Principal’s Message
Blessings Abound!
One of the joys of my service as principal of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School is that I daily witness blessings that our gracious Lord has showered down on us. As I walk the halls, I hear teachers teaching and see students learning. We had a faculty meeting this morning to discuss the initial progress of the members of the freshmen class. Once again, I witnessed how much our teachers really care for our students. Each day, we see many, many smiling faces – students who love their school and their Lord! We are blessed with a dedicated staff who really take ownership in their portion of MVL’s ministry and it shows each day. We have a committed Board of Directors who support the mission of our school. Those are just a few of the blessings.
Last week, I was able to experience another blessing and then be a part of an anticipated blessing. I went out to visit our association Lutheran elementary school students and was joined by a number of student representatives from MVL. They talked to the elementary school counterparts and asked them to fill out an enrollment survey so that we can start looking to the future. It was a wonderful week watching our young people share their love for their school!
The results of the survey were a blessing in and of themselves. This year, we have 43 seniors. We are now expecting a freshmen class of 68 new students. That number doesn’t account for any transfers in or out, any international students, or any attrition. If that number of 68 freshmen holds true, then our enrollment will jump from the current 220 to 245. The projections show that we could go even higher in future years.
We are so blessed. Every day, our students get to sit at the feet of teachers who believe as they do and share Jesus with them. We look forward to future years of “training students for Christian lives on earth and for eternity!”
Infinite Campus Alert Test
During the month of October, and Infinite Campus Alert will be conducted so that we are ready for the weather related challenges of the winter. If you have questions or concerns abou this please contact the MVL office.
Vision and Hearing Screening
Our school nurse, Elen Stark, with the assistance of a number of volunteers will conduct Vision and Hearing Screenings for all our students on Wednesday, October 5. This valuable screeing is provided as a service to assist parents with any concerns there may be with your students’ vision and/or hearing. If you are able and willing to help Mrs. Stark that day, please follow this link to sign up: Sign Up Link
Junior Class History Tour & After Prom Meetings
On November 14, we will be holding the mandatory History Tour meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the commons with the After Prom informational meeting beginning immediately after. If there are any questions regarding these meetings please feel free to contact Mr. Buboltz and Dr. Plath by phone or email.
History Tour Bill
History Tour will be billed through FACTS this year. It will appear under incidental payments with a due date of May 31, 2023. This will give you opportunity to go online and make payments throughout the year, when it is convenient for you. You are able to make payments using your bank account, debit card, or credit card. Although these are the preferred payment methods, you are still able to send a check or cash to school with your student. Students must be paid in full prior to departure.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
On November 1st & 2nd we have Parent-Teacher Conferences scheduled. Parents can determine which teachers they would like to meet with and make appointments with those teachers. This year, the sign up will be online. Look for an email with the links to the sign up page on October 10th.
Sign ups will be open from October 10th to October 21st. This allows adequate time to prepare the schedules, and for the teachers to prepare for the meetings.
The meeting times will be scheduled in 15 minute segments from 3:00 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Be sure to note that on the days of Parent-Teacher Conferences, students will be dismissed from classes at noon. The MVL buses will run right away after school.
Technology
As our students/children go online more and more, they leave behind digital footprints of their activities. Are those footprints God-pleasing or do they leave a little something to be desired? The link below gives you some tips and suggestions on how to help your child manage their online presence and reputation.
Pike Driving School
Typically, in the past, Pike Driving School has come to MVL’s campus in the fall to offer the classroom portion of drivers’ training. This year that training is being moved to the spring due to shortage of teachers. Those dates will be announced at a later time.
Student Council
Missions
Each year the MVL student body chooses a mission project to support. This year’s mission is supporting WASH Education and Health Promotion Program in Malawi, Africa. (WASH is water, sanitation, and hygiene.) Many communities in Africa don’t have resources or knowledge about sanitation and basic hygiene. As a result of this, water contamination is the leading cause of death for infants in Malawi. Not only is water contamination a problem, but many people don’t have proper toilet facilities and handwashing stations. WASH is working to improve lives by providing informational workshops to speak about topics like clean water and disease transmission as well as hands-on workshops where people can learn how to build things like toilets or pit latrine covers. More importantly, WASH also brings the saving news of the Gospel to a people in need.
