St. John Lutheran has applied to participate in the state-wide WI Parental Choice Program (WPCP) for 2021-2022.   

WHO should apply?  A family must have an income at or below 220% of the federal poverty limit and live in WI.

WHEN to apply?  Feb. 1 - April 30 2021.  If applying before 2020 taxes are filed, 2019 income will be used.  CLICK HERE to apply.

HOW to apply?  Parents complete the online application each year and provide schools with proof of residency and, if using the DPI method, proof of income.  If they applied in 2020, they should log on using the same email address and password that they used last year.  Please also present a birth certificate for your child to the school office.  Copies are not needed and the original will be returned to you.

HOW to qualify?  Income eligibility for the WPCP is based on the parent’s prior year (2020) income.

      •   Dept. of Revenue method (DOR):  Schools enter the parent’s social security number into the online application system and perform the DOR check to import income data.  DOR will first check for prior year (2020) income information.  If 2020 information is not available, DOR will check records from 2019. 

• Dept of Public Instruction method:  If the family chooses to use the DPI method to verify income, they must provide proof of their 2020 income.

WPCP Program Brochure - CLICK HERE
WPCP Frequently Asked Questions - CLICK HERE

Family income includes the income of the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) that reside in the same household as the student applicant.
The following are NOT included in the family income calculation:

Family size includes parents/guardians and their children by birth, marriage or adoption that reside in the same household as the student applicant.  Foster children and children in the kinship care program are counted as a family of one (1) because they are still supported by the state or county.  Therefore, the income of parents/guardians is not counted when determining eligibility for the Choice program.  The parent/guardian should indicate that the pupil is in kinship care or foster care on the online parent application. 

220% of the Federal Poverty Level for 2021-22
Family Size Yearly Income Must Exceed
1 $28,072
2 $37,928
3 $47,784
4 $57,640
5 $67,496
6 $77,352
For each additional member add $9,856.

RESIDENCY VERIFICATION  All applicants must submit current residency documentation (within 90 days) directly to the school during the application period.  Acceptable proof of residency:

1. Wage statement or W2 year-end earnings statement that is in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application and dated within 3 months of when the application is received.
2. Water, gas, electric, cable, satellite, or landline phone bill in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application and dated within 3 months of when the application is received.  Cell phone bills are not acceptable.
3. Lease agreement with a term that includes the date the parent applies to the school that is in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application.  Expired leases are not acceptable. 
4. Governmental correspondence that is in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application and dated within 3 months of when the application is received.  Examples include a property tax bill, Supplemental Security Income “SSI”, Wisconsin Works “W2” Cash Benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families “TANF,” Food Share “Food Stamps,” or Housing Assistance letter with the address listed and the name of the parent/guardian.  Printed statements from Access.gov can be used as residency support if the statement includes a date that is within 3 months of when the application is received. 

SECURITY E-MAIL VERIFICATION  A security feature will be included in the online parent application to help ensure application related emails are sent to a parent’s correct email address.  This feature will send an email to the parent’s email account after the parent logs into the online parent application and will ask the parent to verify the email address.

1. The parent or guardian logs into the online parent application.
2. Once logged in, the application will take the parent to an instruction page on how to verify the email address. The parent’s instructions read as follows:

1. You need to verify your email address for the Private School Choice Program Online Application.
2. Go to the inbox for your email account for:  “email address@email.com”
3. Click the "Confirm Email Address" link in the email to confirm your email address.

3. Once the parent clicks the “Confirm Email Address” link in the email, the link will take the parent to the email verification confirmation page where it notifies the parent that their email address has been verified.
4. On the email verification confirmation page, the parent will be instructed to click on a link to return to the online parent application log-in page where the parent will need to enter his or her email and password to continue the application process.

1. Parent does not receive verification email:  Please note that it may take 5 minutes to 24 hours for the email to arrive.  The parent should check his or her spam or junk folders for an email from PrivateSchoolChoice@dpi.wi.gov with a subject of "Verify your School Choice Program Email Address".
2. Parent must have a valid email:  If the parent does not have a valid email, the parent will need to create an email using any email provider (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook.com).
3. Parent does not remember the password to their email account:  The parent must use the email provider password recovery service or create a new email address to use in the online parent application.
4. Email address is incorrect or the parent no longer has access to the email account:  The parent must create a new Choice application account using a new email address.  The only impact that the parent will have when using a new email address is that the parent will need to re-enter data.  The system remembers and recognizes continuing students by their first and last names with date of birth.
5. Need a new verification email sent:  If a parent has not verified his or her email address, the parent may go to the login page for the online parent application and enter their email and password again and a new verification email will be generated. 

