Illinois Lutheran Schools Celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week

02/21/2009 By Aaron Sudholt

From March 2 to March 6, students at area Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod elementary schools will be celebrating their education with activities, games and events during Lutheran Schools Week.

"It's a weeklong celebration of our Lutheran school," said Holy Trinity Lutheran School of Edwardsville Principal Paula Nelson. "It's a national week our church body celebrates."

Nelson said that the event provides the opportunity for schools to show off what they're doing to friends and family and also raise morale for kids at the school.

"(It) builds the community of our church and school," Nelson said.

Schools mark the week with many different activities and events.

At Trinity, children participate in church on Sunday by taking over traditionally adult-oriented roles like ushering and on weekdays parents and other family are invited to events.

Nelson pointed to her school's favorite of "Bring a Grandparent or Grand-friend to School Day," held on Monday at Trinity.

Students are invited to bring their grandparents or, if they do not have any, friends of their family.

That sort of activity is emulated at other schools, including Good Shepherd in Collinsville.

"It's a celebration that all of the Lutheran Schools across the country celebrate," Good Shepherd kindergarten teacher Sarah Grillot said.

At Good Shepherd, each day will be made to demonstrate a portion of the Bible verse John 3:16.

For example, the portion, "For God so loved the world," will be celebrated on Monday by allowing the children to wear clothes that resemble those worn by people all over the planet.

"It's like the best week out of the school year," Grillot said. "We're just celebrating being a Lutheran school and the ministry and the blessings that God has given us."

Metro East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville does not observe the event.