Lion Tales 1/18/24

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Jan 18 HS JV Basketball Away game at Bloomington Trinity 7:45 pm

EL Basketball Away games at Atlanta vs Oly Legends 6 pm / 7 pm

Friday, Jan 19 EL/HS JV/V Basketball Away games at Danville 5 pm start

Saturday, Jan 20 HOME JH Basketball Tournament 8:30-5 pm

Monday, Jan 22 HS JV/V home games vs Greenview 6 pm / 7:15 pm

Tuesday, Jan 23 JH/HS Away basketball games at ICCS Washington 5 pm / 6 pm

Thursday, Jan 25 EL/JH Green vs White scrimmages 5:30/6:30 *8th grade night!*

Friday, Jan 26 HS JV/V Home games vs Calvary Urbana 5:30/7:00 *Senior night!*

Saturday, Jan 27 CLA Board of Directors meeting 7:30 am

SEVERE WEATHER ALERT…. IF SCHOOL IS DELAYED or CLOSED …. Look for an email by 7:15 am…. and keep your eyes on Facebook for announcements on the CLA FaceBook page and Lions Den Parent Group.  We will use email/Facebook to give updates

PLEASE NOTE…. At some point soon, you may receive a text message and/or phone call regarding CLA’s planned use of text messaging / voice calls for disseminating information.  We are hopeful to increase our communication in this way. At that time, we will also give an option to update your cell number communication contacts.  Please help us get our communication lined up for your family! Questions, please ask!

CLA Chess Tournament - Now Scheduled for Saturday, February 17 

CLA is hosting an open chess tournament and you can get involved.  This is for all ages and skill levels.  For more information, or for a copy of the flyer, contact the CLA Chess Club through Mrs. Jenny Travis - [email protected].

Help out with the needs of our community!

Don’t forget that Mrs. Angela Golden, our preschool teacher, is organizing a food drive to help our local food pantries in Hopedale, operated by the Living Hope and United Methodist Churches.  A box for donated food items is located inside the main door of the school.  Feel free to help! 

From the Principal's Desk

Each year we have many things to consider as our school grows and changes.  I ask our school community to specifically pray for our staff and school board as we aim toward the future.  God has guided us in amazing ways, and we are grateful.  But we also know that we need to hold on to His guiding hand for each year.  Please pray for us to see clearly the next steps to take in growth and change, and that God will be in all and through all we do!  

Blessings,

         Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 1/11/24

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Jan 11 Elem/JH basketball HOME games vs Excel and Concordia 4:30 / 6:00 / 7:00

Saturday, Jan 13 HS Varsity basketball Tournament at Rosamond FBCA 

Monday, Jan 15 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

HS Basketball Home games vs Hartsburg-Emden JV/V 6 pm / 7:15 pm

Elem Basketball Away games vs Oly Legends at Atlanta 6 pm / 7 pm

Tuesday, Jan 16 JH/HS JV Basketball Away games at Bloomington Trinity 6 pm / 7:15 pm

Friday, Jan 19 EL/HS JV/V Basketball Away games at Danville 5 pm start

Saturday, Jan 20 HOME JH Basketball Tournament 8:30-5 pm

Saturday, Jan 27 CLA Board of Directors meeting 7:30 am

SEVERE WEATHER ALERT…. IF SCHOOL IS DELAYED or CLOSED …. Look for an email by 7:15 am…. and keep your eyes on Facebook for announcements on the CLA FaceBook page and Lions Den Parent Group.  We will use email/Facebook to give updates

CLA Chess Tournament - Now Scheduled for Saturday, February 17 

Take a look at the attached flyer… CLA is hosting an open chess tournament and you can get involved.  This is for all ages and skill levels.  For more information, contact the CLA Chess Club through Mrs. Jenny Travis - [email protected].

Help out with the needs of our community!

Don’t forget that Mrs. Angela Golden, our preschool teacher, is organizing a food drive to help our local food pantries in Hopedale, operated by the Living Hope and United Methodist Churches.  A box for donated food items is located inside the main door of the school.  Feel free to help! 

