Junior High & High School
News & Notes
12/4/25
Upcoming Events
- Thursday, December 11 @ 7 PM – High School Band & Choir Christmas Concert @ high school campus
- Sunday, December 14 @ 2 PM – Elementary & Junior High Christmas Service @ high school campus
- Wednesday, December 17 – Friday, December 19 – High School 1st Semester Final Exams
- Wednesday, December 17 – Junior High & High School Early Release @ 12:30 PM
- Thursday, December 18 – Junior High & High School Early Release @ 11:00 AM
- Friday, December 19 – Junior High & High School Early Release @ 11:00 AM
- Monday, December 22 – Friday, January 2, 2026 – NO SCHOOL Christmas Break – all grade levels
- Monday, January 5, 2026 – SCHOOL RESUMES for all grade levels
- Tuesday, January 6, 2026 @ 6:30 PM – Charger Booster Association Meeting @ high school campus
- Monday, January 19 – NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Jr. Day – all grade levels
Giving Tuesday – Resurfacing the Gym Floor
At the Jr. High and High School campus, it’s time to resurface the gym floor to continue providing a great environment for our students, athletes and community. This is a central space to the mission of Illinois Lutheran. Click here for our message. Click here to learn more and donate today!
Earn Tuition Rebates!
The money you’re already planning to spend can help you earn toward tuition rebates AND raise funds for the Charger Booster Association. Here’s how to earn:
- Buy gift cards from RaiseRight and use them to pay for all your holiday expenses. Every gift card purchase from RaiseRight earns up to 20% back!
- Shop online through RaiseRight—log in to your RaiseRight account, click through to shop directly on a brand’s website, and earn upon completing a purchase.
- Dine locally—link a credit or debit card in your RaiseRight account to earn 5% every time you dine at thousands of restaurants nationwide and pay with your linked card.
Haven’t joined our SCRIP/RaiseRight program yet? CLICK HERE to shop now!
High School Final Exam Schedule – Early Dismissal
High School students will be released early on 12/17, 12/18 and 12/19. Also, there will be no lunch period on these days.
SCHEDULE:
- Wednesday, December 17: 8:15 AM – 12:30 PM
- Thursday, December 18: 8:15 AM – 11:00 AM
- Friday, December 19: 8:15 AM – 11:00 AM
- Monday, December 22 – Friday, January 2 – NO SCHOOL for Christmas Break
- Monday, January 5: Return from Christmas Break
PLEASE NOTE:
- All tests period are 1 hour and 15 minutes long. There will be a 15 minute break between tests.
- All tests will be in your regular classrooms unless previously arranged.
- Tests missed during the schedule should be rescheduled for the makeup period.
- A student does not have to come in until he/she needs to take a test.
- A student may leave after the testing period providing they have no other test that day.
- A student may not leave and return to school during the exam days.
- Students who are present but not taking the test may read or do other work quietly.
- No test will be excused until the end of the period.
- Not every class is required to have formal semester tests. Projects, labs, etc. are acceptable replacements.
- Regular school dress code still applies during exam days.
EXEMPTIONS:
- Students who have a straight A average (95%) in PowerSchool (No A-) may be exempt however, they may take the test if they so wish. No target attendance exemptions.
Junior High – Early Dismissal
The 7th & 8th graders will be released early on 12/17, 12/18 and 12/19. Also, there will be no lunch period on these days.
SCHEDULE:
- Wednesday, December 17: 8:15 AM – 12:30 PM
- Thursday, December 18: 8:15 AM – 11:00 AM
- Friday, December 19: 8:15 AM – 11:00 AM
- Monday, December 22 – Friday, January 2 – NO SCHOOL for Christmas Break
- Monday, January 5: Return from Christmas Break
Advent Worship Services
You are welcome to join us at either Trinity or Zion Lutheran Church.
Trinity Services @ 3:30 PM:
- Wednesday, December 10
- Wednesday, December 17
Zion Services @ 3:45 PM:
- Wednesday, December 10
- Wednesday, December 17
Christmas Break
This year Christmas Break will be held from Monday, December 22 – Friday, January 2. Students will return on Monday, January 5, 2026. We hope that you enjoy this time to celebrate the birth of our Savior with your family!
Christmas Church Service Times
Everyone is welcome to celebrate Christmas with both the Trinity and Zion congregations. Both churches have service times on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Service times are as follows:
Trinity Lutheran Church:
- Wednesday, December 24 @ 3, 4:30 & 6 PM
- Thursday, December 25 @ 10 AM
Zion Lutheran Church:
- Wednesday, December 24 @ 6 & 10 PM
- Thursday, December 25 @ 9 AM
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. CLICK HERE to check the Emergency Closing Center for school closings.
Sign up for text message alerts! Text “Y” to 67587.
Amazon Wish List Tree
This season of giving, the Charger Booster Association would like to support our teachers by sharing their classroom Amazon Wish Lists. These items will help enhance the classrooms of our teachers at Illinois Lutheran Schools. Please consider purchasing an item and help fulfill their Amazon Classroom Wish List! Thank you for supporting Illinois Lutheran Schools!
- Mrs. Henning
- Mr. Kopp
- Mr. Lash
- Profe Paul
- Mr. Rick
- Miss Robbert
- Miss Schuppe
- Mr. Shi
- Ms. Swenson
- Mrs. Van Arnold
- Mr. Witte
Blood Drive – Saturday
Illinois Lutheran High School is hosting its next community blood drive of the school year on Saturday, December 6 from 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM. It will be on
the Versiti mobile donation bus at the ILES campus (448 Cass St, Crete, IL). You must be 16 years or older to donate, and 16 year old donors need a signed parental consent form, along with a photo ID for ALL donors.
You can sign up online here: https://donateblood.versiti.
Farewell Dinner for the Schneider Family – Sunday
On Sunday, December 7, there will be a dinner to give farewell wishes to Pastor Schneider and his family. The dinner will start at 5:00 PM and will be held at either the ILHS gym or the church basement depending on how many people sign up to attend. Sign up sheets are in the church entry, the school offices, or you can call Zion Church office (708.672.8600). The main dish will be provided but we ask that those attending bring either a side dish (last name A-M) or a dessert (last name N-Z) There will be a box for cards at the meal. We hope many are able to attend.
High School Christmas Concert – December 11
Illinois Lutheran High School’s Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 PM. The high school band and choirs will perform music that brings joy to the world – for the Savior has been born. The concert will be in the ILHS gym located at 1610 Main Street. Admission is free and open to all. We hope that you can join us to celebrate the birth of our Risen Savior.
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.
Chromebooks
Recently, several students have damaged their chromebooks. We ask that parents please talk to their children about the best way to make sure their chromebook remains in good condition for as long as possible.
For students that have chromebook insurance through the school, students should submit their damaged chromebook to Mrs. Henning to file a claim. During that time, if we have one available, the student will use a school chromebook, which they are responsible for.
For students that do not have insurance but damaged their chromebook, they may borrow a school chromebook for $5 per day (charge will be added to parent FACTS account), pending availability of our loaner chromebooks.
If you are not sure if you purchased chromebook insurance this year, please contact Mrs. Bushey at jbushey@ilhs.org. If you have any questions about chromebooks, please contact Mrs. Henning at khenning@illinoislutheran.
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.
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.