Lester Coon Apison SDA School

A P P R E C I A T I O N

To commemorate the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, Mrs. Barto and Mr. Sargeant will be honored during the main service this Sabbath at the Apison SDA Church.  Come join the congregation if you can and feel free to stay for the church potluck afterwards.

Students and parents also want to send a shout out to part-time teacher Ms. Sarah (Jackson) for her big contribution to our little church school.

LCA is blessed to have such gifted and caring professionals committed to sharing knowledge and the love of Jesus with our kids.

S A U    I N T E R N S

The following students from Southern Adventist University are providing assistance to our teachers this year:

Ms. Malia

Ms. Selena

Ms. Shannon

Mr. Anthony

Mr. Omar

These dedicated young adults also helped out during the Family Fair and Expo last Sunday.  Our classrooms and events run much more smoothly due to their participation.

F A M I L Y   F A I R   A N D   E X P O   R E P O R T
written by Leanne Barto

Praise the Lord!  The 2008 Family Fair and Expo went above and beyond all of our expectations.  Around 300 people visited the
event this year, more than double the attendance at last year’s
Bible Characters Costume Festival.

The overwhelming blessing we received was seeing how many community people came and how many church members participated in volunteering.  The Spanish Church Pathfinders, Apison Pathfinders, Discovery Toys, Joshua’s House, a local mortgage company, Apison Women’s Ministry, the Science Guy and the Pollywog mission group for Bangladesh all had booths.  Kids young
and old alike enjoyed the giant inflatable slide and jumper, dunking booth, wagon rides, carnival games, fresh popcorn, cotton candy and apple cider, tons of baked goods and pizza as well as fabulous burritos.  While collecting 190 boxes of macaroni and cheese plus two cases of apples to donate to the Samaritan Center, LCA students and staff witnessed to others and increased awareness
of both our church and our school.

Many hours of planning and hard work made it possible to us to accomplish this community festival.  LCA would like to especially thank the Planning Committee – Leanne Barto, Christy Beason,
Laura Byrd, Tina Segarra and Tina Smith, who were fondly nicknamed the “Estrogen Committee” – as well as their husbands David, Christopher, Arlen, Angel and Bo who volunteered (or rather were drafted) extensively.  The school also extends heartfelt gratitude to Don Howe for providing wagon rides; our local Ace Hardware that donated the hay bales; the Fire Department members who showed up with a truck to give bucket rides; buddies who donated their time and talents for painting faces, creating a stage maze and scooping popcorn among a multitude of other tasks; students from SAU who joined in with willing hands; countless Apison Church members who baked goods, manned booths, prayed and came to the event; the good sports (Eric Schoonard and Tim Feig in addition to Bo) who let us dunk them repeatedly in 50-degree weather; school families that supported the event; and our community friends that came out for the fun and fellowship.

We look forward to even more growth for next year’s event and want you to know we couldn’t have done it without you.  Thanks!

LCA parents are hosting a Baby Shower Brunch for David, Leanne and Aurelia on Sunday, November 23, at 11 a.m. in the school’s Assembly Room. With Eliza’s arrival just around the corner, the Bartos are stocking up on diapers and newborn clothes while saving for a double stroller and breast pump. For details, call Tina Smith at 236.5157 or Christy Beason at 774.4717.

Professional pictures will be taken first thing Monday morning on November 24 – the week of Thanksgiving break. Sorry it’s on a Monday, but that’s the only day scheduling allowed. Get ready to welcome the Beason girls’ aunt, who works for LifeTouch in Florida. Students do not have to wear dress-code attire on picture day, so go casual or dressy – Mom’s choice!

Research on education makes one thing clear – kids with a father involved at school have better grades, less discipline problems, and are more responsible. Here are some other reasons to be a presence in your child’s school:

± You are showing your child that school is important.

± Teachers are more likely to talk to you about concerns.

± You get to see whom your kids are spending time with.

± Other kids will think twice before bullying your child.

± You can see how your kids are doing socially.
(excerpts from Christian H&S Fall 2008)

Hats off to Yvonne Coulter (mom of Jesse and John), who agreed to serve as our much-needed school librarian.

Laura Byrd is coordinating this year’s Thanksgiving feast at the school on November 24. She’ll be talking with each family to ask for contributions to help round out a healthy menu with all the holiday fixings. Feel free to call her at 315.3682 if you already know what you’d like to make or purchase to bring or send with your child(ren) that Monday. Parents and siblings are invited to join teachers and students for the meal, but keep in mind that you must let Laura know how many from your family will attend so she will be able to plan for enough food and seating.

Once again, LCA will be partnering with the Samaritan Center to participate in Collegedale’s Annual Christmas Parade the afternoon of Sunday, December 7. In addition to passing out candy to the crowds along Little Debbie Parkway and Apison Pike, our upper-graders will be carrying banners for the Samaritan Center and riding on the school’s float. Additional details including where and when to meet and how parents can help will be forthcoming. Be sure to come out to watch the parade and wave at LCA’s float.

Our students will perform musical selections and special recitations the evening of December 11 at 7 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Each school family is asked to bring two dozen cookies to add to the hot chocolate and cider provided by the school immediately following the concert. Hope you’ll all come!

If you have suggestions or submissions for Coon Chatter, please contact
Tina Smith,

Home and School Leader.
236.5157 (home) OR 503.8462 (cell)

writetina@comcast.net