From the Principal's Desk

I’m excited to remind everyone that the planning for the upcoming 2024-25 school year is in process.  Each year we have many things to consider as our school grows and changes.  I would like to ask our school community to specifically pray for our staff and school board as we aim toward the future.  God has guided us in amazing ways, and we are grateful.  But we also know that we need to hold on to His guiding hand for each year.  Please pray for us to see clearly the next steps to take in growth and change, for the improvements needed, and for the connections to be made that best benefit our families and staff.  May God be in all and through all!  

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 1/4/2024

Welcome Back for the Second Semester! 

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Jan 4 Elementary and JH Basketball - Away games at Greenview 6 pm / 7 pm

Monday, Jan 8 Elementary and JH Basketball - Away games at St. Mary’s 5:30 / 6:30 pm

Tuesday, Jan 9 HS basketball HOME games JV/V vs Danville Flames 5:30 / 6:30 pm

Thursday, Jan 11 Elem/JH basketball HOME games vs Excel and Concordia 4:30 / 6:00 / 7:00

Saturday, Jan 13 HS Varsity basketball Tournament at Rosamond FBCA 

Monday, Jan 15 No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

OUR LAST Christmas Spirit Day  -  Christmas Pajamas TOMORROW!

Since we didn’t get to have our last (half) day of school before Christmas…. We’re extending the special days - Friday, January 5th we are having  Christmas Pajama Day!

SEVERE WEATHER ALERT…. IF SCHOOL IS DELAYED or CLOSED …. Look for an email by 7:15 am…. and keep your eyes on Facebook for announcements on the CLA FaceBook page and Lions Den Parent Group.  We will use email/FaceBook to give updates

Instrument lessons - additional spot(s) available on Tuesday afternoons

Mrs. Rachel Waggoner is starting music lessons (piano and violin) on Tuesday afternoons at the school.  These lessons will begin next week, and she has room for one or two more students who might be interested.  This is for students in grades 3-HS and lessons will be held in the CLA music room during the school day or immediately afterwards in the afternoon.  If interested, you may contact Rachel directly at her email [email protected], or by phone 309-840-1068 for more information and details.

Help out with the needs of our community!

Don’t forget that Mrs. Angela Golden, our preschool teacher, is organizing a food drive to help our local food pantries in Hopedale, operated by the Living Hope and United Methodist Churches.  A box for donated food items is located inside the main door of the school.  Feel free to help! 

From the Principal's Desk

We kicked off our second semester this morning talking about “seeing and experiencing” amazing things.  We also nearly had a surgical procedure happen during chapel… ask your kids about it!  In any case, the theme as we kick off the second half of our school year continues with “Together on Mission” … Now reminding us that our mission is to be a witness to others about Jesus.  I’m excited to share with our students from Matthew 28:19 and from the first few chapters of Acts this winter/spring!  Thank you for sharing your students with us.  

Blessings,

         Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 12/7/23

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Dec 7 HOME basketball game JH with Excel Academy  / Elem and HS scrimmages

Thursday, Dec 14 All School Christmas Worship Service 7:00 pm at Living Hope Comm. Church

Friday, Dec 15 AWAY basketball games HS teams at Calvary Urbana (Philo, IL) 6:00/7:00

Saturday, Dec 16 School Board of Directors meeting 7:30 am

Monday, Dec 18 HOME basketball games EL/JH vs St. Mary’s 5:30 / 6:30 

AWAY basketball games HS at Bethel Lutheran (Morton) 5:30 / 7:00

Wednesday, Dec 20 Last Day before Christmas Break - 11:30 dismissal

December 21 through January 3 - No School - Christmas Break 

Wednesday, Jan 3 Staff only - Gathering/meetings 

Thursday, Jan 4 School Resumes (full day of student attendance)

Christmas Program / Worship Service December 14th

Mark your calendars!  CLA will hold its annual Christmas program/worship service at Living Hope Community Church on Thursday, December 14th at 7:00pm. This event is free of charge and open to friends and family! 

