Example's Christmas Party

Giving and receiving gifts are a part of Christmas. At the Example Christmas event there were gifts given, gifts received, and thanks for the greatest given to mankind: Christ our redeemer. 

Nearly fifty students attended the  Example Christmas party. Justin was also at the Christmas event and shared his story about his descent into drug addiction, the many struggles he faced because of it, and his life of recovery.  Justin, a recovering heroin addict, encouraged everyone in attendance to understand that the decisions we make always have consequences. Those consequences will be good or bad, depending on who they involve and how honest they are. After Justin's presentation we prayed for guidance and that the Lord would strengthen all of us to make healthy, drug-free decisions. It was great to hear Justin's story. 

From there the night involved Santa's Scooter Sleigh Race, a white elephant gift exchange, and the ugliest as well as the most creative Christmas sweater and costume.

Here are a few pictures and a short video that recap the evening. 

Thank you to everyone who attended. Spending a Saturday night at the school was never so important and so much fun.

Parents, Please Be Vigilant

Mason Mizwicki's story is tragic for so many reasons.

On Dec. 31, 2014, Mason Mizwicki was a fun-loving 16-year-old headed to a New Year’s Eve party.
That New Year’s Day, his family was grieving his death and planning a funeral.
The linebacker and academic standout from Watervliet High School had taken three methadone pills at the party. When friends noticed him struggling, they encouraged him to sleep it off, but he’d never wake up again. An accidental drug overdose took his life at 9 a.m. that morning.


"Where do they get them? Most often from the medicine cabinets of their families, friends and acquaintances. Huyser said she’s heard of young people attending open houses of strangers to raid their medicine cabinets and purchasing drugs online."

Continue reading the rest of this story...

Parents, be vigilant and always teaching. Always teaching.

Example Trunk or Treat

Decorate your car and be a part of Example's Trunk or Treat event 

on Saturday, October 27 from 4:00 -5:30 p.m.

Students in Example will decorate their cars 

and hand out candy to the young children in our community. 

There are a limited number of spaces, so contact Mr. Brandt to reserve your parking spot. 

Don't drive? No problem.

 Have mom or dad park the car while you decorate it.

Can't make the Trunk or Treat event? No problem.

From 5:30 - 6:30  

there will be a costume contest, pumpkin-carved contest, and best-decorated car contest.

Donuts and cider will also be available after the youngsters have received their sugary treats.

Example's First Event of the Year

We are excited about beginning the 2018 - 2019 school year!

Sure there might be a bit of construction dust, but that adds to the excitement: football games, choir concerts, recitations, running the mile, bumps, sets and spikes, hallway laughter, hearing we are alive in the mercy of Christ, artistic creations, theatrical performances and ............

Example. 

Our first event of the year is on Saturday, September 15 from 7-9 p.m. The cost is $3.00. There is no need to sign up. All you need to do is show up and be prepared to have fun, make a difference and receive encouragement to have a great high school experience without drugs and alcohol.  

Here's a snippet of what last year's first event was like.

Support Example by Supporting FAN

FAN has been a tremendous resource for Example. Help support this group by Running Drugs Out of Town.

Prom Week: Ken Daniels

Ken Daniels spoke to Lutheran North's student body during Prom week about his son's tragic death from drug addiction. Here are some excerpts from the presentation that everyone needs to see.

Prom Week: Day Five

The hallways were easier to navigate. The lunch lines much shorter than normal. More importantly, juniors had the chance to park in the coveted senior parking lot.  With seniors not in school today because of Prom, the juniors had a taste of what it will be like as leaders of the school. 

Two juniors addressed the student body and explained why drugs and alcohol will not be a part of their Prom plans this weekend.

 

"Hi, I’m Jackson and I will not be drinking or doing drugs tonight.  A common misconception told to us is that it’s easy to “just say no.” Peer pressure and the idea of seeming cool may be why you are thinking of drinking tonight. And while it may not be easy to say no to your friends, that’s much easier than drinking and then getting in a life-changing accident and calling your parents saying all the time and money they’ve spent on you with school and athletics has gone to waste and that their life is forever changed. 