Our offerings will specifically go towards sponsoring an additional WASH team to a community in Malawi. This WASH team will provide community visits, 3 informational workshops, and materials for 10 VIP (ventilated improved pit) latrines during the first year. The total cost of this is about $5,000. We are excited to share the blessings we have received with the people of Malawi! May the Holy Spirit bless our efforts!
Wreath Sales
The MVL Student Council will be having their annual Christmas Wreath sale starting October 23rd. Student representatives will be assigned to their home congregations to gather orders throughout November. There will also be an online order form available this year. The wreaths will be delivered November 22nd. The proceeds for this sale will be designated by the Student Council.
Fall Play
This November, the MVL drama department is tackling the classic play, You Can’t Take It With You.
The cast of nineteen students will capture the essence of zany and loveable characters. The play takes place in New York City at the home of Martin Vanderhof. He and his family live and do things their own way and don’t get bothered by what others think or say about them. They never stopped and realized how peculiar they really are until their youngest daughter, Alice, falls in love with the son of a rich businessman and invites his family over for dinner. In this comedic three act play, the two households learn what virtues make up a devoted, loving family and how to respect others for having a different way of life. Stay tuned for more details about MVL’s Fall Play!
Seniors and Parents/Guardians
FAFSA: Opens October 1, 2022
Don’t forget to get your FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/) submitted for Fall 2023. Potential college choices cannot create a financial aid package for you without this information. Here is a six-step guide to completing the FAFSA: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/a-step-by-step-guide-to-completing-the-fafsa.html.
However, I think it can be actually be condensed into 3 easy steps:
• Student and one parent/guardian create a FSA ID (used to sign the form electronically). Create your FSA ID here: https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm.
• Student signs into FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/) using their FSA ID. Complete FAFSA (ensure you are selecting the correct year: 2022-2023) and add all potential schools to the list so that they receive your information.
• Submit your FAFSA. Email that you used should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within 3-5 business days of submission. This SAR will include your family’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is used to determine the aid the student will receive at each institution.
If your family is in need of assistance is completing the FAFSA for your student, please feel free to reach out to Mr. Smith directly. He can be reached at: 507.233.8685 or via email at tjsmith@mvlhs.org. He is happy to assist families in this process.
*Reminder that Martin Luther College is hosting a Financial Aid Event on Wednesday, October 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the Wittenberg Collegiate Center Room 174. This free informative event is open to all local (New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, etc.) high school students and their families.
National College Fair
The National College Fair is being held at the Minneapolis Convention Center (1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403) on Wednesday, October 5th (morning session 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and evening session 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and Thursday, October 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students and families interested in learning about a wealth of college options (typically over 500 institutions are represented) in once location should consider this opportunity. Feel free to reach out to Mr. Smith with any questions.
Local College Fair
The Minnesota Education Fair circuit will be stopping at Bethany Lutheran College with a wealth of local (think midwest region) colleges represented. This college fair is on Thursday, October 13th from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Interested students and families should consider attending to learn more about potential college options.
All Students and Families
Testing Day: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
*Seniors are excused from attending school on this date
**Students will want to eat a big breakfast and bring easy snacks for their two breaks. School lunch will NOT be served. DISMISSAL for the day is at 12:55 p.m.
