Junior High & High School
News & Notes
2/2/2023

 

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Our Trinity and Zion families of believers, friends and family of Laura Biesterfeld (Illinois Lutheran’s 5th & 6th grade teacher), and Illinois Lutheran Schools are joining together in generosity to lift up our sister in Christ as she battles cancer.

Monetary gifts, favorite Bible verses, and notes of encouragement and support will be accepted at both school campuses from January 30 – February 10 and before or after church services on February 5 and 12 to be delivered to Laura before her next treatment.

Special collection boxes with notepads and envelopes will be set out at both the churches and school campuses with this “Operation: Love For Laura” logo. Thank you for showing your support!

 Scholastic Book Fair – Last Day

Books bring us joy! The annual Scholastic Book Fair will be open until tomorrow, Friday, February 3 at 4:00 PM at the Illinois Lutheran Schools elementary campus (448 Cass Street in Crete, IL).

As the largest children’s publisher, Scholastic offers books that are sure to spark your child’s imagination and nurture a lifelong love of reading! Also, purchasing books from the Scholastic Book Fair is a great way to support our school and your child’s classroom.

You can also place an order online HERE. Questions? Contact our librarian, Mrs. Stacey Sievert, at library@illinoislutheran.org.

ILHS Lock-In 2023 – Saturday

The high school lock-in will be held this Saturday, February 4 from 5:30 PM to Sunday, February 5 at 5 AM.

  • To attend, all high school students must check in at 5:30 PM at the high school and attend 6 PM church at Zion. Only students who check-in at 5:30 PM and attend worship at 6 PM will be admitted.
  • Each student should bring a snack to share.
  • No medication will be allowed unless the parent notifies Mr. Adickes in advance.
  • We will provide two sleeping areas for those who choose to sleep. There will be separate areas for young men and young women. There will be no commingling in these areas.
  • We will provide a room for movies, two rooms for gaming, a room for board games, and the gym will be available for physical activities. All games and movies must be approved by Mr. Adickes by Wednesday, February 1. There will be full group activities throughout the evening.
  • Permission slips were due by Thursday, February 2.
  • Admission for the lock-in will be $15 per student. After the lock-in, each student is required to help clean up. At the end of the lock-in, once you finish with clean-up and sign out, you will get $5 back.
  • Questions? Contact Mr. Adickes at padickes@ilhs.org or 708.672.3262, ext. 121.

Junior High Dance – February 11

The dance for 7th and 8th graders will take place on Saturday, February 11 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at the high school building. This is a casual dance (not formal) but please dress nicely and follow the school dress code.

Permission slips and payment were due on Tuesday, January 24. If the permission slip and payment is being handed in late, the cost to attend is $25.  If you have any questions, please contact Señora Ventura at aventura@ilhs.org.

Valentine’s Day Singing Telegrams

On Valentine’s Day, members of Illinois Lutheran High School’s Concert Choir will be out and about delivering singing telegrams! They will travel to anywhere in the Crete and Steger community between the hours of 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM.

If you would like them to sing for your special someone, you can get 2 songs and a bag of candy for $15, or 3 songs and a bag of candy for $20. Song options include: “My Girl,” “Lollipop,” “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” If you are interested in purchasing a telegram, please send an e-mail to financial@illinoislutheran.org, call 708.227.3472, or contact Mr. Willitz at jwillitz@ilhs.org and provide the following information:

1. Name of recipient
2. Location and time frame of delivery
3. Song selections
4. Personal message

Payment can be sent to the high school (attn: Mr. Willitz). Please make checks out to “ILS” and please note “Choir” in the memo line. Orders will be taken until Tuesday, February 7 or until we’re fully booked.

Call Update

The Illinois Lutheran Board of Directors was led to place the following call:

Mr. Jonathan Witte has been called to serve as the Band and Choral Director of our junior high and high school beginning with the 23-24 school year. Mr. Witte currently serves as the Band Director at Luther High School in Onalaska, WI. Please keep Mr. Witte in your prayers as he prayerfully considers his calls.

Help Needed – Parent Volunteer Requirement

All parents who have children playing or cheering in our winter sports programs are reminded that your help is needed in the concession stand. We asked all families to sign up twice for the concession stand. Some of you have fulfilled that requirement and then some while others haven’t signed up yet. We  need you to help us out in the concession stand as that generates much needed revenue for our programs. If you can’t fulfill your requirement you may send your child to help out (7th grade or older). Please use THIS LINK to sign up for your volunteer spots. We appreciate your support!

Questions? Contact Mr. Nate Hinz at nhinz@ilhs.org or 708.672.3262, ext. 114.

Grandparents’ Day

Illinois Lutheran Junior High & High School is hosting its first Grandparents’ Day on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 7:45 AM – 11:30 AM.

Students may invite their grandparents to attend this special morning. Teachers, staff and administration look forward to making memorable moments with our students and their loved ones. Invitations will be sent home with students next week.

Grandparents or special relatives will start the day with light refreshments and a brief message from our administration, then continue with a morning of classes, chapel and music. If the special relative being invited is not a grandparent, please contact Mrs. Jahns for approval (rjahns@ilhs.org).

Please RSVP online by Wednesday, February 22 by clicking HERE.

Note from Señora Ventura

Earlier this week, the Illinois Lutheran Board of Education and students were notified that Señora Ventura will not be returning to teach, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Please keep Señora Ventura in your prayers.

