Dear Parents,

Congratulations to the Choraliers choir for their participation in a CMEA festival this past weekend. They received a "Unanimous Superior" (the highest honor) for their performance. Congratulations to the choir and their director, Margie Cadalago, for a great job! We are proud of them!

Next week, we will be administering the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. These achievement tests are one way in which we can annually assess how your children are progressing. The tests cover a broad scope of core skills and knowledge that are compared with students across the nation. Please refrain from taking your child out of class during the next two weeks, especially in the morning. Also, be sure that they get plenty of sleep and a good breakfast in the morning. These tests are important, but are still only one assessment snapshot of how your child is doing.

I want to remind all members of St. John's Lutheran Church to turn in your application for member status and member tuition discount if you have not yet done so. If one is not turned in, you will not receive a member tuition discount.

1. Track Meet: This year's Lutheran Schools Athletic Association (LSAA) Track Meet is scheduled for Saturday, May 14th, at Newark Memorial High School. This annual daylong meet brings together the best athletes from Lutheran Schools throughout the Bay Area. Here at St. John's, we're just beginning the process of determining which students in grades K-8 will have an opportunity to represent our school at this event. Students in all grades will be timed and tested in the events their specific age group is eligible for. Parents will be notified if their child qualifies for a given event(s). We would appreciate a prompt response if your child is invited to participate, so that we can finalize our roster as soon as possible. Students in grades 5-8 are asked to bring a note to Coach Hauch if they know in advance that they cannot participate in the Meet due to prior conflicts in scheduling.
2. Youth Basketball: If you coached a NCRD basketball team this past season (or if your child played on a team not coached by a St. John's parent), please take the time to submit a team roster to Coach Hauch so that we can recognize everyone's participation at our end-of-the-year Sports Award Presentation. Involvement in basketball at the lower grades is certainly a contributing factor to the continuing success of our program at the 7th and 8th grade level. We appreciate all that you do.
3. St. John's Basketball Camps: Brochures and registration forms for our 22nd Annual Summer Basketball Camps for students entering 5th through 8th grade this fall will be available shortly. The one week camps will run June 20-24 and June 27-July 1.
4. Summer Camp: Sign ups have begun. You may now sign up for summer camp in the school office. There are two separate camps being held. One camp is for current preschool through kindergarten students. The second camp is for current first through fourth grade students. Please see the attached flyer or stop bye the school office for more information.
5. Country Fair/Silent Auction: Here is another wonderful dinner! Grab your aprons and pull the corks with Greg and Teresa Johnson of ZinsValley Restaurant and Kevin and Wendy Corley of Monticello Vineyards. Eight of you will join the Johnsons and Corleys for an evening of food and wine. When the guests arrive at Monticello they will begin by a thorough immersion into Monticello Vineyards' estate wines. Once fully immersed, the guests will participate with Greg in preparing a fun and delicious meal featuring his favorite dishes that will be matched with the wonderful wines of Monticello Vineyards. The festivities will be held at the Jefferson House at Monticello Vineyards at a mutually convenient time.
   
   Attention Wine Aficionados! In addition to many special magnums we have a 12-bottle selection of premium 375ml Bottles. We have French wine, Napa Valley wine and Sonoma County wine. Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs & Syrahs.
   
   There will be something at the auction for all tastes including: sessions at Justin Siena Boys and Girls basketball camps, autographed books, teeth whitening, limousine service, a digital camera & more!
   
   Please remember to drop your favorite bottle of wine off in the school office to help us build our St. John's Lutheran Family Wine Cellar! Raffle tickets go on sale soon to win this 50+ bottle collection - an instant cellar of special finds that include gems like: Brown Family Zinfandel, Corley Family Pinot Noir, Beringer Cabernet and Origine Premier Cru Champagne.
   
   NEW this year to the Country Fair! Photographer and SJL parent Phil Gruenhagen will be taking orders for photos he and Joel Wahlers have taken at various events throughout the year and donating the proceeds to APT. There will be a book of photos on display at the Silent Auction Tent or you can sneak a preview on the pictures section of the SJL website (http://www.stjohnsnapa.org/pictures.htm) Together, Phil and Joel have covered the 100th Day of Kindergarten, Art Attack Week, NIT, The Crab Feed and many more events. Even if you aren't a "scrapbooker," what an opportunity to snap up pictures of your student in action!
   
   The deadline for Scrip purchases is looming. Why not use purchase and item or service for the auction!
   
   Advance Ticket Sales: Remember advance ticket order forms are due Monday April 18th. The box is in the school office.
6. Vintage High School Girls Basketball Open Gym: Open gym will begin for Vintage High School Basketball on Wednesday, March 30th. They will be on every Wednesday in the Vintage gym from 6:00-8:00. This will continue thru the summer and will move to Thursdays once school begins in August. Anyone who wants to play some basketball is welcome.
7. Vintage High School Girls Volleyball Open Gym: Volleyball open gyms have begun at Vintage High School! Each Thursday we meet from 6:00 - 8:00 at the Vintage Gym. This is a great time to improve skills, make friends, and get ready for an exciting season of volleyball. All levels are welcome! If you have any questions please contact Kim at 479-6845 or Kmowbray@gmail.com
8. PALS: Please remember to sign your child out of PALS. If a sign-out time is not provided, you will be charged as if they were there until 6:00 pm. Adults need to sign the children out. Please do not have them meet you in the front of the church or school. You need to physically sign them out of room 10.
   
   If you have a child who needs to be excused from PALS for baseball, soccer or other sporting events please provide us with a note telling us what time your child is to leave PALS, where they are going and with whom, and if they will be returning after practice.
9. The Scoop From Scrip: We are down to the wire! Only two more weeks to finish meeting your commitment for the 2004-2005 school year. For those of you who shop Albertsons, please take your Preferred Savings Card and our Community Partners Card #490001063898 to any of the cashiers or to the school office and we will be glad to tie the account to St. John's.
10. From the Minister to Youth and Children:
    
    7th and 8th Graders: Don't forget to join us for "UFO Encounter Night" next Friday, April 22nd. We meet in the gym from 7-9 pm and we'll be playing a bunch of crazy games based on the theme of Unidentified Flying Objects. It should be fun so make sure to come dressed in UFO attire (if you want) and donft forget to bring your friends! Hope to see you next Friday night!
    
    If you are participating in the Car Wash, just a reminder to make sure you are getting your pledges. The Car Wash takes place on Saturday, April 30th, from 9-3 pm.
    
    8th Graders: If you are an 8th grader involved in Confirmation, don't forget to meet this coming Wednesday, April 20th from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Church. 7th Graders are welcome to attend, but it is not mandatory. Any questions, ask your adult guide.