2 An Amazing Place The Bargain Garden has undergone an “extreme makeover” and is now in a larger, more easily accessible location.

4 A Vision of the Future Teacher Jenny Retzlaff inspires students to apply physics to their daily lives.

6 Outdoor Classroom Honoring the memory of Ian Mack.

8 FVL Schools FVL Schools partner in a joint effort to make a difference.

10 Success? What makes for a successful legacy?

12 FVL News

13 FVL Reunion Spot Is your class reunion coming up soon? Check out the dates and contacts!

How true the comment that amidst

change, some things never change. While we

continue to look at new and varied ways to

share the FVL story with you, our mission of

providing a Christian education and training

our students for lives of service and preparing

them for eternity remains constant.

With this “new-look” publication, we are

introducing a new format of delivering the

FVL message intended for the Alumni and

Friends of FVL. We have consolidated several

publications into this one, and intend to share

it with you three times a year. Not only does it

save money, but it also allows us to provide a

nicer publication.

We give thanks and praise to God for placing

you in our lives with your prayers, service and

financial support. In times such as this, we

need that support more than ever.

We hope you enjoy the update and story

format and invite your comments. Submit

them to either phartwig@fvlhs.org or

rfischer@fvlhs.org.

Your continued support of the FVL teen

ministry is greatly appreciated.

Paul M. Hartwig, Principal

Welcometo our new look!

Legacy is published three

times annually. Our goal is

to keep FVL graduates and

supporters in touch with their

high school.

Legacy is an official publica-

tion of . . .

Fox Valley Lutheran H.S.

5300 N. Meade Street

Appleton, WI 54913-8383.

For further information, con-

tact the FVL Communications

Office at (920) 739-4441.

Editor

Dave Payne

Editorial Asst.

Sharon Ragner

On the web at www.fvlhs.org

february 2010

2

12

10

2 3

Some places are amazing because of where they are

located and the vistas they afford us, or because of the

people that live there. It’s exciting to be with the rich

and famous. And some places are amazing because of

the support they provide to people and communities.

Today’s Bargain Garden is located at 2725 N. Meade

Street in Appleton. “Hands down” — it is an

amazing place!

This familiar thrift store first opened its doors in April

of 1992. The location then was the far west end of

College Avenue in downtown Appleton. The goal was

to provide financial help on non-budgetary items at

Fox Valley Lutheran High School.

Lots of work went into opening that first store.

Finding a site, recruiting volunteers, outfitting and

stocking the store, receiving and sorting donations,

creating a constitution, securing a board of directors.

Early leaders even took “field trips” to other high

school thrift shops around the state.

The first Board of Directors included Krista Davis,

Donna King, Pam Plamann, Cindy Raatz and June

Vandenberg. Volunteers from those early years

remember how the whole building would shake when

trains went by since the back door was 50 feet away

from the tracks! Nonetheless, a network of faithful

workers from across the Federation

regularly staffed the store coming

from as far away as Weyauwega,

Green Bay, Morrison, and more.

Since that time, those volunteers

have successfully turned donations

of clothing and household items into

cash. They have seen one person’s

“give-away” turn into someone else’s

“treasure.” Over the past 18 years,

the Bargain Garden has been blessed

by God to provide $331,000 of non-

budgetary support to FVL and over

$30,000 of support to other WELS

ministries. That is an amazing statistic

when you consider many items sell for

under $1!

Last November, the Bargain Garden

moved to its new home — the

former Ford Rexall Pharmacy at the

corner of Northland and Meade on

Appleton’s northside. This is the

store’s third move after “setting up

shop” on Wisconsin Avenue in 1999.

The new store has allowed them to

expand their offerings and even begin

selling smaller furniture items. A

short video about the store “change-

over” debuted last fall. If you haven’t

seen it, you can find it on the FVL

website at www.fvlhs.org.

The joys the Bargain Garden provides

are many. Volunteers enjoy working

with people from other Federation

churches. Going to “work” where your

main purpose is helping our high

school ministry makes volunteering

even more rewarding. Others enjoy

the chance to donate their “gently

used goods” to a good cause. Faithful

shoppers have followed the store from

College Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue

to Meade Street, becoming friends with

the volunteer staff over the 18 years.

Some “BG” volunteers have also been

around since the store first opened.

There are so many ways to say

“thank you” to the Lord for His

goodness. The Bargain Garden gives

Christian stewards a chance to turn

their time and talent into service for

the Lord’s kingdom. Volunteers are

always welcome.

