School Newsletter: March 19, 2020
The Joy of Serving by Dreaming Small

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:11-12


I find great joy in serving others. My parents were wonderful examples of service as they raised the four of us children. They led by example and never made us feel it was our ‘duty’ to serve. We followed their loving way of stepping out and assisting when someone needed a hand or help with something. I was blessed to grow up in a home and school where this was modeled by faithful Christians. As a young child, I always dreamed of ways I would be able to serve others. No matter what, we were encouraged to serve with enthusiasm.

Jesus is the greatest servant of all and even on the way to the cross. We never out serve Him and unlike us, He gave His all! Because Jesus loves us, we are encouraged and led to serve in His name. We love as God loves us. Sometimes that means stepping out in service when we have other things on our agenda. Opening up our heart and giving our time for others shows our love for God. We don’t have to (and aren’t able to) do it all. We are called to be in ministry together and serve using the gifts God has given us.

I encourage you to access this link and listen to the song by Josh Wilson – “Dream Small”. It speaks clearly of how we can serve by dreaming small and not trying to do it all.

What will you do to serve? No matter what our age, we can serve. There are so many opportunities each and every day. All we need to do is open our eyes and heart. God will provide the opportunity. As we serve with a willing heart, we are also WITNESSING our faith.

Here in the NID, we focus on Word, Wellness, and Witness. What better way to do all three as you share your love for Christ and the wellness of others as you serve. It is a witness of your faith.

Serving the Master Teacher,
Lois Stewart
Update and Review

Thank you all for your diligence and prayer as we look to caring for and protecting our schools, congregations, families, and others we serve. Please visit the NID website for information as it changes throughout the coming days. The District Staff is working hard to keep you all informed and up to date.

Please be encouraged to continue your diligence in review and updates of policy manuals and other documents related to running your school.
President Buss Address: Coronavirus Update and Resources

Please watch this video from President Buss as he provides an update on the coronavirus. You are invited to share this with your congregation and school members.
Stay Connected and Informed

There are so many great things happening and offered in the NID. It is sad to think that there are workers in our schools not finding out what is happening. Please help us out…. If you are a building administrator, please forward the School Newsletter and other NID mailings to your staff members. Better yet, share the following facts so they can connect directly:
  1. Visit www.nidlcms.org
  2. Click on the ‘Church Worker’ tab.
  3. Click on ‘submit your contact information’.
  4. After they complete the top portion, they may choose which mailings they want to receive.
  5. Please share with the non-rostered workers that they, too, may receive the mailings.
Retirements and Vacancies

As we head towards spring, some workers may be considering retirement or being led by God to seek a call. Please contact Lois at the NID Office ASAP when you have a staffing change/vacancy for next year. If a worker is going to retire, please let Lois know what the final day of work will be so the office can assist with paperwork for St. Louis. The NID Office does not assist with Concordia Plan Services paperwork. The worker will need to contact CPS directly.

School Administrators – please encourage your rostered workers to update their Commissioned Minister Information Form (CMIF). They are encouraged to update this each year. It may take just a few minutes to review and resubmit the form. If there are changes to be made, the worker needs to make sure they ‘save’ each time they are directed to do so and then ‘submit’ at the end. Workers may get their personal access information by going to https://cum.lcms.org . This will direct the worker to Rosters, Statistics, and Research Services to gain access. 
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
Early Childhood Network Meetings
The NID Early Childhood Consultants work very hard to offer engaging and meaningful network topics for your interest. Please watch the next newsletter for information on the next opportunity to gather.

Be encouraged to visit the Early Childhood Network blog. It has been updated and there many great pictures to view! Connect at https://www.preschooldirectors.blogspot.com/ .
School Sustainability Seminar

The follow up dates for the School Sustainability Seminars are June 10 and 11 to be held at Walther Christian Academy in Melrose Park. Even if you were not able to join us in January, please plan to attend in June and get valuable information and guidance in many areas of sustainability for your school. Registration will open in April. Watch for details.
April 20 Leadership Conference

The spring Leadership Conference is scheduled for Monday, April 20 at Concordia University Chicago. At the present time, we are still planning to hold that conference on campus. Please continue to watch for information from the NID Office if anything should change.
Early Childhood Network Meetings

Please see the statement below regarding the April Early Childhood meeting at CUC.
The NID Early Childhood Consultants work very hard to offer engaging and meaningful network topics for your interest. Please watch the next newsletter for information on the next opportunity to gather.

Be encouraged to visit the Early Childhood Network blog. It has been updated and there many great pictures to view! Connect at https://www.preschooldirectors.blogspot.com/ .
44 th Annual Concordia University Chicago Early Childhood Conference

The Concordia Early Childhood Conference will be held Friday, August 7, 2020. The Concordia Early Childhood Conference is looking for presenters for the conference. Please consider presenting or identifying someone that you think would be interested in this experience. Our theme for the conference is literacy-focused and further information is in the two attached documents. If you are not an early childhood educator but could present on literacy as it relates to education, we hope that you will prayerfully consider presenting. We are also seeking topics that include math, social studies, science, STEM, technology, music, art, movement, infants and toddlers, social-emotional development, ESL, and many more!

Please see the two attached documents for further information from Doris Knuth and Donna Tennis, our committee members that work with the presenters.
Fort Wayne Conference

Please see the attached information related to a conference that we have been invited to in the Fort Wayne, IN area. Schools are being invited to this conference by Dr. Kevin Brockberg who is our presenter for the School Sustainability Seminars we are holding in the NID.
RESOURCES
Your Students Are Writers

Please take a look at the attached letter related to ‘Caesura: A Journal for Young Writers’. This is a great way for your students to have their works published. If you want more information, you may contact Prof. Andy Pederson at Concordia University Chicago. His contact information is on the letter.
NLSA Invoice

The time has come for you to think about your school responsibilities for the end of the year tasks related to NLSA. Your NID annual fee of $125.00 is due to the office by April 15. Please find the attached invoice for your information.
ISBE Webinar Update

On Tuesday, March 17, the state held two sessions of a webinar to share updates on the closure of schools. Please find that power point below. Much of the information is specific to the public schools in the state. However, there is some information helpful for our schools. Continue to view the NID website for updates as well.
Hearts for Jesus
A goal has been set that each child in the NID contribute 2 quarters to the mission fund this year! What a blessing that will be for Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Please send your contribution to Lois Stewart at the NID Office (2301 S. Wolf Rd., Hillside, IL 60162). One check will be sent to Lutheran Heritage Foundation from our office on the behalf of all contributing schools.
Share Stories and Celebrations
God is at work in our schools each and every day. There are celebrations happening that we would like to share with our NID family. When you have a special story or celebration, please share it with our office so we can all give thanks to God with you. You may send those celebrations to lois.stewart@nidlcms.org or ann.ciaccio@nidlcms.org. Just recently, we were blessed to share a Baptismal celebration. Visit www.nidnews.org to read so many stories of Jesus at work through His people.
FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE
Filled with living hope in Christ,

Confessing, Praising,

and Advancing His Kingdom


PARTNERS IN MINISTRY
For Information on LCEF contact Vanda Toner at 708-223-3117 or Vanda.Toner@lcef.org . Facebook.com/lcef.nid

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