Class of 2020 Meet Us Monday: Luke

We are counting down to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and it is a particularly bittersweet time for our 8th grade students as they prepare to graduate under very unusual circumstances. To help celebrate and recognize our ILS Class of 2020, we are again launching our “Meet Us Monday” blog series to introduce you to the members of this year’s graduating class.

Each week, we will be sharing interviews that we have done with each of our 8th grade students, in which they share more about their favorite ILS memories and traditions, words of wisdom they’ve received over the years, and other reflections from their years here with us at ILS. We hope that you will enjoy these reflections, and join with us in congratulating and celebrating these students!

Comp. of the Week: May 11-15 Aaron Copland (1900-1991) Fanfare for the Common Man

Fanfares are musical compositions used to announce very important people like Kings and Queens. Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, though, is a fanfare to celebrate people all over the world. Copland composed this piece for brass and percussion instruments (yes, including the best instrument in the orchestra!). You will hear the opening statement played by the bass drum and the gong followed by the trumpets playing a powerful theme. The second time we hear the theme, it is played on the French horn (!!!) which makes it sound regal. The third time the theme is played, we hear the trombones and timpani added. The tubas are added the fourth time.

Class of 2020 Meet Us Monday: Aria U.

We are counting down to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and it is a particularly bittersweet time for our 8th grade students as they prepare to graduate under very unusual circumstances. To help celebrate and recognize our ILS Class of 2020, we are again launching our “Meet Us Monday” blog series to introduce you to the members of this year’s graduating class.

Each week, we will be sharing interviews that we have done with each of our 8th grade students, in which they share more about their favorite ILS memories and traditions, words of wisdom they’ve received over the years, and other reflections from their years here with us at ILS. We hope that you will enjoy these reflections, and join with us in congratulating and celebrating these students!

Hymn of the Week: May 11-15 LSB 463: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia

“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia” is an invitation to the “Paschal Feast”, the celebration of Easter Day. The word paschal comes from the Greek pascha which itself comes from the Hebrew word pesach, meaning “Passover”. Paschal originally referred to the Passover, then, but soon came to refer to Christ’s Passion. Later, it came to refer to the Resurrection which is why we call Easter the “Paschal Feast”. The author of the hymn, thought to be Wipo of Burgundy in the 11th century, connects Christ to the Passover lamb.

What We're Reading - May 2020

As we near the end of the 2019-2020 school year under circumstances that no one could have ever predicted when the year began, we still give thanks for the relationships and partnerships we have with our families. We are grateful for the ways that our Immanuel community continues to come together and support one another as we navigate this new path and figure out new rhythms and routines for our families. While seeing photos of your Learn at Home days, videos of students learning with siblings, or checking in via Zoom can never replace the joy and delight of our days together in the classrooms and on the playground, we are grateful for the ways that we are still able to connect and engage with one another and continue on the path we began in September as we started our year.

We wanted to continue our "What we're reading..." series for May and include some articles our faculty and staff have found inspiring or encouraging in these uncertain times, and that we hope will continue our ongoing conversation about how we shape our culture together at home and at school.

Thank you for your continued partnership, and for engaging with us in these ongoing conversations and for sharing items you have read that may be inspiring to others in our ILS community! Please feel free to share a link in the comments to email us any time!

Comp. of the Week: May 4-8 Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina (1525/6-1594) Missa Aeterna Christi Munera - 2. Gloria

Palestrina lived more than 400 years ago and composed music that was unaccompanied by instruments called a cappella music. Cappella is the Italian word for chapel (which comes from the Latin) because this choral music was sung in cathedrals or chapels. In fact, “Gloria” from Missa Aeterna Christi Munera is part of a Mass or a church service. If you go to Immanuel or another church that uses the liturgy, you sing a “Gloria” every Sunday: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth” or “Glory be to God on high and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Palestrina composed his own version of the Gloria sung in Latin.

Class of 2020 Meet Us Monday: Darryl A.

We are counting down to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and it is a particularly bittersweet time for our 8th grade students as they prepare to graduate under very unusual circumstances. To help celebrate and recognize our ILS Class of 2020, we are again launching our “Meet Us Monday” blog series to introduce you to the members of this year’s graduating class.

Each week, we will be sharing interviews that we have done with each of our 8th grade students, in which they share more about their favorite ILS memories and traditions, words of wisdom they’ve received over the years, and other reflections from their years here with us at ILS. We hope that you will enjoy these reflections, and join with us in congratulating and celebrating these students!

Hymn of the Week: May 4-8 LSB 458: Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands

“Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands” is Martin Luther’s hymn for Easter Day. It is still the Easter season, so we are still singing Easter hymns! The first half of stanza 1 tells us the story of Easter, how Christ who once was dead—he “lay in death’s strong bands”—now is risen and reigns at God the Father’s right hand in heaven. Luther then tells us that because of this, we should be joyful and sing Alleluia!

Luther describes death as strong—“death’s strong bands”. We certainly know this is true. Death seems scary and final. But Jesus went to suffer and die for us—“for our offenses given”. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are joyful. Death has been defeated! Jesus rose again and destroyed death’s strength. Now, even though we die, we shall live.

Comp. of the Week: April 27-May 1 Georges Bizet (1838-1875) Prélude to Carmen

Georges Bizet (George BEE-zay) wrote the opera Carmen. An opera is a story told through song. An opera prelude is the music that you hear right before the opera begins. Preludes generally include the melodies of songs you will hear later in the opera. Bizet’s Prélude to Carmen has a lively and energetic opening marked with the use of timpani, cymbals, and triangles. The opening is followed by a more lyrical aria that you will hear later in the opera, and the prelude concludes with more fast and exciting music. Bizet wants the music to sound like crowds gathering for a bullfight.

Class of 2020 Meet Us Monday: Parker W.

We are counting down to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and it is a particularly bittersweet time for our 8th grade students as they prepare to graduate under very unusual circumstances. To help celebrate and recognize our ILS Class of 2020, we are again launching our “Meet Us Monday” blog series to introduce you to the members of this year’s graduating class.

Each week, we will be sharing interviews that we have done with each of our 8th grade students, in which they share more about their favorite ILS memories and traditions, words of wisdom they’ve received over the years, and other reflections from their years here with us at ILS. We hope that you will enjoy these reflections, and join with us in congratulating and celebrating these students!