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28 Mar
0

Café Napoli to Headline Virtual Cooking for Kids to Benefit Lutheran Schools

by in Campaign, Current Events, Education News, Fundraising News, Scholarship News, School News, Student News

Café Napoli owner Tony Pietoso is cooking things up in the kitchen to support Lutheran schools and the educators who changed his life.

Pietoso, an alumnus of Lutheran North and co-founder of the Napoli family of restaurants, will headline the St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association’s 2021 Cooking for Kids Virtual Dinner-Auction, Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support need-based scholarships and educational resources for students of all faiths attending 35 Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area.

“Lutheran education changed my life because it made me a better person and made me who I am today,” said Pietoso, who grew up in Lutheran-run orphanages in Italy after his parents became unable to care for him and his siblings. “The caring they gave me, the love they gave me, pretty much made me who I am today. It was good guidance from the beginning. I owe Lutheran schools everything right now.”

Pietoso moved to St. Louis when he was 15 after the former director of one of the orphanages, Al Landes, invited him to play soccer for Lutheran North, where Landes had moved to teach. Pietoso went on to play soccer for St. Louis Community College before making St. Louis his permanent home.

To honor Al Landes and all of the Lutheran educators who helped shape him, Pietoso and Café Napoli are offering two Chef Tony Pietoso Cooking Kits for purchase to benefit Lutheran schools – Ravioli Truffle Burrata and Chicken Parmesan. Each kit includes the necessary ingredients and a premium bottle of imported Italian wine selected by Tony’s son, Ande Pietoso, general manager of Cafe Napoli in Clayton. Kits are $60 each and include a recipe, detailed instructions and a link to an exclusive cooking demonstration featuring Tony in Cafe Napoli’s kitchen. Kits will be delivered directly to your door, and each purchase is entered to win a gift card to Café Napoli. (Order Deadlines: Orders placed by Thursday, April 15 will be delivered Saturday, April 17 (event day). Delivery can be also delayed to the week of 4/26, if diner prefers. Orders placed after after April 15, will be delivered the week of April 26.)

The virtual event includes a live auction, scholarship fund-a-need, 50/50 drawing and special tributes to our Lutheran luminaries – Zion-Belleville student Anna Spelbring – LESA’s 2021 Lutheran Student Christian Leader, Legacy Honorees Vernon & Joann Schroeder (photo, left) and the 500 Lutheran educators who have been teaching students in-school throughout the pandemic. Master of Ceremonies Jim Dankenbring and auctioneer Dave Drewes will host the event. Bidding for the online auction opens April 10 at LESAstl.org. Premium prizes include a Bourbon Tasting in Kentucky, a week-long stay in Sanibel Island, Florida, Dinner for Four at the new Tony’s Restaurant in Clayton, Cardinal’s Field Box Seats, Blues Hockey Tickets, Bose Sunglasses, an autographed Tony La Russa Jersey, Massage Envy Gift cards and other gifts for Mother’s Day, birthdays and more. The virtual program is free of charge. 

Cooking for Kids is LESA’s largest annual fundraising effort to support and sustain the future of Lutheran Christian education in the St. Louis Metro Area. Last year’s Cooking for Kids raised $257,000 for need-based scholarships and educational resources such as STEM programs, professional development and curriculum guides.

Since 2004, LESA has awarded more than $6 million in financial assistance to families of all faiths in St. Louis and southern Illinois. To help advance that mission, the Lutheran Legacy Foundation has pledged to provide a generous match for endowment gifts and pledges made in 2020. There is also a $50,000 match for scholarship gifts raised at Cooking for Kids that is  being offered by a generous donor.

To sponsor the program or tribute ad, or donate an item for this year’s Cooking for Kids, contact Katherine (Kit) Auble, LESA’s Director, Fund Development and Marketing, at 314-200-0797, or kauble@lesastl.org

About LESA

More than 8,200 students attend Lutheran schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, making it the second largest private school system in the Bi-State Region. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LESA represents 31 elementary and 4 high schools, including three National Blue Ribbon Schools and three National Lutheran Exemplary Schools. To learn more about our schools and our mission, visit www.LESAstl.org.

