School Newsletter: February 11, 2021
Image source: https://www.jimlepage.com/blog/category/god-is-love-day-6
‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.’ 1 John 4:7-8
 
As I am out doing some school visits, I sometimes arrive at a time when the message of forgiveness and care is shared with a student. God often blesses me to arrive at a time when a teacher or the principal share with the students just how very much God loves each and every one of His children. In turn, we are to love each other. Healing is a gift of God!
 
Because we are sinners, we fall short each day by our thoughts, words, and deeds. We make bad choices, do bad things, and yet, God loves us. We all get ourselves in trouble where we need forgiveness and reconciliation. God sent Jesus to redeem us from the sins that we commit each day. Through His suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the devil. We know this is true. Jesus brings reconciliation with God and between us.
 
Each day we can reassure one another that we can love because God loved us first. No matter what our age, this is so very true.
 
As we place our faith and trust in God (no matter the stresses we face), we can all be thankful that God holds us in the palm of His hand and gives us what He knows is best for us. So, when trials come (including the stresses of COVID19, keeping your school safe, or taking care of those in need), step back and know God’s plan is perfect. Stay in the Word. Take care of yourself to be Well. Use your words and life as a Witness.

Remember each day – Christ loves you and holds you close.


Serving the Master Teacher,
Lois Stewart
Giving Thanks for Covid-19 Support
During these times of Covid-19, it warms my heart to have so many stories and statements of thanks shared as the workers in our NID schools dedicate themselves to the safety, health, and welfare of the students and most importantly, share Jesus each day. I would like to share some of these testimonials in the coming weeks. Here is one from Trinity, Tinley Park.
Like many parents, my wife and I were worried about our daughter’s academic success while learning remotely. Furthermore, we were even more concerned about our daughter going back to the school during this pandemic. These concerns were subsided because of the leadership demonstrated by the administration and staff at Trinity, Tinley Park. Our daughter has performed phenomenally remotely and in the classroom. I want to personally thank the staff at Trinity for their hard work, excellent planning, concern for the students’ safety, maintenance of a high-quality education, transparency, and inclusion of parents’ feedback as part of the planning during the pandemic. May God continue to give wisdom, resources, and favor to continue to serve others while being a blessing to so many families.’
Parent - Trinity, Tinley Park
Soldiers of the Cross Covid-19 Response – Help in Time of Need
When the first wave of Covid-19 struck our nation, our church body moved quickly to address the needs of its church workers. The LCMS partnered with the LCEF to fund the Soldiers of the Cross Covid-19 grant. They in turn asked local districts to support the fund, contributing 20% to any grant request coming from their respective district, and the Northern Illinois has joyfully joined the cause of supporting our church workers!

The fund is set up to provide financial relief (up to $2,000 per grant) for anyone employed by one of our NID churches, schools, RSOs, or ministries, whether they are called, rostered, non-rostered, salaried, or hourly workers. Is a worker has been financially impacted by Covid-19, whether directly dealing with the disease or simply by the economic impact the virus has had on their place of employment, affecting their own compensation, that worker is encouraged to go to our website www.nidlcms.org , click on our COovid-19 resource button and scroll down to Crisis Support – Responding to Church Workers Suffering Financially. At the bottom of that subsection, you’ll find the Soldiers of the Cross Covid-19 grant application. Simply fill it out electronically and email it to our Soldiers of the Cross Covid-19 Response Administrator, Rev. Kris Whitby at kris.whitby@nidlcms.org.

Once your application is received, it is reviewed by our SOC Covid-19 team. Grants that are awarded are mailed to the applicant from our Hillside NID office. An acknowledgement of the grant award is also sent from our synod’s office in St. Louis.

In these difficult times, what a blessing to know our Lord resources us with the means to uphold church workers bringing them support through the Soldiers of the Cross Covid-19 Response grant!
LCMS Esther 4-14 Grant
Please visit https://www.lcms.org/serve/grants/esther1-14 and learn about the opportunity for support from the LCMS. This is a “For Such a Time as This grant”. Schools may not apply on their own for this grant. Please work with your congregation to submit an application.
Belize Mission – Hearts for Jesus
We are very excited to be partnering with the Belize Mission Society for our NID ‘Hearts for Jesus’ project this year. It is a blessing to be able to support the feeding program for the children. Cathy Dulgar who is the Belize Mission Society Executive Director and I recently chatted about the program and what a blessing we can be.

