L.E.S.T. 2009 Information for 5th - 8th Graders
at Hope Lutheran School
What is L.E.S.T.? It stands for the Lutheran Elementary School Tournament and is hosted every February by Concordia University in Portland. The first L.E.S.T. was held in 1962 with four Portland area schools participating in a boys basketball tournament. A few years later a volleyball competition was added for the girls. As word of the tournament spread, schools from out of the Portland area (Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) began traveling by train, plane, or bus to participate in L.E.S.T. Over the years, additional activities and competitions were added, and there are now more than 15 individual and/or team events in which students can participate. Over 1000 fifth through eighth graders from as many as 21 Lutheran elementary schools from around the northwest now attend every February.
The primary goal of the L.E.S.T. is to provide an organized structure to promote fun, skill development, fair play, and fellowship among Lutheran elementary school youth through academic, athletic, and recreational activities.
The tournament is always held on the Thursday through Saturday before the third Monday of the month in February. This school year L.E.S.T. falls on February 12 - 14, 2009.
All of Hope’s fifth through eighth graders are encouraged to participate in L.E.S.T. Students may participate in one or more of the competitions that are listed on the next page. Some of the competitions (such as music and swimming) are open to any student who would like to participate. Other competitions (such as spelling and knowledge bowl) have a certain number of participants that are allowed from each school. For some of those events, we will have in-school competitions during the months of October and November to determine the students who will represent Hope at L.E.S.T. Also, certain activities, such as basketball and cheerleading, are limited to certain grade levels.
Some Frequently Asked Questions about L.E.S.T.:
Where are we staying?
Parents are responsible for determining where their child(ren) will stay while at L.E.S.T. Hope will negotiate for special group rates at a hotel (or motels) near Concordia University and encourage families to stay at the same hotel. Information about reserving rooms will be sent home soon.
Who is responsible for the students in the hotel and during the competitions?
You (the parent) or the chaperone you have entrusted with your child are responsible at all times. Teachers and coaches will be making the rounds to assist with monitoring behavior throughout the weekend. Please do not leave your child unattended at the swimming pool or hot tub. All students must be in a hotel room with an adult. No unsupervised “student gatherings” will be allowed.
How long do I have to stay?
A schedule of events will be sent out in late January or early February. Some events occur on one day (such as the math competition), while others (such as the basketball tournament) can last all three days. We hope you will spend the entire 3 days at the tournament to get the full experience. By leaving early, you will miss opportunities to support Hope’s teams, as well as missing the award ceremony held at the end of the tournament.
This is the first year of L.E.S.T. participation for Hope’s 5th graders, as well as any new students in 6th - 8th grade, so I am sure that there will be many more questions (unless you have had an older child already participate in L.E.S.T.). I have been participating in L.E.S.T. at Concordia University in Portland for over 20 years, so I can probably answer most of the questions you will have. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about L.E.S.T.
Mr. Jeff Allen - 5th grade teacher/Dean of Students
jallen@hopeseattle.org
Visit Concordia Portland's L.E.S.T. web site at:
http://www.cu-portland.edu/lest/