A “Shuttle Bus” will be available the evening of the program.  Due to limited parking spaces at the church, we encourage drivers to drop off passengers at the church, then drive over and park in the school parking lot.  The plan is for a shuttle bus to leave the CLA parking lot at 6:30, 6:40 and 6:50 going back to the church.  The shuttle will also deliver people back from the church to the school parking lot after the service concludes.

Additionally, we will also be hosting our annual Christmas dinner prior to the program- a wonderful home cooked meal prepared and served by our own CLA students.  Tickets will be $10 each - tickets sales will end on Friday, December 8 - ORDER NOW!  If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Stribling at [email protected].

Christmas Spirit Days - December 15-20!

As we near the celebration of Christmas… We encourage students to join in some special days!

Friday, December 15 - Wear Christmas Colors!

Monday, December 18 - Crazy Christmas Hats and Hair!

Tuesday, December 19 - Fun Christmas Apparel! (ugly sweater, socks, reindeer antlers, etc)

Wednesday, December 20 (early dismissal) - Christmas Pajamas!

Help out with the needs of our community!

Don’t forget that Mrs. Angela Golden, our preschool teacher, is organizing a food drive to help our local food pantries in Hopedale, operated by the Living Hope and United Methodist Churches.  A box for donated food items is located inside the main door of the school.  Feel free to help! 

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

As we approach the celebration of Christmas, I’m (again) reminded of how much God loves us!  He sent His Son into the world, as an amazing example of selfless action for us.  Jesus lived a perfect life (which we cannot live), died in our place (taking the punishment for our sin), and rose again to new life (allowing us the opportunity to live a new life and have eternal life).  Wow.  Thank you, Lord!  Have you shared this amazing news with anyone recently?  I hope you have.  And if you want to know more about it, I’d love to talk with you! 

In our staff meeting this week, we shared about how we are keeping Jesus at the center of our Christmas celebrations.  We discussed how the Scriptures inform what we do.  I was super impressed to hear a few staff members talk about how they make sure that everything they do has a focus, an angle, on our faith.  As always, I’m so grateful that we can minister together in the classrooms, the hallways, the community here at Christian Life Academy.  Praise Jesus!

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 11/30/23

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Nov 30 HOME basketball games with ICCS - JH 5:30 / HS 6:30

Monday, Dec 4 HOME basketball games with FBCA Rosamond - EL 5:00 / JH 6:00 / HS 7:00

Tuesday, Dec 5 AWAY basketball games at Bethel (Morton) - EL 5:30 / 7th 6:30 / 8th 7:30

Thursday, Dec 7 HOME basketball games with Excel Academy JH 5:30 

Elem scrimmage green v white 4:00 / HS scrimmage green v white 7:00

Thursday, Dec 14 All School Christmas Worship Service 7:00 pm at Living Hope Comm. Church

(Note - Dinner begins at 5:30 - details below - advance ticket purchase required)

Help out with the needs of our community!

Reminder - Tomorrow, December 1, is the last day for collection of items for the Rescue Mission. We have a box in the main lobby collecting NEW packages of men’s socks and underwear for the Peoria Rescue Mission.  This will be in coordination with Living Hope’s Advent Concert on December 3rd (Please come to the concert Sunday night at 6 pm) where a love offering will support the Mission.  We encourage you to help!

Also, don’t forget that Mrs. Angela Golden, our preschool teacher, is organizing a food drive to help our local food pantries in Hopedale, operated by the Living Hope and United Methodist Churches.  A box for donated food items is located inside the main door of the school.  Feel free to help! 

Christmas Program / Worship Service December 14th

Mark your calendars!  CLA will hold its annual Christmas program/worship service at Living Hope Community Church on Thursday, December 14th at 7:00pm. This event is free of charge and open to friends and family! 

