Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! Many families attended the Registration Day

and the Orientation/Teacher meetings and we thank you for coming. It helped our first

day of school to go smoothly and to get our school year off to a great start. At St. Paul we

value the parent-teacher relationship which is important in your child’s education. We

encourage you to use RenWeb1, our communication system, for information not only

about your account, but also for lunch menus, lesson plans, assignments, and grades for

your child.

Our theme for this year is “Fortress.” It is based on Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my

rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my

shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold ” We pray that God will be a strong

fortress for each of our students as they learn more about Jesus, grow in their faith, and

develop their academic skills during the school year.

In Christ’s Service

Dr. Jeanne Kretzmann, Principal

Eagle Express

St. Paul Lutheran School 300 W. Pecan Blvd., McAllen, TX 78501

Phone: 956-682-2345, Fax: 956-682-7148 stpaulmcallen.org/school

facebook.com/StPaulMcallen

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

August 28, 2017

THANK YOU for understanding about school closing on Friday regarding the

hurricane threat. Please pray for those affected by the storm and flooding. We hope

to reschedule the Pool Party depending on availability of the pool.

PASTRIES WITH PARENTS is Wednesday, August 30, from 7:00

– 8:00 a.m. Come and meet other parents by joining us for a time of

fellowship in the cafeteria. Pastries, milk, juice, and coffee will be

served. Parents are invited to stay for Chapel (8:15–8:50 a.m.).

PLEASE SAVE BOX TOPS - SPECIAL BONUS until 8/31 –

Buy 4 items with Box Tops at Walmart, scan your receipt with the

BOX TOPS Bonus App and you earn 50 Bonus Box Tops ($5).

PLEASE TURN IN IMMUNIZATION and health records and physical forms.

PICK UP YOUR YEARBOOK from the office. More copies on sale for $30.

2017-18 “FORTRESS” SPIRIT SHIRTS are needed by all students for Spirit

Days on Fridays and for field trips - $10 each. Wash inside out to preserve logo.

PE SHIRTS – Wash inside out and line dry or tumble dry low to preserve logo.

CELL PHONES are not to be used by students without a teacher/staff person’s

permission from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. Any student using a phone without permission

will have it taken away. Parent will need to retrieve it from the principal.

2017-18 PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK – If you do not have a printed copy,

please pick one up from the office ASAP. A form must be signed by each family

indicating that a parent/guardian has read the Handbook.

SCHOOL HOURS are 8:00 am – 3:30 pm. Please help your child start the school

day well with a healthy breakfast and by arriving before 8:00 am so not rushed.

Establish a set bedtime and time to get up in the morning. Follow a good routine.

Calendar of Events

Aug. 28 – Volleyball Parent Mtg. 4:00 p.m.

Aug. 29-Sept. 1 - Volleyball Practice 3:45 – 5:15 pm

Aug. 30 – Pastries with Parents – 7:00 – 8:00 am Chapel – 8:15 am Youth (gr. 6-8) 7–8:30 pm

Sept. 1 – Scrip Orders Due Registration for Classes after school due

Sept. 4 – Labor Day – No School

Sept. 5 – Abaclass 3:30-4:30 pm Art Class 3:30–5:30 pm

Sept. 5-8 - Volleyball Practice 3:45 – 5:15 pm

Sept. 6 – Chapel 8:15 am Christian Foundations Class 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Sept. 7 - Caring with Cookies packaged at 2:30 pm Abaclass 3:30-4:30 pm Spanish 3:30-5:30 pm

Sept. 8 – Cookie delivery Chess 3:30-5:00 pm

Sept. 11 – Scrip Orders Due Guitar Lessons 3:30 – 5:00 pm Musical Theatre Class 3:40 – 4:45 pm Kinderdance 3:45-4:45 pm Volleyball Practice 3:45 - 5:15 pm School Board 6:00 pm

Sept. 12 –Abaclass 3:30-4:30 pm Art Class 3:30–5:30 pm

Sept. 13 – Chapel 8:15 a.m.

Sept. 14–Abaclass 3:30-4:30 pm Spanish 3:30-5:30 pm Parent-Teacher League 5:30 -6:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 - Chess 3:30-5:00 pm

2017-18 SCHOOL STAFF – Please pray for the safety,

health, and God’s guidance for our school staff, the

students and their families during the year.

