2From the Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal’s Deskby Merl Meitner<strong>Grow<strong>in</strong>g</strong> In <strong>Grace</strong>But grow <strong>in</strong> the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Chr<strong>is</strong>t. Tohim be the glory both now forever! Amen. These are the conclud<strong>in</strong>gwords of 2 Peter. They speak volumes about the m<strong>is</strong>sion of <strong>West</strong><strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>. It <strong>is</strong> our primary purpose to ass<strong>is</strong>t parents<strong>in</strong> the spiritual growth of their youth by giv<strong>in</strong>g them the “knowledge”presented <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>errant Word through Bible classes, devotions,and their daily Chr<strong>is</strong>tian <strong>in</strong>teraction with faculty, staff, and peers.It <strong>is</strong> through that knowledge that the Holy Spirit nurtures their faith,so that they will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to boldly confess to others the hope that <strong>is</strong>with<strong>in</strong> them. It <strong>is</strong> through that <strong>in</strong>creased faith that they will be ableto withstand the assaults of Satan and the temptations of th<strong>is</strong> world.Like their parents and grandparents before them, it <strong>is</strong> our prayer thatthey rema<strong>in</strong> faithful <strong>in</strong> th<strong>is</strong> life, serv<strong>in</strong>g their Lord and be<strong>in</strong>g activeparticipants <strong>in</strong> spread<strong>in</strong>g the message of the Gospel for Jesus sake.Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a life-long process which requires constant contact with theWord and Sacrament and the encouragement of our fellow Chr<strong>is</strong>tians.May we cont<strong>in</strong>ue to fight the good fight together.MNSAA Accreditation – A Rem<strong>in</strong>der!All of the stakeholders of <strong>West</strong> <strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> will beg<strong>in</strong> thefirst year of a two -year process which <strong>is</strong> a school self-study. Th<strong>is</strong>will <strong>in</strong>volve a number of committees research<strong>in</strong>g the school’s overallperformance. Current and former parents, alumni, board members,and staff may be asked to serve to help make th<strong>is</strong> process workeffectively. If asked, please consider serv<strong>in</strong>g. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2013-14school-year the process will culm<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>in</strong> a v<strong>is</strong>it from a MNSAA teamthat will analyze the work of the school, recommend changes, andevaluate the status of the school.M<strong>is</strong>sion AdvancementPlease cont<strong>in</strong>ue your support of th<strong>is</strong> m<strong>in</strong><strong>is</strong>try with your prayers,volunteer<strong>is</strong>m, encouragement, and treasures. Many people are<strong>in</strong>volved with help<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>ance the budget <strong>in</strong> a number of ways.The largest avenues of outside support come from the dedicatedwork and gifts from the W<strong>is</strong>e Penny and our association congregations’commitments. Special operational appeals, the fall auction,the spr<strong>in</strong>g garage sale, the benefactors and boosters night, andadditional departmental gifts are all other ways donors ass<strong>is</strong>t theschool’s budget.Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> the f<strong>in</strong>al year of a two-year campaign to reduce our debtthrough the” Debt of Love” campaign. Last school year we reducedthe debt by $100,000. Over the next year, we will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to seekgifts for th<strong>is</strong> special opportunity before we ref<strong>in</strong>ance. Every dollargiven will help to reduce our mortgage payment <strong>in</strong> the future,thereby ass<strong>is</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g the operat<strong>in</strong>g budget. As you have opportunityand bless<strong>in</strong>gs, please consider support<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>is</strong> effort, once aga<strong>in</strong>!<strong>West</strong> Welcomes New Teacher Emily ShoopMrs. Emily Shoop withhusband Andrew<strong>West</strong> <strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>is</strong> proud to welcome Mrs. Emily Shoop as a new faculty member for the 2012-2013 school year.Orig<strong>in</strong>ally from South Lyon, MI, Mrs. Shoop attended Mart<strong>in</strong> Luther College as well as the Art Institute <strong>in</strong> Chicago,IL. Upon graduation from MLC <strong>in</strong> 2009, she spent a year <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a where she taught Engl<strong>is</strong>h at a university andworked with students shar<strong>in</strong>g the good news of our Savior. While <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a, she met her wonderful husband, AndrewShoop. They were married <strong>in</strong> June 2011.Before com<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>West</strong> <strong>Lutheran</strong>, Mrs. Shoop was a teacher and dorm superv<strong>is</strong>or at St. Croix <strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>.In her spare time, she enjoys kayak<strong>in</strong>g, hik<strong>in</strong>g and travel<strong>in</strong>g. She has traveled to 17 different countries and hopesto add Peru to the l<strong>is</strong>t!Th<strong>is</strong> year, Mrs Shoop will be teach<strong>in</strong>g Writ<strong>in</strong>g and Grammar, Fundamentals of Engl<strong>is</strong>h, Honors Engl<strong>is</strong>h, WrittenComposition, and Engl<strong>is</strong>h as a Second Language. She will also be coach<strong>in</strong>g JV volleyball and will be the Teens forLife adv<strong>is</strong>or.Welcome to <strong>West</strong>, Mrs. Shoop!F<strong>in</strong>ance NewsWhile tuition covers the majority of the <strong>West</strong> <strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> budget, we could not operate without the f<strong>in</strong>ancial gifts we receivefrom our congregations and from <strong>in</strong>dividual contributors. Th<strong>is</strong> new section <strong>in</strong> the newsletter will highlight the f<strong>in</strong>ancial needs <strong>West</strong> hasbudgeted for th<strong>is</strong> year and received on a year-to-date bas<strong>is</strong>.YTD BudgetJuly ‘12 – June ‘13YTD ReceivedAs of Aug. 31, 2012YTD NeededAs of Aug. 31, 2012Congregational Support $110,000.00 $13,907.83 $18,333.32Individual Gifts to Operat<strong>in</strong>g $37,835.00 $5,777.76 $6,305.84Donations are accepted at any time. Please send your check to the school with a memo <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g your gift to the school’s operat<strong>in</strong>g.Credit card donations are accepted through the schools website under the Giv<strong>in</strong>g tab.Thank you for your cont<strong>in</strong>ued support to <strong>West</strong> <strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>!<strong>West</strong> <strong>Lutheran</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> • 3350 Harbor LN N • Plymouth, MN 55447 • (763) 509-9378 • <strong>in</strong>fo@wlhs.net • www.wlhs.net