A “Shuttle Bus” will be available the evening of the program.  Due to limited parking spaces at the church, we encourage drivers to drop off passengers at the church, then drive over and park in the school parking lot.  The plan is for a shuttle bus to leave the CLA parking lot at 6:30, 6:40 and 6:50 going back to the church.  The shuttle will also deliver people back from the church to the school parking lot after the service concludes.

Additionally, we will also be hosting our annual Christmas dinner prior to the program- a wonderful home cooked meal prepared and served by our own CLA students.  Tickets will be $10 each- check your student’s backpack for an order form!  Tickets will be on sale until Thursday, December 7th or “sold out”.  If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Stribling at [email protected].

What a fun afternoon!

We were  blessed to have over 50 guests attend and participate in Grandparents’ Day at CLA last week on Tuesday, November 21.  Guests visited with students, shared some cookies, and did activities in classrooms.  Some grandparents of high school students received a tour of the new building.  Crafts were made by elementary students and their grandparents.  But the best part of the afternoon was the hugs and smiles shared by generations.  What fun!

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

As we approach the celebration of Christmas, I’m (again) reminded of how much God loves us!  He sent His Son into the world, as an amazing example of selfless action for us.  Jesus lived a perfect life (which we cannot live), died in our place (taking the punishment for our sin), and rose again to new life (allowing us the opportunity to live a new life and have eternal life).  Wow.  Thank you, Lord!  Have you shared this amazing news with anyone recently?  I hope you have.  And if you want to know more about it, I’d love to talk with you! 

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 11/16/23

Upcoming Dates

Monday, Nov 20 HOME Green vs White Basketball scrimmages (all teams) starting at 5:30

Tuesday, Nov 21 Grandparents’ Day Activities (2 pm - end of day)

Tuesday, Nov 21 Thanksgiving Rolls pick-up 3-6 pm at Living Hope Community Church 

Tuesday, Nov 21 JH AWAY basketball games at Delavan 6 pm / 7 pm

Wed-Fri, Nov 22-24 No School - Thanksgiving Break

Saturday, Nov 25 Basketball HOME game High School team vs Delavan 10 am

Monday, Nov 27 PTF meeting 3:45 pm

Thursday, Dec 14 All School Christmas Worship Service 7:00 pm at Living Hope Comm. Church

(Note - Dinner begins at 5:30 - details coming - advance ticket purchase required)

Tuesday Nov. 21!

Grandparents’ Day will be held on Tuesday, November 21…Invite them!

It’s exciting to invite our grandparents to share some time with us at school.  This will be on Tuesday, November 21.  Please pass the word on and invite those special people! Grandparents should arrive that afternoon between 2-2:15, and we’ll gather in the gym, have some all-school time together, and then individual class activities will follow, until dismissal at the end of the school day (normal dismissal times of 3:20/3:30)

Need some CLA GEAR!?!  THE CLA APPAREL STORE IS OPEN AGAIN until NOVEMBER 20!

Need some CLA spirit gear?  The apparel store through JC Screenprinting is open again for the next several weeks.  Orders must be made by November 20 8 am … and items should be ready the first week of December (Christmas presents, anyone?)  All orders will be delivered to the school for pick-up, or you can pay to have them shipped directly to you (be sure to do this at time of order.)

Here’s the link to the store: https://jcscreenprinting.com/collections/lions-christian-life-academy

Help out with the needs of our community!

In case you didn’t see the flyer sent home recently, Mrs Angela Golden, our preschool teacher, is organizing a food drive to help our local food pantries in Hopedale, operated by the Living Hope and United Methodist Churches.  A box for donated food items is located inside the main door of the school.  Feel free to help! 

Also, now through December 1, we will have a box in the lobby collecting NEW packages of men’s socks and underwear for the Peoria Rescue Mission.  This will be in coordination with Living Hope’s Advent Concert on December 3rd (flyer attached in Lion Tales email) where a love offering will support the Mission.  We encourage you to help!

Christmas Program / Worship Service 

Mark your calendars!  CLA will hold its annual Christmas program/worship service at Living Hope Community Church on Thursday, December 14th at 7:00pm. This event is free of charge and open to friends and family! 

