January 12
The Water Buffalo Newsletter
Volume 30, Issue 7
January 12, 2025
Free Ice Cream Social!!
The Student Council is hosting an ICE CREAM SOCIAL immediately after school on Friday, January 17th. It is absolutely free. To attend, students MUST attend with a parent. (Contact Mr. Schmiege in advance if your child will be in after care.) We will operate with the usual Stay-and-Play guidelines.
Faith Foundations Bible Class
You are invited to Faith Foundations– starting Thursday January 16 7pm. This study is for anyone interested in or with questions about the Lutheran faith and membership at Sola Fide. All are welcome. We meet for 60-75 min once a week and study the Bible's teachings at the core of our faith in Jesus. Contact Pastor Kober (pastor@solafide.com) if you would like to attend. Child care can be arranged.
Middle School Band
Your 5th-8th grade child is invited to participate in band practices after school on Fridays. This practice is from 3:30-4:10. It is also free. 5th and 6th grade students can participate with their recorder or an instrument that they are taking lessons with. 7th and 8th grade students can participate with an instrument that they are taking lessons with or play a percussion instrument. If we have more than one piano student join, they will take turns playing the piano, glockenspiel, and percussion instruments with an option to sing for some songs. Our practices start on Friday, January 24 until April 25. If there is a Friday that there is a half day or no school, there will not be band practice. Please arrive at 4:05 to pick up your child by 4:10 since I have a piano lesson that I give at 4:15. Students not picked up by 4:10 will go to aftercare. Students will need to be respectful and focused to continue with the practices. We will do our best to have a good time while working together on both religious and secular songs. To God be the glory!
Please text 770-880-1803 or e-mail renee.kober@solafide.com by Wednesday, January 15 if your child is interested in participating and what instrument they play.
Next Year’s Tuition & Enrollment
Enrollment season is just days away. If you have any questions about advancement into the next grade, questions about curriculum, and the like, please talk with Mr. Schmiege ASAP. We anticipate filling almost every classroom, and already have people on our waiting list, so it is very important that you make the enrollment deadlines. Look for an enrollment-specific email and paperwork coming soon.
Over the past few years, Sola Fide has worked hard to keep tuition increases well below normal inflation rates. (A big thanks goes out to GASSO donors for helping us to do this). This year, we are planning on an increase of about $200 per student ($20 per month). As always, we hope for clarity and transparency, so if you have questions, please reach out for a conversation.
We are also working through the details of a proposal to end the school day fifteen minutes earlier for some of our youngest students (3K, 4K, and Kindergarten). We plan to maintain our academic growth goals for those students, while staggering their release time to ease end of day traffic. We also are drafting accommodations for families with both young students and kids in older grades. If you have questions about how this could impact your family, we are happy to listen and discuss.
Calendar Updates
Toward the end of December, we made updates to the calendar. Please download this updated version, and keep checking school.solafide.com/events for updates and new events.
Important Dates
January 17 - Student Council Ice Cream Social
January 20 - No School - MLK Day
January 23 - First-Fourth Grade Field Trip
February 13-17 - No School - Presidents Day Weekend
February 21 - International Fair
March 13 - Social Studies Fair
March 14 - Grandparents’ Day
March 14 - Half Day - Teacher Development