This year's Chapel offerings will be given to Mr. and Mrs. Huebschman to help with their expenses.

Besides our monetary support through Chapel offerings, please continue to keep the Huebschman's in your prayers.

Parents of 8th grade students will be recognized for their love, patience, encouragement, and support of the teams during the basketball games these evenings.  Parents of 8th grade students will be announced at the beginning of each basketball game. 

Please help us congratulate 8th graders:

Boys (February 22):  Cayden Becker, Nicholas Farr, Kole Klapperich, Jack MacGillis, Macklyn Moore and Austin Thill

Girls (February 25):  Delaney Schuh and Desirae Thuemmler

If you have any questions, please contact AD Brad Steinhardt or Principal Jay Lindsey.

We will be conducting parent-teacher conferences following the conclusion of the second quarter.  The conferences will be ENTIRELY VIRTUAL and held on the Zoom platform in the same manner  as last fall.  

• Please use the SignUp Genius (please click below) to schedule your appointment time.  The sign up is open and will close on Friday 1/29.
• The conferences will be Tuesday, February 2^nd from 3:00-5:00pm and Thursday, February 4^th from 3:00-7:00pm.
• The time slots will be 10 minutes in length for all grade levels.
• As there are fewer slots then the fall, parents are encouraged to only schedule conferences if necessary.
• Instructions on how to schedule your appointment will be coming soon.
• Your child's teacher(s) will send you a Zoom link that you will use when the time comes for your appointment.
• Upon clicking the link, you will be placed in a virtual waiting room until the teacher is ready for you, so it okay to log in a few minutes early.
• Time limits will be politely but firmly enforced to better respect everyone’s time.
• Report cards and MAP testing results will be mailed home ahead of conferences.

 We are saddened that we cannot yet meet with you in person and we pray that things continue to improve.

Please contact your child's teacher or Mr. Lindsey if you have any questions or concerns.

Grades 4K-4

Grades 5-8

Reminder - Friday, February 19th is Pizza Making Day.  School will not be in session on Friday.

Congratulations to St. John Lutheran Congregation students who were named to the first semester Honor Roll at Lutheran High for the 2020-21 school year.

High Honor Roll (4.0-3.75 GPA) by Grade

Megan Lindsey (12)

Elizabeth Montaba (12)

Rose Hahn (11)

Everett Poth (11)

Jaidyn Poth (11)

Hailey Schimberg (11)

Jacob Schuh (11)

Sonja Abel (10)

Matthew Jaeger (10)

Honor Roll (3.74-3.5 GPA) by Grade

Adam Grosskreutz (12)

Andrew Meador (12)

Ethan Rasmussen (11)

Matthew Stephany (11)

Benjamin Leonhard (10)

Athena Poth (9)

Molly Schultz (9)

Thanks to Thrivent Financial, we get the special treat of having authors and NATIONAL speakers, Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn with us on Thursday, 1/28 at 6:30pm for a LIVE Zoom Webinar.  This is a FREE event, open to anyone who wants to join in.

Description:  Over 90 percent of couples experience some level of tension around money!  Many resources try to fix the surface problems, such as how to budget and what to prioritize when it comes to finances, but the issues go much deeper than just a simple spreadsheet.  Thriving in Love and Money is based on original research conducted to get to the heart of these issues.  Let this presentation deepen your understanding of each other, leading to clear communication, peace as a couple, and better financial decision-making.

• Location:  Online (Zoom Webinar) - The link will be emailed after registration
• Cost:  FREE
• Speakers:  Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn
• Event sponsored by Thrivent Financial—You do NOT need to be a Thrivent member to register!
• Register at: https://www.great-marriages.org/events

Congratulations to all of our SJL student champions who participated in the SALSA Spelling Bee!  Brianna Klahn finished in 8th place overall!  We look forward to cheering on Macie Abraham in the Sheboygan County (Out-of-City) Regional Spelling Bee, which will take place in an online format at the end of this month.

