NATIONAL LUTHERAN SCHOOL'S WEEK OBSERVED

Students at Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau filled a time capsule this week with items they felt exemplified 1998.

The time capsule was among events held during National Lutheran Schools Week this week.

The plastic container will be stored in the school's supply room to be opened in 25 years.

Students included Beanie Babies, report cards, pennies and class pictures. First graders made a video tape of themselves then wondered if any VCRs would be around in a quarter century to view the tape. Students made books and wrote letters to themselves. They placed a Bible, a cross and a piece of chalk in the container.

"Will there be chalk 25 years from now?" asked Mary Walther, first grade teacher.

The time capsule was part of the national theme for the week, "Celebrating God's Love: A Present for the Future."

"The celebration is held annually to call attention to the qualities of Lutheran schools," said Walther.

In keeping with the future theme, students dressed for their future careers as doctors and nurses, teachers and firefighters.

On Thursday, parents were honored at a reception. Students and staff had fun dressing as twins and triplets.

Today, the school has been divided into 12 groups for a day of games and activities. The twelve groups are named for the 12 Apostles, and each group has matching T-shirts.

This year is Trinity school's 144th year in operation. The school has 227 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

It is part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which operates the largest Protestant school system in the United States with 2,268 schools and 265,000 students.