week of October 18. Enjoy your break!
The September newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home yesterday with the students. It is also available on-line.
An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
The three week push to sell the Passport Discount Cards has ended, and we are happy to report that over $9,000 has been raised for the school. We will continue to have additional Passports available in the school office for those who would like them. We congratulate our top sellers and prize winners who were announced today. We greatly appreciate everyone's support of this very worthwhile endeavor.
Please remember that all Passport monies need to be turned in by tomorrow, September 8 to qualify for the incentives/prizes. We do, however, still have additional passports in the office, so you may continue to sell them after tomorrow. Thank you very much for your efforts!
Saint Mark Lutheran School is again participating in Give Aloha, Foodland's Annual Matching Gifts Program. From September 1 to 30, 2010, customers are invited to make donations of up to a cumulative total of $249 (per person, per organization) at checkout to their favorite participating Hawaii non-profit organization. Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation up to a total of $325,000 for all organizations combined. An informational flyer was sent home with students yesterday and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
The Island Pacific Golf Academy is resenting their six-step golf program developed by elementary school teachers and golf professionals. It is open to all grades and is coming to Saint Mark beginning next Friday, August 27, 2010. The classes will again meet on Fridays from 3:00 to 4:00pm on the Saint Mark campus. The cost is $125 for six sessions: August 27, September 3, 10, 17, 24 and October 1. Students will learn putting, pitching, chipping, rules, etiquette, and full swing conveniently at school. And all equipment is furnished! For further information or to register, please visit www.islandpacificgolf.com or call Oliver Oliquiano at 393-3873.
The August newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Lisa Strand-Maa will be hosting a series of volleyball classes at Saint Mark Lutheran on Wednesdays from 1:15 to 3:00pm. The cost is $125 for 15 classes beginning August 18 and running through December 15. The classes will be focused on basic volleyball skills and fundamentals. They will also work on footwork, speed, and movement. The enrichment classes are open to Saint Mark students in grade 2 - 6. Enrollment is limited to the first 16 students to sign up.
We are excited to announce our "Passport" Discount Card Fundraiser, which kicks-off next Wednesday, August 18th! We will be doing it in lieu of the catalog sale that has been done in years past. The passport contains discount coupons from local businesses totaling more than $250 in savings. Ruby Tuesday, Subway, Arby's, Toys n' Joys, Genki Sushi, and Taco Del Mar are some of the merchants included on the card.
How it Works
Each student will be given 5 passports on Wednesday, August 18th and asked to sell them by Wednesday, September 8th. The passports are to be sold for $10 each with Saint Mark receiving $5 for every card that is sold. All unsold passports are to be returned to the school office. Additional passports will be happily given to anyone who sells their allotment.
Incentives/Prizes
The 1st place seller will receive a $75 cash prize.
The 2nd place seller will receive a $50 cash prize.
The 3rd place seller will receive a $25 cash prize.
Additionally, every student who sells all 5 of their passports will be entered into a drawing to win a digital camera, and every student who sells 10 passports will be entered into a drawing to win an iPod Touch.
Please be on the lookout for the passports next Wednesday.
Saint Mark Lutheran School is donating their August chapel offerings to the LCMS World Mission. LCMS World Mission is the global Gospel outreach of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, a confessional Lutheran church with more than 6,000 congregations and 2.5 million members in North America. Their ministry work is focused in three areas: International Mission, National Mission, and Ministry to the Armed Forces.
LCMS World Mission currently has active work or mission relationships in approximately 88 countries and maintains a total global missionary team of approximately 1,110 including missionaries, international educators, personnel, military chaplains, and staff.
Saint Mark is offering a Summer Basketball Camp for Saint Mark student who will be in grades 4 - 8 in the upcoming school year. The camp will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from June 14 to July 14, 2010 at the Saint Mark gymnasium. The time is from 3:00 to 5:00pm, and the cost is $125 per student. Flyers advertising the camp were sent home with students and are available on-line. Please call Mrs. Kong at 247-5589 should you have any questions.
Keiki are invited to attend Planet Zoom - this summer's Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Saint Mark! Planet Zoom will teach keiki that because Jesus died and rose for them, they can play a BIG role in God's kingdom, by sharing His love! Saint Mark will host VBS every evening from 5:30-8:00 p.m. from June 7-11 for keiki ages 4-12. Families are invited to come for a free dinner at 5:30 p.m. and are welcome to stay for the keiki VBS which will begin at 6:00 p.m. Parents are also invited to attend an adult Bible study which will begin at 6:30 p.m. each night. Please call 247-4565 or e-mail st.marksecretary@yahoo.com if you are interested.
