Junior High & High School
News & Notes
2/5/26

Upcoming Events

  • Monday, February 16 – NO SCHOOL Presidents’ Day – all grade levels
  • Friday, February 27 – NO SCHOOL Lutheran Teachers Conference – all grade levels

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

Learn more about how you can help!

Laser Tag – February 14

Zion Lutheran Church’s Board of Outreach is sponsoring a fun night of laser tag. The event will be held on Saturday, February 14 in the high school gym.

Who is Invited?

Anyone in 5th grade or older is invited, so please invite your friends.

Times

  • 5th to 8th grades: 5 – 6:30 PM
  • 9th to 12th grades: 6:30 – 8 PM

Please RSVP

Email Mr. Jacob Lash at jlash@ilhs.org if your child plans to attend.

School Closed on Presidents’ Day – February 16

Campuses will be closed and students will have no school on Monday, February 16 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

School Closed on February 27

Campuses will be closed and students will have no school on Friday, February 27. ILS teachers will be attending a Teachers Conference in Wisconsin.

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.

Mr. Seeger, our elementary school Principal, has returned the call to Trinity Lutheran School in Caledonia, Wisconsin. He will remain at ILS.

Miss Chloe Robbert, our science and junior high art teacher, received a call to serve as 5th and 6th grade homeroom teacher and 5th – 8th grade science instructor at Morrison Zion Lutheran Elementary School in Greenleaf, WI.

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.

Mrs. Brudos, our 4th grade teacher, received a call to teach grades 2-4 at Salem Lutheran School in Owosso, Michigan.

Thank you for keeping Miss Robbert, and the Seeger, Deenik, and Brudos families in your prayers. You are welcome to share any thoughts or questions with them.

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.

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).

Art Fair – March 5

Calling all 5-8th grade students! Illinois Lutheran School is hosting a community art fair on Tuesday, March 5 from 5 – 7 PM at the high school campus (1610 Main Street, Crete). Support student artistic expression and enjoy concessions during the event.

The public is welcome to attend and to participate and submit their creations. Area private and public school and homeschool students are encouraged to submit work in a variety of mediums including sculpture, drawing, painting, computer artwork, weaving, printmaking, calligraphy, ceramics and much more.

Submissions will be judged, and must be brought to the school by 3 PM on Monday, March 2. Submitted art work may be picked up after the show at 7 PM on March 5 or at the school during school hours 7:30 AM – 3 PM from March 4-6th. See here for Art Fair Guidelines, Submission Tags, and the Art Fair Judge Rubric.

Music Schedule

Illinois Lutheran Junior High and High School Parents,

Please join us as we celebrate the Witte family, who welcomed a daughter earlier this week! During his parental leave of approximately six weeks we will need to make some schedule changes. We are pleased to share that Illinois Lutheran School alumnus, Dana Brooks, who has extensive band experience, will be helping to continue band instruction with the support and help of other ILJH/HS instructors. Below are the instruction and schedule changes:

  • High School Band – Dana Brooks will be leading the high school band rehearsals on ALL Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The high school band will not rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  • Junior High Band – Dana Brooks will be leading the junior high band rehearsals Monday through Friday except on day 4s.
  • Junior High Band Lessons – Dana Brooks will be leading the junior high band as they are currently scheduled.
  • Junior High Music – Dana Brooks will be teaching the junior high music course Monday through Friday except on day 6s.
  • Concert Choir – ILJH/HS instructors will be supervising the rehearsal time on Tuesdays to Fridays during which choir members will expand their music theory knowledge.
  • Music History – On most days Principal Moeller will be supervising the Music History students as they work independently on assignments and instructional activities designed by Mr. Witte.
  • Micahtam Rehearsals – These rehearsals (6-8 PM on Wednesdays) will be suspended until Mr. Witte returns.
  • Jazz Band Rehearsals – These rehearsals (5:00-6:30 PM) will be led by Dana Brooks.

If you have any questions or concerns please call or email (mmoeller@ilhs.org) Principal Moeller

Concession Volunteer Requirement

Families of all cheer, basketball and volleyball 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.

Summer Camp Scholarship

The Crete Woman’s Club is offering a summer camp scholarship opportunity for any 3rd-11th grade student residing in School District 201U. The scholarship is worth up to $350 and can be used for music, drama, art, athletic, or educational camps. More information and applications can be found online with the link below. The deadline for the applications is Friday, April 10. CLICK HERE to learn more!

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.