Eighth Grade Missions Team Prepares for Trip

You can see from the above picture and the website slideshow that the 8th graders were clowning around on Saturday! Many thanks to Miss Rachel McLaughlin and our helpers for showing them how to apply their clown faces. Mrs. Mitchell did another great job leading them through the practices on their skits! Miss McLaughlin remarked on how well this group did today compared to others.

The team will be going to Corpus Christi, Texas this year to minister to children and adults and work with a new church plant to draw the people to that church. The trip is April 1-7, 2009.

It is heart-breaking to see the violence that is taking place in Juarez, Mexico where we have been ministering since 1991. We ask you to pray - I have the feeling that you will be hearing more about what is happening there in the future because it is spilling into the US.

You can follow the team further at http://fmcsmissions.blogspot.com/

PK3 - Preschool Scavenger Hunt

It was great to see Mrs. Jean (teacher), parents and students out for a scavenger hunt on campus - looking and exploring for items that they have been talking about in class! PARENTS - TEACHERS -STUDENTS WORKING TOGETHER - THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT!

Excuse Me if I Get Nostalgic Today

I can't help but focus on school history today - a 20 year anniversary. It was 20 years ago TODAY that the Lady Eagles High School basketball team played in the state semi-finals, and then the finals of the Class A State Basketball Tournament. As a coach, it was one of the highlights of my life and a group of young ladies that started the year unranked in the state, and then ended the year #2 in the state! (We lost in the finals) They gave all that they had and we enjoyed a memorable journey that I will not forget. We were:

- the first state basketball game played in the Lakeland Civic Center

- the first team to score a point for a high school state basketball game in that location

- the team to win a state basketball game at the Lakeland Civic Center

- the first girls basketball team in SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BASKETBALL HISTORY to make it to the state finals

THANK YOU LADY EAGLES BASKETBALL 88-89!

Kingdom Assignment Ends This Weekend!

First: a praise

Mr. Mitchell- I just wanted to share my experience with Kingdom Assignment. A few weeks ago my Mom reviewed the assignment with me & we read Matt 25 & talked about what it meant. My Mom knows someone who sells perfumes, so we called her & she sent us a large box of colognes and perfumes. We made Valentines gift baskets and baked cookies, chocolate covered strawberries & cupcakes, along with other goodies. We turned the $5 into a lot of baskets (with a little help from my Mom) and have raised about $200 so far. Thank you for the Assignment. I sure hope that we all raise a lot of money.

God Bless - PK3 Family

Second - Monday, please bring your kingdom assignment in a sealed envelope so they can mark your name off their list as returning the money. It would be great to slip a short note in the envelope and tell us what you did!

Lee County Spelling Bee

At tonight's Lee County Spelling Bee, 45 students competed for the local championship and a chance to go to the finals in Washington D.C.on ESPN/ABC.

You can see the replay online - click here

Congratulations to 8th graders, Maria Swiersz and Jordan Gulbrunson for representing FMCS.
GREAT JOB: Jordan did make it to the final 15 before going out. (He officially finished 13th)

8:32 p.m. update - Through three rounds, 15 students remained alive in the Lee County Spelling Bee this evening at Three Oaks Middle School.

1. Christian Dimaculagan, Veterans Park Academy
2. Jimmy Stafford, Trafalgar Middle
5. Deshani Semann, Mariner Middle
10. Jordan Gulbronson, Fort Myers Christian
13. Allie Pakrosnis, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle
14. Michael Bobman, Crestwell School
18. Nicholas Betancourt, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle
25. Johanna Gyure, Crestwell School
26. Madelyn Pendarvis, Alva Middle
28. Jennifer Lear, Trafalgar Middle
33. Ashley Stewart, St. Francis Xavier
40. Maria Monroy, Lexington Middle
43. Michael Wozny, Gulf Middle
44. Lanaii Canada, Bonita Springs Middle
46. Kurt Ekdahi, Mariner Middle

Sixth Grade Science - Physics

From 6th grade science teacher, Stacey Leatherman:

In 6th grade science we took learning outside today. This chapter focused on Motion and Machines - students built courses that would demonstrate Newton's Three Laws of Motion. They were each given a toy car (many thanks to Daniel Betzer for providing them) and were able to utilize any raw materials they could find in Mathew's Garden. You can see that the results were not only interesting but fun! By the end of the class they all knew Newton's Three Laws and what the Three Laws meant. Yea for making learning fun! We love that in Leatherman world!

