Mustang Matters
DECEMBER 18, 2009 TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL ISSUE SEVEN
From the “Pen” of a Child
It amazes me how quickly two
weeks can pass. It seems that I’ve
just finished getting together an
edition of the Mustang Matters, when
it’s time to start writing again. Most
of the newsletter is taken care of by
others, but I’m always looking for
what will be on the front page - this
week was no different.
I like to have something on the
front that comes directly from the
students themselves, so I figured that
I would poll my class to find out
what their favorite Christmas
tradition was, or what they were
most looking forward to this holiday
season.
I happened to be contemplating
the “Front Page Question” while I
was walking down the hall to my
classroom Monday morning. That’s
when Mrs. Frusti stopped
me.
I turned to see Mrs. Frusti
“Are you doing a Mustang
Matters this week?”
“Yes!” I replied
“Good, I’ve got the perfect
thing to go in it!” she said as she
led me back down the hall to where
she had put up her students’ latest
writing assignments.
“This is what my Sarah wrote
when I gave them free time to
write. It was totally unprompted!”
I looked up to find the neatly
printed writing of first grader
Sarah Fox.
Christmas! By Sarah
I am excited for Christmas. Are you?
Santa is going to bring me presents every
Christmas. But do you know what
Christmas is all about?
Trinity Lutheran School
& Early Childhood
Development Center
Jackson, Michigan
It’s all about Jesus!
smiling, “That’s what it’s all about.
That’s why we’re here - why we do
what we do!”
I agreed. How beautiful it is to
have the children I’m surrounded by
proclaiming Christ’s birth so plainly.
This is why we do what we do!
“This is perfect,” I told Mrs.
Frusti as I headed off to start my day.
I had found my front page article - I
couldn’t think of a better Christmas
message than the simple words Sarah
had written - it is all about Jesus!
May you and your family have a
very blessed Christmas season!
-Mrs. Valente
Where Are They Now?
Tiffany (Bennett) Heuer
This week we
are
highlighting
Tiffany
Heuer, who
is a 2000
graduate
of TLS.
After
Trinity,
Tiffany
went on
to
Northwest High School
where she participated in choir,
soccer, and cross-country. She honed her gift
of music by taking voice and piano lessons
and participating in solo and ensemble
competitions - where she earned several I
ratings. She also won the distinction of
“Outstanding Choir Member” from
Northwest two years in a row. In 2004 she
graduated from high school and went on to
Michigan State University.
During her time at MSU she
participated in a study abroad program in
Panama. There she performed her own
research on the population densities of the
amphibians and reptiles of that area. She
also assisted on other research projects. Along
with her was her future husband, Steve
Heuer, whom she had met her freshman year
and who was also involved in doing research.
Tiffany spent her weekends,
holidays, and breaks from school working at
Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan. While
she worked there she served patients their
food and checked their diets to make sure they
were correct. She also worked to
accommodate special requests of patients, if it
fit into their diets..
In May of 2008 she graduated from
MSU with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology.
On June 27th, 2009 Steve and
Tiffany were married at Trinity Lutheran
Church in Utica, Michigan. They then
moved to Davenport, Iowa where they are
continuing their education by attending
Palmer College of Chiropractic. While Steve
plans to get his DC (Doctor of Chiropractic)
degree, Tiffany is working towards her
masters in anatomy. She also teaches 3
different anatomy labs to the DC students, as
well as assists in dissection of bodies when
needed. She hopes to eventually get a PhD in
anatomy or the biological sciences.
Currently most of her time is
spent on school work and getting ready to
begin her thesis but when she does have
time she enjoys going on hikes, reading a
God’s riches blessings, Tiffany as you pursue your dreams. Thanks for
good book, attending and watching
It Takes a Village...To Raise a Child
I don’t necessarily agree me. The first person I encountered
with the politics of the former was our then principal, Jeanne
First Lady who revitalized this Ollhoff, and when I dissolved into
phrase, but I do have to say tears, she said, “No fears, God is
that I do believe this Good! Don’t you worry about those
proclamation. girls, we will find a way…” The
next person to offer support and
Facing the prospect of raising my
encouragement was Pastor Galen
two daughters as a divorced
Grulke, the Senior Pastor at my
parent appeared to me as an
church, TLC, at that time. He not
overwhelming task; one that I
only shared scripture with me to
wasn’t sure I would be able to do
remind me that I was a forgiven
well. We all hear the statistics of
child of God, whom God loves
children living in divorced families.
unconditionally, and that He has a
The number of children who turn
plan for my life, but he shared
to drugs or alcohol to relieve the
personal insights to the trials and
pain of having a parent “leave”
tribulations of marriage - that it
you, daughters particularly, seem to
takes 3 people to make a marriage
want to cling to any man who will
work; the wife, the husband and the
give them the attention they are
Lord. I didn’t have to feel it was all
missing, which opens up a
my fault, and my husband had to
multitude of fears for a parent.
see it that way too. As that day
The teen-age years present an array
progressed and I spoke to my
of problems for a two-parent
daughters’ teachers & my friends,
family, realizing that you have to
and as each one gave me Christian
handle those years alone, is
encouragement and concern, I
frightening. The list is unending.
realized that I COULD do this. I
Coming to registration at TLS could raise my kids as a single
parent with the loving help and
that fall afternoon after my divorce,
knowing that I would have to support of the community of
explain why I couldn’t send my believers in this wonderful school
and my Trinity Lutheran Church
daughters to school any longer
because I couldn’t “afford” it, was home.
just another boulder I had to add to
(Continued on page 3)
the heavy burden I felt weighing on
sports with friends, playing on a school bowling league, playing her keyboard, and
participating in a Journal Club.
sharing your story!
 It Takes a Village...To Raise a Child Worship
(Continued from page 2)

