Main Campus K-8th 320 Bates Ave. SE

Winter Haven, Florida 33880

Phone: 863.293.9744 Fax: 863.595.0106

Mr. Michael Rottmann, Principal

Mr. Jon Peterson, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Gillian McIntee, ECE Administrative

Assistant

Early Childhood Ed. 2 year olds—4 year olds Phone: 863.299.9186

Fax: 863.291.3668

Accreditations NLSA-National Lutheran

Schools Association FL-GA NLSA Accreditation AdvanceEd

Our Mission

The mission of Grace Lutheran School is to

provide its students and their families with a

strong spiritual and aca-demic foundation so that

they know and under-stand God’s plan of sal-

vation through Jesus Christ and are also able to live lives appropriate to their positions in their families, churches, com-

munity, and country. Website: www.school.glwh.org

www.facebook.com/GraceLutheranWH

Established in 1956

have the opportunity to research and practice their writing and keyboard-ing skills. During the time that students are away from school, Principal Mike Rottmann will post devotionals for families to share, as well as provide access to the weekly Wednesday

(Continued on page 3)

The fears surrounding the coronavirus spread have lead to the closure of schools across the country. While many students have been iso-lated at home with no access to edu-cational activities, Grace has used the opportunity to reach out to students in a virtual classroom environment. The teachers and students of Grace are learning new technology skills as they navigate the world of virtual learning. Through the use of sites like Google Classroom, MobyMax, Zoom, Brainpop Jr., and more, the students of Grace have been able to continue their learning activities despite not being together in a physical classroom. Teachers can post lessons, activities, and learning questions for students to access through Google Classroom. Teachers can interact with students via video posts, live video conferencing via Zoom, through e-mail, and through various chats and blogs. Teachers can also link students to various online activi-ties and skills practice sites. Students

Teachers have been running their classrooms online and providing virtual educational experiences.

Visit the school

web site at

http://

school.glwh.org

THE GRACE

LUTHERAN

SCHOOL MISSION

STATEMENT

The Mission of Grace

Lutheran School is to

provide its students

and their families with a

strong spiritual and

academic foundation

so that they know and

understand God’s plan

of salvation through

Jesus Christ and are

also able to live lives

appropriate to their

positions in their fami-

lies, churches, commu-

nity, and country.

2

LION'S PRIDE

Alumni Class Notes...

Alumni, let us know where you are and what you are doing! Have you completed a degree? Have you started a new job? Added a new member to the family? Traveling abroad with your universi-ty? We want to share your news in the Lions Pride newsletter. Email your news and photos to:

swoods@glwh.org

Contact Mrs. Woods in the School Office at 863-293-9744

CHECK OUT OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE AT WWW.SCHOOL.GLWH.ORG FOR MORE ALUMNI NEWS!

Congratulations to Grace Alumni, Dan-ielle Garrison! She was the District champion weightlifter in the 154 pound class. She lifted 130 lbs. on the bench press and 145 lbs. on the clean and jerk lift to finish with a district winning 275 pounds total for her weight class. Her Lake Wales High School weightlifting team also won the district championship.

Grace JV Girls Basketball Team

Wins the CFLAA Tournament

The Grace Lutheran School basketball teams all had very successful regu-lar seasons. The JV Girls’ team capped their successful season by winning the Central Florida Lutheran Athletic Association (CFLAA) tournament champion-ship. Following is a recap of how each team finished their season. The JV Boys’ team had a very dominating regular season. They finished with a record of eight wins and one loss against teams that were also made up on-ly of fifth and sixth grade boys. They lost several close games against teams that also played some older boys. The JV boys entered their tournament as one of the top seeds, but ended the CFLAA tournament with a record of two wins and two losses. The Varsity Boys’ team also had a promising regular season in which the team won seven games and lost four. They were undefeated against CFLAA teams and entered their tournament with a high seed. The boys ended up win-ning 3 games and losing two at Florida Lutheran Athletic Association State tour-nament. They lost their final game to St Luke, Oviedo, in the consolation champi-onship to take sixth place out of 15 teams. The Varsity Girls’ Team had a record of nine wins and two losses during their regular season. Again, they entered their tournament with a high seed and high expectations. They ended up winning one game and losing two at the CFLAA tournament. The JV Girls’ team went through their regular season winning five games and losing two. The girls went on an strong run in the CFLAA tournament win-ning their first two games. In those two games they defeated the host Grace Lu-theran, St. Petersburg, and then St. Luke, Oviedo, in a close game; final score 20—10. The girls had lost twice to St. Luke in the regular season, so they were happy to earn a berth in the championship by defeating them. The girls won the champi-onship game against St. Michael, Ft. Myers. Sixth grade team member, Taylor Callaway, was named the MVP for the tournament. Great work JV girls!