So, do you want to see something

amazing? Do you want to see “love

in action?” Stop in the new Bargain

Garden at 2725 N. Meade Street. You

won’t be disappointed!

Wisconsin Avenue — the Bargain Garden location for 10 years!

Amazingan

place

Volunteer Dennis Prahl of Riverview Lutheran welcomes visitors to the Bargain Garden.

Check out the variety of items for sale at the Bargain Garden!

Jenny Retzlaff teaches in the FVL Science

Department as a physics teacher. She has been a positive

addition to our faculty because she brings a passion for

physics to her classroom that is being “caught” by her

students. Mrs. Retzlaff’s approach has led some students to

say, “I don’t think I can do anything from now on without

thinking about physics!”

Having the gift of applying science to students’ daily lives

makes science real and fun for students to study. Evidence

of this excitement is that there are about 130 succeeding

and engaged students taking her physics class. That’s an

amazing number considering that most students consider

physics to be “one big word problem” that can’t be solved.

Jenny’s vision for the future of physics at FVL is to teach

students scientific thinking and experimenting using

“modeling.” Modeling encourages students to take what

they know to be true, test that truth, and find out if they

were right or wrong. Mrs. Retzlaff says, “When students get

out of college, their whole life will become an application of

what they have learned. They will need to be able to create

their own experiments and come to their own conclusions

based on the findings of the experiments.” Student discovery

should continue to replace the teacher-led method.

As a Christian teacher, regardless of the method used, Jenny

strives to show her students the order and balance of God’s

creation in the light of God’s Word. The study of physics helps

the students realize all the blessings God has intended for

them in His creation.

Jenny also loves to model the fact that in today’s changing

world, careers in science aren’t just for men. Across the

country and around the world, women comprise a fast-

growing segment of the talented engineers, scientists,

biologists and others who are setting the pace in advancing

technology. They are bringing warmth and depth to the

profession that will only improve the work accomplished.

Mrs. Retzlaff is happy to be at FVL. She is excited to teach

our young people. Those feelings are evident in her ministry

statement. She says, “When I think of my ministry here at

FVL, I can’t help but think of all the blessings the Lord has

given me in such a short

time. Each day I cherish

the opportunity to study

with my students the

physical world designed

by God. I pray that

through our studies they

will develop a greater

appreciation for the

complexity and order

within His creation and in

turn are excited to apply

that knowledge outside

the classroom.”

Vision for the Future

Students Carlos Hernandez and Derek Kempf brace themselves to use their own energy to cre-ate some measurable force on the poised paddles.

4 5

7

Memorial Outdoor Classroom Created on Campus

Imagine one of those warm

spring days where the sun is

shining and the snow is gone.

And you have to be “locked” in a

classroom! Starting this spring,

FVL teachers and students will

have the option of taking their

class outside and utilizing our

new outdoor classroom.

Work on this unique teaching

environment — created in

memory of 2001 graduate Ian

Mack — began last fall. A ring

of trees was planted. A curb

border was laid out. Benches to

seat 28 students and a teaching

station will be installed later

this year. Shredded bark has

been added to make this a very

natural setting.

Ian loved the outdoors. The

Mack family feels the creation

of this outdoor learning center

will be a wonderful way to honor

their son’s spirit and memory

and serve both FVL and our

FVL Schools partners.

Ian was a member of the first

class (2001) to graduate from

the Meade Street campus. His

family moved to Appleton

from Milwaukee when he was

a junior. Being a new student

at that time in one’s life can be

difficult. Yet, Ian — with his

ready smile and positive regard

for people — fit right in and was

accepted immediately, creating

friendships that still honor his

memory even today.

Ian’s mom, Shelley, says, “FVL

has been a blessing to our

family and to Ian. It’s amazing

how the Christian friends Ian

made during his years at FVL

remained his closest friends

to the time of his death. Those

same friends still make a point

to keep in touch with our family.

That truly speaks volumes for

Christian love, encouraged

through a school such as FVL.”

Adults often wonder, “Who is going to

take our place as leaders in the world

and in the church? Where are our

young people?” Our young people are

all around us and they are amazing!

They are gifts to us from God. These

gifts are being nurtured in Christian

homes and churches. That nurturing

is taught and caught daily in our

Christians schools.

The mission of FVL is “to prepare

teens for lives of service and for

eternity.” That mission is made

possible by your leadership,

encouragement and support. Thank

you for helping prepare the next

generation to carry on the work of

teaching the world, by God’s words

and their actions, to see the love of

Jesus more clearly and to love Him

more dearly.

