Dear Parents,
 
Have you purchased the latest gift craze of this season? I didn't realize until I saw the lines outside stores on TV. For this year it's hatchimals.  Every year at Christmas some item becomes the hard to get Christmas present. I always wonder what amazing marketing genius comes up with these ideas.
 
It's impressive how quickly the word spreads about something so "trivial" as a Christmas present. Imagine the impact on the world if the word spread in such an exciting fashion about the greatest Christmas present of all time, God's gift to us in Jesus. Take time during this Christmas season to read about that present in God's Word (Luke 2) and celebrate His coming into our world for each of us.  Invite a friend to church with you.  You are invited as always to come to Epiphany for our worship services.   I'll be here, and I'd love to see you.
 
Have a blessed Christmas celebration,
Tim Miesner
Principal

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Dear Parents,
Labor in the United States and around the world is becoming increasingly efficient. A movie theater 30 years ago employed one person for each movie being shown. Today one person oversees all movies, and that person is just watching the program for errors.
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One problem with work today is that much of it is no longer physical.  It's easy to forget how good physical work is good for us. There is the obvious benefit of strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system without even going to the gym. A lesser known benefit is the "cobweb clearing effect" that is gained by working with one's muscles rather than one's brain.
 
Did you know that children in families whose income is under $20,000 a year are less than half as likely to get summer jobs as teens whose families earn over $100,000 a year? Did you know that students who held jobs in high school find an easier time getting a job once they graduate from college than do those students who did not work during high school?
 
So how do we prepare our students for that working world? First, and I've written about this before, assign them chores. Our children need to learn that working is an important part of life, and there's no time like the present for that lesson. Second, make sure some of these chores involve physical labor. Get them active. It's amazing what kids can do when we just train them and encourage them. Let them bring in some age appropriate part of the groceries. Third, let them know how important work is to you by setting a good example. Speak positively about your own job as much as possible. Fourth, don't put upon them your expectations about what kind of job they will have. Just express your desire to see them have meaningful employment in their future.
 
These are such important formative years in the life of your child.  They will be gone in a flash.  Use each minute as a precious gift from God to build up your children in the way they should go.
 
Blessings on your parenting,
Tim Miesner
Principal