For more information:

Katherine (Kit) Auble
Director, Fund Development and Marketing
314-200-0797 – office
kauble@lesastl.org
www.lesastl.org

Brenda Kimberlin
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA)
www.lesastl.org
314-496-1799 – cell
bkimberlin@lesastl.org

 

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28 Mar
0

Zion-Belleville Student is LESA’s 2021 Lutheran Student Christian Leader

by in Current Events, Education News, Fundraising News, School News, Student News

Anna Spelbring – who started a charity baking project to help a child in El Salvador – will be honored April 17 during Cooking for Kids’ live online tribute event to support Lutheran education.

Anna Spelbring, an eighth-grader at Zion Lutheran School in Belleville, has been named Lutheran Student Christian Leader of the Year by the St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA). The award, which includes a $500 scholarship underwritten by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, recognizes Lutheran elementary schools students who demonstrate courage, compassion, leadership, academic achievement and a commitment to their community.

Anna, 14, was selected for serving her faith and her community through Anna Bakes for World Vision, the charity baking project she started to sponsor a child in El Salvador through World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization that she learned about at a Christian music concert that she attended with her family. “They had a speaker at the concert,” said Anna, who was 10 at the time. “I was really moved. I thought, wow, this is really cool.”

After the concert, Anna looked through photos of children in need with her younger sister. They were struck by the photo of a little boy named Marvin who lives in El Salvador. Anna said she decided that day that she would sponsor Marvin for $40 a month – even though she had no idea where she would get the money. “We had to figure out how to pay for it!” laughed Anna. 

She found a solution in her favorite pastime. “Baking has always been my number one favorite hobby,” said Anna. She started by selling treats to teachers, staff and congregation members at Zion Lutheran Church, where her father, Rev. Chris Spelbring is the associate pastor. She and her mother have since started a Facebook page called Anna Bakes for World Vision, where she accepts orders, shares photos and gives video updates on what she’s baking and how much she’s raising each month. As her sales and baking production have increased, she’s added new charities to the mix, including Open Door Ministries and Zion Lutheran Church’s Honduras Mission. Anna says her specialties are Snickerdoodles and Coconut Macaroons Dipped in Chocolate.

“Anna handles all of the communications, transactions and baking all on her own,” said Principal Ananda Baron, who nominated Anna for the award. “Her kindness and servant heart have set her apart as a leader in her classroom, and that leadership extends to our entire student body and school.” 

Anna is also Vice President of Zion’s Student Council. In her nomination form, Baron praised the teen for finding “creative ways to connect our community of students” during the pandemic by helping to organize events like Favorite Candy Tournament, a Christmas Door decorating contest, dress-down days for chapel offerings, and a March food drive that collected 7,000 non-perishable food items for the Belleville Community Interfaith Food Pantry and a Zion community outreach ministry that will provide Easter Backpacks for kids in need. 

“I feel extremely blessed to attend Zion,” said Anna, who plays basketball for Zion and flute in the school’s orchestra. “I feel free to be myself here.”

Anna will receive her award online Saturday, April 17, 2021, during LESA’s annual Cooking for Kids Virtual Tribute Dinner-Auction. The event, which includes an online auction, will be live-streamed at LESAstl.org this year due to COVID-19 precautions. Proceeds from the event will support scholarships and educational resources for students of all faiths at 35 Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area and southern Illinois. Bidding will open online April 10, 2021 at LESAstl.org for hundreds of items, including jewelry, art, sports memorabilia, special event tickets and other prizes.  

Cooking for Kids is LESA’s largest annual fundraising effort to support and sustain the future of Lutheran Christian education in the St. Louis Metro Area. Last year’s Cooking for Kids raised $257,000 for need-based scholarships and educational resources such as STEM programs, professional development and curriculum guides.