Along with your parents, imagine calling your coaches, who you have been training with for three years now, and saying all the effort they put into you is a waste and you won’t be able to play with them for your senior year.  You will have let  your teammates down by not playing side-by-side with them. And let’s say you don’t get in an accident, but are pulled over by the police.  Imagine getting a DUI and an MIP before you become a senior.  Your driver’s license will be taken away, your parents’ trust – gone. Your hope of getting into your dream school are gone and if you‘ve worked your whole life to be a college athlete, your dreams are gone forever.

All of this for a night, you won’t even remember, because you wanted to be “cool.”

Thanks and Go Mustangs.

 

"Hi, I'm Kendall and I'm a junior at Lutheran North.  Here are a few reasons I won’t drink or do drugs at Prom:

For those of you who don’t know me, I love soccer. Right now we’re in the middle of the season and I’m not going to let it slow down my performance. I can’t let my team down and not be allowed to play.

College applications start this summer and I don’t want to have a setback already.  I want to get into college. I want to have fun at Prom and have good memories, not just good pictures to look at. I want this first Prom to be fun.  I also want to be an Example to underclassmen.  I encourage you to not drink and use drugs, not only for yourself, but also for your parents, friends, teachers and teammates. 

Please know that you are not alone. The speakers you have heard this week prove that.

Finally.

“Donʼt let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” - I Timothy 4:12

 

 

As of today there are 111 Lutheran North students who signed the Example PROMise.  Thank you for encouraging others by being a visible Example with your signature, your decisions and your actions.

 

Prom Week: Day Four

Today, two more students involved in Example explained to the student body why they will not be using drugs or alcohol this Prom weekend.

Thank you, Blaire and Paxton, for your courage to be involved in Example and for encouraging others to make healthy, God-pleasing decisions.

Prom Week: Day Three

After this morning's school devotions, Jordan explained to the student body her reasons for not drinking at Prom this weekend.

Good morning, everyone!

My name is Jordan and I would like to tell you that I won’t be drinking before, during, or after Prom. I would also like to invite you to join me. But instead of telling you what I don’t want to do on Prom night, I want to tell you about the things I do want to do on that night.

I want to take fun pictures with my friends. I want to stay on the dance floor all night. I want to sing the lyrics to every song as loud as I can. I want to make memories I will never forget and I want to return home safely at the end of the night, so I can wake up the next day and experience graduating in a few weeks.

If I drink, I can’t do those things.

At the end of the day, only you can make the choice whether to drink or not. I can’t make it for you. But, I can tell you that if you choose not to drink, you are not alone. I, and many others, will be standing beside you and encouraging you to remain alcohol free on Prom night. When the night is over, you will have to deal with the consequences..will you be able to look in the mirror and like what you see?

Thank you and have a great Prom night!

Students have also been signing Example PROMise sheets to encourage themselves and others to have a fun, and memorable, and safe, and selfie-taking, good-food-eating, drug and alcohol free Prom.  There is still plenty of room left on the wall for more PROMise sheets. Stop by Mr. Brandt's room, sign a sheet, get your Example wristband, and make a difference.

Prom Week: Day Two

Ken Daniels, play-by-play broadcaster for the Detroit Red Wings, spoke to Lutheran North's student body about the tragic death of his son, Jamie from a drug overdose.  Mr. Daniels' candor, compassion, and desire to make a difference is the reason he shared his family's tragic story.
One of Example’s goals is to encourage young men and women to make safe, healthy, and God-pleasing choices. Each year during Prom week, Example asks someone to address the student body so students may be encouraged to make alcohol and drug-free decisions.  This year Ken Daniels delivered an outstanding presentation concerning the dangers of drug use and they need to get this epidemic out in the open so everyone can deal with the horrific consequences.

-Video of this presentation will be made available at a later date.

 Here are some of Mr. Daniels' insights from the presentation:

"Jamie was lovely, loyal and he was so caring - always on the lookout for his best friend, his sister, during his time at Michigan State.

Jamie was about a whole lot more than his addiction. He wanted a better life, but addiction got a hold of him and it just wouldn’t let go.

Prescription drugs last year took more lives in Florida, where Jamie wound up passing, than cocaine and heroin combined. Four out of five heroin users started on prescription pain killers.

We need to talk about it. For the longest time we were ashamed of it…We can’t be scared to talk about addiction, both for the person suffering and for those affected by that person. To suffer in silence just worsens the epidemic. So let’s talk. We all have to join the conversation. That’s caring. That’s friendship. That’s loyalty. And that was my son.