Not only could I “afford” to leave
my children here at TLS, I’m the
one who wins! How else can I hope
to “bring up my children in the way
they should go”?
I am proud of the young women
that my daughters have become.
Kendra has a passion for the Lord
and the work of His kingdom that I
envy. Her heart for His lambs is
huge. He has great plans for her!
Jordan is compassionate and
independent and is currently
following a path of Psychology at
Eastern Michigan University. And
this I know; she will lovingly counsel
with the morals and ethics learned
as a child of God in this place.
They are not without scars - no
child of divorce is, but they know
they have a loving God who walks
with them every step of the way on
this sometimes rocky
journey called “life”. Jesus never said
it would be easy, He said we would
never be alone!
Yes, it takes a village…I’m so glad I
had THIS village! God’s blessings as
you embark on this Advent season
and look forward to the coming of
our loving God and Savior, Jesus!
- Mrs. Tonja Wheaton
D.O.G.
Depending On God
Our Mission
Preparing God’s children today to
be His light in tomorrow’s world
and for eternity.
Opportunities
God is saving a seat for you in
worship!
Whether it be at your home church,
or at Trinity, we pray that you take
the opportunity to spend time with
God in worship this Christmas
season!
Trinity is offering services at the
following times:
• Thursday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.&
11p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 26 at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 27 at 9 a.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 2 at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 3 at 9 a.m.
Chapel at TLS
Everyone is welcome to worship with us
on Wednesday mornings beginning at
8:15 a.m.
Our offering for December will go to
Partnership Park & our January
offerings will go to The Heifer Project.

Coming In Two From the Office of our Principal

Weeks:
•Words of Wisdom: A staff
article written by Mrs. Beth Westin.
• Where Are They Now?: An update on
one of our Trinity Alumni.
• More Classroom News: Keep up-to-
date on the classroom happenings at
TLS.
• Getting to Know You: Don’t forget, if
you would like your child featured simply
go to www.tlsjackson.com and choose the
Mustang Matters link and fill out the
form you find there.
• January we will have a loose change collection via a "Money
War". All funds raised will go to the Another Day Another
Memory Foundation. The foundation helps families that find
themselves in similar situations. Adam was a young boy that
we collected funds for two years ago to help meet his medical
needs. He had been diagnosed with an inoperable brainstem
tumor. He passed away in September of 2008.
• Please remember that during this holiday season God is
saving a seat for you and would love to visit with you in
worship.
• Thank you to ECDC for the wonderful job of leading
Family Worship this past Sunday. The children were a
blessing and made the season more special.
 Classroom News
Kindergarten & First Grade
Thank you all for your participation in our
Advent Service. I received many comments
on the children's wonderful singing and
behavior! I pray you all will have a blessed
Christmas.
- Mrs. Frusti
Fourth & Fifth Grades
Please remember that we have a
Mackinac meeting this Monday,
December 21 at 6:30 p.m. If your child is
planning to attend the trip, we need to
have you there since we will be discussing
important fund raising opportunities.
I pray that all of you have a wonderful
Christmas and New Year’s celebration.
- Mrs. Valente
Sixth, Seventh, & Eighth Grades
Grades 6-8 will enjoy a pancake breakfast
next Tuesday morning, beginning at 8 a.m.
We will then be traveling to Summit Lanes
to go bowling for our Christmas party. We
will be leaving to bowl around noon (we
will be having lunch here at school), and
the cost per student is $6.00. Any parent
willing to help out is welcome!
- Dr. Frusti
Preschool
Thank you to all the children and parents that
made our Christmas service such a success.
May you all have a safe and blessed Christmas
holiday - we’ll see you in January!
- Mrs. Westin & Miss Lora
Second & Third Grades
We have 2 cans of paint, and Kevin Smith
volunteered to bring in the insulation board
and pine boards for our solar collector build.
Other items needed: One 2' x 4' sheet of
plexiglass or real glass (I can cut a larger
piece down), and about 6 pop cans per
student. We've also been studying The
Declaration of Independence in Social
Studies, and the Food Web, Producers, and
Consumers in Science.
- Mr. Genthner
Child Care
We are working on our Letter Links, so make sure to
ask your child what word goes with their name! We
are also doing a lot of talking about Christmas and
the children are so excited about the coming of
Baby Jesus!
- Miss Erika, Miss Danielle, & Miss Michelle
Infant & Toddler
Happy birthday to those that are celebrating over break:
Eli Turner - December 26th
&
Jack Barnes - December 30th
May you all have a wonderful Christmas!
-Miss Michelle, Miss Carter, Miss Laura, Miss Kendra, &
Miss Erin