6

9

Recently everyone has

been riveted to their

TVs watching the

coverage of the terrible

destruction caused

by the earthquake

in Haiti. It is heart

breaking to watch

both the children

and adults suffering

from the lack of food,

water, and even the most basic of

necessities. As Christians, such

tragedies are calls to action for us all

to put our faith in action.

In that same spirit, Fox Valley

Lutheran High School and all the

22 FVL Schools are partnering this

spring to prepare nearly 300,000

meals for starving children in

Zambia. FVL’s gym will be turned

into a food packaging facility on

April 22 & 23 as 2,700-plus students

from grades K-12 work together

creating nourishing food packets

that will be delivered to needy

children in this African nation.

Many of the elementary schools

dedicated their 2nd quarter mission

offerings to this important effort.

Beautiful full-color display boards

were distributed to all the schools

in early November. As of February

1, over 130,000 meals have been

sponsored. Several schools have

already met their goals and others are

continuing to work at meeting theirs.

FVL students were introduced to

this effort in December and early

January. Every student and staff

member is being encouraged to try

to give a dollar each week to make

a difference in the lives of these

children. Faculty mentors led a

special Bible study focused on having

students and faculty alike count

their blessings and look to discover

ways they can help provide meals for

the hungry and homeless. At only

15 cents a meal, we are hoping that

everyone can help in a significant

way.

Students are being given a variety

of ways to contribute: collecting

change in Children Feeding

Thousands packing bags, donating

by making wise lunch choices,

volunteering at special events, and

more. Student Council members

staffed the coat check at the local

Red Smith Awards Banquet and

raised $185 in tips. That translates

Interested in helping support this effort?The FVL Schools will continue to raise funds to provide meals for the starving children of Zambia until early April. Every 15 cents raised provides another meal. Save your change and drop it off at any FVL School to help us meet our goal of providing a complete shipment con-tainer of 285,000 nutritious meals.

to over 1,200 meals. “Comfy Days”

on semester test days raised $365, or

about 2,500 meals.

The actual packing days in April will

be days like none we have ever seen

at our schools. Between the two days

over 2,700 students will be part of

this amazing service project. Details

are still being worked out; however,

student groups will work in shifts

of about an hour at a time. A brief

devotion and short training session

will begin the experience. Next the

groups — comprised of students

from kindergarten through grade 12

and teachers — will head to the gym

to pack the food bags and fill them

with rice, vegetables, and the other

vitamin-rich ingredients supplied by

Impact Lives (formerly Kids Against

Hunger). The bags will be weighed,

sealed, packed, and transported to

the shipment

container. Each

shipping box will

also include “Jesus” cards created by

the preschoolers from FVL Schools

partners. The final stop will be for

groups to pray over their work and

have a chance to hear about the

mission work in Zambia from Abbie

(Gunn) Fischer who grew up in

Zambia as the daughter of Missionary

Jeffrey Gunn.

What a wonderful way for students of

all ages to use their talents to help the

less fortunate of our world! We ask

for God’s blessings on this effort — to

touch lives around the world so that

others may come to know the love of

the Lord!

FVL Schools Join toFeed Starving Children

8

Mom and Dad were just ordinary people. Mom made a house a home. Dad drove

a bulldozer earning what he could, loving his wife and children. When Mom died,

her estate was valued at $3,000. Were they “successful” in life? Did they leave a

legacy to their family and the world?

Thank God for Mom and

Dad and other moms

and dads who have left

this legacy for their

families and the world.

Notes from the Ladies GuildA recent FVL Ladies Guild meeting found the members reflecting on their

thanks for Christian Education . . .

1110

Were Mom and DadSuccessful?

Louise Ebert Thankful for a good Christian

education. School creates good

study habits.

Karen Borchert

Am thankful for a Christian

education.

Cheryl Poehlman

FVL helped Dave and I raise our

children to be fine Christian adults.

Carol Mogensen Because when you enter the doors

of FVL, you feel God’s presence and

His rich blessings.

Eileen Weeks

Fox Valley has provided a quality

education for many students.

Seven of my grandchildren will

benefit from this education.

Milly Romberg

I’m thankful for FVL because it has

helped many find their way to our

Savior and then heaven.

Emily Rau

FVL trains our children for life

in the world. It also encourages

pastor/teacher candidates

(important work in this

sinful world).

Carol Wohlrabe

I’m thankful for FVL because the

students can hear of God’s love

each day in their studies.

Jane Cleven

For blessing our children with

the gospel message and Christian

friends for life.

Sandy Wiley

I’m thankful for FVL where my

children and grandchildren can

have the Word of God taught in

its truth and purity along with the

subjects they study.