The May newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
We are having our May Day celebration on Friday, April 30 from 12:45 - 2:15pm, and we may have more cars than can be accommodated on the Saint Mark grounds. Thus, we are requesting that you please carpool if possible and be aware that you will need to find parking in the surrounding neighborhood should our grounds be filled. Mahalo!
The April newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Saint Mark students have their art work displayed at Windward Mall for the month of March! The art is displayed on the Macy's end of the mall across from Ruby Tuesday's. Thanks to Mrs. Gibo for all her work organizing the event! Please check a few photos on the Saint Mark Facebook page.
Sunshine David has qualified to represent Saint Mark at the state level of the National Geographic Bee. The state Bee will be held on Friday, April 9,2010 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. The winner from our state will advance to the national competition which will be held in May at Washington D.C. and aired on national TV. We are so proud of her and certainly wish her all the best in the upcoming competition!
The March newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Due to the Tsunami Warning, the All Lutheran Schools' Music Festival scheduled for tonight has been cancelled. Please do not go to Leeward Community College.
Lutheran High School would like to invite you to the 1st annual Lutheran School's Game Night! This event, happening on Saturday March 6 from 7-9pm, is open to all 8th grade and high school Lutheran School students. Video and board games will be provided as well as snacks and drinks. Please see the flyer for further information.
We reported earlier this month that the Saint Mark families had proudly raised $5,855 for the American Heart Association! Today was the Jump Rope for Heart Jump-A-Thon and potluck to promote a heart-healthy lifestyle and to celebrate the successful fundraising endeavor. Thanks to everyone who supported this fundraiser and today's fun activities. A special mahalo goes to our grade 4 teacher, Ms. Arban, who spearheaded Saint Mark's participation in this important program!
The Hawaii Lutheran Schools Music Festival Concert will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Leeward Community College Theater in Pearl City. The theater is located at 96-045 Ala Ike (at the junction of H-1 and H-2 freeways). The concert features the combined choirs and combined bands from Emmanuel (Maui), Our Redeemer, Our Savior, Saint Mark and Trinity Lutheran Schools. Admission is $2.00 per person. It is recommended that tickets be purchased in advance from the school office.
The January newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Hawaii Shotokan Karate is currently enrolling students for classes that meet at Saint Mark Lutheran School on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm. The classes are for beginning students and commence in February. Please call 988-7128 or email hawaiishotokankarate@hotmail.com to register. Further information is available on-line
Saint Mark Lutheran is currently accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year. Applications are available on-line or in the school office. Please call 247-5589 if you have any questions.
Financial Aid Forms for the 2010-2011 Saint Mark Lutheran School year are now available online. Further information is available at http://www.smls-hawaii.org/financial_aid.htm
The November/December newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Saint Mark is thrilled to announce an exciting promotion to attract qualified students to immediately enroll in grades 2 – 6! Word-of-mouth has always been a very positive form of advertising for our school with many new families enrolling their children in our school based on the recommendations of past and present families. This is why we are offering a $300 reward to any current SMLS family referring a new student to Saint Mark who applies for, is accepted, and begins attending class in grades 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 between November 20, 2009 and January 30, 2010. A letter explaining this promotion was sent home today with the students and is available on-line. Please call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
The October newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Please join us for the Fall Family Work Day at Saint Mark this Saturday, October 24 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Everyone is welcome! Please bring your tool belt, gardening tools, painting supplies, and/or cleaning supplies. There will be something for everyone, and lunch will be provided. An informational flyer was sent home with students on Monday and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions or would like to RSVP for this special event.
The September newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
The Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) sponsored Rummage Sale on Saturday, September 12 was another successful PTC fundraiser! The PTC worked very quickly to plan, organize and direct this event which resulted in a total of $1,220 being raised for the school! In addition to the PTC, many other school families helped support this endeavor. We specifically thank Grace Pakele, Malia Clemons, Lila Marantz, Frandee Lum, Jesselyn Oketani, Liz Stone, Rachel Hilpert, Victoria Flores and Mrs. Gundermann for their hard work. And we especially thank the event coordinators - Nalani Nelson and Kathleen Funk-Linton for working many hours planning this event. Mahalo Nui Loa to everyone who worked, donated items or purchased items in support of the sale! Please start saving your stuff for the spring rummage sale coming up in February 2010!