Additionally, we will also be hosting our annual Christmas dinner prior to the program- a wonderful home cooked meal prepared and served by our own CLA students.  Tickets will be $10 each- check your student’s backpack for an order form!  Tickets will be on sale until Thursday, December 7th.  If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Stribling at [email protected].

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

How exciting to host our first basketball games this week!  Our CLA athletics programs are a great combination of the CLA full-enrolled students and our connected home-school families.  It’s such a great time of fellowship, school spirit, and fun!  We started off with some great baseball and volleyball games this fall, and now we have cheerleaders and basketball players kicking off their seasons.  I’m so grateful for this collaboration.  Just be forewarned, if you haven’t been to a game, the bleachers fill up fast!  Hope to see you sometime in the gym!  Check out the Lion tales each week for upcoming games.

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 11/10/23

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Nov 9 Veterans’ Day Assembly 8:45 am

Friday, Nov 10 No School - Veterans’ Day Observation

Tuesday, Nov 14 Basketball HOME Games with Faith Baptist 5:30 JH / 6:30 HS

Wednesday, Nov 15 Orders due for the PTF Thanksgiving Rolls orders

Monday, Nov 20 HOME Green vs White Basketball scrimmages (all teams) starting at 5:30

Tuesday, Nov 21 Grandparents’ Day Activities (2 pm - end of day)

Wed-Fri, Nov 22-24 No School - Thanksgiving Break

Saturday, Nov 25 Basketball HOME game High School team vs Delavan 10 am

Tuesday Nov. 21!

Grandparents’ Day will be held on Tuesday, November 21…Invite them!

It’s exciting to invite our grandparents to share some time with us at school.  This will be on Tuesday, November 21.  Please pass the word on and invite those special people! Grandparents should arrive that afternoon between 2-2:15, and we’ll gather in the gym, have some all-school time together, and then individual class activities will follow, until dismissal at the end of the school day (normal dismissal times of 3:20/3:30)

Need some CLA GEAR!?!  THE CLA APPAREL STORE IS OPEN AGAIN until NOVEMBER 20!

Need some CLA spirit gear?  The apparel store through JC Screenprinting is open again for the next several weeks.  Orders must be made by November 20 8 am … and items should be ready the first week of December (Christmas presents, anyone?)  All orders will be delivered to the school for pick-up, or you can pay to have them shipped directly to you (be sure to do this at time of order.)

Here’s the link to the store: https://jcscreenprinting.com/collections/lions-christian-life-academy

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

As the calendar turns to November, we often consider (as a certain holiday approaches) what we are thankful for.  I, too, have been thinking about what we are thankful for as a school.  Christian Life Academy is thankful for the combined efforts of our families and staff working towards the best for each student.  CLA is thankful for the buildings and spaces available for education to happen, and especially now with our expanded spaces!  But most of all, we are thankful that we can rest on God and His promise of faithfulness! May we continue to lift our thanks to Him!

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 11/2/23

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Nov 9 Veterans’ Day Assembly 8:45 am (see invitation below)

Friday, Nov 10 No School - Veterans’ Day Observation

Tuesday, Nov 14 Basketball Home Games with Faith Baptist 5:30 JH / 6:30 HS

Wednesday, Nov 15 Orders due for the PTF Thanksgiving Rolls orders

Tuesday, Nov 21 Grandparents’ Day Activities (2 pm - end of day)

Wed-Fri, Nov 22-24 No School - Thanksgiving Break

Welcome! Veterans invited for recognition at CLA Thursday, November 9

Please pass the word along to friends and family who are Veterans of all branches of the US Armed Forces.  On Thursday, November 9, CLA will honor these friends in a brief ceremony in the school gymnasium.  We ask that Veterans ARRIVE between 8:15-8:30 am and we will have a recognition ceremony at 8:45 am.  We wish to say “thank you” in person to those who can attend.  Light refreshments will als be served to our visitors after the recognition ceremony.