Jeannie Krause

I’m thankful every day for God

granting me eternal life.

Jeanne Payne

Thankful for the Christian

education for my children

and grandchildren.

Elsie Mattek

I’m thankful for FVL because my

children were able to get a Christ-

centered education. It’s important

in this world of materialism

and secularism.

Arlene Drews

My four children had the privilege

of FVL schooling — two married

classmates and our oldest

granddaughter also married a

classmate and these three Christian

homes began at FVL. His love

endures forever — Glory to God!

Through proper planning, Mom and

Dad made sure that their children

were given . . .

1. A strong Christian heritage based

on scripture and confirmed by a

Christian lifestyle. They went to

church regularly and took their

children with them.

2. An honorable and a just name

which allowed their children to be

proud to be a child in their family.

3. A solid education so that their

children could provide for

themselves and their family.

4. An appreciation for the value of

work and service as a gift of God

to give their lives meaning.

Mom and Dad continued the legacy

they had received and left to their

children and grandchildren . . .

1. A strong church in which to

worship and serve.

2. A Christian system of education

that teaches children not only how

to earn a living, but how to live a

life for Christ.

3. A mission field in which to serve

So, were Mom and Dad successful?

ABSOLUTELY!

Their children came to know Jesus as

their Savior. Their church and synod

and its system of Christian education,

through their lifelong service and

financial support, remain strong

to share that good news with the grandchildren of the world, not just their own.

FVL News

13

198525 years!

199910 years!

197535 years!

199020 years!

Date June 19, 2010

Place Pullman’s in Appleton

Contact Sue Barber4barbers5775@sbcglobal.net(920) 739-9457

Date June 26, 2010

Place Appleton Yacht Club

Contact Bob Rivers(920) 660-1856Toorivers2@yahoo.comFacebook: Fox Valley Lutheran High School 1985 Alumni

Date Weekend of July 10, 2010

Place Friday - FVL tour and icebreaker at local establishmentSaturday - Golfing at St. Patrick’s and Family Picnic at Memorial Park

Contact Kim VanCalster Fenske(920) 336-5868fenskeseven@sbcglobal.netFacebook: FVL Class of 1990

Plans are being made now!

Contact Justin Kruegerjustinwkrueger@yahoo.com

Date August 27, 2010

Place Liberty Hall

Start thinking about an auction item you can bring to our auction. Funds raised will benefit FVL

Contact Joyce Beyer (Muskevitch) for more details(920) 733-2792

196050 years!

Alumni, be sure to keep us up-to-date on your current address and email address! rfischer@fvlhs.orgUpdates

• GrowinginGrace is the building debt campaign intended to retire the

mortgage on the FVL campus by the year 2020. In 2000, the mortgage was

$6.2 million. Today, the mortgage stands at $3.295 million. Through the

years hundreds of faithful donors have said “thank you” to their Lord by

gifting to this effort. Their gifts have kept the cost of the building debt from

impacting the tuition charged FVL students. The gift goal for fiscal year 2009-

2010 is $400,000. Half way through the fiscal year, we have received gifts of

$183,802. As you consider ways to say your personal “thanks” to the Lord for

what He’s done for you, please consider gifting to GrowinginGrace. You can

donate online by going to www.fvlhs.org and click on the “Donate” button.

• Senior Martina Sieker (St. John,

Wrightstown) was named a

semi-finalist in the National

Merit Scholarship program. FVL

has consistently produced NM

Scholars over the past decade.

• Senior Grace Abitz was named

Post-Crescent golfer of the year,

and junior Trent Allison was the

Post-Crescent soccer player of

the year. Junior Paul Stuebs was

featured in SportsIllustrated

“Faces in the Crowd” for his

efforts during the WIAA

soccer tournament.

• Congratulations to the boy’s

soccer team for

capturing the Division

2 state championship.

FVL was also

awarded the WIAA

Sportsmanship award

for soccer.

• Registration

for next year’s freshman class is

going on now. Presently, 115 8th

grade students have registered

and scheduled for next year. We

hope for a class of 130. Please

encourage parents of 8th graders

you know to consider FVL for

their child.

• A new FVL Cookbook is in the

works! Watch for it in the fall!

• Custom Foxes

gear is available

on-line! FVL

has an on-line

store through the

print-on-demand internet

business, Zazzle. Some items

can even be customized with

a year of graduation and/or

a name. Find the link on the

bottom right of the FVL home

page. Check it out!

12

Reunion SpotCheck out the FVL website for updates! www.fvlhs.org

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