Mark your calendar. . .Important Pizza Sale 2021 date to remember:

Saturday, February 20, 2021 - Pizza Pick up 9:00 am - 11:00 am, in the Cafeteria

Any questions, please feel free to contact the committee members:

Michelle Anhalt - Cell - 920-980-5594 or michelleanhalt@hotmail.com

or

Cathy Austin - Cell - 920-980-5593 or choneyager@gmail.com

February 17th the season of Lent begins as the Church throughout the world observes Ash Wednesday.  Lent is a season of repentance and preparation for the celebration of the Holy Week and Easter.  One of the customs that comes to us from the ancient Church in connection with Ash Wednesday is the imposition of ashes.  Ashes serve as a visual sign of the dust-to-dustness of sinful human beings and remind worshipers of the need for cleansing, scrubbing and purifying.

Our worship practice here at St. John has included this ancient ritual as part of our chapel service as well as our regular worship services on Ash Wednesday.  Even the youngest of students among us need to be reminded that we are sinners in need of repentance.  To that end, we will be imposing ashes again this year.  If you have any questions regarding this practice, please feel free to contact Pastor Meador directly.

Also, Lent can serve as a wonderful time of family devotion and worship as well.  Please plan on joining us for worship every Wednesday at 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM.  

Please see the flyer below with our Lutheran Schools Week (January 24-30) activities.

Annual LHS Citrus Sale to benefit the LHS Music Dept. Spring Concert Tour:  Orders for fresh Florida grapefruit and delicious California oranges (10#-quarter case $15, 20#-half case $25, and 40#-full case $45) will be taken through Friday, Jan. 29.  Contact any LHS student or call the school office 920-452-3323 to place your order through Jan. 29.  Fruit must be picked up and paid for on Saturday, February 20 at Lutheran High School between 8:30 a.m. and Noon.  You can also download the order blank from the LHS website at www.lutheranhigh.com.  Thank you for your support!

Our next (Starting Point) new member class is on Saturday, February 6 from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  This is a one day class (lunch and snacks are provided).  All are welcome to attend.  Invite your friends and family.  Members are encouraged to attend as a refresher on what it means to be a Lutheran Christian.  Together, we will meet the pastor, learn about St. John Lutheran and discover our generous God who provides for us each day.  For more information or to register, please contact Sharon at the Church Office (920-893-3071 or smohs@sjlplymouth.com).

Board members, advocates and School Choice parents are invited to the meeting on January 14, 2021 @ 6:00 PM or February 11, 2021 @ 6:00 PM in the Library.

Remember, tuition payments made before December 31 can be used for the State of Wisconsin tuition tax deduction for private school families on your 2020 income tax return.

If you need a receipt for 2020, please contact Mrs. Adams @ dadams@sjlplymouth.com and one will be sent to you.

2020 Private School Tuition Tax Deduction

The State of Wisconsin, (started in 2014 tax year), is going to allow parents to deduct private school tuition.  Parent of private school students in Wisconsin could receive an income tax deduction of up to $4,000 for tuition paid for each kindergarten through eighth grade student and up to $10,000 per high school student.  Only the amount paid after January 1, 2020, will qualify for the deduction.  Note:  The subtraction is not allowed for amounts paid for private school tuition which were withdrawn from an Edvest or Tomorrow's Scholar college savings account.  We highly recommend that families work with their tax advisor to determine benefits.  

How can parents claim the deduction?  There is a separate schedule that needs to be filled out by the student's parents.  This schedule can be obtained by from the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue website.

How will tuition be defined?  Tuition includes any amount paid by the claimant for a pupil's tuition to attend an eligible institution and mandatory book fees paid to the institution.

Tuition does not include amounts paid with a voucher or any amounts paid as a separate charge for items such as:  supplies, rentals of equipment, meals, transportation, personal use items such as uniforms or gym clothes, before or after school child care, extracurricular activities such as musical or athletic activity fees.

How is tuition defined for students attending 8th and 9th grade in a single tax year?  For both an elementary pupil and a secondary pupil (grades 8 and 9), parent includes the amount paid for tuition during the taxable year for the period when the student was an elementary pupil (but not more than $4,000) plus the amount the parent paid for the period when the student was a secondary pupil.  If the total is more than $10,000, the parent includes the maximum $10,000.