“I can’t believe that I’ve been teaching here for 13 and a half years! You don’t notice the time fly by when you are doing something you love. I love teaching my students. You make my life light up. However, my three children need a lot more time from me than I have been able to give. Therefore, after much prayerful consideration, I have decided that I will no longer teach at Illinois Lutheran after this school year ends. I will miss you more than I can say. Thank you and I hope to make some fun memories as we finish the school year together.”

7th & 8th Graders – MAP Testing

The second round of MAP testing for our junior high students will take place from February 15 – 17 for one to two hours per day. They will start and end the school day at the normal times on these days. If you have any questions about MAP testing, please contact Miss Van Alstine at kvanalstine@ilhs.org.

FACTS – 2022 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

Hot Lunch Program

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.

For families that need to set up a School Eatery account for the first time, please click on these links and refer to the following instructions:

  • Junior High/High School Parents
  • Elementary School Parents
  • Payments will be made directly to School Eatery.
  • If your child is at the JH/HS campus, the campus code is ILHS. If your child is at the elementary campus, the campus code is ILES.
  • If you have any questions about ordering or the payment process, please contact School Eatery directly at 800.570.6755. or schooleatery@yahoo.com.
  • If your child is sick, you will need to notify School Eatery at 800.570.6755 PRIOR to 8:00 AM in order to cancel the order for that day and receive an account credit.
  • If you have children in both buildings, you will need to set up a separate account and login with a separate email.

Emergency Closing Center

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.

Trinity’s Teen Ministry

Do you have a heart for teen ministry? Parents and anyone interested in making a difference in these teens’ lives are strongly encouraged to come to an organizational meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 PM. We’ll meet in Trinity’s Fellowship Hall. We’ll talk ideas and brainstorm how to run this important ministry. If you have any questions, contact Amanda Hokanson at amanda.hokanson@yahoo.com.

Yearbook Pictures

Are you a picture taker? When attending a game or school event do you have your phone out to snap some pics of those kids having fun? We are looking for your help.  If you take pictures at any ILES or Jr. High events this year, whether a game, class party, or field trip, we want to see them. We are looking for pictures that we can add to this school year’s yearbook.  During the year if you have taken some pictures of your child’s class please consider sharing them with Mrs. Oestmann for possible use in the yearbook. Pictures can be sent to eoestmann@illinoislutheran.org. Thank you!

Junior High Girls Basketball Information

Team and individual sport pictures will be taken tomorrow, Friday, February 3 after school at the junior high/high school campus.

Athletic Calendar

Be sure to check the athletic calendar online regularly for any updates that are made to the schedule.

Parent Volunteers

We ask that parents plan to volunteer for concessions at least TWO times per sport season. Please use THIS LINK to sign up for your volunteer spots. We appreciate your support!

Questions? Contact Coach Taryn Oldenburg at toldenburg@illinoislutheran.org or 708.672.3262, ext. 126.

High School Track

Register Online

If your child plans to participate in high school track, please be sure to register them online before the first practice.

Athletic Calendar

Be sure to check the athletic calendar online regularly for any updates that are made to the schedule.

High School Track & Field – Student, Parent & Coach Meeting

Parents and track athletes, please plan to join us on Saturday, February 4 at 4:00 PM at the high school to meet with the track coaches.

High School Sport Participation Fee

High school students pay a $125 per sport participation fee. Please submit that HERE through our online bookstore order form and it will be added to your FACTS account (unless you’ve already done so). This must be done PRIOR TO the first day of practice.

Sport Physicals

ALL STUDENTS IN ANY GRADE LEVEL participating in a sport are required to submit either an Illinois state physical or Illinois sport physical to the school office PRIOR TO the first day of practice. Please make sure that you have submitted one to the office that is not expired (more than one year old).

Spring Sport Pictures

Image Group will be taking spring sport pictures on Thursday, March 16 at 3:00 PM at the high school. Please remind your child to bring their uniform to school that day. A few days after picture day, you will receive an email from Image Group to purchase photos.

Questions? Contact Coach Anita Willitz at Anita.Weimer@blc.edu.

FREE Charger Parent T-Shirts

If you ordered a t-shirt, it will be distributed to your child in the next few days.

Illinois Lutheran Schools is excited to offer a FREE Charger “Mom” and “Dad” t-shirt to parents of current students. If you missed the first round of orders, you can still order your shirt! Please fill out and submit THIS FORM. T-shirt orders will be distributed to your oldest child.

  • One t-shirt is allowed per parent.
  • You must submit an order to receive a t-shirt.
  • If we are out of the size that you order, we will give you a larger size.
  • If your t-shirt is lost or damaged, a new one can be purchased for $10 through FACTS (while supplies last).

Chargers Kids Club

Do you like free candy bars? T-shirts? You’ll love the Chargers Kids Club! All students in Grades 3-8 can build toward a reward by attending home varsity volleyball or basketball games and supporting our Chargers. Visit the Kids Club table at Illinois Lutheran High School during any high school home game!

Chargers Bumper Stickers

We have Chargers bumper stickers in stock! Show your support for ILS by purchasing this sticker for $5. You can purchase one in either school office or at the concession stand during home games. Go Chargers!

School Bookstore Orders

Do you need to order milk, a PE uniform, a Bible, etc? Please submit your electronic bookstore order and your fees will be added to your FACTS account. Questions? Contact Mrs. Jessica Bushey at jbushey@ilhs.org.

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? HERE is a link to daily devotion ideas.