Dear Parents,

We are looking at implementing a new plan and program next year for hot lunches at St. John's. This is in response to much feedback from parents and teachers requesting a more consistent program that addresses variety and nutrition. The plan would be to contract with an outside provider to cater in the lunches for either three days or five days each week. We would contract for three days if we wanted to keep a couple of days still open per week for fundraiser lunches. To this end, we are planning to have two providers do our hot lunch for a trial week each in May. The exact dates have not been determined yet, but you will be receiving more information and ordering instructions in the next couple of weeks. The two providers are Napa Valley Unified School District and Kinyon Culinary Services. After we have the trial run, we will be sending out a survey to get your feedback and input before moving forward.

I also need to once again remind all parents who drop kids off or pick them up, to NOT DRIVE THROUGH PARKING SPACES, but instead follow the parking lot pattern and drive around parking spaces. Please follow those guidelines so that we can insure a safe environment for our children. We have had reports of some dangerous incidents!

1. Jr. High Dance: A big thank you to eighth graders Marina Brady, Kelsey Zeller, and Natalie Straw for organizing the two Junior High dances this year. One hundred fifty students from our Junior High, as well as from St. Apollinaris, St. John's Catholic, St. Helena, and Trinity, attended each of the dances. After paying the DJ and refreshments, we still had $250 left over after each dance. The extra money after the first dance was given for Tsunami Relief, and the money after the second dance was given to the Helfrich Family Account.
2. 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. Invitations have been sent home with students in grade K-5 who have qualified for one or more events. Those initial forms were due back today. On Monday, invitations will be extended to students with the next best qualifying time or distance if any students originally invited are unable to attend due to conflicts in scheduling. Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 will be trying out throughout this coming week.
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 are available. Pick one up in your child's classroom, from Coach Hauch, or in the school office. The Boys' Camp runs from June 20-24, the Girls' Camp from June 27 to July 1. The hours are 9:00 am to 12 noon.
4. 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. Names need to be submitted by May 1st.
5. 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.
6. APT Nominations for 2005-06: The Nomination Committee of the APT is accepting nominations and requesting that interested parties come forward and join the group that really makes a difference at your children's school. Please see the attached flyer for details.
7. Audit Committee Members Needed: APT needs 2 volunteers to form an audit committee to examine the accounts of APT and SCRIP for the 2004-2005 school year as required by our By-Laws. Experience with accounting principals would be helpful. Must submit written recommendations and findings to APT Executive Board by the end of June. Committee members do not necessarily need to be parents from our school. They may also be community members. Anyone interested in helping us complete our requirements, please call Vickie Lancaster at 328-7754. We need to fill these positions by May 17!
8. Vintage High School Girls Basketball Open Gym: Open gym for Vintage High School Girls Basketball is on Tuesdays from 6:00-8:00pm at the Vintage Gym. Anyone who wants to play some basketball is welcome.
9. Vintage High School Girls Volleyball Open Gym: Girl's Volleyball Open Gyms: 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
10. 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.
11. The Scoop From Scrip: Did you know that Banana Republic has opened an outlet store in the Napa Premium Outlets stores in west Napa? We have Scrip for Banana Republic/Gap/Old Navy. Stop by, pick some up and check out their newest store!
    
    One more week to meet this year's Scrip Commitment! Beginning May 1st we will start on the 2005-2006 school year.
12. From the Minister to Youth and Children:
    
    General Announcement: Don't forget to bring all your vehicles to the 4th Annual FREE Car Wash! It all happens next Saturday, April 30th, from 9 am 'til 3 pm in the big parking lot. The Car Wash is truly FREE as no tips or donations will be asked for or accepted. This is our way of providing a service to our community. So tell all your friends and neighbors to bring all their cars to the FREE Car Wash on Saturday, April 30th!
    
    7th and 8th Graders: Don't forget to join us for "UFO Encounter Night" tonight, 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.
    
    If you are involved in Confirmation, don't forget that your practice for Confirmation happens this Wednesday, April 27th, from 6:30-8:30 pm in the church. 7th Graders are invited to attend but it is not mandatory. 8th graders don't forget to bring your projects to share with the group. Any questions, call your adult guides.