It's not too late to turn in your vaccination consent form for the free influenza vaccination being offered at Saint Mark on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Please get them into your teacher or the school office as soon as possible.
Our annual school fundraiser kicked-off today! Students were given two catalogues containing great Christmas gift ideas including gourmet chocolates and beautiful jewelry. Also offered this year is the frozen cookie dough that has been so popular in the past. The more products we sell, the more money we raise for the school. If we meet our goal of raising $10,000 in profit, rumor has it that Mr. Gaudi will spend a night on the school office roof. He may even be joined by Pastor Matt and Director of Christian Education, Mr. Johnson. The sale runs from September 2 to 23. Items will be delivered to the school and ready for pick up in mid November. We hope to use the money raised to improve the school's technology. Please call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any quesitons.
Saint Mark Lutheran School is participating in Give Aloha, Foodland's Annual Matching Gifts Program. From September 1 to 30, 2009, customers are invited to make donations of up to a cumulative total of $249 (per person, per organization) at checkout to their favorite participating Hawaii non-profit organization. Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation up to a total of $325,000 for all organizations combined. An informational flyer was sent home with students on Tuesday and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
All are invited to the Fall Family Night on Friday, September 11. We will be showing the movie "Bolt" featuring the voices of John Travota & Miley Cyrus. An informational flyer was sent home with students on Monday and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
The August newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
In celebration of our 50 years of statehood, students are permitted to come to school in Aloha Wear on Thursday, August 20. A flyer explaining the guidelines for the Aloha dress day was sent home with students on Monday and is available on-line. Please feel free to call the school office at 247-5589 if you have any questions.
It is important for our families to know that Saint Mark Lutheran School continues to monitor the situation with the H1N1 virus and is keeping abreast of the latest recommendations from federal and state officials. A letter from Mr. Gaudi and Guidelines for Recognizing Influenza was sent home today reminding parents to remain vigilant and to do their best to promote good hygiene habits and help prevent the spread of this and all influenza.
The 10th Anniversary Nike 5K For Kids fun run is on September 20, 2009 beginning at 7:00am. 100% of the Entry Fee is designated to go to the school of your choice to help support Physical Education, play and athletic programs. Saint Mark Lutheran School is hoping to have a great turnout this year! Registration information is available at www.nike5kforkids.com and in the school office. The deadline for registration is rapidly approaching, so please register soon to help our athletic programs.
Back-to-School Parent Orientation is this week! Parent night for Grades K-5 is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5 from 6:30 to 8:00pm, and parent night for Grades 6-8 scheduled for Thursday, August 6 from 6:30 to 8:00pm. An informational flyer was sent home with students today and is available on-line . Please call the school office if you have any questions.
Kailani Linton has been selected to participate in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. from June 20-25. Kailani is one of 250 students nationwide to be selected for the program. We congratulate Kailani and wish her well as she represents Hawaii and Saint Mark. Please check her out in the June 3, 2009 Honolulu Advertiser article.
The May newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Saint Mark Lutheran Church is again sponsoring their annual Vacation Bible School (VBS). It is entitled G.A.D.G.E.T.'s (God's Always Doing Great Exciting Things) Garage, and it's running from June 8 - June 12 from 8:00 to 11:30am at Saint Mark Lutheran Church. Flyers advertising VBS were sent home with students and are available on-line . Please call 247-4565 or e-mail st.marksecretary@yahoo.com if you are interested.
We would like to request your donation of gently used school uniforms. For each uniform piece donated, you will be credited with a voucher allowing you to purchase a bigger uniform piece for $1.00 at the sale on June 8th! Bring your washed and ready for sale used uniforms to the school office by May 29th (Uniforms will be accepted through the first week of June). Be sure to label your bag so that your child will be credited with the proper number of Vouchers!
The sale is at Saint Mark Lutheran School on Monday, June 8, 2009 from 9:00am - 5:00pm (or while supplies last). The cost is $1.00 per piece (per voucher) and $5.00 per piece (without a voucher).