Since 2004, LESA has awarded more than $6 million in financial assistance to families of all faiths in St. Louis and southern Illinois. To help advance that mission, the Lutheran Legacy Foundation has pledged to provide a generous match for endowment gifts and pledges made in 2020. There is also a $50,000 match for scholarship gifts raised at Cooking for Kids that is  being offered by a generous donor.

About LESA

More than 8,200 children of all faiths attend LESA member Lutheran schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, making Lutheran schools the second-largest private school system in the Bi-State Region. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LESA represents 31 elementary schools, four high schools and three related agencies. Visit www.LESAstl.org.

Zion Lutheran School is a nationally accredited PreK-8 school located in Belleville, Illinois. One of the oldest schools in the Metro East, Zion Lutheran was founded by Zion Lutheran Church in 1861 with the intention of providing a Christ-centered approach to education to nurture a child’s faith, equipping him/her to use it on a daily basis and to share it with others. Today, Zion, Belleville serves children of all faiths in Early Childhood through 8th grade. For more information, visit https://zionschoolbelleville.org, or contact Erica Stelling, Admissions & Marketing Director, at 618-234-0275 or estelling@zionschoolbelleville.org. 

###

Katherine (Kit) Auble
Director, Fund Development and Marketing
314-200-0797 – office
kauble@lesastl.org
www.lesastl.org

Brenda Kimberlin
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA)
www.lesastl.org
314-496-1799 – cell
bkimberlin@lesastl.org

Erica Stelling, Admissions & Marketing Director
Zion Lutheran School, Belleville
618-234-0275
estelling@zionschoolbelleville.org

 

 

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04 Feb
0

Photo Gallery: National Lutheran Schools Week 2021

by in Uncategorized

Click the photo box above to see highlights from National Lutheran Schools Week 2021!

Thousands of students at 35 Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area celebrated National Lutheran Schools Week – January 24-30, 2021 – with dress-up days, fun activities, special treats, and service projects. Several schools also celebrated their 100th Day of School!

The theme of this year’s celebration was Sent to Serve, based on Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Nationwide, 180,000 children in more than 1,900 preschools, elementary schools and high schools celebrated National Lutheran Schools Week this year! The week, which occurs annually during the last week of January, gives Lutheran school students and staff a public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

For more information on National Lutheran Schools Week, visit https://www.lcms.org/lutheranschoolsweek.

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04 Feb
0

LESA Blessed with $409,000 Estate Gift to Support Scholarships

by in Uncategorized

Sue Nahmensen, CEO of LESA, and Marilyn Brickler, Chair – LESA Board of Directors, accepting Jacqueline’s generous gift from Teresa Nelson, Gift Planning Counselor – St. Louis Region, the LCMS Foundation.

Friend of a Friend: The Power of Faith, Words and One Person

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

We have all heard the phrase, “You never know who might be listening.” This winter, that sentiment took on a new and deeper meaning when we discovered the life-changing impact that one person’s story can have on another person’s heart.

This story begins with Jacqueline Appelt, a graduate of Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, and a Senior Designer in the Graphic Design Department at Concordia Publishing House for over 50 years. On April 28, 2020, Jacqueline entered eternity in heaven after a long life filled with faith, family and friends. One of those friends was Linda Lehr, a devoted and long-time volunteer for LESA who often talked to Jaqueline about LESA and the students we serve through scholarships and other educational services.

However, like Linda, we had no idea that those conversations would one day lead to an incredible, life-changing gift to LESA and those very students. When Jacqueline passed, she left behind a $1.5 million estate plan that designated gifts to five charities, including LESA. In January, the LCMS Foundation, our estate gift planning consultant, presented LESA with a $409,000 check for our endowment from Jaqueline’s estate.

“This gift is nothing short of amazing, and we give thanks to God, from whom all blessings flow,” said Sue Nahmensen, CEO of LESA.

