National Lutheran Schools Week is Special for Forest Hills School

National Lutheran School Week begins on a Sunday, giving students at Christ Lutheran School in Forest Hills a chance to kick off a week of celebration by thanking the congregation that helps support the small, family-like school.

This year's theme is "Baptized for This Moment." Appropriately, after Sunday's services, students will present churchgoers with bottles of water labeled with a Bible verse.

School students will also participate as ushers and greeters for the 8 and 11 a.m. church services, which all school families have been invited to attend.

"God is part of everything we do here," said Christ Lutheran Principal Ellen Linhart, who also teaches at the school. "In our schools, the whole curriculum is immersed in Christian culture and studying the word of God."

The teachers encourage students to be the best Christian men and women that they can be.

There are about 80 students in Preschool 3 through eighth grade, with the largest class having 14 students. Linhart said that enables teachers to provide a lot of individual attention.

Linhart said Lutheran Schools Week offers a few opportunities not available on a typical school day.

"It's a chance to celebrate Lutheran schools around the country and around the world," Linhart said.

This year, the school students are focused on helping other children around the world. Their chapel offerings have helped support education for students in countries where it is not provided for free and provide milk for others in third-world countries. The school also collected $600 for Project Bundle Up.

"We're very service oriented," Linhart said.

The special activities planned for Lutheran Schools Week include:

• Monday—Crazy Hat/Crazy Hair Day. Students will also make rainbow fish CDs as a craft.

• Tuesday—Beach Day. Students can wear their flip-flops and bring their beach towels. They'll make tie-dyed T-shirts and crazy ice cream sundaes.

• Wednesday—Dress Your Best Day. Students will create sand art and enjoy refreshments after the 8:45 a.m. chapel service.

• Thursday—School Spirit Day. Students get to wear the tie-dyed T-shirts they made on Tuesday for a field trip to the Carnegie Science Center.

• Friday—Flannel Pajamas Pants and Slippers Day. The craft of the day will be seashell picture frames—and there will be popcorn and movies.

Linhart said that the school is accepting enrollments for next year. Parents interested can call the school and arrange for a personalized tour.

"When people walk in the building, they're amazed at how calm and peaceful the building is," she said.

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