PSD School Ministries
Connections
March 11, 2020
Click here to read "Do Not be Anxious About Anything," the One Minute devotion by Rev. Ron Rehrer. It's a great reminder that God will be with us always, even through uncertain times.
Spotlight on Our Schools
Please join us in praying and thanking God for the following schools this week:

Precious Stones Lutheran Preschool, Sedona, AZ
Gethsemane Christian Academy, Tempe, AZ
Ascension Lutheran Preschool, Torrance, CA

Below are photos from Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Preschool, Scottsdale, AZ (from last week's prayer list):







Measuring is fun!






Future engineers
Chapel with Pastor Scott
Below are photos from Ascension Lutheran Preschool, Torrance, CA:
Two students working with alphabet dominoes






Students planting in one of the gardens
An Ascension teacher working with the students as they sort by color during the week of Valentine's Day.
Around the PSD
St. John's Lutheran in Oxnard broke ground for its preschool on Monday morning, March 9th. Pictured here are Gary Henricksen - Principal, Jonathan Loera - 8th grade, Paxton Benito - Kindergarten, and Rev. Dennis Bradshaw - Centro Cristiano Oxnard LCMS. The ceremony was preceded by prayer and scripture with the full student body of St. John's Lutheran Elementary School participating. The preschool is scheduled to open in late summer.
To God be the glory!
Friendly Reminder
Just a reminder to check your junk email folders. We have been notified that some of our emails have been going to others' junk folders, and vice versa. Thank you for checking on this!
TLC Grant News
Congratulations to the schools listed below who received TLC Grants! The next opportunity to apply will be in July 2020. Since the TLC Grant was first offered in January 2016, $227,942 has been give out to 44 different schools in our Pacific Southwest District. 

  • Bethany Lutheran School, Long Beach, CA
  • Christ Lutheran School, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
  • Christ Lutheran School, Vail, AZ
  • Christ the King Lutheran Preschool, Redlands, CA
  • Concordia Lutheran School, Granada Hills, CA
  • Crean Lutheran High School, Irvine, CA
  • Grace Christian School, Escondido, CA
  • Hephatha Lutheran School, Anaheim, CA
  • Mt. View Lutheran School, Las Vegas, NV
  • Pacific Lutheran Jr./Sr. High School, Gardena, CA
  • Prince of Peace Lutheran School, Anaheim, CA
  • Ramona Lutheran School, Ramona, CA
  • St. John's Lutheran School, Orange, CA
  • St. Paul's Lutheran School, Orange, CA
  • Valley Lutheran High School, Phoenix, AZ
Coronavirus Resources for Churches and Schools Now Available
The Coronavirus (more specifically known as COVID-19) is having increasing impact in the U.S., presenting a serious risk to population health. While our trust remains firmly in our Lord, it is important that our churches and schools are prepared as this situation develops - our goal is preparation , not panic . To assist our Pacific Southwest District partners in ministry, we have created a section of our website to be a repository for COVID-19 information and updates. This repository can be accessed at psd-lcms.org/coronavirus . As new information and resources emerge, we will update this area for your easy reference.
 
Please be in prayer for this situation, and continue to rely on these words from Isaiah: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand . Isaiah 41:10
COVID-19 FAQs from Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
FAQs for Private Schools on Responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak:

In the past month, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread throughout much of the world, including to the United States. Last week Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties, among others, have also declared a Local Health Emergency. Action by the state and counties in declaring a state of emergency make greater resources available to address this developing issue. They do not give schools greater authority to quarantine employees.
 
Employees Issues:  Read here  
Student Issues:  Read here
New Position in School Ministries
The PSD has created a new full-time position in the School Ministries department.

Title: Associate Education Executive
Description:  Support the Executive Director of School Ministries. In this role, the Associate Education Executive will also provide support and facilitate the planning and operating of Lutheran early childhood centers, elementary schools, high schools, and youth and family ministries by congregations and governing boards as they carry out the Great Commission of our Lord, serving children and families. Key responsibilities will be appropriately divided with the Executive Director, based on skill sets, giftedness,expertise, interest and passion. Many of the key responsibilities will be shared and will overlap.