Grace Lutheran School’s parent group, PACE, sponsored a fun and educational fundraiser called the Boosterthon Glow Run. In the event students not only gathered sponsors who would pledge them for the laps that they ran during the event, but they also had the opportunity to learn about various positive character traits. The Boosterthon for 2019-2020 was a success thanks to our amazing students, families, extended families, local businesses, and Church congrega-tion. With all of your help we were able to raise over $15,000 towards the PACE budget for this year. Our children were so excited to spend another week with DJ and the Boosterthon team, and we heard nothing but great things about the Glow Run and Boosterthon as a whole. We look forward to their return next year, and are excited to have a new theme and more char-acter building when they return next January. We are thankful to our Heavenly Father that our PACE organization is able to host this and our other events throughout the year to share His word through our actions and grow our trust and faith in Him at Grace Lutheran School.

AR Point Clubs

2019—2020

Each year Grace recognizes

students who excel in reading by earning over 100 AR points:

100 + Pt. Club Grade 8:

Vivian Nipper

Grade 6:

Lauren King

Grade 5:

Ivan Chau

Kayleigh Human

Brendan McMaster

Layla Stelinski

Grade 4:

Jaxon Gerken

Piper Oostra

Grade 3:

Kearah McMillen

Regan Sisson

Chloe

Warschauer

Jackson

Whitaker

Alex White

250 + Pt. Club Grade 5:

Mai-Lee Alward

Noah Hammack

Grade 4:

Cullan Alderman

LION'S PRIDE

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL JEWELRY CUSTOM MADE BY TALLY-HO JEWELERS

Pendants, Key Chains, and Rings with the school seal in gold or silver can be purchased. Special orders or designs are

welcome. A portion of all sales will benefit the Grace Lutheran School Endowment Fund.

For more information visit Tally-Ho Jewelers, 111 Ave. G SE in Winter Haven, or call 299-7966.

Virtual Learning (cont.)

chapel services through online media. Please watch school publications for more details on how to access these services. While not a traditional classroom, the teachers of Grace have committed themselves to learning to use technology and virtual classrooms to help provide for student’s ongoing growth and education. Teachers hope that regular school will resume soon; but if it doesn’t Grace is prepared to see that our students con-tinue to excel. Teachers also use the digital media to stay in touch with their fam-ilies and communicate their on-going love and support to students. When students are able to return to our physical building they will have learned technology skills which will continue to benefit them the rest of their lives.

(Continued from page 1)

3

Grace Students Participate in the

Boosterthon Glow Run

Thanks to those participating this Winter on our Grace Lutheran School basketball teams!

Varsity Girls’ Basketball Lani Kemp Bliss Updike Leniyha Grant Victoria McGuiness Sadie McIntee Kennedy Miller Taylor Willis

JV Girls’ Basketball Taylor Callaway Nia Stewart Isabella Liparota Alyssa McGuiness Alyssa Herrera Edilasia Faustair Kaitlyn Torres- Vazquez

LION'S PRIDE

4

The school recently had to fill a teaching position in Middle School. Teacher Kara Goldman, had to resign her teaching position due to family circumstances. Thankfully, Mrs. Tracy Navarro was available to step in and complete the school year, taking the position of Sixth Grade Homeroom and Middle School Literature teacher. Tracy (Gaines) Navarro was born and raised in Winter Haven and attended Grace Lutheran the first year it opened as a grade school in 1969, in third grade. Her brother Rowdy also started that same year in fifth grade with Mr. Aceto. Tracey had earlier attended Kindergar-ten at Grace with Mrs. Fenske. She remembers that the upper grades had wonderful teachers during that time like Mr. Neitsch, Mr. Aceto, Mr. Arbeiter and Mr. Bierwagen. Tracy was confirmed at Grace by Pastor Bernthal and graduated from Winter Haven High School. After graduation she went to North-ern Illinois University where she was a swimmer. She ended up gradu-ating from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in Elemen-tary Education. She was married at Grace and brought her two boys, Luis and Joseph back to Grace to be baptized by Pastor Bernthal. She now has three grandchildren who are the loves of her life. Tracy’s teaching career began in the Chicago area. She taught for 15 years in the Chicago area in fifth through eighth grade. Her chil-dren went to Trinity Lutheran School in Burr Ridge, IL, where She taught, as well as serving on the school board. Grace Lutheran School has always been close to her heart. She feels blessed to have many of the same childhood friends she grew up with at Grace. She has maintained a relationship with so many of her former students from her past years of teaching. She has been able to see them grow into adults with children of their own in wonderful professional fields. She maintains that she was the luckiest teacher be-cause of the wonder-ful people she has met and worked with. She couldn't be happier to be back at Grace Lutheran with it’s wonderful staff and Principal. Welcome back to Grace, Tracy!

