Nate Palkewick
Principal Immanuel Lutheran School
As the 2009-2010
school year has come to an end, I always enjoy looking back
and reflecting on some of the highlights and what makes
Immanuel Lutheran School a great place to grow. Here are
some of the highlights of the year:
The students, teachers, and parents honored veterans on
November 4 at the annual Veterans Day Celebration. Students
sang and danced for the veterans and they were joined by
the Immaculate HS concert band, which played a number of
patriotic pieces. The guests of honor were then treated to
a brunch provided by our school parents. It was a great
event and our students were even featured on the front page
of the Danbury News Times on November 5!
In January, students in grades 4-8 participated in the
National Geographic Geography Bee. The initial rounds took
place in each grade. 2 students from each grade won a class
competition and they then moved on to the school finals.
Our school champion for 2010 is Taylor Dice. Rachel Prince
placed second and Andy Stock was third.
Students in grade 5 graduated from the DARE program on
January 27. Congratulations to Ian Hall, Dominique
Harrison, Sarah Keller, Jessica Lagas, Damian Lugo-Commans,
Sophie Rundhaug, Alec Schweitzer, Timothy Smith, Puja
Vachhani, Julie Wang, & Caleb Wardenburg.
ILS celebrated National Lutheran Schools Week in March.
During the week, we focused on the theme, “Securing Each
Child’s Future-For a Life of Service.” Along with the fun
activities and dress up days, we addressed the importance
of service to our school, church, community, nation, and
world. Each day we completed a different service project
which culminated in our service to the church on March 13,
as the students sang at the 10:45 worship
The 3rd
season of ILS Track and
Field ran from March to May. Nearly 50% of our students in
grades K-8 joined the team! Unfortunately, the weather did
not cooperate with us this year and one meet and its
make-up were rained out. At our May 16 meet, our students
came away with 19 medals and they did quite admirably at
the All-Star meet as well
On April 30, students, staff, and parents walked one mile
in support of “Take the Walk.” This fundraising activity
was started by the members of the band HANSON. They pledge
to donate $1 for every person who walks a mile to support
construction of schools in impoverished parts of Africa.
Our school community raised nearly $150 from our one mile
walk on a beautiful Friday afternoon.
Our students also worked hard to help out people with
cancer. ILS collected change to support the American Cancer
Society’s Relay For Life. Students raised over $850 over a
two week period.
The annual Education Fair took place on May 14. Classes set
up displays on a number of themes in their classrooms
including; 4 seasons, weather, trains, and immigration. All
of the students and teachers had great presentations set up
all weekend. Students in grades 5-8 also took part in an
Invention Convention. The students came up with many great
inventions which were judged by a number of people from the
church and school community. Congratulations to the
following winners: Jessica Lagas, Sophie Rundhaug, Andrew
Stock, Nick Leo, Taylor Dice, Sarah Marcus, Alek Piwko,
Dimitris Smith, Katie Keller, Sarah Zakrzewski, and Chris
Kanze.
Our preschoolers graduated on June 10 and our
8th
graders graduated on June
11. Congratulations to all of our graduates, especially our
8th
graders: Navia Hall,
Christopher Kanze, Kristin Ruopp, and Andrea Stock
The school office will be open during the summer, but will
follow a summer schedule. The office will be open from
8am-12pm Monday–Friday. The school office will be closed
Monday, June 21 and July 5.
May you have a safe, restful, and blessed summer and we’ll
see you in September!