Pop Tab Pandemonium

by Britani Jurkowski
  

On average, America goes through 24 billion cans of soda each year. That’s 24 billion pop tabs that could potentially get thrown away and go to waste. What exactly is a pop tab, you might ask? Pop tabs are the aluminum ovals found on top of soda cans. They’re easy to pull off and can even help raise money! This year, St. John will be collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay. When the company recycles these tabs, they earn money to help provide an affordable and safe place for families to stay, should their child have to stay at a hospital far from home. This ensures that patients have their families nearby for support, without having to worry about large expenses. As always, the program is going to be a competition among participating schools in Florida.

This effort was launched by our PTL this year and students can bring their pop tabs to chapel every Wednesday.  Start collecting tabs at home, ask friends and family members to collect, keep a collection cup at your business, ask anyone you might know to help support this worthy cause.  All pop tabs will be given to the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay at the end of the school year and weighed.  The school with the largest amount of pop tabs will be this years winner.  In the past, participants have won technology items, such as computers, for their school. The pop tabs will be collected all year long, so be sure to contribute to this great cause!

"Plaidypus Lost"

Sophia named her plaidypus "Rosie"

Cody chose blue eyes for his "plaidypus"
to match his own

By: Britani Jurkowski & Madeline Seiberlich

This week the kindergarteners were very excited to receive their very own “plaidypues” just like in the book “Plaidypus Lost” that they read. The story was about a little girl who received a stuffed “plaidypus” made out of her grandfather’s plaid shirt. She takes her “plaidpus” on many adventures and one time he gets lost. To help find him, she makes some posters and this was Sophia’s favorite part of the story. Just like the story, each kindergartener received their own “plaidypus.” The students also got to make their own signs for lost toys. In the end of the story, the little girl finds her “plaidypus” and he ends up needing a few patches sewn on him.  It was exciting for the kindergarteners because they got to help in making their own"plaidypus" and they even got to choose colored buttons for their eyes and sew them on!  Cody picked out blue buttons for his “plaidypus” to match his own eyes. When the kindergarteners were all done, they each gave a name to their new friend and were excited to bring them home to have adventures of their own.

Peyton sews the eyes on her 'plaidypus'

 

The Kindergarten class is very proud of their 'plaidypus' project.

See You At The Pole

By: Madeline Seiberlich

See You At The Pole is an annual event that takes place all over our country. Our school has been participating in this event for over a decade. This year we are inviting everyone in our school and their families to meet at the flag pole in the front of the school on Wednesday, September 26 at 7A.M.  When you first arrive, the Chapel Band will be providing us with one or two praise songs to kick things off. Mr. Heath, advisor for Prayer Force, will open us in a word of prayer. Then we will break off into small groups and pray with and for each other. Finally, Tim Briggs will close in another group prayer.  SYATP will only last about 20 minutes so be sure to be there and enjoy a morning full of praise and prayer.

“This event is so important to us and our school because it provides us with a time where we are able to bring everyone together and pray to God. This event also helps us to celebrate our freedom in America that we have to be able to pray and worship God," says Mr. Heath.

St. John welcomes Mary Hurst

Ms. Mary Hurst teachers Spanish to middle school and high school students at St. John.

Written by Britani Jurkowski

                This year, the Saints have welcomed a few new faces to the faculty, one of them being   Ms. Mary Hurst. Mrs. Hurst traveled all the way from Connecticut to teach Spanish in the High School, and so far, she loves it: “The students and the faculty are wonderful,” she says. Mrs. Hurst has been teaching Spanish for 22 years. She says she always knew, even as a young girl, that she wanted to be a teacher; however, it wasn’t until she took a trip to Mexico when she was in high school that she decided she wanted to teach Spanish. When it comes to teaching a foreign language, she finds it somewhat challenging to help all the students reach a point where they are comfortable enough to communicate verbally and have conversations with each other, but when they finally do, she says it’s one of her favorite parts of teaching. When asked if she had any tips on how to succeed in a high school Spanish class, she suggested students do all of the homework out loud and practice using the online textbook, especially with the audio activities. That being said, she wants nothing but success for her students and is looking forward to a great year!

