Junior High & High School
News & Notes
1/15/26

Upcoming Events

  • Friday, January 16 @ 2:00 PM – Elementary & Junior High Pep Rally @ elementary campus
  • Friday, January 16 @ 2:45 – High School Girls & Boys Basketball & High School Cheer Sports Photos @ high school campus
  • Saturday, January 17 @ 4:45 – 7:15 PM – All-School Skating Party @ Lynwood Sports Center
  • Monday, January 19 – NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Jr. Day – all grade levels
  • Tuesday, January 27 – Junior High MAP Testing
  • Wednesday, January 28 @ 1:00 PM – 5th – 8th Grade Spelling Bee @ high school campus
  • Friday, January 30 – Junior High MAP Testing
  • Monday, February 2 @ 3:00 PM – A & B Team Girls Volleyball Sports Photos @ high school campus
  • Tuesday, February 3 – Junior High & High School Grandparents’ Day
  • Tuesday, February 3 @ 11:30 AM – HALF DAY for both campuses
  • Wednesday, February 4 – Junior High MAP Testing
  • Monday, February 16 – NO SCHOOL Presidents’ Day – all grade levels

Giving Tuesday – Resurfacing the Gym Floor

Supporter of ILS,

Our mission at ILS is to share Jesus with our students and families.

Thank you to all who have generously contributed to our Giving Tuesday campaign to resurface the Illinois Lutheran High School gym floor. We have already received over $10,000 in donations including a donor who will match all additional donations up to $2,000.

The gym floor is now over 25 years old and needs to be resurfaced to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our athletes, fans, band students and community. Watch this video to learn more. We are seeking to raise $75,000 so that a new gym floor will be ready for the 2026-27 school year. Go to ilhs.org/giving-tuesday/ to make your contribution.

We thank you for your support!

Principal Matt Moeller

ILS Coin War to Resurface the Gym Floor

Our gym is not just where our athletic teams compete. It also serves as a worship space for junior high and high school chapel services, a venue for our concerts and community events and a classroom for physical education courses. These are vital aspects of the well-rounded education provided at ILS. The gym floor is 27 years old (the life expectancy was 10-15 years when installed) and needs to be repaired to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our athletes, fans, band students and community.

To provide students with the opportunity to support the resurfacing of the gym floor they use now and will use in the future, we are having a coin war from January 26 to February 6. Students and their families can drop off coins, cash and check donations in jugs and bins designated for each class. Here’s how the points work:

  • Add coins to gain points. (+1 point for the cent value of each coin)
  • Subtract points by adding cash and checks to other bins. (-1 point for the cent value of each bill or check)

First Prize: Class Pizza Party
Second Prize: Ice Cream Sunday Party
Third Prize: Mini Candy Bars for All Class Members

ILS Junior High and High School Grandparents’ Day – February 3

On Tuesday, February 3, all grandparents of Illinois Lutheran Junior and High School students are invited to join us from 7:45 to 11:30 AM at the Illinois Lutheran Junior High and High School campus (1610 Main Street in Crete, IL). This day will be an early release day for all ILS students (11:30 AM dismissal).

Grandparents of ILS junior high and high schools students will have the opportunity to:

  • Enjoy breakfast snacks with their grandchildren.
  • Attend classes and chapel.
  • Learn more about the ILS ministry.
  • Listen to performances by the ILHS band and choir.

Students may invite their grandparents to attend this special morning. ILS teachers, staff and administration look forward to making memorable moments with our students and their loved ones.

You can register for the event by completing this short survey. If the special relative being invited is not a grandparent, please contact the school office for approval (jbushey@ilhs.org).

If you would like to volunteer to bring snacks or assist with the event you can sign up here.

Please reach out to Principal Matt Moeller with questions at mmoeller@ilhsn.org. We look forward to connecting generations of ILS families!

Family Skate Night – January 17

Please join us for our CBA sponsored Family Skate Night on Saturday, January 17 from 4:45 – 7:15 PM! The event will take place at Lynwood Sports Center (2030 Glenwood Dyer Road in Lynwood, IL). Admission and skate rental is free for all ILS students and their families. Concessions will be available for purchase. Questions? Contact Kyle Wallace at kylewallace85@gmail.com.

School Closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – January 19

Campuses will be closed and students will have no school on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

F.I.S.H. Family Trivia Night – January 24

Seventh and eighth graders and their families are welcome to join us for Family Trivia Night on Saturday, January 24 at 6 – 8 PM at Trinity’s Fellowship Hall (1393 Elizabeth Street in Crete, IL)! Dinner will be served. Please let Mr. Derek Storch know how many will attend at derekmstorch@gmail.com or 708.466.3550. We look forward to seeing you!

Spelling Bee – January 28

Junior High students will participate in the 5th-8th grade spelling bee on Wednesday, January 28 at 1:00 PM. Teachers will be having classroom bees to determine four spellers from each class to participate. Parents are welcome to attend.

Early Release – All Students – February 3

All ILS students will be released at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, February 3. Junior high and high school students will be released after the completion of our Grandparents’ Day activities. All ILS teachers will participate in professional development activities in the afternoon.