Another special aspect of this gift – Jaqueline directed that it be used exclusively to fund tuition assistance through our Building Blocks Scholarship Fund. That means that Jaqueline’s generosity will live in perpetuity, helping children learn and grow in the name of Jesus Christ, for years to come through annual disbursements to the Building Blocks Scholarship Fund.

When our time on earth ends, what will your legacy be? To learn more about making an estate gift to LESA and Building Blocks, visit the Support LESA section here on our website, or contact Katherine “Kit” Auble, our Director of Fund Development and Marketing, at 314-200-0797 or kauble@LESAstl.org, to get started.

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21 Jan
0

Winter-Spring 2021 – Open Houses & Tour Dates

by in Current Events, Education News, Educator News, Learning Event News, Scholarship News, School News, Student News, Uncategorized

 

It’s enrollment season for our 35-member Lutheran Schools! Many of our schools are hosting Open Houses this winter and spring, and all of our schools offer personal tours by appointment – at your convenience.

If you’re looking for an exceptional, affordable school community for your child and family, visit our schools to Discover the Difference of Lutheran Education. (And watch out for our new digital ad campaign on social media!)

Need help finding a school near home, work or family? Give us a call at 314-200-0790, or 314-200-0797, or email us at kauble@lesastl.org.

 

2021 Winter-Spring – Open House & Tour Information

Schools are listed by geographic area & include links to individual school websites. Call individual schools to confirm dates and times listed below. To see a visual layout of schools, click Schools and Browse Our Schools on the menu bar, or here.

Illinois – Metro East

Good Shepherd, Collinsville 618-344-3153 

  • February 28, 1-3 pm &  March 14, 1-3 pm
  • PreK-8 – Visit with teachers, tour our facilities & learn about what it means to be a Charger!

Holy Cross, Collinsville   618-344-3145 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour

St. John’s, Red Bud 618-282-3873 

  •  Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. Paul’s, Troy 618-667-6314 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Trinity, Edwardsville 618-656-7002 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Unity, East St. Louis 618-874-6605 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Zion, Belleville 618-234-0275 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour

Zion, Bethalto  618-377-5507

St. Louis Area – North

Atonement, Florissant 314-837-1252 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Grace Chapel, Bellefontaine Neighbors 314-867-6564  

  • Personal Tours Available Feb. 16-18, 4-5:30 pm – to book a time, call or email Irene Desmond, Admissions Director, at 314-867-6564, ext 224, or idesmond@gracechapelstl.org (additional dates & times available by appointment)
  • Virtual Tour – Link Coming Soon

River Roads, Baden 314-388-0300 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Salem Lutheran, Florissant 314-741-8220 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. Louis Area – South 

Abiding Savior, Mehlville 314-892-4408 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour

Green Park 314-544-4248 

  • Virtual Tour – Click Here 
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Salem, Affton 314-353-9242 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. John’s, Arnold 636-464-7303 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  
  • New Student Enrollment Opens Feb. 1 

Word of Life, St. Louis Hills 314-832-1244 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. Louis Area – West 

Christ Community (CCLS), Kirkwood/Webster Groves 314-822-7774

Immanuel, Olivette 314-993-5004

  • Personal Tours by appointment – Mon-Fri, from 4-6 pm – call Dorothy Glenn, Admissions Director, at 314-993-5004
  • Coffee & Conversation – Fridays from 8:10 – 8:30am – Meet w/ current school parents & teachers/staff
  • Upcoming Fridays: February 5, March 5, March 9 & May 7 – RSVP: 314-993-5004

Immanuel, Washington 636-239-1636  

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour

Our Savior, Fenton 636-343-7511

  • Reservations required due to Covid precautions – call 636-343-7511 

St. John, Ellisville 636-386-0186 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour

St. Mark’s, Eureka 636-938-4432 

  • Virtual Tour – Click Here
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour 

St. Paul’s, Des Peres  314-822-2771 

St. Charles & Franklin Counties

Child of God, St. Peters  636-970-7080 

  • In-person tours available by appointment
  • Enrollment Opens – February 1, 2021 at 9 am
  • Virtual Tour – Click Here