Hats on for Pasta for Pennies

Saints third graders show their passion for Pasta for Pennies by wearing hats last Friday. 
All proceeds from this event are donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.

Pasta for Pennies kicked off this week! Students are encouraged to gather spare change in efforts to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The fundraiser is fun and easy because every cent counts! Each classroom is their own team, and they'll be competing for two weeks. At the end of that time, the classes who raise the most money will proudly hang a banner in their room: $100-$199 receive a bronze banner, and $200-$299 receive a silver banner. In addition, the classroom that raises the most money overall will be treated to an "Olive Garden Celebration Party." To raise even more money, students were allowed to wear a hat Friday, September 7 (see photo above), and again this Friday, September 14, if they pay $1.00 to their teacher. More information can be found in students' Friday Folders. Best of luck to all the St. John students as they work to raise money for this great cause!  The last day to donate is this Friday.  A special thank you to Mrs. Westol for coordinating this effort to give back to our community.

*Anyone may donate!  If you would like to donate, please give your donation to a student, teacher, or bring to the front office.*

Blue & Gold Writer, Madeline Seiberlich

Madeline Kate Seiberlich (Wolf), a spunky sophomore of the St. John Lutheran halls, always brings that bit of spirit to those around her. At 15, she enjoys playing tennis and ballet, as well as listening to alternative and singer ,song writer style of music. She has attended St. John since preschool and hopes to take her life to the missionary field in the east. Her love for tacos and her best friends keeps Madeline going in life. John 14:27 is her motto and everyone who meets her experiences that Madeline “charm”.

Meet Rachel Bookbinder, Blue & Gold Writer

Rachel Bookbinder is a 15 year old sophomore who has been attending St. John Lutheran School for five years. She loves eating cherry craisins and listening to her favorite singers, like One Direction and Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran is more than just another singer to Rachel though; he is someone she looks up to.  One of the reasons she looks up to Ed is because she admires the fact that he is not afraid to be himself by writing his own songs, wearing his signature red hoodie when performing, and always playing with his favorite, old, well worn in guitar. A lot of Rachel’s free time is spent behind the comfort of her own guitar. Not only does she enjoy writing her own songs, but she also loves to draw and is an amazing artist!

One of Rachel’s favorite bible verses is Romans 8:30-31,  What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Having God as number one in her life is the most important thing to Rachel. Without God we would be nothing. He is the one who makes all things possible.

An Interview Britani Jurkowski, Blue & Gold Writer

  Britani Jurkowski is a new student here at St. John Lutheran High School. She recently moved here from Pennsylvania to attend St. John when father became the new pastor at St. John Lutheran church. Her two younger siblings attend St. John elementary school. In Pennsylvania, she attended a public school, so moving from a public to a private school has been a transition for her, but she found her place in our school’s High School Chapel Band. She can play the piano and the drums, but she prefers playing the drums. Visit chapel on Wednesday and see Britani perform!  She also used to participate in many theatrical performances in Pennsylvania. Welcome to our St. John family, Britani! 

Meet your Saints Blue & Gold Staff for the year

We hope you had a restful summer with lots of memories!! Welcome back to a wonderful year at St. John Lutheran School.  Each new semester, brings many things..... sports, back to school gatherings, lots of school supplies, anticipation for the years activities & brand new students.  This year, we are excited to welcome three new students to the Blue & Gold..... Brittani, Madeline & Rachel will be your writers for the blog this year & they are off to a great start!!

Make sure you comment on their stories... we love to hear feedback!  Submit story ideas & photos - we would love to post your thoughts!  Watch for the next post.... our writers bio and photo so you can get know them a little better!