Fourth-graders from area Lutheran schools build birdhouses in the ag building at Trinity Lutheran High School on Friday as part of National Lutheran Schools Week. Jordan Morey

Hundreds of students from area Lutheran schools came together in Seymour last week to celebrate their Christian education and share in the joy of their faith.

To conclude National Lutheran Schools Week from Jan. 27 to 31, Trinity Lutheran High School hosted 650 fourth- through eighth-graders from Jackson and Bartholomew counties on Friday.

Participating schools were Trinity, Immanuel, Lutheran Central, St. John’s Sauers, St. Peter’s and White Creek.

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After a message from Dr. Kevin Brockberg, superintendent for Lutheran schools in Indiana, students were divided by grade to participate in different activities promoting the joy of creativity, fellowship and service. The theme for the day was “Joy: Fully Lutheran.”

In the agriculture building, fourth-graders built birdhouses, while in the choir room, fifth-graders joined their voices in song learning music they later performed during a worship service.

Sixth-graders conducted experiments in the science lab, seventh-graders bundled diapers to donate to Clarity Pregnancy Care Center and eighth-graders worked together on a group art project.

Immanuel eighth-graders Emmah Bridgewater, Kaylie Burns and Payton Smith used markers to color in letters that spelled the word “Joy.” The decorated slips of paper that were added to collages that each of the schools were able to take back and hang up in their buildings.

“I like it because it’s small, and teachers can have a better relationship with their students,” Emmah said of going to a Lutheran school.

Payton said she used to attend public school but likes going to Immanuel now because she can share her faith with other students.

“Since I’ve been here, I feel more connected to God and stronger in my faith,” she said. “And I like being around other students who feel that way, too.”

For Kaylie, she likes that there isn’t as much drama at her school as in public schools, she said.

“It’s small, and you get to talk about God, so we get closer to our faith,” she said.

St. Peter’s seventh-grader Sarah Sebastian spent her time Friday bundling diapers. All of the diapers were donated and collected by the schools and are given to mothers in need.

“This is the right thing to do,” Sebastian said of the service project.

Trinity students helped lead the activities, demonstrating leadership and a love for their community while working alongside the younger kids.

The annual event is a highlight of the school year, said Trinity Principal Clayton Darlage.

“In my opinion, this is one of the most important events we host every year,” he said. “We’re celebrating our heritage and what our forefathers believed in as far as educating the mind, body and spirit. Bringing these kids in today, we try to help them understand the importance of those factors.

“We show them the opportunity to continue to service the Lord and worship him at school,” Darlage added. “It’s really just a testament to our Lutheran Christian education and Trinity Lutheran High School.”

Trinity freshman Grace Claycamp said National Lutheran Schools Week is a great time to show pride in their school and their faith.

“It brings us all together, and you get to work with each other and do something good,” she said.

Being a student at Trinity is like being a part of a community, she added.

“Everybody here knows each other, and there just aren’t a lot of problems here,” she said.

Trinity ag teacher Bryan Schroer said the fourth-graders look forward to making the birdhouses each year because they get to take them home.

The daylong celebration serves another purpose in Schroer’s mind.

“It’s great to have the kids come in and have them see the high school,” he said. “It gives them a chance to think about coming here in the future.”

Senior Chris Mau said he hopes the birdhouse activity sparks an interest in students to take part in agriculture classes and FFA.

“It’s nice to get them involved out here in ag,” he said. “We get to show them a little bit about what we do here.”

Junior Tyler Goecker remembers participating in National Lutheran Schools Week when he was younger. Now, he enjoys being the one leading the activities. This year, he helped students build birdhouses.

“Whenever I was in grade school, I would look up to the high-schoolers,” he said. “It’s nice for me to be able to be a role model to the little kids and be able to help spread God’s Word with them.”

Trinity English and history teacher Rebecca Helmer said National Lutheran Schools Week is another way for students to be proud of who they are and what they believe and gives them a chance to spend time with students from other Lutheran schools.

“We celebrate our Christian education and that we can share our faith,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for them to grow and learn as students, but it also makes a contribution to their community.”