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Fun, service mark Lutheran Schools Week in Burr Ridge
Kindergartener Keaton King is dizzy after spinning around on a baseball bat in a sports theme race with his chapel family group at Trinity Lutheran School in Burr Ridge. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 1, 2013 6:34AM
BURR RIDGE — Although they don’t wear uniforms, it’s not every day that students at Trinity Lutheran School can wear pajama pants and football helmets to class.
But this is no ordinary week at the Burr Ridge school.
Jan. 27-Feb. 2 is Lutheran School Week at this and 2,300 other schools in the church’s Missouri Synod.
“It’s a fun week,” said Principal Aaron Landgrave, who started Monday dressed in Blackhawks gear but was prepared to celebrate Biggest Fan Day by wearing all of his favorite teams’ colors as the day progressed.
Other themes were planned throughout the week, but fun is only part of the purpose behind Lutheran Schools Week. As the kindergarten through eighth-grade school’s mission states, this and every week at Trinity is about helping children to grow spiritually, intellectually, physically, emotionally and socially.
Part of that education is learning to give back.
“We’re trying to show our Christian faith out in the world,” said Landgrave.
He said all students in third grade and older are required to complete service projects.
A special service project is planned for Lutheran Schools Week.
“All week the children will donate $1 and they’ll receive a strip of tape,” said Dana Murray, admissions counselor.
On Monday, those strips of tape will be used to stick Landgrave to a wall, all in an effort to help a local animal rescue.
“It’s going to be a blast for me,” said Landgrave, who has put himself in similar sticky situations during his 20 years as an educator.
Money raised will go to support Lutheran Charities Comfort Dogs, which provides animals to comfort people in times of crisis.
Along with the core subjects of math, science, reading and writing, Trinity offers instruction in Spanish, music and art.
While other schools have been forced to cut back on such programs, the Burr Ridge elementary school’s arts programs are growing.
Meanwhile, Trinity students continue to excel academically. Landgrave said Trinity students who went on to Hinsdale South High School scored an average 25 on their ACT exams in 2012. South’s average score was 22.4
Of course, as a Lutheran school, students at Trinity also learn about their faith. But not everyone who attends is Lutheran.
In fact, the 118 enrolled students represent families from 19 different countries and cultures from around the world, Landgrave said.
An open house is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, at the school, 11503 German Church Road.
“It’s a chance to find out what we’re all about,” Murray said.