▪ 9th Grade
● PSAT 8/9
o 8:20-8:30 – Chapel/Devotion in testing rooms
o 8:30-9:30 – Pre-Administration
o 9:30-9:35 – Test administration
o 9:35-10:30 – Reading Test (55 minutes)
o 10:30-10:35 – Break (5 minutes)
o 10:35-10:40 – Test Administration
o 10:40-11:10 – Writing and Language Test (30 minutes)
o 11:10-11:15 – Test Administration
o 11:15-11:35 – Math Test (No Calculator) (20 minutes)
o 11:35-11:40 – Break (5 minutes)
o 11:40-11:45 – Test Administration
o 11:45-12:25 – Math Test – with Calculator (40 minutes)
o 12:25-12:35 – Test Collection and Organization
o 12:35-12:55 – Decompress quietly in testing room
o 12:55 – Dismissal
▪ 10th and 11th Grade
● PSAT/NMSQT
o 8:20-8:30 – Chapel/Devotion in testing rooms
o 8:30-9:30 – Pre-Administration
o 9:30-9:35 – Test administration
o 9:35-10:35 – Reading Test (60 minutes)
o 10:35-10:40 – Break (5 minutes)
o 10:40-10:45 – Test Administration
o 10:45-11:20 – Writing and Language Test (35 minutes)
o 11:20-11:25 – Test administration
o 11:25-11:50 – Math Test (No Calculator) (25 minutes)
o 11:50-11:55 – Break (5 minutes)
o 11:55-12:00 – Test Administration
o 12:00-12:45 – Math Test – with Calculator (45 minutes)
o 12:45-12:55 – Test Collection and Organization
o 12:55 – Dismissal
AP Exam Fees
Students enrolled in AP courses will soon be bringing home a letter that explains the AP exam fees. This year we will be billing the AP test fees to your FACTS account. As in the past, this fee is due no later than November 11th . If you are not set up for these incidental expenses to be billed to your bank account automatically, make sure you go onto your family FACTS account and take of the fee prior to the deadline. You are able to pay with a bank account, debit card, or credit through your family FACTS portal. Although, these are the preferred payment methods, you are still able to send a check or cash to school with your student. Again, the AP test fees need to be paid no later than November 11th , 2022.
| Fees | Students on Free/Reduced Lunches | Students not on F/R Lunches |
| Initial cost of AP Exam | $97 | $97 |
| Reduction for F/R | $35 | 0 |
| MN Dept. of Ed. Reduction | $53 | $40 |
| Admin. Costs (Proctor) | $10 | $10 |
| Cost per student per exam | $19.00 | $67.00 |
There are still openings for some concession and ticket sale slots. Check your calendars, and sign up for football or volleyball game volunteer opportunities.
Attending Homecoming? Get supper at the game with the Booster Club’s pork chop meal.
Show your MVL spirit with clothing and accessories from the Chargers Online Store.
Thanks for supporting the Booster Club!
Season Passes for Friends of MVL 60 and Older
Friends of MVL who are 60 and older are now able to secure free season passes for home athletic contests at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School. This can be accomplished in one of two ways. At our home games, the ticket takers have a sign up sheet for the interested individuals to fill out. They will not be charged admission for that athletic contest. Our Director of Mission Advancement, Jim Buboltz, will set up a time to meet and provide them with a season pass.
These individuals can also contact Jim Buboltz directly at jbuboltz@mvlhs.org or 507-354-6851 to set up an appointment to meet and receive the season pass.
We hope that this opportunity will be a blessing to all involved.
Advertise in our Sports Programs
Ad space for our Sports’ Program is available. The price for a space in the program is $175 per year. This includes your ad in all our sports’ programs: football, volleyball, and basketball.
Schedule and Schedule Changes
If you would like up to the minute game, match or meet changes, there is an app that you may download and is tied into our calendar. In the app store download the
Activity Scheduler app. It looks like a light blue baseball cap with the letters “rS” on the front. Then set it up for our school. You will need to know we are members of the Tomahawk Conference.
Game Streaming
We will be streaming our home games again this year using the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) Pixolot System. Go to the MVL website and click on the LIVE STREAM button then click on NFHS Network LIVE. You can subscribe by the month or for the year. When your subscription time is up, be sure to unsubscribe. It will automatically charge you for the next month or year. You can watch games all over the state and country. Some schools in our conference also stream their games. Some have a fee and others are free. We went with this service because we could not get volunteers to help and no training was needed. But there is nothing like coming out to school and watch the action live and in person. Go Chargers!