It is important for our families to know that Saint Mark Lutheran School is closely monitoring the situation with the H1N1 virus and is keeping abreast of the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A letter from Mr. Gaudi was sent home reminding parents to remain vigilant and to do their best to promote good hygiene habits and help prevent the spread of this and all influenza.
Campus Creations is offering an early bird special on school uniforms. All Saint Mark Lutheran School families will receive 10% off of school uniforms purchased between April 22 to May 6, 2009. Flyers advertising the sale will be sent home with students and are available on-line. Please call Campus Creations at 484-9191 or the school office if you have any questions.
The March/April newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
We are extremely excited to announce that Saint Mark has just received a $25,000 grant from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation. The money will be used to begin the planning phase for the expansion of the Saint Mark facilities to include a Pre-School Center. We greatly appreciate their generosity and especially thank their Executive Director, Mr. Alfred L. Castle.
Saint Mark Lutheran School is now on Twitter. Students, parents, extended family, and friends can now follow along with the school's latest updates by simply going to www.twitter.com/smlshawaii. Mr. Gaudi will be working to keep it updated with all sorts of interesting information.
Dylan Adolpho has won 1st place and Aaron Wilford won 2nd place in the 6th grade division of the 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poetry Contest, sponsored by the International Peace Poem Project. In the 7th grade division, Kaimi Chang won 1st place and Jannah-Jane Crisostomo 2nd place. In the 8th grade division, Nalei Akau won 1st place and Keaolani Cenido-Nihue 2nd place. The students, their parents, and teacher, Mrs. Dunn, are invited to attend a ceremony at the McCoy Pavilion Auditorium on Saturday, April 25, 2009 where they will be presented with the winning certificates.
Over the next three weeks, Saint Mark Lutheran School will be participating in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients program. Pennies for Patients give keiki the opportunity to raise funds for blood cancer research and support patients. By collecting funds, keiki learn quickly that every bit can make a big difference. In Hawaii alone, students from schools across the Big Island, Kauai, Maui and Oahu have raised more than $700,000 over the last 7 years to support their efforts. This year the goal is add $170,000 to that amount. Each classroom has a Pennies for Patients box where monies can be deposited. Your help is greatly appreciated!
The 2008 Nike 5K For Kids fun run back on September 21, 2008 raised $165 in support of the Saint Mark Lutheran School Physical Education, play and athletic programs. We greatly appreciate all who took part in the run and encourage even more participation in the year to come.
The playground renovations have begun. Over the next few weeks a lot of work will be done to improve the look, safety and functionality of the Saint Mark playground below the church. We are using the generous grant that we received from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation to make the improvements.
Mrs. Flores' 5th Grade class recently spent an exciting week at Starbase-Atlantis learning about science, technology, engineering and math. It was a wonderful experience that was recognized in the March 11, 2009 addition of MidWeek.
Congratulations to Aaron Wilford (Grade 6) who has qualified to represent Saint Mark in the state level of the National Geography Bee. The state Bee will be held on Friday, April 3, 2009 at the Hawaii Convention Center. Good luck to Aaron!
A special congratulation goes to both Kelli Lyman (Grade 7) and Eddie Dunn (Grade 7) who were selected to compete at the State Science Fair. This honor is well deserved and they will do a great job representing Saint Mark. Good Luck Kelli and Eddie! The state competition will take place at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall starting April 6th and will conclude April 8th.
The February newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Congratulations to Nalei Akau and Blair Adams for representing our school at the Windward District Spelling Bee held at Le Jardin Academy on February 12th. They did a great job, and we are proud of them.
The Better Golf Academy Kids is again presenting their six-step golf program developed by elementary school teachers and golf professionals. It is open to all grades and is coming to Saint Mark beginning Thursday, February 26, 2009. The classes will again meet on Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15pm on the Saint Mark campus. The cost is $120 for eight sessions: Feb 26, March 5, 12, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Students will learn putting, pitching, chipping, rules, etiquette, and full swing conveniently at school. And all equipment is furnished! Further information is available at www.bettergolfforkids.com and in the school office. The deadline for registration is rapidly approaching, so please register soon. Please call 247-5589 if you have any questions.
The Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) sponsored Rummage Sale on Saturday, January 31 was a resounding success! The PTC worked very hard to plan, organize and direct this fantastic event which resulted in a total of $1,279 being raised for the school! In addition to the PTC, staff, and families who helped support this endeavor, we specifically thank Anthony and LeNore Warren, Garret and Janet Medeiros, Lila Marantz, Laurine Pagaduan, Kris Sproat, Ralph Aona, Carmen Pilien, Penny Rapoza, Lisa Maa, Denise Iseri-Matsubara, Cary Rupert, Frandee Lum, Mele Manu, Malia Clemons, Kenui Flores, Brenda Jiannino, Darrell Schuetz, Jesselyn Oketani, Mrs. Sutton, Mrs. Kong, Mrs. Knott, Mrs. Gunderman, Mrs. Dunn, and Mrs. Eyer for their time and commitment. And we owe an extra bit of gratitude to the PTC Rummage Sale Committee/Organizers, Nalani Nelson, Kathleen Funk-Linton, and Victoria Flores who put in numerous hours to assure the success of this wonderful fundraiser.
Mahalo to all for a job well done!!
The January newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Financial Aid Forms for the 2009-2010 Saint Mark Lutheran School year are now available online. Further information is available at http://www.smls-hawaii.org/financial_aid.htm
Due to the High Wind Warning that has been issued for Oahu, Saint Mark Lutheran School will be closed on Friday, January 16, 2009. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your families.
Hawaii Shotokan Karate is currently enrolling students for classes that meet at Saint Mark Lutheran School on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm. The classes are for beginning students and commence in February. Please call 988-7128 or email hawaiishotokankarate@hotmail.com
to register. Further information is available at http://www.hawaiishotokankarate.com
We are extremely excited to announce that Saint Mark has just received a $35,000 grant from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation. Most of the money will be used to renovate the playground area below the church. We greatly appreciate their generosity and especially thank their Executive Director, Mr. Alfred L. Castle.
The Mission of The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation:
The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation is committed to providing resources to improve the life of Hawaii's children and families by improving the quality and quantity of early education, K-12, independent schools, and arts and cultural institutions. Preference is given to pre-schools, K-12 independent schools and other organizations which improve the lives of low income children and families.
Please remember that all library books are due on Tuesday, December 16 and need to be returned or RENEWED. All books borrowed during the last week of the quarter are due after the winter intersession.
The November/December newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
The Better Golf Academy Kids presents a six-step golf program developed by elementary school teachers and golf professionals. It is open to all grades and is coming to Saint Mark beginning Thursday, December 11, 2008. The class meets every Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15pm on the Saint Mark campus. The cost is $120 for eight sessions: Dec 11, 18, Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5 and Feb 12.
Students will learn putting, pitching, chipping, rules, etiquette, and full swing conveniently at school. And all equipment is furnished! Further information is available at www.bettergolfforkids.com and in the school office. The deadline for registration is rapidly approaching, so please register soon. Please call 247-5589 if you have any questions.
Chapel Offerings
Chapel offerings for September totaled $505 and went to Family Promise. Mahalo for the generous donations! We have one more week to collect for our current mission which is Operation Gratitude.
Beginning November 26 and running to December 17 chapel offering will be used to help make this a merry Christmas for some of the less fortunate. We are collecting new toys, non-perishable food, gift cards, and money. The collected items will be given to the homeless families being hosted by Family Promise at Saint Mark during Christmas week and to Kaneohe's Salvation Army who will be distributing baskets to needy families on windward Oahu.
The 8th graders and kindergarteners will be using the money collected to purchase Christmas gifts. We thank Price Busters for graciously allowing Saint Mark to purchase gifts at a 20% discount.
Thank you for helping us make this a merry Christmas for our neighbors!
New Photos (October 28th, 2008)
Some photos from the recently concluded varsity volleyball season have been posted and available on-line. Please be sure to check these photos and all other posted photos by clicking on the "Photos" button at the top of the menu bar.
The October newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
"Through the Year in Song" is the theme of the concert to be presented by all the children in grades K-3. It is scheduled for this Sunday afternoon, October 26 at 5:00 p.m. with a potluck following. Come and enjoy all the action with lots of singing!
Congratulations to the varsity boy's volleyball team! They won the Lutheran Schools Sports League tournament championship! The team beat Hongwanji, a member of the league, in 2 out of 3 games at Hongwanji in the championship game. There are 8 players coached by Rudy Reece: Lanson Kupau Jr., Casey Takahashi, Zachery Thomas, James Chaffin, McKenna Miyata, Noah Schuetz, Ryan Won Jr., and Pono Keanini-Santiago. Pam Kong is Saint Mark's athletic director.
