Lumen News – December 20, 2018

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Dec 20-22: HS Lumen Basketball Tournament
• Dec 21:  Christmas Break Begins
• Dec 22:  “A Christmas Carol” at SEAS (details below)
• Jan 7th:  All School Rosary, 2pm
• Jan 8th: Gala Meeting, 7pm
• Jan 10th:  All School Mass, 9am
• Jan 9th:  SCREENAGERS movie screening, 7pm (details below)
• Jan 10th:  Principal-Parent Forum, 6:30pm (details below)
• Jan 15th:  Gala Meeting, 7pm
• Jan 17th:  All School Mass, 9am
• Jan 21st:  MLK Holiday (No School)
• Jan 28th:  All Catholic Schools Mass, 10am
• Jan 28th:  1st Semester Academic Awards Assembly, 2pm
• Jan 28th:  3rd Annual State of the School, 7pm
• Feb 3rd:  Lumen Christi/St. Benedict’s Community Mass, 10:30am
• Feb 9th: Winter Wonderland GALA!

Principal’s Update:  

Our school has been very busy as we approach Christmas!  Here are some highlights:

• Throughout Advent each day, we have joined together as a community around our “Jesse Tree” in the front of the school.  After prayer and Scripture reading, we place ornaments on the tree representing the people and events in the Bible leading up to the birth of Christ.

• Our 9th graders went on a day long retreat last Friday, spending time reflecting on serving others and finishing the day wrapping care packages at Brother Francis Shelter.

• On the same day, our junior high students made “Beanie Boxes” of hygiene materials, gloves, hats, and hand warmers and personally delivered a dozen boxes to Bean’s Cafe.

• All of our students participated in an Advent Reconciliation Service last week, with an opportunity for prayerful reflection, adoration, and confession before Christmas.

• In support of the Knights of Columbus Polar Bear Plunge team, four of our students and couple of faculty members jumped into Goose Lake last weekend to raise money for the Special Olympics.  The St. Benedict’s Knights chapter placed in the top 10 of all fundraising teams, earning nearly $6,000 for the Special Olympics program!

• Finally, our junior high boys basketball team won 2nd place in the Alaska Christian Schools Activity Association (ACSAA) tournament, while our girls team earned FIRST PLACE honors beating out Birchwood Christian Academy in the final game.  Way to go, Archangels!

On another special note, our high school boys basketball team participated in our first ever SportsLeader Jersey Ceremony this past week.  In this emotionally moving and prayerful event, our Dads, Moms, and loved ones proudly presented their son/nephew with their sports jersey after telling the gathered crowd about what makes their athlete special and unique.  We had some good laughs, told some good stories, shed a few tears, and learned more about the God-given talents and qualities of each member of our boys team. We look forward to hosting a similar ceremony for our high school girls basketball team when we return from Christmas break.  We also wish both of our Archangel high school basketball teams a successful and blessed season!

Based on requests from several parents, we are hosting a “Principal-Parent Forum” on Thursday, January 10th at 6:30pm in the school library.  All parents are invited to attend to discuss current and future policies, procedures, and programs at Lumen and ask any questions of me you may have.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Finally, we want to say farewell to Agustin and Sofia Londono, our 7th grade international students from Colombia, as they return home in early January.  We knew they were only here for a semester, but they made lasting friendships and connections with all of us here at Lumen. They will be missed greatly by students and staff alike.  Safe travels and blessings to them and a special thanks to Brent and Anita Bristow for hosting them here in Anchorage.

On behalf of the staff here at Lumen , we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!   Thank you for your support!

LUMEN-ary Drive:

LUMEN-ary Drive Update:  The end of our LUMEN-ary drive is in sight! As of today, December 20th we have cash-in-the-door of $29,180!  With one last push before Christmas we can surely reach our goal of $40,000.  Thank you to all who have supported our campaign thus far, both through financial contribution and by encouraging your students to write personal notes to friends and family. (To date, we’ve had 33 students send out 66 personal cards resulting in $4,925!)  Please remember that a successful LUMEN-ary Drive is critical to our school’s financial stability. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Campus Ministry:

Many Christmas Blessings and Much Love to All Our Families!

