What's Happening at Immanuel?

While the weather so far this September has still felt a lot like summer, the fall activities are certainly underway. Flag football is something that has been a campus activity for about as long as most people can remember. It has seen pretty solid involvement and excitement from the high schoolers almost every year. When Covid-19 hit, however, it took a toll on the number of people that played, and there were a few down years in participation. We are happy to report that has not been the case for the last three years now, and flag football is thriving! Under the guise of a new name, the IFFL (Immanuel Flag Football League) has upped the standard for flag football here at Immanuel. This year featured the 2nd annual draft 'combine' for high schoolers to showcase their different talents before the drafting of teams took place by 4 of the college boys on the highly anticipated draft night. There is also a very balanced participation among the classes, with 10 Freshman, 7 Sophomore

  We can describe this season's second meet at Stanley-Boyd with two words: hills and heat! In spite of the tough course and hot weather, we still had more than half our runners (12 out of 21) beat their times from the first meet, and had 4 who placed high enough to earn medals: Lydia Kloke (8th), Katie Kloke (10th), Logan Thompson (6th), and Simeon Schaller (10th). Our team now has one day to rest before Saturday's meet at Fall Creek. The photo was taken by one of our parents of this year's seniors: Alek Daub, Caleb Eichstadt, Daniel Kloke, Logan Thompson, and Tyler Gallaher.

  It was a beautiful day on the field last Friday for our football combine. Check out this  2024 ILC Flag Football  album for some photos from Friday's practice. Additional photos will be added to this album throughout the season. The teams and schedule are now set! Go to this link for the  ILC Flag Football Teams, Schedule, Scores, Stats .  This Friday games will be played at 3:15 and 4:15 pm at the Stein Fields. If you need a ride, I'll be driving a white van to the field, leaving from the flagpole at 3:00 pm. Week 1 features matchups of Team 1 Cougars (blue)  vs  Team 4 Buffaloes (grey)  at 3:15  Team 2 Cyclones (red/maroon)  vs  Team 3 Cowboys (black)  at 4:15 It's going to be about 85 degrees on Friday, so remember to bring water! See you on the field! Prof. Gullerud

 We thought you might be interested in what a new year means to some of those serving here on campus. "One might think that an empty parking lot and quiet campus would be a welcome relief to faculty and staff after nine months of intense life. But for some reason, it just doesn't seem right. Our campus should be one of full hallways of smiling students, rowdy laughter from North Hall, bouncing basketballs in the lower lot, the piano  or drums banging in the music room, the thwap of tennis balls off of rackets on the old slab, the crack (ping) of balls off the bats, the computer lab full of students browsing for answers, students biking or walking off campus to Kwik Trip (Shopko is long gone 😞), the football being tossed back and forth on the hillside, students walking the trails (LiB just cleared them again 😊), benches with students reading in the sun, laughter from lawn games, the crackle of the firepit by the Commons, cheers and groans from the sand volleyball court . . .

That was the message on the banner that greeted all who gathered on the campus here in Eau Claire for the start of the 2024-2025 school year at Immanuel Lutheran High School, College, and Seminary. It happened suddenly. One day the parking lots were empty the faculty and staff were making preparations but for the most part, the campus was quiet. Then, starting Saturday, August 21st, new life was pumped into the campus as cars, trailers, and trucks starting unloading and students filled their rooms with stuff. Smiles abounded and the air was full of cheerful greetings. We are beginning the year with just over one hundred students in high school, twenty-four in college, one in the seminary, and eight students attending virtually online. Of the 24 in college, 10 are in the Education program and 9 in the PreThe program. We trust the Lord will grant us a safe and successful year in sharing His Word with our students, your children.

The senior class trip was a success yesterday! The Lord blessed us with amazing weather, safe travels and a lot of fun fellowship.  We spent a couple hours at Sky Zone in the morning, then ate lunch downtown St. Paul at an Italian restaurant called  Cossetta . We spent the afternoon at the beach at Homestead Parklands County Park near Hudson and grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for supper. Finally we drove to downtown Hudson for ice cream at Knoke's , then took a walk along the riverfront as the sun set. Many thanks to Christian & Kea Goodman, Morgan Lone, and April Sydow for chaperoning, driving, and for bringing food & games for the trip! Also, thank you, seniors, for letting your light shine everywhere you went. I really appreciated how you conducted yourself in a positive, helpful, trustworthy, and patient way throughout the day!  Here is a link to pictures from the day.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/ Djp3WQJmLZ4CT69U8   In Christ, Prof. Gullerud