Immanuel, St. Charles 636-946-0051 

Immanuel, Wentzville 636-639-9887 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Messiah, Weldon Spring 636-329-1096 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Zion, St. Charles 636-441-7424 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Lutheran High Schools 

Lutheran North High School & Middle School 5401 Lucas & Hunt 314-389-3100

New Student Outreach Events:

  • Course Selection Night – Thursday, February 11, from 7 – 8:30pm. Please register online as space is limited due to Covid restrictions.  The link to register is Lutheran North Course Selection Night
  • Crusader Day Visits every Tuesday & Thursday morning at 9 am. Please call Becky Kammeier in Admissions to schedule your visit at 314-833-2942.

Lutheran High School South 314-631-1400

  • Course Selection Night – Monday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. In-person or virtual options available. RSVP here. Join us as we map out your first year of high school classes!
  • Personal Tours encouraged – to set up a time, email Katy Schmitt, Admissions Director, at kschmitt@LSLancers.org

Lutheran High School St. Charles   636-928-5100 

  • Personal Tours encouraged – to set up a time, email Lisa Gnade, Admissions Director, at gnade@lhssc.org

Metro-East Lutheran High School  618-656-3315

  • Personal Tours encouraged – to set up a time, email Angela Mueller, Marketing & Admissions Director, at Admissions@Melhs.Org

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21 Jan
0

St. Louis Area Lutheran Schools to Celebrate “National Lutheran Schools Week” with Service Projects, Tours and Special Events

by in Current Events, Education News, Learning Event News, Scholarship News, School News, Student News

(ST. LOUIS, Mo) January 21, 2021 – Eight-thousand students at 35 Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area will celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week, January 24-30, 2021. The schools, members of the St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association, will mark the week with service projects, special activities, tours and open house events.  Several schools will also celebrate their 100th Day of School during this week. 

The theme of this year’s celebration is Sent to Serve, based on Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

In the St. Louis area, several schools will host in-person Open House events and tours at their respective campuses. To find and confirm times for participating schools, see below, or visit our 2021 Winter-Spring Open House Schedule at www.lesastl.org. 

Lutheran schools represent the second largest private school system in the Bi-State Region and were among the first to return to full-time in-person learning in St. Louis and southern Illinois this summer and fall. In August, LESA awarded a record number of need-based scholarships to help Lutheran school students and families who were affected by the economic shutdown. Currently, 1 in 10 Lutheran school students receives some level of financial assistance from LESA.

Nationwide, 180,000 children in more than 1,900 preschools, elementary schools and high schools will celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week this year. The week, which occurs annually during the last week of January, gives Lutheran school students and staff a public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For more information on National Lutheran Schools Week, visit https://www.lcms.org/lutheranschoolsweek.

About LESA

LESA serves 8,000 students and 500 faculty and staff at 35 elementary and high schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, including four National Blue Ribbon schools and three National Lutheran Exemplary Schools. Lutheran schools serve children of all faiths, abilities and backgrounds, and provide meaningful tuition assistance to families that qualify. To date, LESA has awarded more than $6.1 million to St. Louis area families, touching the lives of more than 3,300 children. For more information, visit www.LESAstl.org, or call LESA at 314-200-0797. LESA is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

# # #

2021 Winter-Spring – Open House & Tour Information

Schools are listed by geographic area & include links to individual school websites. Call individual schools to confirm dates and times listed below. To see a visual layout of schools, click Schools and Browse Our Schools on the menu bar, or here.

Need help finding a school near home, work or family? Give us a call at 314-200-0790, or 314-200-0797, or email us kauble@lesastl.org.

Illinois – Metro East

Good Shepherd, Collinsville 618-344-3153 

  • February 28, 1-3 pm &  March 14, 1-3 pm
  • PreK-8 – Visit with teachers, tour our facilities & learn about what it means to be a Charger!