The September newsletter is completed, and a hard copy was sent home today with the students. It is also available on-line. The newsletter has an all new look that we hope you will enjoy. An archive of past newsletters is available by clicking the "Newsletters" button on the top menu bar.
Chapel offerings for August totaled $408 and went to Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Relief. Mahalo for the generous donations! The offerings collected in September are going to Family Promise of Hawaii. Family Promise of Hawaii is an innovative program to help families with children escape homelessness. Their mission is to mobilize existing community resources to help families experiencing homelessness transition to sustainable independence. They do this by developing, training, and supporting a network of interfaith congregations whom host homeless families on a quarterly basis. Each host site provides a safe place to sleep, good food, and generous hospitality. Guests stay at a host site for a week and then move onto another host site. Saint Mark is such a host site! Saint Mark provides food and shelter for homeless families four weeks a year in March, June, October and December.
SMLS is currently accepting registration forms for the Fall Intersession Child Care Program which is scheduled to run from September 29 - October 10. Activities will include outdoor games, cooking, art and crafts, and team building. The cost is $300 per child for the full two weeks or $30 per day. The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 17, 2008. Please call the school office at 247-5589 if you would like further information. Please be aware that if there is not adequate enrollment, the program will have to be cancelled.
We are excited to announce that Saint Mark has resurrected the Box Tops for Education fundraiser. The 2008-2009 campaign has just begun with all earnings going towards a new sound system to be used at school functions. We are asking Saint Mark families and friends to clip box tops (making sure to include the expiration date and clip around the dotted line) and send them to school with your child in a baggie. Each month Saint Mark will be having a contest between classes (K to Grade 8) to see which class can collect the most box tops. The class with the most box tops at the end of each month will be rewarded. Box tops can also be dropped off in the school office. If you have any questions or want more information on how you can help Saint Mark earn cash through Box Tops for Education, please contact Melissa Sutton at msutton@smls-hawaii.org or go to "Programs" on the dropdown tool bar and click on "Fundraisers".
Our annual school fundraiser kicked-off today! Students were given two catalogues containing various items ranging from Eco-Friendly Mugs and Bamboo Salad Servers to helpful cookbooks and fancy chocolates. The more products we sell, the more money we raise for the school. If we meet our goal of raising $10,000 in profit, rumor has it that Mr. Gaudi will spend a night on the school office roof. He may even be joined by our new Pastor (Interim Pastor Erwin Wichner) and new Director of Christian Education (DCE Mr. Tim Walsworth). The sale runs from August 20 to September 3, 2008. Items will be delivered to the school and ready for pick-up in mid-November.
The 2008 Nike 5K For Kids fun run is on September 21, 2008 beginning at 7:00am. 100% of the Entry Fee is designated to go to the school of your choice to help support Physical Education, play and athletic programs. Saint Mark Lutheran School is hoping to have a great turnout this year. The principal and some teachers will be participating. Registration information is available at www.nike5kforkids.com website and in the school office. The deadline for registration is rapidly approaching, so please register soon to help our athletic programs.
Saint Mark Lutheran School has new girl's uniform shorts on-sale in the school office. The short are already imprinted with the Warriors logo and are ready to be worn. The sizes range from 12 to 16 and are being sold for $10 each on a first come first serve basis.
The 2008-2009 Parent and Student Handbook has been posted on the SMLS website. A hard copy will be sent home with the students on Friday, August 1. The handbook has been reorganized this year to include some new information including a code of conduct and a table of contents. To access the handbook on-line, please click on the "Handbook" button at the top of the home page.
Saint Mark teachers now have their own individual teacher websites. Their websites contain class information such as homework assignments, schedules, newsletters, pictures and class lists. To access the teacher websites, please go to SMLS website, click "People" on the dropdown tool bar and then click on "Faculty and Staff". Once you are on the Faculty and Staff page, simply scroll down and click on the "Website" button for the teacher of your choice. We encourage you to check out these websites and give us your feedback.
Saint Mark Lutheran School welcomes two new teachers to its ohana. Mrs. Anita Dunn and Mrs. Cara Eyer join the junior high faculty taking over for Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Koch who both moved to the mainland. Both of our new teachers bring a wealth of teaching and parental experience with them. Mrs. Dunn is teaching English, social studies and drama, while Mrs. Eyer is teaching math and religion. They will both do their best to get to know all the students and families as soon as possible.
