BY JOY MARQUARDT
Service to others will be the main focus of Lutheran Schools Week Feb. 28 – Mar. 6 at St. John Lutheran School in Merrill.
“Our overall theme is ‘Sent to Serve,’” said teacher Burgandy Krusensterna. “Our week is going to be very service oriented, as we recognize how special and unique it is to be a part of a Lutheran school.”
The theme of service, based on the Bible verse Matthew 20:28, has been emphasized through various projects and activities throughout the school year.
“Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and because of our love for Him, we serve, as well,” Krusensterna said. “It sets an example that Jesus set for us.”
As a community service project, all classes at St. John will be collecting items for care baskets to be distributed to area nurses, medical personnel, and other frontline workers. Each class will donate items such as lip balm, hand sanitizer, lotion, snacks, and other supplies and make special thank you cards for the baskets.
During the school year, students have been collecting chapel offerings for various missions, sent Thanksgiving and Christmas cards to area nursing homes, and honored veterans with a sidewalk parade, among other service activities.
“We have had to be a little creative during this time of COVID,” said Principal Kathy Hahn. “It’s been a challenge. Normally, we would go to Pine Crest or rake leaves for people. All that had to be put on hold this year.”
Other events celebrating Lutheran Schools Week will include special dress-up days, an all school game of musical chairs held in individual classrooms, a movie day, and a mystery game shared on Zoom with students at Trinity Lutheran School.
“The students look for something different each day; they know it will be something special,” Hahn said.
The week wraps up Sunday, Mar. 7, with a video presentation created by St. John students for the 9:00 a.m. worship service at the church. The presentation, including songs, prayers, and readings recorded by the individual classes, will also be available for viewing on Facebook.
“For our Christmas program, we actually did a video Christmas service where each class taped their part, and shared it with the congregation, and this will be something similar,” Hahn said. “Because of COVID, so many things are different this year.”
Although the school year may look a little different this year, the Mother’s Club at St. John has been working behind the scenes to serve the students and staff. Some of their major fundraisers had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, but the group was able to provide funds for the Tuition Assistance Program and conduct a virtual Scholastic Book Fair in the fall, with proceeds going to the school library.
“We have been working with mothers and families to find creative activities we can do and keep everyone safe at the same time,” said Mother’s Club president Marie Peterson.
The Mother’s Club has donated funds for classroom supplies and is working on ideas each month to show appreciation for the teachers and staff.
“We have been focusing on teacher recognition to help keep teachers’ morale up,” Peterson said. “We are always looking at ways we can boost staff morale, like giving out snacks and treats, to show appreciation for the teachers that are keeping our kids safe and healthy.”
Dana Klug, a member of the Mother’s Club for more than five years, is helping to plan an Easter Cookie Sale to provide funds for a fun end-of-the-year activity for students and staff.
“Typically, we’ll sponsor field trips for the end of the year,” she said. “They have gone to places like the zoo in Minocqua and the art museum in Wausau and the children’s museum. This year, it depends on what we are allowed to do because of the pandemic. We are always brainstorming for ideas.”
In its third year of the cookie sale, the Mother’s Club hopes to surpass their goal of selling more than 166 dozen cookies, which were sold during the first year of the sale. The Easter themed cut-out sugar cookies are sold by the dozen and can be ordered with a tub of frosting for decorating at home.
“We did it last year during the pandemic, and parents were able to pick up the cookies when they were dropping off or picking up supplies for their kids,” Klug said. “We delivered the cookies right to their cars.”
Klug has three children attending St. John and, along with the emphasis on a faith-based education, the community atmosphere of the school is what is important to her family.
“It really is a community,” she said. “The families support each other, the teachers support each other, and the students support each other. Everyone wants everyone to succeed.”
St. John is in its first year of offering onsite child care for children ages six weeks and up, in addition to a before and after school care program for school-age children. The children participate in a weekly story time with the school librarian, share Bible stories and songs, and pray on a daily basis.
“We have prayer at meal time and do Bible stories,” said Daycare Director Sue Catlin. “It’s a pleasure to be able to share my faith with the kids and watch their faith grow.”
Enrollment is currently underway for students in preschool through grade eight for the 2021-2022 school year. Tours of the school are available during after-school hours by appointment. For more information about the school or daycare program, phone 715-536-7264.
