Concordia Comments – September 21, 2009
IT’S IN THE STRUGGLE ITSELF THAT YOU DEFINE YOURSELF.” Pat Buchanan
Albert Einstein said, “It is essential that the student acquire an understanding of and a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good, otherwise he-with a specialized knowledge-more closely resembles a well-trained dog than a harmoniously developed person.” Daniel Webster said, “Knowledge does not comprise all which is contained in the large term of education. The feelings are to be disciplined, the passions are to be restrained, true and worthy motives are to be inspired, a profound religious feeling is to be instilled, and pure morality inculcated under all circumstances. All this is comprised in education.”
James Truslow Adams says there are obviously two educations: one should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live. In order to acquire both educations, three things are necessary: We need information, knowledge, and wisdom. We get information out of newspapers, magazines, the internet, and television. We acquire knowledge through good books, encyclopedias, lectures, classes, seminars, etc. But these first two things will not give us both types of education. If information and knowledge were the complete answer, every PhD in America would be rich and happy and every high school dropout would be broke and miserable. Obviously, this is not true.
The third dimension of education is wisdom. Wisdom is the correct use of the truth in the knowledge we have. Wisdom enables us to take information and knowledge and use it to make good decisions. On a personal level all of us can relate examples of people we know or have heard of who overcame unbelievable circumstances and situations because they had wisdom to use the knowledge they had to make right decisions to accomplish things. We certainly wish that for our children. We want them to use information and knowledge in the wisest of ways.
How much more assured we can be of that when we insure that we have directed our kids to the wisdom that comes from God. The apostle James says (1:5) “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.” Not just information and knowledge but also wisdom are a part of the education we try to offer here at Concordia to all of our students and families for then we know more than just how to make a living, we know how to live.
MID-SEPTEMBER CALENDAR:
THURSDAY: Market Day product pick-up
3:00-4:00 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall
@ Redeemer
NEXT MONDAY (Sept. 28): Mid-terms go home gr. 4-8
Looking ahead:
OCT. 3: Flea Market hosted by PALS
OCT. 7: Claire’s Gourmet Fundraiser ends
OCT. 10: Flea Market hosted by gr. 8
OUR MAGAZINE SALES have ended and prizes have been distributed to students. We are thankful for this effort by our students, families, friends, and staff. If you would still like to order a subscription remember that throughout the school year Concordia will receive credit for any on-line purchase www.QSP.com use our school code #425031194. Thanks again to everyone for their support.
CLAIRE’S GOURMET FOOD SALES campaign begins today
and ends on October 7.
This is an effort that many of our families enjoy. These special food items are great to have on hand for special occasions during the upcoming holidays. We eagerly await the pastry, cake, cookie dough and other tasty food items offered.
You do not need to collect tax on your orders. Delivery of items is set for Tuesday, October 27 in the Redeemer Fellowship Hall from noon-6:00 P.M.
“There aren’t nearly enough crutches in the world for all the lame excuses.” Marcus Stroup
SPIRIT SHIRTS! If you are in need of a spirit shirt here is your opportunity to purchase one. Order forms are attached. Note the order deadline is Sept. 29. We expect delivery of shirts within two weeks.
STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS are complete.
President: Jada Haughton, 8th grade
Vice President: Courtney Harvey, 8th grade
Secretary: Eyerusalem Gebremeskel, 7th grade
Representatives elected for first semester:
8th: Patrick Coffee & Eden Getnet
7th: Natalie Bodenschatz & Jide Owosela
6th: Kara Hibler & Eric Morales
We congratulate these students and pray their efforts and leadership will be valuable for everyone.
MANY THANKS for the cooperative effort to drop students off in the parking lot at Longfellow in the morning. The process is smooth and orderly. A reminder: Please do NOT stop at the sidewalk to unload your child. This impacts other cars pulling into the lot. Be mindful that at all times the school bus has the right-of-way.
HOT LUNCH: Thanks to everyone for their wonderful support of our hot lunch program at both campuses!
EACH SEPTEMBER our Chapel Offering goes to support a child we have adopted through the Christian Children’s Fund, Ecuador. We are currently supporting a boy, Jean Carlo Cuasapaz Munoz, from Quito, Ecuador. Our Student Council elected to join this program 6 years ago and we eagerly support it each year. We have sponsored several different students over the years. Students communicate via letters sharing about their families, schools, climate, culture, etc. It is fun to learn about others and also share information about ourselves. It costs us $24 a month to support a child. We are thankful when our gifts in Chapel support our giving to others.
REMINDER: The school office hours are 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Please attempt to conduct business during that time. Usually no one will answer the phone before 8:00 A.M. or after 4:00 P.M. Please leave a message. If you need to reach Extended Care at Redeemer call 301-927-9112 (7:00-8:10 A.M. or 3:00-6:00 P.M.) For Longfellow call 301-927-9345 (6:45-8:00 A.M. or 3:20-6:30 P.M. )
ATTENTION PARENTS: A concern was recently expressed about growth hormones in milk served in schools. We have been assured by Cloverland Farms Dairy in Baltimore, MD that all milk and milk containing products that are produced at their facility are free of rBST (recombinant Bovine Somatopropin, also know as rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone). In addition, all raw milk that is brought into the facility is tested for six antibiotics. If antibiotics are found the milk is rejected and destroyed.
CONCORDIA is partnering with Cartridge World to collect used printer cartridges for recycle. This fundraising effort is sponsored by our 8th grade class and the proceeds go towards the purchase of a class gift for the school. The class will receive a $1 donation for each empty printer cartridge collected. Please send in printer cartridges and ask family and friends to participate too!
PAPER RECYCLING AT CONCORDIA is provided by Abitibi Consolidated, the world’s largest newspaper recycler. Use these easily-accessible yellow and green recycling bins located at the Redeemer and Longfellow campuses to place your recyclable paper from your home or office to help us earn money. Concordia is paid for the following items, by weight: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, mail, envelopes, folders, fax and copy paper, colored paper, and shredded paper (please bag). NO PHONE BOOKS OR CARDBOARD PLEASE!
DAD’S INC. an opportunity for fathers to be more involved with their kids, had a “ first event”. Saturday, September 19, at Longfellow. A few dads from 7th grade cleaned up landscaping, re-hung gates, and changed some lights. Thanks to our Dads.
MUSICAL OFFERINGS FOR GRADES 4-8:
Band lessons begin October 1
String (violin, viola, base) Private Lessons begin
Oct. 1
Piano & Vocal music Private lessons will begin soon.