Grandparents’ Day will be held on Tuesday, November 21…Invite them!

It’s exciting to invite our grandparents to share some time with us at school.  This will be on Tuesday, November 21.  Please pass the word on and invite those special people! Grandparents should arrive that afternoon between 2-2:15, and we’ll gather in the gym, have some all-school time together, and then individual class activities will follow, until dismissal at the end of the school day (normal dismissal times of 3:20/3:30)

Need some CLA GEAR!?!  THE CLA APPAREL STORE IS OPEN AGAIN until NOVEMBER 20!

Need some CLA spirit gear?  The apparel store through JC Screenprinting is open again for the next several weeks.  Orders must be made by November 20 8 am … and items should be ready the first week of December (Christmas presents, anyone?)  All orders will be delivered to the school for pick-up, or you can pay to have them shipped directly to you (be sure to do this at time of order.)

Here’s the link to the store: https://jcscreenprinting.com/collections/lions-christian-life-academy

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

Our staff had some discussion this week about details and plans for our Christmas Program held on December 14. I hope you have set aside this date on your calendar.  It got me excited for the upcoming season, for sure! As always, we’ll have a program, with dinner as an option (you’ll see information coming soon about tickets and table hosting).  But the greatest thing for me is remembering what we celebrate, through our gathering, our worship, the singing of carols, a message and some drama…. God sent His Son, Jesus, to the earth so that we might have new life in HIM!  What a great gift.  As we prepare for the upcoming holiday season, remember that we celebrate the Gift of God.  Praise the Lord that we can do this together!  

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales- 10/26/23

Upcoming Dates

Monday, Oct 30 PTF meeting 3:45 pm

Wednesday, Nov 1 Early Dismissal - 11:30 am 

Thursday, Nov 2 School Picture Day (morning)

Thursday, Nov 9 Veterans’ Day Assembly 8:45 am (see invitation below)

Friday, Nov 10 No School - Veterans’ Day Observation

Tuesday, Nov 21 Grandparents’ Day Activities (2 pm - end of day)

Wed-Fri, Nov 22-24 No School - Thanksgiving Break

What a GREAT Weekend!

Thank you all - Friends, Families, Students and Staff!  Life Days 2023 was a great success.  Details on the success of Life Days will come next week.

School Picture Day will be Thursday, November 2nd.  We are excited to have Amy Williams - LifePrint Photography (Minier) taking our school pictures this year.  We will have class pictures taken also, so we hope and expect for all students to be in attendance for picture day! Picture envelopes will be available next week.  Envelopes will be sent home with students.  Pictures for homeschool students will also be available - pick up an envelope at the school office, and come in the 9 am - 11 time frame on November 2nd!.

Veterans invited to CLA on Thursday, November 9

Please pass the word along to friends and family who are Veterans of all branches of the US Armed Forces.  On Thursday, November 9, CLA will honor these friends in a brief ceremony in the school gymnasium.  We ask that Veterans ARRIVE between 8:15-8:30 am and we will have a recognition ceremony at 8:45 am.  We wish to say “thank you” in person to those who can attend.  Light refreshments will als be served to our visitors after the recognition ceremony.

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page!

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

If you were not in attendance at the beginning of the Life Days live auction (last Saturday), you may have missed our recognition of the Slager family.  I wanted to take a few minutes in this space to share.  Our great friend, Jess Slager, passed away in December of 2022, and his passing left a space in our hearts that will be impossible to fill.  As we kicked off the auction, we shared a bit about Jess.  Here are a few of those words:

The second part of 1 Peter 4:11 says “If anyone serves, he should do so with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”  Jess Slager was a great example of this.  As described by former CLA teacher Maria Imig, Jess was “CLA’s Grandpa.”  He was a grandpa not only to his own children who attended here in the past, but also to the entire school.  It was Jess and his family that started the Life Days pork chop dinner. Jess bought and donated back the first of the famous raspberry pies at the auction.  Jess had a dream, now fulfilled, of a new building for high school students.  Jess was a part of all that God has allowed to happen at CLA.