Before School Care/PK aide (pt) – Mrs. Leticia Garcia

PK – Mrs. Guadalupe Medley

K/Athletic Director – Mrs. Seresa Romero

K Aide – Mrs. Velma Ochoa

1st – Mrs. Sylvia Leal

2nd – Mrs. Joy Campoverde

3rd. – Mrs. Laura Copeland

4th – Mrs. Sherri St. Clair

5th – Miss Carrie Becker

6th Homeroom/MS Sci & History – Mrs. Carolyn Morin

7th & 8th/MS Math, Lang. Arts – Mr. Jesse Pena

PK-8 Music, Religion gr. 7-8 – Mrs. Katie Drefs

Technology – Mr. Matthew House

P.E. (part-time) – Mrs. Denise Dube

Librarian (part-time) – Mrs. Monica Carrales

Principal – Dr. Jeanne Kretzmann

Secretary – Mrs. Reyna Willingham

After School Care- Mrs. Leticia Garcia and

Mr. Carter Copeland

WE HAVE ROOM FOR MORE

STUDENTS – If you refer a friend and the

student enrolls and attends St. Paul for 5 months or

longer, you can receive a half month’s tuition credit.

CHARACTER TRAIT for August/September: A

POSITIVE ATTITUDE does not mean ignoring life’s

troubles. It just means looking for the good in things and

not concentrating on the bad in things.

ALL MEDICATIONS (WHETHER PRESCIPTION

OR OVER-THE-COUNTER) must be given

by the parent/guardian to the Front Office and

properly labeled to show student’s name, time

for administration, and whether the medication

needs to be refrigerated.

DONATIONS OF COOKIES FOR THE ANNUAL

CARING WITH COOKIES for Patriot Day (9/11) can

be brought to the cafeteria September 5-7. They will be

shared with first responders on Friday, Sept. 8.

CLEARANCE SALE: UNIFORM BOTTOMS in some

sizes are available $15 each item from the Front office.

OUR CHAPEL PROJECT for August/September is to provide a love offering to Jim and Nydia Schmidt who are working for Wycliff Bible Translators. Goal is $500; sponsored by grades 2 & 6. Offering envelopes go home Tuesdays; bring back on Wed.

USED NETGEAR MANAGED SWITCHES FOR

SALE: 24 ports - $50 each (have 4 to sell), 48 ports -

$100 each (have 3 to sell). If you or your business is

interested in one or more of these technology items,

please call the office at 956-682-2345.

SCRIP is St. Paul’s ongoing fundraiser. You

purchase Scrip cards at face value and Great

Lakes Scrip Center gives them to St. Paul at a

reduced rate and the difference is an instant

rebate for our school. Cards in stock are from

the more popular stores such as HEB, Walmart, Target,

Amazon.com, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Starbucks,

etc. Once a month order forms will be sent home with

students, but you can place an order any week. Orders

and payment are due Monday morning and cards will be

available by Friday of the same week.

VOLLEYBALL is available for students in grades 5-8.

IMPORTANT PARENT MEETING is Monday,

August 28 at 4 pm. Permission forms and physicals must

be completed before students can begin practicing.

Practice starts August 29 and will be Tuesdays

– Fridays from 3:45 – 5:15 p.m. except on

game nights. Miss Becker is the coach.

REFEREES, LINE JUDGES, AND

SCOREKEEPERS are needed for home

volleyball games. If you can help, please email Mrs.

Romero at sromero@stpaulmcallen.org.

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS CLASS will be

Wednesdays, 7 - 8 pm, Sept. 6 – Oct. 4 for anyone

interested in finding out about what we believe and teach

at St. Paul. All are welcome to attend this 5-week class

in the Conference Room led by Pastors Lorenz and

Fickenscher. Those interested in becoming a part of our

community of faith will be invited to come for a 6th

session on October 11.

AFTER SCHOOL CLASS OFFERINGS INCLUDE:

ART: K – 8, Tuesdays 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in Science Lab

(Rm 42). $50/mo, Classes begin Sept. 5. Make checks

payable to Edmond Mirza at beginning of each month.

ABACLASS: Grades 1-3, Tuesdays and Thursdays

from 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. in third grade room. Classes begin

Sept. 4. Make checks payable to Mrs. Ellen Plaza.

SPANISH: PK – 8, Thursdays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm in

Science Lab (Rm 42). $35/mo, Classes begin Sept. 7.

Make checks payable to Edmond Mirza.

CHESS: K- 8, Fridays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm. in Science Lab

(Rm. 42). $35/mo, Classes begin Sept. 8. Make checks

payable to Edmond Mirza – due first class.

MUSICAL THEATRE: Grades 1-8, Mondays 3:40-

4:45 pm in music room. Class begins Monday, Sept. 11.

Make checks payable to Rebecca Winston. $60/month or

10% discount - semester payment of $216.

KINDERDANCE: Ages 3-5 – Mondays 3:45-4:45 pm.

in Jr. Youth Room. $20 registration + $45/month. Make

checks payable to: Kinderdance. Class begins Sept. 11.