Former Grace Student, Tracy

Navarro Fills Teaching Position

Tracy, second from the right, pictured with her children and Grandchildren.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball

Devon Booker King Garrett Espen Peeples Andrew Woods James Aguilar Corben Boyd Carldayle Brantley Javion James Vincent Miller Gavin Oostra Kris Patel

JV Boys’ Basketball

Noah Hammack Brady Moxam Brice Booker Aaron Woods Tony McIntee Trystan Johnson Layton Kemp Landen Tidwell Connor McDowell Maclain Irby

5

LION'S PRIDE

National Lutheran Schools Week

Celebration at Grace!

The annual celebration of National Luther-an Schools Week (NLSW) occurred during the last week of January. Many of the typical activities surrounding NLSW were held for students, as well as some fun new activities. Here are some of the things that went on as our students celebrated Lu-theran Schools. The week began with special services on Sunday, January 26. Students from Grace provid-ed special music in the services and the teachers and staff served as lectors, communion assis-tants and greeters. The service was one of cel-ebration, and of thanks to God for Lutheran Schools. The students got to experience fun ac-tivities each day around various themes. Monday was camping day, Tuesday was 70’s day, Thursday and Friday were NLSW T-shirt day and Spirit shirt day. Each day featured not only special dress, but also fun class activi-ties. One of those special activities was a fac-ulty vs. eighth grade Family Feud, which all of the students attended. Students also partici-pated in scavenger hunts and other special challenges. Our annual Rally Day and Grandparents Day events were also held during NLSW. Topping off all of the other festivities was the Scholastic Book Fair which was held in Trinity Hall during NLSW. The book fair was very successful, raising $2,000 for the purchase of new library books for the school library.

In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Warnock’s 100th Wedding Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande General Contributions Dr. & Mrs. Floyd Behrens Mr. & Mrs. Leo Davis Dr. & Mrs. Donald Eason Mr. Thomas Eggert Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Roy Mr. & Mrs. Keith Schelp Mrs. Jean Smith Mr. & Mrs. Dan Trinklein Mr. & Mrs. Roger Walker Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Wittcop

School Endowment Fund General Contributions Mr. & Mrs. Ken Richter

August & Mildred Bernthal Scholarship Fund In Memory of Mildred Bernthal Mrs. Arlene Adams Mrs. Sue Anderson Mrs. Beth Beasley Dr. & Mrs. Floyd Behrens Mr. & Mrs. Ron Booth Ms. Florence Deaner Ms. Dawn Dilts Mr. & Mrs. Frank Eirten Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Goff The Steve Griffith Family Dr. & Mrs. Don Hendrick Mr. & Mrs. H. Michael Hincker Ms. Kim Countess Hooper Ms. Evie James

(Continued on page 7)

Thrivent Financial Choice Dollars Gregory Bluemke Charles Kohs George Petrie Peggy Rottmann Theodore Rottmann

Scholarship Fund In Memory of Skipper Deas Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande In Memory of Marvin Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande In Memory of Ron Morrow Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande Mrs. Joan Richert Mr. Richard Schumacher In Memory of Judy Perkins Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande Mr. & Mrs. Keith Schelp In Memory of Bob Preacher Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande In Memory of John Rod Ms. Dawn Dilts Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande In Memory of Gene Schedler Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande Mr. & Mrs. Keith Schelp In Memory of Paul Smith Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande Mrs. Joan Richert In Memory of Duane Wise Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande

STUDENTS

OF NOTE A number of Grace stu-

dents participated in the

Bartow Art Festival.