The Saint Mark monthly lunch menu is now available on the SMLS website. To access the lunch menu, go to "Programs" on the dropdown tool bar and then click on "Lunch". Once you are on the Lunch web page, then simply click on the "Lunch Menu" icon to view a PDF of the monthly menu.
The Honolulu Advertiser recently featured a story on our school titled "Lessons help bring about 'ohana feeling".
The Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary announced the winners of their Patriots Pen Youth Essay writing contest. This year's winners included first place winner Alyssa Storm ($100 cash prize), second place winner Iolani Kahapea-Aquino ($75 cash prize), and third place winner John Hirokawa ($50 cash prize). The topic for this year's essay was "Why I am an American Patriot." Congratulations to all 3 students for a job well done!
The one-page 2008-2009 school calendar is now posted on the SMLS website. Just click on the "Calendar" link on the top tool bar and then click on "Printer Friendly Version". We hope that this calendar helps you as you plan ahead for the up coming school year.
Mrs. Denise Hayes who teaches junior high English and social studies will be moving to the mainland this summer to be closer to her family. We sincerely thank Mrs. Hayes for her commitment to Saint Mark and for her strong dedication to her students and their leaning. Mrs. Hayes has been part of the Saint Mark family for four years and will be dearly missed.
Saint Mark Lutheran Church is again sponsoring their annual Vacation Bible School (VBS). It is entitled "Friendship Trek, Jesus Our Forever Friend" and will take place at the week of June 9 - June 13 at Saint Mark Lutheran Church from 8:30am to 11:30am. Please call 247-4565 or e-mail st.marksecretary@yahoo.com if you are interested.
We are very excited to now offer a new photo gallery on the Saint Mark website. There are all sorts of school related pictures in different photo albums. Just click on "Photos" on the top tool bar and check it out. We will do our best to continually keep the gallery fresh with new photos. Please check it out!
The Saint Mark school website is now hosting a new and improved email system that allows families to quickly and easily email faculty, staff and administration. All you have to do is click the "Contact Us" button in the upper right corner of the Home page, click the name of the person who you want to contact, type your message, and click "Send Email" - that's it. We encourage you to give it a try!
Saint Mark Lutheran School has unveiled a new poster advertising campaign at Windward Mall. If you have not done so already, please take a look at Saint Mark poster outside of Koolau Pets the next time you are at Windward Mall.
Tani Buckley has won 1st place in the 6th grade division of the 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poetry Contest, sponsored by the International Peace Poem Project. In the 8th grade division, Randon Serikawa won 1st place and Brice Kanehira 2nd place. The students, their parents, teacher Mrs. Hayes and Principal Mr. Gaudi, are invited to attend a ceremony at the Mission Memorial Auditorium in Honolulu on Wednesday, April 16, where they will be presented with the winning certificates. Their poems will then be added to the International Peace Poem.
We've added an automatically-updating, daily Bible Verse of the Day to our homepage. This service is provided as a courtesy of BibleGateway.com
St. Mark raised over $5000 with the Jump Rope For Heart Jump-a-thon! Sophie Rupert (1st Grade) collected the most money. She and three others will be in a Disneyland drawing. In addition, St. Mark will receive $300 to spend on additional P.E. equipment.
We're very excited to announce the release of the latest upgrade to our school's website. In addition to a design overhall, additional content has been added including a dynamic school calendar and RSS news feeds.
Junior High had their annual Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 16th. The winner was Nalei Akau (gr. 7)with Kelli Lyman (gr. 6) coming in second. Nalei will now compete in the District Spelling Bee at Le Jardin on February 12 at 6:30 p.m., Kelli will be the alternate. Winners then move on to the state finals held at Windward Community College in April. Good Luck girls!
A total of $360 was collected in December for the Lokahi Tree. Thank you for St. Mark families sharing for those less fortunate. In January, chapel offerings will go towards Cystic Fibrosis Research.
The Application for Admission for new students must be completed and submitted to the school's office by January 15, 2008 for top priority.
The community is invited to help St. Mark Lutheran School celebrate its golden anniversary with a luau Nov. 17 at the Kaneohe campus.
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