Please prayerfully consider having your school focus one month’s chapel offerings on this outreach mission. All contributions may be sent to the Northern Illinois District Office, 2301 S. Wolf Rd., Hillside, IL 60162 attention Lois Stewart.
NLSA Accreditation Reminders
See these reminders from Keith Wilharm.
School Support Fund
Please consider contributing at least $1.00 per student to the NID School Support Fund. This fund helps offset the many services which cost the district, but are provided free or at a greatly reduced cost to schools. Some have asked for an ‘invoice’ to provide for accounting purposes. You may print that from here.
Early Childhood Professional Development Opportunity/Sharing Sessions
LCMS Esther 4-14 Grant
Throughout the Covid-19 restrictions on meeting in person, there have been many opportunities to join in on zoom calls offered to bring Early Childhood Educators for times of devotion, sharing, and learning. Here are opportunities you are invited to join us for in 2021:
         Tuesday, March 9 6:30pm – Kim Marxhausen will be our presenter on “The Impulsive Child” and “Working with Children Dealing with Trauma” You will be eligible to receive Gateway/IL State professional development credits for this. In preparation, please send your Gateways and/or ISBE numbers to Cathy Gruenwald at Catherine.Gruenwald@cuchicago.edu. She will be processing the credits.
         Tuesday, April 13 6:30pm – Jessica Gade (NID ECConsultant) and her staff at Immanuel, Downers Grove will present on Nature Curriculum.
Please watch for the zoom links to be sent out.
Leadership Conferences
Throughout the Covid-19 restrictions on meeting in person, there have been many opportunities to join in on zoom calls offered to bring elementary and high school administrators together for devotion, updates, and a time of sharing. Here are some opportunities as we head into 2021:
There will be other administrator zoom opportunities with topics of interest being scheduled. Please watch for zoom links.

Lutheran School Administrators Virtual Conference Registration Now Open!
 
We deliver…
…Tuesday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 23, 2021

No need for expensive airline reservations, long drives, or hotel room confirmation numbers! We’re bringing the conference to you.
 
This New Virtual Lutheran School Administrators Conference features all this…
·        Four live sessions featuring four nationally known keynote speakers with LIVE Q&A, three live moderated discussion forums
·        22 recorded sectionals, which will be available during the conference AND on demand through April 30, 2021.
·        Virtual Exhibit Hall featuring live sessions and prize drawings
·        Hospitality Suites
·        Registration for entire conference is $150 (Includes access to all live sessions March 22–23 and all recorded sessions through April 30, 2021.
 
 
For more conference information and to register, go here.
 

If you already registered for the LSAC, we will send a separate email with instructions about registration adjustments.
 
Lutheran School Administrators Conference
Planned and executed through an alliance of Lutheran Education Association, LCMS School Ministry, and Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools
 
Register Now.    We Deliver!
         
Retirements
If you are a Commissioned Worker (Administrator or teacher) in the NID and plan to retire at the end of the 2020-2021 school year, please email Sue Green at sue.green@nidlcms.org. She will be able to assist you with LCMS paperwork that needs to be completed for your roster status change. PLEASE remember that you must contact Concordia Plans Services directly to do your financial/health benefit changes. The NID Office does not process those changes.
Other Commissioned Workers (DCEs, Parish Musicians, etc…) may decide to retire during the academic year. Please contact Sue Green whenever you have made that decision.
TEC21 Update
TEC21 Workshop Program cohorts are now being finalized for the 2021/2022 school term.
Don’t miss out as we learn to engage technology in new ways for an exciting and dynamic teaching environment. TEC21 teachers say it best: “After the first class, I couldn’t wait to go back!”…“The class is designed for learning through experience. And TEC21 has given me the confidence needed to incorporate technology into my regular curriculum. The collaboration between fellow TEC21 groups is invaluable and I’ve been able to share new ideas with my own fellow teachers.”
If you don’t yet know which teachers you’d like to send to represent your school, simply register with your (principal) name while you determine your funding solution. Title IIA monies may pay for registration in entirety. Some schools are supported by a local benefactor or special church/school fund.
Professional Development Credits
As the school year begins, please know, once again, that professional development credit is available through Concordia University, Chicago. Administrators are asked to contact Catherine Nessling at Catherine.Nessling@cuchicago.edu. She is the person to student growth, curriculum development, etc…related to state standards may count.
Commissioned Minister Information Form – CMIF
Please be encouraged to access your CMIF and update it if that you haven’t done that for a year or so. It is a good idea to do updates if you are considering a change of ministry.
NID Website Updates
Please continue to be encouraged to visit www.nidlcms.org website for updates in the Coronavirus block.
National Lutheran Schools Resources

Visit the LCMS website to download the 2021 National Lutheran Schools Week resources and the 2021 chapel talks.
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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