FMCS Family Night at Chuck E Cheese

We had a great turnout tonight at our Parent University Family Night at Chuck E Cheese! Thank you for coming - 15% of all sales went back to the school (we will let you know when we have a total). Thanks to Chuck E. for coming to school today! (check out the slideshow on the blog for more pictures)

Thank You Parents!

Your involvement in fundraisers is paying off! Many thanks to all of you for providing the funds to make our playgrounds safer with wood mulch and rubber mulch. Thanks to Parent University and to First Assembly of God's maintenance director, Jeff Hoffman.

Kindergarten - Future Firefighters!

Many thanks to the South Trail Fire and Rescue Squad for their service to the community and for hosting our kindergarten students today. (Special thanks to Mrs. Lauer for providing pictures)

Kingdom Assignment Reminder

Last week to complete your Kingdom Assignment!

Here's another praise report of what our students and familes have been doing:

Dear Principal Mitchell,

Last weekend we enjoyed some family time baking cookies and preparing for our Kingdom Assignment “outing”. (My son) was able to stretch his $5.00 into $151.00 (and counting) by selling home-made cookies to friends within the neighborhood. He was so happy to have raised money for the Financial Aid program at FMCS….and had lots of fun doing it.

Fifth Grader Honored at City Hall!

Today at Fort Myers City Hall, fifth grader, Tyler Williams, was honored along with five other students as the February winners of the Fort Myers Police Department’s “Do The Right Thing” award. (Pictures below, Tyler and family at the awards; Tyler sitting in the mayor's chair in the hall chambers - a sign of the future?)

Congratulations to Tyler and his family. He was nominated by his teacher, Robin Couch. This is her nominating letter:

Dear Do the Right Thing Program,

Tyler Williams is a fifth grader at Fort Myers Christian School. He just celebrated his 11th birthday in November. He received some money as gifts from friends and relatives and discussed with his mom about sharing with others less fortunate. During the Thanksgiving holidays, Tyler’s Spanish teacher suffered a sudden stroke. The school has been praying for Mrs. Rivera as she struggles to breathe on her own and recover from this devastating event. Her family is missing work and staying at her bedside in ICU. Tyler has decided to give some of his birthday money to help the Rivera family during this holiday season.

The Rivera’s will face hospital bills and an uncertain future as Mrs. Rivera is still in Intensive Care. He plans to provide a meal for their family and give his money towards helping them during this difficult time. I feel that Tyler’s actions show exemplary behavior and a heart for others. I proudly would like to nominate him for Do The Right Thing.

Sincerely,
Robin Couch
Fifth Grade Teacher

Basketball Upset!

Congratulations to the boys 7/8 varsity team for pulling a shocker at Southwest Florida Christian Academy (SFCA) in the first round of the playoffs! The boys won 49-37 and move on to the semifinals Thursday at St. Michaels.

Alumni Congratulations

My wife and I had the honor to attend a ceremony ar Grace United Methodist for FMCS alumni, Jacob Derums. Jacob reached the level of Eagle Scout - only about 5% of all Boy Scouts achieve this honor, 1.7 million SINCE 1912! Congratulations to Jacob and his family! FYI - it just so happens that his Scoutmaster is FMCS alumni, Steven Howard ('87).



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Thank You Grandparents!

The fact that it was "Friday the 13th" had no impact on an excellent Grandparents Day at FMCS! We were blessed with over 200 in attendance, a great music program led by a special "make-shift" Jamaican band, Dorothy Gulbronson and the kids, Pastor Dan Betzer, and activities in the classroom. The school was also blessed by the new members of the Grandparents Club who have already given $4849 and pledged $2285 for a total of $7134!!! Grandparents continue leaving a legacy in providing financial assistance to help students attend FMCS. It was a great day! Many thanks to Mrs. Liz Allen, parent volunteers, faculty, staff, aides and teachers.

Underground Railroad

The 8th grade was busy again today! This time with Mrs. Mitchell's on-campus reanactment of the Underground Railroad for history class!
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