GUITAR: Mondays 3:30 – 5:00 pm in Science Lab.

$49/mo. Class starts Sept.11. Payable to Eric Treviño.

SOCCER SHOTS: Ages 4-6, M & W, 3:45-4:45 pm.

Register at hidalgo.ssreg.org. Select St. Paul. Starts 9/18.

It’s easy to take vision for granted. When God created us, He blessed us with senses that help us to communicate, learn and process our world. For most of us, being able to see has been a constant part of our lives. We don’t think about vision until it does not work. Research tells us that 1 in 4 children have undetected vision problems. This happens because vision changes can be so gradual that a child does not notice and because young children do not know what they are supposed to be able to see. Children may not know to tell a parent that a problem exists.

An eye screening that typically takes place in the pediatrician’s office checks for visual acuity, which is the ability to see clearly at both near and far distances. These exams are only for screening purposes; while they work fairly well, they may miss other vision needs. It is therefore recommended that young students receive thorough eye exams on a regular basis.

Of course, we realize that learners need to be able to see the difference between “B” and “3” or “S” and “5,” but vision is important to learning in other ways. Learners also need the following visual skills:

• Eye-hand coordination that allows a student to accurately write, type and respond to movement in their environment;

• Visual focus that allows for acuity when a student moves from reading the whiteboard to focusing on close work, such as a book or computer screen;

• Eye teaming that allows both eyes to work together to judge distance; and

• Visual memory, which is creating a mental picture of a scene and holding it in both short- and long-term memory.

UPON THIS ROCK: Vision and Learning

RESOURCES FOR CHRISTIAN PARENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Parent Pages

PHOTO: LIGHTSTOCK

Parent Pages • Vol. 16 No. 8 • April 2017 1

These skills go beyond the ability to see clearly. They also involve the way the brain processes and uses information from our sense of sight. The brain is what allows us to register what has been seen and to use it. If the brain’s processing skills are not working, a person can be effectively blind, which is true of people with a condition known as blindsight. Such people

“see” nothing even though their eyes work fine. Their blindness is in the brain, not in the eyes.

Visual-processing skills can be impaired or delayed in several different ways. A child who loses his place while reading, rubs his eyes frequently or complains of headaches

after doing homework might have a more complicated visual issue than seeing clearly. Likewise, head tilting or closing one eye in order to focus are symptoms that should not be ignored. Because the brain processing aspect of vision is so complex, symptoms such as letter reversal, omitting letters or words while reading, trouble identifying an object in a complicated background, and the inability to create a mental image of a scene from a story are also possible indicators of a visual-processing problem. In this way, a vision issue can impact learning by inhibiting not only decoding, but reading comprehension as well. Furthermore, when comprehension is impacted, learning problems are seen in other subjects.

There are numerous reasons why children experience challenges in school. Many children struggle with reading comprehension for reasons other than vision impairment. However, vision impairment is a relatively easy thing to check for and should be ruled out in the process of diagnosing a learning disorder. If a child does have a visual-processing impairment, this information will influence treatment for learning problems.

If you frequently see the following behaviors in your child, it might be a good idea to make an eye appointment and mention these issues to the optometrist:

• Distracted by visual information;

• Difficulty copying information and following lines or margins;

Vol. 16 • No. 8 • April 2017

Parent PagesParent Pages is an LCMS School Ministry newsletterpublished by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295314-965-9000 • lcms.org Writer: Dr. Kim Marxhausen Designer: Annie Monette

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

TO REPRINT: Permission is granted to reprint articles from this newsletter with the credit line “Reprinted with permission of LCMS School Ministry.”

• Reversing, omitting or misreading letters, numbers or words;

• Frequently bumping into things;

• Difficulty remembering spelling word patterns;

• Poor reading comprehension;

• Poor handwriting skills;

• Frequently confused by function signs, steps and formulas in math; and/or

• Routinely does not notice visual changes at school or home.

Many of these are characteristic of children with learning disabilities. Visual-processing difficulties might be part of the puzzle when diagnosing learning issues. Some problems might be developmental and could improve over time, but often children with visual-processing challenges need to learn to compensate. This can make a big overall improvement in learning.

Several Bible stories tell of Jesus restoring vision to the blind. It is God’s will that we both see and understand. God has blessed medical and learning professionals with new information regarding how our visual-processing abilities impact learning.

For Further StudyThe American Optometric Association is happy to answer your questions about eyes. Learn more at aoa.org/?sso=y.

Several Bible stories tell of Jesus restoring vision to the blind. It is God’s will that we both see and understand.