“A man reaps what he sows…the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life” Galations 6:7-8

Principals Corner
A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.  Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different.  He called all the young executives in his company together.  He said,”It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO.  I have decided to choose one of you.” The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today-one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.” One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story.  She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.  Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by-still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. 
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.  Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful-in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, and a few felt sorry for him!  When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. ”My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed to next CEO!” All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot.  He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired.” When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed-Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked straight at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next CEO! His name is JIM.
Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.  How could he be the new CEO? Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today.  But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead-it was not possible for them to grow.  All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plant and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new CEO!”
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest.
Paul wrote to the church at Galatia,”What you sow, so shall you reap.” Let’s sow the incorruptible seed of God’s Word daily into our lives! What we plant now; will determine what we reap later.
Mr. Acker

Hot Lunch Menu
Mon. – Burritos
Tues. – Spaghetti w/ red sauce, Gr. beans
Wed. - Mashed Potatoes, Breaded Steaks
Th. – Mushroom or Cheese Pizza
                   
Upcoming Dates
May 20 –HMS Open House, 1-4pm
May 22 – Kindergarten Graduation @ 7pm
May 23 – 8^th grade Graduation @ 7pm
May 25 – Last day of School!
K thru 4^th Grades
1.      Next week will be a busy week, here’s a tentative schedule;
Monday: Kindergarten Graduation rehearsal, 
                DIEBEL Testing
Tuesday: Kindergarten Graduation rehearsal, DIEBEL Testing, Kindergarten Graduation @ 7pm in the Campion Church Fellowship Hall
Wednesday: DIEBEL Testing, Scrapbook photo project, 8^th grade Graduation @ 7pm in Campion Church
Thursday: *Picnic @ Northshore Park, 10-2, Clean room thoroughly (warning – kids will come home with full bags of stuff)
Friday: Classroom Awards, Party and Goodbyes
*Note: On Thursday, we will go to the park for a picnic to celebrate summer birthdays. Pack a sack lunch. Drinks, chips and dessert will be provided.
 

      K-4^th Upcoming Event
May 20 – HMS Open House, 1-4 – If you know of anyone who is interested in Christian Education, please give us their name and address so we can send them an invitation.
May 22 – Kindergarten Graduation
May 24 – Picnic, celebrate summer Birthdays
5^th thru 8^th Grades
Poetry:

5^th – 50 lines
   6^th – 60
   7^th - 70 
   8^th – 80
 

Outside reading:

5^th – 400 pages
                6^th – 500
                         7^th & 8^th – 600

 Thank You!
The Teachers and Staff want to express our Thanks to all the Parents and Students who made “Teacher Appreciation Week” so special.
 

HMS Open House
Sunday, May 20^th – 1-4
We would love to have you come and visit the school. Come and meet the new principal and upper grades teacher – Davin Hammond, the new middle grades and Music Teacher – Connie Schlotthauer, look at the new Pathways Reading Program for grades 1-4 and talk to the teacher – Susie Braman, and tour the classrooms.
Refreshments will be served.
See you soon!
HMS Richards Staff
 

Sports 2007-2008
In planning ahead for the 07/08 sports year at HMS, we would like the children and parents to drop a list by the office, or e-mail to principal@hmsrichards.net,  their suggested sports that the kids would like to participate in and sports that parents would be willing and able to coach.
Thank you!
Amber Weber, Sports Director
Note from Treasurer
We are rapidly coming to the end of the school year. Please make sure your accounts are current. If needed please contact Jennifer Acker @ 443-3518 to make arrangements. Thank you.