Wearing the #10 jersey, Zion Lutheran School Principal and teacher, Janet Pawlak, poses with students and teachers along with special guest, Ballwinkle, of the Binghamton Mets baseball team. They are pictured in the gymnasium at the school following a volleyball game on “Sports Day,” part of a week long schedule of events showcasing National Luthern Schools Week, Jan. 25 through Jan. 29. Zion Lutheran School is located at 3917 Waverly Rd. in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Zion Lutheran School students and Ballwinkle, of the Binghamton Mets baseball team, are ready for action during a volleyball game played on “Sports Day” at the school on Jan. 25, part of a week long schedule of events showcasing National Lutheran Schools Week. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Ballwinkle, of the Binghamton Mets baseball team, takes a break from volleyball action and entertains students at Zion Lutheran School in Owego, N.Y. on Jan. 25. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
From left, Hannah Hayes and her grandmother, Pat Quick, assemble an igloo made out of milk cartons at Grandparents Day held on Jan. 27 at Zion Lutheran School during National Lutheran Schools Week. (Provided photo)
From left, Linda Williams and her grandson, Robbie Shumaker, tie a fleece pillow together on Jan. 27 during Grandparents Day, part of the National Lutheran Schools Week celebration held at Zion Lutheran School in Owego, N.Y. (Provided photo)
During the week of Jan. 25, students and teachers from Zion Lutheran School located at 3917 Waverly Rd. in Owego, N.Y., celebrated “National Lutheran Schools Week.” Nationwide, nearly 2,300 preschools, elementary, and high schools took part in the National Lutheran Schools Week, which includes the approximately 50 students in Pre-K through sixth grade at Zion Lutheran, along with teachers and staff.
Established in 1981, Zion Lutheran School in Owego is the only preschool through sixth grade Lutheran school in the Southern Tier. According to their mission statement, Zion Lutheran provides spiritual, emotional, physical, social and intellectual learning along with multiple objectives focused on Christian values.
Zion Lutheran School Principal, Janet Pawlak, who also holds a dual role as a fourth through sixth grade teacher, shared, “National Lutheran Schools Week is an opportunity to let the public know who we are and what we have to offer.”
St. Patrick’s School in Owego, which had served the community for 150 years, closed its doors in June 2015, which in turn left limited choices for parents seeking private, faith-based education. Zion Lutheran welcomed a few of those students into their classrooms in the fall of 2015.
Kindergarten and first grade teacher Heather Roseboom helped organize the National Lutheran Schools Week events, including the well-received “Sports Day” on Jan. 25. Faculty and students wore their favorite sports team jerseys and played several rounds of volleyball with special guest, “Ballwinkle,” from the Binghamton Mets baseball team. Ballwinkle was a big hit and showed off his unique serving technique and whimsical style on the court. The gymnasium was full of cheers and excitement as teachers took a turn on the court to play opposite the students, while Ballwinkle offered up offensive strategy on the student’s team.
Throughout Lutheran Schools Week, a different activity was showcased each day. On Sunday, Jan. 24, children sang during the 10:30 a.m. church service and Tuesday opened doors for family and friends during Open House, which also featured a crazy hat and hair day.
Grandparents and students participated in various projects and games on Wednesday at Grandparents Day, and on Thursday stuffed animals were invited to school for a slumber party while students got cozy in their pajamas and sleeping bags for Pajama Day. Friday morning took the children to Riverview Manor in Owego to sing for residents on Service Day, and concluded in the afternoon with a round of bowling for Tioga County Rural Ministry.
Zion Lutheran School offers a full curriculum with individual attention. Special classes are offered, including music and instrumental lessons, art, gym and the library, as well as introduction to Spanish and Keyboarding, among others. Classroom field trips, an updated playground, and other benefits make for a well-rounded education and experience at Zion Lutheran School.
Zion Lutheran Church opened a preschool program in 1981, and since then the school has grown into multi-grade classrooms for children of both parishioners and the community.
For more information about Zion Lutheran School, visit their website, zionowego.org and select “About School,” or call the school at (607) 687-6376.