Click here for the application - send to Rachel Klitzing at rachel.klitzing@psd-lcms.org by Monday, April 20, 2020.
2020 EC Equipping Conference Wrap Up
Thank you to all who attended this year’s EC Equipping Conferences and made your own professional growth a priority!  Here is the link to the evaluation form for this year’s conferences. Please forward it to your staff who attended the conference and encourage them to complete the form. The Early Childhood Cabinet uses your feedback to plan for conferences in the future.

We praise God for a wonderful conference in California this past Saturday. Click here to view our Facebook page with photos from the event .

CA EC Educators – Please accept my sincere THANKS for the lovely plaque and book presented to me at Saturday’s conference! Your outpouring of love has truly touched my heart!  Blessings, Lynne Rose
Lutheran Hour Ministries + Barna Research
Consider the latest Lutheran Hour Ministries research in partnership with Barna:

New Households of Faith resources are now available: Click here ! These are some really great books and resources, including books The Reluctant Witness and The Spiritually Vibrant Home.

The Reluctant Witness
Discover what God's Word and the latest Barna research reveal about how even the most reluctant witness can talk about faith in natural ways. Click here .

The Spiritually Vibrant Home
Contemplate what the Bible says about households and consider what new Barna research project has revealed. Click here .
Children & Family Ministry Conference
We are pleased to invite you and your church/school to join the 2020 Pacific Southwest District Children & Family Ministry Conference June 16-18, 2020, on the campus of Concordia University Irvine. Our theme for this conference is “Rally Together” which focuses on joining together in celebrating God’s gift of children and families as we seek to equip and connect leaders to intentionally impact and transform their ministry communities for Christ. Our conference outcomes include:
  • Connecting leaders across ministries
  • Sharing of best (blessed) practices and successes
  • Equipping leaders with practical, tangible, transformational resources
  • Provide participants opportunities to plan the next steps in their unique ministry

The Individual Early Bird Rate is $110. If you plan to bring a group of 4 or more, you are able to register your group for $90 per person. We have extended the early registration deadline to March 15, 2020. Information on prices and booking rooms at the either the conference hotel or in the dorms at Concordia Irvine is on the conference website.  Please click here for that information . Please share this information with anyone you know who cares about ministry to children and families. We hope to see you and your team in Irvine this June!

Keynote: David Kinnaman, President of Barna Group 
Musical Guest: Jennie Williamson


Be sure to register by THIS SUNDAY, March 15, to take advantage of the early registration discount!
Safe Kids Inc. Webinar
WEBINAR:
CONDUCTING AGE-APPROPRIATE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED
ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS
Presented by Safe Kids Inc.
Thursday, March 26 at 2:30pm PST

Join the President of Safe Kids Inc., Adam Coughran, as he discusses the evidence behind today's ineffective drills that are scaring students. With our nation's growing concern, Adam will guide you through the effective, safe and psychologically empowering ways to prepare your school body .

Registration is required. REGISTER NOW!

We have a great relationship with SafeKids, with about 10 schools in the district partnering with them to help train and make their schools, teachers and students safe.
Resources from LEA
Think of it as a ministry… The Power of a Smile (Brian Catanella in Biblical Leadership ).
Don’t miss the latest LEA podcast: New Developmental Disability Awareness Resources from Bethesda by Mona Fuerstenau. Short and to the point! March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month.
Making Jesus Real Resource for EC Educators
Making Jesus Real is a course that serves as a modified version of the Early Childhood Curriculum for Lutheran Teachers. It grew out of needs expressed by congregations of the Pacific Southwest District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to inform and acculturate early childhood teachers with answers to the following questions: What is a Lutheran school, specifically, early childhood center? How are Lutheran schools unique? What do Lutherans believe? What is the heritage of the Lutheran schools? What are the characteristics of the Lutheran teacher? 

With the goal of training and equipping early childhood educators for careers in Lutheran early childhood centers, this course will focus on the following critical areas: 1) Lutheran thought and teaching (theology); 2) Nurturing the faith (faith development); 3) A distinctively Lutheran education (history of Lutheran education); 4) Methods and materials for teaching the faith to the young child. We pray that our new version will accomplish these goals in a way that is accessible, attractive, affordable, applicable and authentic. 
Click here for the video sessions, discussion guides, response exercises, and more.
Admissions Director Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 17, at Orange Lutheran High School starting at 10 am. We are welcoming Edward Kwak, LCEF West Region Marketing Manager, to come and speak with us about Marketing.

