Saint Mark Lutheran School News
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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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