We will continue to pray for Mr. Daniels’ family and for all families dealing with this deadly epidemic.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”   II Corinthians 1:3-4

Prom Week: Day One

It's Prom week and Example is doing all it can to encourage students to make safe and God-pleasing decisions not to use drugs or alcohol.

This week, before each chapel, several students will explain why

drugs and alcohol will not be a part of their Prom plans. Today, seniors Michael and Rachel addressed the student body and explained why they will enjoy a great Prom, have fun with their friends, and have so many memories all without the use of drugs and alcohol. Thank you for your encouragement and your willingness to make a difference.

 

 Rachel's Four Reasons For You to Read:

1. I’ve been waiting for this night. I’ve been preparing for this night for a long time. I want to remember dancing and having fun with my friends, Lindsey and Elli
2. I don’t want my date to worry about me.  I’m already a handful so I don’t want Jake to have another reason to worry about me.
3. I’m an athlete and play soccer here at Lutheran North. I don’t want to jeopardize the team or myself or deal with the mental, emotional, physical or spiritual consequences.
4. Finally, I want to be an example. I want people to see me dancing and having fun and know I’m doing that without relying on drugs or alcohol.
   

Hello, my name is Michael and I am a member of Example. Today I will be speaking to you on why I will not be doing drugs or consuming alcohol before, during, during and after Prom.
    The use of drugs and alcohol impairs your decision making and reaction time which can have dangerous consequences especially when driving. I, unfortunately, knew a man who was killed by a driver under the influence. It does happen and it is dangerous to think you will never be the one to cause an accident because you can supposedly handle the effects of drugs or alcohol.
    Like many of you, I am not just responsible for myself, but also for my date. I love her and need to keep her safe, not only for her parents but for her Heavenly Father as well.  Value comes from who she is. I will stay sober to keep her safe on the road and all other stages of the night.
    For the seniors, graduation is right around the corner. It'll be a great time filled with joy with friends and family. We have all worked hard over the past four years to get here and our parents and loved ones can't wait to see us walk across that stage at graduation. That is not something I am willing to risk for one night.
    For many, college follows. We have all worked really hard to get accepted into our colleges so why put the next four years in jeopardy for one night?
    Your decisions have consequences that can last for the rest of your lives.  Please think before you act - if not for yourselves then for your parents, friends, and loved ones.
    I hope you all have a great time.

 

Students are also signing Example PROMise contracts. It's a great way to let our community know that there are many young men and women making safe, God-pleasing decisions. We post these in the main hallway to remind students that there are a lot of students who are making safe, healthy, God-pleasing decisions this weekend.

Thank you, everyone.

 

Congratulations and Thank You

Congratulations, Jordan Prisby!

For her leadership and involvement with Example, Lutheran North’s anti-drug/alcohol group, Jordan was honored with the Macomb County Prevention Coalition’s Student Leader Award.  Macomb County Prosecutor, Eric Smith recognized young men and women in Macomb County who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their schools and communities. 

Jordan has been involved with Example for four years. Her leadership and encouragement have helped make a difference in the Lutheran North community. She encourages others with her words and actions and is proof that drugs and alcohol do not have to be a part of the high school experience.  

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Prisby for raising your daughter in the instruction, care and love of Christ.

Thank you, Jordan, for your encouragement, for your leadership, and for being an Example for others to follow.

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - I Timothy 4:12

Example Winter Olympics 2018

Over sixty athletes competed in the Example Winter Olympics. Because of their willingness to make a difference, they are all gold medal winners.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

Watch this trailer for the PBS special, Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

Let the Games Begin!

After four years of training, dreaming, and stretching, Example Olympics returns on Saturday, February 24, from 7-9 p.m.

Countries will be competing against each other in some of the most grueling Example Winter Olympic competitions known to man. Here are just a few of the death-defying events

Human Luge: scooters and an obstacle course that will make American Ninja Warrior look like a preschool playground.

Biathlon: guns and skis

Curling: scooters and eye-hand coordination and humanity

Bobsled: Plastic sleds and bobs and the football field and snow and stadium lights and brute strength

Hockey Shootout: hockey sticks and tennis balls and goalie masks. Why masks? Safety first, people. Safety first!

See you on Saturday, February 24.