School Newsletter

December 13, 2018

‌

Prepare the Way

“Comfort, comfort my people, says our God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin is paid for, that she has received from the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plane. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:1-5 NIV

As we enter the holiday season of busy-ness, planning, (and the list goes on), let’s all slow down and reflect on Isaiah’s words. Let us find comfort in the words and do just that, ‘prepare the way for the LORD’. In a world that is filled with challenges and sin, we celebrate that Jesus came as the Baby in the manger to take the punishment in our place so that we would be acceptable to God and receive the gift of eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

It is my prayer that the Christmas programs, worship services, and special events in our churches and schools will clearly share the love of Jesus and His promise with the worshippers.

May His love dwell in all of our hearts and joy-filled sounds surround us.

Serving the Master Teacher,

Lois

Here are the latest opportunities to flourish in our life together.

CONFERENCES - MEETINGS - EVENTS

Early Childhood Meetings Focus on Integrating the Faith

The January Early Childhood meetings will focus on “Integrating the Faith”.

The East Region will meet on Wednesday, January 16 at Shepherd’s Flock (Lutheran Home), 800 W Oakton Street, Arlington Heights. The West Region will meet on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at Lord of Glory (Gloryland Preschool), 607 W Belvidere Road, Grayslake. Both meetings will begin at 4:30 p.m.

You may go to the NID Early Childhood network blog at preschooldirectors.blogspot.com.

LEA Offerings

Do a google search of the following articles. They are interesting and thought provoking as well informative:

1:‘The Seven Most Powerful Words in Education’ in Forbes/Accomplished Teacher by Peter Greene.

2: ‘7 Mental Techniques to Improve Your Time Management’ in SUCCESS by Brian Tracy.

3: ‘Be a Fun-Loving Leader’ in ASCD K-12 Leadership by Chip Bell.

4: ‘Servant-Leadership: Have We Gotten it All Wrong?’ in ChurchLeaders by Charles Stone.

5: ‘Your Most Precious resource’ in Biblical Leadership by Richard Blackaby.

6: ‘How to Avoid ‘Death by Meeting’ in the Workplace’ in Psychology Today by David Ludden.

7: ‘What it Takes to Be a ‘Crisis Principal’ in Education Week’ by William Sterrett.

School Support Fund Invoice

Please consider contributing at least $1 per student for the NID School Support fund. This fund helps offset the many services which cost the district but are provided free or greatly reduced to schools.

Some have asked for an “invoice” to provide for accounting purposes. Print invoice

Empower Illinois

On Tuesday, January 15, the 2019-2020 tax credit application process is scheduled to begin. This is a 2-step process. The website to visit is empowerillinois.org. Share that with your constituents. We have been told that there will be emails sent to schools and also posts on Facebook.

You May Be of Help

Jarvis Smallfield is a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and also a member of the LCMS with background and interest in Lutheran education. He is leading a national study in our schools. In addition to the academic nature of the research, he will be returning a report to Synod, the districts, and your school (if you would like) to help us better understand our schools and strengthen the positive outcomes for our workers and our mission. He has discussed this with both Synod and districts, and both are optimistic about the benefits of this research.

He is now starting to collect data throughout LCMS schools, and needs your help to begin that process. If you are interested and/or willing to assist Jarvis, please contact him at jsmall4@uic.edu or 864-266-3693.

RESOURCES

MAP and NWEA

NWEA is planning to host some weekly MAP testing webinars during January and February. They will be sending an invitation to administrators.

A Resource for Youth Leaders

Please share this website with your youth workers, DCEs, etc…. if they need some resources as they serve. Ideas and resources may be found at www. lutheranyouthroom.org

Creating a Faith Forming Ecosystem

What are best practices for outreach in Lutheran schools? Read a paper based on research and written by Marv Bergman from Concordia Nebraska. Print paper

Good Books to Consider for Yourself or Staff Reading

Stressed Out by Tim Elmore (ebook)

Lead Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

Learn Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

Seven Habits of Teens by Sean Covey

CHURCH WORKER UPDATES

Update CMIF Information

We are heading into the time of year when schools begin searching to fill vacancies they will have for the coming school year. Please encourage your Rostered workers to update their CMIFs so search time might be reduced for schools looking to extend calls.

Inform Lois of Staff Changes

Please send your staff changes to lois.stewart@nidlcms.org. This includes: vacancies and Calls received, accepted and declined. We do not always know or hear of these without your quick email. Thank you.

FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE

Weekly Prayers and Devotions

Church Workers:

Update Your Contact Information Online . All rostered and non-rostered church workers are asked to please update their NID contact information when there is a change of email, address, phone, etc., or if new in the district.

Lutheran School Links and Resources

Subscribe me to School Newsletter!