We gifted the Slager family with some pictures - the one above is my favorite.  This is Jess Slager planting flowers in the bed at the front of the school - with a group of early CLA students who are now all in their twenties, some with families of their own.  The seeds that Jess planted at CLA will never be forgotten.  You can see the other pictures and our memories of Jess beside the message board in the hallway across from the main office.  A sculpture (tree) in Jess’s memory will be installed next summer in the high school.

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning

Lion Tales 10/19/23- Life Days Edition!

Upcoming Dates

Fri-Sat, Oct 20-21 Life Days 2023!

Monday, Oct 23 No School - Parent-Teacher Conferences - look for a sign-up email!!

Monday, Oct 30 PTF meeting 3:45 pm

Thursday, Nov 2 School Picture Day (see note below)

IT’S LIFE DAYS WEEK! Excited to see you all this weekend!

Life Days 2023 Schedule of Events

Friday, October 20 

During school Kids’ ticket auction will be open for students at designated times

*PLEASE NOTE: Students that “stay” after school for Life Days must be accompanied

        by a parent or guardian on campus!

4-7 pm Kids Activities - Free - in the front lawn

Concessions Food available in the gym

Kids’ ticket auction open - winners drawn at 7 pm

6 pm ONLINE AUCTION BIDDING ENDS

Saturday, October 21 

8 am - 10 am Breakfast - $7 all you can eat - while supplies last

10 am - 12:30 pm Kids Activities - Free - in the front lawn

1 pm Lions Football Club game at Minier Westside Park. 

Admission $3 adult / $2 senior / kids free  Bring lawn chairs!

4 pm - 6 pm Pork Chop Dinner - $10 - while supplies last

4 pm Silent Auction - CLA Gym - will close after start of the live auction.

6:30 pm Live Auction - CLA Gym

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES Will be held on Monday, October 23, so please look for an email from teachers to get signed up.  We ask that ALL parents meet with teachers so we can best partner with one another in the education of your children!  It’s a great time to meet and catch up, plan and encourage!  Depending on how the scheduling goes, there may need to be some time slots after school on the 24th-26th as well.  Thank you for your partnership!

School Picture Day will be Thursday, November 2nd.  We are excited to have Amy Williams - LifePrint Photography (Minier) taking our school pictures this year.  We will have class pictures taken also, so we hope and expect all students to be in attendance for picture day! Picture envelopes will be available next week.  Envelopes will be sent home with students.  Pictures for homeschool students will also be available - pick up an envelope at the school office, and come in the 9 am - 11 time frame on November 2nd!.

Reminder about our Lions’ Den Facebook Parent Page!

Please join our parent page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357381807869894

This is a private group, which means that posts, information, and photos can not be “shared” outside of the group.  Staff will post information and photos about student activities on this page to help keep student information safe. Please make sure that you answer all of the membership questions identifying your connection to CLA- this will help us approve your membership faster!

PLEASE NOTE: we are strictly keeping the purpose and membership of the Lions’ Den Facebook group for parents and grandparents only as we want to be very careful for the safety of our families. Others who do not fit the parent or grandparent category will not be approved for membership in this private group.  The public CLA Facebook page does not require membership, and you are welcome to share that page with friends, extended family and the public! Posts on the public page are shareable.  The private group posts are not shareable.  

From the Principal's Desk

There is a definite “buzz” around the school today, as Life Days is “taking over” the gym… It will be a very busy weekend.  For those of you who have not experienced this HUGE event… be ready for a great time.  And get ready to see things you may have never seen before, like a pie worth thousands of dollars.  Yes, that’s correct.  You’ll see…  For those who have experienced Life Days, well, here it comes again!  

In all seriousness, Life Days is a fun and memorable time.  But the purpose of Life Days is to fellowship together, in support of the ministry of Christian Life Academy.  It’s for the students, the families.  It’s for our Lord and Savior.  I’m excited to share this time with you all!

Blessings,

        Mr. Horning