What's Happening at Immanuel?

Today we had one runner at the WIAA State CC Meet (Micah Fossum), but the whole team turned out to support him. Several of Micah's teammates decided he needed a little extra protection, so they dressed up as his own "secret service" and escorted him around the meet (until he had to race). We got a lot of compliments, and a lot of photos taken by other spectators. Micah also demonstrated one of the great things about sports like cross-country - the opportunity to get to know and support athletes from other schools. Before the meet, he and the four qualifiers from other schools in our sectional were helping each other out, and huddled together and did their own cheer. (I and the other schools' coaches were so proud of them, and only disappointed that we didn't get a photo!). After the meet, Micah spent his time congratulating runners from other schools, and I actually got a photo of him that time with the top runner from McDonell. Way to show good sportsmanship, and...

Thanks to the Activities Committee and Steve Sydow, our volunteer bus driver, eighty students (and the Agenten family) attended our annual corn maze outing tonight. We've been heading to Leffel Roots  for the last few years. It's a very friendly, family owned and run apple orchard  which includes a number of other attractions. The students enjoyed the maze and maybe more so the carmel apples, fresh pie, ice cream, hot and cold apple cider, and apple cider floats available after completing the maze. At the risk of being repetitive but in a good way, I wanted to share a comment I received. One employee, who worked the counter and has been at Leffels as long as we have been going there, said that they look forward to our group attending because they are the best-behaved, well-mannered, respectful group they have each year and they enjoy seeing young people knowing how to have a good time in a good way. So, thank you parents for bringing up your children in the fear and admonition...

 If you've been following Immanuel volleyball this year, you know that our Lady Lancers are in the Regional finals this Saturday, 7:00pm, October 21, at Marshfield Columbus vs. the #1 ranked D4 team in the state. Our girls played them tough in a tourney earlier this year. I'm not here to talk sports, per se, but rather the "seventh player on the floor" each night. Regardless of whether the match is on the road or at home, our Lady Lancers have some extra energy provided by their fans.  In the words of Coach Joe Lau regarding our fans, "You were the 7th person on the court tonight. Our girls definitely fed off the energy you brought. You're the best fans out there! Keep it up!" It is not just from our own folks we've heard positive feedback. Over the course of the last several years, opposition fans and officials have echoed those same thoughts. Last night two different parents from Assumption commented that our students were much appreciated, creatin...

The following note appeared in our bulletin this week . . . and no, the students were not chosen because they needed to learn sportsmanship. 8o) They were selected as students who would represent Immanuel in a Christian manner, remembering the "name on their jersey". Not only does this clinic benefit the attendees, it also serves to witness to what we stand for here at Immanuel. As you maybe noted and as was mentioned in a previous post, an alumnus has again stepped forward to help with an effort here at Immanuel. "Congratulations! You twelve [from 9th, 10th, 11th grades] have been selected to represent Immanuel Lutheran High School at the Dairyland Conference Sportsmanship  Clinic at Eleva-Strum High School on  Thursday, October 19 .  It will run from 9:00 am-1:30 pm, so you will miss class periods 2-7. Please fill out a planned absence form, which you can pick up at the office. Jill Tiefel will be the chaperone and van driver. The clinic will be...

In physics class today, we tested the first of our four design/build projects (car, catapult, bridge, and boat).  These projects give the students a break from pencil-and-paper calculations and allow them to apply physics concepts in a fun and informal way.  The objective of this project was to build a self-propelled car.  No electric, chemical, or rigid pressured containers could be used.  Students used rubber bands, mousetraps, balloons, and even tape measures to provide the energy to drive their cars.  The car was graded on a variety of factors, including distance travelled.  21 feet gained the maximum possible number of points, but most cars went much further (this year, the furthest went 72 feet).  Here are links to some videos of the cars in action.

  Today was picture day at Immanuel - the photographers set up in the library and got everyone done right away in the morning. In the process of moving the tables back, some students had the idea to set them up differently, just to mix things up. Reactions from the rest of the students has been mixed - comments we've gotten so far include, "That's ... different," "I like it . . . I think," "We'll see," and "I don't like change." ~Your friendly librarian

  In our 9th and 10th grade High School PE classes, we have a two year rotation of courses of study during the 8 quarters that the students have to take PE. Over the years, the courses have been tweaked a little depending on equipment and facilities, but one course that hasn't changed is what we are teaching now during the Odd Year Fall quarter...TENNIS.  This seems to be a favorite among the students. I'm not sure how long we will have the tennis courts or where they will be after the new fieldhouse gets built, and the softball field gets moved, but right now they are where they have always been, below the hill behind the Commons.  Every two years Prof. Joe Lau goes down and cleans out the weeds from the cracks (There are many!) and nets to get them ready. This year Prof. Mark Kranz repainted the lines on the two courts.  This was something that was badly needed.  Here are pictures of my 9th and 10th grade PE classes.  Check out all of those smiling "faces...