Holy Cross, Collinsville   618-344-3145 

  • Sunday, January 31, 1-3 pm 
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour 

St. John’s, Red Bud 618-282-3873 

  •  Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. Paul’s, Troy 618-667-6314 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Trinity, Edwardsville 618-656-7002 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Unity, East St. Louis 618-874-6605 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Zion, Belleville 618-234-0275 

  • Sunday, January 31, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour 

Zion, Bethalto  618-377-5507

St. Louis Area – North

Atonement, Florissant 314-837-1252 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Grace Chapel, Bellefontaine Neighbors 314-867-6564  

  • Personal Tours Available Feb. 16-18, 4-5:30 pm – to book a time, call or email Irene Desmond, Admissions Director, at 314-867-6564, ext 224, or idesmond@gracechapelstl.org (additional dates & times available by appointment)
  • Virtual Tour – Link Coming Soon

River Roads, Baden 314-388-0300 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Salem Lutheran, Florissant 314-741-8220 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. Louis Area – South 

Abiding Savior, Mehlville 314-892-4408 

  • Sunday, January 24,  1-3 pm

Green Park 314-544-4248 

Salem, Affton 314-353-9242 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. John’s, Arnold 636-464-7303 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  
  • New Student Enrollment Opens Feb. 1 

Word of Life, St. Louis Hills 314-832-1244 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

St. Louis Area – West 

Christ Community (CCLS), Kirkwood/Webster Groves 314-822-7774

Immanuel, Olivette 314-993-5004

  • Personal Tours by appointment – Mon-Fri, from 4-6 pm – call Dorothy Glenn, Admissions Director, at 314-993-5004
  • Coffee & Conversation – Fridays from 8:10 – 8:30am – Meet w/ current school parents & teachers/staff
  • Upcoming Fridays: February 5, March 5, March 9 & May 7 – RSVP: 314-993-5004

Immanuel, Washington 636-239-1636  

  • Open Enrollment Night – Thurs., January 28, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour 

Our Savior, Fenton 636-343-7511

  • Sunday, January 24, 1-3 pm
  • Reservations required due to Covid precautions – call 636-343-7511 

St. John, Ellisville 636-386-0186 

  • January 24, 12:30-2 pm – Registration Link
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour 

St. Mark’s, Eureka 636-938-4432 

  • Virtual Tour – Click Here
  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour 

St. Paul’s, Des Peres  314-822-2771 

  • Private Tours Available – Mon-Thurs at 3:45 p.m. Email Joanna Hoeltge, Admissions Coordinator, at jhoeltge@stpaulsdesperes.org to book your tour

St. Charles & Franklin Counties

Child of God, St. Peters  636-970-7080 

  • In-person tours available by appointment:
    • January 25-29 – call for times  
    • Saturday, January 30, 9-11 am
  • Enrollment Opens – February 1, 2021 at 9 am
  • Virtual Tour – Click Here

Immanuel, St. Charles 636-946-0051 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Immanuel, Wentzville 636-639-9887 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Messiah, Weldon Spring 636-329-1096 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Zion, St. Charles 636-441-7424 

  • Call or email to arrange a personal tour  

Lutheran High Schools 

Lutheran North High School & Middle School 5401 Lucas & Hunt 314-389-3100

New Student Outreach Events:

  • Course Selection Nights – Monday, January 25 or Thursday, February 11, from 7 – 8:30pm. Please register online as space is limited due to Covid restrictions.  The link to register is Lutheran North Course Selection Night
  • Crusader Day Visits every Tuesday & Thursday morning at 9 am. Please call Becky Kammeier in Admissions to schedule your visit at 314-833-2942.