1st Semester Honor Roll

Congratulations to our 1st semester honor roll students!

MAP Growth Testing – Junior High

Students in grades 7 & 8 will participate in MAP Growth testing over the two weeks of January 26 and February 2. These tests are in the areas of math, reading, and English and will be completed on your child’s Chromebook. MAP Growth tests are taken three times a year, and they provide valuable data to help student learning.

You can help your children do their best by getting them to bed on time, providing a nutritious breakfast, and reminding them to charge their Chromebook the night before. Your child’s results will be shared with you a few weeks after testing. Questions? Contact Mrs. Katty Van Arnold at kvanarnold@ilhs.org or 708.672.3262, ext. 122.

Call News

The national church body (WELS) that ILS is affiliated with helps schools and churches find qualified pastors and teachers through a call process. When you read that someone has a call, they essentially have received an offer from another ministry to come and serve at their church or school. The person usually takes several weeks to prayerfully consider this opportunity and then decide whether to stay or go.

On Sunday, Mr. Seeger, our elementary school Principal, received a call to serve as Principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Caledonia, Wisconsin. Also on Sunday, Mrs. Deenik, our 2nd grade teacher, received a call to serve as 1st-2nd grade teacher at New Hope Lutheran Academy in West Melbourne, Florida.

Thank you for keeping the Seegers and Deeniks in your prayers. You are welcome to share any thoughts or questions with them.

Concession Volunteer Requirement

Families of all cheer and basketball athletes are required to work at least one turn in the concession stand. Students or other family members are allowed to work in place of guardians.

Sign-up is available on EventLink. Go to Event Jobs >> Worker Request >> Request. Once approved, pick a date and time.

Multiple days are appreciated. Questions? Contact Mr. David Kenyon at ad@ilhs.org.

Elementary & Junior High Track Volunteers Needed

Mr. Van Arnold is ILS’s elementary/junior high track and field coach, and he needs a few volunteers to assist him this spring. He is looking for a couple people with previous track and field experience (even if it’s been a while!) and a willingness to teach middle schoolers the basics of throwing, jumping, and/or running. Practices will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school starting in March and running through the middle of May. If you are interested or have further questions about volunteering, contact Mr. Van Arnold at (nvanarnold@illinoislutheran.org).

FACTS Tuition for Tax Filing

Do you need a summary of tuition you paid for your tax filing? You can retrieve and print a summary of payments from FACTS:

  • Login to your FACTS account
  • On the home page, click View Details
  • Click View Payment Summary on the details screen
  • Ensure the correct Calendar Year or date range is selected
  • Click Print

Emergency School Closings

Please note that for school closings due to bad weather, you will be contacted with the information that is on file. Please be sure that your information is up to date. You can click HERE to check the Emergency Closing Center for school closings.

Sign up for text message alerts! Text “Y” to 67587.

Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA)

The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) created a landmark new federal tax credit that helps families pay for private school, tutoring, homeschool expenses, and other education needs. The tax credit works through Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs)—nonprofits that award scholarships to eligible students.

Scholarship Uses

  • Private school tuition and fees
  • Tutoring and after-school programs.
  • Textbooks, supplies, technology
  • Special needs services
  • Transportation assistance

How to Take Action Now so that You and Other Families Can Benefit from the Scholarship

  1. Call your Governor and legislators and encourage them to opt-in to the program. Each state must choose to participate. If your governor or legislature says “yes,” families in your state can benefit. Here is a template for a letter/email that you might use. You can submit your opinion here.
  2. Parents can check the governor’s website for updates.

Sign up for updates: Follow ACSI’s Advocacy Bi-weekly update at ACSI.org/subscribe.

Hot Lunch Program – School Eatery – NEW RESTAURANT ADDED!

  • Monday & Tuesday: Bambino’s

  • Wednesday: Subway

  • Thursday: NEW! Tacoverse

  • Friday: Pizza Hut

  • On average, prices range from $6 – $9 per day

  • Order by the day, week, or month by 8:00 AM

  • Contact School Eatery by 8:00 AM if your child will miss school on a day that you ordered, and they will credit your account

Illinois Lutheran Schools works with School Eatery to provide hot lunch to our students. School Eatery works with local restaurants to offer several options every day for your child. To set up your account, please click on these links and refer to the following instructions:

  • Once you set up your account and place your child’s hot lunch order, you will make your payment directly to School Eatery.
  • If you have any questions about ordering or the payment process, please contact School Eatery directly at 800.570.6755 or support@schooleatery.com.
  • If you have children in both buildings, you will need to set up a separate account and login.

Family Devotions

A routine family devotion is essential for the Christian family. This could include reading the Bible, singing, and praying together. Do you need help creating a meaningful family devotional time? Below is a link to daily devotion ideas.

Branching Out From Sunday to Sunday – A Digital Catalog

Branching Out is a digital catalog filled with Christ-centered resources, programs, and plans from Northwestern Publishing House. The mission of Northwestern Publishing House is to deliver biblically sound, Christ-centered resources within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and beyond. Click here to learn more.