• We say goodbye to Sophia and Augustine as they return home. You will be greatly missed!

• Thank you Coach Trombley, AD Warren, Mr. Ross, and Fr. Whitney for  a wonderful Jersey Ceremony! Your dedication to our Faith and our players is truly appreciated.

• Congratulations Polar Plungers Trey Bernert, Mai Do, Megan Flaherty, Juan Ramirez, Kaiya Thorsness, and Fr. Tom.  Our team raised just under $6,000 for Special Olympics Alaska!

• January 18th we will have an evening of prayer, meal and fellowship, for teens and parents!  Please mark your calendars. Further information to come.

• Our 9th Grade Retreat was wonderful. Thank you parents for providing lunch!

• We have Mass on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:15am in our Archangel Chapel, and each Thursday at 9am at St. Benedict Church. Please join us!

Youth Night is held at St. Benedict Church each Wednesday – all high school Lumen students are welcome! Several Theology teachers offer extra credit for Faith events attended outside school hours. Students can check with teachers.

Prayer Spot:

Please remember the following in your prayers this week:

• Safe travel for Sophia and Augustine as they return home this Christmas

• For those who have lost loved ones, as we move into the Holiday Season

• The repose of the soul Blanca Partidas, aunt of Juan Ramirez

• For the Ramirez Family

• All first responders

• All those recovering from the earthquake and its aftershocks.

Any prayer requests that families would like listed here in Lumen News and also in the Lumen Prayer Book of Intentions may be sent directly to Mrs. Loeffler.

Archangel Sports Update:

Congrats to our Middle School Basketball Teams who placed second (Boys) and first (Girls) in our Middle School Basketball tournament!  Congrats to all of our Archangels who supported each other and came together as true teams this season.

Our High School team is still a go for hosting the Lumen Invitational Tournament on December 18 – 20.  The tournament will kick off at the Arctic Rec Center TODAY! The first boys game is at 1p, girls kick off at 3p. Tomorrow, 12/21, girls play at 4p and boys at 6p.  Final games on Saturday 12/22 are at 10a (girls) and 4p (boys.)  We’re looking forward to a great start to our High School Basketball Season with this tournament!

On a final note, please see the attached letter from the Superintendent of the Cordova School District, regarding our Archangel Girl’s volleyball team. We couldn’t be more proud of them and can’t think of a better way for their season to have ended, than with the recognition of their behavior both on and off the court. Way to go Archangel Volley Ball Team, thank you for representing our school so well.

School Announcement:

SCREENAGERS Movie Screening

Lumen Christi High School and West Anchorage High School would like to invite you and your family to a free viewing of the film “SCREENAGERS: Growing up in the Digital Age” on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at the West Anchorage High School Auditorium from 7:00-8:30pm.  This documentary explores the physical, social, and mental impacts of increased screen time on the current generation of teenagers, specifically looking at challenges associated with cell phones, social media, and video games. The film also offers suggestions to help parents, teens, and educators work to create a healthy balance while functioning in the digital world in which we live.  The film is free and open to the public. More information is available at https://www.screenagersmovie.com/.  We hope to see you there!

Class of 2019 Senior Memory Pages

SENIORS!! We know you’re tired of hearing it, and we’re tired of repeating it – so git’er done!

• If you and your family opted to create your own Senior Memory Page, it is due Tuesday January 22nd. This must be a digital file that is submitted to Mrs. Spillers. Price is $100.00. If you have yet to pay, please do so at the front office.

• If you have chosen to have the Yearbook Staff create your Senior Memory Page, photos for were due this week and hopefully you’ve turned them all in! If you haven’t yet paid your $150,  please do so at the front office.