Lutheran High School South 314-631-1400

  • Course Selection Night – Monday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. In-person or virtual options available. RSVP here. Join us as we map out your first year of high school classes!
  • Personal Tours available & encouraged – to set up a time, email Katy Schmitt, Admissions Director, at kschmitt@LSLancers.org

Lutheran High School St. Charles   636-928-5100 

  • Personal Tours available & encouraged – to set up a time, email Lisa Gnade, Admissions Director, at gnade@lhssc.org

Metro-East Lutheran High School  618-656-3315

  • Personal Tours encouraged – to set up a time, email Angela Mueller, Marketing & Admissions Director, at Admissions@Melhs.Org

For information or media inquiries:

Katherine Auble
Director, Fund Development & Marketing
Lutheran Elementary School Association
314-200-0797 – office/direct line
kauble@lesastl.org

Brenda Madden Kimberlin
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
314-496-1799 (cell)
bkimberlin@lesastl.org

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20 Jan
0

LESA Awards Record $505,000 in Scholarships for 2020-21 School Year 

by in Current Events, Education News, Fundraising News, Scholarship News, School News, Student News

Donations from supporters, online auction will help fund a 49 percent increase in scholarship applications due to COVID-19

Note: This news release is being re-posted following an original posting date of 6/9/20.

(ST. LOUIS, MO) June 9, 2020 – The St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) will award a record $505,000 for need-based scholarships to help fund a 49 percent increase in qualified applications due in part to the COVID-19 crisis. The increased need and funding amount mean LESA will award scholarships to 624 students of all faiths this year during the first round of awards, compared to final total of 371 in 2019-20.

The additional funds were made possible by endowment earnings, extraordinary gifts from LESA’s donors, and the unprecedented success of its first-ever Cooking for Kids Online Auction, which raised a record $263,000 (a 25 percent increase over last year) to support scholarships and services for LESA member schools. In addition, a generous family redirected their $50,000 annual endowment gift to be applied exclusively to scholarships due to the pandemic.

“Historically, 36 percent of LESA Lutheran school scholarship recipients live at or below the Federal Poverty Level, so we knew right away that the financial impact of COVID-19 would be severe,” said Sue Nahmensen, LESA’s CEO. “Thanks to the generous and overwhelming support of the St. Louis community, we are now in a much stronger position to support those families than when this pandemic began.”

To answer that need, LESA extended its 2020-21 application deadlines and asked families to specify if they had experienced job loss or underemployment. As a result, 82 families reported a loss of employment or reduced work hours, compared to eight families last year.

Currently, 1 in 10 Lutheran elementary school students in the St. Louis Metro Area receives need-based tuition assistance from LESA. Of those students, 47% are of non-white ethnicity, 36% attend urban ministry schools and 48% are non-Lutheran.

In late March, LESA made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel its largest and most important fundraiser – its 16th Annual Cooking for Kids Tribute Dinner-Auction, which had been scheduled for April 18 – and convert it to an online auction.

“Event tickets had been sold and sponsorships had been secured, and we just couldn’t afford to lose those funds for our schools and families,” said Nahmensen. “Fortunately, when we contacted those supporters, nearly every sponsor, donor and event guest made it clear, beyond any doubt, that they were with us, and that made it possible for us to succeed with our online event.”

In May, LESA received additional good news from Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis when announced it would award a $50,000 Partner Stability Grant ​to help LESA continue to provide services to students and member schools.

Since 2004, LESA has awarded more than $5.5 million in financial assistance through its Building Blocks Scholarship Fund to children of all faiths enrolled in Lutheran elementary schools. Scholarships are funded annually through the generosity of LESA donors, special events and endowment growth. (To learn more about donating to LESA, or setting up special endowment gifts, contact Katherine “Kit” Auble at 314-200-0797, or kauble@lesastl.org.)

More than 8,300 students attend LESA member Lutheran schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, making it the second largest private school system in the Bi-State Region. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LESA represents 34 elementary and high schools. For information on our members schools and enrollment, visit www.lesastl.org

###

Katherine (Kit) Auble
Director, Fund Development and Marketing
314-200-0797 – voicemail
kauble@lesastl.org
www.lesastl.org
www.facebook.com/lesastl.org

Brenda Kimberlin
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA)
bkimberlin@lesastl.org
314-496-1799 – cell

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