Orange Lutheran is generously sponsoring our lunch, so please RSVP soon to kim.violette@psd-lcms.org to ensure we have an accurate lunch count. The meeting will be held in Boardroom A and it is important that everyone bring their ID to check in at the desk when you get to Orange Lutheran. 
Colloquy Grant from the PSD
The PSD is pleased to announce a scholarship that will assist PSD Lutheran school teachers participating in the teacher colloquy program . Grants will be distributed until funds are exhausted. Each course will be funded up to $500. Click here for the form and more information.
TEC21 News
It's not too late to register your teachers for the TEC21 workshop program! Online registration ends on March 31.

Take advantage of this professional development program that will support your teachers and help them grow in skill and influence even beyond the classroom! These energetic, content-rich sessions are facilitated by Lutheran school educators who are passionate about integrating technology into the Lutheran school classroom to engage, motivate and educate students for life!

Register your teachers here: ​ http://tec21connect.com/registration/ ​! Many schools use Title money to pay for some or all of the registration fee. Click here to download a cover letter and a non-religious description of the program to submit to your Title officer: ​https://tec21connect.com/registration/title-ii-funds/​ .

Click here ​ to download the TEC21 flyer.
Financial Aid Opportunity for College Students
Financial aid is available through the Pacific Southwest District for all students that are preparing for full-time church work. Students who are children of Pacific Southwest District Rostered Church Workers and going into church work may also apply for a ThankOffering Scholarship. These funds are from a special offering collected each year at the Lutheran Educators Conference. In addition, Music Majors may apply for the William R. Hampton Memorial Music Scholarship Award. Visit the  Student Aid  page on the PSD website to access the forms needed to apply. The application deadline is June 26, 2020.
Hearts for Jesus!
It’s not too late to begin participating in the HEARTS FOR JESUS: Mission India project!

Through Experience India, funds have already been raised to provide Children's Bible Clubs for thousands kids in India!

Each of those kids will get to hear the Gospel (many for the first time!) and share what they learn with their families. The ripple effect? Entire villages and communities hearing about Jesus and His saving grace.

Wondering what this transformation looks like?  Check out these incredible stories  of how God changed the lives of Monika and Bishal through Children's Bible Clubs!

There are still millions more children in India who haven't heard the opportunity to hear about Jesus. There's still time to help us reach them with the Gospel! 
 
Here’s the link to all the information you need:  http://missionindia.org/hearts . The site is password protected because of the sensitive nature of sharing Jesus in India and persecution of Christians, which is on the rise.

 Here are the landing pages for administrators, teachers, and pastors:

This missional project is a great way to strengthen your church/school partnership and connection as you selflessly give out of the abundance with which God has blessed us here in the Pacific Southwest District!

Please make sure to show “Hearts for Jesus” in your contribution correspondence or check so that it is separate from the contribution from your congregation for the Mission India district mission project. 

 If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Klitzing at rachel.klitzing@psd-lcms.org or Ellen Pratt at ellen.pratt@psd-lcms.org . Thank you for getting involved!
Prayer Requests
Each week, prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for teachers, administrators, support staff, pastors, students, and families of the Lutheran schools, early childhood centers, and churches of the Pacific Southwest District are listed. To include names on the list, please send information to anna.preus@psd-lcms.org by noon on Wednesday of each week. This week we pray for:

  • the Grace Christian Preschool, Escondido, family. A preschool dad recently died of a heart attack. He leaves behind a wife who is 2 months pregnant, and a little girl who is 3 years old. Please pray for this family, and for the entire preschool staff during this very difficult time.
  • all those affected by the tornadoes in Tennessee.
  • all those affected by the coronavirus worldwide.

Schools we are praying for the week of March 15:
Lamb of God Lutheran School & Little Lambs of God Lutheran Preschool, Las Vegas, NV First Good Shepherd Lutheran School and Preschool, Las Vegas, NV
First Lutheran Preschool, Temple City, CA
School Ministries, Pacific Southwest District-LCMS
1540 Concordia Drive East, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone 949-854-3232 | Fax 949-854-8140

Rachel Klitzing, Executive Director of School Ministries