What have we been up to???

This past week was busy…but then again, most weeks are!

The fourth graders gave oral presentations in science class about the moon. Presentations can be seen on our classroom website. There's a link along the left side of www.emanuelnl.org/grade4 that says, "moon" if you want to view their oral presentations.
The SmileBox shows most of the students' props that were used for the reports.

Earlier in March we created wood sculptures from scrap wood. I cannot believe that I let the children take home their creations without pictures of the final works of art!

Above is Ashley Jones. She works at Golden Sands. Through the county they provide these programs fee of charge. God Bless your Holy Week… Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Crown of Thorns

This past week, hanging from a clip on the whiteboard, there has been a branch with long, sharp thorns. Mrs. Platz teaches Sunday School in our classroom. She left it here for us to ponder. I have pondered it… It brings to mind a Bible passage that the students know - Romans 6:23.

"For the wages of sin is death."

The wages of sin may be death, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Someone had to die to so that we could be rescued from eternal punishment. Thank you to Jesus!
The branch of thorns has been twisted into a circle…a crown. Jesus suffered and died so that all of us will be able to spend eternity in heaven with our Redeemer King. Again, Thanks to Jesus!

God bless you and yours.

March Madness

March Madness usually applies to basketball tournaments. But my mind travels in a completely different path during "March Madness"… It's the madness of SIN, which leads me down the path we call LENT.

This coming Wednesday, March 21, our class sings for the 3:15 Lenten service. The song is simply called, The Purple Robe. It's just two verses. But what powerful verses! In a few simple words, the song tells of our Savior's path to the cross. I'm really happy that Jesus came to Earth to save mankind from the wickedness of sin; but, I'm even more ecstatic that Jesus came to save me!

God Bless you this Lenten season.

A purple robe, a crown of thorn, a reed in his right hand;
before the soldiers' spite and scorn I see my Savior stand.
He bears between the Roman guard the weight of all our woe;
a stumbling figure bowed and scarred I see my Savior go.

He hangs, by whom the world was made, beneath the darkened sky;
the everlasting ransom paid, I see my Savior die.
He shares on high his Father's throne, who once in mercy came;
for all his love to sinners shown I sing my Savior's Name. 

Really Short…

I actually had plans to put some pictures on here from our guest speaker, Ashley Jones. She works for the Golden Sands Environmental Center. She spoke with us on Thursday about groundwater. It is a free program for 5th graders.

No excuses, except I don't feel well...cold, sore throat, fever, cough...I lack the energy to do all of my normal weekend projects.

God's blessings.

Wow! February's Over??

Our Christ Light series comes in three sections. This past week we finished the second of the three books, which means we are two thirds of the way through our school year! That shouldn't amaze me, but it does.

The highlights of the week just finished:

• Many of the students thought we'd have a snow day on Wednesday. But alas, we're not in charge of the weather…thankfully, God is. 
• We spent some time in the computer lab practicing for WorldMathsDay and WorldSpellingDay. The official days are next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 6 & 7. They are thrilled each time that they come up in competition against one of their classmates. When the real days of competition come, and there are people all over the world participating, it will be somewhat of a miracle if they play against a classmate.

Free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox

• Friday was National AR Day. The nationwide goal was to have more AR reading quizzes taken than last years 2.1 million. That was surpassed shortly after 12 noon today. The last time I checked the total was over 3.5 million…and still counting.
• Celia's parents, Jim and Jody Anderson, came in today (Friday) and gave us a tour of their 7-week adventure to Alaska. The photos showed the wonders of God's pristine creation. A big thank-you to them for sharing their summer vacation with us. It might inspire a few students, and me as well, to journey to that part of the US.

Upcoming events:

• Tuesday and Wednesday we'll spend some time in the computer lab for Math Day and Spelling Day. I know that the students just think it's fun…but they're building their math and spelling skills at the same time.
• On Thursday we have a guest speaker coming from Golden Sands Environmental Center. She'll be speaking with us about groundwater; how we use it and why we need to conserve it. It is a free program to 5th grade classrooms in Waupaca County.

 God bless your week.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.