Greetings

It has been a busy week at Walther with a lot going on, and soon we will begin a new week – and there will still be a lot going on. That is life. That is life at a school. That is the life of a Christian.

The question is…what are we busy with? It may be business meetings, parent teacher conferences, car pooling or house cleaning. At the same time, we are charged with sharing the Good News of salvation through Christ. Is our busyness infused with a love for the lost? Are our errands accompanied by continual prayers for our fellow man? Do the things we do each day reflect the image of the God who created us and offer a hint that we have a mansion in heaven?

The hectic pace of life in this 21st century may be inevitable, but let us not forget that all we do can be done “as if unto the Lord.” In our varied vocations we have the opportunity to let God’s love show through us as we serve Him and our neighbors by way of the time, talents and treasures we have been blessed to receive from him.

School News

This was a great weekend for Walther.

Congrats to Lynn Korff, freshmen girls’ basketball coach who becomes the third member of the staff, along with Bruce Tuomi, head football and wrestling coach and David Zemke, our Athletic Director to be inducted into the Concordia University Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame.

Thanks to the staff members who were at the Trinity Lutheran School of Lombard Dinner and Auction, showing Walther colors and doing some recruiting. Softball coach Tony Aurrichio, band instructor Cristina Peterson and Lori Solyom from our Advancement staff were active bidders while Mr. Gillingham was busy enjoying the great pork chop dinner.

Walther’s first ever Juried Media Show was fantastic. The event was held in conjunction with the fall play. The cafeteria was full of people enjoying the fruits of our student’s labors. It is so good to provide an outlet for kids to shine. It was great to have a trio of Art Department faculty from Concordia University serving as judges.

A number of our coaches worked for multiple hours to clean the locker room at the end of our fall season.

Finally, “Romeo and Juliet” was masterfully performed by the Walther’s drama department. Thanks to all the staff members who worked so hard, all of the spouses who were actively involved and the parents who provided the support to create an environment that yielded our kids a life time of memories. The players were too numerous to mention but their performances were memorable. The title roles were played by freshman Dane Soderquist of Grace Lutheran in River Forest and sophomore Rebecca Duff of St. Luke Lutheran in Itasca.

This coming weekend also promises to be a great one for Walther.

On Friday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a bratwurst supper and concluding with a basketball scrimmage at 8 p.m., we welcome the winter sports season. Parents will want to be here between dinner and the game as they meet with their students’ coaches for scheduling information, uniform ordering details, medical forms, team rules and schedule alerts. This is also a great time to show support for your kids by signing up for Booster activities. All Bronco fans will want to be here for the start of another season for our teams.

After the game, the first event in the life of our new Walther youth program will take place. Ms. Emily Muther, with the help of interested parents and active high school girls, will host a girl’s only lock in. The event is for girls in grades 7 and 8. There’s more info at The Beautiful Sisterhood Lock –In at Walther.com or 708.344.0404.

On Saturday November 10, Martin Luther’s birthday a group of Walther supporters will attend the Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation Dinner. Hall of Fame baseball player Ryne Sandberg will be the featured speaker. CLEF has been generous to Walther and to the Lutheran schools in the city of Chicago. It is a “black tie optional” event and Mr. Gillingham will be at the auctioneer’s microphone hawking items that range from a Sandberg autographed jersey to a golf excursion to Scotland.

Walther’s Christian Minstrels are leading worship at The Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights this Sunday at 10 a.m., at the Chapel of St. John the Beloved. The invitation to be part of the worship life of our seniors came as a result of a visit made by the Minstrels to celebrate the 103rd Birthday of Elvira Ernst, mother of Marilyn Dietz ’57.

To cap the weekend we will host our second Open House in search of the class of 2012. The fun begins at 2 p.m. and the whole world is welcome. This would be a great way for grads and friends who have been gone too long to see what the Walther Family is doing these days. There will be free doughnut holes! (Who can pass us THAT offer?) Call all of the families you know with 8th grade kids and share the news.

Alumni News

Happy Homecoming 2008? Yes, we just enjoyed Homecoming 2007, but the Class of 1998 has set up a MySpace page to make reunion plans. Get in on the act early at: http://www.myspace.com/walther1998 .

Congratulations to Kari Zielke ’05! As forward/midfielder for the Concordia University Chicago women’s soccer team, Kari has been named as a third-team ESPN The Magazine District V (Midwest) Academic All-American by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). This honor marks the second consecutive year that she has received regional recognition from this organization. Click here to read more.

Kudos also to the creative team of Jesse Ward ’04 and Jesse Bussert ’04 for their selection to participate in the Red Bull art of Can Exhibition. Their 6’2” tall creation, “The Red Bull Knight,” is made exclusively of Red Bull cans and according to the exhibition program “took two Jesse, two months, 400 cans and five sutures” (as Jesse B. cut his thumb on a mitre saw during the project). Their entry was selected from hundreds of U.S. and international entries. You can vote to select the Jesses’ entry as the winner of the People’s Choice award through November 18 at Artofthecan.com. Click on “Gallery” then choose “Chicago” and scroll right until you find the winged knight (it’s a really cool, 3D rotation shot of the artwork). They ask that you vote high and often! You can see their creation firsthand at the River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois Street, Chicago until November 18. (We’re hoping that Chicago Bear Lance Briggs – pictured with the Jesses below -- cast his vote for Walther’s dynamic alumni duo.)

God’s blessings

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