Three of our students

earned ribbons:

First Place: Jayla Wa-

ters-6th Grade

Second Place: James

Aguilar-7th Grade

Third Place: Abby

Olewine-6th Grade

Additional Middle School

participants were:

6th Grade-Tina Chau,

Olivia Franco

7th Grade-CJ Brantley,

Leniyha Grant, Colton

Courson-Jones, Miles

Wolford, Jake Garrison,

Taylor Willis

8th Grade-Hanna Reed,

Espen Peeples, Lacey

Gerberding, Jordan Fra-

sier

The Middle School held

a National Geographic

Geography Bee. The

winners were:

1st Place - Vincent Mil-

ler

2nd Place - Blake

Emanuel

3rd Place (Tie) - Andrew

Woods and Adrian

Gomez

The fifth graders partici-

pated in the annual

Freedom Is speech

competition. Here are

the winners:

1st place -

Noah Hammack

2nd place -

Isabella Liparota

3rd place -

Kindall Garrett

Thanks to those who have

contributed to the school programs

in the First Quarter of 2020!

6

LION'S PRIDE

LION'S PRIDE

7

SPECIAL EVENTS

COMING UP AT

GRACE: The following dates

are all tentative

based on classes

being able to re-

sume on April 15.

April 15

Classes Resume

after Coronavirus

Closing

April 20—May 1

Spring MAP

Testing

May 6

Early Release Day

Parent—Teacher

Conferences

May 12—14

NLSA Accreditation

Team Visit

May 22

Early Release—

Last Day of School

May 24

Eighth Grade

Graduation Service

May 25

Memorial Day

May 26—May 29

End of Year Faculty

Meetings

June 1

Summer Camps

Begin

June 15—19

VBS Week at

Grace Lutheran

Church

What’s Happening Around Grace?

The fourth grade studies Florida

history as part of their work in so-

cial studies. On March 10th they

experienced life for settlers in Flori-

da by taking a field trip to the

Cracker Country museum.

First Quarter Contributions (cont.)

Mr. & Mrs. Donald Johnson Mr. & Mrs. James Joiner Mr. & Mrs. Ron Kirin Mr. & Mrs. Carl Locke The Hiep & Phong Nguyen Family The Phung & Tho Nguyen Family Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pergande AE Read & Countess Read Hooper Dr. & Mrs. Ralph Reed Mrs. Carol Solovitz Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Smith Ms. Jo Smith Mr. & Mrs. Doug Thee Mrs. Marilyn Tiedemann Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Tonjes Mr. & Mrs. Joe Tremblay Mr. & Mrs. Tim VanDevender Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Wales Mr. & Mrs. Larry Walker Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Wittcop

In Memory of Scott Booth Mr. & Mrs. Carl Locke

In Memory of Bob Preacher Ms. Dawn Dilts

In Memory of Al Voll Mr. & Mrs. Carl Locke

In Memory of…

Mildred Bernthal

Dear member of the

Grace family, Mildred (Mil)

Dorothy Bernthal, passed

away peacefully on December

20, 2019 at the age of 95. She

was born Feb. 20, 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri to Theodore

and Paula Vogel.

Mil graduated with a degree in social work from

Valparaiso University. She married Rev. Dr. August Bernthal

on August 21, 1948 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St.

Louis, sharing over 56 years of joyful marriage with him

until his death in 2004.

After serving as a social worker and elementary

school teacher in St. Louis, she moved to Winter Haven, FL

in 1950 when Dr. Bernthal took a call to Grace Lutheran

Church to serve as its first called pastor.

Mil was an active partner with him in ministry for

an incredible 50 years, working tirelessly alongside him to

lead as the congregation grew from less than twenty mem-

bers to more than 2,800 baptized members. She was enthu-

siastically involved in the music ministry at Grace, serving as

its first organist, along with decades spent in the choir and

bell choir. She also taught Sunday School, worked with

Grace’s active refugee resettlement program, and served in

countless other capacities.

programs and athletic or other school-administered programs. If you would like to help sponsor this publica-tion, please contact the school office. Our goal is to keep the mailing list for this publi-cation as accurate as possible. If your name or address is incorrect, or if you are moving, please contact the school office and provide us with the correct information.

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL is a ministry of GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH.

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students. The school does not dis-criminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, financial aid

LION'S PRIDE IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

A Ministry of Grace Lutheran Church

320 Bates Avenue SE

Winter Haven, Florida 33880

(863) 293-9744

http://school.glwh.org

Return Service Requested

GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Non Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Lakeland, FL 33805

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